Alicia had already taken a protective stance in front of Paulina, and from the look in her eyes, she was daring anyone to try and take her away, even though she was scared.
Run, protect yourselves. I... will cover for you." The guard, who had been watching everything unfold, managed to speak as he pushed himself off the wall and grabbed his sword tightly.
Alicia turned to look at him and then at Paulina before she looked in the direction of the men. While some were almost done with whatever weapon they were assembling to break down the solid doors, four men were approaching them, and it was quite obvious they were coming for her and Paulina. As for the guard, of course, they were going to get rid of the little hindrance too.
Alicia quickly turned back to Paulina and shoved her at the guard, who could barely keep himself up.
"Protect yourself," Alicia said strictly, and almost immediately, Paulina shook her head.
"Listen to me!" Alicia said to Paulina sternly. "Return to where we were and hide there."
Paulina knew she was talking about the tomb, but she shook her head in refusal, refusing to move.
"This is not the time to be stubborn! I cannot save you here." Alicia snapped.
"What if something happens to you? I don't want to leave you—"
"I cannot save myself when I am trying to save you!" Alicia looked at the young man and said in a desperate tone. "Make sure you both survive. Otherwise, I will kill you myself."
"l don't—"
"I PROMISED!" Alicia yelled, cutting Paulina off before she could refuse again.
"I promised you the title of the most renowned painter." Alicia reminded her.
"I promised to make you a great merchant. And I... will fulfil it. You have to live." Alicia said in a desperate tone before she cupped Paulina's face and dropped a kiss on her forehead while tears dropped from Paulina's closed eyes.
As soon as Alicia let her go and pushed her away, Paulina spoke. "If anything happens to you, I... will kill myself." She promised her before she held the guard and began to run away.
"DO NOT LET THEM GET AWAY," Tyra ordered.
"Where can they run to? They will die anyway." One said, laughing. As usual, some joined in.
Alicia looked at the four men, who had gotten very close. She quickly picked up two swords that had been dropped earlier by the wounded guards, and that action alone made the men stop in their tracks, hesitating.
They had heard rumours about this witch. One they wouldn't have dared to believe if one of their own wasn't battling with death at the moment.
Alicia's angry eyes looked at the men before she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The swords were heavy. They reminded her of how her arms felt whenever she was working out with heavy dumbbells. However, she held onto them, spreading her hands out.
'Amber. Anne. Avery. I didn't come here to die in the hands of these crazy psychos.' She said it in her head.
Her mind suddenly went back to the times she had seen Harold training alone, to the times when he was busy training with Alvin, and to the times he was swinging his sword in an actual fight.
She also remembered the times he had taught her, reminding her that life here was to kill or be killed.
To every other person, she just stood still, and those who still dared watch from the windows felt she was crazy. She was supposed to be running for her life, especially seeing how those four men weren't exactly far from here and had deadly weapons. Fortunately, the men looked more confused than amused now, and they just stared as though entranced. The others, including those preparing to knock down the doors, remained where they were behind Tyra, all eyes on her.
Suddenly, things seemed to change, and no one could utter a word. Their gazes simply settled on her, and they watched with furrowed brows as a strange gust of wind twirled around her.
Alicia was still in the same position with her eyes closed. She thought about all that had happened to her since she came here. How she was always fighting for someone else. How she concerned herself with something that was none of her business. Anne had also been like that when she was a queen. However, Lady Avery hadn't been like that. She had simply chosen a simple life in seclusion. Same as Amber, albeit involuntarily. But trouble still found them.
Avery
Anne
Amber
Alicia.
Death continued to threaten them. At that moment, it seemed like she bore the grievances of all the ladies plus her own.
Lady Avery had been killed under Lord Zealot's command.
Queen Anne had also been killed under his command.
Amber had lived an unfair life, and as for herself... despite all she had done, she had been locked out.
The grievance was so great that her panting turned into loud gasps, and angry tears flowed down her face.
When it came out in a burst, she let out a loud, earth-shattering scream and opened her eyes, which briefly had a mixture of Amber's amber eye colour and Alicia's blue eye colour before they settled on a bright brown.
While lost in her mind, Alicia had been oblivious to the windstorm that was happening. Birds of different kinds flew away to safety, and the brightness of the cloud had turned a dark shade. Cages were broken, letting all the animals kept as food in the palace run away. The barn was also broken, and some horses were racing madly in the direction of the rogues, who were finding it difficult to escape the windstorm since it was too strong and they could barely see a thing or move. But that was if they could escape from their weapons harming them since the wind was strong enough to carry some.
Tyra screamed when her horse reared and threw her off before it ran with the other horses. Fortunately for her, she was caught before she could fall to the ground and break her neck.
When an unaffected Alicia finally realized what was happening all around her, something else caught her attention.
It was the infamous white horse that was about to race past her.
"Come here," Alicia said quietly to Hellion, and amidst the storm, Hellion heard her voice and stood still.
After a brief look at her, the stubborn horse approached and crouched down for her to mount.
Alicia mounted Hellion while holding tightly onto the swords in her hands. And with a triumphant smile on her face, she said, "You all wanted a witch so badly."
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