Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
“Minerva. Fancy seeing you here,” he grinds out, his distaste for me evident in the way his nostrils flare.
“Why are you here?”
He sneers at me. “I am a guest of your parents, of course. Commander Azerius informed them you would be coming home and they wanted me to be present.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
“As you can see, I am home. Now get lost.” I move past him, heading toward the throne room.
“Your parents are not at home currently.”
That makes me falter. I half turn.
“What are you talking about.”
He shrugs. “The Duke of Hirsham is having a banquet. They should be back shortly.”
I sigh in relief. I’ll have a little more time to get ready to face my mother’s wrath.
“Then I bid you good night. I shall retire to my room.”
“Not so fast,” he snaps, grabbing my arm. “I believe you and I have unfinished business.”
“Do. Not. Touch. Me,” I grit out. Energy rolls over me, enveloping me from head to toe as I blast him to the other end of the corridor.
His face betrays his surprise as he barely lands on his feet. Soon, his expression turns to one of pure anger as he glares at me, unleashing his own energy and sending a blast toward me.
I lean backward, dodging the attack.
Ah, but it feels good to have my powers back.
Rumors say Theron is a level eight, soon to take his level nine exam. Yet I don’t care that there are multiple levels of energy separating us. The mere fact that he dared to show up here, that he dared to put his slimy hand on me, awakens something primal inside of me.
Turning to face him fully, I manifest a sword in each hand. His eyes widen.
“Scared?” I tilt my head and smile at him.
“You fucking bitch,” he curses before he manifests his own sword and charges at me.
Hie energy is a muted red as it swirls in waves around him. A descendant of the House of Pyros, his main specialization is fire. Not ideal considering mine is ice. But it appears it’s finally time to put to the test which element is stronger.
Before he can reach me, I teleport behind him. His reaction time is a couple seconds delayed as he breathes harshly and sends a blast of fire toward me.
Jumping up, I evade the first blow, but he sends a second and a third in quick succession. Rotating in the air, I avoid all the blasts while moving closer to him. As my foot touches the floor when I’m a few paces away, ice forms on the surface of the ground beneath his feet.
His sword comes up to block my blows, infusing his blade with his fire energy, which melts through my icy blades. But as I give him a slight push, he slides backward, slipping. He startles when he notices the icy floor and I take advantage of this to kick his leg until he drops to his knees.
“My, my, Theron. Is this the great soldier I’ve heard about?” I laugh in his face.
His pride seems to take a steeper fall than his body. Red blotches appear on his face, going down his neck. His eyes blaze a deep red as he releases a loud cry and presses his hands to the floor, melting the ice.
He strikes at me with his sword and while I parry his blows, he uses his left hand to form a ball of fire that he launches at me.
I move to the side, but it’s too late to avoid it.
A ragged groan of pain escapes my lips as the fire burns through my dress and the skin of my stomach. I clutch onto the injured area, glaring at him with murderous rage.
“Pain looks good on you, Minerva.” He chuckles.
My nostrils flare, and with a loud cry, I launch myself at him, letting all my energy loose.
I strike and he parries. Aiming for his face, he brings his sword up to stop the attack, imbuing it with scorching heat in an attempt to melt my ice swords.
A smile curves at my lips.
Fire might melt ice, but he forgot about a certain trick my family is known for.
There is regular ice, and there is also unbreakable ice.
The heat does nothing to damage my blade, and with a strong push, I cut through the metal of his sword.
His eyes widen when the upper part of his sword clinks against the ground, but I don’t allow him any time to recover. Brandishing my sword against his cheek, I cut from his forehead to his neck. Blood oozes to the surface as a gaping hole appears on his face.
He lets out a whiny shriek before he catapults himself away from me. He raises his hand to his left cheek, feeling for the damage. More blood pools around his fingers, dripping down his arm. It’s a nasty sight.
The perfect Theron is not so perfect anymore.
“Blood looks even better on you, Theron,” I shoot back.
My injury is already healed.
Undoubtedly, he’s waiting for his own wound to do the same.
But as the seconds trickle by, the blood continues to ooze, showing no inclination to stop.
I put my swords away and regard him with overt satisfaction.
The seconds now turn to minutes. His flesh attempts to knit itself together but is unable to. Just as it heals a little, the wound breaks anew, more blood coming out.
“What did you do?” he demands in a rough voice laced with fear.
“I did something?” I ask with a shrug. “I don’t know. I just defended myself against an assailant.”
“Cut the crap, Minerva. Why is my wound not healing?”
My smile turns to pure contempt as my lips flatten into a tight line.
“Because I don’t want it to,” I tell him. “I’m rather enjoying the sight of you like this. Defeated and in pain.”
“You bitch! What did you do?” he demands louder.
“You didn’t know who you wanted to marry, Theron? An oversight on your part.” I laugh at him. “The royal House of Cryos has a technique called eternal ice, or cryos. Not only does it not melt like regular ice, but it can also infiltrate tissue and become a parasite attacking from within.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
I walk casually to his side.
“Ah, you didn’t do your homework, I see. Well, consider yourself enlightened now. This is what awaits you on our wedding night, except…” I let my eyes trail lower. “In other areas of your body.”
“You fucking bitch! How do I get rid of this?”
“Not my problem.” I shrug and continue walking past him and toward my quarters.
“Minerva!” he cries out. “Minerva!” His shouts echo through the hall.
I note the various servants hiding in corners, not daring to make a sound.
When I hear a very low, “Please.” I stop.
I’m not this heartless to leave him with a perpetual gaping wound in his cheek. Shaking my head at the pathetic figure he makes as he clutches onto his injury, I go back to him.
“Give me your hand,” I demand, grabbing the blood-stained hand clutching onto his cheek.
His eyes regard me warily. He’s scared. His body is trembling both from the pain and the fear he might be permanently disfigured. Alas, my kindness extends only so far.
Manifesting my blade again, I point it over his inner forearm. He tries to pull his arm away, but I hold it still.
With the tip of the blade, I carve a small rune into his arm meant to neutralize the parasitic remainders of the eternal ice.
The rune melts into his skin and disappears.
His wound finally stops bleeding, but as the flesh surrounding it starts to knit together, it does so in a mangled fashion.
The wound may be closed, but it is far from gone.
“Just because you said please.” I smile sweetly at him. “But next time you try to touch me again, I will not stop even if you beg. I am not someone you want to mess with, Theron.”
With that, I leave him behind. In a short while, he will find out that he’s been permanently scarred in ways in which deities rarely are. Still, I can’t find it in myself to feel sorry for him.
Nasty clown that he is.
Hear that, a level eight and he was bested by a mere level five.
A satisfied smile pulls at my lips.
I wonder if he’ll try to get out of the betrothal now that he knows what I am capable of.
Perhaps I should have done this before, scared him so badly he would have jilted me from the beginning.
“Their Majesties are waiting for you.” A servant knocks to let me know.
I take another look in the mirror to ensure my appearance is spotless—one less thing my mother can complain about. Noticing a stray strand in the back of my updo, I quickly pin it back.
The walk to my parents’ quarters is short, but with trepidation building inside of me, it feels far longer. A few maids walk behind me, and when we reach their apartments, they go ahead to announce me.
It’s surprising they would call on me in their quarters rather than the throne room, but this only tells me I should be more prepared for an attack. Their quarters are more private in case they need to tell off their daughter.
The doors close behind me and as I walk deeper into the anteroom, I notice my parents sitting on a sofa in the drawing room, their expressions solemn.
A deep breath and I announce my presence, “Hello, Mother, Father.”
My mother doesn’t turn to look at me.
“Minerva. Welcome back,” my father says as he gets up to give me a hug. “Please, take a seat.”
Mother glances at me from the corner of her eye and scoffs.
“Before you say anything,” I start. “I know you are not pleased that I disappeared without word. But I was not doing anything bad. I just wanted to participate in one last mission before giving up my career.”
Another scoff from my mother, this time with an added roll of her eyes.
“Please understand that I love my job. I love fighting demons. It’s part of my identity and I don’t understand why I have to give it up.”
“Because your husband does not want you to work,” my mother snaps.
“He is not my husband yet.”
“But he will be. And his family has made it clear that they want you to give up the military. No noble family would like an unladylike daughter-in-law.”
I bite back a retort because what I’d like to say would certainly be unladylike.
“Your mother is correct. Theron’s family has some expectations that you must meet.”
Before I can answer, my mother continues, “We heard about your altercation with Theron yesterday.”
Of course they would.
“Really, Minerva. We’ve raised you better than this. Where are your manners?” My mother gives me a sharp look. “We know you’re proud of your time in the military, but surely you have more sense than to try to attack someone who is far above your level.”
I raise a brow. She’s heard about the fight but has not heard about Theron being the losing party? Interesting.
“And how could you even think of attacking your fiancé? You must, of course, apologize to him.”
“You’re not even going to ask me why I attacked him in the first place?”
“Because you had something to prove,” she states confidently.
“No. It’s because he touched me when he should not have.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Minerva, no more excuses. Your behavior has been abysmal as of late. Do you even know what people are saying? They know you ran away and they’re now questioning not only your upbringing but also our security wards.”
“Yes, Mother, because everything has to be about you.”
“Minerva!” She gasps.
“ Mother ?” I tilt my head and glare at her.
“Now, now, there is no need to argue,” Father adds in a low voice.
“Of course there is,” my mother interjects. “Look at her! First, she disappears without a trace, then she initiates a fight with her betrothed? Savage behavior! No child of mine should behave like this.”
“Then are you sure I am your child, Mother? Perhaps I was switched at birth,” I add drily.
She wheezes. Her mouth drops open in shock and she stares at me.
“If I am such a disappointment to you, why don’t we just go ahead and cancel the engagement? I will return to the military and live on my own away from the family. That way I will no longer bring shame to our House.”
“Minerva! You’re being impertinent.”
I sigh. “Why do we even need a connection to the House of Pyros? Maledo is the heir and he will become king one day. Molokai is well on his way to become the next Cryos Supreme. Why do you need me?”
“No child of mine will be a failure!” she shrieks.
“How would I be a failure if I continue with my career?”
“Dear, I think failure is a bit harsh. Minerva has earned a commendation from Commander Azerius himself. That is quite a feat,” my father adds, sending a small smile my way.
That he would take my side is…surprising.
“You know I have never been a fan of females in the military. That is something better left to the males,” my mother grumbles.
“Regardless, Minerva achieved something worth of praise. Not only that, but she brought honor to our House. Everyone was talking about it at His Grace’s banquet last night.”
Mother huffs in disapproval.
“While I am proud of your deeds, you must also listen to your mother, Minerva. She is right that people will keep talking if you behave in an unladylike fashion, regardless of whether you’re good at your job or not.”
“Thank you, Papa,” I tell him sincerely. It might be the first time he’s said he was proud of me, and that in itself warms my heart.
My mother glares at me and opens her mouth to speak, but one look from my father and she swallows her words. Instead, she straightens her back and adds in a monotone voice, “We will be meeting Theron and his family in a week’s time. Make sure you will behave.”
“Of course, Mother. If that is all, may I go now?”
“You may,” Father says.
Taking advantage of his decree before my mother decides to find more fault to me, I scurry out of their quarters and head back to my room.
To my surprise, the meeting went far better than expected. Of course my mother’s words were scathing, but I am used to that. The fact that my father defended me, even in that quiet manner of his, was a pleasant surprise.
He said he was proud of me. Me! Not Molokai or Maledo. Me, Minerva!
I giggle to myself as I throw myself on the bed and burry my head in my pillow.
Finally, I have done something praise-worthy! It doesn’t even matter that Mother thinks I am unladylike and a disappointment.
Even more surprising, they did not lock me in my room, nor did they say anything about restricting my access to the outside. Perhaps, as long as I behave well, I might be able to delay this betrothal indefinitely and earn some more commendations while I’m out in Anthropa. Perhaps by then, my father will tell my mother that I don’t need to get married.
Ah… I smile to myself. Suddenly, life isn’t so bad.
If only Mine were here too…
I still, a thought suddenly crossing my mind.
My powers are back. I am not grounded. I should be able to sneak into Anthropa for a couple of hours and meet Mine, and then I’ll come back. No one has to know. At least I’ll be able to tell him face-to-face what happened and that I did not abandon him. It would break my heart if he assumed the worst.
I wait until everyone’s gone to sleep before I fashion a copy of myself from ice. It looks the same from a distance, and you would only realize it’s made of ice if you touched it.
Moving it to the bed, I slide the blanket over the body so it appears I’m sleeping. This copy should last for a full day before it starts melting, but I will be back by then.
Once more, instead of teleporting directly, I sneak out of the palace to evade the sensitive wards. After my first escape, my parents put even more in place as well as hired some additional guards to stand at every point of exit. What they don’t realize is that I know of a secret exit through the garden that is still a blind spot.
Outside the palace wards, I use my powers to locate the nearest portal and teleport myself there.
My heart is thudding in my chest with excitement. It’s only been a day, but I already miss Mine so much, I can’t wait to have his arms around me and his lips on mine.
Ahh! I redden from head to toe as I remember our bathroom interlude and the way he’d touched me. Perhaps we can do more of that. Or just more of anything as long as it involves his body against mine.
The portal is located a short distance from the palace inside a dense forest. There isn’t anyone around, so crossing to Anthropa shouldn’t be a problem.
The bluish tint of the portal shines bright as I approach it. I set the time and place in my mind and take a step forward.
“You are supposed to remain in Aperion until the end of Skya,” a voice calls out.
Eyes wide, I swivel. I didn’t sense any other energy signature around. But as the figure steps out of the shadows, I realize why. With his power, he can perfectly mask his energy signature.
“General Cerenios,” I mutter, half in annoyance and half in fear.
His amber eyes are trained in me, his expression blank.
“Where are you going, Minerva?”
“Erm…”
He takes a step closer. He’s dressed in his military uniform, a dark burgundy tunic fashioned with a brass plate on top of it that has his House insignia. His sword is sheathed at his side, the top of the handle encrusted with a large ruby.
“Were you following me?” I ask.
He shrugs.
“Did Commander Azerius put you up to it?”
Another shrug. I don’t believe any answer is forthcoming from him.
“I was just taking a stroll around the woods. It’s been a while since I’ve been here,” I lie.
“Is that so?” he asks casually as he plants himself in front of me.
I have to crane my neck back to look up at him due to our height differences. Yet the moment my eyes make contact with him, a sliver of fear goes down my back.
“I will be getting back now…” I add nervously and make to move past him.
With lightning speed, he blocks my way with the sheath of his sword.
“There is something about you,” he says, his eyes narrowed. “You haven’t been completely truthful, have you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about?—”
He leans toward me until his nose is inches away from my neck. I keep myself still.
“I smell a male on you.”
“Uhm… probably my betrothed? He was at the palace yesterday,” I stammer.
“No.” One word, full of conviction. “This scent…” he trails off, closing his eyes and breathing me in again. “There is a faint trace of ancient power that clings to it. Something I have never scented before.”
“I’m sure you’re mistaken. What other male could it have been?” I force a laugh. He doesn’t share my amusement.
Cerenios straightens his back.
“Go home, Minerva. Now.”
I don’t wait for him to change his mind and I immediately teleport myself near the palace gates before making my way back inside.
My pulse is through the roof, my breathing erratic as I collapse onto my bed.
I was wrong to think everything was fine. For Cerenios to be at the portal, it can only mean one thing.
Commander Azerius is suspicious of me.