Rise of a King: part 2

“Khan wake up.” Julia is shaking Khan to wake up. Khan jumps up his hands motioning toward his sword, “No! Calm down. We need to get moving if we want to find the others.” Khan nods his head as they slowly begin to leave the cave. The golden sky blinds Khan as he puts his hands over his eyes. “Where are we?” Khan asks “I’m not sure, it think we may be a little bit south of Beguile Forest.” Julia says. Khan and Julia walk in silence.
After hours of walking, Julia finally turns to Khan and asks, “Why is it you are here to begin with?” Khan turns to her and says, “I…I don’t really know. I’m searching for something.” Julia asks what. “I’m not sure, I think-” Julia suddenly screams as she gets her foot caught in a root and falls forward. Khan jumps toward her and catches her before she hits the ground. Julia grabs on to Khan’s arms as he wraps them around her and picks her up. As they begin to walk she stumbles holding on to her ankle. Khan grabs her and says, “I think you should let me carry you.” Julia looks up at him with an annoyed look on her face and says, “You are not going to carry me through this forest.” Khan smiles and effortlessly picks her up. She tries to struggle but Khan tightens his grip around her. She finally relaxes and screams at him, “Fine, see if you can carry me all the way through this dreadful forest.”
Julia turns to Khan and says, “You did handle all that was occurring last night rather well. I wasn’t sure if I could handle Malcom on my own to begin with…thank you.”
Khan smiles than replies, “I couldn’t…well I just didn’t want to watch you fight alone. I didn’t really care about the others.”
“You don’t mean that do you?”
“Well…I’m not sure, I have a reason to care.” Julia looks in Khan’s eyes as he again begins to feel his heart race. They both smile slightly as Khan continues to carry her around the forest.
After hours of walking Khan puts Julia down as they take a rest. Khan swings his arms around, as he hears a noise from behind him. He quickly pulls his sword out and jumps in front of Julia. The noise slowly begins to move closer, as Khan’s body tenses up. Julia clutches to Khan’s leg in fear as Khan crouches lower ready to move. As the noises get louder Khan turns around to tell Julia it’s alright when Chloe jumps out from behind a bush over to him. Khan begins laughing and runs over to Chloe as he puts his sword away. He hugs her and gently rubs her neck. “Thank you Chloe, I’m so glad to see you.” Julia tries to stand up as she exclaims, “If your horse is here, than the others must not be far, come Khan we must hurry.” Khan picks Julia up and throws her on the back of Chloe as he gets on as well, as they begin to search for Bear and the others.
Chloe stops and begins to franticly look around. Khan leans forward to her and whisperers what’s wrong. Khan sees something out of the corner of his eye. He slowly leaps off Chole as he hears a terrible howl echo throughout the forest. The wolf with a scar over his left eye slowly walks toward them, showing Khan his teeth. Khan slowly takes his sword out as he glares into the monster’s eyes. “I warned you beast.” As he circles around the wolf, Khan see’s Julia getting off Chloe. The wolf turns and jumps over at Julia, Khan jumps toward the wolf and grabs him, but drops his sword. Soon the wolf is on top of Khan, as Khan tries to regain strength. The wolf howls as he madly scratches at Khan. The wolf tries to bite him, but Khan moves out the way throwing the wolf off of him. Khan turns around to tell Julia to get back, but is caught off guard when the wolf jumps back on him. Khan begins to struggle less, and soon begins to give up, the wolf bites down hard on Khan’s right arm and doesn’t release, his claws still digging into Khan’s neck, choking him. Khan begins to slowly black out. From a distance, Khan can faintly hear Julia’s voice screaming his name. He begins to regain power as he allows a fire in him to burn once again and lets out a powerful scream and rips the monsters jaw off of him throwing him to a tree. He picks up his sword and drives it into the wolf’s abdomen, but the wolf does not die. Khan begins to madly punch away at the beast’s body grunting like an animal. Finally he holds his right fist in the air and yells out as loud as he possibly can. With all his rage he brings his fist down on the wolf’s head hard as he feels the monster’s skull crush. He throws the wolf away panting for breath, while wiping his mouth. He puts his sword away. He slowly tries to walk but falls to his knees. He hears his heart beat as he slowly lies down, gasping for air. He feels warm hands roll him over as a light covers his body. He hears Julia. “Easy, it’s over, the beast is dead. I’m here now, rest.” Khan beings to fall asleep in Julia’s arms.
A dimly lit tent with noises outside of it. Khan slowly begins to wake as he wonders where he is. He slowly gets up and picks up his sword, feeling his wounds completely healed. He walks out the tent as he is picked up by Bear. “Khan my good friend, so good to see you awake!” Khan laughs as he is put down and replies,
“Wonderful to see you bear.” He looks around as he sees smiling faces greet him, and patting him on the shoulders. Everyone shakes his hand as they all say, “Thank you.” He smiles brightly as he nods to all of them. He feels hands gently rub his back as he turns around to look into Julia’s eyes. “You’ve been sleeping forever, it’s about time.” They both smile to one another. Khan feels dizzy as he stumbles a little. Julia holds him up and tells him he should get more rest, as she walks him back to his tent. Julia sits him down and rubs his head for a while, the same beautiful white light shining from her hands. Julia looks into Khan’s eyes as she says, “Khan, you never got to answer me when we were in the woods, why is it you came here?”
Khan closes his eyes in silence for a while than replies in a whisper, “I feel an emptiness.” Khan opens his eyes, to see Julia looking at him. “All I desire is to feel whole. I would travel to the ends of the earth to feel whole. I came here, desperately searching for that. It seems here, as is everywhere I now believe, is just another struggle. Another broken dream, another place filled with senseless beauty.” Julia places her warm hands on Khan’s chest, as is whole body feels warm. His heart does not race, but stays steady and calm, his eyes fixed on hers. She smiles and says, “You have more in you, than an emptiness. I feel in you, an unstoppable force.” She slowly closes her eyes, “I feel in you, light.” She runs her hands down Khan’s right arm as a white light shines from his own. “It’s not a monster that lay inside you Khan.” Khan’s entire body begins to glow, as he feels as though he is awakening from sleep. He breathes easier and deeper as he feels his body become lighter, and he embraces everything around him. As the light shines brighter Julia smiles at him as he smiles back, unable to take his eyes off of her. He slowly begins to sit up as he puts his hands behind her head, and leans her closer to him. He feels her cool breath on his face as there lips begin to touch. Julia’s heart races and her breath quickens. Khan stops her from pulling away as he pulls her closer. Julia drops her hands and puts them around Khan’s body, there light shining brighter. They begin to kiss harder as they slowly lay down, feeling intense warmth between them. Khan slowly removes her clothes as he looks into his eyes. There breath becomes deeper as the light between them blinds them, barely making out the sight of each other’s smile. They hold each other close as they make love.

Khan and Julia, sleeping in each other’s arms in the dimly lit tent. Khan slowly wakes as he looks down at Julia and whispers in her ear, “You are an angel.” Julia smiles as she wakes and looks up at him. Khan kisses her softly on her lips as she begins to giggle. She holds him closer as she embraces him completely. She gets up as she begins to put her clothes on. She smiles over at Khan and says, “We better get moving, we need to meet up with the others.” Khan, suddenly uneasy, slowly gets up and asks where Obrean is. Julia stops for a second and looks over at Khan and says, “We…couldn’t find him.” Khan begins to feel even more uneasy as he asks Julia, “What, exactly happened last night?” Julia looks at him stunned. He quickly continues, “I mean, how is it I…I mean the light-” Julia stops him and says, “My power, this…gift, allows me to extend it to people with light in them. That’s why I can heal you so quickly, there’s…more light in you than most other people…and when we touch I feel almost, infinite.” Khan looks over at her as she says this and smiles. She turns to hide the joy on her face as she feels excitement. From his hands he feels warmth, as he raise his hands to look at them, he sees a very dim white light emit from his own palms as he smiles. From off in the distance he can hear a loud bang of thunder as it slowly drifts away until he hears it no more. Khan calls Julia over and says, “There is no need to leave now, let us sleep a little while longer.” Julia smiles and lies down next to him as he puts his arm around her waist. She takes him by the hand allowing there fingers to cross. They slowly fall asleep.

The King’s meeting room, filled with paintings of the tyrant on top of mountains. The hooded figure shakes the King’s hand as he walks out the castle with a small army behind him. The king bites into an apple as he whispers to himself, “Tonight, all shall be over. Those wretched rebels will fall, and my people will all fear me, I shall have everything I am destined for.” Caterina walks over to the King handing him his drink, “Yes my King you shall be rewarded…with all you are destined for.” He kisses her as she pushes him back. He throws his drink in the air as his laughter echoes through out his castle.

Julia awakens. She turns her head to look at Khan. She watches him as he has a terrible nightmare. He dreams of a terrible storm ripping apart everything in its path, ripping the flesh off of everyone he loves, he hears thunder getting louder and loud while the storm goes away. Finally after everything seems calm and the storm appears to be over, one final bang of thunders wakes Khan up. Julia clutches his hands and says, “It’s over, just a dream.” Khan kisses her shoulder and slowly says, “No, I think-” From far away an explosion rattles the ground and makes a loud bang. Khan quickly jumps up as does Julia, they dress and get ready for battle. As they leave the tent they watch each other, for what seems like an eternity, and notice a look of fear in each other’s eyes. As soon as they jump out the tent they are tackled to the ground and tied before they can do anything. They are thrown in a line with the other rebels, all of whom are cursing and spiting in the direction of the soldiers. Khan watches as the soldiers beat all of whom resist. As all the rebels are tied down the soldiers begin to fall into formation, as the mysterious hooded man walks out in front of everyone. He slowly examines the line of rebels. He removes his hood to reveal himself to be Obrean, smiling. Julia leaps forward and exclaims, “Obrean you are safe!” She is hit at the knees as she falls over, screaming in pain. Khan’s chest pounds as he hears her scream and leaps forward to help her, but is knocked hard in the back of his head. Obrean steps forward, picking Khan’s head up by his hair and whispers, “Honestly, all the thanks should be given to you, because it seems since your arrival, you have made it very easy for me to strike deals with the King.” He throws Khan’s head in the dirt as he gets up laughing madly. Khan slowly raises his head shaking in rage and yells, “Venomous snake! You sell out all of these people, ready to die for you…for what reason?!!?!?” Obrean laughs and replies, “What else for Khan? Power. A man without power is a man not worthy of life. I now have more power than ever before, you do not. What does that tell you, brave warrior?” He quickly kicks Khan in the face as he yells at the soldiers to move. Khan sees Obrean picking up Julia as he tells the other she’ll be with him. Khan tries desperately to break free.
A small cold damp cellar, with no windows. Everyone’s breath is seen as they huddle together trying to stay warm. Khan is the only one not sitting. His blood boiling, he paces around, feeling as if he is going insane. He starts kicking at the walls screaming in rage. Bear sits in silence, praying to a higher being to keep his sister safe. From behind the door he hears a tiny rasp, as he kicks the door. “Who is there?!” The door slowly opens as a hooded person enters. Khan grabs the hooded person and throws them against the wall. The person quickly removes the hood to show herself to be Caterina. Khan caught off guard by her beauty steps away. “Quickly you must all leave here now. I am setting you free.” All of the rebels look at each other as the Queen says this. “Now! Before I am discovered missing.” Khan walks over to her and says in a hard voice, “We will not run. We are not leaving this castle tonight!” All of the rebels begin to slowly stop shaking as they all look up at Khan. “You need to tell me right now, where they are keeping Julia!” Caterina looks in Khan’s eyes as she see’s the absolute love he has for her, and realizes he will not leave without her. She takes his hand and starts to lead him out the dungeon saying, “I will show you.” Khan stops her and tells her to wait one moment and turns to everyone. “Crimson Rebellion. I have stood by my entire life and watched as horrible injustices have been committed to innocent people. Tonight I can no longer stand to do that. I am going to get Julia, and I will cut down any lap dog of that monster Carlucious in my way.” All of the men look at one another as they begin to regain strength and slowly stand up. Khan walks closer toward them and yells, “We cannot allow this oppressive system to poison our lives and our future any longer. Tonight, we destroy and burn this beast to the ground, or die trying. Living the way we all have our whole lives, is not justice! Let justice ring through the halls of his castle and shake this city with our screams!” All of the men begin cheering as Bear makes his way to the front of the crowd. Khan and Bear hug as Bear whisper in Khan’s ear “Tear that rat Obrean to shreds and take away my sister.” Khan turns to everyone, “I want all of you follow Bear’s command.” Bear nods his head and turns to the rebels and yells, “Half of you will come with me, the other half will go to the rooms down below and kill all the guards. I know this castle inside out, and I know where everything is, there will be no surprises tonight men. Tonight, we take back our lives!!” All the men are screaming and banging on the walls, with no fear of being discovered, they quickly run out the dungeon as they begin there siege. Khan quicklys turns and grabs Caterina, “Come, take me to Julia.”
Running frantically behind Caterina. Khan, beside himself with anticipation, feels unstoppable. Feeling the light in him Julia spoke of at his very fingertips. Caterina finally stops and points to Obrean’s door. “Here, she is unconscious in there tied to his bed post.” Khan clenches his fists hard as he hears her say that. He puts his hands on Caterina’s shoulders, “You must run far from here fair maiden. Thank you a thousand times. Live your life now.” She looks in his eyes as she slowly turns to run. Khan watches her as she turns the corner, disappearing into the darkness. He slowly turns to look at the door. He lets out a yell that echoes through the hall and kicks the door to splinters. He does not hesitate, he runs in and sees Obrean standing in front of Julia’s unconscious body. He pounces on top of him throwing his fists madly at Obrean face. Obrean tries to struggle but cannot. Khan picks him up and throws him into the wall, and slams him back down to the floor. He drives his fist into Obrean’s neck as he screams, “You will die tonight! Foul rat, you shall die tonight! Where is my sword, where is Carlucious?” Obrean slowly gasps for breath as he spits up blood, talking through what teeth he has left, “Both of them lay in his throne room, please forgive me. Destroy that…treacherous animal…forgive-” Obrean slowly slips into death. Khan calms down as he feels Obrean’s lifeless body go limp. He slowly closes Obrean’s eyes as he gently lays him down. He whispers in Obrean ears, “Poor snake, rest free.” He slowly stands up away from Obrean’s body and walks over to Julia. He looks at her unconscious body and feels weak. He tries desperately to wake her up but she does not. He shakes her hard screaming her name over and over again. His voice begins to crack as he put his face in front of hers and screams for her as loud as he can. He puts his hands on her face as he begins to slowly cry. He drops his head in agony as he sobs, hot tears flowing down his face. Slowly from his hands, a white light shines brightly, as she slowly begins to breath deeper and awakes. Her eyes open and gaze into Khan’s. He quickly holds her close and they kiss. He steps back and rips the ropes off from around her. “You’re…you are alright?” Khan asks. Julia wipes his tears and holds him close, “Better than you.” They gently laugh to each other as they begin to separate. He tells her of what’s happening, and Julia cannot help but smile. “I will join Bear; you need to go to the King.” Khan nods his head as he feels that feeling of infinity again. Julia walks over to Obrean’s body and takes both of his swords. She looks down at him frowning for a minute cursing him under her breath as she walks back over to Khan and hands him one. “Lets go.” They begin walk out the room, Khan stops her before they leave and pulls her close to him, he stops before there lips meet to feel her cool breath once more, than kisses her hard, and passionately. He pulls her away and tells her, “I love you my angel.” Julia holds him close gently stroking the side of his face and softly whispers, “I love you.” They run out as Khan watches Julia run down the stairs toward the battle in the main hall.
He begins to run down the hall when from the corner of his eye out the window he sees something. He stops to see what. From the city he see’s thousands of lights heading toward the castle. As they get closer he feels the ground beneath him begin to shake, as he slowly makes out what the lights are. Everyone from the city races toward the castle yelling and screaming ready to kill. He slowly walks toward the railing looking down at the battle. He sees the castle doors fly open as the swarm of people fly in, obliterating all the soldiers in there way. The soldiers try to run away as the rebels come up behind them and catch them in the middle. Khan begins to laugh loudly and screams down to the people as he feels himself become even more unstoppable. He continues to sprint toward the King’s room.

Running hard toward the King’s throne room, cutting down numerous guards who stand in his way. When he reaches the doors he slows down till he is walking. He stops in front the door to catch his breath. He feels everything in him flowing perfectly, feeling higher than the walls of the castle. He slowly opens his eyes and kicks down the door. He walks in slowly, hearing a gentle wind breeze past his ear. He looks around the room, seeing his father’s sword laying on Carlucious’ bed. He slowly walks over to it when from his right the king walks out from the balcony where he overlooked his people storming his castle. He staggers slowly over toward his bed as he says, “You…pitiful insect. You have ruinied meee!! You have, brought about an end to all that I know…but no matter, you think I am alone in this world?” Carlucious darts over toward Khan’s father’s sword but Khan kicks him hard before he can reach it. He puts the sword in his hand to Carlucious’ neck. Carlucious laughs as he says, “You think you are powerful? What of your sword, or I should say your father’s. You are nothing without your father’s power. You do not DESERVE that sword!” Carlucious hits the blade away and elbows Khan in the neck. Carlucious jumps over to Khan’s father’s sword as Khan composes himself. Carlucious takes the sword out of its sheath and holds it toward Khan. “You think this is the end of me? This is the end of you boy-” Before he can continue Khan darts forward as he rushes the blade toward Carlucious’ throat. Carlucious steps back and deflects the blade, than says, “My power, is not limited to this dreadful island alone! I am in control of everything you worm.” Khan rolls toward the King and knocks him off his feet. He swings the sword toward him as Carlucious falls to his back. Carlucious stops the sword with his own and they stay swords locked as Carlucious continues to speak, “How do you think anything happens boy? Ho do you think…your mother died.” Khan’s heart stops as he feels weak. Carlucious throws the sword in Khan’s hands away and flips him on his back and puts the blade to his neck. “Those bandits dear boy, that raped and killed your mother…were sent by me. You see…” Carlucious punches Khan in the face as Khan mad with rage tries to break free, “After…I killed your father, I needed to make sure none of his own was left, so I was free to rule over all I am destined for. You should not be here now boy, you should be dead. You think it was horrible fate you have been attacked your whole life. I made you the way you are. But you could not die, to much like your father it seems. So I must take care of you myself!” Khan body twitches madly as he screams “OH! TRECHEROUS VILLAN!!!” The entire castle hears his scream. He throws Carlucious off of him. He wildly gets up and throws his arms and legs, hitting Carlucious madly. His voice begins to break as he his scream becomes louder, and tears pour down his face. He grabs Carlucious by the hair and knees him hard in his face, leaving Carlucious’ hair in his hand as the King falls to the ground. He slowly gets up as he quickly regains strength and lunges the swords point toward Khan’s stomach. Khan screams no as he catches the blade in his hand. He struggles to keep the blade from moving as Carlucious tries to push it past his hands. They do not move as Carlucious tries his best to move the blade, while Khan uses all the strength he has.
Khan suddenly hears an incredible bang and feels the floor shake, as thunder rattles the castle. He begins to find strength as he remembers his nightmare. The thunder slowly gets louder and louder, as Khan remembers what Julia said about light. He feels that light in him again as he slowly raises the blade. Carlucious stunned, tries his hardest to yank the sword away from Khan’s grip but cannot. Khan closes his eyes and smiles, as a tremendous amount of light illuminates the room, coming from his body. Carlucious loses his grip from the sword and flies back hard against the wall, gasping for breath. Khan holds the sword by the handle and quickly lunges across the room and plunges the sword into Carlucious’ heart. Carlucious lets out a terrible scream of pain as Khan twists the blade while his eyes remained closed. Khan lets the sword go as he extends his arms and allows the light to shine brighter. Finally Carlucious reaches toward the sky and screams out one final time. His arms fall. His legs go limp. His head drops. His eyes roll back into his skull. His body becomes cold. The King dies. Khan slowly opens his eyes as the light slowly dies away. He slowly removes the sword as he watches over the corpse of Carlucious, thunder still ratteling the castle. He slowly turns but stops and says, “Vile Monster. You have received what you are destined for.” He slowly walks out the room as the thunder begins to die down.
Khan walks out to the main hall, to find the battle over as the morning sun slowly rises, lining up perfectly with Crimson Castle. He stops in front of the stairs as he looks down at thousands of dead soldiers. The people of the city and the rebels embrace one another, celebrating joyfully. They quickly quiet down as they see Khan stepping out above them. Khan looks down at all the people looking at him, than looks down at his sword. Julia slowly walks up the stairs over to Khan. He takes her hand, as they both feel infinite again. Allowing there light to shine for all. They gently kiss one another on the lips. As they separate they gaze in one another’s eyes, feeling as they though they have a thousand times before. All of a sudden, the people of the city and the rebels begin to slowly kneel and bow there head. Khan watches in disbelief, feeling overwhelmed as he sees everyone drops to there knees to bow to him. Julia wipes his tears as they both begin to smile. His breath becomes strong as Julia begins to clutch his hand tighter. Bear in the front of everyone stands with his head still bowed and exclaims, “HAIL! KING KHAN! RULER OF HALO ISLAND!” All of the people throw there fists in the air once and scream “HAIL!” Khan looks down at Julia as she looks up at him, with tears in her eyes. She gently rests her head on his shoulder as she rubs his chest. Khan slowly raises his sword in the air, the blade reflecting the light from his and Julia’s body, as the people begin to look up at him smiling.
He takes a deep breath than exclaims, “MY PEOPLE! TODAY IS A NEW DAY!” The people jump up screaming, cheering and laughing. They all embrace one another in the rays of the morning sun creeping into the castle. There sounds of celebration echo throughout the city.