• Alexander followed his brother down the hall. His brother, Deatric, was the emporer of Ky'Ahn, married to a woman from another country. Ky'Ahn was a large country on the continent of Malbouz, and had an alliance with most countries. The brother's family was an old ruling family, just recently brought back to power. The family went back several centuries, to the first Constitutional Parliamentary empire. The country faired greatly, their resources plentiful, and they helped those who needed it. A war has ravaged the continent for a long time, and Alexander urged his brother to help those in need. Deatric, listening to his brother, sent his armies to help the countries. Their armies fought hard, and kept the tyrannical empire opposing them at bay. They exited the Great Barrier Hall and walked out to their vehicle.

    The driver opened their doors and they climbed in. The driver ran around and got in quickly. He started up the vehicle and drove off. Alexander looked to his brother, Deatric, "Dear brother, what are we to do if this war reaches home?"
    Deatric looks to Alexander, "We will defend our home, our brothers and our sisters without hesitation.. We wont let these people suffer for our idiotic mistakes, brother."
    Alexander sighed, "This war was no mistake, there were people in need, we've helped them get back to their feet."
    Deatric, "True, brother, true. This war has helped many, and they have joined us in our alliance.

    The vehicle turns and takes the brothers off course. Alexander looks to the driver and looks to his brother. He nods to the driver, "Deatric, we've been taken astray.. Be ready, this might not be a drill this time." The two vehicles that follow behind them stay with them, not acting strange by the turn. Deatric leans to Alexander, "The guardsmen don't seem strange, this could just be a detour. Might've been an accident on the freeway for all we know, brother." The car comes to a stop at warehouses, the driver goes to the doors and opens them. The brothers get out and look to a large boat, and Deatric's wife gets out behind him.

    Alexander walks with his brother, Deatric holding hands with his wife. A woman stands at the stairs to the boat. She smiles to Alexander and he does a small smile back. The woman, one of their aids, was not of a rule blood, but Alexander still had strong feelings for her. Their past engagements show that. They've walked in the gardens, speaking of things not of politics. They've been to dinners and lunches with one another, and not for business, or diplomatic reasons. They've shared few nights of passion, and have held each other under the stars. Alexander keeps walking, but hasn't realized Deatric has stopped. Alexander's aid looks to Deatric and blinks, and then she looks to Alexander. He looks at her questioning look, and gives one himself. He stops near her and turns around. The two guard vehicles have their guns on Alexander, and the guards are posted in a semi-circle with their guns drawn. Deatric looks to Alexander and looks down.

    Alexander clinches his hands, "What is the meaning of this?"
    Deatric looks to him and sighs, "You've lied to me brother. You getting me to get into this war was for your own gains.."
    Alexander became furious, "What do you mean?! Who told you I gained anything, who told you I lied to you?!" He shouted at this brother.
    Deatric stares at his brother, "My wife told me everything.. She told me who you spoke to, and everything you had to do with this."
    Alexander looked to Elizibeth, Deatric's wife, "You listened to that whore? She's influenced lies to be true in your head! Do not listen to her! She's only feeding you lies, Brother.. She's trying to get me out of the picture, so she may influence you mo-"
    Deatric shouted, "Shut up! Every decision but the one of war has been my own! My wife is no whore, but you should be one to speak with your affair with your aid."
    Alexander shook his head, "You're blinded.. Blinded by this whore.. You're a lost cause, my brother. You cannot return with your mind so corrupted.. This empire is soon to be gone, and falling as we speak."

    Elizibeth grabbed a guard's pistol that was next to her. The guard told her to stop as she raised the pistol and aimed it to Alexander. Alexander's eyes widened and Elizibeth squeezed on the trigger. Deatric screamed for her to stop, and Alexander's aid, Marideth, ran to Alexander. Marideth jumped in front of him and spread her arms as the hammer fell. Alexander could only stare as the bullet hit her in the stomach. Marideth's eyes widened at the impact, and she fell back, the world all slow to her. Guards grabbed Elizibeth and she screamed and fought, but they kept her in restraint. Alexander caught Marideth before she hit the ground. She looks at him with a hand over her stomach. Alexander eyes began to tear up, "No.. This wasn't suppose to be this way! We.. Could've still been with each other.. My brother would've changed the rules, Mary! Why'd you have to do that, huh? Why'd you go and do something stupid like that, huh, you silly girl?.." She smiles and laughs some, "Alex.. So long, this is goodbye.. May we meet again in another life.. Like strangers, passing by.. May we see clearly in a different life." She put a hand to his cheek, and wiped a tear that managed to squeeze out, "Rivers from your eyes, can't change what's done.." Her hand dropped and his eyes watered more, and he shook her some, "Mary?.. Come on.. Wake up, Mary. Wake up! Don't do this to me!" He clinches her in his hands and cries. He screams into the sky, "Mary!", as he holds her tightly and tears stream down his face.