Avery's Story: Chapter 2

King Avery felt everything around him go silent, even his own scream was drowned out by the sudden numbness that filled his very being. Teresa stood with a confused look at what she had just done having pulled the chair leg free of the slender feline's belly. She just stared at the dripping blood. Lela and the old King were wide eyed in shock too, staring. Ashton's mind raced, but his heart and eyes were set on one thing: Nina.He pushed Teresa aside and threw himself beside the trembling body of Nina, gently scooping her up into his arms, gently holding up her head, begging the Gods to bring light back into her glazing golden eyes.

"I have chosen my Queen..." Ashton said with a trembling voice. "Nina is to be my bride... I choose Nina..."

Ashton felt her body tremble as her eyes rolled some and crossed, unable to focus. He pressed his hand to her warm belly, feeling the blood spill against his hand.

"Father!? Do something! Call my personal Physician!" Avery gasped. Nina moaned blood trickling past her trembling lips and their eyes met for the first time. "Nina... Nina I choose you... I choose you as my Queen..." Her body shuddered as more of her life blood trickled between the fingers of his hand pressed against her blood soaked dress. Teresa glared at him.

"Are you mad?! Don't you know she's an-" Teresa was suddenly cut off.

"Seize her!" King Ashton cried as he pointed to Teresa making the guards take her away.Teresa struggled, but she had no chance against the guards. She was handcuffed and gagged so she wouldnt bite. Soon it was back to just: him, Nina, Lela, and his father. Nina looks up at him weakly her eyes barely staying open.

"Why...me..."

"I... I dont know..." Avery said slowly. "Your eyes... Nina... I want to love you... you are the most beautiful creature on this earth..." Avery heard her belly churn as more blood gushed. Nina shuddered in his arms.

"Lela! Father! Where are the doctors!" Avery had dropped his rapier in his flight to cradle the dying kitty. But his signet dagger hung at his belt. He brushed a hand across her soft face."Hold on Countess... I refuse to let you go..."

"Heh. Beauty...you men are all the same." She grabs it and went to stab his back, but gasped as it barely penetrated through his skin. "What the-is your skin made of metal?!" She grunted loudly as she tried to pull it out but that cause more blood to flow out.

Seeing his son assaulted by the dying kitty King Ashton raised a hand.

"Get those guards back in here! Cancel the physicians!" HE shouted. Before Avery could even blink Lela was crouched next to him, her hair piece a razor sharp blade pressed against Nina's neck. Avery looked shocked. Ignoring the fact his back had just been cut by Nina's weak stab.

"I chose her!" Avery shouted. "Physicians! Cancel those guards! Lela!? what are you doing!?" Avery looked at her as if she had been the one to just attempt he stabbing. She had never seen this sort of disappointment in his eyes. The guards rushed in."Stand down! I am as much a King as my father!" Avery shouted gently lifting Nina in his arms, cradling her like a small child. Blood gushed from her mouth and her hand dropped the knife as he lifted her, too weak to hold it. He brushed passed the guards and never made eye contact with Lela as he rushed down the hallway.

"Why? Why stab the one man who strives to save you!?" Avery asked the moaning feline he embraced as he hurried down the hallway. Lela frowned deeply as she followed him.

"She could've killed you! I will kill her!" Nina looked at him weakly coughing up blood.

"You're a fool..."She fell unconscious, blood continuing to flow out of her stomach and mouth. The guards were close behind him. His father was demanding him to stop. It was like a mighty roar of a lion. Avery ignored them all, only stopping a moment to freeze and shout

"Shut up! Both of you! Cant you see the importance of haste!?" Avery kicked open the doors to the infirmary wing of his palace nearly taking off Zaida's head. She was his personal physician and was the best in the kingdom. She hissed as she grabbed her nose.

"With me Zaida! She is dying!" Avery shouted and laid her gently on a bed. Zaida immediately got to work checking the blood soaked young woman's pulse and vitals. she too ignored King Ashton's shouts and screaming. She served Avery.

"I dont think I can save her..." Zaida said flatly. "She has been practically gutted... if any of the wood is in there... she die of infection... Move King..." Avery stood back running his blood soaked hands through his hair."Nina...." Avery turned and opened the door, facing his father and four well armored battle cats. His father's face was red. Lela stood behind his father, her eyes streaming tears. Zaida continued to perform what she would call a "miracle" if all worked out. Her Prince depended on her. She would never admit it, but she always preferred Avery over Ashton's rule any day. From the moment she saw Avery spare a family of thieves on his first practice rule, she knew he would one day be a great king.

"I'll save her...for you...my future king." She whispers.Outside the room, Lela hugged Avery close. "Why did you run?!"

"Lela...." Avery held her tight too, but felt reserved. She had moved so quickly to slice open Nina's neck, had he not ordered her to stop at that very moment it would have been too late. He had to remind himself that Nina had in fact attempted to kill him. Only then did he feel his back pain and the wetness flowing from where she got him.

"Why? I didn't know you had... what if I hadn't...?" He was so confused. He just wanted to be back in there with Nina. Ashton stood with his guards at the door. "Father... stand them down..." Avery said sternly. "I have made my choice... if.... if she lives..."

"Father I dont need... I dont need them!" Avery was covered int he girl's blood and was completely confused with his new emotions. Seeing Lela run stung him to the core.

"Fine... post them at the door, but I want to be with Nina... alone... whether or not Zaida saves her I want her to be with me at the end if she dies. And if she lives.... she is going to be the Queen..." Avery pushed passed his father and hurried after Lela."Lela! Lela!" Avery called finally finding her sitting on a bed in a guest room.

Lela was crying in her hands, hunched over, not responding to his cries.She was heartbroken and felt like an idiot at the same time. She didn't want to talk to him at all.

He stood there and looked at her, he knew she had feelings for him, but just slowly and gently closed the door. He would talk to her later. She had a later, Nina may not. He was still confused as to why he cared for this woman. She had tried to kill him, and now if she died he still had Teresa to marry and have a prosperous rule with a lovely Queen. But what had he said. HE wanted to love her?" What was this hunger to be with her? Zaida was at the door soaked in blood. Avery felt his heart sink. If Nina died, a part of him was gone too.

"Well...?" Avery's voice broke

"She's resting right now. I managed to stop the bleeding." She said as she removed her gloves and apron. "Her waking up in the morning is another story though." Ashton sighed softly and looked at his son.

"Go on. I won't stop you."

Avery walked into the Dark room. A small candle lantern flickered casting a glow to reveal Nina's lithe form. She seemed much less aloof and strong now. Almost like a kitten. Her breathing was ragged and the bandages wrapped around her slender waist looked tight. She was naked save a small silk top and pair of undergarments of a fine purple silk. Blood had been wiped from her face along with her make up. Still she was beautiful.

"My Queen... Do not die when I have yet to soften your hardened heart..." Avery knelt by the bed taking a small paw and squeezing it.He had more questions about his behavior than answers. The woman before him deserved death, she had struck out against the king and insulted the Duchess of Kittliport. By all means the gallows or letting her die on the floor would have been acceptable. Avery was the king however, and against all common sense and value, he wanted her love. And wanted to give her his own. In her most vulnerable state she was now completely at his mercy.Avery laid across the Countess' body placing his head against her breast. The heartbeat was weak, but the feline was holding onto life.

Avery fell asleep here his hand clutching that of his chosen Queen