Chapter 15 You Can Always Count On a True Friend. #3
“I’ve slept with him, so have half the eligible women of the kingdom,” I admitted.
“You’ve slept with Vladimir of Obscurum, wife to my cousin Amelia?” she asked, deathly calm.
“Yes, that’s correct,” I answered and winced. “Selene, please forgive me. It was before we met and were friends, and it’s not like it was an affair or anything, it was a one-night thing, and a very disappointing night at that, the man does not know how to work what he’s got —”
Selene held her hand up.
“It is not I that you may need to ask forgiveness from or immunity,” she told me, and paused before continuing, “Half the eligible women of the kingdom?” she asked with surprise.
“Maybe more, he’s the definition of a man-whore,” I replied, easing up as I sensed that Selene didn’t seem too upset.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
I nodded, “It’s difficult to forget such a letdown.”
“How have I never heard of this? How does Amelia not know?” she questioned.
“I think you’re focusing too much on the infidelity and not enough on his ambitions,” I said.
Selene looked thoughtful for a moment.
“He told you this, openly?” she asked.
“Yes, I mean it was more suggestion, but pretty much openly, not in exact words as such, but he said the hands of power were changing,” I explained.
Selene was silent for a moment before she released a small, irritated chuckle.
“My father is up to something,” she stated.
“I don’t know how you came to that conclusion,” I admitted, “I’m going to need some context.”
“Vladimir had a meeting with Father earlier today. Before this meeting, Father told me there is a potential coup on the horizon. I believed him unquestioningly, but his choice to involve Vlad was a poor one. He must know of his indiscretions. But why would he want me to suspect Obscurum of betrayal? Does it have anything to do with Amelia? What does any of it have to do with Percy?” she said, becoming quieter with each question, and it felt like she was talking to herself and not me.
“Selene, you’re not making much sense, and I’m sorry to say it, but you don’t look well either,” I told her.
She turned to me and smiled sadly.
“I thought I was recovering well from the venom poisoning, but perhaps I am not. I admit I have been feeling more drained as the day has progressed. I fear it may have something to do with Percy; perhaps she is suffering. I have no way of knowing. The bond has become silent. It has been silent since I awoke. Before we left for Ardens, the bond was breaking through my enchantments with worrying regularity. I hated it. It felt like an invasion of myself. Yet now that it is quiet again, I cannot stand it. What does it mean? This silence? This bone-deep weariness that I suffer?” she asked.
I approached her and held my arms out in the offer of an embrace. I didn’t expect Selene to accept the offer, but to my surprise, she stepped forward and allowed me to hold her.
“Selene, you are my first true friend,” I told her and kissed the side of her head where it lay heavily against my shoulder, “I hate to see you like this, your pain is so evident. But if I know anything, it is this: Percy is a fighter. She is fierce. She doesn’t know what giving up means.
She saved you from Hades’ Delight, escaped Vouna, and she has a novel ability the likes of which only inter-coven magic could ever hope to match.
She is unstoppable. You may not feel her now, but I don’t doubt that our little flower witch is staying strong and doing everything she can to return her grumpy vampire. ”
Selene laughed against my shoulder, and I realised that she was crying.
“Thank you,” she whispered after a moment and pulled away from me. “I needed to hear that.”
“You can’t forget that you are not alone, Selene. You have me,” I declared.
“I feel the same,” she told me. “You’re my first true friend,” she explained further when I looked at her curiously as to what she meant.
“Oh, Selene, this is wonderful!” I cheered. “Should we get matching friendship accessories?” I asked excitedly.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” she laughed.
“I will pick something out for us,” I told her, and she laughed again but did not dissuade me, which I took as her agreement.
“Why is Father doing this?” she questioned as she walked over to her vanity and sat down.
“What do you think he is doing exactly?” I questioned, still trying to catch up.
“Before learning of Vlad’s cheating, I would not have thought him capable of manipulation, certainly not of agreeing to try and manipulate me.
Obscurum are known for their military strength, not their political weight and savvy.
Still, even Vlad, as evidently idiotic as he is, would not be foolish enough to approach one of my known associates and spill something so incriminating.
He wanted you to tell me, and my father wants me to believe that Obscurum is a threat.
But it simply doesn’t make any sense. Vlad had to know that in choosing you, I would learn of his infidelity, so my father couldn’t be blackmailing him with that, because he had to understand that if I found out, Amelia would eventually too.
I wouldn’t allow her to keep being humiliated in such a way.
None of it is making sense. Did he, my father, simply choose the wrong pawn?
Did Vlad recognise his behaviour would come to light no matter what he did and decided to go about my father’s orders in such a way as to thwart them?
” Selene rambled in a way she had not done before. Selene was concise, rarely confused.
“It’s all giving me a bit of a headache,” I told her. “What if it is not some ploy by your father? What if it's something else entirely? What if Vlad is just an idiot? It’s getting late. I think what you need is a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow everything will make more sense.”
Selene sighed heavily.
“I need to arrange a call with Arvid. If he’s got Percy or knows where she is, then he wants something. And if he’s helping or working with The New Foundation, it’s to get something he needs. Arvid is self-serving, manipulative and opportunistic,” she said as she stood from the vanity.
“Perhaps that can wait until tomorrow?” I suggested, noticing how slowly Selene moved.
“I cannot waste time. Percy may not have that luxury,” she snapped.
“At least promise me you will go to bed soon and sleep,” I practically begged.
She waved her hand dismissively at me.
“I am serious, Selene. I’ve never seen you look like this,” I told her.
She turned to me and nodded once, “Yes, I will arrange a call with Arvid for as soon as he agrees, and then I will sleep.”
“Thank you,” I said, relieved as I walked to her. “I hope I do not find myself too busy with my spying responsibilities or Grandmother’s chores to spend time helping you find and bring Percy home.”
“If you hear anything pertinent during your snooping, please inform me,” she instructed with a smile.
“You’ll be the first to know of anything juicy. If you don’t mind, I need to inform my grandmother of my encounter with Vlad,” I told her.
Selene laughed as she opened her bedroom door for me.
“I enjoyed your visit. I’ve missed you,” she said in farewell.