Passing Out.

After many hugs, kisses and even one mighty make out from Lexie, the four girls eventually leave you be. You look over their backsides as they walk away from you, making their way out of the Throne Room and down to some other rooms of the castle. For all you knew they were going to leave the castle and go to some local Tavern here in Rathkin to enjoy the company of one another. You felt somewhat bad denying their company as you knew it would be an amazing time but quite honestly, you traveled all across the continent all in the span of just about a week or so. It was too much and frankly, your body was beat.

You had to ask a few of your Sunrider's standing around guarding the castle where the bedrooms were. They easily pointed you in the direction and you continued your wandering down the marble floored castle hallways. Your eyes couldn't help but gaze through out the walls, looking at all the magnificent pieces of artwork strapped up as the red and violet carpets cushioned your feet with every step. It had a similar feeling of the Castle in the Syndicate but this place did seem a little more lucrative, which made sense since Rathkin definitely was much wealthier.

Finally reaching the bedroom door you grip down on the handle and go to turn it. It's stuck and it doesn't turn "The hell?" you question as the door seems locked shut. You knock on it a few times, calling out to see if anybody is inside but after many long knocks, nothing comes back. You look around the darkened hallway and see nobody around you at all.

You scratch your head, wondering why this room is locked, thinking it's weird. That thought quickly fades as something gushes past your nostrils, allowing you to breath in that sweet, cool scent. "Well, always up for some fresh air..." you grin as you think about just sitting out on a balcony for a few moments, sucking in the refreshing night air.

You follow your nose through the halls, making your way to a smaller wooden door which leads out to a balcony. The door itself completely wide open, almost as if somebody wanted you to come this way. The weird part was that there was no Sunrider's around you at all, hell, there was nobody even close to this area so why was this door completely open? You didn't think much of it as you assumed maybe the wind just pushed it open or that somebody just left shortly.

Stepping out the already opened door it actually reminds you exactly like the same balcony you were at in the Syndicate, the same balcony you had your very brief conversation with Rixx. A small table, two small chairs, one unlit torch and some stone handrails around the edges. It was higher up, looking down into the back courtyard of the castle. It actually seemed somewhat cozy down below as there was plenty of grass trails, some random pools of water and many stone benches and tables to sit. With the castle being in the middle of the inner city, you never would have figured there would be such a hidden treasure right in the back courtyard of the castle, but there it was, looking fabulous.

Your hands go down to the rails and grip that hardy material. Your fingers begin to curl around the structure almost trying to ring water out of it as you squeeze and twist on it, releasing some stress in your body. Your head tilts up high in the sky as you suck down the biggest gulp of oxygen you could. You hold it inside you as the cool moisture calms your body. With a slow exhale you release the air "Now I know how you must have felt Claire..." you mumble out.

Your thoughts begin to reel about your sister, thinking about that last dinner you had with her and Ashe, if you could even call it that. She told you that she was tired of everything, that she was tired of the fighting, the politics and constantly having to be alone.

A grin formed on your face as you weren't alone. You had four amazing women that just shortly ago were lined up across from you trying to get you to go celebrate together. You knew you could count on any of them and would risk your life for them. For that, you were extremely thankful but still, there was always going to be that one person in your life that will always hold a special place in your heart.

Lifting your right hand up you bring your index and thumb into your face, softly rubbing your eyes as they felt strained. A thin coating of liquid formed in them as your eyes watered softly from the touch. A few more deep breaths later and you bring your hand back down and part your eyes back open.

Something flashes in the corner of your eyes as you focus off past the green courtyard below and to a building off in the distance beyond the courtyard walls, only a good hundred or so feet away to the side.

A glimmer sparks once more as the moon reflected off some type of metal surface. Thinking it was just the water in your vision playing tricks on you you bring your hand up once more, wiping away at your eyes before returning your focus back to the shimmer of light.

Squinting them tight you stare off at that building in the distance, looking to see if there was any more glistening light or if your eyes were really just playing tricks on you.

A sudden shock of sharp pain begins to course through your body as your mouth drops open gasping for air. You began to inhale whatever oxygen you could, fighting through the pain as the cool night air was now feeling torturous inside you. Your right hand reaches up to the source of the pain and right above your left pec, a steel shaft is sticking out of it. You're breathing was ragged as you start to lose focus. A steel shaft of an arrow is sticking out of your body as the feathers at the Fletching softly flutter in the breeze. You try to scream for help but no words are able to come out as the power of your voice was taken from you.

Pain continues it's course through you causing your eyelids to feel heavy. With your strength leaving, you fall to your knees as your body collapses backwards onto the balcony. You continue to gasp for air as your right hand holds onto the shaft of the arrow, trying to pull it out but having no success. With your head flat on the ground, your eyes gaze up into the air, seeing those beautiful bright stars slowly starting to fade behind your eyelids. You try to fight it, try to stay awake but your body denies you.

Growling out with one final stand, you try again to pull the arrow out of your body. Without any success and with your body in complete agony it causes your eyelids to become too much effort to keep open. You gasp for that much needed oxygen one last time as darkness overtakes you...