Captain Wilhelm heard her scream, ran upstairs, and burst into her room.
"Princess! Is everything alright?"
Liana shook in place and pointed towards the bed. She sunk to the ground, kneeling and wrapping her around around herself.
Captain Wilhelm walked over to her bed and lit the lamp on the bedside table. Then, he saw the message.
It read: You betrayed us. Know that there is no safe haven for you. Justice will come to you.
"Princess, I'm sure it's just a baseless threat," he tried to console her.
"No, swipe your hand through the lettering."
He did as she said and watched as the message wavered.
"Wha-?"
"The mages have sent their warning. They want me dead. I'm not safe anywhere. Please, Captain, tell King Erik and Crown Prince Leo that I'm so sorry, but I can't risk endangering their lives."
Then, she teleported out of the room. Liana reappeared in Shipwreck Cove and began to hatch a plan.
~~~
A couple hours later, she teleported out of the cove and appeared before the convened Gathering of Mages.
"Miss Davies," the head of the Gathering said. "Have you come to turn yourself in?"
Fury flared in her eyes but then changed to sadness.
"I'm terribly sorry. I didn't want to have to do this."
Fire flared around her body. She shut her eyes and winced as she heard screams of pain. When quiet finally came, sh tentatively opened her eyes to see what she had done. Liana looked around and saw the scorch marks where those in the Gathering had previously stood.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Then, she teleported out and straight to the palace in Quennia. Liana ran towards the throne room and burst through the doors.
"Liana?" Leo asked shocked.
He immediately stood up and made to walk towards her. She held up a hand to stop him.
"Leo, I, I..."
She collapsed to her knees and tears sprang to her eyes. Liana looked at King Erik.
"Your Majesty, will all due respect, I can't continue with the marriage. If that restarts the war with Salencia, then I'm truly sorry."
"What has happened, child?"
"I, I just don't think you want me as the future queen of Vurstan."
"Why do you say that? I have already welcomed you into the family."
Suddenly, she felt someone pull up on her hair, and she roared in pain.
"Well, well, well, little mage."
"Let go of me, Preston!"
"Unhand my fiancee! Guards!"
Soon, Vurstanian guards encircled Liana and Preston.
"You know, Liana, your twin isn't very happy with you right now."
"Oh, I can only imagine," she snapped back.
"Liana!" Vander roared. "Do you have any idea of what you've done?!"
She slipped out of Preston's hold and turned towards her brother.
"Of course I do."
"Liana?" Leo asked. "What's he talking about?"
"Sire!" Captain Wilhelm burst in. "We've had an- Princess?"
"Hi, Captain."
"But you left!"
"And took care of something," Liana added.
"You killed the entire Gathering of Mages, Liana! You burned them to ashes!"
"I've had blood on my hands since I was fifteen, Vander. Do you think death scares me anymore? No. It's scared of me. Why do you think it spat me back out?"
"You should've stayed dead," Vander muttered.
"Or, I should've let you die. But that wasn't the agreement. A stupid soldier couldn't contain the blood-lust of war and fatally stabbed you. That wasn't supposed to happen, but it did. And I saved your sorry ass. Now, I'm regretting it."
"Liana... you've gone too far this time."
"Perhaps, but I've learned my lessons the hard way. Bu I wouldn't stand idly by whilst the Gathering decided my fate. I am in no mood to be killed again quite so soon."
"Yes, well, you've killed them, so congratulations. You've no officially angered the Sonicans even more," Preston said sarcastically.
"Whatever. It was the Gathering I didn't want to deal with. The others are not worth my time nor my effort any longer."
"Look what's emerged," Vander said. "Your arrogance."
Liana's eyes turned icy. Magical black smoke began to swirl around her.
She called out, "Ai tule!"
Two huge, black predatory mammals with blood red eyes appeared at her side. A third appeared in front of her.
"No..." Vander breathed.
"What the hell are those things?" Preston asked horrified.
"Hellhounds," Leo said breathlessly.
"I thought they were mythical," King Erik said.
"Yes, well Your Majesty, they're very real. And loyal only to me."
Liana turned towards Vander and Preston.
"Welcome to Hell, boys. Hait dun!"
The three hounds lunged for Preston and Vander, who both started to run.
"I wouldn't suggest running!" Liana called. "They're predators. It's in their nature to hunt those who run from them."
King Erik, Crown Prince Leo, and the other Vurstanian nobles look on in utter horror as the two got torn into and bitten by the hellhounds.
"That's what happens when you cross me."
Her eyes glared at her brother and Preston.
"Blood or not."