I gaze at the cheering masses from atop my trusty warhorse, Shadow. She has been with me through hell and back and has served me well throughout the bloody war that we have just won. I pat Shadow and smile wryly at her. At my smile, the crowd cheers even louder. The common folk have always been infatuated with my rare smiles for I have had very little to smile about lately. I look towards the crowd without focusing on them. I must at least at like I care about any of this. My scattered thoughts are elsewhere at the moment.

I think of my fiancé, Maria, and my thoughts turn dark. Murderous. She was forcefully taken from me five years ago right before I was essentially banished from the Kingdom to fight in another pointless war. I grip the reigns tightly, my gauntlets creaking audibly from the excursion. Shadow snorts softly and pulls on her bridle as she senses my agitation. Her sudden movements draw me back to present. I shake my head to clear the dark thoughts and stroke Shadows mane.

"Thank you, girl." I whisper softly.

I glance up and stare at the white marble castle before me. It seems the parade has neared its end without me noticing. My mind is clearly not here.

-

I stalk through the castle hallway leading to the throne room. As the King has aged greatly in the years I have been at war, The Crown Prince has taken on many duties of the Kingdom. I grit my teeth and ball my fists as I pick up the pace, wanting to retrieve my dear Maria. The moment I laid eyes on her at her debutante ball 7 years ago, I knew she was destined to be my wife. And to my utter delight, the feeling was mutual. We were engaged mere weeks later, such was the extent of our feelings. Though, it was all for naught, for the Crown Prince had his eyes on her the moment he saw her at our engagement party. He is notorious for targeting many a married woman.

The Crown Prince took her as encouragement, promising to return her to me unharmed if I was to perform great deeds in the war. I had fulfilled my end of the bargain. Now it was his turn.

As I continue though the winding halls, I hear the faint whispers of the maids as they lay eyes on me and dart out of my path.

"Lucian is back!" A small maid whispers to her colleagues. "He's here for his fiancé I bet!"

"His fiancé?" Another replies softly with a frown. "There's someone here like that?"

"Yes, she's... The... Dog..." The small maid utters even quieter than before. Her eyes flicking left and right.

"Oh! That thing." The maid replies. "My Lord is in for a real shock." She finishes with sympathy.

My steps faulter slightly as I hear their whispers all around me. Though they speak softly as to not be overheard, my mana reinforced ears pick up every word. My heart beat quickens and it pounds in my chest. Waves of anxiety and fear crash into my mind. I pick up my pace even more, half jogging now.

'Dog?' 'Thing?' I wonder in my mind.

'What the fuck has he done to Maria?!'

-

As I approach the great doors to the throne room I hear screams and shouts from inside. My heart is threatening to leap from my chest. It feels as if ice has entered my veins, turning my blood cold. The doors are thrown open suddenly and a naked, overweight noble stubbles out holding his neck. Blood is pouring down between his fingers, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused. He gurgles and chokes on his own blood before collapsing before me. Dead.

I stagger backwards, reeling from the sight. Shock and confusion entering my mind. I quickly look around, trying to find guards to summon to help with situation. Though I am interrupted abruptly. 

'You fucking bastard, get in here right now and protect me!' A shrill voice thunders inside my head. At his words, foreign mana pours into my body. It feels slimy and disgusting, causing me to shiver. I frown and unsheathe the sword that is strapped to my hip before charging into the throne room.

As soon as I enter the room, the foul smell of sweat and cum assault my senses. I gag as I look around the room. Littered around the floor are naked noblemen, stabbed to death. The wounds are amateurish yet filled with rage. They were hacked to pieces. Their putrid blood paints the once pristine marble floors crimson. As I quickly scan the room, my eyes naturally focus on the naked figure standing before the Crown Prince with a bloody sword in her hands. My own hands tremble at the sight, and I stagger in her direction.

Her once illustrious blonde hair, the color of polished gold, is now faded and matted. Her body is covered in bruises and scars, focused around her neck, thighs, and wrists. Bite marks and fingernail scratches litter her once perfect skin. I spot globs of white in her hair and splattered across her body. I hold back the vomit threatening to come up.

"Maria?" I whisper softly, my throat coarse.

At my words, her body shutters and she turns her head slightly in my direction. I look into her once lively blue eyes. And see nothing within them. She is gone.

"Maria..." I whisper again as I step slowly in her direction.

'Kill her you bastard! What the fuck are you waiting for?!'  The voice screams in my head. It belongs to the Crown Prince. I am assaulted by the same nauseating mana entering my body. Then my legs begin to move of their own volition, compelled by the Crown Prince's words. I fight the compulsion with all my might, but my body refuses to listen. The Greywind family simply cannot disobey the current Royal family.

I position myself between the monster and Maria, my sword raised against her. I smell the disgusting stench of sweat coming off the body behind me. It's obvious that he and all the other nobles were defiling Maria before she starting killing them one by one. My body shakes and shudders like a broken toy. My mind and the Prince's mana fight for control over my actions. I lose, as always.

"Stop!" I manage to gasp out, out of breath from the effort. "Don't make me do this, you promised me!"

The Crown Prince merely laughs whilst hiding behind me, safe from Maria's blade. He knows I can't resist his words.

"Kill the bitch!" He commands again, his sadistic voice ringing in my head.

Then he continues out loud, "Promised?" He scoffs nastily. "We've all had a piece of your fiancé. Every single man in the castle. Even the slaves. She's been fucked so many times that I'm surprised she's even able to move!" He shouts happily, clearly enjoying tormenting me. The sick bastard has always been like this. Pure evil and twisted.

"Fuck... You...!" I manage to get out as I bring my sword up, preparing for the downwards swing. Tears stream down my face as I gaze at my Maria, her wrecked body standing still before me. She hasn't moved an inch, she just stands there unguarded and open. Staring blankly at me.

I fight the mana with everything I have, but my arm moves regardless of my effort. Hot blood splatters on my face as I hack into her terribly thin body. She makes no sound as the blade tears into her. She had quit feeling pain long ago.

 She falls heavily onto the ground, like a puppet with it's strings cut. After delivering the fatal wound the mana leaves me and I'm back in control. I throw myself my sword away from me in horror and I crumple onto the ground and clutch at her dying body. She'll only last a few more seconds.

"I'm sorry." I sob as I cling to her blood splattered frame. "I'm so sorry Maria."

As she gasps for the last few breaths she'll ever take, a small spark of life reenters her once dead eyes. A gentle, fragile, smile graces her thin lips. A faint shadow of who she once was.

"Thank... you... My... Lov-" She manages to gasp out before she goes still.

Maria Arclight is dead.