Chapter 5 Last stand at the Cliff

Sabrina woke with her head spinning violently. She was lying on the cold stone floor beside King Rahul. The mighty king was gasping weakly, his face deathly pale and his once-powerful body trembling on the verge of death.

“No… no!” she cried, her voice breaking.

She desperately pressed her hands to his chest, pouring every ounce of strength she had left into healing him. Golden light flickered weakly from her palms unstable and fading. No matter how hard she tried, the light sputtered out. She couldn’t save him.

This only fueled the crowd’s belief in Huruna’s accusations. Whispers of “witch” and “cursed” spread like poison through the hall.

“My King!” Sabrina wept, hot tears streaming down her face. “I will revive you… please hold on!”

King Rahul looked at her with fading eyes, filled with sorrow and regret. With his final strength, he raised a trembling hand and gently touched her cheek.

“Sabrina…” he whispered hoarsely, “please do not become her.” His hand fell limp. The King was gone.

A heavy, suffocating silence blanketed the banquet hall, soon shattered by gasps and cries of mourning. Sabrina felt her entire world shatter with him.

Priestess Huruna stepped forward, her voice loud and venomous.

“She is a witch! Cursed by the gods! Lock her up! She will be drowned in the Lake of Zipora at dawn!”

Sabrina’s breath hitched in fury. “You did this,” she hissed, staring at the dead king before turning her glare on Huruna. She stretched out her hands in rage, trying to strike but nothing happened. She tried again and again, panic rising. Then she realized her powers were gone.

“Take her!” Huruna yelled triumphantly.

The guards hesitated for a while, before they seized Sabrina roughly. Too weak, too devastated, and too heartbroken to resist, she was dragged away.

High above in the rafters, Kiki the squirrel had seen everything. His tiny heart racing with terror, he dashed out of the palace and raced toward the lonely house on the hill.

He had to warn Sabrina’s mother.

..............

Sabrina’s mother sat on her old wooden rocking chair, humming a tired tune, when Kiki burst into the house, chattering wildly and jumping in panic.

She couldn’t understand his words, but a mother’s instinct told her everything she needed to know.

“Where is Sabrina?” she asked, fear creeping into her voice.

Kiki froze. That was enough.

By the time she reached the palace, a large crowd had gathered, mourning the king. The moment they saw her, they screamed:

“Mother of the witch! Mother of the king’s killer!”

They scattered in fear and disgust. She pushed through them desperately, tears blurring her vision.

“Seems someone is late to the party,” Priestess Huruna said coldly behind her.

“Where is my daughter?” Sabrina’s mother demanded, her voice firm despite the terror clawing at her heart.

Huruna smiled cruelly. “Follow me.”

She led her to the prison cells. The sight of Sabrina behind the iron bars made her mother gasp in pain.

“Take your last glance,” Huruna said with an evil smile. “Because she dies at dawn.”

At those words, Sabrina’s mother broke down. She rushed to the gate, gripping the cold bars with shaking hands.

“Mother!” Sabrina cried, clutching the bars, her voice raw with despair. “I’m sorry I didn’t do it. I didn’t kill the king. I don’t know what happened. I’ve lost my powers. I’ve lost everything.” She sobbed, voice cracking. “I should have listened to you. I’m so sorry.”

Her mother sank to the cold ground beside the gate, wailing in uncontrollable grief. She stayed until guards were ordered by Huruna to take her out.

..........

Morning came too quickly. Sabrina was dragged out for execution.

Her mother walked behind the procession, her heart shattering with every step. She knew she had to act.

When no one was watching, she grabbed Kiki and hurled him at the nearest guard. The squirrel understood instantly. He leapt wildly, biting and scratching, even attacking Huruna’s face.

Chaos erupted.

In the confusion, Sabrina’s mother seized a sword from a fallen guard and stabbed him without hesitation. She grabbed her daughter’s hand, and they fled into the forest, fear and desperation fueling their steps.

“Quick! Catch them!” Huruna roared.

The chase was relentless. They ran until their lungs burned, until they reached the edge of a roaring waterfall. There was nowhere left to go. Sabrina’s mother turned, standing protectively in front of her daughter. “I am the wife of the great Netcho,” she declared fiercely. “I will not die like a coward!”

She fought with everything she had, swinging the sword to protect her only child. But one guard thrust his blade deep into her stomach.

“Mother…!” Sabrina screamed in pure agony.

Her mother gasped, blood spilling from her lips. “Jump!” she cried, desperately reaching for her daughter.

Her voice was cut short as another sword drove through her chest.

Sabrina went silent. Time seemed to slow. Then she screamed a raw, heart wrenching cry that sent fiery winds sweeping across the forest. Huruna clutched her ears in pain.

The man who had stabbed her mother burst into flames and burned to ashes. But the effort drained the last of Sabrina’s power. The world spun violently. She staggered backward and fell over the edge of the waterfall.

“Mother…” she whispered as the crashing water swallowed her broken body.

High above the cliff, Priestess Huruna staggered forward, blood trickling from her ears and nose. She clutched her chest tightl, a manic smile spreading across her face as she watched the angry river.

“Finally…” she whispered, her voice hoarse but triumphant. “The kingdom is mine.”

She threw her head back and laughed a cold, echoing sound that mingled with the roar of the waterfall.

“At last… I will rule for eternity.”