"I'm sorry Liam..." she whispered as her eyes kept burning brighter beneath her draped hood. The complete control over him waning thin the further he ran. The stone, like a rigid heart, was beating furiously in order to remain attached.
But she would get him to safety, she owed it to the Queen...
Grunting in pain and trying to stabilise her unresponsive body, Aloysia begrudgingly pushed herself off the rocky wall; her incredible senses flowing gently back to her fingertips.
Her jagged breathing steadied, and her blood stained cloak fell past her shoulders, cradling the weeping assassin huddled inside its warmth.
Her hand trailed to her chest, hovering over the wretched scar that was engraved; it was searing.
Why did she have to be it's carrier? Why did she have to endure its wrath? Why did she have to become a puppet to its very nature?
Aloysia's eyelids fell shut, brushing away an unwanted tear of regret, and re-emerged from being hunched over.
She needed Zelek.
Calling upon her strength and urging the stone to bend to her will, her eyes gleamed out; awaking the room to which she stood in; and causing the suns rays to merge into darkness.
Muscles contracted, and eyelids were clenched for the sheer quantity of control that was needed; the toll would be paid later.
Burning bright, it blinded the guards who still remained robotically stunned...
Thanks to the stone unconsciously...
She spoke quietly, "Come to the castle"
A mere whisper escaped her lips yet it was as if her lungs were exasperated by it; where her fragile body slowly began to relax, no longer pulling commands on the painful strings of the stone.
The red glow emanating from her eyes dissipated to her usual crimson orbs only a few moments after.
Her mind; once racing, now clear as daylight on what she needed to do... escape...
Using the walls surrounding her as leverage Aloysia flung herself down the castle hallways without a second thought; her heart was pumping for her aching muscles to speed up; time was of the essence and no mistakes could be afforded.
~
Outrunning 3 guards who were chasing Liam relentlessly, was the least of his problems; trying to not be recognised by any still faces he passed, was dam near impossible!
Yet he kept running, ignoring the surprised facial features of nearby servants and kept scrounging to cover more ground.
His lips let out a cry of relief the further he got as he felt himself slowly come back to his sense's; the feeling flowing back to his grasp.
Like moving his arms back into the controls of his body, Liam used his pent up energy and drive to sprint.
Faster than he had ever run before; placing a map of the castle ahead of him, leading him to freedom.
His breathing was wild as his panting became accentuated by the echoing of the halls. He was really doing this...
Behind him, the 3 figures no longer loomed over his shoulders as he had lost them, allowing him to release a shaky breath.
His legs began to tire, so Liam halted, hitching himself on the wall for support as his laboured breathing settled.
Upcoming was the back way of the castle; slight relief swam over his fatigued body.
His arms and legs were feeling as if they would detach if he had to sprint for any longer.
However, deciding it would be better to remain in motion, Liam groaned, agreeing with his internal choice, and began cautiously walking down the remaining hallways.
A corner approached.
Before his mind could begin to formulate a plan, a human head peeped from around the corner; their eyes scanning the surroundings, only to latch on to his where their eyes widened in shock, retracting slightly.
He was greeted by a recognisable face.
"You!?" He screamed, immobilising his stature to a stone and glaring at her with caution.
She placed her hands above her head, in comparison to how she was earlier, Liam could've sworn this was a different person. No frightening facade... nothing.
"I mean you no harm, I am here on behalf of Aloysia, I am her sister Zillah"
He engulfed the words, trying to find his own.
"You tried to kill her! How should I trust you?" He glared at her. She didn't back down. "Because if my aim was to kill you- you'd already be dead"
Definitely her sister, and by the look in her eye, she wasn't lying.
"I'm here to help you- don't fight me away" she drawled.
But.. what grounds were he allowed to trespass into? How could he know if she was truly trustworthy?
Zillah gulped in shock, a face of fear and welcoming were shining through. With her body language closed and voice strained, she asked,
"Look, is Aloysia with you?"
He was unsure whether to answer. She seemed very agitated and paranoid; constantly glancing, watching her surroundings, flinching whenever a tiny particle of dust would blow through her vision.
His mind, tearing at him to turn; to leave, not to trust this traitor who tried to kill her in the streets, but his heart and gut were opposites, edging him to allow her into his mind and answer, almost like Liam could trust Zillah.
He chose to trust. Whether it be his end because of it, he chose what felt right.
"No, she isn't, she sent me here to escape the castle" he paused, "against my will might I add". He murmured the last part in annoyance; still keeping Zillah where he could see her.
Zillah dropped her head, scrunching her eyebrows in thought, "I swear that girl accounts for everything -I have to help you get out"
"Wait what? I thought-"
"-No time for thinking" she interrupted.
Liam's trust wavered, she had been controlled... how would she have broken free while the king implored her will onto her? Was this a ploy?
Paranoia began to settle in the crevices of his mind, feeling the urge to ask questions.
"How are you out of the Kings control?" He asked cautiously; she could still be, leading to a trap.
Zillah looked at him with a face perplexed, yet obliged, needing to gain his trust in order to follow out Aloysia's wishes.
"The kings arrogance overlooked his watchful eye, the arrogance and greed controlling him; allowing a certain someone to swipe the very bracelet that held me at their will. I immediately felt it's affect, the sudden release of freedom; no stinging at my neck -I had been set free, but I played the part, as if nothing had happened until we reached the castle, and snuck out, understanding without being told... to get you. It was all part of her plan, for her to get captured... on purpose, brush past the king, on purpose... Why do you think she bumped into him? No one saw the bracelet fall from his wrist and land by my feet. Too distracted... all on purpose; she knew the day I went missing it was the kings doing, and so her 'plan' worked perfectly, minus the minor bumps and mishaps, -but it worked none the less, otherwise we might not be standing here having this conversation"
"And your capture?" He asked, brain mildly impressed yet shocked. That women ceases to surprise... what a cunning plan. A brilliantly cunning plan.
"That, well... I have no idea, my memories of that incident were removed by who ever did it, which worries me the most -who has that power, and if so... are they after the same thing we are?"
She glanced toward the stained glass overlooking the beauty of morning nature, vividly trying to think back to that day -with no avail. She sighed.
Raising her head, Zillah parted her cloak to reveal a shimmering dagger in the sunlit hallway; the dagger being strapped to her thigh.
Liam's eyes followed hers to the weapon, a concerned feeling rising at the sight of its sharp edges.
Zillah paused, gazing upon his soft features protectively and sweetly; wanting to reassure him, gain his trust.
Zillah smiled. "It's for you, you don't look like you have anything to protect yourself with, do you?" She said calmly, removing the brown, rugged band compressing it's metal to skin.
Her hand gripped the pommel carefully, flipping it so that her hand grasped iron and offered it towards him.
Liam inhaled deeply, eyes pinning the rough material adorning it. Was this his life now?
Swallowing his heart, Liam took hold of the dagger firmly, exemplifying confidence and trust in his actions.
He not only needed to trust Zillah, but to ensure he himself had faith and trusted his instincts.
Nodding silently at their affirmation, Zillah's paranoia faltered, falling to no longer hinder the assassins training; to ensure that they both made it out alive.
And Liam prayed Aloysia would make it out too...
But one thing that stirred in his mind...
Why did he not feel uneasy?
Why did the blade send tingles down his nervous system at just the roughness of its cloth around its grip rubbing against his skin?
Why did the sliver of iron resting upon his fingertips not weigh him down?
Liam was constricted by his mind running overtime. Constantly pushing out new questions that he knows will never be answered...
So why did his mind torture him?
Snapping back to reality and holding the dagger to his side, Liam stared into Zillah's eyes; looking for the much needed trust. Her eyes truly sculpted her face, and were made her strikingly beautiful.
Her features were soft as his eyes gazed upon her, yet they were constantly drawn back to her crimson pupils; where reflecting back through her iris at him, was Aloysia...
They shimmered in the lighting; just like hers did, and told a thousand stories...
Just like hers did.
He hoped she made it out, begged upon his own soul that she was safe. He didn't know why, or understand why Aloysia was occupying his brain completely, but she was.
Zillah, as if reading his mind, noticed his uneasiness and stroked his shoulder, a soothing gesture to which Liam closed his eyes; parting his lips to sigh.
"She will be alright, she's been through worse".
Her smile was hopeful, confidence in those words that were the truth.
Zillah dipped her head to be level with Liam's droopy one; showing nothing but kindness.
Liam's mind was still squirming in his skull, not paying attention to anything. But why did it still pang at his heart when those irises gleamed at him? Why did her survival effect him so god dam much?
"She does this to everyone," Zillah paused, shaking her head and rolling her eyes jokingly; her hand still firmly placed on his shoulder, "she never tells us what goes on in her mind, only telling us the minimum for the mission, making decisions with out discussing it or with out concent." Her hand brushed his arm, turning away from him.
"She knows and has been through more than we can even begin to comprehend"
"Which is why I just listen to her, she was our leader, still is our leader, and forever will be"
Liam's hand wavered, the dagger within its grips trembling. "Have faith in her ability, because like I said" Zillah's gaze fell upon him, a beautiful smile lacing her lips, "she's been through worse"
Liam nodded; sighing heavily and exhaling any doubt that plagued his busy mind.
"Find trust somewhere Liam, it's crucial for your own survival... and Aloysia's"
Her words trailed as the length of her cloak flowed effortlessly behind her; the sound of light pattering against the marble floor fading into the distance.
His legs found himself following suit, dagger at hand; the silver tip reflecting the suns rays, ready to strike if threatened.
~
Something was wrong, she could feel it.
A problem was scratching at her bones, being as irritable as possible to get her to address it.
Aloysia scowled; halting her running with a screech.
Blades, dripping with blood were held confidently in her palms, no feeling of regret coated them; not even an inch of mercy.
She had ran to the front of the castle, removing a few guards in her path when a sensation so striking, cowered over her; now, a settling, irritable itch crawling the length of her body.
Was this how her body detected something wrong? If it was... it surely sucked.
Aloysia sighed deeply, annoyance written dead across her face.
She cared too much for her own good. These emotions kept playing with her mind; one moment she would feel no guilt, the next, a wave of sorrow would crash upon her heart.
She knew this was the stones doing. Adapting to its host; randomly pulling on foreign strings to cause unknown consequences.
So with a large huff, Aloysia turned on her heels, sprinting back into the maze of the castle; her darkened cape flowing behind her.
~
Their pace turned to a sprint as the old oak door came into view.
The back of the castle.
It had only taken a few minutes from their meeting point; so close to escaping, that they could taste the intoxicating flavour of freedom dancing on their tongues.
Daylight was incredibly strong, piercing through little crevices left by years of unwanted ageing.
It was awfully quiet, too quiet for his liking; yet Zillah seemed to have no quarrel with charging at the double oak doors.
That's when Liam caught sight of something, screaming at the top of his lungs in warning, "STOP!!"
All movement became isolated, the shock of his voice sinking into reality.
But not before a clicking sound.
He inched closer, breath caught in his throat; swallowing a painful rock.
With Zillah halted, she didn't dare move a muscle, the click coming from her feet even when her cloak caressed past her thigh.
Her chest was rising and falling heavily, frozen in place as her head slowly turned to his in fear of what his words could carry.
Liam's heart dropped through his body as he pointed to the tough ground; to which Zillah followed, gasping alarmingly at the sight of it.
A mine.
It was the back of the castle- no one had ever used this route for... god knows how long.
And now he knew why...