Beginning of the end - Klergy & Valerie Broussard

MOSTLY UNEDITED. And we have... 2-3 chapters left. Although, the next 2-3 chapters will be... vv long. Hopefully. Love you guys! Hope you're all having a fantastic day.

KATE
Arlis woke up just in time to see me disappear. He woke up the moment Ralph sat a hand on my shoulder and spoke words I had never heard.

He had ran towards us, but we were gone before he could reach me.

I wasn't mad at him for leaving me anymore. I understood why he did it. On some level, I almost praised him for it.

I was in a white nightgown, my hair halfway pulled up. I looked the part of Polyphema now. Becker had stared at me in awe, in a melancholic way.

My stomach twisted as we appeared in front of a large house, a mansion really. It's grandeur domed ceiling and marbled stairway made my eyes go wide.

The yard, a bright green color with a circle driveway and a giant tree in the middle reminded me of something I'd see on TV.

The mansion had no lights on inside, no sign of life.

"This is Konrad's house?" I asked.

I wasn't expecting Konrad to live in a house like this. It was fancy and big, it was elegant and bold. It was a dream house built on top of clouds.

"Here goes nothing." Ralph knocked on the door, ignoring my awe, his knuckles so tight they had turned white.

Not five seconds after, the red headed man opened the door. He saw Ralph and narrowed his eyes.

"Konrad." I breathed out.

Konrad closed his eyes and then turned his head towards me. "Kate." He responded, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I am not my grand niece." The worlds felt weird. I didn't talk like this. But Everly said this is what Polyphema said when she mistook Poly for me. So... here I was, following Everly's advice. Probably like a fool.

Konrad's eyes widened. "Ho— prove it."

I remembered Becker telling me about his true father. And it wasn't Konrad. "Beckerann is not your son. And I know you resent me for that." I responded nonchalantly.

Konrad scoffed at me. "Basic. Tell me another."

Arlis.

Are you okay? Tell me you're okay?

"What do you want to know?" I asked, shrugging my shoulders, trying to stall.

What's something only Polyphema would know?

Konrad pressed his palm against my cheek and I leaned into it. He pressed his other hand against my other cheek, smirking. "It's amazing how much you look like her." He tilted my head back to look at my neck. "You even have the same birthmark under your chin."

No. I don't have a birthmark under my chin. But makeup can do you a lot of good.

Becker said to just say France 1001.

"France 1001." I said, trying not to grimace from the sudden push away from Konrad.

He growled. "You said you'd never talk about it."

On the outside I was composed with a straight back. Becker had told me not to fidget, not to ever be nervous. His mother was cockier than I was. But on the inside I was panicking, screaming.

"That is why I had to say it right now. Because I did not tell anyone." I smirked. She was witty, Polyphema was.

He rose an eyebrow and wrapped his arms around my waist. I felt like squirming out of it, like I was being squeezed by a Boa Constrictor.

Konrad blinked at me. "Why'd you come back?" He asked, smiling warmly. It was sickening at the same time as sweet.

I looked over at Ralph. "He brought me up. Said he... owed it to you?" He asked why not how, but I didn't know the why. If I met Polyphema herself and she told me, I still wouldn't understand why.

Konrad all but threw me back, out of his arms like I was rabid. "Damn, I got my hopes up." He pouted, shaking his head disappointedly. "You can't be raised without Kate dying, without her heart. And nobody has told me that Arlis is dead." He looked Ralph up and down with disgust in his breath. "And he has no reason the thank me. I killed his sister, kidnapped his friend, and slept with his friend's wife."

I winced. Konrad had done a lot of things I didn't know about. I thought kidnapping was the extent of his wickedness. Thinking now, that was a stupid belief. Konrad had killed children, raped a woman, and tortured many many people just for the laughs.

How could Polyphema have ever loved this?

"You killed the one person who bosses me around, took the person standing in my way of greatness, and tortured a girl who's always had it out for me. I have plenty to thank you for. Kate's heart was easy to get." Ralph smiled like he really was thankful. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he really meant it. He was a good liar, a great one.

I felt my thumbs rub against each other. I put them behind my back. Polyphema didn't twiddle her thumbs.

I heard heavy footsteps walk down the grand staircase. A man dressed in a dark suit had a sullen look on his face.

"Anaforo, what are yo—"

"Arlis is dead. You got your wi— Radulphus?" Anaforo tilted his head at Ralph. "What are you doing here?" He narrowed his eyes, fear and anger on his face.

Ralph's mouth twitched. Whatever emotion he was hiding I couldn't tell. I didn't care.

He said Arlis was dead. He didn't know that. Did he? Did Ralph talk to him?

I gulped. I'd feel it if he were gone. I'd feel it. I know he's still there.

Arlis? I asked, my throat clogging up.

Everything okay? He was so panicky I almost chuckled. He was a mother goose.

Yes. I just love you.

I didn't have to be face to face with him to imagine the grin he had. I could picture every individual hair placement, every speck in his eye. I love you too.

Konrad began laughing, loudly. The sound was oddly mellifluous. He had a nice laugh. Maybe Polyphema fell in love with his looks, not his personality. I could see how she could do that. He was no Arlis, but he wasn't half bad either.

"And what about your girlfriend, Radulphus? Does she applaud what you've done? I understand her and Kate had some relations?" Konrad clapped his hands together. "Joyous joyous day."

Radulphus had a girlfriend? More importantly and confusingly, a girlfriend I knew?

Ralph glanced from me to Anaforo to Konrad. He wasn't sure how to answer this question. "She left me. But it wasn't like I was going to let a woman hold me back. Surely you understand." Radulphus was brilliant. It was an evil brilliance, but he was still a genius. He was playing on Konrad's own personal beliefs.

"Vix? That was her name, yes?" Konrad turned and looked at me.

She was dead. Vix was dead as far as anyone was concerned. I looked, Arlis looked, she was gone. I wanted to jump, cry tears of joy, but I stood there stoically. I wouldn't be able to see her if I got myself killed right now.

"Yes. Vix." Ralph confirmed. "And I'm not sure we were dating in the first place. I mean Noe—"

Konrad held his hand up. "I don't care. Thank you for bringing me my wife. If you want to go explain to Anaforo why you're here and why Arlis is dead... be my guest." He rolled his eyes and disappeared.

I shot a confused look to Ralph, who just shrugged. Anaforo briefly high fived Ralph.

Konrad came back, holding a dagger. I jumped back. No. This was wrong. He believed me.

"Ah... you remember this." He held the blade. His skin sizzled but he didn't move it away. "I want you to have it."

I picked my chin up. Was that supposed to be the dagger that killed Polyphema? What kind of home coming gift was this? I wasn't even Polyphema and I was insulted. "I... I am not sure what to say."

He held the handle once more as he took slow steps to me. "Me neither. I've dreamt about this day. Many times." He put my hair behind my ear. His forehead rested against mine, his strong scent overwhelming in a terrible way.

I was suffocating. This was wrong, this was wrong. I wanted Arlis. The mark on my neck burned slightly, and I contained a grunt.

Arlis? I closed my eyes.

I'm right here baby, are you—

I'm fine. I feel wrong. Konrad put his hand on my waist and pulled my hips into his. This is wrong. He's— I stopped. Arlis didn't want to hear this even if he thought he did.

"I've waited so long for you." Konrad traced one hand down my neck, between my breasts and rested it on my hip. The other was rubbing circles on my lower back.

Konrad brought his lips to mine. God I felt like puking, like my body was going to drop and I was going to vomit every single food I had ever ate.

His tongue traced my lips, and I kissed him back. I kissed him back, desperately as though I needed him. Really, I was just desperate to leave. My mark was burning so hot now I thought I might scream.

"Waited so long to say goodbye." He looked at me, he was crying. He wasn't holding any emotion behind. He was weak, he had a weakness. And that weakness was the woman he loved.

I closed my eyes. "To say goodbye?" I asked, puzzled. I tried to step away but he kept me pulled to his chest.

I couldn't even scream the pain was too much to allow me to breath.

I looked down at my stomach as Konrad spoke words I didn't know. As sweet whispers filled my neck.

I didn't cry, I didn't whimper. I couldn't find the strength to scream.

"You're not Polyphema!" He said angrily, backing up. "You— you liar!" The dagger Konrad had was left in my stomach, blood pooling down the smooth white gown I was wearing.

I was blooming red roses with my blood, stumbling backwards. Someone caught me. My eyes held black spots at their corners, I couldn't tell who had me in their arms.

"Unsustrai!" They yelled, and my pain worsened.

I screamed now, lying on the cold floor as their warm arms were pulled from underneath me.

"Kataritza!" Someone else screamed close to me.

"RADULPHUS DON'T YOU DO IT!" Someone picked me up again. "Think about Vix!"

"Torimug!"

***

"Kate?" I blinked my eyes as the pain in my stomach lightened. I coughed, warm liquid slid down my chin and pooled on my chest.

I wanted to speak his name but I couldn't. Arlis.

"The dagger. Take it out!" Everly was the one to take it out, to release enough stress on me that I could stop screaming. I could think.

EVERLY
Everly didn't think she'd die. She wouldn't of sent Kate in if she thought Konrad would kill her.

Everly held the dagger in her hands. She knew who's dagger this was. She had seen a hundred pictures of it. To hold it in her hands now... she felt power in it.

"Becker. There's power in this." Everly stood up and walked to Becker. "Take the power out of this and heal Kate."

Ralph was in the room, falling asleep on the couch. "She won't die. There's no Lotus on it. It was just sucking power she didn't have so it was taking vitality."

Everly looked over at Kate, cradled in Arlis's arms.

"Ralph, transfer this power. Konrad is going to be here in any minute." Everly ordered, throwing the dagger into Ralph's lap.

Ralph laughed lowly. "I can't."

Everly tilted her head. "What?" She snapped.

Ralph pulled down his shirt at the collar. Evely walked closer, watching as black veins sprouted from his heart. "I used a spell to trade my vitality for Kate's, because that dagger works fast. I then used a spell at the same time to trade Konrad's vitality for mine. And then I teleported to people at the same time. One more thing and my vitality will wither away and I'll die. I should have died. But Anaforo gave me some of his own life."

Everly saw the fear in his eyes. He was willing to die for this. For Konrad to go down. To help us. But now that he's had the taste of death on his lips, he's terrified to eat the whole meal.

Everly had the same fear. Death. She sat down on the floor, crossing her legs.

"Did you see a boy there? Shaggy dark brown hair. Tall?" Everly knew he was still alive. She had a rose, connected to him. And she kept that rose, tucked inside her inner jacket pocket. But was he living or just surviving?

What position was Colin in, the boy she loved?

Ralph shook his head. "The only people I saw were King Anaforo and Konrad."

Everly hung her head. She had another purpose for sending Kate out there. To see if she could see Colin.

They're plan was simple. Easy.

Have "Polyphema" want to see who he had imprisoned, then complain about how she felt weak. Ask for spared magic.

He'd tell her, out of the want to help her.

She'd tell Arlis, who'd tell everyone in return..

She'd unlock Everly's sister and brothers. Ralph would go back, help them retrieve the objects, and Becker would teleport everyone to Konrad's.

They'd kill Konrad together.

Someone walked into the house. Everyone jumped up, terrified that it was Konrad. It wasn't.

Everly relaxed. It was the couple who had been arguing last time she was here.

"What happened to her?" The girl shouted and ran to Kate's side, looking her up and down.

Kate was out, unconscious, but healing. That was good.

"Arlis!?" The girl threw her arms around Arlis's neck. Arlis squeezes her tight.

"Hey Mell." He pulled back and stood up, his eyes lingering on Kate. He walked to the tall blonde, Jonah.

Jonah held him in a hug. "I'm sorry I had to kick your ass." Jonah limped as he took a step back.

Arlis winced. "I'm pretty sure that was Dalia." He defended. He looked back at Kate. "I'm so scared, Jonah."

Jonah took a deep breath. "I know. But we brought someone."

Arlis closed his eyes. "I don't want to see mom right no—"

"I am definitely not your mother." Everly stood up as the girl entered the house.

Constance.

"Connie?" Arlis picked Constance up and squeezed. Constance patted his back.

"Let me down you shit head." Arlis put Constance back on the ground. Arlis smiled. "What are you doing here?"

Constance popped her knuckles as she searched the room. Her eyes landed on me. "What I'm telling Marinda? I'm here to bring Eve home. What I'm actually doing? Here to check on you."

Everly ran her hand through her hair, detangling it. "Is my mom here?" Everly asked, missing her mother.

If she were die. Really die. She wanted to talk to her mom.

Constance bit her lip. "She's... going after Konrad. Right now. Getting revenge for my father and yours."

Becker stood up, but he didn't seem tall. He was slouching, ashamed of himself. Everly missed him. Not this him, but the usual him.

Although, Everly pondered, she supposed this was the true him. There was a side of Becker who faced the death of his mother, who murderer his father, who was constantly surrounded by death.

"What are you doing here?" Constance asked. She was emotionless, a rock in the middle of a river.

Becker glanced at Ralph, who was studying the dagger in his lap.

"Konrad took all my power. I'm human. We had a plan, and—"

"It failed, because you two dumb asses planned it." Constance scolded, shaking her head angrily.

Becker held up a finger in retaliation, smirking. "Ah, no. Arlis was knocked out on the couch. It was me, our cousin, and Ralph." He defended.

Constance shot out a cold laugh. "Even better. The dork, the irresponsible, and the death bringer. Try to match the 3 characteristics to the person." She rubbed her temples. "Where is Konrad now?"

"Here in any minute." Everly let the insult slide over her like water off a duck's back. She felt like a duck, sitting in wait for a Hunter to come along and shoot her.

It was an awful feeling, being hunted.

It was down to the Hunter and the Hunted. Konrad, was the one with the gun. And they were the ones fleeing, terrified of every shot that rang, that hung in front of them.

"Damn. So. What's the plan?" She asked, clapping her hands together.

"None." Ralph stood up. "One more Spell and I'm dead. We can't transfer the magic from this dagger to Becker."

"We don't need Becker." Constance rolled her eyes. "He's outnumbered. Jonah, Dalia. Me and Eve. Arlis. He's going down."

Arlis cleared his throat. "Take me out of that count."

"Me too." Everly didn't want to be apart of this. It was too soon. She was going to leave, to run. He'd find a way to bring Colin into this to hurt her, she knew it.

The only person Konrad hated more than Eve was Arlis.

Constance pushed Arlis, outraged that he'd back out. "No, not you. Anyone but you!" She shouted.

Arlis looked down at Kate. "I have to take her out of here. If he sees her..." he trailed off, unable to finish that sentence. It was a thought too despairing to say out loud.

Constance huffed out a breath. "So? She's worth more than the world? I'm..." Constance grabbed the dagger. "Can you use the dagger without magic?"

Becker winced. "Maybe?"

"So fucking try! Are you all going to sit here while Konrad plans an attack!? We'll all die then! We are powerful." She looked at Everly. "You can do this."

Everly saw him before anyone else did. "CONSTANCE!" She screamed.

Constance dropped down as a blade swung over her.

Everly expected Konrad, but it was a far more familiar face. Colin.

"COLIN!" She shouted.

Colin's head spun as he turned to her, his eyes wide. "Eve!?"

Constance hopped up and brought her foot up, kicking him in the face. She grabbed his head and smacked it against the wall.

He tried to get away but she kicked his stomach, pushing him back and through the door.

Constance pulled a dagger out of her waistband and took a step outside.

"Constance!" Everly ran towards her. "Stop!"

Colin stood up, watching Everly like she was the last piece of Heaven.

"Constance. Hello. Did not expect you." Konrad smirked at her. "An— you're dead. I killed you."

Everly tensed up at his voice. The man who killed her. Her mouth was agape as the rest of the house came outside. "I— I— umm." Everly was trying to say something, anything. Nothing came forth. She was empty. All her confidence was burned away, reduced to ashes.

"How good to see you again. Where's your love, Constance?" Konrad laughed as he dissolved, leaving behind a shadow.

"What?" She was dumb enough to ask, to take his lure.

Konrad appeared behind Colin, a dagger across his throat. He pretended to slide it. Colin didn't wince, it was like he didn't care. Everly's heart froze over and then burst. She felt cold.

"The one who almost gave you a child? Chleo. I killed him!" Konrad was maniacal, full of laughter.

Constance didn't flinch. "As if that bothers me." She was acting. Everly knew it. She'd always know when her cousins or siblings were lying. Constance had began tapping her foot, a way to release some emotion.

That's one of the dangerous things about Konrad. He was dangerous magically, physically, and through his words.

Konrad was all but in awe. "You Dawns... are merciless." He hummed. "Good."

"I'm sorry Constance." Dallas was there, a blade to her throat.

Constance laughed. "Haha, funny, Konrad. You think you can just compel my family to kill me." She was smiling. "You will always go down."

He scrunched his face up. "I don't think so. Occidere eum."

Dallas slid the blade, without a single word or hesitation. He didn't bat an eyelash.

Too many people screamed, Everly one of them, as Constance's body fell to the snow, forever cursing the ground with her blood.

Whoops?