Lately It's So Quiet [Closed]

[seraaches]

A ripple of fear and anticipation swept through him as his father appeared in his hands. He kneaded his nails into the man’s shoulder, but the Queen of Hearts kept reaching upwards. His attention was pulled by the sudden reappearance of the whip, but Se wasn’t worried about it; he was far too close for the summoned weapon to do any real damage.

Rai touched his chest, the ‘Q’ and the Heart that graced the skin. It didn’t matter what the stallion tried now, though, the Yarrow mix had won. He laughed suddenly, though even that sound seemed off. “Never thought it would end this way, did you? Did you!” He kept talking to his father, though no words came out. He cursed the older man in detail, then loudly when it suddenly felt as though something was torn from his chest. He fisted his right hand and slammed it at his father’s face. This was for every person Shinrai had killed.

[seraaches]

Rai had his own desire to curse when he finally got his hand on his child’s chest. His aspects weren’t helping, Se wasn’t distracted, and when he pulled his hand away, he had a potentially very dangerous ability at his disposal; not necessarily one he even wanted to use. He swiftly brought his left arm up to block the punch and Se’s fist connected soundly with the weak bones. Rai heard an ominous crack and he tried to jerk backwards and away.

He had years and years of training, though he had never been able to really get away from the Queenship long enough to bring them back up to the fine tuned point they had once been maintained at. He was running out of tricks and he didn’t know how to end this without losing his son.

Rai flicked his wrist carefully, glad that the bone appendage still responded to his commands. The whip reacted to that movement, zipping back towards Se’s face.

[seraaches]

The block was a bit of a surprise, but Se had nothing but amusement when the bone snapped beneath his power. It was time; enough of this playing. He was reaching for his secret weapon, for the key to killing his father, when the whip jerked out at him. He jerked his head slightly, and she caught him along the jawline. Rai was experienced with his whip and the weapon had responded beautifully, but there wasn’t enough power behind the blow to do enough damage to stop the hybrid.

He pulled out his dagger and leapt for his father again without hesitation. He aimed for the stallion’s heart and would slam the weapon in right up to its hilt. Once it was in, he slipped the catch, releasing the poison he’d gotten specifically for this occasion from his mother. His lips twisted in an ironic sneer. Mnem did not know why he’d gotten the poison from her. But knowing the crazy bat, she’d be happy for helping to kill her once-mate.

[seraaches]

Rai had run out of choices. As Se leapt for him, Rai opened his mouth to spit the fireball. He caught the glint of a weapon as the whip screamed a warning in the depths of his mind. The stallion twisted, trying to get out of range, but it wouldn’t matter. The fireball went awry and the dagger caught him full in the chest. He gasped in surprise at the jolt of cool metal into his flesh. It took only a moment for the burning sensation to follow.

His legs collapsed beneath him and Se came with him to the ground. Rai was vaguely aware of his son’s mouth moving again, but there were no words to describe what was happening to him. He was still falling, but Rai never felt the ground because darkness swallowed his consciousness before he could.

The Queen of Hearts lay crumpled on the ground in the circle of flaming earth spikes.

[seraaches]

Se jerked his dagger out of his father’s chest with a sneer. He wiped the blade on the dead man’s shirt then swiftly resheathed the weapon. He slipped between his stone spikes easily and growled at those who dared to remain standing there.

Ira trotted up, sending Se a bright smile, for all the world acting as though the human before him wasn’t some sort of freak of nature. ”Congratulations, Your Majesty. Would you mind putting out the flames?”

Se turned to glance at the flaming earth and snuffed it swiftly out. His father didn’t deserve any type of honour pyre. Ira sketched him a salute, then gracefully made his own way into the battleground. He was gone only a few moments; a second crack rang through the air, then he reappeared with the bone hand. ”Excellent. This way, Your Majesty.” He led Perseus away from the courtyard.

The mutated human followed the King without a backward glance.

[Trebias]

Elias watched the fight unfold, dreading the worst when Perseus pounced and disappeared behind his flaming spikes. Elias appreciated the power, but dreaded its future use. He didn't remember the hybrid being so large before. He'd been working out, apparently. So much the worse for Whip.

When Perseus emerged and doused the flames, El's heart fell. He waited until the duo departed before going up toward Rai's too still body. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad. Fat chance of that.

The chest wound looked serious, and it looked as though Rai's shoulder had been slashed. He was a bloody mess. He never should have agreed to this plan. He should have buried Perseus as a glass statue last harvest moon. Should have, would have, didn't.

Still, he'd committed himself to this plan, so he carried through. He waved away the attendant that had moved toward Rai's body, putting forth all the love he had for the Heart, all their years together, letting it turn into a warning of violence, a promise to hurt anyone that came near right now. "I'll see to him," his voice rumbled from behind the mask.

He checked Rai's vitals. "Dead," he announced to those gathered. " He won't be challenging for the title again. May he rest peacefully." He wrapped Shinrai in his cloak, not liking the stillness one bit. It was everything he could do not to gallop out of there. Instead, he proceeded almost regally, giving Rai the honor he deserved. He left calmly, re-activating his Jack ability as soon as he could so that he could make his way quickly to the healer, seeing if there was any hope.

[seraaches]

Dead? Zeus couldn’t believe his eyes, couldn’t believe his ears. The Queen had virtually laid down and let his son rape him! ”What the h*&&!” He snarled under his breath. What kind of craze Court had that blasted horse been running? Not only had his son killed him but some other Card had taken the bloody stallion’s arm!

If it hadn’t been another Josiggy, Zeus might have even agreed with the action. He would have gladly gone to collect the infidel’s head, but a large canine—he looked to match Obadiah in sheer size—had gotten to the body first. The idiots! Zeus gave another snarl of rage and stormed off. He would have to rethink his plans now.

Dead? Shin was frozen in shock as despair, frustration, anger, and despondency swept through him in alternating currents. Rai was dead. Rai was. . . Rai was dead. No. Shin watched as El gathered his brother in a manner that proved the canine cared deeply. Shin swallowed. He could feel his chain to Zeus tightening; he would have to go soon. No, Rai. He couldn’t be. The Josiggy carried the body of his brother away and Shin stared at the jutting rock formation in the middle of the courtyard, and then faded back towards the Lowlander he was tied to by something worse than love.

[seraaches]

Dre knew what was happening now, but her mind was still rather blanked from watching the fight. Se had been. . . truly more frightening than she could have even imagined. She wondered how long she’d be haunted by the sight of Se screaming words that didn’t come out at his father. She shuddered, her wings mantling slightly as though to give herself a protective bubble. Now the hard part began for her and Ignatius; they, along with Ira, would have to keep Se under control. She could only hope and pray that their surmising would be correct: if only Se could regain some level of mental normalcy now that his catalyst was gone. Somehow, having seen the human Se, she began to doubt that would ever be possible.

They were coming down his hall. Drostan closed his eyes, huddling for all of his worth behind a potted plant until they passed by, and then threw himself back out to the courtyard to be with Dre again. He needed her protection. The Ace skidded into the woman’s legs and she dropped to throw her arms around him as well. His red eyes stared out at the jutting rock that still decorated the courtyard. A monument to the new Queen of Hearts. He shuddered again.

[Satra]

Heilyn could feel her jaw tighten every time at attack was made against Rai, but she watched for anything that might get near Bernard. Despite whatever protesting may have come her way, she pulled him away when the flying fireballs passed right through the illusions and landed too close for comfort. She knew Bernard probably had some ability to protect himself, but it didn't stop her fears from surfacing.

Then it was over. She gave a horrified gasp. It couldn't be real... Shinrai... She stared in disbelief and utter hatred as the man passed by her into the Palace.

Dead. He was dead. Heilyn had her family to protect. She needed to get to Seth and tell him to get the children out of the Palace until Perseus was gone. Despite her need to act, she couldn't move. Shinrai... She looked to his body near the flaming mass of rock. This was so wrong...

[Nathalia]

Bernard had barely breathed throughout the battle. He appreciated Heilyn's being there more than he could have imagined, he wouldn't have been able to move out of the way of some of the flaming debris if she hadn't been there. He just couldn't focus enough on himself to care.

This couldn't be real.

He stared at Se's face as the flames were wiped from the stony spikes jutting up around the fallen Queen's body. The face, quite frankly, terrified him. He watched as Ira moved over to his father's body and tore the skeletal arm off, presenting a salute to his brother as they both began to move off. He felt stiff, his limbs unresponsive and a dull buzz echoing in his ears as he stared at Rai's body.

"Heilyn, I need to go talk to them. Do me a favor will you?" He turned to look up at her, and felt his gut twist at her expression. "I need you to leave until something else comes along. We're being run by a madman and none of the children can stay here, be they ours or not. Find Sekhmet for me, will you? She and the children need to leave as well."

He began walking after the new Queen, closer to the entrance than they were and only a few feet behind. He continued talking as he went, trusting Heilyn to listen, Hills...let her listen.

"The others are more important now, please do not follow me. Xiven...get Xiven out, I think this was just a family issue but the last thing we need are more Queenly assassinations, Heilyn."

He walked deliberately away from her at that point, his limping gait with the cane not adequate for the speed the Equines were traveling. "Ira, Ira, I need to speak with you and your brother please." He called, hoping the odd King would at least slow at his voice, if not drag him right up to Se and present him. Hills, let everything blow over, let this man rage out of the palace or something.

He couldn't help the slight shaking of his shoulders as he saw Se up close. Hills...I don't want to die...