Janus's eyes widened as yellow sparks flew towards him far too fast for him to avoid. The spell caused Janus to fly backward, sending him flying into the shallow water. Janus screamed in pain as he clutched at one side of his face, his hands came back red with blood.

"Janus!" His mother and Virgil called simultaneously.

Gabriel smiled at the injured prince and began to step towards him. Janus's arms sook underneath him as he crab-crawled backward, unable to stand yet. "Janus!" His mother called again before attacking Gabriel instead of Ira.

"You will not harm my son!" Ira demanded

"Then stay away from mine!"

The queen sent another spell towards Gabriel, forcing the young man to turn around and assist his mother with the queen.

"Virgil! Mama!" Deceit's screamed as he tried to scramble to his feet with difficulty "Virgil! Mama!"

His mother barely glanced at him before she returned to defending herself "Janus, go to your brother now!"

Janus's breath came out as a shuddering sob before he sprinted to the still frozen boy laying on his side in the water. "Virgil? Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Janus asked, but he already knew the answer and quickly performed a reversal spell. "Vee-Vee?" his voice came again as he helped Virgil sit up, "Virgil we need to run! We need to run!"

Janus already knew this. He already knew there was no way they'd be able to defeat the two attackers. The two brothers would need to run, maybe they'd be able to get help. They could send the royal guards, they could do something. But the two of them needed to run, or none of them would ever leave this meadow alive.

"Where's Mama?" Virgil asked, his brother body was blocking the fighting scene

"We need to go," Janus repeated

"You're bleeding Dee," Virgil brought a hand up to Janus's face. His brother winced in pain and when small drops of blood came off his face one shiny scale was found. "Dee?"

"We need to go! Now!" Janus screamed at him.

Virgil didn't know what to do, so he nodded, and without another word Janus yanked him to his feet before pulling him out of the river and in the direction their mother's house was in. But before they could even make it out of the clearing Gabriel appeared in their path. Janus pushed Virgil behind him as he glared up at the older boy.

"Enjoying your new look, snake?"

Janus didn't react, he only continued to glare. Gabriel smirked at them, his eyes drifting towards Virgil, "Your mama's gonna die prince Virgil. Your mama's going to die and then you're going to die right after."

"If my mama dies she'll die a hero. When your mother dies all she will be is nothing but an evil, self-serving, murdering, lunatic!"

Gabriel took a step forward but Janus took one back as he pushed Virgil further behind him. The older boy only glared at the two princes for a moment before glancing up at the battle going on behind them with a smile, "It's almost over now," he said, just loud enough for the princes to hear and slowly turn their attention to the fight.

The two women were both strong and powerful witches, both talented in all sorts of different types of magic. But there was one very clear difference between them that would soon lead to their mother's downfall. Their mother refused to use black magic. Ira did not.

Virgil screamed when a black cloud sent his mother flying nearly fifteen feet backward, landing back on the ground in a broken heap. He began to fall, his legs giving up from underneath him and slowly sinking to the ground. Janus was holding him up by his arms, but both boys were in tears and shaking with grief. "Mama!" Virgil shouted, trying to pull away from his brother and run to his mother's side, maybe he could protect her? "Mama! Mama!"

Gabriel was laughing, as was Ira, as he used a spell to force both brothers apart. Immediately he attacked Janus, a green blast forcing Janus to his knees. The crown prince was in pain, he couldn't get up anymore. Another spell made sure of it, as he was hit with the same paralysis spell Virgil had been hit with just minutes ago.

"Boys," Their mother's voice said, her voice weak and heartbroken as she pleaded with the woman, "Don't hurt my boys"

"They'll die with you at their side," Ira replied with a cruel grin

"Ira, please don't do this"

"You did this to yourself" And with that, Ira sent the final blow to their mother's body. Another dark cloud slamming into her and sending her limp body flying into the river. They didn't need to be close to see that their mother was gone.

Their mother.

The queen.

The first queen to have been born a witch. The first queen to give birth to two hybrid wizard sons. The first queen to begin a new progressive era in the Dark Realm.

She had been a wonderful woman. So kind to all those she met, so accepting and wonderful. Such a lovely woman. With a great sense of humor and a beautiful smile that just about lit up the whole world. It was no wonder their father had fallen in love with her, she was just about pure perfection.

Just about though was not completely.

She had a past, just as many do.

She had a past with Ira, her murderer.

Well, Ira had gotten her revenge now, hadn't she?

The princes were both screaming at their mother's dead body. Calling for her to come back. Demanding Ira to bring her back. Begging the limp body that they still needed her, their father still needed her, the kingdom still needed her. None of it worked. Their mother remained dead. She would forever remain dead.

"And now, just two princes left," Ira said with a laugh.

"L-leave Virgil alone, pl-ple-lease, leave him alo-o-own" Janus begged through shuddering sobs as he lay frozen on the grass.

Virgil was frozen as well, but that wasn't because of any spell. He was still staring at his mother's corpse. Whispering quiet pleas for her to move, just a little bit, just enough so they know she isn't really dead.

No such luck.

Nobody could survive that much dark magic being sent directly at them.

"Your brother will get his own, and as will you" Ira replied as she circled them, her son standing in the center of the circle as they both watched the princes with large smiles.

"To-touch him and I'll have both your heads on a spike" Janus spit out, the lie came out a little rough but there were bits of magic laced in it in an effort to get them to believe it. No, that didn't work either.

Janus's pained screams were what made Virgil focus on what was going on again. He jumped, startled by the sudden sound, before screaming his brother's name as if that might solve something. Gabriel was hurting him, Virgil didn't even know-how. All he knew was that Gabrial was hurting, torturing, his brother.

When the spell was over Janus lay breathless on the ground, sweat had mixed with the blood that continued to pour out of his face. The fifteen-year-old boy whimpered as he panted, trying to catch his breath before anything else could happen. But Gabriel wasn't that generous and repeated the spell against Virgil's brother.

"Stop! Stop it! Stop hurting him!" Virgil yelled as loud as he could, he was back on his feet now. Tears pouring down his face as purple smoke oozed out of his hands, his eyes indigo for the second time that day.

Gabriel laughed at Virgil's demands but did as he was told and stopped. Ira smiled cockily as she continued to circle them, sure of her son's abilities to handle the situation on his own. "Or what? I've heard rumors of you," Gabriel approached him, "You're the wizard with no magical ability. The seer who doesn't get real visions. A disappointment to witches and wizards everywhere,"

"T-th-thats a l-l-l-lie" Janus stuttered out slowly, weakly.

Gabriel ignored him, "What are you gonna do to keep me from killing him here and now?" Virgil stared back at the older boy's indigo eyes staring up into dark green ones, "You can't do anything? Can you?" Gabrial raised his hand, and without so much as glancing at the crown prince, sent a small blast of dark magic at him, making him scream in pain.

"Stop, hurting him," Virgil demanded, his voice coming out a growl.

"Make me," Gabrial gave a cocky grin. Obviously not at all expecting Virgil to actually attack him. Ira and Gabrial both stood in slight shock when a spell barely missed Gabriel's ear.

Janus though, he looked at Virgil as best he could and tried to plead with him, "No Vee, no" he muttered brokenly.

Virgil gave no response as another spell flew from his hands and this time hit Gabrial square in the chest. It didn't seem to affect the older boy much. He was knocked back a step, maybe two at most, but it seemed like the spell had been all force and no actual pain.

Gabrial grinned at him again, "Fine then, little prince has got some fight," with that Gabrial turned his magic towards Virgil. His hand filling with his own orange-colored smoke that paired horribly with Virgil's purple-colored vapor. Not three seconds later, Gabrial was throwing spell after spell after spell at Virgil, but even at twelve the boy had had an abnormal amount of speed and agility, he was able to weave through most of the attacks, only getting hit at most three times.

When Gabrial paused, a minuscule pause, Virgil threw his own spells. His eyes still glowing purple as the smoke stopped just long enough for the spell to be sent and then return.

Gabriel was honestly a bit surprised. Sure, these spells were juvenile at best and they were doing little damage to him but this was much more skill than what the rumors had said Virgil had. Gabriel had been under the impression Virgil wouldn't be able to perform a single spell correctly, he was wrong.

"Enough of this Gabrial," his mother said after it had gone on for several minutes, "We have a job to do, get it done"

"Yes mother," Gabrial nodded obediently, lifting his hand and summoning a large amount of magic into one palm. Across from him, Virgil was doing something similar, a purple orb was growing in his hands with bits of pink and black floating around inside it. Neither Gabrial nor Ira recognized the spell.

But Janus had, of course, he knew the spell. He had invented it himself. It was supposed to knock a person unconscious. But Janus had quickly found the spell was volatile and when performed incorrectly could backfire terribly. "Virgil no!" He shouted

Virgil couldn't hear him, he was too far gone. The spell grew in his hand until it was almost as large as a basketball. And with the final word of incantation leaving his lips, he threw his hands forward and sent the orb at Ira's son.

An explosion knocked everyone back, a bright light blinding them for a moment. When it cleared, Gabrial lay unmoving on the ground, Janus had been released from the paralysis spell, and the purple in Virgil's eyes was gone. There was silence in the meadow as they all just stared at Gabrial's body, waiting for any signs of life, for anything to happen, anything at all.

Nothing did.

Not for a long time.

After several excruciating seconds, black lines began to appear across Gabrial's exposed skin. Something that would only happen when someone who used black magic had either become corrupted or had died.

Ira's scream pierced the air like a needle-piercing skin. "My son! You killed my son!" Ira yelled, grief and emotion filling her voice.

It seemed to have been enough to break Janus out of this metaphorical spell. The crown prince struggled to stand, he ran to where Virgil sat. His whole body was frozen in shock as he stared at the body.

He had done that. He had killed somebody. How the fuck could he have done that.

Janus didn't take time to wake Virgil from his shock, just grabbed his hand, pulled him to his feet, and ran, dragging Virgil behind him. Virgil's head was turned to look behind them until the body and the clearing was out of view. Ira's screams and sobs followed them for a long while, but even after they had faded into the sounds of the forest and their panting breaths Janus didn't stop pulling them through the trees.

Both boys were barefoot, their shoes abandoned at the edge of the water behind them. Cuts, mud, and blood stained their pale skin. Both boys had spell and smoke residue covering their hands and clothes. Janus was covered in his own blood, part of Virgil's hand had been stained with some as well. Tears and sweat made their faces and skin feel sticky and disgusting, especially the crown prince. Their chests hurt from lack of oxygen. Their bodies were exhausted from the spell use. But they continued to run. Janus was muttering under his breath, his mind going a mile a minute as he tried to make a plan and think of somewhere safe to go.

When he had grabbed Virgil and ran, he had just chosen a random direction, he hadn't bothered to look for which way was the one that led to their aunties house. He had just run. he hadn't known what else to do.

They didn't stop running for a while. Neither boy complaining or slowing. Janus because he was fearful of what would happen if they did and Virgil because he was still back at the meadow staring at the dead body of a boy he had killed.

The smell of smoke eventually made Janus speed up, and he searched the skies for any sign of it. He followed it until they came to a cottage, another motivator to speed up. Without letting go of his brother's hand Janus used his free arm to check his pockets for his papers. He sighed with relief when he pulled them out of one pocket, they were a little soggy from when he had been knocked into the water but otherwise perfectly fine. He ran up to the door, finally released his brother's hand, and pounded on the wood with intense urgency. He didn't stop until a man about his uncle's age opened the door, a woman stood behind him, and two children younger than Virgil behind them.

"What is-?"

"I am Crown Prince Janus Deceit Black of the Dark Realm, this is my brother Prince Virgil Black of the Dark Realm. We have just been attacked by two witches. Our mother, q-queen Lillian Joy Snow Black, is-is-is... d-d-de-dead." Janus's voice broke as he said the words, he shook his head out, "We have both been injured in the attack. As pr-prince of the Dark Realm, I de-de-dema-and you let us seek refuge in your home immediately!"

Janus held his papers out to the man who stood at the door. The whole family had paled with each word that had left Janus's mouth. The man didn't even look at the papers, he just opened the door wider for them. Janus took Virgil's hands and led him into the small cottage nervously.

The woman took one good look at them before immediately turning to her family and giving them all directions and instructions on what to do. Her children and husband dispersed quickly to do their assigned tasks as the woman led the princes to a table and chairs. She helped Janus get Virgil to sit down, asked the older prince if they would be okay to be left alone in the room for a few minutes and once she received a terrified yes went to go help her family get the jobs she had dished out done. These boys needed their wounds dressed, food, and water in their bellies, rest, and their father. Her husband had already been sent to the town they knew the queen had grown in to go get help. She and her children would take care of the rest until help arrived.

Janus turned to Virgil, having dragged his chair in front of his brother, he took his brother's hand again. "Virgil?" Janus asked, with a shaky breath, "Virgil what's wrong?" Janus got no answer, that was a stupid question anyway, he determined. "Virgil please talk to me," Janus begged, taking his brother's other hand in his while still receiving nothing in return. "Virgil I'm scared. I need you to say something. Virgil... please..." Janus hated to admit how terrified he was, he wanted to be strong and brave for Virgil. But he couldn't lie to him right now, he just needed his brother to talk to him. He just needed him to say something "Virgil? Are you alright?"

"Please Virgil," Janus said again with broken sobs, "Mama's dead"