Chapter 25
Islept better than I had ever slept in my entire life that night. When I woke, Gaelin was already gone, interrogating Otar I presumed. I stretched across the bed, enjoying the freedom I had earned. I picked up the small star pendant Gaelin had given me and admired its beauty before kissing it. Freedom was mine. I wasn’t handed it. I didn’t have to beg for it. A weak, half-breed like me had went out and conquered it. And to my surprise, I was still alive.
I was prepared to die if needed, but the fates had other plans for me apparently. Now, I just had to figure out how to cope with the horror that had been my life for the past few months. I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to enjoy a male’s touch again without thinking of King Lysanthier. But that didn’t matter now. I could turn my focus back to my mission. Lily.
I went to the bathroom and washed. I stood in front of the mirror for a long while, staring at myself. The first step was being able to look myself in the eye and not be disgusted by the sight. He used and abused me, but that didn’t define me. I traced his house’s sigil that was branded in my skin. This wasn’t a reminder of the pain, but a symbol of my accomplishments. I would overcome this. I had to.
I got dressed and headed down the hall. I walked into the throne room, hesitating with every step. The room was spotless. Unless I had witnessed the event with my own eyes, I wouldn't have known there had been a massacre here the night before. I looked up at the king’s empty throne and smiled. He may have been light alfar, but there was nothing good about him. His heart was as black as the dark magic that ran through the dark alfar’s veins.
I smiled, remembering his body being ripped to shreds. I stood tall at that moment, relishing one last time in my victory. I turned around and walked out of the throne room, leaving King Lysanthier behind me. I helped with the laundry and in the kitchen, smiling the entire time. The alfar were still recovering and needier than normal. I complied, not making a fuss.
Now that Gaelin was king, I had to make sure I was on my best behavior. I wanted his reign to be an easy one. I didn’t want him worrying about me. Sooner or later, he would conceive an heir and then he would fight for my freedom as he promised.
Levos avoided me the rest of the day. I knew he was still mad about my opinions on the events of last night. Gods, what he would have thought of me if he knew the whole truth. He didn’t understand. He couldn’t. He had never been raped. Yes, watching those you love around you going through it was one thing, but he never had to experience being used in such a foul way. Having something so private and intimate taken from you. Having to suffer the abuse of a tyrant. Levos would eventually forgive me. He just needed time.
I went to clean up before dinner, filthy from the flour I had been using to make bread. I made my way to the throne room with a smile plastered on my face. Crowds of alfar and humans huddled around the doors waiting to be let in. I frowned at the sight, wondering what all the fuss was about. Eventually, we all were allowed in. Queen Daealla and King Atros were seated on the royal thrones.
I made my way back to the wall. There were no trays of food, no wine. I looked at Felicity, asking what was going on with my eyes. She leaned in close, making sure not to attract any unwanted attention.
“The queen demanded that we not serve anyone. Everyone here was in attendance at dinner last night. She believes someone helped the creature kill the others. She’s out for blood and she isn’t going to stop until she gets it,” she whispered.
My heart dropped. I tugged on my sleeve, covering Otar’s sigil. I didn’t know how dangerous Daealla was. I was too busy fending off her father to worry about her. I knew she was vengeful and reckless, but to what extent, I had no clue.
The doors of the hall closed us in as the last alfar took his seat. The queen stood, Gaelin seated at her side. Her face showed no sign of remorse or fear, only determination. The room went silent. She looked across the crowd of people, noting each of their faces. She snapped her fingers with a single fluent motion.
Two guards came in from behind her, dragging Otar in iron chains. I had to focus on controlling my breathing and facial expressions. I kept my head down, not making eye contact with anyone. The alfar sat stoically silent. I heard the chains rattle as they threw Otar’s body in front of the court.
“This is the creature who has taken so much from us,” began Daealla. “This creature was slain by my husband over a month ago, yet somehow it kneels before you now, still reeking of our race’s blood. In past months, traitors have been discovered among us. Alfar who we believed to be friends turned foe. This creature lay dead under the keep of our kingdom only two days ago. Yesterday, its body went missing and last night it tore through our court like a storm.
“The creature was cut open. Organs were removed. Flesh was taken, yet he sits here… whole. How can this be? He rose from the dead, just like the Christian god has been acclaimed to do. Are you the Christian Jew known as Yahweh?” she asked Otar.
He snickered on the floor, shaking his head from side to side. “Stupid queen,” he said, spitting at her feet.
The guard hit him across the face, causing black blood to seep from his mouth.
“I believe someone,” she continued, “in this court has betrayed us. They have turned their backs on our race and helped this creature wreak havoc over our houses and over our kingdom, and I will not stop until that person is brought to light.” She stepped down in front of Otar, looking at him as if fire could blaze from her eyes. “Who assisted you?” she demanded.
“I didn’t tell your pretty king, why am I going to tell you?” he laughed.
She pulled out an iron knife and slashed across his face. He turned his head slowly and licked at the blood with delight.
“You will tell me who helped you or I will torture you slowly for the rest of your immortal life,” she said through her teeth. She had a temper, that was for sure. She wasn’t calm, cool, and collected like her father had been, before he began to go mad.
“What makes you think that is a punishment? Torture is foreplay, my dear,” he said, snapping his teeth at her with a low growl.
She hit him across the face again. “Was it a human or an alfar?” She demanded. “Answer me!” she yelled.
He shrugged. “Human, alfar, maybe both. I don’t remember. It was dark and he, she, it, didn't stick around to chat,” he said mockingly.
I smiled only for a brief second, reminding myself of the fire I was toying with.
She went to strike him again, but a cold mist came over the hall. Shivers went down my spine as I looked up to see what was happening.
Black fog swept through the room in an instant. The guards pulled Otar back to the platform as others appeared from the sides of the throne and surrounded Queen Daealla. The court began to look at each other frantically. Out of the black mist formed bodies. They appeared into focus one after another. Twelve dark alfar warriors stood in a circle. Erendrial Lyklor appeared last. He did enjoy grand entrances.
Erendrial stepped forward, his long black jacket perfectly pressed. His hands were folded behind his back as that wicked smile stretched across his face. He gave a half bow.
“Queen Daealla, King Atros, first let me say congratulations on the wedding ceremony. Though I am a bit hurt I was not invited.” He looked directly at Gaelin. “I thought we had developed a mutual respect the last time I visited.”
“How dare you enter this court unannounced. How did you mist through our runes?” demanded Queen Daealla.
“We disarmed them the last time we were here,” Erendrial said, winking at her.
“How dare you,” she snarled.
“Yes, yes, bad dark alfar, I know,” he said mockingly. “Now, please let me continue to extend our condolences on the sudden and unexpected death of your mother and father. What a terrible way to go,” he said, looking at Otar. “Our friend here doesn’t like to stay dead apparently.”
Otar smiled at him.
“What do you want, Ambassador Lyklor?” asked Gaelin.
“My king and our court would like to guarantee we start this new regime on the right foot,” continued Erendrial.
“And what have you come to offer?” snapped the queen.
“Actually, I have come to propose a peaceful trade.”
Daealla shrieked in amusement. “Of course, you have. Gods forbid you come to offer something without anything in return,” she said.
Erendrial shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a businessman at heart.” He held her gaze.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“We will get to that, but first, let me tell you what I can offer you. I can give you the key to finding the alfar or human who assisted our friend here in the attack on your court,” said Erendrial.
My hands began to quiver. Shit, shit, shit.
The queen’s face went blank as she mulled over the offer.
“For what in return?” Gaelin finally asked.
Erendrial tilted his head, scrunching his face together. “Unfortunately, I can’t reveal that yet, but I promise you, queen, what we take you will not miss. It is a small price to pay for discovering the traitor in your court, I assure you,” he said with certainty.
Queen Daealla looked down at the floor as she thought. Gaelin leaned over and whispered harshly, no doubt trying to talk her out of the deal. Whatever the dark court wanted it couldn’t be good. It would hurt the light court in the long run. You couldn’t trust a dark alfar, especially Erendrial. Even I knew that.
The queen flung her hand up to Gaelin, whispering something aggressively in his direction. She calmed herself before turning back to Erendrial. She looked at Otar and then nodded at Erendrial. “You have a deal,” she said.
Erendrial smiled widely in satisfaction. That same smile I had seen so many times in my visions. “Excellent, onto business then. The accessory to our friend Otar here will have a sigil marked in black on their left wrist. It is an upside-down triangle with an arch going through it, encased in a circle,” he said cheerfully.
I began trembling. How could he know? It made no sense. Otar said no one knew about his secrets. I held my left wrist tightly with my right hand as I began to shake. Get yourself together, Gen. You knew death was an option, now face your fate with dignity.
“Guards, check each other first and then begin to search the room,” demanded Queen Daealla. The guards did as they were told. Ten minutes into the search, they finally began to search the humans. This was it. My end. A guard stood in front of me, grabbing my left wrist with aggression. I brought my eyes up to his and held my head high. He pulled back my sleeve to reveal my sigil.
The guard grabbed me by the neck, carrying me through the rows of tables before throwing me down to the floor in between Daealla, Gaelin, and Erendrial. Gaelin’s face went white as the guard held up my wrist to reveal the imprint. Queen Daealla’s eyes widened so intensely, I thought they were going to pop from her head. Erendrial folded his arms across his chest, bringing a hand to his mouth as he laughed.
“Well, this is delightfully delicious,” Erendrial said behind me.
I glanced at Otar. He looked back with those yellow eyes, still smiling as if this was all entertainment for him and his life wasn’t on the line here either.
“Stupid queen,” Otar laughed, looking at me and then back at her, egging her to strike him again.
“You? How?” Daealla yelled. “How did you resurrect the creature? Answer me!”
I stood up, head high, not backing down. I’ll be damned if I was going to go out bowing to this bitch. “Not as dumb as you thought, am I?” I replied.
Gaelin moved in between us, trying to defuse the situation. “Queen Daealla, Ambassador Lyklor could be lying. He is known for it,” said Gaelin.
“Oh, I assure you this is no lie, though I couldn’t have seen this coming no matter how hard I looked,” said Erendrial.
“You have no power, so sit down and shut up, king,” spat the queen.
Gaelin turned to me, eyes full of fear and worry. I gave him a reassuring smile.
“It’s okay. It was worth it,” I whispered to him. The guards stepped in front of us, ushering Gaelin back to his seat next to Daealla.
“How, human?” Daealla asked me again.
“Just kill me and be done with it. I am not going to tell you a thing,” I said, without an ounce of fear in my voice.
She gasped in shock at my disrespect. She looked at Otar and then at me. “You will tell me how you resurrected this thing and how to kill it or I will butcher you where you stand,” she demanded.
I looked at Otar again. His face went blank, knowing I had the information that could send him to a permanent grave. His life for mine; what a deal. It wasn’t worth it. Living only to be tortured for the rest of my life. I’d rather die. I held my head up high again.
“No,” I said.
“No, you don’t know how to kill it or no, you won’t give me the information I seek?”
“No, I won’t give you what you seek. Your father deserved what he got. In my opinion, his suffering ended far too quickly.”
The whole court gasped in rage.
Otar started laughing, slapping his hands on his legs. “Wicked, wicked, one,” Otar screeched.
The guard hit him to shut him up.
“You stupid girl. You would throw away your life so this thing could live?” Daealla asked.
“I refuse to be kept prisoner by you any longer. And yes, if sacrificing my life and refusing you the key to killing Otar makes you this unhappy, then it is well worth it.” I smiled at her, flashing my teeth in a wicked grin I hoped made Otar proud. Little did she know, Otar’s life was attached to mine.
She held her head high. “Very well. Guards, kill the human,” she said without feeling.
Gaelin jumped from his seat but was restrained by three guards that stood near him. Four guards approached me swiftly, swords drawn, ready to remove my head from my shoulders. I closed my eyes, welcoming the cold edge of the blade.
“Leenia,” I heard Erendrial say calmly from behind me. Suddenly, an explosion of force and wind ripped through the room as something heavy smashed into the distance. I opened my eyes to see the four guards slammed up against the exterior walls, held there by nothing. I turned around and looked back at the alfar Erendrial had called to. She was tall and thin. Her black hair was cropped into a neat bob that ended at her shoulders. Her black leather was tight on her body. She was covered in daggers, swords, and an ax at her waist. Her entrancing red eyes glowed as she held out her hands towards the guards, her stance effortless. She smiled and dropped her hands, sending the four guards to the floor unconscious.
Erendrial began to move towards the thrones, hands casually folded behind his back. He looked directly at Daealla and smirked as he tilted his head to the side. “Yeah, about that,” he said, stepping in front of me. The circle of dark alfar encased me, leaving Erendrial on the outside to combat Queen Daealla’s wrath.