Hollow Kingdom

It took Alec a few seconds to process that he wasn’t dead. He blinked a few times and noticed he was beneath the platform, wrists still bound and the noose still around his neck. He realized he had to act fast. Whatever commotion was happening out there, it was only buying Alec a minute at the most to get away. He ducked under the platform and took off running, shrugging his shoulders to abandon the noose. Belle met him halfway, practically tackling him to the ground since he didn’t have access to his hands at the moment.

“There’s a war happening Belle, not a good time for hugging,” he grunted.

“Sorry, sorry,” she muttered. “I’m just really glad you’re not a Christmas tree ornament…”

She pulled a dagger from her belt and cut the ropes binding Alec’s wrists. He stood up, bringing Belle up with him. She suddenly gasped, telling him to duck and slashing the dagger over his head. A yell came from right behind Alec, and turned to see a guard who’d been about to attack him topple lifelessly to the ground.

“I just killed someone,” Belle said flatly.

Alec looked over her shoulder at the people fighting against the guards, then back at Belle. The rebellion was happening, and Alec’s side was winning. Well, it depended on your definition of winning. People Alec had known his entire life were dropping dead everywhere, and those who survived would have to live with blood on their hands.

“Alec! Come on!”

He heard a familiar voice, turning to see Warren and a small group behind him. Blood stained their clothing, and Alec didn’t want to know who it belonged to.

“Hurry up. We’re taking this to the palace itself,” Warren repeated, nodding for his group to follow him.

Alec was reluctantly going to follow, but Belle grabbed his arm.

“Please don’t go with him,” she begged.

“I know, I don’t like him either,” Alec sighed.

“No, you don’t understand,” she said. “His intentions are in the wrong place. It won’t benefit the people, it’ll benefit himself.”

“What are you talking about?” Alec frowned.

“He’s power hungry, and he’ll hurt whoever it’ll take to get there,” she said, tears welling up. “I didn’t think Lily was ever going to recover-”

“Lily,” Alec interrupted, eyes widening.

“Huh? Oh, um,” Belle’s voice cracked slightly, “Sorry. I wasn’t supposed to tell you.”

“Isabelle,” Alec said, voice hardening. “Is Warren the reason Lily got sick?”

“He used the Leech’s Curse on her,” Belle squeaked.

Now, everything made sense. Alec placed a hand on his sister’s shoulder, giving her a gentle pat. He sidestepped around her to the fallen guard, taking his weapons off of him. Alec was skilled in hand-to-hand combat and small weapons, like knives, but a sword was very, very new to him. He tied the sheath around his waist and tucked a dagger into his belt, giving the second one to Belle.

“I have to go,” he said, calmly. “Be safe.”

He didn’t give Belle a chance to respond before running to catch up with Warren’s group. Around him, people were locking their doors and windows, and fights were breaking out everywhere. Heartbreak, too.

He noticed Prissy outside of the bakery, desperately trying to tend to a nasty wound across the baker’s chest. Marie Graham was sobbing and holding the lifeless body of one of her sons, who had remained loyal to the queen until the end. The other stood above them, slowly removing his guard’s uniform and dropping it in the dirt.

The palace itself was in complete chaos. Samuel Denholm had let Dominic and some rebels inside the gates. Alec knew that once they took control of the palace, it was all over. They’d win. However, he found himself a lot less interested in winning. He just wanted all the death to stop. That and he kept his eyes on Warren the entire time.

“We’ll keep everything under control down here,” Dominic said, dodging a blade and slashing his sword with expert form. “You lot get to the throne room.”

Warren nodded, leading everyone towards the palace. It was quite a fight to get there. The sword was heavy, but the more Alec used it, the more control he had over it. It was an elegant weapon that he never touched because he considered himself unworthy of it, but now he could see the appeal.

“You’re good with that thing,” Warren remarked.

Alec wanted to shove it up his rear end, but said nothing. There were several guards he needed to keep an eye on. He shoved one of them away, disarming him and pushing him against the door. The door opened, leading into what appeared to be a dining room. There were some house maids hiding in there, who shrieked upon seeing Alec.

“Get out of here!” he ordered. “Through the servant’s entrance!”

They nodded and hurried to do as he asked. He heard a cry of pain behind him, and turned to find that with a wave of his hand, Warren had caused the guard Alec shoved to crumple into an inhuman position. The man's bones cracked and he screamed, until Warren released him and death finally brought him peace. Alec suddenly felt his mood shift to nothing but pure anger. This man was cruel, and he wasn't going to hurt anyone else.

Alec beat Warren to the door, shutting and locking it. Warren gave him an odd look, and he Alec noticed him tense. Alec didn't let this scare him, stepping towards Warren with his grip on his sword tightening.

“You're wasting that menacing look on the wrong side, boy,” Warren told him.

“No, I'm not wasting anything,” Alec said, taking another step forward and making Warren back up slightly. “Actually, this may be the first thing I'm doing right in a long, long time.”

“We’re on the same side,” Warren pressed.

“When it comes to government, maybe,” Alec agreed. “No, this is personal. I decided I may as well do it while no one will even notice. No one will remember you tomorrow.”

“You're making a mistake.”

“No, you did,” Alec explained. “Laying a hand on Belle and Lily will be the last mistake you ever make.”

Alec lunged at Warren, but an unseen force shoved him back. Warren attempted to tackled Alec, but he kicked his foot up and knocked the man in the gut. He scrambled to his feet while Warren was down, but suddenly cried out in pain when he heard a crack in his shoulder. Whatever bone-crushed force Warren had used on the guard, he was now using on Alec’s shoulder.

“They said you were stupid, but I didn't think you'd be this stupid,” Warren growled, forcing Alec to his knees.

He felt the pain shoot down his arm, growing unbearable now. He wasn't sure what overcame him next. His vision turned blurry and red, and he reached out to grab Warren. His hand touched nothing, but the loud crack that could be heard was not from his arm this time. He felt sudden relief wash over him, and his vision adjusted, and he noticed Warren crumpled on the floor, his neck at an unnatural angle.

Alec couldn't explain. His hand hadn't touched anything, and no one else was around. He was in such pain, he could see or hear anything. He didn't have the energy to think about it, now. Everything was going black, and Alec fell unconscious.

.::.::.::.

“Alec? Are you waking up?”

Alec heard a distant voice call his name as he cracked his eyes open. Light flooded the room and his vision focused on a face above him. His father. Tobias was hovering over him, and Belle appeared shortly after, patting a wet towel on his forehead and fumbling with the sling his arm was in.

“Yeah,” Alec grumbled, trying to sit up. His entire body hurt. “What happened?”

“We found you in the palace after the battle was over,” Belle explained. “It was horrible, I thought you were dead. The battle… Well, we… Won. The Queen is dead. We've got control over her council and the palace. They're discussing what to do next as we speak.”

She seemed hesitant to say this. It didn't feel like a grand win. There was a feeling of gloom in the air. While they had won, people hadn't been prepared for this. Too many had died.

“What's the death toll?” Alec asked.

“Nearing two-hundred on our side,” Tobias said. “Four-hundred on the queen's side.”

“And, Alec,” Belle said, voice softening. “They found Evan.”

Alec felt his heart sink. He always knew there was a chance he'd lose Evan this way, but he couldn't imagine the pain he'd feel if it actually happened. He knew he couldn't cry over it. Not in front of Belle, that is. She needed him to be strong, now more than ever.

She brushed tears off her cheeks and excused herself, leaving Tobias alone with Alec. They were silent, and Alec had a feeling his father had something on his mind. Eventually, Tobias spoke.

“Alec, Warren died from a snapped neck,” he said quietly. “Was there any other magic user in that room with you?”

“Not that I know of,” Alec said. “I don't remember what happened. I really don't.”

“I know, I understand,” he nodded with a sigh. “It's just, there were no other marks suggesting anything other than the bone snapping by itself. It was done with magic, I mean.”

“Oh.”

“Alec, the power to harness magic is genetic,” Tobias explained. “For many, it isn't discovered until a later age.”

Alec realized where Tobias was going with this. It made sense, but it made Alec shiver.

“I don't want to think about it,” he said. “Not right now.”

“Understood,” Tobias said, giving him a slight smile.

“Where's Lily?” Alec asked.

Tobias shifted, thinking about his answer first. “Well, something came up. She's speaking with the New Council.”

Despite everyone telling him to rest, he insisted on going to see her. His arm hurt, even bandaged up and resting in the sling, but Tobias assured him that the pain was from the bone repairing itself after a potion he'd been given to heal it quickly.

On the way to the palace, Alec saw the aftermath of the battle. People were scrubbing blood off the roads, and bodies were being hauled away while people mourned. They were lined up, and one in particular stood out to him. Evan. Alec walked towards the body of his best friend, feeling a large lump in his throat. He almost didn't recognize the one next to Evan.

Someone had stripped the queen of her jewels and fine gown, dressing her in a simple white dress. Her head was laid on Evan’s chest, covering the wound, and his hand was laid gently on top of hers. Somehow, there was a mutual agreement not to destroy her completely. It wouldn't have been fair to Evan, and there were plans to bury them beside each other with the rest of the common people, rather than putting the Queen beside her late King with the rest of the royals. They both had peaceful looks on their faces, with just the slightest hint of a smile. It was like they'd fallen asleep together. Alec knelt down beside Evan, removing the rosary from around his neck and putting it around his own neck.

“You were too good for this world, brother,” he whispered.

He stood and tucked Evan’s rosary into his shirt, continuing to the palace. They let him into the room the council was meeting in without a question. He saw Lily first. She looked like a ghost, slumped in the corner with her eyes glued to her shoes. She glanced up at Alec, but quickly looked away from him. He didn't bother her. He was just glad to see her alive.

“Alec!” Dominic said, surprised. “We didn't think you'd be awake so soon.”

“Here I am,” he mumbled.

“Well, perhaps a friend of Lily can help us in this, tough situation,” Dominic sighed. “Samuel, explain, please.”

Samuel Deighmont stepped forward, holding some papers in his hand.

“The Queen had no heir,” he explained. “We assumed we'd be able to put one of our own upon the throne. However, her council revealed to us that she had her will written, a few years ago.”

“Lily has been named as her heir,” Dominic finished.

Alec glanced at her, shocked, then looked back to Dominic.

“She refuses to relinquish the throne,” Dominic said. “She won't have it in our hands, but we can't have it fall back into the hands of the old government.”

“What makes you think she’ll be a bad queen?”

For a split second, he thought he saw Lily crack a smile, but it quickly disappeared. Dominic shook his head.

“You know why we can't put all our trust in her, Alec,” he said.

“Just marry her off,” a council member said, frustrated.

Lily's head snapped up, eyes wide.

“That's… Not a bad idea,” Samuel said.

“Marry her off?” Dominic asked. “That's a little medieval, don't you think?”

“These royals marry for politics all the time,” someone said.

“Do I get a say in this?” Lily yelled, exasperated.

They ignored her, continuing their plans.

“A dual wedding and coronation can be planned in the next week or so.”

“A little light in these dark times.”

“We can choose someone a little younger to be a groom. Theodore, perhaps.”

“He’s a good, loyal man.”

Lily looked bewildered, shooting up from her seat. She turned her glare towards them and yelled, catching everyone’s attention.

“I get to decide my own future!” she yelled. “I’m the queen. I don’t care who you think is worthy, but I’m the heir to the throne!”

“Well, your highness,” Samuel said, “It is in the interest of the people that you do this. You wouldn’t want another revolution on your hands, would you? Because that’s exactly what they’ll do if they distrust their ruler.”

“Well I’m not marrying Theodore, whoever that is,” she growled. “What about Alec?”

Everyone went silent, turning to stare at Alec. He turned bright red, sinking back in an attempt to disappear into the shadows.

“Miss Belmont, when it comes to the things we need in our leader, Alec is… lacking.”

Alec was insulted, but he was too stunned to say anything.

“It’s Alec or nothing,” Lily snapped. “Til’ death do us part.”

She stormed out of the room, bumping Alec’s wounded shoulder on her way out. He bit his tongue to keep from yelling out in pain. He looked up and found the rest of the New Council packing up.

“Hold on, don’t I get a say in this?” Alec frowned.

“You gave an oath to do anything for the cause,” Samuel pointed out.

“I wasn’t talking about arranged marriage,” Alec protested.

“Oh come on, it’s not too bad,” Dominic sighed. “You clearly like the girl.”

“Yes, but-”

“Everything happens for a reason, child.”

Alec’s jaw dropped. They were actually not going to ask him whether or not he was okay with any of this. They left him alone in the room, leaving him to think about what was to come. His father’s words rang in his ear. Despite the circumstances, he couldn’t imagine life without Lily. His father was right. There was still a chance to make things better than they seemed. He just had to tell Lily the truth about his feelings. He hurried out to catch her, but she was gone. It was like she’d vanished into thin air.