1 Ch1- The Royal Palace

~TW: Scenes might be disturbing. Please be mindful when reading! Enjoy :) ~

We anxiously searched for someone in the palace, a maid, a soldier, anyone? Usually, the palace is full of people and life. However, today it feels empty and a bit off. *shiiiing* We heard a sword cutting through the air and a loud thud. "The sound came from the throne room!" I yelled, informing my friends, We hastily made our way to the room. On the way, I couldn't stop imagining the worst possible scenario. The door was closed, I placed my trembling hand on the handle, I turned my head to face my friends who looked just as anxious as me. I faced the door again, I took a deep breath as I opened the door. I was afraid of what we might witness.

The stench of blood reeked throughout the room, the scene was worse than the smell. The beautifully crafted gold that wrapped around the marble walls and polished marble columns were tainted with blood splatter. The polished timber floors now stained with the dead bodies of soldiers and maids, blood on the crimson carpet that lead to the throne. There lay the cold body of the Emperor of the Kelia Empire, the crown in his lifeless hand.

I noticed 'The 8 swords' but only three of them were standing. I recognized a familiar broad-shouldered, light-medium skin toned, and purple-haired person.

"Tyrian?!" I can't believe my eyes! The man I love and am engaged to is a member of The 8 swords! When did he do this? Why did he do this? I ran towards him then my movement came to a halt.

*whoosh* A sword was drawn by one of the remaining 8 swords pointing at me. He was taller than me, a bit muscular, and blood was splattered on his clothes and face.

Blood dripped from his sword pointing towards me on my clothes.

He spoke in a low voice "Noisy!"

I jumped. I didn't expect him to speak.

"I could cut out your pretty little voice! Then maybe you'll be quiet." He gave me an evil and creepy smirk. Am I going to die? My knees felt weak.

"NOO!!" I hear my friends shouting in the background.

"SHUT IT YOU TWO!" His booming voice could cause an earthquake. "You'll attract more attention!"

"Look who's talking? Be careful, that's Ty's fiancée." Another alive member spoke. He was shorter than the rest of the 8 swords. The man lowered his sword and I felt like I was able to breathe again.

*Clang!* The sound of his sword falling startled me. *Fffftt!* *Urk!* The tall man who drew his sword at me stabbed with a sword from behind right before my eyes, his blood splattered on my dress. Tyrian removed his sword from his former members' back and watched as his soul slowly left his body while he wiped the blood off his sword.

"You know not to draw your sword at my lady."

The shorter man watched in disbelief. "Woah! Ty! You know I won't...do that to you? R-right Ty?" I can tell he is scared, he's even trembling! Can't blame him my heart would've flown out of my chest!

Tyrian faced him and slowly walked towards him. "Yeah, I know but I can't let you leave from here, you might tell her I killed him and let my fiancee and her friends live."

"I-i won't! Why would I do that?! I won't say anything I swear!" The man was stumbling all over his words.

Ty sighed. "I know you won't." *SLASH* Tyrian swung his sword at his member cutting him like paper. He started falling back and with a loud thump, his dying body fell.

Tyrian faced me with his purple gem-like eyes that looked at me with warmth and concern. " Zola? Max? Cara? What are you doing here?"

I hear the voice of my guy friend Max getting closer to me. "She insisted on coming to the palace saying 'something feels off about today.' And we couldn't stop her so we joined her."

"Yeah, but I wasn't expecting this for 'today feels off'." I hear Cara walking closer to me as well.

I moved closer to Tyrian. "Since when have you been a member for them?"

Tyrian gives me a sad and disappointed look. "3 months before we met at the banquet." 3 months! Before the banquet!? I guess there's nothing I can do about that.

"D-does that mean all the times you were busy-"

He nodded his head in agreeance. "Yes, I was in a 'meeting' with all of them."

Tyrian reaches for my face but stops himself midway. "I don't want to dirty your beautiful face with my filthy hands."

I grabbed his hand, put it on my cheek. I blushed a little.

He caressed my cheek and I felt my nerves calming down a bit. " Where's Mark?"

I jumped a little. I wasn't expecting him to ask me about my personal guard. "He doesn't know we are here. I didn't tell him."

Tyrian's face looked concerned after hearing those words. "What?" He sighed. "You all have to go! Leave before more royal guards arrive or else you'll get in trouble."

I'm speechless, did he really just tell us to leave? "No way! what about you? They'll arrest you for treason and other crimes for being a part of the 8 swords!"

"Don't worry about me-" Tyrian almost collapsed but thankfully the column was there to catch his fall.

"TY! Are you okay?!"

He nods his head. "I hope you can forgive me for what I've become. I have made terrible mistakes. Just know that I love you, Zola!"

Tears swelled up in my eyes and my heart raced faster. "I've forgiven you and I love you too!"

"I tried to leave after I met you but I couldn't because it was too late. I shouldn't have helped them, then maybe I could've left." He looked at me with tears in his eyes and gave me a small smile.

"Can I get a kiss?" with a small sly smirk. I blushed and nodded my head.

We kissed each other, I felt his warm lips on mine while he cupped my cheek and I wrapped my arms around him. Tears fell on my cheek as I realized I may never see him again after today.

*Shiing* I hear sound of a metal object, I pull away from the kiss to see- *Fffft!* A dagger piercing his torso as blood soaked his clothes. More blood splattered on my dress. *Hngh!* Tyrian groans in pain. I can't believe what I'm seeing! Tyrian stabbed himself with a dagger! Why would he do that? Please let this be a dream! An awful, terrible, vivid dream! This can't be happening!

"HONEY! I-" I stammer I'm lost for words without wasting any time I tear a huge piece off my beige dress. F*ck this dress! Screw acting like a noble lady! My fiancé is injured and bleeding out! I placed the piece of my torn off dress on Tyrian's wound.

"No... don't... it's not worth it." He barely makes a sentence while coughing up blood. Tears rolled down my face. I heard footsteps in the distance.

Choking on my sobs I try to make a sentence. "What do you mean-....you can't... die like this." Tears rolled down his face as he tried to give me a warm smile. I picked him up and rested him on the column, I pulled him closer to me while I held one of his hands.

"Just know I love you zo- erm!" He clears his throat then reaches in his pocket and pulls out a necklace. It's the necklace I gave him! I was so happy and nervous the day I gave it to him. In fact, I thought he wouldn't wear it because he is a boy but despite that, he wore it... a lot actually.

"Take it and when you think of me hold it. I really loved it! This is my favorite gift." My heart melted from the adorable smile he gave me and those sweet words. There's no point in arguing. I took the necklace and glanced at it. It was a gold necklace with gems and jewels embedded into it. It had a phoenix shape with purple hearted Jewel and small diamonds outlining it.

Tyrian brought my hand close to him and kissed it. " I wish... we met sooner so none of this would have happened, yet you still forgave me for all the wrongs."

He looked at my friends. "Max. Cara. Take care of her and yourself. It was an absolute pleasure meeting ... all of you."

I brought his hand closer to my chin, tears kept falling. " I wish... I wish we met sooner too! Spent more time with each other. Falling in love again… I don't know how I'm supposed to love again..." I choked on my sobs.

"I would even die for you! So I don't have to see you like this... in my arms. I would do it all again just for you." We put our heads together. I feel Cara and Max place their hands on my shoulders. I hear the footsteps from before getting closer to us.

"I would...like that... more time with yo-..." The hand I held fell to the ground, the body in my arm went limp and lifeless. The last of his air escapes his mouth and his head droops. I lay him down on the ground in utter disbelief and shock.

"Hey... wake up... please... no... Tyrian?" I hover over his body and lightly smack his face hoping he passed out. "Hey... this...isn't funny... come on.."

Cara tried to say something. "Z-zo..."

They are just as speechless as me, what can you say when your friend's lover dies right in front of them. The footsteps got louder. *SLAM* opened the doors but I didn't even look, all my attention was on my now dead fiancé.

"Mark is here! and with some guards!" I hear Max say besides me.

On my right side, I hear Cara. "Wait! how did he know we were here?" She has a good point. I hear the guards talking about the scene and the dead Emperor, from behind I hear Mark's voice.

"The coachman told me. Max! Cara! Go with the other guards, I'm taking you home!" His footsteps got closer and the hands left my shoulders. I felt a pair of arms pulling. I looked behind me and saw Mark's worried golden yellow eyes, his blue hair swaying with the wind.

"What the hell are you doing!?"

"I'm sorry but this isn't a scene a lady is supposed to see!" He grunts as he attempts to pull me away from Tyrian but I hold him tight not wanting to let him go.

"Stop it! Leave me be! That's an order Mark!" I screamed while crying.

Mark sighed. "I'm sorry my lady but I have to disobey this order." He pulled me again as I desperately held on to my dead lover's body but the shirt tore off and I flew back with Mark behind me.

I clutched the necklace in my hand. I desperately tried to prey Mark's arm off of me but it was of no use. I tried to smack his arms away, nothing. I wiggled and moved but he didn't budge an inch.

I screamed "Noooooo!! Tyriaannnn!!!" Tears running down, my face burning from the frustration of trying to get Mark off me.

My vision got blurry as everything started to get blurry from clear. The sounds all around me lowered and the world around me went dark.

Where did it all go wrong?.... How did it get like this?....