Marcellus's Fate

---Katherine---

I was captivated by Lord Victor's story. The memories were so vivid, the characters so real, and the emotions so raw. Deep in my heart, I knew that Lord Victor was telling us the truth, but I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that there were two groups of the Rosewood Seven. It didn't make sense. Why didn't anyone tell us this? How come no one knew about the first group from centuries ago?

Lord Victor was entirely preoccupied with telling his story. Aaron watched the memory playback with wide eyes, his wounds forgotten. I pulled myself forward, little by little. The hilt of my sword was only a meter away now.

The memories continued to play. Marcellus and Victor, previously two heroes of Crystallea, were now the most wanted criminals in Crystallea and wanted dead or alive. Elder Kendric had more power and influence than any of them had realized, and he utilized his connections and resources to hunting down the fugitives. Elder Kendric personally oversaw the manhunt. He knew that Victor and Marcellus knew the truth, so he could not let them live.

"We didn't dare go far because Annalise was still in Kendric's hands, but we knew he couldn't kill her without a believable reason. She was still one of the Destined Three, after all." Lord Victor continued to narrate. "But we all underestimated Kendric's ruthlessness. When we kept evading his pursuits, he used Annalise as a hostage to force us to appear and surrender. We knew something was wrong the moment we saw her.

"Annalise was bound with her hands behind her back when Kendric pushed her out. With Annalise's abilities, she should be able to break free without much trouble. Yet she couldn't even resist Kendric's shove; it sent her falling to the ground. Why couldn't she use her spells to escape?"

Indeed, in the memory, Annalise's eyes searched the area frantically but she didn't speak. She and Kendric were in a clearing in a forest, while Victor and Marcelllus were hidden among the leaves in the surrounding trees. Annalise managed to rise to a kneeling position. Her hair was a mess, and her clothes were ripped in many places. Bruises and wounds of all sizes covered her body. Her throat moved, but no sound came out. Her face was too pale, and her lips were purple. Had she been poisoned?

"Marcellus, Victor, I know you're there! Surrender, or else Annalise will die here today." Kendric unsheathed his sword and pointed it under Annalise's quivering chin. Her eyes screamed, 'Don't come out! It's a trap!'

Up amongst the leaves of a nearby tree, Marcellus gripped the hilt of his sword so hard his knuckles were white. "He hurt her," he muttered angrily, his gaze murderous. "She can't speak. She can't use her spells. What did he do to Annalise?!"

Beside him, Victor looked just as angry. "I'm going down there," he said with determination. "I'm going to murder that son of a bitch and get Annalise out of there."

"Victor, wait." Marcellus put a hand on Victor's shoulder. "I'll go; you stay hidden. After all, it's you that Kendric really wants. You're the only one who talked to Bianca before she died, and you have the orb now. If you go out there, he'll kill you for sure. But I'm different; I didn't do anything except help you escape. Hell, I might not even know what's really going on. I'm just helping my best friend. Do you understand what I mean?"

"But, Marcellus—" Victor tried to argue. Marcellus held up his hand.

"Nuh-uh. I know you're the mastermind, but trust me on this one. Worst comes to worst, I can fight my way out. There's only, what, one Elder and twenty of his closest followers? You stay here and be our reinforcement." Marcellus patted Victor's shoulder. "You're my best friend. You should know what I'm capable of."

Victor looked conflicted, but finally nodded. "Be careful." With that, Marcellus carefully climbed down the tree and circled around to be in front of Kendric before emerging into the clearing. All weapons were trained on him immediately.

"I should have never let him go," Lord Victor said softly, almost to himself. His voice cracked. "I should have never let Marcellus face Kendric alone."

Back in the clearing, Marcellus's gaze was so murderous that if looks could kill, it would've killed Kendric a hundred times over. "Let Annalise go," he stated coolly. "You can take me instead."

"Where's Victor? I know he's with you." Kendric scanned the surrounding trees. "Tell him to come out."

"He's not with me. We split up. He's already halfway across the kingdom with the orb. I'm here to rescue my girlfriend, and then we're meeting Victor at Doveport." Marcellus tilted his head with a smirk. "You're too late, Elder Kendric."

"Victor's gone? Is that so?" Kendric's eyes flared. "If that's the case, then…get him!"

Ten of Kendric's followers rushed at Marcellus all at once, fists flying and swords flashing. Marcellus, worthy of being one of the Destined Three, battled them one to ten. However, Kendric pressed his blade harder against Annalise's neck. "Marcellus, surrender now! Otherwise, your girlfriend dies!"

"Don't you dare touch Annalise!" Marcellus shouted as he turned his attention to Annalise. That moment of distraction was all his opponents needed to overpower him and pin his arms behind his back. Marcellus struggled and resisted, but Kendric grabbed a fistful of Annalise's hair and yanked her head back, exposing the soft flesh of her neck to his merciless blade. A thin line of blood appeared. Marcellus stopped moving, his chest heaving with anger. His eyes were locked on the sword on his girlfriend's neck.

"Don't you dare, Kendric," he forced out through gritted teeth. "You've hurt her enough."

"Oh, but I didn't even do much. I only fed her a poison to suppress her magic and make her mute so she couldn't use spells against me." Kendric said dismissively with a shrug. Upon hearing the word "poison", Marcellus tried to lunge out again. His captors pulled him back roughly. Kendric glared at him and barked: "Break his leg!"

A man wielding a large heavy broadsword brought it down, hard, on Marcellus's right leg several times in quick succession. I heard a sickening crunch. Marcellus dropped to his knees, groaning in pain. Annalise opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Kendric walked to Marcellus, his unsheathed sword in his hand. "You're meeting up with Victor at Doveport, eh? That's nice to know. Except, I'll be there instead of you."

Kendric's eyes glinted dangerously. "I didn't want to kill him at first, but Victor has tested my patience once too many times. He knows too much, so he must die. And you, Marcellus? You were a good student. You and Annalise had such great potential, especially since returning as the Destined Three. But since you chose to ally yourselves with little Victor and to work against me, I'm afraid there is only one fate for you both."

Before Marcellus could retort, Kendric raised his sword and swiped it across Marcellus's throat. As blood splattered Kendric's white robe, Marcellus fell sideways, his eyes wide open. He didn't even have time to fight back.