12_ In the Woods.

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Slash!

The recollated head of the chief of Guards fell to the floor with a thud. Seeing this , the other guards drew out their swords in order to defend themselves.

But it was of no use . Lucian craved blood and death and he was out to get nothing less.

Stabbing and Slashing , one by one he slaughtered his father's men until not anyone of them breathed. The stiff corpses lay around the only three individuals that were still alive.

In his blind ire , he stabbed his sword into Li Huang , twisting his blade to make sure his Father felt immense pain.

But instead of begging for mercy, The Emperor began laughing. Being fainted Lucian stared at his father who was still laughing as if he was a mad man.

"I told you that you could not run from it. It is in my blood and now it is in yours ... Blood of my blood , flesh of my flesh..."

"No!" Lucian gasped as his bloodied sword clattered to the ground. "It is not true..." He looked down at his hands , now stained with the blood of another.

He was now a monster.

Just like his Father .

Picking up pieces of his remaining sanity , he stoopped low and lifted the girl into his arms. Running away from Li Huang sprawled on the floor in his own blood, his mocking words kept ringing in his ears ...

"Blood of my blood , Flesh of my flesh....

__________>>>>>_______

Hikaru was already out of the palace walls and was standing by his steed tensed . The palace guards were now on the lookout and their window of escape would soon close up.

He sighed as he got on his horse. He couldn't stay any longer or else they would both be discovered and it would all be for nought .

He was set to ride off when he heard footsteps behind him. He looked back and saw Lucian coming towards him.

Hikaru wanted to sigh once more in relief but then he saw an unknown stranger in his arms.

The latter was ready to argue but time was no longer on their side. Orders were being shouted overhead of shutting the main palace gates. Lucian saddled his horse and the two stallions rode at a galloping pave towards the hates that were about to be shut.

Each man urged the horses on faster as they wanted to make it through the narrow slit before it was finally shut. With one rapid movement both riders and horses escaped and rode off into the black of the night.

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Lucian drew his horse to a stop as both males dismounted from their steeds . He carried the being he had saved and placed the individual against a trunk of tree to get some rest before they continued their journey.

"What happened to you?" Hikaru asked in concern. "You are bleeding."

"They are not mine." Lucian replied.

Hikaru shook his head. "Then what do we do do about the girl?"

"We take her with us. I couldn't leave her at the mercy of my father and I won't desert her in the middle of nowhere ."He resolved.

Hikaru pushed his friend away from the lady he was watching over and held him firmly. "Tell me something Lucian ...Have you gone mad?! This was never the plan. The plan , if I recall was to Escape , Head towards the Village behind the Kindjuki Peaks and then live happily ever after in each of our respective paths . The plan did not detail bringing her along!" Hikaru exclaimed .

"Would you have sooner have me send her back to that Li Huang, Hikaru?" Lucian turned his bosom friend towards the peraon that lay on the leaves "Hasn't she suffered enough?"

Hikaru shrugged. "It seems you have already made up your mind about her. Its decided . She will stay with us..."

"I knew that you would come around Hikaru." Lucian smiled but Hikaru he'd up a finger. "But only till we find a more expedient location to drop her off. Maybe at the next village we arrive at."

"We are in agreement." Lucian nodded.

Then he took out a map from his saddle and spread it out on the ground before him. "So where are we ?"

"Here." Hikaru replied pointing at a cluster of trees drawn on the map he had bought of a cartographer that had passed through their Kingdom looking to pawn of his goods...

For a reasonable price , Of course.

"The GuangZhou Forests. In order to get to the Peaks we have to make our way into the Fuyo Empire and find our way through the borders of Gotchu Kingdom . We would have to get through Wuhan pass without being noticed, a boat will take us across the Shunde Rivers but we will have to walk the rest of the way where beyond the Peaks lies . "

Lucian yawned and stretched purposefully . "We have a long walk ahead of us Hikaru. We had better rest up for it."

His friend smiled . Weaving his arms behind his head , He soon fell into a deep sleep.

But unlike Hikaru , Lucian did not sleep so easily. Tossing and turning kept him restless. He looked at his hands and they were stained with blood.

He had killed those people without remorse...

Without a shred of pity.

He closed his eyes and opened them up again. The blood was gone.

Gazing up at the stars, Lucian knew his destiny lay ahead of him. But what he feared was what he would become before it arrived. Soon , he too fell under Sleep's spell as he gazed up at the silvery moon tormented by his inner demons which tormented his Soul.