Chapter Thirty-Nine Cloris Payne Aphelion A Few Months Ago
Cloris waited in Atlas’s study, once again a casualty of his inconsiderate timekeeping. She’d been summoned here in the middle of the night and dragged out with barely a chance to change out of her nightclothes. Three of those winged abominations—the king’s warders—had stormed into the Priestess of Payne, barged into her private chambers, and demanded she come with them.
She didn’t bother protesting. Resisting would be futile, and nothing would stop them from fulfilling the king’s wish.
Now she paced the length of his study, peering out the window and marching back to the middle of the room until she repeated the circuit. How long would he make her wait this time? Her glance skidded over the bookshelves to her left, when she came to a jarring stop.
Hidden in the shadows was a small glass case where an object sat nestled into a stand, propping it upright. She listened for the sounds of anyone approaching before she tiptoed towards the shelf, worried the slightest noise would cause it to dissolve into a puff of smoke.
Her fingers reached for the case, finding it locked. It couldn’t be what she thought. With another check at the door, she used a small flare of magic to get a better look.
The ball of light in her hand illuminated the figure of the woman carved into an almost rectangular-shaped object, the top part wider to accommodate her shoulders before tapering to her feet.
Her goddess.
Made of dark material infused with silver sparkles, it shimmered softly in the glare of Cloris’s light. Cradled in Zerra’s hand was a mirror—a direct copy of the Artefact sitting in the Sun Palace throne room.
Cloris blinked, unable to believe her eyes.
This was Aphelion’s ark. What was it doing here after all this time?
Many years ago, Zerra had sent Cloris and two of her sisters, Rosa and Adrienne, in search of the three remaining arks. Zerra held the rest in her possession but hadn’t been able to secure them all.
Rosa had been assigned to Alluvion. Adrienne to Aphelion. And Cloris was to find the ark of Heart. Adrienne had died a few years back—she didn’t understand why Zerra hadn’t saved her too—and she hadn’t heard from Rosa in years. But as far as Cloris knew, neither had ever succeeded. A fact that was confirmed as she looked upon Aphelion’s ark now.
Cloris didn’t understand what the goddess wanted with the arks, but it had never been her place to ask too many questions.
She’d set out on her quest, coming up against dead ends over and over. That was until she’d gotten wind of an heirloom named the Ark of the Coeur residing in the queen’s collection—the name slipped from the lips of a drunk noble during a soiree where she’d posed as a courtesan.
Though the name was a bit ridiculous, she was sure it had to be the object she sought. That after many lifetimes of hiding, the ark had resurfaced. She had spent years orchestrating a way to get close to the royal family when she happened upon Serce. Of course, none of that had worked the way she planned, setting everything back to zero, yet again.
Despite the fact Zerra no longer spoke to her, Cloris had never given up her quest, hoping that one day, she’d find her way back to her goddess’s side.
Voices drew her attention then, and Cloris jumped just as the door banged open. She snatched her hand away, dousing her magic, tucking it behind her back as if that would make her look any less guilty. She arranged her face into a mask of calm innocence, but she needn’t have bothered.
The Sun King was furious—his hair and eyes wild—and he saw nothing as he slammed the door behind him so hard it nearly shook the entire room off its foundations.
“The Mirror fucking rejected her,” he hissed, and Cloris froze before she swallowed down a nervous knot of tension. She had anticipated this. Why would the Mirror ever select the Heart Queen for its own?
“I see,” she said. “That is unfortunate.”
“Unfortunate?” Atlas spat, approaching her with his shoulders hunched. “Unfortunate?! I ended the last Trials for this. I had those girls killed because you told me to bond with Lor! And now the Mirror rejected her and chose someone else!”
Cloris rolled her neck and clasped her hands at her stomach.
“I cannot control what the Mirror chooses to do. It seems this isn’t her destiny.”
“Her destiny? What about my destiny?! You promised me—”
“Nothing has changed,” she said, raising her voice. “Once I have my hands on the object I seek, you can use it to reverse the Mirror’s decision.”
“You lied to me!” Atlas roared, taking another step towards her as he grabbed her throat and shoved her against the bookcase, the shelves digging painfully into her back. “What game are you playing, witch? Tell me the truth.”
Cloris opened her mouth as Atlas squeezed while a small pit of fear quivered in her stomach. “I wasn’t,” she choked out. “Please.”
She clawed at his arm, but in his fury, she was no match for him. He squeezed harder as he trembled with his teeth bared.
“Please,” she gasped. “I… swear… to… you…”
“I’m not listening to any more of your lies,” he hissed.
“No… just… please… this… isn’t.”
Atlas eased his grip just enough so Cloris could breathe. She inhaled a shallow breath.
“Talk,” Atlas said. “And if you try to fuck with me, I’ll crush your windpipe and never give you another thought.”
“You can still use her,” Cloris said. Her voice was raw, and she was sure bruises were already forming on her skin.
“How can I do that when the Mirror chose someone else?”
Slowly, she straightened up. “I told you what I need is powerful.”
He glared at her. “And?”
“And if you release the girl to me, I can find the object, and we can reverse what the Mirror has done.”
“You said she’d bond to me!” he said.
“Yes, but I can’t do that without what I seek. I thought I made that clear,” she said, trying to keep her patience. Was he really this dim? “You’ll also be able to finally do away with your brother, once and for all.”
Again, Cloris was lying, but she would say anything to convince Atlas to believe her. She’d deal with the fallout of these deceptions later. The Sun King wasn’t just dim, he was also gullible because she saw the way his eyes lit up at her words.
“For real?” he asked, and she almost felt bad for seeding this tender blossom of hope.
“You will be the king.”
It was a noncommittal answer that confirmed nothing either way, but he seized on it.
Atlas crowded her space, bringing his face so close to hers, she could feel the drops of spittle as he hissed, “If you do anything I deem suspicious, I will not hesitate to kill you. Is that understood?”
“Yes,” she said as she nodded, trying to hold back the tears of rage and frustration building in her eyes. All she wanted was to serve her goddess. Was that too much to ask? “Yes.”
Finally, he eased off, his lip curling in a snarl as he paced away, running a hand through his hair and muttering to himself.
Cloris could practically feel the ark’s presence behind her on the shelf and wondered if Atlas understood what he had in his possession. It sat amongst what appeared to be other objects of great value, safely locked in a case she suspected could be opened only with Imperial magic. But the ark wasn’t valuable; it was beyond value. The second most powerful object in this kingdom.
“Can I ask?” she ventured. “That’s a lovely piece you have there.” She gestured to the ark, testing Atlas’s face for any signs of recognition.
“Yes? And?”
“Where did it come from?”
He shrugged. “How should I know? It’s used to transform the warders.”
Atlas spun on his heel, still dragging his hand through his hair. She wondered if he’d meant to let that bit of information slip. He really was quite distraught.
“Oh,” she said. “Is that all? Does it have a name?”
Atlas gave her a look like she was a lunatic. “Why should it have a name?”
“No reason. I thought I saw one like it in the market the other day.”
His face deepened into an ever skeptical scowl.
“Why the fuck are we talking about this?”
Cloris smiled. Atlas was not the Primary nor the true king. He had no idea.
“You’re right,” she said. “About the girl. If you’ll release her into my care, we can proceed.”
“Where will you take her?”
“That is yet to be determined.”
“How can I trust you’ll return to do what you’ve promised?”
Cloris pressed a hand to her chest as though she were offended by the question.
“Your Majesty, I am a messenger of Zerra. I would never lie.”
Atlas narrowed his eyes. “You’ll take an escort of my guards with you. My captain will see that you’re watched.” He paused.
“And protected,” he added as an afterthought.
Cloris shuddered at being in the presence of those creatures, but she dipped her head. It made sense, and Atlas was actually doing her a favor. When Lor’s magic released, she might be hard to control. Cloris would need someone to contain her. Once she had her hands on the ark, she would simply disappear, leaving the girl with Atlas’s guards.
She’d also have to find a way to return and get her hands on Aphelion’s ark, but one problem at a time.
“Very well,” Cloris said, bowing at the waist, ever the obedient servant.
Atlas clenched his jaw. “Fine. But if I find out you’re lying to me again…”
“Understood,” Cloris said. “Just bring her to me.”
They turned their heads at a knock.
“Come in,” Atlas called.
The door swung open, and two of the king’s warders entered.
“Your Majesty,” one of them said. “The Final Tribute has escaped the palace.”