xvii

The edges of Caspian's vision turned black. The moment Ophelia spit the blood everywhere, time seemed to slow down. Everything became tunnel vision, and the sound fell on deaf ears.

"No!" Caspian yelled, shoving his hand through the chest bone of the man in front of him. He coughed, splattering blood onto his face. The man looked terrified as Caspian glared at him. "You're in my way." He growled out before yanking his hand back and pulling his heart with it.

The man released a cry and fell, blood pooling out of his mouth, nose, ears, and gaping hole in his chest. Perseus looked over and saw Caspian cutting his people down like clay sculptures. They might as well have been because many stood, frozen in shock, fear, or both.

"Shit!" Perseus crushed under his breath. He went to dash for the exit behind him, but turned around and came face to face with Caspian. He was glaring daggers at Perseus.

"You messed with something that wasn't yours to mess with."

Perseus blinked and backed away. He looked over his shoulder and noticed that Ophelia's head had rolled back and she had started convulsing. Her hair had visibly become a darker shade.

Caspian gripped the collar of Perseus' shirt. "If she dies, I will personally kill you." Caspian kicked Perseus behind his knees, causing him to land on the floor and wrapped his hands tightly in rope that he had found on the floor.

The men Perseus had helping him were either dashing away or dead on the floor. This is it, isn't it? Perseus thought to himself. Caspian yanked him up and made him walk forward, past the last of the people he had help as they were slaughtered.

"This is why you don't go against the crown," Caspian told him. "Look how much blood is now on your hands."

Caspian shoved him towards a couple of guards, who gripped him by the biceps and walked him out of the building while Caspian turned and rushed towards Ophelia. Blood pooled around her head, and Caspian lifted her head up as Abraxas ran over, looking down at her.

"Any later and he would've won."

"I know." Caspian sighed, he ripped some of his cape and tied it around Ophelia's head, where the cut from the glass was bleeding out. Abraxas touched her forehead gently, biting his lip.

"She'll be okay." Caspian reassured before turning and walking off, ready to bring her back to the castle.

Abraxas stayed, commanding the rest of the soldiers to hunt down the rest who had run away. They all saluted and ran the direction while Abraxas stayed, waiting.

"Yuki, I know you're here." He called out, suddenly. Abraxas turned and looked at the large french doors where Yuki had stumbled in.

She was beaten and bloodied from her battle with Caspian. She held her side as blood flowed through her fingers. "You won," Yuki panted. "But at what cost?"

"I did what I had to do to get my daughter back." Abraxas said, glaring at her. Yuki released a breathy laugh. "Did you, now? She's not going to act like your daughter anymore now. She's a full demon."

Yuki tensed, her eyes becoming a foggy white before she dropped her hand. Blood started rolling freely. "You will learn that you don't always get to do what you want and get away with it."

She became engulfed in a cloud of snow. It spun before flying up and dashing towards Abraxas, who readied his sword.

<i>I'll either win or die trying. </i>

With thought, he jumped into battle.

---

The horse didn't stop full when Caspian jumped off of its back and ran through the castle doors. Ophelia's breathing had become ragged and shallow. He ran through hallway after hallway before he broke through the infirmary doors.

The head nurse jumped from her chair, resting a hand on her chest. "Oh dear!" She exclaimed when she noticed Ophelia in Caspian's arms.

"Lay her here." She gestured to the closest bed and ran into a back closet, grabbing a stack of towels and a water drip to keep her hydrated.

The head nurse called for another nurse working on labeling different journals to help, in which she ran out and inserted the needle and hung up the bag. Caspian lifted Ophelia's head, making it easier for the nurses to remove the ripped piece of cloth and clean up the wound.

"She's lucky." The small nurse said. She tensed and bowed her head. "I'm sorry, I spoke out of-" "What's your name?" Caspian asked, staring at Ophelia's face. "Both of your names." He looked up at the nurses, waiting. The head nurse looked surprised but answered. "Apollonia."

"I'm Ryuu." Both nurses looked to one another, silently asking questions. "So Ophelia can thank you personally when she wakes up." Caspian answered, gently squeezing Ophelia's hand.

"She'll be okay." Ryuu reassured, resting her hand on Caspian's shoulder. "Although, her transformation is going to be really hard on her body, our princess is a tough one." Apollonia bowed her head and looked up at Ryuu.

"Maybe you should go rest now, My Lord." Ryuu suggested. Caspian shook her head. "I have to stay by her side. I can't let her out of my sight again." He grabbed a chair and pulled it over beside Ophelia's bed, grabbing her hand once more.

"Okay, my Lord. Let Ryuu or I know if you need anything." Apollonia bowed and gestured for Ryuu to follow her.

"It was my fault. I should have stayed with you." Caspian broke after they left. He rested his head on the bed beside Ophelia's hand. "I should've been there."

"You should've, but you weren't."

Caspian jumped, turning and coming face to face with Yuki. She was beaten and bloodied. Caspian jumped up and grabbed a dagger from his belt.

"Calm down. I'm here to see Ophelia," Yuki waved her hand, walking around the bed and pressing a hand to her forehead. "I may not like her, but I don't ever want to see someone forced to change like this."

Caspian knit his eyebrows together. "What do you mean?" Yuki looked at him, rolled her eyes, and pulled her hand away from Ophelia's forehead.

"My brother went through it. The man who kidnapped him was a sadist. Injected him with demon blood. Left him on our doorstep like a package." Yuki looked down and blinked. Caspian shook his head in disbelief. "How could anybody do that?"

Yuki shrugged. "Demon blood - when mixed with any blood not like it - causes the person intense pain. Although you cannot see them reacting to it." She reached up and moved some hair from Ophelia's forehead before bowing her head slightly.

"I'm pretty sure the next time we see each other will be on the battlefield. I pray you will not hold back then, either." Caspian shook his head and looked back down to Ophelia as Yuki walked out of the room, a tear rolling down her cheek.