Chapter 42: Order

*Song recommendation for this chapter: Thrice- Black honey (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9GTEsNf_GU&list=RDbndL7wwAj0U&index=11) *

Upstairs, Laurence was still leisurely sipping his wine at the dinner table. A figure loomed in the doorway casting a shadow over Laurence's meal.

"What now?" Laurence muttered in a low voice.

"This is not what we agreed." The person said coming closer. "You had one job and you can't even do that!"

"You should watch your mouth. I don't care what we agreed on. I'm the Emperor now and you're still one of my subjects. Know your place." Laurence brushed off.

The figure came swooping down by Laurence's side like an ominous shadow. Laurence's eyes shot up wearily.

"Did you forget who made you Emperor?" The figure hissed. 

"I forget nothing, friend." Laurence gritted his teeth. "I just don't see what the problem is. My brother's not a fool. After that demon beats some sense into him, he'll come around to our cause."

The shadow effigy slunk back behind Laurence. It let out an arrogant laugh. Laurence flinched.

"What a disappointment you turned out to be." The shadow continued. "Well, don't say I didn't warn you!"

Laurence swung around in his chair.  The silhouette had disappeared. Laurence tapped the table edge anxiously. He called a knight to his side.

"I want to see how it's going. Escort me to the dungeon."Laurence demanded.

"Emperor, it's not safe to go down there with.." the knight tried to explain.

"Shut up and take me there!" Laurence interjected.

As they proceeded down into the dungeons, they heard a loud crash. The air was bitterly cold. Laurence increased his pace. He emerged at the doors with the knight's guard by his side. Through the bars, he could see Neri holding his brother up against the wall. Keitel was struggling to get free. His face had turned red.

"What are you doing?" Laurence shouted. "I told you not to kill him." He addressed Neri.

Neri pretended not to hear. He tightened his grip around Keitel's neck. Keitel gasped for air.

Laurence ordered the knight's to unlock the door. He marched up to Neri indignantly and addressed him again.

"This isn't what we agreed!"Laurence snapped. "I'm talking to you, you Southern brat!"

Neri turned to Laurence with a deadly glare. His grip loosened. Keitel dropped to the floor. Neri's eyes settled on Laurence with murderous intent. Keitel tried to wave Laurence back. Before Laurence could retreat, Neri struck him with a decisively in the gut. Neri's bloody fist emerged at the other side of Laurence's back. 

Neri thrust his fist back out. Blood splattered along the ground. Laurence fell to his knees.

"Ah, now look what you made me do!"Neri trembled.

Keitel launched himself to his brother's side. He wrapped his arms around Laurence, cradling him. Laurence coughed a mouth full of blood. Everything around him began to swirl. He fell back into his brother's arms, gasping for breath. 

"I..." Laurence tried to speak. "...I just wanted you to.." His speech broke off. 

"No! No..no," Keitel shook his head erratically. "You're going to be fine," He said, propping Laurence up in his arms. The sight of Keitel's own blood-stained hands made his body tremble.

"Such a....bad..liar" Laurence exhaled heavily. His eyes began to roll and his head fell back. 

Keitel glared up at Neri. His eyes were the darkest blue, wild and forlorn. His lips parted. 

"You...killed him," Keitel's voice came out broken and bewildered.

Neri stared down with callous disregard. "I don't know what you're upset about," He sighed. "Now, you get to live. How lucky..."

Neri wiped his bloody fist on his clothes. He walked past Keitel who was still frozen in place. Laurence's body was still warm in his arms. The iron door slammed behind him. Keitel cranked his neck to look back. Neri stood on the other side of the barred doors.

"You stay there till I find out what master wants me to do," Neri told him. "What a mess...what a mess..." Neri's voice trailed off.

Keitel blinked hard as he looked down at his brother's face. The expression of the cruel twisted man Laurence had become was replaced with childlike slumber. Keitel felt cold all over. 

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Neri made his way into one of the many empty rooms in the palace. He had been staying there on Laurence's instruction. At first, he was just supposed to guard Laurence. But then, the master had told him the plans had changed. Neri inhaled and breathed out shakily. He hated when the Master was angry. 

Neri bit down on his thumb until he drew blood. He pressed his thumb against the wall and traced the symbols. Once, the bloody markings were drawn, Neri waited patiently. He didn't have to wait long before he heard his Master's voice.

"What is it now?" The voice echoed around the room.

Neri gulped hard. "The Prince is dead but there was a tiny problem..."

"What problem?"

"I know you said to keep the loudmouth one but he kept talking and talking and I..."

"Neri." The voice reprimanded sternly.

"Well, that human told me it didn't matter which one died anyway!" Neri whimpered.

"....." There was a long pause. Finally, the voice returned, "It's not what I wanted but I suppose it will do."

"Yes, Master," Neri answered. "What should I do about the other Prince?"

"Leave him there. We can't have Soir and the others find out about this. Do not kill him. Do you understand me, Neri?" The voice admonished.

"Yes, Master," Neri answered sheepishly.

"He cannot be killed until we start the sealing. You must promise me, Neri," 

"I promise, I promise!"

"Good. Go locate the others and report back to me"  The voice cut off.

He smudged the marking on the wall with his fist. Neri turned to look out the window. He sighed wistfully. He balanced playfully on the balcony on one leg. He held a hand to his eyes to block out the sun. It was terrible to be stuck working on a sunny day.

Neri hopped over the balcony and dipped out into the city.

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Lucia and Albaric rode to the capital at full speed. Michael and the sword saint followed behind. They all anticipated a fierce battle. The sun was beginning to set before the silhouette of the capital city appeared along the horizon. The sky was an intense red for the time of year.

The group dismounted in the courtyard. The Sword Saint barged into the throne room. It was empty. Everyone spread out in search of Prince Keitel. By now it was dark. The palace was in disarray. The Sword Saint questioned the guards. Meanwhile, Albaric and Michael descended to the dungeons. 

It wasn't long before they came to the locked door. There was blood splattered along the wall. The ground shimmered with pools of water. A trail of blood trailed off down the halls as though someone had been dragged away. Albaric cut through the steel with a swipe of his blade. They began to follow the bloodstains.

They were both on high alert, assuming the worst. The trail began to fade. They reached the end of the hall which broke into a circular room filled with barred cells. At the end of the hall, Keitel was slumped over leaning against the wall. Albaric dashed towards him.

The sound of footsteps jolted Keitel from his daze. To Albaric's relief, Keitel looked up at them both.

"I thought Laurence had already killed you!" Albaric sighed. He offered his hand to pull Keitel up. Keitel took his hand. His eyes were still glazed over.  Albaric examined him. His eyes scanned Keitel's blood-stained clothes.

"Are you injured somewhere?" Albaric asked.

Keitel shook his head. He swallowed.

"I'm fine." He answered after a pause.

"Then the blood?" Albaric continued. Keitel motioned to the cell across from them. Albaric and Michael's eyes both followed the trail of blood into the dark cell. Their eyes fell on the figure covered in blood who had been propped up against the wall.

"That's..."Michael took a step towards the cell. His voice cut off. He looked back to Keitel.

"Neri," Keitel said flatly. "We'll come back for him. We have to leave now. The demon may still be in the palace,"

Albaric and Laurence nodded. They followed after Keitel hesitantly. Lucia caught sight of them as they emerged from the dungeons. She threw her arms around Keitel's neck. His body was rigidly stiff. She pulled back and looked him in the eye. He averted his gaze.

"Master," Keitel said, addressing Valentus who followed behind Lucia. "Is the demon still here?"

Valentus looked Keitel over. His eyes narrowed. "We haven't found anything,"

"He must have escaped." Keitel followed. 

"What's going on? It's too quiet." Valentus observed.

"I guess Laurence cleared them out so there would be fewer people to witness the demon." Keitel hypothesised.

"Then it won't be long now before they return. We should use this time to escape. We can take some time to plan our next move." Lucia suggested.

"There's no need," Keitel stated drily. "Laurence is dead."

"What?!" The Sword Saint responded baffled. The sentiment carried across the rest of the group. Michael and Albaric shifted awkwardly. 

"We need to act now. Take back the throne." Keitel continued. "It's time to bring order back to the Empire."