Purple Violence

Leah jolted awake to a violent thud against the door, the sound shattering the quiet of the night. She blinked, trying to focus, but the figure silhouetted in the doorway was unmistakably Ezekiel. He stood there, chest heaving, and in the dim light spilling from the hallway, she saw the dark, wet gleam on his hands. Blood.

Seeing blood on her husband wasn't a new sight for Leah since he's always involved in gruesome battles to protect his kingdom but today, she saw something in his eyes that she has never seen before...fear.

"Quick. Grab the baby. We need to leave now." His voice was a raw whisper, laced with desperation, as he snatched his sword and other weapons.

"Why? What's wrong?" Leah stammered, her mind still foggy with sleep. Ezekiel had left hours ago, summoned by the king for some urgent matter. She'd drifted off waiting for his return, and now this.

"My father, the king has placed an order... to kill our son." The words were spat out, thick with distaste, and Leah's breath hitched.

Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp of horror. "He found out".

Ezekiel nodded and clutched his fist very tight, his veins popping out. "We need to leave right now Leah".

Numbly, Leah nodded and scooped the sleeping infant from the crib, clutching him tightly.

They slipped out of the room, Ezekiel a protective shadow behind his wife, his knuckles white as he gripped the hilt of his sword. As they descended the stairs, a phalanx of guards materialized, their drawn swords glinting in the torchlight. "Halt! In the name of the king!" one of them bellowed.

Without hesitation, Ezekiel stepped in front of Leah, the steel of his own blade singing as it left its scabbard. "Tell your king to hell with his name." The words were a snarl, and in the next instant, he moved. His sword was a blur, a deadly dance of steel, each movement precise and brutal.

One guard stumbled, clutching his throat, another fell with a sickening thud. Ezekiel was a whirlwind of lethal efficiency, unbreakable and terrifying in his killings and that was why he was given the title of, "the iron beast". In mere seconds, the guards who had blocked their path lay still.

"Come Leah. We need to keep going." He gently beckoned her forward.

They reached the castle grounds to find the area swarming with guards, their voices echoing in the night as they searched.

Ezekiel's eyes darted around, assessing their options. Thinking fast, he pulled Leah down, and they disappeared into the dense shadows of the bushes. Hidden within the foliage, Ezekiel’s mind raced, desperately seeking a way to escape the castle before they were discovered.

Fortunately and surprisingly, the baby was still sound asleep even with all the ruckus going on.

The guards' shouts echoed nearby, their search growing more frantic. Time was running out.

"They'll be on us any second," Ezekiel muttered, his gaze sweeping across the castle grounds. He spotted a shadowy archway in the distance, partially obscured by overgrown vines. "The old catacombs," he realized. "There's a passage that leads out of the castle, but it's treacherous".

"Can we make it?" Leah's voice trembled, fear etched on her face.

"It's our only chance." Ezekiel drew his sword, the steel glinting in the moonlight. "Stay close."

They slipped from the bushes, moving like shadows themselves. Ezekiel led the way, his senses heightened, every rustle of leaves, every distant footstep a potential threat. They reached the archway, the air growing heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay.

As they entered the catacombs, the temperature dropped, and an eerie silence enveloped them. The passage was narrow, the walls lined with ancient stone, slick with moisture. Ezekiel held his sword at the ready, his eyes scanning the darkness. Suddenly, a torch flared to life ahead, revealing a group of guards blocking their path.

"They've anticipated us!". Ezekiel hissed.

There was no turning back. With a roar, Ezekiel charged, his sword a whirlwind of motion. He fought with the ferocity of a cornered lion, each strike precise and deadly. But the guards were numerous, their numbers pressing in.

"Leah, go! I'll hold them off!". Ezekiel shouted, deflecting a strike from one of the guards that would have taken her down.

"Over my dead body, Ezekiel". Leah declared, her voice firm and resolute.

With swift efficiency, she secured the baby to her back with a cloth and claimed a sword from a fallen guard. As she sprang into action, Ezekiel's eyes widened in admiration.

Leah fought with deadly precision, her sword slicing through the shadows as she bounded across the catacomb walls with an agility that belied her burden.

Ezekiel watched, pride swelling in his chest, as she dispatched their foes with a ferocity that left him breathless. He recalled why he'd fallen for her in the first place – her unyielding spirit, her unshakeable strength, and her unwavering determination.

Ezekiel fought with renewed vigor, knowing Leah had his back. He took down two guards with a powerful swing of his battleaxe, then whirled around, just in time to see Leah leap from the wall, her sword plunging into the heart of another attacker.

Their fighting styles complemented each other perfectly. Ezekiel was a force of raw power, a whirlwind of brutal strength. Leah was agile and precise, a whirlwind of deadly grace.

In no time, they've dropped each and every guard in the catacombs but before they could catch their breaths, they heard the cries of more guards approaching.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed through the catacombs, a massive black dragon burst forth, its scales glinting in the flickering torchlight. The beast positioned itself protectively between Ezekiel and Leah and unleashed a stream of fire on the advancing guards.

Ezekiel's eyes lit up with amusement as he gazed at the dragon. "Akiran! what took you so long?". He quipped.

The dragon responded with a low rumble, his voice like distant thunder, and bowed his great head. Ezekiel chuckled, clearly understanding the dragon's words. "She dumped you today of all days?". The dragon's reply was a growl, and Ezekiel laughed. "But you did get to smash right?."

The dragon's response was tinged with pride, causing Leah to roll her eyes. She remembered how Ezekiel would always try to coerce Akiran to get with the king's dragon Terra and after years of trying to matchmake them both,  Ezekiel finally succeeded and now suddenly she dumps him?. She was sure it has something to do with the king. Dragons are very loyal to their owner not even love can come in between that.

Ezekiel patted the dragon's scaled neck. "That's my boy. Now, let's get out of here." With that, they mounted the dragon's back, and it launched into the night sky, soaring above the castle walls as the wind rushed past them.

As they soared through the night sky on the dragon's back, Ezekiel and Leah celebrated their daring escape. Leah cradled the baby, his curious purple eyes sparkling as he gazed at his parents. "He's so beautiful," Leah whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

Ezekiel's face lit up with a warm smile as he gently touched the baby's tiny hand. The baby's firm grip on his finger made him chuckle. "I think this is the perfect time to name him." Leah suggested.

Ezekiel's eyes locked onto the baby's, and he said, "Kingdom."

For Ezekiel, the name represented a new beginning, a symbol of hope and protection for their child in a world filled with danger.

"I love it," Leah said, her voice filled with emotion. She leaned in, her lips brushing against Ezekiel's in a gentle kiss.

"Come on now Leah, you know I won't mind fucking you on the back of my dragon, we've done that a couple times before but we can't do that in front of the baby". Ezekiel winked at her teasingly causing her to smack him.

But their moment of joy was short-lived. A thunderous voice boomed from behind, "Traitor!".

Ezekiel turned to see his father, the king, and his archers closing in on dragonback. "Kill them!" the king roared.

An archer's arrow shot toward Leah, but Ezekiel shielded her, taking the brunt of the attack. Several arrows pierced his back, and he fell from the dragon's back, his body plummeting toward the ground.

"Ezekiel, No!!!". Leah screamed, her hands outstretched too late. The dragon roared in anguish but prioritized protecting Leah and the baby, knowing Ezekiel would want him to.

Leah's cries turned to determination as she grabbed her bow and arrow, focusing solely on the king. With a fierce scream, she fired, hitting the king in the right eye. Despite the arrow's force, the king's expression remained unyielding as he pulled it out, blood gushing forth.

Leah suddenly was shot in the chest and she fell from the dragon's back. The dragon swooped down, catching her just in time, but a fatal blow sent them both tumbling into the dark woods.

Leah's body crashed onto a tree branch before hitting the ground hard. Baby Kingdom wailed as a branch scraped his head, causing it to bleed.

Leah struggled to rise, but her injuries were too severe shots to both legs, an arm, and her chest. As darkness closed in, she saw shadowy figures approaching, their faces a blur. With a final gasp, she succumbed to the darkness.