A single blood stained feather. The only evidence Merle left behind. We had missed him. I clenched my fists staring at Mirth's king, dead on the floor. I wasn't surprised but it meant we had to hurry.

Wren let out a hiss, sliding over the chair, another body coming in view. "Valerie." I muttered. I was surprised to find her like this. A gaping wound in her side, her blindfold ripped off.

She hissed out a gasp, startled I jumped back, nearly tripping over Luca. She scratched at the ground, her scarred eyes wide in indescribable horror.

Wren knelt beside her, a smug scowl on his lips. "Did you see this coming Val? The grand plan winding up with your end."

Her fists tightened, "Little weaselly putrid rat!" She hissed, struggling to breathe. His smirk grew, "I thought this was all about pulling his strings. " He shrugged, laughing at her.

"He knows." She grabbed after Wren. "You have to warn Augustine!" Her tone changed to desperate.

Wren stood up, looking down at her coldly "I don't have to do anything witch." He scowled. Luca looked over at me raising his eyebrows, I shrugged. He was certainly a cold adversary.

"He's coming...coming for all of us… that includes you!" She struggled to shout, continuing to reach after us. Wren walked back his expression still.

"We'll see." He muttered, not looking back.

She roared, the note dropping. Her strength faltered, her arm hitting the floor. She didn't move again. The first non-monarch on this path Merle killed. I shivered, why he would kill her but not me I didn't know. I was missing something and I feared it was important.

"We should go." Wren said, stepping back from Valerie. I nodded, taking Luca's hand. I was sick of failure. "One more king." He remarked dryly. I held out my hand to Wren. He took it as I brought Discord to mind. Drawing on my heart beat, I tightened my grip on their hands, falling into the rhythm of the pulse. Crossing Its torrent, I opened my eyes. Back in the war conference room, the three of us stood facing Discord's flag.

"The mighty Discord." Wren remarked, staring at it. Last time I was here I watched their king die. I didn't want to do that again. The tables set facing us, the generals weren't meeting today. Back in the high-ceiling halls of Discord, elegant grey, like steel. I went for the door right away. We didn't have time to waste.

I followed my path. My steps echoing, Wren and Luca right behind me. I didn't really know where the king was but I knew it was only a matter of time till we found him. I would keep pressing forward. I had to stop this. I was determined to stop this.

"Slow down Phyn." Luca said, making me realize how fast I was walking.

"Sorry." I slowed, looking back at Wren and Luca.

"Do we even know where the king is?" Wren asked with a skeptical tone. I shrugged sheepishly. Wren sighed, "Any ideas of how to find the king?" The people walking by eyeing us strangely.

Luca shrugged, stepping out from our circle. "Anyone know where the King is?" He yelled out, to anyone in hearing distance. The people murmured, shifting in response. I frowned, that wasn't a good idea. We didn't need guards coming after us.

"Anyone?" Luca asked again. A child poking his out of the corner, sleepy eyes and messy black hair. "I know where the king is." He answered, scratching his head.

"You do?" Luca's eyes brightened as he leaned down to the child's height. The kid nodded, "Yup, follow me." He offered, walking out.

"What's your name?" I asked, as he began to lead the way. "Joseph." He shrugged, motioning us onward. A strange kid with strange confidence.

The hall emptying, I was worried we'd soon be finding guards behind us. We would have to be fast. Joseph, paused at the staircase waiting for us to catch up. He looked back with bright eyes, starting up the stairs as the three of us followed.

"So where are you taking us anyway." Wren's voice echoed up the stairwell. Joseph shrugged, "I don't really know how to say." He answered. I gave a nervous chuckle, that was reassuring. He was quite young, if I had to guess I would say he was five or six. Young enough that he might not know where he was going. He stopped at the top.

"I think it was on this floor." Joseph mused quietly. Wren rolled his eyes, "Great. We're dealing with guesses." He muttered, looking back at me.

Luca gave a half smile, "It's better than nothing." He stepped forward, "I trust him." He said, ruffling Joseph's hair as he walked through the door. Joseph wrinkled his nose.

Wren shook his head, dragging his feet after them. Joseph marched to the last door in the hallway and yanked it open. "He was up here earlier." He called, walking out onto a balcony.

A skinny blond man stood at the edge. He turned back with a familiar snarl. Regis, dressed in kingly robes, they didn't make him look any less like the snake.

"What on earth are you doing here!" He hissed. "Trying to stop your death, although I'm not sure why." Luca growled. Regis stepped down from the edge.

"My death?" He laughed. "You're insane." He spat.

Wren tilted his head, "All the other monarchs of Tetrad are dead." Regius's eyes grew wide, darting back inside the palace. We turned watching him run, a scared rabbit pretending to be a king. He was afraid of this. I followed, walking back past Joseph, and into the first room down the hall.

"No one is going to kill me, not with the allies I've made." Regis continued, franctictically busying himself. "He will kill you precisely because of who you're allied with." I spat back, Luca coming in right after me.

"He?" Regis looked squirrelly. Wren strolling in "Ya. A rather frightening bird-like wizard, likes to stop time, not afraid of getting blood on his hands." He summarised.

"No you're lying! " Regius darted his eyes. His expression screaming denial.

Joseph poked his head in, his eyes wide listening. "Joseph." I leaned down to him. "You should get going, it's not safe here." I advised him. He shook his head, twisting his little face in a frown, "I'm not scared of anything." He huffed, crossing his arms.

"I didn't say you were but these are really dangerous people." I argued back. "So am I." He raised his eyebrows. I smirked, he was adorable but he needed to listen to sense."Joseph you need to understand-" he ran off before I could finish. I tried to grab him, a book flying off the shelf, hitting me in the arm. I rubbed my arm confused.

Joseph pushed past Wren and hid under the King's desk. Regis let out a frustrated hiss at Joseph's dash, putting his fingers in his hair.

"Who is he anyway?" Wren asked, pointing after Joseph. Regis's eyes lit up in frustration. "I have no idea! He showed up a while ago and we can't get rid of him."

"Why don't you just throw him out?" Wren raised his eyebrows. "You don't think we've tried! He keeps coming back!" He scowled. Joseph's giggle coming from under the desk.

"And yet you're not afraid of assassin's." Luca shook his head. "Well he is just a kid." Regis rolled his eyes.

An uneasy feeling coming over me. A fear in the pit of my stomach that was all too familiar. I didn't have time to keep arguing. I pulled out my crossbow, loading it.

"What is she doing?" Regis stepped back afraid.

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"She's getting ready to kill your assassin." Wren shrugged, ducking behind a bookshelf. Luca slipped behind the door and I settled beside him. This felt too much like Euphoria. I was panicking, our plan was still the same. It already felt like failure.

"What am l supposed to do?" He asked, staring wide-eyed. He didn't get a response. That slow crawling feeling creeped in, filling me with terror. He was here. I felt my arms freeze up. My heartbeat stopped, cutting me off from the pulse. Nowhere to run. The air, still in my lungs, everything in me burning.

The feather cloaked wizard glided in, Regis frozen in exasperated shock. Merle carefully shut the door turning the key in the lock, he ignored my presence. His eyes were fixed on his prey. Merle smirked, flicking out his blade he aimed it for Regis. I couldn't pull the trigger. I couldn't stop this once again. He drew the blade back, driving it towards its heart.

As he swung it suddenly fell from his grasp. The blade clamored to the floor. Merle stepped back, pausing, picked up the blade again. He thrust it towards Regius, it fell again hitting the floor.

Merle cursed it, quickly picking up the blade he increased the speed of his swing. The blade flew across the room, stuck into the wall. What on earth?

Merle looked around carefully, a slight click drawing his eyes above. The metal chandelier came crashing down on top of him. How was this happening? A shallow giggle, drawing my attention to the desk. Joseph?

Merle threw The chandelier off. Eyes lit in fury, he lifted up the desk, throwing it over, revealing little Joseph. His eyes bright with laughter. He didn't know what he was doing.

Merle's hold on time faltered. I pushed the trigger, the arrow ripping across the room. It skidded by him, scraping across Merle's cheek. A feather falling to the ground, fresh blood dripping from the wound. It was only a surface wound. It wasn't enough.

His head turned, his fury directed at me. Good, forget about Joseph. He stepped forward and I trembled. My limbs started shaking. I was breathing. My heart was beating. A commotion like thunder found my ears. A familiar woman war general yelling with stomping feet.

Merle's breathing ragged, he turned his head in panic. He threw Joseph aside, darting towards his blade. The world felt choppy in its motion. Was he not stopping time? Maybe he was limited in using it. It didn't matter.

I threw down the crossbow. Pulling the blade Broc gave me, I ran after him, madly slashing in his direction. I didn't know what I was doing but I had to kill him. He jumped back from me, avoiding my swings. He turned, kicking me in the stomach. I stumbled back, watching him dislodged his blade from the wall. Something maddening about the look in his dark eyes.

I hesitated, watching him switch targets. He turned, jumping back to the King. Regis floundering on the floor in confusion, Merle swung around him, dragging his blade across his neck. I chased after him, too late to stop his action.

Regis fell on his face, throat cut. I gagged, almost collapsing. I fought through the feeling, stepping up. I turned my blade leaping after Merle, I had to kill him. He grabbed my hand, holding me back from striking him. I gasped, tears in my eyes. I pushed with all my might, my arms aching. The pounding at the door, increasing as the wood started to splinter. The guards, fighting to get in.

"Give...up." Merle struggled, holding the knife back. "No." I hissed, my hair caught in my face, sweat dripping down my forehead. He shoved me back, I stumbled in shock.

Merle gave a horrific screech, his eyes glowing for a second. The horrible feather cape glittered as his appearance morphed. The shape of his head shifted, becoming more like a bird. His beakish mouth coming to a sharper point. His shoulders shifted, his cape almost appearing as wings. His eyes wide, holding back an internal horror.

I fell back, the timeless state drifting back in. It locked the room in place, every muscle stilled. Merle fixed his head back to Regis, pulling out another vile. With talon-like fingers, he unscrewed the lid, filling it up with the blood of the last King. I failed. He shut it, slipping it back in his cloak.

His eyes drawn back to me. This was it, he was going to kill me. He approached, walking past me, stepping over the hole in the door. What was he doing? He stumbled out of view, looking much more bird-like than when he walked in here. This wasn't over? Tears began to stream down my face, the world moving again.

"No!" I hissed, hitting my fists on the floor. I turned away from the dead king, finding Luca right behind me, his hand on my shoulder. I hadn't even felt it. He looked up with pity in his eyes. Wren moved, from behind the curtain. Quickly he ripped down the curtain and threw it over Regis's body. The guards crashed through the door, they stopped in ranks.

Joseph poked his head up, rubbing his eyes. "Did we win?" He mumbled, looking at the mess. I shook my head at him. The war general lady bursting through her ranks. I needed to grab everyone and get out of here. Luca locked eyes with me agreeing. It wouldn't be long till they pulled back the curtain and found the dead king.

"What kind of trickery are you trying to pull here!" She shouted, looking nervous about what she didn't know. I didn't want to deal with this. I took Luca's hand pulling him over to Wren.

"Stop what you're doing!" She commanded, the guards shifting their stance. I stopped walking, something told me that I couldn't be fast enough.

Wren shrugged, 'Go without me' he mouthed. I shook my head. I couldn't do that. He tilted his head towards the guards, giving me another shrug. I glared at him, I wasn't going to abandon him.

Joseph stood up, walking forward. He looked over sympathetically, "You guys need to get out of here?" He asked. Luca nodded. I braced myself, knowing the chaos that was about to erupt. Joseph wasn't an ordinary little boy.

The war general stood unphased, she flicked her hand in a signal. Joseph laughed, everything on the shelves erupting in the air. Books and knick knacks shooting across the room. I ducked avoiding a flying goblet. Joseph snickering at the chaos he created, I grinned at him. He was one of us, Marked. I didn't know the name of his gift but I was grateful for it.

The guards tried to use their weapons, their swords falling to the floor, suddenly too heavy to wield. I didn't have time to watch the commotion.

I grabbed Wren, looking back at Joseph, "Do you want to come with us?" I asked. He shook his head, "I'm not done here."

"Are you sure?" Luca held out his hand. Joseph nodded, "Ya I'm fine." He smirked.

"I don't think you'll convince him." Wren pushed, looking desperate to leave. I took a sigh, "Right." I echoed, finding my heartbeat. Without a destination in mind, I found something familiar. Collapsing into the rhythm, I shut my eyes. I heard A gasp of surprise from Joseph as we disappeared. It made me grin as my feet settled on new ground.

I opened my eyes, taking a breath, a relief to be free. I sucked back in by breath, gawking in horror. My gut wrenching at what I saw. Why of all places did I end up here? I didn't want to be here. Anywhere would be better than here.

I stumbled back, the smell of the forest so very familiar. "What is it? Where are we?" Wren asked, looking strangely at my reaction. I stared down at the familiar cityscape. Short winding streets and little towers. I blinked back tears, this was too much, an overload of emotions.

"This is Enfold, Phyn's hometown." Luca echoed, staring at me. I couldn't breathe. "Why is that a bad thing kid?" Wren turned, scratched his head.

I couldn't get past the gnawing feeling in my gut. "I haven't been here since my family died." I hissed, barely breathing. "That's not changing today." I shook my head, turning back towards the forest. I ran, not looking back. I wasn't staying.

"Phyn wait!" Luca called, following after me.

"We can just go somewhere else, can't we?" Wren shouted, his voice fading out. It hurt to be here. Everything bringing up an onslaught of emotions. Running through the forest, pulling pranks and climbing trees. Every scratch and bruise telling some happy memory, now lost forever. I took a desperate breath, struggling to hold back the tears. I stopped running, drowning in the feeling.

I turned, finding Luca. Right behind me, catching his breath. I avoided his gaze. "Why did you bring us here?" He asked, watching my eyes. I shook my head, "I don't know. We were in a rush to leave, somehow I ended up thinking of this place." I stumbled over my words, wiping a tear that broke free.

"Phyn…" Luca said, wincing at my tears. He walked closer, pulling his arms around me. I gasped back a sob, "I can't be here. It reminds me of what happened...that I'm all alone now." I cried, tears streaming down my face.

"You're not all alone, not completely." Luca shook his head, "I'm here. I'm always here." He leaned his forehead on mine. I let out a little laugh, "Yes you're here to witness my mess." I stepped back wiping my cheeks.

"You're allowed to be a mess Phyn." He pulled me back. I took another gasp of air, struggling to breathe.

"Even the strongest people break."

I shook my head, "I'm not strong... I failed. I didn't kill Merle. I couldn't avenge my family. I can't stop what's coming." I confessed.

"It was probably hopeless anyway..." Something aching in his voice. "At least we're both still alive." He looked deep into my eyes, reading my soul.

"Oh is that supposed to be the silver lining?" I raised my eyebrows.

He shook his head, "No." His voice dropped a note, "You're my silver lining." I stared up at him. Looking for what he meant by that. He leaned his head down, lifting my chin. I held my breath, our noses touching as he moved to find my lips.

"Oh geez I always show up at the worst moments." Wren spat, practically spinning around. Luca jumped back, his face bright red. More frazzled than I think I'd ever seen him. I giggled slightly, trying to hide my own embarrassment.

Wren cautiously turning back around, "No more smooching please, we have a lot to discuss." He stated uncomfortably. I frowned, "What do you mean? I failed, we didn't stop this." Wren shook his head, "No kid, it's just beginning. This story isn't over."