Chapter 24
The next morning, I woke up refreshed and rejuvenated. Truth be told, I was a little relieved Otar had not found me and killed me in my sleep. I guess what he told me about our lives being linked was true. If I died, so would he. I checked my wrist, making sure the imprint was still there. I traced my finger around the black design. Gaelin was still sound asleep. I leaned over and kissed him on the head. “Your suffering ends today,” I whispered softly.
I got out of bed and dressed, making sure to choose a dress that hid my favorite new adornment. I strapped the apophyllite dagger to my thigh, just in case. I went to the main hall and gathered breakfast for Gaelin, bringing it back just as he was waking. I sat the tray on the bed with a smile on my face. He looked at me apprehensively; I hadn’t brought him breakfast in bed since before the battle with Otar had started.
“Are you okay?” he asked wearily.
“Just trying to get back to a sense of normalcy,” I responded.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to. Find the smallest moments of happiness. That’s what I tell myself. Seeing you happy makes me happy.”
He smiled at me, picking up his fork and digging in. I didn’t know how he and I would change after tonight, but anything was better than our current situation.
I watched him dress in his uniform. He kept turning to me as if surprised I was still in the room. I smiled at him each time and he laughed uncomfortably, no doubt uncertain of my behavior. Once he was finished, I pricked my finger with a pin from my hair and made my way over to him. I kissed him softly on the lips, pulling back with a smile on my face.
“To start your day off on the right footing,” I said softly.
“Waking up to you each day does that for me,” he said, wrapping his arms around my waist. He pulled me into his body, moving his head down slowly to take another kiss. I used the opportunity to press my bleeding thumb in the back of his collar, hiding the crimson stain in the thick folds of the fabric. Then I moved to the back of his hairline, pressing my bloodied thumbprint there as well.
I left Gaelin’s room in search of Levos. He was in the kitchen with Madison as she prepared lunch for the alfar.
“Well don’t you look chipper this morning,” he said, looking me up and down. “I haven’t seen you this bouncy in months.”
“I’m trying to look on the positive side of things. Look to the future, not dwelling on the present,” I said.
“That’s the spirit,” said Madison, moving the raw dough to the oven.
“Can I steal him away for a bit?” I asked Madison.
“Please do. I can’t get any work done around here with him hovering over me.”
Levos rolled his eyes, plopping down from the counter, pulling Madison in for a kiss. “Soon, you won’t have a choice but to endure my hovering, mistress,” he said playfully.
She laughed, hitting him in the chest. “Get out of here,” she said.
It was still odd to me that the title of ‘mistress' could hold any type of sentimental meaning for a woman, but I guess in her situation, it would mean she would be able to be with the male she loved. Levos followed me out of the kitchen and into the city.
“Why are you so happy?” he asked, not taking his eyes off me.
“I just have a feeling we are all about to get everything we want a lot sooner,” I replied.
He laughed, stopping in front of me. “What have you done, sweet Genevieve? Does it have something to do with that dagger I had made for you?”
I shook my head. “How is a dagger going to get us everything we want?” I asked, stepping in front of him.
“Did you have another vision?”
I shrugged. “Maybe…”
“Oh, come on. Do tell. Don’t leave me in the dark here.”
“I can’t. I don’t want to jinx it. If it is true, you will know soon enough.”
“I hate secrets.”
“Yeah well, I am full of them, so get used to it.”
“You aren’t lying there,” he laughed, pulling in front of me again. His face was softer, more focused. “Just tell me you aren’t in danger.”
“No, Levos, I am not,” I said, unsure if I had just lied to him.
He smiled. “Okay then, I can wait for my surprise a little longer, I suppose.” He started walking ahead of me.
I pulled the pin from my hair and pricked my finger. “Levos,” I called.
He turned around.
I rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly. I marked his clothing with my blood in the same places I had Gaelin’s then marked my print behind his hairline, out of sight. “You are truly the best friend I could have ever asked for.” I pulled away, looking into his eyes. “Out of everyone here, I am most grateful that I met you.”
He smiled shyly, yet question and concern filled his eyes. “Why do I feel like this is a sendoff or a goodbye? Gen, you are starting to worry me. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Levos. Everything is okay. I just… I want you to know how much you mean to me,” I said, pulling out of his grip.
“Well, don’t let Gaelin hear you say that. He would string me up and gut me for taking your affection away from him.”
“I like him too, but what you and I have…it’s different.”
He smiled, nodding at me in thanks. “I feel the same way.” He kissed me on the head as we continued through the streets of the city.
Dinner had begun. It was almost time. I was so close to getting everything I had dreamed of for the past few months. I was nervous and terrified, yet excited with anticipation. I wondered how Otar would kill him. Would he rip out his heart? Tear him to shreds? Rip the artery in his neck with his teeth and then laugh as the blood splattered on his wife and daughter? I didn’t care. As long as it got done.
Otar was roaming around here somewhere. He would have smelled my blood on Gaelin and Levos by now, so they were safe. Everyone else wouldn’t be so lucky. I smiled, imagining the mess that would have to be cleaned up.
First course was almost over; time to move. I walked out of Gaelin’s chambers, heading for the throne room. The alfar would be seated in one room, lined up perfectly for Otar to slaughter. I would enter the room and stand directly in front of the royal table, taking the best seat in the house. I would look at the royals, daring them to hurt me. Just as the thought crossed their minds, Otar would attack. I laughed.
I got to the doors of the throne room. The servants began to move through the aisles, preparing to clear the alfar’s plates. One minute until Otar entered the room. Two minutes until the king would be dead. I stood off to the side, counting down the seconds until I would step in front of the table to watch him take his last breath. My heart was racing, and my hands were trembling.
I took a pitcher of wine. Time seemed to slow as my senses became hyper aware of everything that surrounded me. I wove in and out of the alfar as they feasted. They didn’t look up. Why would they? I was just another pig roaming their halls. Nothing more than something to spit on and use. Little did they know this pig would be responsible for the death of their king and potentially their entire court.
I made it to the main aisle and headed for the royal table, stopping ten feet from the platform. A line of servants spilled from behind me, carrying the second course of this evening's meal. I raised my eyes slowly. The king’s gaze met mine. He grimaced at me, but I didn’t care. I smiled.
Before the king could reprimand me, Otar appeared behind his chair as instructed. His black glistening body caught the light of the candles as razor-sharp horns appeared down his spine. Two additional arms and hands emerged on either side, creating thirty razored talons poised to strike.
Otar dug his nails into the king’s chest, tearing him to shreds. Blood splattered everywhere as the screaming and yelling began. Otar buried his sharp teeth into the king’s neck, pulling out his artery. A ulyrium blade appeared in one hand as he stabbed the king over and over again. For Otar’s final touch, he shoved one of his hands through the king’s chest, ripping his heart out and tossing it to the ground in front of me. The king slumped across the table as Otar finally released his mutilated body. I couldn’t help but smile as small tears of relief rolled down my cheeks.
The guards emerged from every angle, working to obtain Otar, but he was too fast. He disappeared in an instant, then reappeared behind the queen, stabbing her in the heart three times before evaporating into thin air again. The guards surrounded Princess Daealla, making it impossible for Otar to get to her. He appeared briefly behind me, only for a split second as if to ask for his next marching order.
“The others,” I said.
He nodded, disappearing again. The high lords and ladies couldn’t move fast enough. Magic began to erupt throughout the room, but Otar was too fast, and the members of the high houses had been too complacent. They had allowed Gaelin and his warriors to do their fighting for them. Now, they were weak and out of practice, unable to think tactically.
Otar spun around the room, ripping, tearing, and stabbing as many as he could. Blood pooled on the polished stone floor. Body parts littered the tables. Beautifully crafted alfar heads were flung to my feet. I once thought the sight of a severed head would send me hunching over in sickness, but now I just stared, watching as my demon did my bidding.
Something hard and full of momentum slammed into me. I looked up, realizing Gaelin had picked me up and was hauling me away from my symphony. I glanced at the throne room one last time, memorizing the sight of the king’s dead body. Dozens of guards filled the room and closed the doors behind them, locking Otar inside with them. A part of me hoped he survived; the other hoped he would parish with his victims. I didn’t know which feeling was stronger, but I was thankful to him, nonetheless.
Gaelin carried me to his room, slamming the door and locking it behind us. I turned around to see Levos and Madison also on the edge of the bed. I snapped out of my blood rage and exhaled in relief that my friends were okay. Madison was trembling, clinging to Levos tightly.
“What in the hell was that?” asked Levos.
Gaelin was breathing heavily as he turned around to face us. He checked me over, making sure I was okay. Oh yeah, I thought. I am supposed to be panicked and scared. I let my face fall to the floor as I took a seat on the edge of the bed and wrapped my arms around myself, as if I was in shock.
“Otar,” Gaelin muttered.
“I thought you killed the bastard. How is he alive?” asked Levos.
“I don’t know. His body was missing this morning. I’ve had men out looking for him and I doubled the guard around the palace, but apparently, he never left. He was inside the entire time,” answered Gaelin.
“Why would he stay? I thought you said he was smart. Wouldn’t it have been the wiser choice to go and regroup with his armies?” asked Levos.
“I don’t know. None of this makes sense,” said Gaelin. He paced the room, his face stressed, his body tense from the shock.
“The king is dead,” muttered Madison. “Which means you’re our new king.”
Gaelin looked to her, then to Levos, then to me. “I’m going to go check on the throne room to see if they’ve captured him yet. You all stay here until I come back. Do not open the door for anyone or anything,” instructed Gaelin.
We all nodded. I rushed to him, taking his arm before he could leave.
“Please be careful,” I whispered, kissing his cheek softly.
He nodded and then left.
I sank into the couch, waiting to hear if my reaper had been killed. Levos settled Madison into Gaelin’s bed before coming and sitting next to me. He didn’t look at me.
“This was your vision?” He asked, quiet enough that Madison couldn’t overhear.
“What if it was?” I said without an ounce of remorse.
He shook his head. “Not all those alfar were evil like him, Gen. They didn’t deserve to die like that.”
“Their sacrifice was worth the reward,” I said coldly, turning to look at him.
He looked at me with disappointment for the first time. “I know he hurt you, but those alfar?—”
“What? Were they nice, civil, merciful even? Does it not please you that some of those alfar who lay dead in that hall right now were the same males who took Madison against her will? Who spat on her? Who beat her? Who looked down upon you? Do you not feel the slightest feeling of satisfaction from their deaths?”
“Who am I to condemn them?”
I crossed my arms and huffed. “You sound like a Christian. Do you realize that?”
“Revenge isn’t worth the cost of even one innocent life,” he whispered.
“That is where your opinion and mine differ. To me, it was worth all of them,” I said coldly, getting up from the couch and moving to the balcony.
Gaelin returned an hour later. We surrounded him for an update.
“The king and queen are dead. Princess…Queen Daealla has survived. We have captured Otar and are holding him for questioning,” said Gaelin.
“How many others were lost?” asked Levos.
“Fifty-eight light alfar,” replied Gaelin.
“And humans?” asked Madison.
I held my breath.
“None. Not a single one.”
I exhaled, fighting a smile. I felt Levos’s eyes on me, but I didn’t acknowledge his judgment.
“It is safe for you to return to your room. Stay together tonight, just in case.” Gaelin said to Levos and Madison. They nodded, taking their leave.
Gaelin collapsed on the bed, looking exhausted and overwhelmed. I went to him, wrapping my arm around his shoulder, trying to provide him with comfort. I kissed his head, running my hand through his smooth white hair.
“I am glad you’re okay,” I said.
He turned to me, pulling my head to his. “For a moment there, I thought I was going to lose you.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“There was a moment when I looked up and saw Otar standing next to you. I thought he was going to tear you to shreds like the others, but he just vanished.”
I swallowed, praying he didn’t connect the dots.
“It must be your human blood.”
“What?”
“Your human blood. He must not kill humans or something along those parameters. It is almost improbable that he didn’t kill a single human. Something must prevent him from doing so. I don’t know yet, but I will find out. I am just thankful you are okay. I couldn’t get to you fast enough. You were just standing there in the middle of it all, not moving. Are you okay? It must have been traumatic to see all of that.”
I smiled at him, nodding my head. “I’m okay. I will be okay, I mean,” I said, trying to seem casual yet a bit stirred up. “I guess this means you’re king now.”
He smiled and nodded. “I guess so. It happened faster than I expected, but what’s done is done. Too bad Daealla survived,” he said.
I chuckled, leaning my head on his shoulders. “Yeah, sorry about that.”
“Well, at least one of our problems is taken care of. You’ll never be with anyone you don’t want again. I promise you that,” he said, kissing me on the head.
“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling a weight lift off my chest. I was free from King Lysanthier. Truly free.
“I mean it. Even if you don’t want to be with me. I won’t force you, Gen. You will never be forced again. As long as I live, I promise you that.”
I looked up, feeling truly grateful to him. I kissed his lips softly, pulling away with my eyes still locked onto his. “Just give me time, okay. Let’s see where the future leads us.”
He nodded, leaning his head back onto mine. We sat in the comfort of each other’s presence, knowing our future was now changed forever thanks to Otar. Thanks to me.