Game is on: part IV

Annabella rushed to the unconscious Reagan and called out worriedly: "Reagan... Reagan... please be alive! Please wake up! I don't care about the truth... just wake up!!!"

She then checked Reagan's pulse and a sigh of relief escaped her lips. Reagan passed and survived the Trial of the Righteous. After realising what this meant, Annabella sat down, pulled Reagan's head into her lap, ran her hand through Reagan's hair and said with tears streaming down her cheeks:" Once again I have failed you! I am so weak. I chose to believe a convenient lie instead of standing up for us. 

  Reagan was pale and her face, once full of life and charm, was emaciated with pain. Annabella could not bear to see it. She took a deep breath, charging herself with the life force she had drawn from the water sources and the air around them. Her purple eyes suddenly began to glow. She then kissed Reagan on the lips and the life force began to flow into Reagan, cleansing her blood of the poison. Annabella broke the kiss, wincing in pain at the strain the effort had put on her frail body. Then she said pleadingly, "Please... come back to me! I would rather live in a world where you despise me than one where you do not. She then leaned her forehead against Reagan's and caressed Reagan's cheek with her thumb."

Thirty minutes later, Reagan slowly came to. She thought to herself, "Am I dead? Maybe I am in heaven! This pillow is so comfortable. This scent... it smells like Annabella. Heaven smells like Annabella... What an irony! This could be my own personal hell. Maybe I was a real piece of shit in my past life to deserve such a punishment. WOW... An everlasting reminder that I will never have her. I am one lucky bastard. Anyway, let's enjoy it while it's here."

Reagan began to rub herself against the "pillow", taking in the delightful scent. Then she heard Annabella's voice: "Reagan... R..R.Reagan! Are you awake? Please tell me you are awake!" 

Reagan opened her eyes to meet the worried gaze of the young woman who looked at her like a widow who had seen her spouse rise from the dead. For a split second, time seemed to freeze. Reagan could see the genuine concern and affection in the way Annabella held her and smiled brightly. But then the memories of everything that had led up to this moment came back like a punch to the gut.

Reagan sat up and groaned, "How long have I been unconscious?"

Annabella brought her water bottle to Reagan's lips as she replied, "An hour or so".

Reagan took the bottle without looking at her and said, "I recovered quite quickly. Did you have anything to do with my sudden recovery?"

She nodded and replied coyly, "I couldn't leave you like that. You were in this predicament because of me."

Reagan tried to stand but fell onto her knee and clutched her chest. Annabella tried to help, but Reagan raised her hand and said, "We are even. There is no need for you to offer any further assistance. In fact, you can leave. A peasant like me has had enough of your generosity."

Annabella replied, pleading on her knees and breathing heavily: "I am so sorry that I did not believe you! I am so sorry that I said such hurtful things to you. Jealousy got the best of me. I am sorry. It ... has never happened to me before because never in my life have I wanted someone so much to be mine alone. " 

Reagan nodded and stood up looking down at her coldly, "No need to explain!  I...don't blame you. I had it coming. I was naive...I paid the price. Now let's go our separate ways and all the best." 

Annabella stood up and walked over to Reagan, holding her hand: "Is...this really the end? Won't you at least look at me as you end us?" 

Turning toward her, Reagan fought back tears and said, " A few hours earlier I would have been overjoyed to hear those words. We both know there was never any 'us'.  There was a dream... but now it is time to wake up and face reality. Lady de la Croix, aux plaisirs". 

Before Annabella could muster the courage to answer, Reagan walked away. She limped. She had experienced pain before, but nothing as painful as this. Heartbreak fucking sucks. She thought to herself, "I would give anything to go home. The world is indeed a sad and cold place full of liars and cowards. Grandpa...Grandma...I miss you so much".

Back in the manor

George has a meeting with his most trusted guards and gives them instructions. 

George says, "How many attempts on Regan's life have we counted this month?" 

One of the guards replies:" None, sire." 

George replies:" That is what worries me. There is a change of stratagem. The end of the final practical test is about to begin. They will have a field activity. This is the opening they have been waiting for. They will approach a student to finish the job. Do we have an insider we can rely on?" 

  Klain, the head of security, replies:" I have had a few insiders, but I think they have been discovered. I have not heard from them since last month." 

George frowns and says irritably, "They're betting everything on the final. They wouldn't have taken our people out and left theirs behind, it would jeopardise their whole operation by attracting too much attention. Attention means investigations, which could lead to the finals being postponed. 

Klain says coldly, "They're cleaning up after themselves. 

The other guards present tensed as they realised how merciless their enemy was. They are prepared to kill anyone and anything that gets in their way. Enemy or ally... no difference in this bloodbath, once they have served their purpose they are eliminated.

George broke the silence and said, "The final test is the most famous event sponsored by the High Council. It is held in the open and provides the perfect cover for an assassination. Reagan ... will have to fight this one alone. ". 

George sighed and dismissed the guards, who left with a frustrated look on their faces. Margaret came in and sat down beside her husband, who seemed to have grown old with worry.  Then she said, "The final, uh... Klain confirmed your suspicions?" 

George nodded and rubbed his eyes as he said, "Yes, he has. All signs point to it. Reagan is alone. We can't protect her during the finals. The level of scrutiny is high. If we intervene, I will be exposed as a leader and I would be putting a target on Reagan's back. 

Margaret holds his hand and says: "Reagan is not alone. From what I have heard, she has made friends who are loyal to her. They will fight with her. She has also been trained by the best of them all, you, my Lord. She can do it. She just needs to be made aware of the danger that lurks. "

George sighs as he says, "I would have liked her to enjoy her naive youth a little longer. You are right, my lady. We will give her just enough details to keep her on her toes. The time has not yet come to reveal the whole truth. " 

Margaret rose and invited George to join her for a long walk through the gardens. As they walked, Margaret began to reminisce about their time with Reagan, and waves of laughter echoed through the gardens. It was a ray of light in all the gloom that suffocated the whole castle.

At the same time, in the castle of the ruler of the Death Mages, Charles had a secret meeting with Dvrak, who seemed particularly angry.

Dvrak passed by angrily as he said, "I never agreed to this slaughter. I understand why you took out your father's spies. What I do not understand is why you are killing ours."

Charles replied nonchalantly, "They served their purpose. They were liabilities. We needed them out of the way." 

Dvark clapped back, "I am beginning to question your motives, my friend. You seem to be acting on impulses for personal gain. I only agreed to join you in this fight because I know the truth and I aim to maintain the current order. "

Charles replied angrily, "I should be the one to question your dedication to the cause, my... friend. We both know that your sister has taken quite a liking to 'the thing'. Are you trying to trick me and turn this situation to your advantage? My God... it is indeed a good plan to get your hands on the power of light."

Dvark released the adamas and snarled, "Careful, boi! I am king. You are still a vassal to your lord. I tolerate you, but you annoy me. How dare you question my resolve as the bearer of the Deathmage legacy!" 

Charles muscled him, releasing the divine light as he said, "This useless fight will lead to nothing. The plan we have is infallible. Let's get rid of this abomination and then part ways, death vermin."

They both calmed down and agreed on the final details of the plan. As they were about to leave, Dvrak said, "And I thought death mages were evil. You are one mean bastard, Charles. This is your child we are going to murder in cold blood."

Charles smiled and said unapologetically, "Life has made me this way, and please do not call this abomination my child. She is a remnant of a past that must remain buried.  Look on the bright side, at the end of this I will be the ruler of the mages of life and I will see to it that you are free to run your realm as you wish without interference from the High Council of Mages. It is a win-win situation."

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