[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/246624086/0/0]Table of Contents[/url] “NATALIA!” Natalia sunk into her throne, holding a hand to her stomach. She looked down, feeling the cool steel of her breastplate under her chin. The pressure of her hand over the three bullet holes brought forth a wave of blood that stained her glove. It hurt terribly. “NAT!” Hayden’s face was in front of hers. He was yelling her name, panicking as he reached for her. She looked up at him and smiled. An armored gauntlet lashed out, and Hayden’s head slammed into the throne. He fell out of sight. Someone grabbed her wrist, tearing the revolver away from her limp fingers. She turned her head to find Avery standing over her, holding her wrist in one hand and the pistol in the other. Lord Daedalus’ booming voice reached her ears, shouting hysterically, “She hid it under her cape!” Natalia watched as Avery pushed out the revolver’s cylinder to empty the chambers. “You were supposed to check for weapons!” Brenon railed. “I did!” Daedalus spat, “How was I s’pposed to know she was sittin’ on a-“ Natalia’s hand cannon hit the floor, clattering noisily as it bounced to the edge of the room. Avery took Natalia by the rim of her breastplate, lifting her upright. Natalia gasped as pain shot through her body. “WHY’D YOU DO IT?!” Avery thundered, her artificial eyes shining like fire, “WHY WAS IT EMPTY?!” “What was empty?” Brenon questioned. “The gun!” Avery hissed, her eyes remaining locked with Natalia’s, “Not a single bullet in it!” Everyone was silent for a moment. Natalia sucked in air, each shallow breath bringing a new wave of agony from her stomach. “Could you give the gun to Hayden?” Natalia asked weakly, “It’s from his parents.” “Why was it empty?” Avery repeated. Natalia rolled her head to the side, looking for Hayden but not seeing him, “Is Hayden okay?” “ANSWER ME NATALIA!” Avery demanded, slamming her against the back of her throne. Natalia winced at the impact, “Okay!” She coughed violently, feeling like her organs were about to explode in her belly. The metal plates of Avery’s face were contorted in a position Natalia had never seen. Exos didn’t express much emotion -especially not Avery- but Natalia thought it looked something like worry. “I wanted this,” Natalia admitted, forcing out the words, “I…left notes. Letters. Under me. They explain.” Avery released Natalia, slowly reaching behind her. The Exo’s hand rummaged through the folds of Natalia’s cape. “Thank you,” Natalia whispered so that only Avery could hear. Avery faltered, “For what?” Natalia slumped to the side, pursing her lips thoughtfully, “I don’t know.” Avery seemed to roll her eyes, resuming her search. “I’m sorry I made you shoot me.” Avery withdrew her hand, holding two folded sheets of paper, “Apology not accepted.” “I’m sorry,” Natalia repeated, watching Avery unfold the first parchment, “One’s for you, the other’s for Hayden. They explain everything.” Natalia suddenly felt very lightheaded. She looked down to find her hand soaked in blood from her wounds. The pain from her injuries had grown worse, and just breathing was becoming difficult. She waited while Avery read, focusing on controlling her ragged breaths. Daedalus and Brenon stood awkwardly in the background, keeping their distance. Natalia swayed to the side, leaning against the arm of her throne. She hadn’t planned on being shot in the stomach. She wondered how long it would take for her to pass out from blood loss. There was still no sign of Hayden. No doubt he’d lost consciousness when Avery hit his head. Natalia hoped he would be okay. She wanted to see him one last time. • • • Hayden awoke to a splitting headache. He groaned, reaching up to touch the tender spot on his scalp where his head had hit Natalia’s throne. “No sudden moves.” Hayden opened his eyes. He was lying on the floor of the throne room, beside Natalia’s throne. Brenon Springcliff stood over him, with a hand cannon trained on him. Four more gunmen tarried behind Brenon. Hayden turned his head, spotting Lady Avery and Lord Daedalus a few meters away, speaking with more gunmen. “Natalia?” Hayden called, twisting on the floor to look at her throne. He couldn’t see her from his position. “Hey,” Brenon said, backing away from Hayden but keeping his pistol aimed steadily, “You can stand. Slowly.” Hayden propped himself up on an elbow, watching Brenon warily as he rose to his feet. Brenon waved his weapon to indicate the throne. Hayden stepped forward to see, and gasped in horror. Natalia lay in her throne like a broken doll. Her red cape served as a makeshift blanket, covering her body. Her eyes were closed, and her hair fell unchecked over her face. It appeared as if she were sleeping, but Hayden knew better. “Nat?” He croaked, stumbling to her side, “Nat?!” He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her gently, then harder. When she didn’t move, he pulled away her cape. A strangled sob escaped his throat as the cape fell to the floor. Blood covered Natalia’s stomach and hand. “Nat…” he whimpered, reaching for her face, “Nat.” His fingers brushed her hair away, taking in her face. She looked peaceful, with the corners of her mouth curled up in what looked like a faint smile. He was suddenly reminded of the night he had first seen her, when he’d found her sleeping in her room. Even in death, she was beautiful. Hot tears flowed down Hayden’s cheeks. His lips parted, but no sound came out, and his body started to tremble. He leaned over Natalia, heaving out labored breaths as his grief took over. He fell to his knees, taking her hand and gripping it tightly. Hayden didn’t know how long he cried over Natalia. He wept until there were no tears left in him and his throat burned. “Hayden Yegorov.” The voice was soft, but unmistakable. Hayden sniffled and rubbed at his eyes, steeling himself. He stood and turned to face Lady Avery. The Exo waited for him, her arm extended and a folded slip of paper pinched between her fingers. Hayden glared at her, hatred burning in his chest like a wildfire. There was no curse strong enough to express his opinion of her. “Natalia left this for you,” Avery said, still as a statue. Hayden took swift strides to Avery, then plucked the paper away from her. “And this,” Avery added, procuring Natalia’s hand cannon. Hayden stared at the revolver. It was his mother’s gun; the gun she’d used to protect their family. The same gun Natalia had used to save Hayden’s life the day his parents died, the day she became a Warlord. He snatched the weapon from Avery’s hand, pulling the hammer back with his thumb and leveling it directly at the Exo’s forehead, point-blank. He pulled the trigger and- The revolver clicked, empty. Hayden bared his teeth, seething with fury as he pulled the hammer back again, cycling to the next chamber. Avery only watched, doing nothing to stop him. Another click, no bullet. He repeated the action once more before giving up, choking out a sob. His arm fell to his side, his anger subsided. The room was quiet. Everyone was watching him. He shut his eyes, wishing they’d all disappear and leave him to suffer in solitude. All he’d ever wanted was to be with Natalia, but they’d taken that from him. They’d killed her. “Hayden,” Avery said. Hayden opened his eyes, meeting the hollow gaze of her own mechanical eyes. Avery slowly reached out to touch his hand, the one holding Natalia’s letter. “Read it.”