Chapter 14 #3
The human’s eyes met mine again. If only he weren’t an enemy, he could have been a soldier. His resolute strength was impressive. It wouldn’t save him, and it’d cost him his tongue. But even I could admit when something impressed me.
He’d brought out my darkness. Him and Ren. Their own faults. If anything, I held back. I could do worse, but I liked the fighting pit plan best.
Daire would have done worse. Made it last all night. Done unspeakable things beyond my comprehension.
“Count yourself lucky,” I said down to the human without context.
As Maeve and I left, the guards offered their condolences for Boyd.
They praised him, told us how much of a good man he was.
A loyal elf, one of great skill in battle.
We knew this. We didn’t need constant reminders of what we’d just lost. But I thanked them and didn’t speak again until we stood outside my bedroom door.
I hugged Maeve, and we sobbed in each other’s arms. The hurt blazed through me. I couldn’t take it. This was far worse than the loss of my siblings. Parts of my soul collapsed, leaving endless space. Never to be filled.
“He can’t be gone,” I whispered.
Maeve’s hands were a balm to my body, but not enough. Danu, I loved Boyd so much. And he was gone. One half of my heart had shattered into too many pieces.
“Stay with me tonight,” I said.
“Of course, Your Highness,” she said through her tears.
Dizziness… What… I groaned and untangled myself from Maeve.
“What is it?”
The dizziness blurred my vision, a pulse of muffled pain at my temples. It lasted a few seconds then passed.
“Your Highness?”
“It’s nothing.” The stress of loss is what it was.
We entered my room, Garret holding the door open for us. Avoiding anything but the bed, we climbed atop the sheets and cried some more in each other’s arms. The rain seemed poetic as it cascaded from the heavens like our tears.
Eventually, our sobs burned us out to sleep.
I charge through the corridors, a ball of toxic fury. Lost to my senses. Dripping in gore.
I come across a human servant. She screams and drops her tray of food. What time is it? Dark still. Supper time?
The servant backs off, confused and terrified. I roar at her. Nothing but a vessel of rage. I’m not of my body. I’m out for death and blood. Lots of blood. I want to taste it, let it pour down my throat, paint my body with it.
I charge the servant and pounce on her. I bite her throat out with savage abandon. Tasting her, clawing at her as I rip.
Done with her, I move on and make my way through the palace, roaring my bloody fury. Killing humans. Even elves. They are no match for me. They—
I started awake, shooting upright. Drenched in cold sweat. Another wave of dizziness followed, lasting only seconds.
“Goodness,” I breathe, glancing down to Maeve curled up beside me. Light snores, lost in a deep sleep. Decked out in her armor, still, like me.
The rain still fell but lighter. Cool air licked at my face. The only light came from the moon, a lunar beam bathing the bed. The rest of my room crawled with shadows. Were they slithering? Were those dark things living entities waiting to claim me? They moved. They drifted.
My skin prickled in goosebumps. I rubbed at my arms as an itch spread across me. A thousand insects.
I didn’t wake Maeve. She was sleeping so soundly I couldn’t do it. My side of the bed was closest to the door. Some of the moonlight painted the wood. I quickly slid off the bed and grabbed the handle. I paused, a shiver running up my spine.
Moving shadows, inching closer. Hands reaching out. Gnarled hands.
I spun, drawing my sword.
None of those things were there. Yet I felt watched.
I opened the door.
Garret immediately sprang to attention. “Your Highness? What is it?” He drew his sword.
“I…” I lowered my blade. The strange paranoia lessened. “I need you to inspect my chambers with me.”
“What’s wrong?” He stepped around me. Stood in a defensive stance to protect the body royal.
“I’m being silly,” I answered. “A nightmare woke me, and I can’t shake the feeling of dread.”
He moved back into the hall, keeping me close behind him. The elf grabbed a torch from the wall outside and surged forward into the room with his sword, ready to kill. Together we searched the shadows, the balcony, the bathroom. Finding nothing but normality.
I dropped my sword. It thudded on the carpet, and I swayed on my feet. More tears spilled down my face.
“Your Highness,” Garret said gently. “What do you need?”
“I need… I need him back.”
I watched him struggle at what to say to me next. “I wish there was something I could do to help. Why not have some tea? Would you like me to have some—”
I moved closer to him, placing my hand on his crotch. “I want you, Garret.”
We kissed, the heat of the torch close to my face.
“Please…” I whispered. “Please fuck me.”
He returned the torch to the hall, his sword to his sheath. We went into the bathroom, stripping quickly. He took me against the wall, holding my leg at an angle as he thrust into me. My hands were pressed up against the stone, fingertips digging into it. I kept as quiet as possible.
Grief held me painfully the entire time, but Garret being inside me helped lift some of the dark veil of the nightmare.