A man with eyes of amethyst smiled and raised his brows, as he gazed around at the crowd, all of them here to observe his death. But even when he was bound by iron shackles painted in a crimson colour—actually not colour, but holy blood of some sages who had sacrificed themselves to hold him down, even when he had such heinous injuries all over his ashen visage it seemed as if.....The crowd and the soon to be executioner, were more scared of him and this feeling further propagated due to his chilling smile that revealed his teeth—all bloody and yellow due to him having nothing to clean himself with in the cage.
He was even emitting a sickly odor that was awfully nauseating, and made one gag harshly.
Soon he was pushed upon a raised podium by the knights holding the chains around his neck, almost as if he was a wild dog on a leash, where a guillotine—quite high and wide with a perfect hole to fit his head, awaited him.
The blade hanging above was shining and was clean, and the podium's floor were all clean too. He was impressed, and rightfully so. For most of the prisoners kept were treated with dirty podiums and rusted blades, but for him such liberties were taken.
Aww, they shouldn't have,
He thought holding back his chuckle, but the sides of his lips curled up even further, and this made the crowd who were all happy to see him be executed feel chills. It wasn't the cold wind, no, this was happening all because it felt like he had an escape plan.
But that was impossible!
Right?
The prisoner's would be executioner who was holding the rope in his calloused hands felt his knees becoming weak, and his burly arms trembled a slight bit, many would have failed to notice that but the prisoner didn't.
The amethyst eyes turned and gleamed, frightening the executioner further who gulped, the sound was quite audible too.
But the executioner reminded himself that this man couldn't do anything, his powers were held back by the enhanced chains and his intelligence couldn't help him this time. So the executioner sneered at his sight, spitting to the side in response to the gaze.
But never to the face, never to the face, cause the fear was still certain even after his weakness and even after his defeat.
Only death would give them some relief. Only some relief, not complete.
Advancing the steps of the podium, a woman with a good figure, draped with a formal black gown that was loose and proper, soon came in front of the man who lifted his visage containing a smile as the long strands of his matted white hair fell in front of him irritating his eyes just a bit, as it pricked at his sclera.
The lady was a dark beauty, with eyes that matched the blue sky in brilliance, and hair that was like a flowing lava that was fierce and red. She attracted many eyes from the men and women both, due to her looks, figure and the most important reason—her status.
"Lady Vellina, always a pleasure. Quite a rough crowd has amassed here, hasn't it?"
The cracked lips soon parted, and a hoarse voice came out. A voice that was once dignified, deep and attractive had reduced to such. It was a pity. But karma didn't leave anyone, and sometimes even the most powerful, came under its violent gaze.
The woman just chuckled, and spoke away in a way matching his own.
"Hmm, right my dear friend....."
Vellina's face soon disfigured into a sneer and the jolly nature of the eyes soon morphed into hatred—fierce just like her hair.
"But unlike you, I am not shameless enough to pretend everything is ok. You're a monster, a plague and a parasitic man that should have never seen the light of day. And I am here to do that only.
Emperor Sir Astrotoa, from here onwards you are stripped of your influence, your wealth, your rank and of all your titles.
The kingdom will ensure to take care of all the children you abandoned and the wives you left near death, we can't let your bloodline run rampant, can we? So we will ensure that none of them becomes an exact replica of yours."
She paused a bit, as she placed her right hand on her stomach for a bit, before continuing with her words. After all, she was the royal judge who worked directly under the kingdom'e emperor, but as the post was left empty. She was filling in, temporarily or at least that's what the public thought.
"Now we will be coming to your crim–"
The words filled with scorn and wrath were soon interrupted by the prisoner itself as he coughed violently, before he opened his mouth to speak his mind.
"Yeah, yeah. I admit to all my crimes blah blah, no I don't have any last words, nor do I regret it. Come on! I was the fucking emperor, don't bore me now with the formalities, and get on with the execution will you?!"
Then the man laughed, and everyone present there were disgusted at this spectacle, there was no shame for the countless massacres done under his rule nor was there any guilty for the wars done over petty issue.
Sure, the kingdom had immense prosperity and development during his reign but his subjects would never forgive him for his cruelty.
After all rather than a man's success, his cruelty and losses were remembered..... And in his case only his cruelty, for he never lost, well except for this one unlucky time.
"Very well, Astrotoa. I, Royal Judge Vellina, hereby sentence you to death. May your soul rot in the underworld and never find, true peace..... You truly are a demon in man's skin. I am ashamed of myself for ever..... Whatever, it doesn't matter now."
Trust me darling, I know. And not achieving true rest doesn't bother me at all. I would prefer rot than eternal rest, which was why I was cursed, all those lives ago.
The knights covered from head to toe in heavy crimson armor who were holding his chains just a few minutes prior, quickly came beside him on opposite sides and lifted him up, holding his lean weak arms in their own. Months of no food and the chains formed by the sage's sacrifice, had obviously taken a toll on his appearance, but not that aura of power that always pervaded around him. Either attracting others or at this current moment, terrifying them all.
They carried the once-emperor to the guillotine and he never stopped smiling! Vellina accompanied them with her hands held behind the back to ensure everything went well, and according to the execution rules.
The man's head was shoved inside the hole and Vellina bit the inside of her mouth, feeling a slight disturbance in her heart, as she felt scared. She couldn't understand why. Did love still exist for the demon of the man in her heart? No that was impossible! How was that possible?!
But she held her thoughts within, her body remained rigid and her face remained impassive—stone cold.
The sun was setting behind the far away mountains covered with dense cloud-like fogs, and once the rays of the sun had completely went away, everyone realised the time of execution had fell.
"Down with the b-blade."
Vellina ordered coldly yet there was a slight stutter missed by everyone except for....him. Always so observant and this observation made him laugh before the blade came down.
And the crimson spewed like a waterfall, as the head fell into the clean floor rolling till the edge. And to the horror of everyone, the smile only seemed to widen further. Some near the front even screamed in a chorus and probably even the heavens, heard their voice.
I will always and forever have the last last laugh....
That was his last fleeting thought as he succumbed to his demise. Leaving an once perfect world to ruin, all for his own greed and ambitions.
--------------------
In the darkness of an alley, surrounded by dirt and mud. Surrounded by half open trash cans, and spit, a boy of sixteen—beaten till purple, with blood trickling down from his split lips and eyes closed rested against a wall that was quite damp.
A smell of urine lingered on his wet white shirt and black trousers—torn at various places, and it was clear that it was quite cheap. The boy was quite poor, it appeared to be.
Must be messing with some quite brutal thugs, to be beaten like this or was it someone else? Only the boy knew the truth, but he wouldn't be getting up for a long time, that much was clear.
The boy trembled and trembled again, but it was peak summer and even if one was submerged in a pool, they would still feel blisters forming on their naked skin. He continued to tremble and tremble as drool left from the side of his lips, and a trail of scarlet left through one of his nostrils.
And then through his ears, and soon every movement ceased. As a stillness occupied the air. The calm before the wrathful storm.
....
Soon the lids parted and underneath the veil of darkness, a pair of round amethyst emerged like a bridge of light leading towards hell instead of heaven, like it should....