This Means War

Matt watched as Zack walked into the room, "I have things that i need done and yet you continue to take your time!" HE yelled at his brother. "God its amazing that i am still letting you breath my air." He snapped. He stood up then stepped down from the throne, "If Holly continues to be a distraction you are gonna have to get rid of her." He snapped, knowing that Zachary would know what he meant by get rid of.

---

Holly walked out of the castle and made her way to one of the local villages. She stopped when she heard someone talking, looking over to see Thorn. Her eyes went to their demon form as the sorceress looked at her. She didn't want to deal with this today and she wasn't going to. Holly looked away and kept walking, crossing her arms.

@ RavenArtist93

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Thorn

"That's what I thought," Thorn muttered to herself as Holly walked away, "You hungry, my friend?"

Seeing Blackheart nod, Thorn smiled and looked around in search for a snack for her noble dragon. Hearing some squeaking down nearby, Thorn directed her palm towards the sound and used her telekenetic energy to raise the rat from the ground. Thorn used the energy to throw the rat towards her dragon, watching it's mouth immediately snatch it and begin to feast on it.

"I have work to do," Thorn sighed, petting her dragon, "I will be back later when I can okay?"

Watching her dragon nod in defeat, Thorn retreated up the stairs and back to the castle, getting a feeling that she probably was needed by the king.

---

Zack

Zack glared at his brother, starting to get sick of these dumb games that Matthew was playing, "I'm never getting rid of her and you know that. She means everything to me and is a huge part of me. Taking her away is a horrible idea if you want to keep me loyal to your ruling."

Before Matthew could speak, Zack cut him off, "But let's get back to real business shall we?" Zack crossed his arms, "What are you planning to do with your new mistress?"

Matt looked at her, "I plan to keep her around, do you have a problem with that?" He asked as he watched his brother carefully. He really could not stand him right now. Matt looked up at Thorn walked into the throne room. Haner looked at the girl then looked back at Zachary. Matt smirked as he sat in his chair, watching as his servant brought him his glass. He took a sip of his wine. "Go burn the next village Zachary i'm sick of seeing you at the moment." HE said.

---

Holly sighed as she walked to the one village and looked at one of the stores. She saw a necklace she wanted so she walked in. Unfortunatlely the necklace was on the clerk. Holly walked over, killing the girl. She took the necklace, putting it on. Holly walked into the castle, seeing Zack come out in an angry rage. She bit her bottom lip lightly as she followed him to their bedroom. "What's wrong love?" She asked as he stormed around the room grabbing his things to leave.

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Thorn

Stepping foot into the throne room, Thorn looked over at Zack, who stormed out in pure anger. Haner on the other hand was giving her a look that read nothing but the pure lust in his eyes. Thorn ignored him and went over to her King, seeing how frustrated he looked when he buried his face in his right hand while holding it up by his elbow on the arm of the throne's royal chair.

"You need to relax," she whispered, her delicate hand gently touching the part of his shoulder that was bare to her, "I can help you with that," she muttered, her fingers kneading into the flesh of his shoulder to give comfort as he placed the chalice of wine on the stool near him.

---

Zack

"Pack up your things," Zack growled, not even acknowledging Holly's presence, "We are fucking leaving. We have an assigned mission and I plan on staying away for a while. Gather your things."

"But, Zack-"

"Don't argue with me!" he bellowed, his head whipping around to face her and his eyes glinting pure anger, "I don't have fucking time for this. Do as you are told!"

Zack didn't feel the need to apologize after nearly screaming at her. He was so built up in fury that he couldn't handle any sort of comfort at the moment. The tension in his heart and mind was increasing tenfold. He couldn't stay here...

Matthew relaxed under her touch, "My brother is being a fool! Does he not realize i could have him cut into a billion pieces and scattered across the land!" HE yelled. He was anger and he just wanted to have his brother tortured. Matthew took a sip of his drink, "People are foolish not to follow me." He said. He looked at Haner, "Do you wish to question my authority?" He asked.

---

Holly sighed as she started to pack her things. She bit her bottom lip lightly as she tried to not question him. She grabbed her journal off the nightstand then put it in her bag. Holly looked at him, "Where exactly are we going?" She asked softly as they walked out of the castle. SHe knew taht she wasn't suppose to ask anything but she was curious to know what Zack had planned.

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Thorn

Haner rose his hands up in defense, "No, your majesty. I am very loyal to you, you know that," he assured King Matthew, his eyes gazing at Thorn before he began to leave, "I will leave you two be," he bowed before heading out the throne-room's door, leaving Thorn and Matthew alone in the large structure.

Gently touching his shoulder-length amber hair, Thorn stroked it for a good second before sitting right next to him, wondering what conversation he would bring up as he let out a long sigh.

Thorn looked over at him, her "dark side" growing a found of his anger and the comfort of his presence, "Anything you must have me do, my king?" she said in such an angelic tone, "I am by your every bidding. If it makes you any better, I be happy to make your brother's head explode from the inside out," she smirked under her breath.

---

Zack

Zack was about to snap at his lover, but he immediately cut it off and looked at her in a deadly calm state, "We are going to head over to the far side to see where exactly that sorceress came from. Obviously, she is not full of good nature. She may have helped the people...but what if that was the good side of her: an outer shell of what she is truly capable of?" he questioned, watching Holly's eyebrows furrow.

Shaking his head, he grabbed the last of his equipment and set it near the door before he went to putting his light black armor on, "We will find means of rest and food on the trip. I just want to know the truth about everything. The Rebellion is in a dark sleep, knowing that their 'leader' has changed because of the King's motives. They will do anything to get her back...even if it involves slaughtering us...and torturing you," he mumbled.

Matthew looked at Thorn, "No there is not need to hurt him yet." He said as he touched her hand. He sighed as he leaned back against his chair. "I don't understand why everyone is starting to go against me." He said as he put his hand behind his head.

---

Holly nodded then walked with him. She got on her horse then rode with him out of the village. She was kind of excited to get away from the dark king for awhile. Even though she was with the dark prince. He still wasn't as bad as the other brother. Holly looked over at him, "So are we going to destroy the village?" She asked him one they stopped.

[Sorry about the short post I am in school :/]

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@ Divergent

(It's okay :) I was at work lol )

Thorn

"Well, if it were my other self right now, I would be saying a lot of malicious statements and insults to answer your question," Thorn said in all honesty, "But...since I am who I am now, I have no say on the matter. You have me to do anything by your every will."

Seeing Matt glance over at her with blackened irises of anger, frustration, and lust, Thorn merely smiled and placed her hand on his, "I can treat you later, if you like. It will be an experience that you never encountered in your life...and I will make it worth while."

---

Zack

"Not now," Zack sighed as both of their horses strolled through the woods that were gnarled into a more black color than brown, "I want to first get answers from where Thorn came from. Something ancient and truly malevolent is resting within her. What we saw back there in the ballroom was nothing from the looks of it. She seems to be more capable of her own dark energy than any of us think."

Looking over at Holly, Zack could tell the slightly worried expression on her face.

Zack smiled sincerely but soon erased it from his expression, "I don't want my brother to get killed if he goes too far with her. Yes, he can be quite a bastard and all...but he is my brother...he is a part of me."

Matthew looked at her, "Later." He said. He had other things to take care of. He looked over at her, seeing the evil perfection that he had made. He smirked then stood, "I have some things to tend to. You should get yourself something eat or something like that." He said. He thought for a moment, "Make yourself at home." He said as he walked out of the throne room. One of the servants looked at Thorn for a moment then looked back at the floor, not wanting to get in to any trouble.

---

Holly nodded, "I understand." She said as they went through the woods. "Do you think that Thorn is up to no good?" SHe asked him as she ran her fingers through her hair. Obviously the girl was up to no good but Holly really did think that Thorn would be what made Matthew fall. Holly looked at Zack again, "Zachary what will happen if something happens to Matthew?" She asked him.

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Thorn

"Don't be afraid to approach me," Thorn simply said to the male servant of soft raven black hair that draped to just below his ear and blue eyes that were as beautiful as the ocean far from home, "I could treat you if you be very generous with me."

"Y-Yes, ma'am," he stuttered, swallowing hard before approaching her with his hands behind his back, "Is there anything I can get for you?"

"You can escort me to the garden out in the back," she smiled, getting up and walking with the servant, "What's your name?"

"J-Jonathan, ma'am," he said.

"Do you believe in powerful magic, Jonathan?" Thorn asked.

"I guess so..."

"Then let me show you what the most powerful magic can do," she smiled, her hand gently touching the back of his shoulder, "I need some good company."

---

Zack

"Thorn is definitely up to no good," Zack sighed, his eyes glancing through the forest that they traveled far into, "The good part of her is trapped in a cage while that 'malicious' part of her is revealing itself like an unbreakable outer shell to who she really is. If Matthew goes too far with her power, he could kill himself in the process...along with losing everything he has had for such a long time."

Hearing what Holly said about what would happen if something happened to Matthew, Zack frowned and glanced at the red sky that was radiant with the sunlight, "If something happens to Matthew...then the Rebellion has full power to take over... If Thorn is as ancient and powerful as we think she is, then the whole entire realm could plunge into a doomsday...bringing about the end of the entire era of us."

Matthew walked into the dining hall where he was meeting with most of the guys. "I have sent my brother away for a bit so you gentlemen wont be concerning yourself with his needs for awhile." He said. Matthew sighed as he looked down at the wine in front of him, "I grow tired of not having what i want. I demand that the villages be raided. Any magical being that is not with us is to be slaughtered." He said.

---

Holly nodded, "Well doesn't that sound lovely." She said, sarcastically. She looked in front of them as they continued on their journey. "He should have just killed the sorceress and been done with it. None of this would have happened if you would have been appointed king over that idiot." She said. Holly bit her bottom lip lightly as she thought of the world that Zack would have created.

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Thorn

"What are you bringing me here for exactly?" Jonathan wondered, knowing they have been walking the garden for a good half hour.

"In my own power, I appoint you as my primary servant," Thorn smiled rather wickedly, "But you won't need this form," she sneered before waving her hand to conduct her dark powers.

Jonathan was hovered into the air, a black mist caging him as he floated with fear over his face. Thorn saw Matthew enter the garden from the corner of her eye, wondering what she was up to when he noticed she wasn't in the dining hall after his short meeting ended. With the flick of her wrist, Jonathan's skin dissolved into ash as his screams filled the sky. Every living part of his body disintegrated in slow motion as if fire was slowly burning him alive. All that was left was his skeleton that was now the color of black. The mist cloaked the skeleton, making it resemble a lot as the Reaper, "Do you like my creation, my King?" Thorn said without looking at him.

---

Zack

"I wouldn't call my brother an idiot," Zack almost snapped, but soon subsided the boiling anger, "I always knew he was blinded of his own power. He is very smart...but he just doesn't use it appropriately as how he should be as King."

Stopping the horses in the middle of the deepest part of the forest, Zack tied the horse to the tree nearby and grabbed out his blanket and supplies, "We will rest here for now. It is suicidal to enter the 'Forbidden Mist' of the forest, that lies just under 2 miles ahead, at night. That is where the most dangerous creatures lurk...but only around nightfall. So let's rest love..."

Matthew smirked as he approached the creature that Thorn had made, "I do like it." He said as he looked over the reaper. "What is it capable of?" HE asked, crossing his arms. He was glad that she was actually starting to act like one of them. Matthew glanced around the garden, most of the flowers had died in his presence so it looked pretty gloomy. MAtthew sighed, "Are you enjoying yourself Thorn?" EH asked.

---

Holly nodded,"Okay." She said. She helped him prepare the bed, after tying up her horse. Holly laid next to Zachary, shivering slightly as she snuggled up to him. She wrapped her arms around him, closing her eyes as she tried to fall asleep. She felt really safe being with him so she wasn't afraid to fall asleep. She knew that Zachary would take care of her.

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Thorn

"Well, if you ever need justice to any of your prisoners or ones who betray you, Grim here can do the honors," Thorn smiled, her hand gently resting on top of the Reaper's skull as it hovered in the air by a cloud of black mist, "He can possess a being as well as a horrifying punishment to a person who deserves a horrible fate. Grim here can also make the person burst from the inside out. He is very handy, along with going through walls so no obstacles lie ahead."

Thorn gently walked up to Matthew, her body standing barely an inch away from where he stood, "I am very much enjoying my stay. I have you and I have my servant," she gestured to the floating black skeleton clouded in mist, her hand soon gently resting on his arm, "Do you like my presence here? Or do you wish for me to die down a bit?"

---

Zack

"Hey Holly?" Zack muttered, his fingers gently stroking her blonde hair.

"Yeah," he heard her breathe, her body providing comforting warmth against him.

Zack sighed in deep thought before he decided to speak his mind out, "You know you mean the world to me...and I was wondering," he cleared his throat, "If something were to happen to me in the near future...can you promise to carry on my legacy for me? Would you be able to bare a child with me in the future and live with me in the far lands if things were to go better around here?" he questioned, his fingers gently stroking her cheek.

Matthew nodded, "I like having you here." He said as he looked at her hand on his arm. Matthew looked at the skeleton, "I'm glad you are enjoying yourself." He said as he ran his fingers through his hair. He crossed his arms, "One day i hope all of the kingdom is like this. He liked the idea of everything being under his control. He couldn't wait until everyone did as he said and there was no rebellion.

---

Holly looked at him, "Yea i could do that." She said, softly. She liked when he nice side would come out like this. Though it would go back to his demon side soon enough. Both sides were perfect to her though. Holly rested her head on his chest, "I hope that things work out around here." She said as she held onto him and began to fall asleep.

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@ Divergent

Thorn

"That is good to hear, my King," Thorn smiled, glancing over at Grim, "My servant, I want you to stay hidden but keep watch. Warn us if anyone else is under the idea of treason."

Grim nodded and hovered away until he turned into a black mist and disappeared from sight. Thorn looked back at Matthew, her hand still on his shoulder as she led him back in the castle, "Dinner is upon us. I say we go eat before we go back to our room. I have a special surprise for you tonight," she smiled, walking with him to the dining hall where the servants were looking at her with true fear in their eyes at her purely evil appearance.

---

Zack

Zack watched over Holly as she fell asleep, his fingers ran through her hair gently as his ears remained aware of the environment around him. He was always good at keeping a watchful eye and ear to the areas around him, the best advantage in knowing oncoming danger.

Zack woke up abruptly, not realizing he fell asleep for who knows how long (a good several minutes perhaps). He heard cracking of branches within the darkness, his heart clenching at the thought of someone watching them. Looking down at Holly, he shook her awake and spoke to her silently, "Holly...wake up...someone is in the darkness..."

Matthew walked with her to the dining hall and sat down at the head of the table. He watched as his men joined him. "I'm hoping we can bring this rebellion to an end soon." He said to Haner as the food was served on the table. He took a bite of his food, enjoying the taste. It seemed like everything in his life was going great. Matthew looked over at Thorn and thought about what a good queen she would make.

---

Holly opened her eyes slowly, rubbing them. She looked at him when she heard him say someone was coming. She grabbed the dagger that was near her, holding it in her hand. She let her hand, clutching the dagger rest on Zachary's chest, waiting.

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@ Divergent

Thorn

"Well with this lovely lady by our side, it should run smoothly," Haner chuckled, glancing over at Thorn with a secret wink that only she could see before he went back to his food.

Thorn knew something was up with Haner, the way he looked at her as if she was a meal he's been wanting to savor on when the time comes. Thorn promised herself to keep an eye on him.

"You two seem to be getting along well," a politician named David mentioned, referring to Matthew and Thorn, "She is definitely a keeper."

---

Zack

Holding Holly close, Zack glanced his eyes around in the darkness, wondering who the hell was ambushing them in the middle of the woods late at night. Chattering was distinctive in the darkness but was as clear as anything to Zack's advanced hearing. The footsteps came forward to the point where Zack could see the figure in the faint moonlight.

"Get up, you devils," croaked a deep voice, a sword in the stranger's hand as all the other enemies aimed their arrows at the two, "Little daggers won't kill us. You are now captives under the hand of the Rebellion. And whatever we give you, you deserve for corrupting our leader in the hands of the King."

MAtthew glared at Haner, feeling that he had a thing for Thorn. "Would you like to end up like Zachary?" He asked him as he took a sip of his wine. It was clear that he was talking about Haner being so friendly with Thorn. Matthew smirked as he looked over at Thorn. She was his and he wasn't going to let anyone take her away from him. Nothing was going to get in his way.

---

Holly gasped slightly as they ripped Zack away from her. She pulled against the guy when he grabbed her arm. She didn't want things to end like this. Holly's eyes went black when the guy looked at her and he looked startled. "You're all going to die tonight." She said, demonically as if the human part had left her body.

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@ Divergent

Thorn

"I'm simply being polite, your majesty," Haner said in almost a sneer towards Matthew.

Once the food was over and done with, Haner gave another secret little wink to Thorn, causing her to smirk in amusement. She knew that Haner didn't know what was coming for him if he decided to "play" around with her. David gently got out of his seat and kissed Thorn's hand as a royal gesture before dismissing from the room. With Matthew holding her hand as he guided her out of the dining hall, Thorn knew that this night would be something that could change the course of many things together.

Closing the door to their room, Matthew left her side to change out of his clothes but Thorn remained where she stood, "I promised you a gift tonight," she smiled, her hand locking the door behind her, "And that gift...is me..."

---

Zack

"Holly," Zack beckoned, the man putting an enchanted iron collar around his neck that made him shriek in pain from how it burned into his skin, "Holly!"

Before Holly could even put any other move on the men, the leader immediately lunged and forced the small iron collar around her neck that was also enchanted. The leader grinned wickedly when she cried out in pain as it melted against her skin.

"Thanks to our leader Thorn, who you bastards took from us and corrupted," the leader snarled, "We have these 'collars' to keep you from changing into your true demon form. Only her powers can get rid of the device...nothing else. Well, time to meet the family," he growled, kicking Holly to the ground so the others could chain her.