It was quiet next day. Usually there would be chattering amongst us all but even the other members of the team were silent.
Blade had resorted back to his quiet self; he was contemplating; battling his own mind.
Beast remained silent with a smirk on his lips. He no longer needed to persuade Blade, he was convinced that the queen was malevolent and twisted.
This was the day we got the most important orders of our careers. They were sent throughout the day, almost everyone got them. Everyone besides two people: Blade and Beast. The orders read:
Dear Everyone,
It has come to our attention that one of your fellow members has made the unwise choice of spreading fallacy amongst your peers. The fate of this member has been decided by Queen Ira personally: Beast has been marked for death and must be killed before the end of the day. He is a danger to the group and most importantly he's a threat to the queen and the peace she keeps. Your mission is simple: you must eliminate Beast. If necessary, you have permission, in self defense, to strike down Blade if they object to this action.
Sincerely, Queen Ira
The letter was simple, it explained what we needed to do, who to, and when. The team began planning. Secretly of course. A series of taps here and there, whispers and card dealings, every normal action seemed to be a cryptic code of some kind. I was not taking part in it. I chose to step aside and stand with Blade.
He sat on the rail as usual. Quiet and calm, he held his knees to his chest.
"Blade?..." I whispered. His head twitched at my voice. I placed my hand upon his rough, leather shoulder.
"Blade, please... You didn't know, there was no way you could've..." His body slowly turned to me. He stared into my eyes.
"You don't understand. I'm not upset that I killed those people, I'm not upset that I was tricked, and I'm not upset at Beast for not telling me what he knew. I'm upset because I can't feel it." His eyes began darting back and forth as he found the words to explain to me the secrets he held.
“That darkness you've seen in me, that darkness that's tearing at my soul, the darkness that's corrupting me? It stops me from doing so. It doesn't allow me to feel sadness, sympathy, or guilt. It won't let me feel happiness, love, or even comfort." His gaze fell beyond the rail, beyond the city.
“That's why I'm always on the ledge." His hand raised and began to rub the smooth pearl surface of the rail.
"I'm terrified of falling, but I know if I did fall then I would die. If I died, my nightmare would end. That's all I want." He nudged himself closer, he now stared off the gargantuan fall.
"I would be given comfort in death. That is how I know I won't fall: the darkness won't let me have what I want. It takes everything from me..." His gloveless hand tightened at his words, he dug his sharp nails into the stone.
"Even my desires it twists." I stepped forward, I opened my arms and wrapped them around him. He seemed astonished and surprised.
"The darkness won't take this from you..." I whispered.
With little movement, I broke through the barrier that that horrific, suffocating entity placed. I broke through his hard shell and touched Blade's humanity.
It was at this moment, it all happened: behind us the attack commenced.
Each member of the team joined forces as they all took blades to Beast. Each member slashed him, shot him, and struck him down with no hesitance. Blade's muscles tensed as he gawked at this act of horror.
Beast lashed out, left and right he began to attack the members. His claws cut deep into some of their flesh, his snout was wet with both blood and saliva. I could feel Blade's thoughts: he was seconds away from breaking this moment and drawing arms against the traitors. I knew with his skill, he would win, especially with Beast at his side. I tightened my grip on his waist: a plea to not engage.
Beast was cornered. He threw himself through the archway and onto the balcony. With his back to us, he threw his arms to his sides.
"Come on!" He growled at the team, which were now quickly surrounding him. I noticed a small group of guards follow close behind the four members my squad, the men held scimitars in their hands.
"Do you see, Blade?! This is what she does! Ira will do anything to silence the rogues! Anything to stay in power!..." A guard charged Beast, he raised his saber in preparation. Lunging passed Beast, he came at us. Blade was quick, he shoved me to the ground and raised his arm. The blade of the curved sword dug deep into the leather hide that was his wrist. Beast suddenly dashed, shoulder-shoving the man over the rail and sending him down the long fall and to his death.
"Look at what you're all doing! She knows that we can overrule her—“ A gunshot silenced him. A portion of Beast's skull exploded from his person. Blood poured to the ground as he stumbled back several feet. The last we saw of him was his limp body falling over the rail.
Blade's eyes dilated at the sight. He followed the path back to the bullet's owner. Price stood, one hand held his futuristic pistol as the stern look of duty plastered his face.
Blade stood, conflicted with himself. He shook with frustration as he reached his hand to his back. The rest of the team grew anxious, they weren't ready for this fight, no one was. Price was quick to judge the situation, he found the best course of action, in his mind he thought it was the best. He shot the ground before Blade.
"Don't think about it." His intimidating voice was flawed. I knew Blade saw through this fake mask of composure. Blade took another step, Price fired once more. The next few seconds were magnificent: with his right hand and a blinding glint, Blade drew his sword and caught the bullet in the air. He held his sword with one arm, facing it in a defensive stance. The golden bullet sparkled as its crumpled figure fell from the metal. The sword was undamaged and his blade: unscathed.
"If you, no. If any of you truly think you have a chance to stop me, I encourage that you try. Now." As his words left his lips, the team grew nervous. Two guards decided to take him on his offer. They lunged forward. They both synchronized their blades for the ensuing battle. Blade looked upon his attackers with pity.
He jumped back, his backflip glided over the swinging blades as he landed on the rail. He jumped once more. High in the sky, he hovered over the abyss that was the air. My heart jumped as the thought of him falling to his death came to mind. That thought was quickly extinguished when blade countered his attackers.
He turned his blade and held it facing in on his arm. As if he warped the space around him, his figure stretched across the empty air. Within a second he had teleported past his attackers and stood behind them. His blade dripped with blood. The two men behind him suddenly exploded with crimson. Cuts revealed themselves, they covered the entire surface of their skin. Every limb on their body was spewing with thick amounts of blood. They fell, caving in on their own weight, they were dead.
"Who's next?" Blade whispered into his mask. I chose to act before this moment got any worse. Stepping in front of blade, I stared him directly in the eyes.
"Blade, please? We've had too much bloodshed already..." I stepped closer.
"Go build a home in the forest... Find me one day, I'd want to see it when you do..." I chuckled as I straightened his hood, I knew I would never get the opportunity to actually see it, it was just something I had said to cheer myself up. I leaned forward into his cowl and kissed the fabric where his lips laid. Another hole was punctured through the barrier as he listened to me.
He sheathed his blade and stepped back. He stepped from the puddles of blood and perched himself on the railing. He then stared down into the height of the fall. He would die if he made the jump, and that's exactly what he did. With a glorious leap, he jumped from the terrace and fell. I thought he was a goner until I peered over the edge. He was gliding down the large wall, his sword was wedged in the stone and slowing his descent. He would reach the bottom and escape. He would be free from these walls and free from the queen.
Price stepped from the dissipating crowd and stood next to me.
"You're going to miss him, aren't you?" As if I needed to answer. As a tear dripped from my cheek, the gravity of my silence pushed him away.
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