Chapter 38

  Tamaran, 4 Years before the invasion of Metropolis.

  Myand’r and Luadin’r ran into the palace courtyard, their eyes darting between guards and servants who were frantically trying to fortify the main gates, the attack on the capital city had come so suddenly, the king and queen began searching the crowd for their daughter,

  “Komi” Luadin’r shouted, Harros noticed them and pushed through the throng of people towards them,

  “What are you doing? You 2 should already be in the stronghold?” He asked, trying to herd them back into the palace,

  “What about Komand’r?” Luadin’r asked, the panic in her voice rising with every word,

  “I have everyone who is not barricading that door looking for her, and once you 2 are safe I will be joining them, you know I will give my life before I let anything happen to her” Harros assured them as he ushered them through the wide double doors, once they were inside he bolted the door behind them.

  “Korriand’r, what about her?” Myand’r asked, Harros was rushing to the other side of the room as he answered the king,

  “I’ve already sent word of the attack to the nearest military outpost, they will be on the Study Hall within hours, they know how to fortify it” He said, pulling open a door that had been hidden by a red curtain, he motioned for them to wait as he stepped through, he stopped after only a step in and relief flooded over him, “Komi, there you a…” He was cut off before he could finish.

  The king and queen watched as the tip of a sword ripped through the back of his uniform, blood soaking the fabric almost instantly, he stumbled back as the blade was torn from his chest, he gasped for breath as he fell to the floor, Myand’r shielded his wife stepping between her and the door, from the doorway stepped Komand’r, a bloody sword clutched in her right hand,

  “Komi, that was Harros” Luadin’r said, taking a step toward her daughter, Komand’r looked sadly at the body on the floor, his blood pooling around him,

  “I know, I liked him, but he would have tried to stop me” She said, and after a second longer she raised the sword in both hands and turned her attention to her parents, “Get on your knees” She demanded.

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  “Komand’r, what are you doing?” Myand’r asked,

  “Putting an end to the old Tamaran” Komand’r answered, almost emotionless, drained from the days events,

  “By destroying your home, killing your people?” Myand’r yelled, his hands tightening into firsts,

  “By killing those you let hurt me, your daughter, because they blamed me for events I had no part in” Komand’r cried, her voice cracking, she raised the sword over her head and struck Myand’r over the head with the hilt, “Why didn’t you protect me?” She asked, tears streaming down her face, Myand’r had fallen to his hands and knees, he spat blood onto the already bloodsoaked floor,

  “If you see fit to let so many innocent people die, than you are not my daughter” He said through rough, pained breaths, Komand’r nodded,

  “Thank you” She whispered, taking a breath to steady herself, “Tonight, when I pray forgiveness, I will not ask for forgiveness for killing my father, but instead, forgiveness for murdering the king of Tamaran” With that she lifted the sword and swung it hard.

  The Sky Above Metropolis, 4 Years later, The Royal Tamaranean Warship.

  Komand’r swung her foot into her sister’s stomach again, Kori lay curled up on the cold metal floor, the brutal assault seemingly had no end, until suddenly Komand’r took a step away from her, her breathing ragged,

  “The girls at study hall loved this game, they liked playing it with me naked on the cold girls room floor” Komand’r said bringing her foot back for another kick,

  “I’m sorry” Kori said before breaking out into a painful coughing fit, wads of blood flying to the floor, “I didn’t know” She said sniffling,

  “Stop lying” Komand’r screamed, she kicked out, the edge of her shoe glanced off Kori's temple, suddenly she panicked as Kori lay motionless on the floor, she dropped to her knees and cradled her sister’s head in her arms as she checked to make sure she was still alive, she let out a sigh when she saw Kori’s chest rise and fall in a labored breath.

  “She isn’t lying to you” Barbara said,

  “What do you know?” Komand’r muttered spitefully, she brought her hand up to wipe her nose,

  “Kori loves you” Barbara responded softly, Komand’r swallowed hard,

  “Why didn’t she protect me?” She managed to choke out,

  “She didn’t know” Barbara answered,

  “Our parents knew, what excuse are you gonna come up with for them?” Barbara went quiet for a moment, trying to think, but before she could come up with an answer Kori groaned as she came back to consciousness.

  Komand’r set her back on the ground and got to her feet, she collected her composure and smiled at Barbara,

  “Time to play another game” She said dusting herself off, she stepped over to a small table with a decorative bowl on top, Barbara crawled over to Kori,

  “Hey, are you okay?” She asked, Kori looked around, clearly confused, Komand’r picked a small alien berry from the bowl, as soon as Kori saw it she began shaking her head,

  “No” She groaned, Komand’rs smile widened, she held the berry up for Barbara to see,

  “This is a bod’r, it grows on Tamaran, it’s used in a lot of things, like medicine or drink, but it can only be used for those things when its natural poisons have been neutralized, to Tamaraneans it’s not deadly, but it hurts like hell, and causes temporary paralysis” She explained, Kori’s eyes widened in horror as Komand’r walked over to Barbara, “I don’t think a human being had ever tried 1 though.”