Ruby Red

Chapter Thirteen

Karis didn't know how to respond. Alana squeezed him tighter in a sly grip that left him standing in place. As soon as the queen made the announcement, a flash of shiny clothes sped by them. Prince Victor was already running toward his mother and sibling. Princess Harsha met up with him at the base of the stairs.

"What's happening?" Fallon asked as Lévian dragged her over to her siblings.

Harsha's eyes frantically searched for any sign of help in Victor and Lévian's face. "It's the Scepter," she stated. Fallon grabbed Lévian's hand. "I... I walked in there to check on everyone, but... it was a bloodbath. All seven of them were dead. The Scepter wasn't anywhere in the room. I don't know what happened, I should have been more careful..."

"It's not your fault, Harsha," Victor said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "We'll find it. Was there any sign of anyone breaking in?"

"If there was, I didn't see it. I don't know. We need to go find Mother. Maybe she'll know what we need to do."

As the four of them started to head up the steps to the balcony, Karis tried to follow them, but Alana was still at his tail. He couldn't draw anything on her right now. He shook her off of him and whirled around. That stupid smirk was still lighting up her face. As much as he wanted to smack it off, he decided to handle this more maturely. "You're not going to get away with this," he growled, leaning in close to her.

Alana dared to get a hair's breadth closer. "It looks like I already have. I've done my part. Now let's see if Indigo was able to keep up the pace."

"Indigo?" A wave of panic washed over Karis. He threw Alana one last frightened glare before sprinting to catch up with Fallon. He had to shove past a few people to get there, but he met her at the top of the steps right in front of the queen's throne.

Karis grabbed her arm and drew her away from the royals. She looked over at him as he whispered, "Indigo did it. They're here. They were the one that stole it."

Fallon paled as the blood drained from her face. She stared at Lévian and let out a shaky exhale. Memories of their conversation in the garden raced through her head. The royal family had faced Indigo once before, and they were not physically or mentally ready to do it again.

As Fallon stepped away to warn the royals, a scream echoed through the ballroom. Pain resonated off of the golden walls, and it was impossible not to hear the cries.

A noblewoman in a green dress stumbled out of the side hallway clutching her chest. Thick streams of red trickled down between her fingers and she made gurgling sounds as she fought to breathe from the stab wound that had punctured her lung. A few seconds later, she dropped to her knees on the floor, fell onto her side, and didn't move again.

Black high-heeled boots clicked on the now stained marble floors as another figure emerged from the shadows. In one of their hands was a sword, now crimson with the blood of the noblewoman. In the other, sparkling in the light of the castle it called home, was the Scepter. Gold and inlaid with rubies, its splendor seemed out of place in its wielder's hands.

Indigo tossed their hair out of their eyes and paused right in front of the royals. Harsha ushered their mother and Lady Leela behind her, both frozen in fear. No one moved a muscle, but Indigo just kept smiling. "It's great to be back, everyone. Thank you for having me." With a nod, they lowered their sword ever so slightly. They were letting their guard down, but no one dared to cross them.

They stepped forward and Harsha pushed the queen and her lady closer to the door leading out. As their hand touched the metal doorknob, Indigo tilted their chin in their direction. "Oh, by all means, please, go. The fewer people in my way, the fewer I have to kill." They stepped forward again, this time locking eyes with the prince. "You should probably grab the other one and go too, pretty boy. I wouldn't want to hurt anyone, now would I?"