Meeting

Standing in the middle of the hall in front of the defeated Philip. I turn to the thorns and bow deeply. The other Nobles cheer on the beautiful show and congratulate me on my victory. Coughing in his hand, the king announces the end of the banquet and asks for the members of the meeting to follow him.

Bowing to the nobles, I quickly run up the stairs after the other members of the meeting.

Following them into a room with a lard round table, I sit in the chair that has my title in front. Getting comfortable I see about a good 15 sit down as well. All sitting neatly we look at a small space reserved for the royales.

"Members of this session, today we will be discussing the tragedy that has befallen Southern Aquria. We will begin the discussion with the official report." Speaking in a loud echoing voice, the king sits down and begins to listen to the Police commissioner.

"Over the current 18 hours long search, we have found over 25 000 dead and 100 000 thousand wounded, we would like to know how the crime lord of the south plans to take responsibility."

So this is how he wants to play, He wants to push it all on me!

Taking a deep breath I instead ask. "To my knowledge, it took 3 hours before the first police force even began to try and take action, until then you believed that the Spear-wielding volunteers could take care of it. I want to know why you didn't act sooner even though there was such a large threat."

"We were chasing down a criminal in the north." Pathetic response.

"Are you saying that the whole police department was mobilized for a single criminal?" Pushing him into the corner, I can see the king lean on his hand.

"We- We didn't have enough policemen available due to the arrival of outside city ministry." Patting all over my clothes, I realize that I came empty-handed. Not remembering the time fully, I go with my gut.

"The papers said that the Eastern minister, arrived in the early morning, so how come the police force wasn't available even in the afternoon? Was the entire police then put on one person?"

Coughing into his hand, Amber's dad says.

"The document you gave me commissioner said that 90% of the police force was mobilized for a sweep and clear of sewers, may we know why?" At the sudden mention of that the commissioner goes silent only swallowing his saliva.

"Our captain has ordered a large sweep for dangerous criminals that have gone mad and destroyed one of our evidence warehouses." Looking down at the table the commissioner prepares himself, for the upcoming scolding.

"Commissioner, I do hope that I don't have to remind you that it is okay for you and the crime lords to fight, but in case of an emergency, Everyone still responds to the crown, even the low lives that have no place under the sun answer the call, I want to who this captain was. Commissioner Sparks."

[Sparks] Thinking for a second, my grin widens. Seeing me smile, he realizes that I know fully well who his daughter is. Knowing that he can't lie, the commissioner opens his mouth and with a hard breath says.

"My Daughter, The police captain Theresa Sparks, she's the one that ordered the sweep of the sewers." None says anything as few of the people there pray for gods mercy on his daughter.

"Theresa Sparks, if I remember correctly got quickly promoted for never falling, she even contributed when she was 16 years old with the Lantern case. Such talent can't go to waste Demote her back to a detective and let her climb up again."

Thanking the king deeply the commissioner straightens up. "It's not over between us Mr, Raven, you're young yet clearly experienced, the most dangerous combination."

Taking the compliment, I chug a whole jar of water and move on to the next topic.

"Very well, next topic is a plan for reconstruction and repairs of Southern Aquaria." When other members turn and grab different folders to discuss this topic I'm left sitting empty-handed.

Holding a pen, I stab at my hand to stay awake, I have a feeling, that I'm gonna fall asleep any second. "Mr, Raven? You... You're very pale, even before I thought you were very pale, but now... you look like the last lady. Is there anything that's making you uncomfortable?"

Shaking my head, I just say that I need to take off my Jacket since it's probably just too hot for me here. Taking it off, one could hear a pin being dropped, rushing to my side, Gabriel pokes at my shoulder.

"Raven! You're bleeding!" Looking at him as if he was crazy, I turn to my shoulder that's still bleeding from the bullet! it's barely anything like one drop every 15 seconds, yet I'm still bleeding, even though I was shot hours ago.

Looking at me as if I was a ghost, Gabriel questions me when I was shot cause it wasn't when I was with him.

"God, were you not paying attention? When were discussing the Lantern, I removed my bullet." Joining the conversation, the king asks. "Lantern? as the old Lantern?"

I who's completely disorientated by the lack of blood, try to say yes, but my whole body, suddenly feels like falling. Hitting my head on the table, I fall out of my chair.

"It's poison!"

"Get a doctor in here!"

All the yelling causes quite the commotion and many of the people in the palace hear the screaming of panicking politicians and nobles alike.

Rushing to me, Amber rips off a sleeve from her dress and ties it around my shoulder.

Of course, it does nothing since 2 layers of my clothing still didn't stop my bleeding.

A few of the more weak-minded nobles run out of the room, yelling that I died.

Seeing that no real help is being given to me, I start to pull myself up. Gabriel instead of using one of his holy spells tries to explain the Lantern situation to the king, while everyone else is far too shocked to do anything else.

"Raven, you're fine, Stay with us for a second. Get the doctor!" Amber yells before she gets pulled away. "Don't waste your strength, my lady! Animals like him don't need our help." Covering his nose, he pulls Amber away, while she screams that I'm her friend.

Being powerless right now and being a criminal, everyone wants me to die so I can be just written off. Even though some of the nobles see me make eye contact with them, they pretend like I'm dead.

Seeing my pale skin, I remember Alice, my pale skin now looks exactly like hers. Putting on a tough guy's smile. I look at the red ceiling.

Does everything need to remind me that I'm dying?

Turnign my head to the side, I see the guards run around the room, and move everyone out, but me? No... to be honest, they didn't plan to help the South in the first place.

Even from the beginning, the original 3 companies got cut down to 1, and barely even that. The huge part was just discussing if they shouldn't just send building materials.

Why is it that no one cares about us? why are we the animals? Why did it go wrong? why did we get left behind?

[Why]

A single question, that stood at the front of my every thought

Laying on the ground I wondered... was I happy? Now bleeding out on the royal carpet? What would have happened if I was never forced to become a criminal? Would I die alone like this? or did I just meet the wrong people?

No.... If I haven't become a criminal, I wouldn't have met Edward or Amber, my friends. if I was never a criminal... I wouldn't have met Alice. I Wouldn't get to run around on my own two legs and experience what it was to live without the rules.....

If anything, I'm more grateful, that I lived this way.... Finally closing my eyes. I feel my body get cold, even for someone like me who grew up in a line of ice mages, I've never felt this cold.

Finally accepting my fate, I daydream about Edward and what will he do now that I'm gone. Will he take over my business? His brother is behind bars, not to mention Edward is now an equal to his brother.

Satisfied with that answer...... my thoughts come to an end.

......

It was Alice, Sneaking around with a group of the Lantern followers, they moved outside the royale place, and scaled the walls with no problem, reaching the balcony to the meeting room, they see a man lying on the ground.

"Ma'am, there seems to be a dead body." Telling them to proceed normally, they enter the meeting room using a glass cutter, Taking a small, device from the bottom of the table and something from the plant box.

Alice turns to the long-haired man on the ground. "Something wrong boss?" Holding her head as if she was in pain, Alice says that it's just a face from one of her many dreams.

Right, he's just a dream only the lantern is real, and nothing else stays. The Lantern is the true me. "Let's leave." Going to the balcony, Alice jumps up on the railing only for something to fall out.

It's a black feather, floating onto the boy's body. "Ma'am?"

[Let this be evidence that this isn't a dream.] A Voice of the young man resonates inside her head. Grabbing the feather, a flood of memories flows through her mind.

"Raven"

"Ma'am-" Out of nowhere large wide hands grab the thugs, and ripped them to shreds. Lifting the cold body, Alice looks at the pale skin. One would not tell the difference between them.

"Raven... So you were real...." Hugging the cold body, she sees the wound from the bullet. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry if I wasn't bothering you wouldn't have died."

Crying, she Leans her head, on Raven's chest. The silence, instead of a beating heart full of desires. Brings even more tears to her face. There was a cold silence, even though it was a dead body, Alice enjoyed the silent company of her savior.

"If you haven't given me that feather, I would have never realized that this is also real... The Lantern....." Holding her, she shakes trying to get the bad thoughts out of her head.

She finally gives up and lays on top of Raven. "What am I supposed to do? Raven."

*Thud*....*Thud*