Chapter 34 ABIGAILS POV
I follow Arielle and Caspian’s men close to the outside of the tunnels within the shadows. Caspian’s kiss still tingled on my lips and yet now more than before, fury fills my mind. We walk slowly, cautiously checking our surroundings and the only thing I can focus on is the pain of everything happening. I replay the last four days over and over, every death, the cuts on my wrists from the rope, the men I’ve killed, all of it. But I can't stop the images of our past from playing in between it all. The battle in my mind of the Ace I knew and now know.
How could Ace betray us, everyone he has known this entire time. Or was that really always the plan?
“Okay, Abby we are getting close now. We need to discuss the plan. Caspian was very specific that we clear out a path for you to go straight in for Ace, but know we will follow closely to ensure your safety.”
I look up at Arielle . It's amazing how loyal they all are to Caspian, it's a loyalty I thought I knew until everything changed. We get up to the top of the hill leading to the rooftop of the demolished building. I hold my sword out front and ready myself. There are about twenty men all spread out on the rooftop and there is Ace in the dead center under a small canopy, planning his next moves on the map laying in his hands.
I take a moment and just watch his movements. The way he looks down, moving his fingers across the map. Plotting and every once in a while he looks up at the ones he's talking to, spewing out some joke as they all smile. I used to watch him design plans with my father, I found him so admirable back then. Now, It grinds my nerves forcing my entire body to cringe.
After everything he has done, how can he hold a smile? No remorse for his actions, for his betrayal?
Fire floods my veins and my skin is flushed with a sudden tingle.
Fuck you, Ace! I hope that smile is the last thing you do before you watch as we kill every last bit of happiness and plans you will ever have.
My mind is now stuck with only one thought. He has been gaining from the lives he’s destroyed and it's his turn to drink life’s sweet poison. I grab out my sword and stand up tall. This is the moment I was meant for, all of my training, for this.
“Let’s finish this.” I bark out.
They all run out into the pouring rain with their swords in hand. Arielle starts yelling, releasing her adrenaline into the night sky as she slices right through the nearest man. They do exactly as they said they would, as I walk up onto the roof dead bodies consume the ground of Ace’s men. My mind is in a trance of tunnel vision while I step over each corpse. Blood becomes puddles onto the ground and my feet splash into them with every step.
“Ace!!” I scream out. “You coward!” I continue walking towards him and he stands there just waiting. Almost as if he was expecting this.
“Abby.” He says.
His voice is sheepish but this battle is already lost for him and he will say anything to change the results of his fate.
“There’s nothing you can say to undo what you have done. All the people you killed, Ace! How could you?” I demand an answer but I know better, we did this dance before.
I point my sword at him and wait for him to pull his sword up but he doesn’t.
“I wont fight you, Abby.”
“The hell you won't, Ace. Pick up your sword!” His refusal pisses me off. Does he think so lowly of me, that even now he won’t fight me?
“Abby, please let me explain.” He begs. His lack to obey blinds me of rage and I swing my sword just grazing his right arm.
I don’t want you to explain, I want you to die.
“Pick. Up. Your. Sword, Ace. I will not kill you the same way you killed my father, you will fight a fair fight.”
My words hit a cord within him as he draws out his sword and gets in an offensive stance. He holds the same cold look I saw before when he called me a toxin. The look I needed to see to keep back any thought of doubt.
We both swing our swords at each other at the same time, both offensively clashing into each other. He pushes all his weight forward, shoving me back. I catch myself and proceed to thrash my sword towards his stomach but he catches it with his blade and does a pitiful swing towards me missing by several inches.
“Stop toying with me Ace! Fight me!” I howl at him, I want no guilt in this defeat.
He doesn’t say a word but approaches my direction swiftly and whips his sword at my right arm leaving a small slice in the muscle of my bicep. I hiss at the immediate sting but push on, using this as fuel. I quickly grab out my dagger and toss it right into the meaty part of his thigh. I watch as the dagger pierces the skin then I run at him and give the grip of the dagger a big kick forcing it the rest of the way in.
Ace lets out a fierce growl and looks me right in the eyes as he grabs the dagger and yanks it out of his leg. Blood leaking out, he throws the small blade off to the side and thrusts his sword at my head.
Aiming for my head? You think just like that you’d end this? Foolish thinking!
I jump off to the side and brush my sword against the back of his knee. Ace drops his blade and falls to the ground. Blood pouring out from the sliced popliteal artery. I take advantage of his weakness and kick him back, my arm jolting the blade forward directly into his chest. Even though I know this is the right thing to do, my eyes fill with tears while blood spits out of his mouth.
“Abigail, NO!!” A loud shout from the far right from the building's entrance. My head spins over to see Caspian running at me with a man behind him. Then out of the door follows Merrick and a few others from our crew. I let go of my sword in shock to see them alive but more that Caspian is telling me to stop.
“Russell!!” Arielle shouts as she runs over to the entrance.
I step back and the bloodthirsty trance I was in for Ace’s head leaves and I look at him lying there dying, then back at Caspian and my crew running over to me. They all start yelling but the words are all jumbled together as I realize exactly what just happened.
Ace.
My body begins to fold as my gut clenches knowing that I made a huge mistake. Caspian just makes it over in time to wrap his arms around me before I fall forward in devastation. He holds onto me tight, rubbing my head against him.
“I am so sorry, Abigail. Russell and your crew filled me in. Ace-Ace did it all to protect you. He was never going to kill you or the crew. I ran as fast as I could when I found out but-.” He doesn’t need to say another word. We both know what came next.
My heart rips out of my chest to his every word. I pull myself from Caspian and bend down to look at Ace as he is bleeding out. I look into his beautiful ocean blue eyes while my tears drop onto his face.
“Oh, Ace. Shit. Why didn’t you tell me? Dammit, what have I done?” I ask, crying, now remembering every memory of love I had for him in his final moments.
“Abs, I would-” his voice cracks off as he coughs up more blood. His breath is now more shallow with a slight rattle. “I would do it all over again, if it meant you, the love of my life, were safe. This was always my destiny.” He lifts his hand to my cheek just before he takes his final breath.
“no no no” My sob grows more aggressive. I should’ve known, he didn’t even fight. He was the best swordsman I know but he didn’t put in any effort. I just killed him thoughtlessly when I should have noticed.
Caspian grabs a hold of me and lets me fall completely apart in his arms. A position he’s become all too familiar with.