xxii

"Is she alright?" Abraxas asked once he noticed Caspian walking down the grand staircase. Caspain nodded, stepping off of the last step. "She's just going to take it hard for a while."

Abraxas nodded. "Understandably so." He folded his hands behind his back and walked towards the entrance to the courtyard. "Walk with me?"

Caspian nodded and caught up with Abraxas, following him towards the courtyard where the guards were finishing up the clean-up. "I hated having her do that." Abraxas said, closing his eyes before turning and facing Caspian.

Caspian hung his head. "I know. I know. I didn't want her to do it." Abraxas reached out and opened the door to the courtyard. The maids were there, trying to scrub some of the blood that had fallen through the cracks of the wood.

Abraxas sighed through his mouth. "She needed to, though. She needed an exact representation of cutting off the trauma." Caspian looked towards Abraxas. "I think it added more trauma."

The air becomes tense between the two men. Caspian bowed his head. "I'm sorry, I spoke out of turn." Abraxas looked at Caspian and shook his head. "You were telling me like it was."

Caspian bowed his head. He noticed that the air had started to drop. Caspian looked up and noticed that ice had started to form on the edges of the roof.

"Everybody get inside!"

Caspian ushered the maids and Abraxas back into the castle and slammed the door, pulling out his sword and standing at the ready. "Come on out, Yuki." Caspian growled.

Yuki materialized from the shadows across from Caspian. "You're the person I was looking for." Tears soaked her face and her eyes were puffy. Yuki took one step forward, holding up her hand. Steam rose off of it.

"Yuki, please. I know what you're wanting to do-" "She took everything from me!" Yuki yelled. Tension rose between them, both glaring at each other. "It's only fair that I do the same thing." Yuki stalked forward, her once beautiful dress drug the ground.

"Yuki..." Caspian trailed off, holding up his sword. Yuki ignored him and raised her hand up. Abraxas pounded against the door, rattling it against its hinges. She flicked her wrists and Caspian's sword became brittle with ice.

He tossed it down and raised his hands. Yuki breathed in a ragged breath. "I want Ophelia to know what it's like to lose the man she loves."

Caspian slowly took a step forward, hands raised in surrender. Abraxas smacked the door with his palms, before turning and grabbing a weighted item. "Get out of my way!" He yelled, throwing the item at the door.

The window shattered and Abraxas dashed out of the broken door and shoved Caspian to the side, causing him to land on his side as Yuki released a loud cry and shot a spear of ice towards Abraxas.

Time seemed to stop. Caspian pushed himself up as he leapt to shield Abraxas from the projectile. It was futile.

The spear impaled Abraxas through his stomach. He coughed, blood splattering onto his face. Yuki closed her eyes before tilting her head. "My time here is done." She stepped backwards into the shadows and disappeared.

Caspian ignored her and ran to Abraxas, who had pulled the spear out of his stomach. He landed on his knees, his breath becoming shallow. Caspian landed beside him, helping him lie down and applied pressure to the wound.

"You're gonna be alright." Caspian said, fear gripping his heart tightly. Why'd you leave the castle, you idiot! Caspian gritted his teeth and applied more pressure.

Abraxas held Caspian's wrist tightly, shallow breaths started wheezing. "You idiot! Why did you smash the glass and jump in front of the spear?" Caspian felt tears prickle in his eyes as Abraxas tried to push his hand away.

"It's fate." Abraxas' voice never croaked above a whisper. Caspian shook his head. "No. No, fate can't be that cruel. You have so much more to do!"

Abraxas' breath slowed down as he looked up at Caspian. "Take care of her for me." Caspian nodded. "I will." Abraxas smiled and looked up to the sky. His eyes became unfocused and his breathing stopped.

Caspian pushed his wrist against the bridge of his nose before reaching up and closing Abraxas' eyes.

Meanwhile, in her room, Ophelia felt someone standing in her room. She turned and looked at Abraxas. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"You're dead, aren't you?" Ophelia asked, blinking slowly. Abraxas nodded. "I'm afraid so." Ophelia looked to the side and gripped both of her elbows. "How?"

"Yuki." Abraxas answered simply. Ophelia closed her eyes and a tear rolled down her cheek. "I took something from her so she took something from me."

Abraxas nodded. "She was originally going after Caspian." Ophelia looked back to him. "You jumped in front of him?"

Abraxas pursed his lips and looked down. "Yea. I did."

Ophelia sat down into the chair and put her head in her hands. She let out a shaky breath. "You'll be able to see Mom again." "She'll probably kill me." Abraxas offered. Ophelia let out a laugh. "Yea, she will." She looked back to her dad. "I'll become queen today. What if... what if I'm not ready?" Ophelia looked up at the ceiling and blinked back the tears.

"You'll be ready." Abraxas reassured, walking forward and stood behind Ophelia. He rested a cold hand on her shoulder. "I know you will. You have your mother's and my blood flowing through your veins."

Ophelia nodded. "I was born to be a queen." She closed her eyes. "I love you, dad."

Ophelia opened her eyes and looked behind her, greeted by an empty room. She sobbed and dropped her head into her arms.

Caspian walked into her room, noticing that she was crying. He rushed over and pulled Ophelia up and into a hug. "I know. I know."

Ophelia pulled away and grabbed Caspian's hands, seeing that they were tinted red with old blood.

"Where'd they put him?" Ophelia whispered, not taking her eyes off of Caspian's hands. "They put him in the infirmary to clean him up." Ophelia nodded, walked over to her bed and sat down. She scooted back into the pillows and looked up to Caspian. She patted the spot beside her.

"Stay with me. I don't want to leave yet."

Tears welled in Ophelia's eyes and she wrapped her arms around a pillow. Caspian climbed onto her bed and pulled her into a hug, resting his chin on top of her head.

Caspian rubbed circles against her back as Ophelia silently cried into his chest.