52

Calliope felt her world fade in and out around her. She winced as the sounds of the chaotic city buzzed manically in her ears. The world began to clear from its blurred state and her eyes darted around the city until they found King Rowan and Kaya. She watched in horror as the queen stood, waiting for her death. King Rowan shouted to his army, his voice suddenly lost in the crowd's uproar. Calliope lurched to her feet, pushing Mido aside as King Rowan brought his sword through the air towards his own mother. Calliope felt her throat grow hoarse as she screamed, but she heard nothing. She threw her arms out, but her magic was still locked away in the necklace around her neck.

Calliope fell to her knees as the sword came across Kaya's neck. The witch's head dropped to the ground and rolled across the floorboards. Calliope choked back in horror, gasping for air as the head came to a stop, just inches from the edge of the stage for all to see. She stared in stunned silence as the headless body collapsed. Her heart twisted in agony in her chest. She tried to scream, but no sound escaped her throat.

She felt a hand grip her hard and Calliope was lurched off of her knees and to her feet. She tried to force out another yell, but her voice was still lost. She let the hand drag her through the kingdom as she continued to yell silently. She stumbled to keep up and watched frightfully as rebellious citizens and soldiers chased after her, swords and daggers in the air. King Rowan stood tall on the stage, his mother's head now in his grasp. He raised it high above him as he encouraged his army and his citizens to avenge their homeland.

Calliope continued to run, faster this time, focusing her mind on the chaos around her. She was running; running with Mido as he swung his sword violently around them. They were outnumbered by an angry kingdom; there would be no surviving this if she didn't act quickly.

"The stone!" she yelled to Mido. He caught her gaze at the corner of his eyes and nodded. In one, swift movement, he pulled Calliope into his chest; he swung his sword at the advancing crowd with one hand and snapped the leather necklace around Calliope's neck with the other. Without missing a beat, Calliope lurched forward with remarkable speed; she felt the magic pulse strongly through and out of her body, sending an invisible wave around them and into the crowd. The strong force sent the Asmarians flying backwards through the air and into nearby buildings. The fighting stopped for a moment as the Asmarians and Libronans looked on in stunned shock. All eyes were on Calliope as she stood in the center of the city, bodies scattered around her from the attack.

Her heart raced and she suddenly felt more alive than she had in a long time. She stood tall, looking over the frightened people around her. Citizens and soldiers of Asmar and Librona both looked at her with unease, suddenly aware of the witch's power. She turned to King Rowan, still standing with his mother's head. He stood tall, but Calliope could sense the fright in his eyes as he looked upon her. Calliope walked slowly towards Asmar's king, stepping casually over the bodies in her path. No one dared to move as they watched the witch. She met his gaze as she approached and stopped just yards away; his hands shook and fell to his side.

"Take one more step, witch, and I will have your head, too," he threatened, his voice shaking.

Calliope let a sly smile split her face as her eyes seemed to flash at him wickedly. Keeping her gaze locked on his, she took a confident step forward.

Asmar's soldiers sprinted to defend their king, but Calliope was quicker. She let another invisible wave loose, launching the soldiers across the center of the city. Without wasting a moment, she bounded onto the stage. King Rowan tumbled backwards; Kaya's head dropped from his grip and rolled across the floorboards once more. Calliope pounced onto her target, throwing her hand before her and flipping his sword out of his grasp. She felt Rowan's blood pulse violently through his veins. She stared wickedly into his eyes, the devilish smile gone from her face. Soldiers and citizens fought amongst each other behind Calliope as she continued to taunt her pray.

"There is no place for you in this world," Calliope hissed in his face. She stood above him and smiled. She raised her arms above her head, summoning her magic, and watched the color drain from her victim's face. The Earth trembled and cracked around them. She shot an arm towards the king suddenly and let her violent magic meet its fated target. King Rowan's screams echoed through the city, but only for a quick moment before his body jolted from the magic, sending him flying through the air and to the ground. The king's lifeless body lay mangled in a muddy puddle.

Calliope stood alone on the stage as the magic slowed and died around her. Suddenly aware of her surroundings, she spun around and scanned the chaos that had overcome the city. She couldn't help but to notice the shock and horror from the people she had called friends and family. Her knees shook and her stomach churned. She fell to her knees and choked on the lump in her throat. Her body shook violently as she gasped for air.

She felt herself being pulled to her feet once more. The world spun around her and she fought to stay conscious. She stumbled into a strong body as the arms pulled her up. She heard Mido's familiar voice. She tried to call to him but her voice felt distant. She let the arms continue to guide her. She felt the arms lift her into the air. She felt the thick, coarse hair of a horse's mane. And then they were moving, faster and faster. It took all her strength to stay on the horse's back as the steed carried her away from the city.

When the horse began to slow, Calliope gathered the strength to look around, finally coming back completely into the world. She pulled the horse around, staring at the distant castle. Smoke billowed up from the city, melting in with the darkening sky. She felt her heart sink in her chest and she slid off the horse's back.

"Calliope." A voice behind her reminded her she was not alone. She turned to see soldiers mounted on their horses, watching her carefully. King Sloan and Mido were amongst them. King Sloan's eyebrows knit together as Mido looked to her with fear in his eyes. Mido dismounted and hurried to her, pulling her back towards her horse.

"What's going on?" Calliope asked frantically. She pulled away from Mido.

"We need to get you out of here," Mido said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back. "Now."

"But, King Rowan..." Calliope stuttered. "The witch..." King Rowan's lifeless eyes flashed through her mind. His mother's severed head rolled across the ground. It couldn't be true.

Mido's expression was hard as he looked to her. "You killed him, Calliope."

Calliope shook her head, her heart racing. "No."

"Calli, we need to go, now. Those people will do anything to see you dead. My soldiers are holding them back as long as they can."

"They will die," she sobbed as she pulled back towards the kingdom's capital.

"Don't let them die in vain," he hissed at her.

"How did this happen?" she muttered as Mido dragged her back towards her horse. "No, no, no," she repeated over and over. She felt her world begin to slip away from her grasp.

Mido grabbed her waist and threw her over his soldier.

"No!" she shouted. "I can save them! They can't die! Let me save them!"

Mido threw her back into the saddle. "Stay on that horse and don't fucking move," he growled at her. Mido mounted Lily and took the reins from Calliope, leading her and her horse through the kingdom.