Marian #2
“Me.” Even as Drayton confessed and righted the sofa, he stepped closer to where I stood. “Marian and I are working through the past. She was safe. This wasn’t because of her… it was for her.”
Elec seemed to weigh his answer. “Alright. Well, I need to ask you a few questions, Marian.”
My arms went back to cross over my chest. “Ask away.”
He nodded, pausing to look between us and the room again. “When you were younger, did your mother take you in for testing?”
“Testing?”
His brow furrowed. “Yes. Psychological testing.”
I laughed, groaning. “Here we are again. I knew we’d get to this point sooner rather than later. Ego and all.” I sighed. “Yes. But I think you know that. I was a fucking science experiment until I entered grade school. Let’s get to the point.”
He shifted with his anger. I could see his dislike of me.
The hate he harbored was never far. He was good at hiding it, but he couldn’t entirely.
It was always seeping through, always making itself known with expressions or gestures.
“The day you got here, you went through evaluations. You were given pills. The next day you were given more.”
My hand lifted. “You were expecting a specific result. …You didn’t get it.” I narrowed my eyes. “If you’re testing me like I think you are, I told you nothing can be done. Nothing. I can momentarily forget, I can be swayed, but I always come back. So do the memories. So does my control.”
“Elec, I don’t like the sound of this. What the hell is going on?”
Elec’s hand lifted, and he pointed. Without pause, Drayton headed to the sofa and sat down, but his glare didn’t leave. It had me smiling.
“Impressive. You just point and he sits. Now, try that on me.”
“What you’re implying is wrong. It can be done. There are stronger, more invasive procedures that will work. I’m trying to avoid that.”
“Avoid turning me into a vegetable? Yes, let’s please steer clear from that. I’m much more beneficial alive and functioning. Cut to the chase. I don’t have the patience for this shit, nor do I do well with shallow conversations. You have an agenda for me. What is it?”
“It’s not an agenda. You make it sound like I have a job for you. I don’t.”
“Sure you do. Everyone wants something. Ask The Council. Ask The Unavowed. Ask my mother. Oh, right, you can’t. You killed her.”
Elec’s cheek tugged back.
“I obviously picked a bad time to talk to you. You’re angry.”
“Far beyond that. There is no right time for this conversation.”
“There is, just not when you’re so upset. What is bothering you, Marian? You can talk about it with me. We may have our differences, but I am here to help you. Is it the rapes?”
Fire branched over my face, creeping down my neck.
“The rapes only opened my eyes. They woke me up to motives. Everyone has one. Everyone. What’s yours, Elec? Where do I fit into your puzzle? You made sure I was given to Drayton. You threw a fit when you thought I was staying in London. There are reasons for that. What are they?”
He mirrored me, crossing his arms over his chest, but he seemed to relax a little.
“My motives are ruined. The Unavowed stole them.”
“Ah” My head nodded, but it was Drayton who sat forward, speaking.
“He was right. You wanted our heir for your own. He says you need to worry about a wife first. Then, you can worry more about your line.”
“The Unavowed can keep his mouth shut.”
I laughed. “He has a point. Instead of forcing people into marriages, perhaps you should focus on finding a chosen.”
“I need no chosen.”
“Wrong. You need an heir.”
“I don’t need a chosen for that.”
My head shook. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Sure it does.”
“You mean to use a surrogate? You wouldn’t dare.”
“No?”
“Elec, you can’t use a surrogate. We have traditions.
We have laws.” I took two steps towards him, the anger laced in my every movement.
“If I must marry, so do you. You know I didn’t want to be forced into marriage.
How do you think it feels to be married to a man you know holds hate for you?
Drayton and I needed closure. I deserved a fucking choice. I love him, but it wasn’t fair.”
“Life isn’t fair, Marian.”
“Bullshit! I’m so sick of you men having the upper hand. I won’t bend on this. I am a founding member just like you. I will petition the ever-living shit out of your request. I will make your life hell if you condemn me to this life and manage to avoid it for your own.”
“They will dismiss your petition.”
My head tilted as my mind swam with knowledge.
“They will dismiss the petition from the most powerful name in our circle?” Elec’s arms uncrossed as he stood straighter.
“Let’s not pretend Drayton just didn’t surpass Bram Whitlock.
My child will marry into royalty. My child.
We are the shadows above kings.” I stepped closer.
“The Unavowed will see the crown in his lifetime, and Drayton and I are going to do everything we can to make it possible. Think about that real hard before you think to start a war with me over tradition. You’re either with us, or you’re against us. ”
“She’s right.” Drayton stood, pinning Elec with a glare. “You will marry and conceive just like the rest of us. It’s our law.”
Elec’s eyes narrowed, but I continued before he could speak.
“You will find a chosen and suffer like the rest of us. Being Main Master doesn’t put you above me, Drayton, and it sure as hell doesn’t put you above Bram Whitlock. But…” I softened my tone, trying to calm myself. Trying to calm him. “Maybe if you stick with us, I could make it close.”