Chapter 171: Necklace of blood

"As if?"

"Why do you always underestimate me, Marquis? Just who the hell do you think you are?" As Severus raged, his dark aura increased with his anger.

Ha!

Marquis smirked.

"I am someone who manipulated you all till the end now you will also share the same fate as each one of them did. Got it?" Marquis told him with a smug on his face.

Winds stopped howling and everything turned eerie quiet. Marquis was instantly hit by the quietness and a foreboding danger tapped on his heart. It was the second time in his life when he met with the emotion called fear.

Marquis felt a chill on his neck.

Severus' appearance suddenly changed. His midnight-black hair turned silver while a scar that was never present, became visible on his left eyebrow. Like an efficient swordsman, he unsheathed his sword.

Slice!

He nearly sliced Marquis neck.

It was not a deep cut, but it formed a semi-circle on her neck. Bright red liquid started gushing out from his neck which soaked his silk fabric till it was dripping wet.

A beautiful necklace of blood.

Marquis was stunned on his spots. His spine chilled to its core and before he could dodge it, Severus had already sliced him off.

Thud!

Despite being severely hurt by the cut received from Severus, Marquis didn't look as if he was in pain, but extreme shock and panic were present in his eyes. A sheer delight was all over his face.

Cough!

"You…. you…came back?"

He was pushed on the floor as he grunted in pain. Since he was sliced in the neck, his vocal cords were severely damaged, and it made it difficult for him to speak.

Severus felt something was amiss. Given in the situation he was in, shouldn't he get back and fight but here was, saying gibberish.

"I can't understand what you are saying, nor am I in a mood to understand. Your sins have far exceeded and can't be judged by a human judgment book. Even if this case will be brought in open daylight, I am sure those power-hungry lapdogs of yours would use you to gain power and control. Even If you will be sentenced to death, nothing good will come for the commoners. All they will receive is a new monarch who will be corrupted to its core like the previous one was, or may surpass even you. I can't take that risk or else this sad history will repeat itself."

Each word said by Severus hit Marquis like a judgment passed from heaven.

Despite having a similar appearance and similar oppressive aura, they both were so different. One was sinister and dark while the other was just a soldier, fair and upright. One killed humanity for humans while the other killed humans to save humanity. Such similarity in physical appearance but the stark difference in opinion. For Marquis, it was becoming impossible to figure out what was true and what was a lie.

Was he that man?

Was he Severus?

Is Severus was that man from the starting? But this theory was not logical. Marquis had seen Severus since he was born. It was impossible that he is that man.

Then was that old man Severus? No!

What a lame thought?

Marquis was going mad now. The pain from his neck was increasing with every second and due to loss of blood, his vision was turning blur. He was in pain. However, he gathered his strength. He just can't afford to lose consciousness or else all his efforts will be in vain. His son's death will be in vain. Melanie, Severus, Cynthia, and Sylvia. Everyone's death would go in vain if he passed out.

Marquis gritted his teeth as he too unsheathed his sword and started fighting with Severus. Since Marquis was suffering from blood loss, his movements were also hazy, and Severus easily guarded himself against him.

"You… you cheated me. Why? You told me I could gain power."

Cough

He spat blood.

"You told me I could be immortal. I could be the strongest in this empire. I could reach godhood if I do what you asked me to and like I blind followers I did. I did everything you asked me but what did I get in return? A betrayal?" Marquis became hostile.

"…"

Severus was confused.

What was Marquis blabbering all out? He did not remember saying anything like that to him. Man? He was a kid against him for god sake.

It was all bullshit.

Suddenly Severus felt something amiss. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he suddenly froze on his spot. No matter how much force he used, he just wouldn't budge.

Shit!

He cursed.

He wondered what went wrong and noticed Marquis whispering inaudible chants in some strange language.

Severus had never heard this language, but he was sure it was a curse. The louder the chant became, the severe the impact the curse had on him. Soon Severus was blasted with a high-pitched curse in his eardrums. He didn't know why but he was hearing it so loud as if someone was blowing a horn just near his ear. It was painful.

Blood started dripping from Severus' sensory organs. His nose bled his ears and his eyes too were bleeding. The same thing was happening with him, what happened with Maverick.

"So, is it revenge?" Severus thought.

Severus was in severe pain. His whole body was burning with curse. No matter what, he couldn't break free from the curse. As he thought he was going to pass from the curse, a huge pair of wings engulfed him and the world turned dark for him. However, he didn't feel pain or any threat. A comfortable feeling surged inside him which ultimately healed him. It was soft and warm, just like a mother's hug. Severus was cut off from the outside world. He stayed there for who knows how long and passed out.

Aaah!

The bright light from outside pained his eyes as he instantly used his hands to cover his eyes. Later when he got adjusted to the light, he finally observed everything.

Noworry came back to his original size and was perched on Desella's shoulder.

On the cold ground, Marquis laid dead.

Severus was shocked. As far as he remembers, he didn't kill him. To be exact, he was the one who was under Marquis attack so how did things flip out?

"What actually happened here?" Severus asked in shock.

"…."

"…."

[…Man…you killed so many of them and now you are asking what actually happened] Noworry snorted out.

Desella was also stunned by Severus' question, but she soon regained her senses.

We don't know what happened but when I came back, I saw Marquis being knocked out in the cold whereas a huge bird was sitting on your place with its wings over his body as if protecting something. The rest you can guess.

Severus finally understood what happened. It appears that when he was on the verge of dying for the second time because of Marquis curse, Noworry broke free from his sealing spell and protected him but as for the main question, who killed Marquis. It was something only Noworry could tell but it didn't seem as if Noworry was in a mood to tell. Severus noticed Noworry was not looking in good health, so he kept quiet on this matter.

It was not that Noworry wanted to hide it, but he had his reasons to not speak about it as it might scare Severus. Although he was highly doubtful anything would scare this monster kid but sometimes, as his guardian, he needs to protect him. Be it physical torture or mental trauma.

Tut Tut Tut

The sound of hurried footsteps resounded and soon a man wearing a red gown with a large hood came into vision. Several palace guards were following him. He signaled them to wait outside and went inside the spiritual chamber.

"I see you created a lot of mess here" He said in disdain. It was obvious he was a cleanliness freak.

"Knock it out Vlass. YOU ARE LATE" Severus hissed.

Eshhh

The man flinched under his hiss as he defended himself. "It isn't easy to create a rebellion in a day. You gave me so little time. It was good enough that I reached now, or I can't imagine what would have happened with you all.

"…"

"…"

[…is he an idiot?]

Desella and Severus were speechless.

Vlass goofed out a little more but finally closed his mouth when he saw that no one was entertaining him.

"So embarrassing," Vlass grumbled.

"Oh, so cool. What is there inside it?" Vlass curiosity picked up when he saw that levitating black ball.

Severus' expression turned somber as he shouted. "Don't touch it."

Vlass was startled when he was being told off not to. He really wanted to touch it but when he turned his neck to see how Severus would react if he did, all he saw was a big No in his eyes.

Vlass gulped and backed off in fear. Severus was a scary guy. Not only did he manage to kill those beasts but also killed the crown prince and the king of this empire, Marquis.

Severus stoically ordered, "Vlass arrange a proper funeral for them and do the needful."