42 || Crooked and Wicked Truths
Within the moment of a heartbeat's echo, Ilyana raced to stand in front of her sister, finding the Fireborn Prince doing the same. They should have kept their voices down. She should have known Clove wouldn't stay away like she was ordered to.
"I knew there had to be a reason why you were sneaking around and why you were so happy all of a sudden. But it's because Morana The Cursed is alive?" the captain asked in disbelief.
"Clove," the princess warned. "I will not have any more death. By order of the crown, I demand you leave and remain outside. Like you were asked to the first time."
Viviana's head peered over Prince Damian's shoulder. "She knows we're here now which makes her a liability. I say we dispose of her. This forbidden section of the library is a quiet, secluded space. It's perfect for the job."
"Do you not hear her? She's an assassin — a necromancer. She can't be trusted."
"You killed me," her sister pointed out with a toneless laugh, placing her hands on her hips. "That's the only reason you're getting death threats."
"You tried to kill me by stabbing me with a bone."
"You stabbed me in the leg first!"
Each retort brought them closer and closer together.
Clenched fists, gritted jaws, weapons being readied and primed to kill.
They were beasts of both prey and predator sizing each other up and preparing to attack and defend themselves.
Ilyana could see the events unfolding before her eyes.
If she wasn't quick enough, someone would end up dead.
"You killed four of my friends and used one of them as a puppet to kill the others!"
A garland of bones formed around Viviana, each sharp shard pointed towards the captain. "Maybe if they hadn't been trying to capture and kill me, then they-"
"Enough!" The mention of injuries made her magic spike up in panic, a sensation that she hadn't felt in days. "Unlike some people, we're trying to break the Necromancer's Curse. We don't need you to ruin this too. Please, leave." Her hands shook as she created a feeble obstacle between them.
She couldn't do this. She couldn't watch the people she cared about — whether she wanted to love them or not — leave her life again.
It was obvious Clove was thinking through every strategy and plan in her mind. Her lip began to tear into a ripping snarl, but it stopped when another thought provided a counterbalance.
"Try and kill me again. I dare you," Viviana scoffed.
"Vivi, please. You're not going to kill Clove, and Clove isn't going to kill you." Her words didn't do much to quell the desire in her twin's fist.
"Would you like to stay and help us find information?" Prince Damian suggested, causing every head in the room to whip in his direction.
"Fire boy, that's the worst thing that has ever come out of your mouth."
"You said you wanted to help out Princess Ilyana before you knew we were here, right?" he continued. "And you could have the opportunity to do that again now, but it needs to be done civilly. Together as a team." His arm snaked around her sister's waist, pulling her close.
Ilyana liked the level-headed Fireborn. He strove for peace on both sides, even when it seemed impossible.
Clove crossed her arms, finally letting go of her sword. "And what about her? Can she hold back her tidal wave of violence?"
Viviana rolled her eyes. "She can. As long as she isn't being threatened."
"Then I'll stay to protect Ilyana. If I can help out with the Necromancer's Curse too, I will."
The princess sighed in relief. She didn't know if she trusted the captain completely to keep her word, but it was the best they were going to get.
"Right now, we're trying to gather information about the past twin queens, and this notebook could have something useful inside.
However, our father is the only one who can open it. "
"He has a meeting with Silas in his office when the ball starts and we want to listen in somehow. Think you can be useful with that?" Viviana jeered.
Clove stepped closer, sizing her sister up. "Actually, I think I can be."
For the remaining hours leading up to the ball, Ilyana housed the two most wanted people in Wyrith — for completely separate reasons — in her rooms. She used the preparation of the ball as an excuse to stay holed up inside, though, that didn't stop servants from knocking on her door to ask her if she needed assistance.
Once the threat of being discovered had died down with Clove standing guard outside to deter anyone away, the princess found she was at ease. All she had ever wanted was her twin back, and now she was in her room ogling every jewel and gold chain that resided on her dressing table.
She couldn't remember what it was like to have a sister, to just have someone to talk to. Growing up without anyone by her side was a fissure of loneliness that only grew bigger with each passing day, but now Viviana was back. Even if she wasn't quite the same as she remembered.
Ilyana couldn't find it in her heart to blame her for everything that had happened.
As soon as they were safe in her rooms, she had pressed her twin for information about her life — where she had been all this time — and she had given it in great detail.
The horrors of landing in Silas's care. To be subjected to a grim amalgamation of murder, thievery, and torture.
The criminals of the Lost Abyss who posed a threat to her every waking moment.
No soul could be untainted after that.
Viviana poked her head out of the dressing room, holding up one of her many dresses against her torso. The skirts swashed against her legs in a blur of pearlescent blue. "What occasions did you wear this one for?" Her eyes gleamed as her hand discovered a hidden pocket.
The princess chuckled, making sure she wasn't too loud in case she disturbed the Fireborn who dozed in one of her reading chairs. "That was for my eighteenth birthday. It was made by a famed tailor in one of the Fae kingdoms in the south."
Her sister hummed. "I remember watching that ball from afar. There were so many people that it looked nearly impossible to move around."
"You were there?"
"For a short while outside the castle." She shrugged. "I was in the area for a job Silas wanted doing, so I spied on what was going on out of interest."
Even when she hadn't known it, her sister had always been there watching her.
"Why didn't you come back? Yes, Silas had you stuck in the Lost Abyss, but we could have helped you.
The army and guards we have here are much more powerful than you realise.
" Viviana only raised a brow to question the validity of that statement.
"We could have protected you. Did you not want to see me again? "
Returning the dress to its rack, she sat beside Ilyana where she was perched on her bed.
"Of course I did, Illy. You're my sister.
My twin. Not seeing you felt like I was missing part of myself and my magic, but there's more to it than that.
" Her nails scraped at the loose skin on her fingers.
"There was a lot that happened that night. "
"Tell me. Please." The princess grabbed her sister's hands to stop them from causing any more harm, before blood would well and forge streams of crimson over her skin. "You said there wasn't an assassin, but I don't know how else both of you could have died."
The thought had toyed with her sanity ever since she had heard those words. What else could have happened if her family hadn't been assassinated? There was no other way they could have died in such a horrific way.
"Nobody broke into the castle that night. There was no assassin, but there was still a murderer — two of them, to be exact." Ilyana gave her a reassuring squeeze, urging her to continue.
She was about to find out what really happened when her life was thrown into disarray.
"I killed Mother." Viviana choked on he tears, the violet gemstone on her necklace rearing to life. Yet, she continued. "It was an accident, I didn't mean to hurt her, but there was this thing that appeared and scared me and -"
The princess's hands dropped, her palms slick with cold sweat. She had no words. Nothing would rise to the surface of her tongue to respond.
Her own sister had killed their mother.
"My necklace. It broke off its chain and killed her." A hand covered her mouth and she brought her knees up to her chest. She knew the confession she had made was one of crooked and wicked truths.
"What about you? How did you die?"
Viviana's whole body began to shake. "Mortas, he found me — us — not long after I killed her.
He returned the favour and stuck a dagger in my heart in anger and grief.
" She pushed her tears back into her eyes with her palms. "I think he was trying to break the curse that night by taking my life, but he failed. "
Bile rose in Ilyana's throat — thick, burning, and bitter. "No. No, he would never do such a thing."
Could she really believe it? It explained his behaviour. The outbursts of anger whenever she was brought up and the quick cover-ups when Viviana was involved in their plans. But he was still their father. Who could kill their own child?
"That's why I didn't come back. I couldn't face him in fear that he would kill me again.
He's been trying to do it all these years, I'm sure of it.
" Her twin removed her hands from her face, revealing blotches of red underneath.
"I have a feeling he's known how I am the whole time he's been sending soldiers after me. "
"I can't do this." They won't hide and listen in on Silas and their father's meeting anymore. No, she was going to confront him once and for all. She asked for no more secrets between them, but there were already too many stacked against her that made the wall of lies impenetrable.
Ilyana stormed out of the room, her sister and Prince Damian scrambling to follow behind her. Viviana tugged her hood and mask over her features in case anyone was outside.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Clove attempted to grab her shoulder, but the princess shrugged out of her hold. Her mind was already set.
"To find out what Father has really been hiding," she declared.
"We need to listen to his conversation with Silas. You'll ruin the one plan we have." Her sister moved in front of her with quick steps to block her path.
"But he killed you. This whole time, I was cursing an assassin for breaking in, for somehow getting through our security, to murder you. He was, too. Yet it was him the whole time." Ilyana couldn't breathe, her vision waning in shades of ruby.
"We can still confront him, but we need that potential information for the curse," Viviana pointed out. "Please, Illy. I know you're angry, so am I, but we can't waste this."
The princess took a deep breath, followed by several more. "Your plan," she turned to the captain. "Will it work?"
"If the passage is open, then it will," she confirmed. Her glance darted between the twins, confused as to what was going on.
"Good. Then we're heading there now."
Outside of King Mortas's office, the beginning thrum of the ball reverberated beneath their feet as guests started to enter the ballroom. However, Clove led them past the door and to a tapestry hung further down the hall.
The First King was embroidered in soft ash and muted beige, depicting how he freed the island from the necromancers that plagued it. It had been there for as long as Ilyana could remember, and she didn't doubt it had rested there for many years before that, too.
Clove glanced down each direction, making sure nobody else was nearby, before ducking underneath the heavy fabric.
A faint click sounded and bricks in the wall pushed back to unveil a tight tunnel, so small that a person wouldn't be able to fully stand.
Cobwebs and coy shadows invited them inside, yet a faint light fought through at the end.
"This tunnel works as a secret exit if King Mortas is ever trapped inside, but it's also great for hiding guards in case backup is needed for the meeting being held.
Or, in the case, people wanting to listen in," she explained, brushing a strand of garnet hair out of her face.
"The other end is behind a painting in his office, so you should be able to listen in. "
Viviana took a step closer, biting her lip as she thought. "It's not going to fit all of us, maybe two people at most."
"You two go," Damian insisted. "I know how much it means to both of you and I can make myself scarce in the meantime."
Her twin reached out to the prince with a troubled expression.
"I don't think I'll be able to fit with you either, not with all this armour." Clove grimaced at her uniform.
"That's okay. We've got this, haven't we, Vivi?"
Her throat bobbed. "We've got this."
"Please be careful. I know you'll be hidden, but it will be dangerous if you want to confront him. Silas Axelas will be here and I don't trust that man in the slightest." The captain frowned.
Prince Damian pulled Viviana in tight and placed his lips on her forehead. "You too, bone girl. I'll find you when you're done here."
If it were any other situation, Ilyana would have stopped to hound the Fireborn about his intentions with her sister and question them about their love life. But there were much bigger things at stake.
Clove's fingers inched towards the princess, but she stopped herself. "I'll close the passage once both of you are inside. It can be opened from the other side too, just in case you get out, but it might cause suspicion if it's left open. I'll be close by if anything happens."
With one last squeeze of Damian's hand, Viviana headed into the passage, crouching her way to the end.
Ilyana picked up her skirts and wished she hadn't worn something so difficult to traverse in. "Thank you, Clove." She climbed inside too, her sister helping her get in. After one last longing look from the captain, the bricks swung shut.
The faux painting let in light from their father's office, otherwise, they would have been in complete darkness. When Ilyana put her face close enough to the material, she could make out the basic shapes of what was in the room.
"I'm so sorry that happened to you, Vivi. I still can't believe it."
Both necklaces began to flow with a faint, anticipating light. "He isn't the glorious king that everyone makes him out to be." Was her only response.
They waited with hearts thumping with disquiet, mingled and panicked breaths the only other sound around them.
It was a long while before the office door opened and two men walked inside.
Ilyana and her sister pressed their faces up to the back of the painting so they could glimpse at what was happening.
King Mortas took his seat first, remaining straight-backed and poised as he watched his enemy.
He had donned formal, royal regalia with Wyrith's sun emblem blazoned on each garment.
Underneath the thick, ivory fur of his cloak and the crown nested in his greying hair, it was obvious to the princess that he was nervous.
Silas sat down next, leaning his golden cane against the desk with chilling arrogance.
Despite the fading, bruised purple that had fragmented across his face, he was still every part unnerving and cunning.
From his movements where each step was calculated, to the clothing he wore which couldn't be bought in the Lost Abyss.
Ilyana had only heard of his crimes and misdeeds before, but never had she seen him up close. His blonde hair with streaks of silver and the hazel eyes that observed the office with fascination reminded her of her father. Together, they almost looked similar.
"It's been a long time, brother."