Down to the Ground

Pain erupted around Agatha's lower back from the impact with the nearby wall. A sharp rock hit a critical spot, making her see stars behind her eyelids.

"Well, well, look what we have here," said a female voice in a delighted tone. "The child of the whore."

Agatha's eyes shivered at the familiar voice. She immediately searched for the source and wasn't mistaken.

Eva stood right before her, very much alive.

The pain and anger resurfaced from the depths of Agatha's heart, feelings she had buried and tried to forget for years.

For years she had hidden, feeling like a criminal, believing she had killed Eva. The guilt had consumed her despite knowing she had her fair share of crimes.

But there was no time for thought, only action. Eva moved quickly. One moment she stood beside Agatha, and the next, she had her pinned on the floor, dagger in one hand while gripping her neck tightly with the other.

"I'll kill you," Eva gritted. "And this time, there will be no Lorelei, Henry, or Isa to save you!"

Black energy swirled around Eva, making her once porcelain skin look older. Even her lips darkened, transforming her into a daughter of shadow.

"Your mother did not deserve the throne. You don't deserve the throne. I deserved it. I was Henry's betrothed. I was supposed to be Queen. A Blue Blood, bred and made to be Queen at birth, but then your mother came along and ruined everything!"

Eva slapped Agatha repeatedly, screaming at the top of her lungs until Agatha's vision blurred and darkened.

Agatha tried to remove Eva's hand from her neck, but her grip was too strong. Her legs attempted to kick, but all she could manage were weak thrashes. She hadn't regained her strength yet.

"Why are you doing this?" With great effort, Agatha managed to say the words while struggling to breathe.

"Just because she's Henry's Fate, they broke off our wedding. Just like that!"

Eva swung her knife savagely, without control. It sliced Agatha's skin, wounding her flesh.

"They shut me up and made me accept the new Queen. I was put aside. Just because they shared some pathetic bond. She did nothing, while I worked so hard to earn it. I did everything. I sacrificed everything. All my life. Then others just easily took it from me. By a Nymph?" Eva laughed hysterically. "I don't think so…"

Eva thrust the knife toward Agatha's chest when the ceiling exploded above them. Rocks and stalactites fell quickly.

Smoke and dust filled the air, making everything blurry. A larger rock hit Eva's back, giving Agatha a brief chance to escape.

With trembling hands, Agatha pushed Eva off her and reached for her own dagger. But she twisted her right wrist awkwardly, and an invisible force pushed her, sending her flying across the room.

Everything was on fire, and bodies lay bathed in their own blood. Agatha tried to land safely, but something was pulling her.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Hiyasmin fighting two knights at once. Cuts on her arms and legs were healing, but the pain slowed her movements.

Alexa, on her broomstick near Hiyasmin, murmured spells while dodging attacks.

Leonel and the others were freed and fighting, but exhaustion showed in their movements.

Leonel faced the green-haired witch while the others battled Eva's skilled men.

A quick flash of golden hair, and Agatha saw Liam in hand-to-hand combat with Rolo. Red dots painted his pants, and his bare back dripped with blood.

Another strong pull, and Agatha hit the ground again. For a few moments, she couldn't breathe, her lungs constricting painfully.

Before she could draw a breath, Eva stepped on her and kicked her hard and deep.

"You" kick "are" kick "weak" kick "just" kick "like" kick "your whore mother!"

The kicks continued until Agatha tasted blood. She tried to stand, but the pain was too much. Once Eva tired of kicking her, she yanked Agatha's hair and dragged her by it. 

"Do you remember how your mother begged me before she died?" Eva threw Agatha again, her head hitting the rocks. "Do you remember her licking my feet like some pathetic animal? Do you?"

Eva yanked Agatha's hair again and gripped her neck so hard her bones felt like they were going to snap.

"Well, you will do the same, Nymph!" Eva uttered the last words with so much disgust. "If only your father wasn't so pathetic and had given the throne to his brother Philippe, then he would still be alive. Your mother would still be alive. Even your Aunt Isa, or who knows who else. We could have been good relatives. But then…"

The pain made Agatha tremble. Everything ached. The pain was too much to endure. Overwhelming.

"If your mother had not hidden the half of the Ones inside your body, then Isa would not have been sold to Nysander. See? It's all their fault. They didn't let go of the throne even with their lives at stake. Your father forced himself to disappear and left you so his brother wouldn't take the throne." Eva moved closer and smiled proudly at Agatha. "Do you now understand how useless you were to your father? He chose the throne and death over his own wife and child!"

"Shut up!" The anger Agatha felt temporarily overshadowed the pain. Using the dagger, she buried it in Eva's shoulder.

Eva screamed but quickly pulled it out. She threw it away, and within seconds, she was healed again.

"You bitch! You will pay for that!"

Eva lunged, anger evident in her eyes. Her choke was tight and relentless as she pushed Agatha's head into the wall.

"Just die," Eva said. "Die, you nymph!"

"Let m-me g-go!" Agatha tried to pry Eva's hands away, but she couldn't. She could not breathe. Victory was already written in Eva's smile, but Agatha held on.

She gripped tightly to the remaining breath in her body. She couldn't lose now. Not to her, not to the woman who murdered her mother!

Her eyes frantically searched the area, spotting a large stone at the side. Agatha reached for it. Moving was difficult as Eva continued to choke her, enjoying the moment, but Agatha still tried.

Her eyesight was wavering, and her breathing was short and shallow. She gasped for air, reaching for hope.

Her shaking hands finally grasped the stone's rough texture. Agatha clutched it firmly with her right hand while her left continued to try and pry Eva's hands off her.

With the remaining energy she had, she forcefully struck Eva's head with the stone.

"Ah!" Eva screamed. Her hold on Agatha loosened, and with weak hands, Agatha pushed her away.

Agatha quickly caught her breath, but Eva immediately attacked again. Shouting curses, she pulled Agatha's hair and pushed her off the edge.

They were on the highest ground of the cavernous space, and it seemed a long way down to the ground.

Agatha fought back with everything she had. She kicked, punched, and scratched, but Eva was too strong, making all her efforts seem futile.

"You will die tonight, and I will be the only one left. I won't wait for the next full moon to prepare the attack as they want. Everything is already ready. They are already surrounded everywhere. Just a word, and they will attack the kingdom all at once!"

Eva hauled Agatha over the edge, pushing her toward her doom with a satisfied look in her eyes.