My breath was heavy and my lungs burned. I clamped my hand over my mouth from making to much noise. Kai was bringing us towards the throne room, and there's sure to be a lot of guards.

I don't understand what's going on. I've never seen anything like this and I'm so confused, but there's to much anxiety in my brain to try and figure it out.

I've narrowed down what Kai's plan.If we get to the throne room, we can cut across and get to the kitchen , go downstairs and escape from the emergency escape route. It's the best plan, and really the only option.

I try to focus on my hearing. I caught grip of some noise and focused in on it. I heard yelling from ahead. The words are hard to make out, but I can tell who it is. Julian.

I run ahead of Kai, who's yelling at me to come back, but I ignore him. I'm crying out for Julian, screaming his name, unsure if he can hear me.

I made a quick turn around a corner and noticed the throne room doors were open. I burst into the room as fast I could, hope pounding in my chest. I gathered in my surroundings, then froze for a moment.

The whole world stopped moving. Everything went still for what felt like minutes, but were mere seconds. Madden stood there with a blade pierced through Julian in the chest. Blood dripping down the sword onto the floor.

Madden noticed me and gave me a crooked grin. Crooked... that's the only word I can think to describe it. The grin that sends shudders down your spine.

I collapsed to my knees and everything was silent. I felt the world collapsing in on itself. I knew Kai was behind me saying something, but my head couldn't register the words. He shook me too, but I was immobile.

I felt a sudden jolt to my feet and Kai grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and slapped me hard in the face. The clarity all came back so quickly. Tears streamed down my face and I cried like I've never cried my entire life. Not from the pain of his slap. The spot slapped felt... almost numb.

I couldn't bare to look at Julian or Madden, anyone for that matter. All I could see was Kai. He embraced me in his arms and stroked my hair. The tears flowed down his back and all I could do was cry more.

Julian... he's dead. He's died. I've lost. I want to die with him, please let me die. I feel, so weak and helpless. The feeling caused an empty feeling inside me.

Kai loosened his grip and stood up, as I still clung to his side like a child. Suddenly, Madden came surging at us. Kai dodged, pulling me along like a rag-doll.

"Run! Scarletta run!"

The words vibrated through my body and noticed Kai released his grip from my hand.

"Go on ahead! I'll catch up."

I hesitated for a moment, but then, at that moment, I realized he was all I had left.... But me being their would only be a distraction. I darted past the throne room into another corridor. I didn't know where I was going but it was somewhere. I might even be lost, but there's no use turning back.

I made it into the hallway without any trouble luckily. Without warning, I tripped over something on the ground. However, when I turned to see what it was, it was a person. Her face was haggard and pale and a large wound stretched across her stomach.

I reached over to touch her, "let me help you."

She clutched my sweaty forearm. "I'm sorry," she spoke weakly. I looked at her with confusion, but my confusion was overcome with pain. Energy raced my arm, burning every nerve. I but my lip until it bled to keep for screaming in agony and alerting guards.

The pain was overwhelming. White spots dotted my vision. I held onto my consciousness as much as I could.

Slowly, the pain numbed and the woman collapsed to the ground. I shook her body a bit, but it was too late. I inspected my arm and saw no trace of scars or anything. I have no clue what she did to me.

"We need to go!" Kai came bolting down the hall being chased by a pack of dog looking demons. My eyes widened and I began running ahead.

"Scarletta, make the next right go straight down into the room, as soon as I get in shut the door got it!"

I nodded and barreled down the hallway as quickly as I could. I made the right turn swiftly and continued down. I heard Kai cursing from behind me.

Finally I reached the door, opened up and waved Kai to follow. His speed picked up as I got ready to shut the door. 3...2...1...slam!

The dogs barked and growled pounding against the door. I found myself clutching my stomach panting. I am not made for this type of stuff.

The dogs started full on smashing into the door, like their life depended on it. The door began cracking little by little Kai touched my shoulder and I touched my cheek. I didn't realize I had started crying again, but the realization made more tears climb down my skin. Kai turned his back to me and offered to carry me for a little. I agreed and climbed up his broad back. He lifted me up with ease and swiftly made his way down the stairs.

His back was warm. I could feel him breathing. It steadied my own nerves. My eyes shit slowly, and my head was inclined to lie on his back. Safe, I was safe now.

"I want an explanation Kai! It you know what's going on, you must tell me! I order you!"

Kai peered at me with exasperation. I was absolutely infuriated with him. When we finally reached the outside, Kai said he had a feeling this would happen. In other words, he knew the would happen and didn't warn me. God, how much more can go wrong? Losing loved ones, Kai's betrayal.

The vexation and mix of emotions kept building and building, until finally I released it and slapped Kai hard in the face. His head turned, but his expression stayed neutral, as if it didn't even phase him.

"Sorry..."

An awkward silence stretched between the two of us. Gently, Kai put his hand on my head. I sensed the tears urging to come out, but I held then in an steadied my breathing.

"You've been thought a lot today Scarletta, I... don't want to stress you more."

"No Kai, I need to know why... I need you to explain or else I'll be inclined to blame myself for this predicament."

Kai removed his hand and pressed it to his side. "I heard of suspicious activity from Madden leading up till today. He was eating, had a strangely healthy glow like you or I would. All the illness just... disappeared. I looked into it more, and there was no humanly way possible that he could have recovered so quickly. I told all the maids and staff to be alert and I tried keeping you from him as much as possible.

"One night, I came to see for myself what he looked like, and caught him doing some strange conjuring of some sort... His eyes rolled in the back of his head, reciting some weird words. He didn't see me, so I silently snuck away and made your father aware of the situation. Your father had an idea what was going on."

"He told of this... death magic. Said it can tell if someone will die or not. I mean I'm sure it has many other uses, but that was the one that you father knew of. He called in a death magician to look over Madden, but he did some research in the kingdom library and learned that the magic has a mind of it's own, takes on the body that pleases it."

"The magic must have seeped into madden because he is so weak, therefore the magic could completely manipulate the body of the prince. The magic has it's own awareness... and it's goal is to gain power. Like...a king."

My hands started shaking and I felt as if I had just run a mile. The sentences felt like a punch in the stomach. "It's goal is to become king."

My sweet innocent brother. He's always been so kind and gentle. I can't believe...

"From my understanding he has the ability to call upon souls and demons, anything with no life flowing inside it. However, I also know there is an opposing force. The life magician is the only one powerful enough to stop this madness, I've heard about the life magician in folk tales and such, about their pure goodness of heart. But I'm afraid... while I was battling Madden he mentioned something about having killed his twin, but I knew you were still alive because he would've stopped fighting me if you were dead.... Anyway, taking a guess here, I think the two powers are somehow related. I mean they both have their own awareness according to the myths. Well, I only thought so because you are Madden's twin and you're alive, so it must be the twin of the power meaning..."

"I want to sleep Kai. I need to rest and... take this all in."

"I understand. We can't stay here though, I can get a place to stay when we get to the Town of Azalea."

I nodded and we headed out.

It would be a while till I came back to that castle, but the next time I would come back, I would no longer be Princess Scarletta but someone much stronger than that.