*It was late and the party had ended. Guests slowly flowed out of the palace each on their own turn. Caius left the party Nazlik and Elowyn in his arms. Darkness had fallen over the city and the yard was covered in shadows. So many carriages still filled the yard forcing Caius' carriage remain outside the gates. "My lord, I´m so sorry for this delay" the footman exclaimed wringing his arms before his lord.
"Not a problem" Caius said calmly, "I think ladies and myself can walk few steps outside, don´t you think?". He turned to them leaving the question linger in the air. "Sure", Nazlik and Elowyn said excatly at the same time, causing them to look at each other with a smirk.
"That settles it then", Caius said to the footman, "tell the driver to pull the carriage outside the gate, we will walk there". The footman ran away relieved. "Shall we, my ladies?", Caius offered his arm to both of them.
Outside the palace gates the carriage waited few dozen yards away in darkness by the dragon statues with few of Caius guards. The street lights did not illuminate the place completely leaving dark shadows linger around the carriage. Guards had moved to both sides to make sure no one would get too close.
Caius led both of the ladies and the footman opened the door for them placing a step on the marble road before the door. Caius leaned forward guiding Elowyn inside the carriage, then he turned to Nazlik taking her hand. She reached for the door.
One of the guards standing behind them bolted in action. He moved forward kicking Nazlik in the back causing her fall head on inside the carriage. Then he turned to Caius with a blade in his hand. Simultaneously a second guard beside him rushed towards Caius from the other side with a another blade flashing in his arm. Caius was still turning to his companion as the second guard pushed him against the doorway striking his blade into Caius back.
With a upwards turn the blade punctuated Caius overcoat scratching his ribs while cutting its way inside him forcing its way through his internal organs. The guard twisted the blade in a attemp to reach for his heart.
Caius twiched with a roar, a grimace of pain flashing on his face. It completely took over him draining him of his strength. He could feel the powerful magebane extract in the blade included to nullify his power spreading into his body. And he could also feel a tingling poisonous heat spreading from the blade into his bloodstream as well.
The first cuard turned in one smooth move striking his blade into Caius stomach increasing the effect and pulled him in one massive move away from the carriage door tearing his intestines with the blade.
As Nazlik fell face on inside the carriage and into Elowyns lap she screamed of horror knowing what was going on behind her.
Elowyn was frozen from the sudden burst of violence cutting coldly through the lovely evening, her head cleared from the drinks she had in the party in one shocking flash.
She reached out without thinking and a arc of lightning shot from her hand stiking the second guard standing behind Caius sending him rolling down the road.
Nazlik sprang backwards kicking the guard on Caius side into his face sending him stumbling away from Caius. The massive dose of magebane obstucted Caius mana flow draining him severely of his power. Massive bleeding and internal damage along with the fast spreading poison caused Caius to drop on his knees before the carriage door.
He could feel there was only few moments left. Time slowed down.
Caius reached towards his staff placed by the carriage door. His hand shook from the early effects of the poison threatening to take control of his body as the blood gushed from his wounds drenching his clothes showering on the marble road. His guards around the carriage sprang into action in order to protect their lord, too late.
The first guard kicked back by Nazlik regained his balance and bolted towards Caius his bloody dagger swishing in the air. Nazlik tried to turn around but her dress was caught in the door hinges. She screamed of anguish. Elowyn turned to the first guard and another arc of lightning shot from her hand causing the guard to shake uncontrollable.
Darkness started to close in from the sides of Caius vision. He felt with certainty that his last moment had arrived. Caius knew he had no strength left so he let his body fall forward in his last effort to reach for the staff. His fingers grazed the staff, softly, then wrapped around it. A surge of power filled his dimming mind.
Darkness twirled around Caius and he disappeared appearing next to the first guard. Caius placed his bloody arm on the guards throat. A surge of power between them caused the guard twitch even more.
"Yes.. ", Caius whispered with a barely audible voice blood dripping between his lips while looking into the guards eyes as he fell slowly down before him.
"Give me your life... ". Caius eyes gleamed in the dark as the guards skin started to wrinkle and dry up, tighten over his bones while his hair turning first gray then white. A small groan left from the guards lips, the last sound.
Caius stumbled forward dropping the dried up corpse of the guard placing his hand on his stomach. It was still bleeding and he could feel the effect of the poison inside him. His feverish eyes scanned the surroundings.
Nazlik rushed out of the carriage tearing her dress, "Caius, no!". She ran towards Caius with her tattered dress flying in the air. Caius stumbled forward trying to lean on his staff, then he saw the second guard crawling away in the shadows. Elowyns bolt had not killed him yet.
Another flash of darkness and Caius appeared right at side of the guard, placing his bloody hand on his shoulder. Caius legs gave up and he fell down on the marble road next to the guard. "Who sent you?" Caius demanded with the last drops of his willpower with the blood spell placing his mouth next to his ear, "who sent you?".
The guard whispered something, Caius concentrated for the last time and life started to rush to him from the guard.
Caius released his grip from the dried up corpse and tried to stand up. His feet gave up causing him to tip over on his back next to the guard on the marble road, his hand dropping against the ground releasing his staff rolling with a clatter on the ground.
"No, please no!", Nazlik ran like a wind to him leaving the guards behind her. Elowyn fade stepped right next to Caius. She gazed at him horrified.
The bleeding had mostly stopped, Caius lay in a pool of his own blood his clothes soaked with it. His face was pale and eyes stared into the black night above. Elowyn kneeled beside him placing her hand on Caius arm. She called her mana trying to adjust healing power to him. Nazlik stormed to her side falling on her knees. She pulled Caius in her arms whispering, "please my love. Don´t leave me".
Elowyn could feel the poison raging inside him, burning still like a wildfire despite the lives of the two guards. Elowyn gazed around looking for something useful and saw Caius staff. She reached out and took his staff in her hands feeling the power rush into her. She converted the extra mana flow into a healing power channeling it to Caius.
"We need to get him home, to healers" Nazlik stared at Elowyn tears falling from her eyes.*
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