Elysium's breath caught in her throat when they reached the Alarian gates. The once pure and beautiful kingdom had been encircled with massive black fortress walls. Towers with burning braziers lined the kingdom, decorated with thousands of Lupus's symbol banners. Smoke rose from the war forges, and a crowd of civilians waited to enter through the gates, sticking their hands between the red-painted bars. Captured banners from the fallen kingdoms were displayed on the building's walls. Soldiers wearing different armor styles led caravans from the different regions along the stone road. The walls were like trophies, symbolizing all of the kingdoms he'd overthrown. Elysium pushed past the crowd that flocked around the gate, keeping her hood pulled. Alastor sent their horses to run to safety. The guards who stood behind the gate bore their weapons. They tried to blend in with the crowd as they searched for another way in.
"I'm assuming you don't have any secret tunnels," Alastor muttered to Elysium.
Elysium shook her head, then signaled for Alastor to follow. They slowly crept around the gates, towards the gardens behind Elysium's palace. They crouched behind a bush while Elysium pulled her quiver in front of her and sorted through it. Alastor shot her a confused look, but Elysium was too focused to notice. Finally, she pulled a small, white gem out and examined it. Alastor cocked his brow.
"A rock?" He said.
Elysium ignored him and closed her eyes, letting her palm float over the gem. It slowly began to glow and glimmer, and Elysium took a deep breath in.
"Congratulations, Princess," Alastor rolled his eyes. "You just saved the kingdom."
Elysium had become prone to Alastor's sarcasm and waited a few moments, praying her plan would work. Suddenly, a figure emerged from inside the gates. A woman, dressed in a maroon gown with golden lining on the hem and corset, walked towards them. Celeste's short blonde hair peeked beneath a golden crown, lined with ruby jewels. Elysium felt her heart drop when she saw Celeste.
"Celeste?" She asked, then turned to Alastor. "I told you it would work."
The gem had been handed to Elysium for her birthday by Celeste. Every time Elysium needed her, she could use the gem to signal assistance. She remembered when she'd use it for the silliest thing, like when she'd fall off Vail, or when she'd skin her knee. Now, Celeste stood over here, with a cold expression on her face.
Elysium's face fell when she saw her.
"Queen Celeste, now," Celeste said sharply.
"I don't underst-" Elysium started.
"You declined the proposal," Celeste cut her off. "I didn't. And now look at me."
She raised her hands in the air, showing off her crown. Alastor was silent, and Elysium's eyes were wide with shock. Celeste looked behind her and smiled, while another figure emerged from the courtyards. With a maroon fur-lined cape wrapped around him, Lupus's golden chestplate reflected the sunlight. His armored shoulders stretched while he tipped his golden crown to his wife, wrapping his hand around her waist.
"It's a shame you missed the wedding," Lupus's eyes flickered to Alastor. "It really was beautiful."
"Touching, really," Alastor growled sarcastically.
Celeste looked up at her husband and kissed his cheek. Lupus's eyes shot to Elysium. The cover of her scythe peeked up behind her head and caught Lupus's attention. He quickly raised his hands up and sent the guards to snatch her. Two guards rushed to Elysium, while three others grabbed Alastor, dragging them both away from each other. Elysium could feel her wrist begin to burn, and she screamed in agonizing pain. In front of her, Alastor gritted his teeth, staring down at his heating arm.
"Interesting," Lupus said, opening the back gate. He signaled the guards to drag the pair inside. Alastor wrestled his arms between the guards, trying to break himself free. The harder he fought, the tighter they grabbed him. Lupus slowly walked behind Elysium and stripped her of her weapons. Her quiver and bow fell onto the ground, scattering her arrows across the grass. She aggressively began to struggle when he reached for the scythe.
"Stop!" she yelled, but it was too late.
Lupus held the cloaked Scythe in his hands, pulling the cloth off. The blade glistened in the sunlight, faintly glowing. Lupus examined it closely, racing his fingers down the rune-engraved handle. He noticed one rune in particular, and his eyes shot to Elysium and Alastor's wrists.
"You didn't," Lupus smiled and tossed his head back, laughing hysterically. "Tell me you didn't bind yourselves!"
Elysium and Alastor exchanged glances, then looked back at Lupus, who seemed more an just amused than just at the situation.
"You binded yourself to that, Elysium?" Lupus glared at Alastor. "You've damned yourself to an eternity of hell." his voice turned cold.
Alastor looked at Elysium, who turned her head away, looking down at the ground.
"Take them away," Lupus ordered.
Alastor and Elysium both kicked and fought while they were dragged past the courtyards and down into the palace. Lupus had cursed the kingdom to strip it of its magic, so the pair were powerless to his reign. Without magic, there was no one to overpower Lupus. Alastor walked, sandwiched between two guards, with his wrists chained together. The guards kept their swords inches from Alastor's throat, ready for his defense. Beside him, Elysium was followed by two other guards. When they reached a crossroads, Alastor was shoved down one hallway, and Elysium the other. Elysium shot around to Alastor, who was fighting the guards to see her, until she disappeared into the dark. Feeling hopeless and desperate, Elysium finally caved to her fear; she was weak. She was tossed into a bedroom, where the door slammed and locked behind her. She slapped her palms against the door, beating against it. She pushed against the door until her body finally gave out, and she fell to the floor. Weeping over her knees, Elysium tore the bedroom apart for any way to get out.
After hours of captivity, Elysium finally heard the doorknob twist open; Alastor had finally come to save her, or so she thought. The door creaked open, and Celeste walked inside, her hands collapsed together. Elysium rose to her feet and backed away, her face cold with resentment.
"Why?" Elysium choked. "Why would you do this?"
Celeste calmly sat on the corner of the bed, folding her hands together on her thighs.
"I am doing what's best for Alaria-"
"This is what's best for Alaria?" Elysium cut her off, her voice thick with anger.
"Elysium," Celeste continued, keeping her composure. "Lupus loves me. And we lead the kingdoms together. It's all I've ever wanted."
Elysium shook her head, pacing back and forth.
"I can't believe what I'm hearing," She muttered, then turned to face Celeste. "What do you want?"
Celeste took a breath, then her face grew serious.
"Alastor is being executed tonight."
Elysium felt like the air had been sucked out of her lungs. Eyes wide, she trembled, pressing her shaking hand over her mouth.
"No," She whispered.
Celeste silently got up and walked towards the door. With her hand on the doorknob, she turned to Elysium, her voice steady.
"I just thought you should know," She said quietly, before leaving.
Elysium angrily grabbed the dresser and pulled it towards her, sending it to the floor. The wood splintered, and the drawers spilled onto the ground. She ran to the vanity and gripped a hairbrush, sending it flying into the mirror. The glass shattered, and shards of glass spread out onto the desk. She destroyed the bedroom, ripping the bedsheets off the mattress and flinging the vanity chair across the room. Her commotion stopped, and she froze.
A howl sounded from the hallway, and low growls carried along with it. Elysium pressed her ear to the door, then jerked away when she heard the screams. Blood curdling groans and yelps sounded from outside the door, and a pool of blood began to puddle from the crack beneath it. She scooted back towards the door, while the scratching got louder, before the door burst open. A blur of gray leapt towards Elysium, who raised her arms in fear. Instead, she heard a high whimper. Juliet peeped her eyes open and saw Amarok, his tail wagging violently. The direwolf licked Elysium's cheeks, letting his full body weight press on top of her. Elysium teared up as she stroked his course fur, pressing her forehead to his.
"Good boy," She said in a sing-song voice as her eyes shifted to the mauled guards.
She peered out of the doorway, towards the hallway, where she saw rows of guards heading towards the palace entrance, their weapons drawn.
"Alastor," Elysium breathed.
Elysium felt her breath catch as Alastor set her back down on her feet; he couldn't keep his hands off of her. His lips slowly trailed down her neck, making her breath hitch with every kiss. Alastor pressed his fingers to his lips and whistled, signaling his horse to come galloping to the gardens. Without another word, Alastor hoisted Elysium up by her waist and set her on the horse before he mounted and snapped the reins.
"Where are we going?" Elysium asked.
"You're coming with me to Sheol," Alastor smirked.