(Third Person POV)
[Warning: Disturbing Content Ahead]
[A Long Time Ago, In a Different World]
A young boy was sleeping in the bed when he heard the door to his room being kicked down hard, yelling men bursting through. He sat up in alarm, shouting out in panic as masked men walked up to his bed and another boy's bed, grabbing them and pulling them out of the bed.
"Ahhh!!" the young boy shouted as the other boy began to cry, "Let me go!!!"
The men dragged the two boys down the hallway as screams filled the house they were in. They reached the front door and walked out, more masked men were holding down a man and a woman against the ground, guns pressed against the back of their heads
"No!!" the woman cried as the men dragged the two boys into the front yard of the house, "Not my kids!!"
Other men had two young girls, dragging them by the hair and tossing them in front. The girls were sobbing and crawling on the ground towards the woman as a man got in front of them, keeping them from getting past him.
"We warned you." one of them told the man on the ground, "We told you what would happen should you keep investigating our business."
The man on the ground had his right eye swollen shut, a gash on his forehead was bleeding, his blood was pouring out and staining the grass.
"My family have nothing to do with this...." the man said
"An example must be made." one of the men pulled out a baton and swung it on the young boy's stomach, buckling him on the ground
"NO!!" the woman shouted, "CYRUS!!"
Cyrus collapsed to the ground, gasping for air as his eyes watered, "A-Ahh!!"
The masked man swung the baton hard on his back, causing him to writhe around in pain as he sobbed.
"Arrghh!!" Cyrus cried as he rolled frantically, being stopped by one of the other men
"Sit still." the other man kicked him in the ribs, causing him to roll
"This is your oldest?" one of the men asked, "Huh, Badger?"
The man on the ground was sobbing, "Leave him be.... " He said, "Please, I beg you."
Cyrus was pulled up to his feet as his entire body trembled, tears rolling down his face as he had nothing but fear and shock in his eyes.
"As the eldest, he should set an example for his younger siblings." One of the men said, "I am feeling generous. I won't touch the others, but they will watch their eldest take the beating they were meant to. All while their father and mother watch."
The man with the baton chuckled, "Cyrus, was it?" He said, "You will learn to know, not to mess with dangerous men that can easily turn your life upside down."
He swung the baton yet again, hitting him in the stomach and causing Cyrus to collapse on the ground. He swung the baton multiple times, striking Cyrus all over the body as his mother sobbed uncontrollably, his siblings watching in pure horror as he was being beaten mercilessly.
"STOOOOOPPP!!" His Father was bawling, "LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!"
After nearly two minutes of constantly beaten, the man stopped and straightened up.
"Whew." he said as he shook his arm, "That was quite something, haha....."
Cyrus laid on the ground, not moving at all as his entire body was covered in blood and bruises.
"Did you kill him?" One of the men said
The one with the baton moved him with his foot, rolling him over to his back and saw that he was still breathing.
"Nah." He said
The man who was in front of Cyrus's father looked at him, "Badger." He said, "This is your last warning. If you don't stop, we will put a bullet in your boy's head. And for now....."
He pulled out a gun and shot the woman in the arm, causing her to cry out in pain.
"Ahhhh!!!" the woman sobbed as she clutched her arm
"You'd best get help for that," the man said, putting the gun away, "Good luck."
"And don't make the same mistake."
******************
[The Red Keep, Back To The Present]
"We tried searching for the Snake, but to no avail." Aemon Targaryen said as he stood next to the Iron Throne, "There is no point in searching for a crimelord that won't reveal himself."
"We are aware that he will remain hidden." Torys spoke up, "But it is Lord Cyrus's will to have him brought forth."
Before the Iron Throne, Cyrus's group stood, having called for an audience with Jaehaerys. Cyrus told the King that he wanted to do something about the Snake, completely adamant about getting justice passed on him.
Lady Mira, the Red Priestess, had joined them, having said nothing as of yet. But she kept getting antagonizing stares from the Lord-Hand, Septon Barth. He was a prominent figure of the Faith, so it was not a surprise that he would react this way with followers of the Red God.
Jaehaerys cleared his throat, "We are doing the best we can on that matter." He said, "We have had our men clear our more fighting rings, taking the children to the orphanages and ensured that they are getting taken care of."
Cyrus had his arms crossed, "I have checked on that myself." He said, "But that is to be expected, you already told me you'd do something about that."
"You want to get your hands on the Snake and what? Burn him?" Jaehaerys asked, "Is that it, Cyrus?"
Cyrus nodded, "That's right?"
"And what message would that send?" Jaehaerys asked, "Other than telling our citizens that the Red Cult is in our home, setting ablaze those they deem as filth. It will cause discord, and the conflict between ideals will arise."
"Ideals?" Cyrus raised an eyebrow
"You lot can worship a false god if you wish." Septon Barth spoke up, "But do so outside our walls. No, outside the Realm. Once you bring that blasphemy within our homes, there will be nothing conflict."
"False?" Mira said as she stepped forth, "Lord-Hand, have you seen what His Grace has seen? What the Crown Prince has seen? Lord Cyrus is the Lord of Light, an aspect of R'hllor himself. He is-"
"Nothing more than the superstition of Essosi fanatics." Barth said, "You come to our city and insult the Seven with your claims. And not just that, you wish to take justice in your own hands? The criminal known as the Snake will be dealt with."
"What Septon Barth is trying to say is that you must remain limited in your actions, Cyrus." Jaehaerys said, "The last thing we need is a conflict between religions."
Cyrus was going to speak when he saw movement on the shadows, by the dark sides of the hall's exits.
Barth kept speaking, "As the Lord-Hand, I advised His Grace to be cautious with your group." He said, "We will not be hostile, as we do not want a conflict. But boundaries must be set, if you do not respect them, there will be issues.
Cyrus silently nudged Torys, gesturing him to step to the side. Torys understood and gently moved Mira to the side, the Red Priestess a bit confused.
The Kingsguards and the others were alarmed by this but the King kept speaking.
"I do not wish to ask you to leave the city, but should you keep pressing this matter, wanting to violate the hospitality I am offering, I will have no choice." He said seriously
"Your Grace, we do not want to antagonize House Targaryen." Mira said, who was glancing at Cyrus, "But when Lord Cyrus wishes for something, we must do whatever it takes to make sure it is done. He wants the Snake and he comes here to let you know that he will get him. No matter what you say, respectfully."
Ser Gyles Morrigan noticed some movement as well, placing his hand on the handle of his sword.
Cyrus had already noticed that something was wrong, "Hm." He said as he crossed his arms, "Interesting."
Suddenly, several figures appeared from the shadows, drawing bows and nocking arrows. This caused the Kingsguard to draw their swords. Torys and the others pulled Mira away, leaving Cyrus standing in the middle of the hall, a serious look on his face.
"Shield the King!!" Ser Gyles bellowed as one of the others got in front of Septon Barth
The attackers aimed at Cyrus, firing multiple arrows at him. Jaehaerys had gotten up from the Throne, Aemon getting in front of him as he had drawn his sword.
Everyone watched as the arrows flew through Cyrus's body, flames sprouting where arrow-holes would have been. One of them had been aimed at his eye, a hole replacing his eyeball, flames swirling as he simply stood there.
The arrows hit the ground, charred completely as they crumbled to ash.
"Lord Cyrus!" Mira exclaimed
"Tch." Cyrus said as his flames were flickering,
"Fucking dickheads."