Chapter 28
IZADELLA
The icy water rushing into my jail cell bites at my skin. Tiny needles pierce every inch of my flesh. Every second is a reminder this freezing prison will be my grave by high tide.
All so Everett can have this miserable crown.
A memory pops up, and I turn my frozen body towards him.
The water laps at the steps where he still sits above the water, watching me. He moves each time the water nears his feet ’til he sits on the top of the dry steps, clear of the moss and seaweed that litters the bottom.
The perfect view for my last few minutes of breath.
My teeth chatter together when I talk. “So, this-s is the p-plan? Watch me die and grab the crown off my c-corpse?”
“Well, if you could remove it yourself and hand it over to me, I’m sure Grayden could find other uses for you.”
Bastard.
“You-u fell off your ship during that winter storm-m and were reported lost at sea for days. Did you wash up-p on Adreania’s shore? Is that how you and Grayden met? Did you convince him you could control the crown and form an alliance to take over Ellova-a?”
His jaw tightens and I know I’m right. “Something like that.”
“Everett, I mourned for you-u, cried over you. Nueena and I both did. I would expect this type of betrayal from Kole, but you? We’ve been friends for a century. P-please, just tell me why. I’ll be dead in the next few minutes anyway. Give me that closure.”
Everett watches me struggle in the water, and for a brief moment, regret peeks through before it is washed away.
“I’m made for greater things than just being an ocean guard.
I demand greater things than being the son of a guardian whose own title isn’t even passed down.
Here, if you have power, you hold on to it. ”
“You think you can have Ellova?”
He rolls his eyes. “Even I’m not foolish enough to try and take Ellova by force. Six courts against one malnourished kingdom of useless mortals would be a waste of future soldiers. No, once I have the crown in a few minutes, I can use the magic to restore Adreania.”
I still laugh through my rattling teeth. “So, becoming king of the mortals is this master plan of yours? King Everett, ruler of nothing.”
“You forget what it was like in the years Adreania had a fae on the throne. It was once a prosperous kingdom thanks to the crown. Once it is restored, it will have been worth the effort. Adreania is allied with the biggest kingdom across the sea. Versairen has fleets of ships ready to set sail towards Kalvorn. After all, they kidnapped and killed King Jedrick, beloved ruler and father. They are well within their right to declare war on that lying king to protect Erenia’s interests in Adreania.
Grayden has discovered something I want about Kalvorn.
They have magic. He could never be ruler of a fae kingdom.
But with the crown, I could. Your precious king will be joining you soon in the afterlife, if that brings you any comfort. ” He smirks at me.
The water splashes around my chest and the chains have me nearly submerged, trapped to the wall. It's the light greenish hue of the sea surrounding me. The tide drags and pulls at my body, fear consuming me.
Anytime I ever thought about my death, I assumed I would die in Ellova, after centuries with Nueena and Tavien.
Nyvenah told me once that a spot had already been designated for me in the royal family’s mausoleum next to where Nueena and Tavien would eventually join me in an eternal resting place among past Realm Keepers.
It was an honor I didn’t believe I deserved, but Nyvenah had decided that all of her children would be buried with her and that was that.
Something slimy slithers past my leg.
Fucking eels.
Water rises and rises. I try to stay afloat but my chained leg is weighted down. I’m going to die in the fucking cursed castle with its prick of a king.
The coldness of the water makes my body ache, my dress heavy as I kick my feet to stay above the tide, desperate for my last moments of precious air.
I should have told my family how much I love them. How I knew I would never be alone, with Nueena there after the night my mother died and Nyvenah held me as I cried for hours. How my friends feel like home now.
Leon.
Even if he was a liar.
I love him.
I lied too. I should have listened to what he had to say. I should have trusted him as he trusted me.
It felt real. Every caress, every kiss, every word.
The truth in his touch.
I thought I would never find love, and I was going to die after only experiencing it for a moment. Maybe this was the cruelest part.
The water is up to my nose, and I can go no further. Once the next wave rolls in, I’ll be pulled under. I close my eyes and take one last gasp of air to buy me a few more seconds of borrowed time.
Ellova, please save me.
Agony rips into me as death prepares to greet me. I kick and kick but it’s no use.
It can’t end like this.
Why wasn’t I given more time?
My lungs burn and burn from holding in my final breath.
My last terrified thought is of Leon as my body finally forces me to inhale.
I gasp with a sob no one can hear, not ready for death.
My chest expands and precious air rushes in.
I expect biting water to fill my lungs, to die choking, but nothing happens.
I take an experimental breath and then another.
I can still breathe.
The lochkiss.
That blessed bubble Leon and I used to swim in the spring.
Where we had our first kiss.
I start laughing and cannot stop. Maybe fate has yet to forget me. The joy of being alive fills me with a warmth no one in the castle can take away.
The look on his face will be priceless.
I pretend to drown, dramatically thrashing around, grabbing at my throat. Truly, it's a performance worthy of the Royal Ellovian Theater.
Finally, after a few full body twitches, I let my body relax, floating listlessly, pretending to truly have drowned but keeping my eyes open just a sliver to see him.
After a few minutes, the bars open and Everett dives into the green water illuminated by the torches lining the stairwell above.
If we were in Ellova, he could part the waters with his magic, the waves his to command, but here in this dreadful place he is as powerless as a dewling.
He barrels towards me, ready to take the crown for himself.
Just before he reaches me, I snap my eyes open, startling him, much to my delight.
I blow Everett a kiss, little bubbles floating up to the surface, and give him a playful wave of my fingers.
He bares his teeth and his fist flies towards me. I brace for impact, but he grabs the crown and pulls. Pain rips through me, but a strange electric shock of the crown’s magic pulses out, and Everett jerks before going limp and floating towards the surface.
Unfortunately, the fucker can breathe underwater.
I may not be able to protect myself, but the crown will. Even with the iron collar, some magic cannot be stopped.
My head aches but I start laughing again. This time it’s hysterical, the combination of relief and horror.
A small school of silver fish swim in and out, exploring the new places the tide has brought. Tethered to the wall by the chains, my body bobs leisurely, rocking with the freezing undercurrent.
I doubt Everett is dead. He will try again and again ’til he gets what he wants, but for now I’m alive and will survive the night.
For now, that is enough.