Betrayal had scattered them.Klaus was gone — taken too soon, leaving Henry with a wound deeper than any blade. MG, Michael, Rebeka, and Klaus's father had stood by his side through the chaos, choosing loyalty over safety. Together, they fled the empire's wrath, hunted by Alfonso and his soldiers.
But no matter how far they ran, the shadow of Emperor Vordimoth — Henry's own father — loomed over them. And in the dark, a truth waited to be revealed… one that would change Henry's destiny forever.
The forest was silent when we finally stopped. We had been running for hours, stumbling over roots and rocks until our legs felt like they would give out. At last, deep in the woods near Pegasus City, we found a small clearing where the trees arched above us, hiding us from the moonlight.
Exhausted, we built a small camp and decided to rest for the night. One by one, MG, Michael, Rebeka, and Klaus's father drifted into uneasy sleep. I tried to close my eyes too — but my dreams were not my own.
In the darkness of my mind, I saw him.
"Klaus…" I whispered.
He stood before me, calm and steady, his voice cutting through the silence."Henry," he said softly. "Wake up. Now."
I jolted awake, heart racing. At first, there was only silence. Then I heard it — the faint, rhythmic sound of hooves against the forest floor. Horses. Getting closer.
"They've found us," I hissed, shaking everyone awake. "We have to move. Now!"
We grabbed what little we had and ran into the night. Branches tore at our clothes as we sprinted through the darkness, but no matter how fast we moved, the sound of pursuit grew louder.
The forest ended abruptly. Ahead of us loomed a steep hill — too high to climb, too sheer to descend. We were trapped.
And then the torches appeared. Alfonso rode into view, his men fanning out to block every escape. His grin was cold and triumphant.
"You thought you could run, you little rats," he sneered.
I stepped forward, my voice shaking but louder than I expected."We just wanted to leave everything behind," I said. "You already took my friend — my brother's — life. What more do you want from us? Can't you just let us go? We only want a new life… away from all of this. With what little we have left."
Alfonso chuckled, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement."I really might have let you go," he said. "I might have allowed you to crawl away and live your pathetic lives. But the order is not mine."
My heart dropped."It comes," Alfonso continued, "from Emperor Vordimoth himself."
The words hit harder than any blade. My father. My own blood. I knew he despised me — but to order my death?
Alfonso threw his head back and laughed. "Isn't it funny? The man who gave you life is the one who wants it ended. His exact words: 'Henry — my useless, bastard son — is a shame to my name. End him before the week is over.'"
The world spun around me. The man who had once called me son wanted me dead.
Tears burned my eyes, but I forced my voice to stay steady."Then take me," I said. "Do whatever you want to me — but let them go. Let my family live."
Alfonso tilted his head mockingly. "How noble. Very well. Leave them and come to me."
I took a step forward — but Rebeka's hand gripped my arm. Her face was pale but fierce, and beside her, Klaus's father stood tall and unshaken.
"You are our son," Rebeka whispered. "By blood or not, you are ours. We will not leave you to die alone."
"No," I whispered desperately. "Please… go."
Alfonso's grin turned to a snarl. "Enough of this. Kill them all."
The soldiers charged. Steel clashed in the night. Rebeka and her husband threw themselves in front of me, their last breaths warm against my skin.
"It will be all right, Henry," Klaus's father rasped, his voice fading. "Everything will be all right."
Rebeka pressed her forehead to mine, just as Klaus once had. "You are my son. Always. And if this is the end…" Her voice grew stronger, fiercer. "…then let it be the beginning of something greater."
She raised her voice to the heavens:
"Spirits of the earth, hear me! I give my life — my husband's life — all that we are. In return, protect my son. Let our blood shield him from the cruelty of this world!"
Her tears fell onto my face as she kissed my forehead one last time."Live, Henry," she whispered. "For us. For Klaus."
The ground trembled. A roar split the night as the hill itself cracked apart. Alfonso's laughter turned into screams as the earth opened wide, swallowing soldiers, horses, and fire into the abyss.
I clung to MG and Michael as the world fell apart around us. The last thing I felt was Rebeka's arms around me — warm, strong, and fading — as she and her husband vanished into the sacrifice they had made.
And then there was silence.