Chapter 11 A Mother’s Betrayal
Chapter Eleven
A Mother’s Betrayal
Ellis
Ellis could feel his rage like a living beast inside of him.
How could he do this to Rivka? How could he do this to me? I never imagined him capable of this!
Ellis stormed down the corridors, heading to Tristan’s private chambers.
He knew where it was. He had been there before on a few separate occasions when they were young.
He would pay dearly for this foul transgression.
The gilded sconces lining the corridors taunted him with their gaudy embedded rhinestones.
Only the Rune Province felt the need to flash their wealth in such a flagrant way, much as the royalty did with their ostentatious habits.
But even with that, Ellis had truly believed Tristan was a better person than this.
Turning down the last corridor, Ellis slowed his pace and took a settling breath.
It would do no good to wind up in the dungeon before punching that sorry prick in the face.
Just ahead, Tristan’s door came into view.
It was slightly ajar, agitated voices trickling out.
Putting his back to the wall, Ellis crept the rest of the way on silent feet, stopping just outside.
“Why would you do this?”, Tristan demanded, his voice brimming with anger.
“Whatever do you mean, Tristan, my boy? I didn’t do anything.”, a female voice sang.
Ellis’ spine stiffened. Queen Vivian. Of course. Ellis forced himself to control his breathing and pressed his body flush to the wall, just in case one of them looked in his direction.
“Don’t paint me the fool, mother. I know this was you. It has your chosen flavor of manipulation written all over it!” Tristan exclaimed, hands clenched at his sides.
“My my, how can a son use such hurtful words against his own mother?” The sarcasm dripped from Vivian’s lips in mock concern.
Tristan stared at his mother, seemingly not believing that she was innocent. Ellis had known for a long time what atrocities Vivian was capable of, so Tristan really shouldn’t be surprised by whatever she’d done this time. “Shut it, mother. You have taken this too far!”
“Because you refused to take it far enough!” Vivian threw back at him, losing her composure.
“What did you do, Mother?” Tristan’s teeth gritted together.
“I did what I had to do to save Diathan from becoming too soft. I will not apologize.”
“What. Did. You. Do?” The words were punctuated with his steaming wrath.
“A child of our provinces can only benefit the realm as a whole. Once the child is conceived, we will announce that you are the father. This will cause our esteemed Ellis to be removed as king consort and allow you to take your rightful place at Queen Rivka’s side, thus uniting our two provinces as one. ”
“Tell me what you did! How did this even happen?” His anger slipped as he spoke. The anguish clear on his features for just a moment.
“The details on the how are not relevant, only the who.”
“And if a child comes of this and it is a boy? What then Mother?”
“Then you simply keep trying.”
“I will not.” Tristan’s declaration was steadfast. “I will not be a part of this violation.”
“You will, or I will simply force you again. And if that doesn’t work, I will place one of your brothers in your stead.”
“Wait…” Tristan started, only to be silenced when Vivian held up her hand.
“You will do as you are told, my dear boy, or you will be of no use to me or this realm anymore. I will not entertain the whims of your morals. I have grown tired of this conversation.” She looked him over, scrunching her nose in disgust. “I expect you to be in the throne room within the hour, this nonsense put behind us. And for the love of the Gods, wear something worthy of our province.”
Ellis, realizing that Vivian would be heading his way, turned and sprinted to the nearest alcove, quickly ducking behind the curtains, out of sight. The fabric settled just as Vivian and her guard walked by.
Luther must have been just inside the door. I’m surprised the old toad was able to hold his tongue the entire time.
As they passed, Luther spoke softly, “Do you think that he will become an issue, my Queen?”
“No, I believe he will do as he is told, as he always does. But you, my dear Luther, will have to pay for botching that memory spell. If he clearly remembers everything, then so does Rivka. This is unacceptable.” Her voice faded away as they continued down the corridor.
A spell? They used magic?! I can’t have heard them correctly, but what else could it have been? It fits. But how?
Pulling the curtain aside, Ellis peered out, making sure everything was clear. He still needed to deal with the princeling. The madness in his veins returned with a vengeance. Rivka was in pain, had been assaulted, devastated.
Charging across the hall, he slammed his palm into the door, causing it to burst open with a bang against the wall. Tristan stood in the middle of the room, a look of surprise and defeat etched into his features.
Ellis flew across the room, grabbing him by his lapels, shoving him roughly against the wall. His forearm compressed Tristan’s airway. “How dare you touch her!” he growled, “How dare you use her that way!? I figured even rakes had morals.”
Tristan said nothing; he just stood there with his eyes squeezed shut. “Look at me, damn it!” Ellis bellowed, shaking him roughly. Still, Tristan said nothing. He didn’t even push back against the hold.
Having had enough, Ellis pulled back his arm and punched Tristan right in his jaw, his head cracking back against the stone.
Tristan let out a groan. “I’m sorry El. I truly am. I never meant to hurt anyone. I didn’t want this, nor did I ask for it. I don’t know exactly how it happened. It just happened.”
Ellis scoffed. “Pretty sure you know how it happened.”
The light he usually saw in Tristan’s eyes was gone. Ellis didn’t want to admit it, but the man looked like he was in immense pain and not just physically.
“What happened Tristan? Talk. Now.”
“I don’t even know. I woke up this morning, and the last thing I remembered was Luther and his damned drink.
At first, I thought maybe I’d overindulged since my head was pounding and I felt sick to my stomach.
But then, the memories, they started to come back to me, and I …
I don’t know how to explain it, but it wasn’t a choice.
I didn’t choose those actions. I swear it. ”
Ellis stared, not sure if he should believe him or not. But his words mirrored Rivka’s from this morning.
“You had nothing to do with the spell then?”
Fear flashed across Tristan’s eyes. “What spell? Magic isn’t real.”
“The one I just overheard your mother and her guard dog discussing as they left your room. If they are to be believed, then magic is real.” Narrowing his eyes, Ellis studied Tristan’s face closely. Understanding slowly came over him. “You really didn’t know, did you?”
Shaking his head, “No.” Tristan took a step forward. “I swear I had no knowledge of any of this El.”
Ellis hadn’t seen such an honest and vulnerable look on Tristan since they were teenagers.
What a mess this was. If Tristan had no knowledge of his mother using magic, then they would need to find out more.
How was such a thing possible? One thing was certain: he needed to find Alex and get them home before Queen Vivian could sink her claws any further into Rivka.
“How is she? I didn’t…”, he trailed off, running his hand down his face. “Is she hurt?”
Ellis didn’t know how to answer that. He hadn’t even waited to give Rivka a chance to fully explain what had happened, let alone ask how she truly was. Damn it. How could I have just left her like that?
“I honestly don’t know. She looked physically ok when I left to hunt you down, but emotionally, no, I doubt that she’s ok.” Ellis said, disgust lacing his tone. “Did you expect her to be hurt? You took advantage of her, defiled her in the worst way, and then have the nerve to ask if she’s ok?”
“Gods! Don’t you think I know that? You have every right to be angry with me, but I didn’t choose my actions. I did not set out to hurt anyone, let alone your queen. I wasn’t exactly a willing volunteer.” Tristan snapped, his anger finally surfacing.
Ellis sneered. “You may not have been a willing participant in this but we both know that you are little more than your mother’s puppet.” Tristan’s nostrils flared and Ellis knew he’d hit a nerve, but he wasn’t wrong and didn’t regret the statement.
Tristan drew in a deep breath, and Ellis braced himself for the argument, but it never came. Tristan simply slumped onto his chaise lounge and threaded his hands together on his knees. “There is so much you don’t know, so much that you cannot know. This. This is beyond my capacity to withstand.”
Ellis wasn’t totally sure he understood any of what Tristan was saying but he approached him slowly and waited, feeling like there was more to be said.
“How do I make this right? What can I do?” The sheer vulnerability in his tone shocked Ellis. He didn’t trust him, not truly, but something in his words made him consider offering Tristan a chance, a chance to make the right choice for once in his damned life.
“The best thing you can do is stay away from her,” Ellis said, “and keep the rest of your family away from us as well.”
“Alright. That is fair. I will do everything I can within my means,” he paused “and if anything should come from this…” He trailed off, his implication clear. “My mother cannot know. I will not let her use me in that way.”
“Then it is best that you do not know either. She has already proven that she can get to you too easily.”
A crease appeared in Tristan’s brow as the weight of what Ellis was saying sank in.
Ellis watched as he waged an internal war.
He could see just how conflicted Tristan truly was.
There was no other option. Ellis wouldn’t back down if Tristan tried to argue with him.
He let him take the time to sort through his thoughts, hoping that he would see that this was the only way that it would work.
The only way he could make it right. After a few minutes, Tristan sighed before throwing his shoulders back, visibly pulling himself together.
“Agreed,” he said, holding his hand out.
Ellis studied Tristan’s face, looking for any show of deceit, but when he found none, he nodded and placed his hand in his, shaking it once.
He may have just made a deal with the devil himself, but at least Rivka would be safe, and that was all that mattered.