Chapter 31 #2
‘Wrong!’ he roared. ‘You need them to fear you. All this government malarkey has caused nothing but chaos. People thinking they can have a say in who rules our land. What utter nonsense. Our family has always ruled, and when the wyrmocs arrive, everyone will see a leader.’
‘When I was in prison, a lot of the inmates said they didn’t believe wyrmocs would ever come.’ She offered no smile as she added, ‘I thought you would want to know.’
‘Oh, they’re coming, my dear. On the night of your birthday.’
The darkness seemed to blur as Scarlen’s stomach flipped and head swirled at the tone in his voice, so sure, so menacing. She wasn’t going to be the only one unveiled that day, the fifth knight was going to be used to raise the mythical creatures her father would control.
Two choices came to mind.
Kill the king now.
Find the knight before the unveiling.
As much as she hated the man before her, Scarlen couldn’t bring herself to unsheathe the hidden dagger in her boot Raven had gifted her before their flight.
It was easier to follow Lancen’s map and take the book, free the knight, then let someone else tackle the king.
At least then she wouldn’t have his blood on her hands haunting her for the rest of her life.
‘Are you sure, Father?’ Her fists unfurled behind her back.
‘Positive, my dear. I’m going to summon them myself.
They will be on our side, and Zanstonia will be under royal rule once more.
’ His sinister smile was almost sweet. ‘You are ready to stand at my side with your brother, and I’ll find you a husband who will be a powerful ally to our family.
We shall be the greatest royals in history. No one will forget our names.’
She was pretty sure no one would forget his madness. Twisted and evil, spreading ugliness across the land.
‘But just to make sure you are ready.’ He clicked his fingers, and Lulu entered the room with silent steps. The white hair of the crone long and flowing over the shoulders of a crumpled crimson dress.
‘It’s temporary,’ said Lulu, her rasp uncaring. ‘And it won’t hurt.’
Scarlen stepped back, stumbling into a red velvet chair, her hands stretched forward to hold off the witch. ‘What won’t hurt?’
Lulu pointed a gnarled finger, her magick holding Scarlen still, then she clamped her hands over Scarlen’s temples, no shame in her wide gaze, no sympathy.
‘Just a little wipe of the memory, that’s all.
It’s a hard spell to manage, so should only last till the day after your birthday.
’ She glanced at her beloved king. ‘We could marry her before her mind resets. She’d be more compliant then. ’
‘Hmm, I’m not sure. I wasn’t planning on doing this so soon, as I wasn’t going to bring her home until the day before her birthday.
This is just a precaution to keep her here until the unveiling.
It won’t be so easy for her to run away after that.
Besides, I’m still deciding who I want as her husband.
He needs to have a stronger will than hers.
A firm hand to control my daughter. I’ve whittled it down to two, but I need more time with them. ’
‘Shame. I won’t be able to do this to her again. It won’t hold a second time on the same person.’
Renwah waved off the comment. ‘Let’s wipe her memory of Horstal and her desire to run away. Then she can enjoy her special day.’
Are they fucking kidding me? I’m right here.
I can hear you. Scarlen could only move her eyes, and she took the opportunity to glance at her outstretched hands frozen in place.
Yep, she was still visible, and her father didn’t care that she could understand what they were about to do to her.
Bear. Bear. I need to focus on him. She hoped if she tapped into the strongest of her emotions, the spell wouldn’t work.
What she held in her heart for Bear Vyer couldn’t be wiped away.
It was too strong. They couldn’t take it.
She wouldn’t let them. With all her might, she fought her mind as the back of her head burned, a high screech ripped through her eardrums, and a bright light dazed her, bringing black stars flickering before her eyes.
Fury lashed out at the enchantment snaking around her senses, crushing her skull, her heart.
Bear. Bear. Her neck threatened to snap, her pulse to fade, but still she wouldn’t surrender to the pain searing through every fibre of her being.
How was she alive? Death was sure to arrive, and how it would be welcome, because she would rather die remembering her one true love than live having never known him.
‘I don’t need to have more to worry about this week, Lulu, so do your best. Adoria has such spirit. She says she’s ready to be the princess, but just in case she has any tricks up her sleeve, add in some duty while you’re inside her mind. To see her yield to me would be something.’
‘I’m trying, but she’s fighting me.’
Renwah was highly amused by that. ‘Of course she is, she’s my child.’
Their voices were muffled, but Scarlen could still make out what they were saying. She wanted to yell, scream, tell them they’d never beat her, but the spell was chipping away at her defences, seeping into any crack it could find, dragging her lower and lower to a pit of nothing.
Was she worth so little to her own father that he would take her mind, replace what she held with his own wants and needs? How could he ever think she would stand at his side after this? Her memory would return soon, but then what? She would bow to him? No, just no.
Exhaustion kicked in, and Scarlen was helpless, her head throbbing as pressure built, the strain of the battle too much.
Her scream tore into the night, rattling her insides, as more pain wedged its way into her memories, clawing and scratching, sharp stabs seeming endless.
But all pain had to end somewhere, and she hoped it would end forever, and let them suffer for their abuse.
Take it all away, Father. Destroy me. Then I’ll be free for all eternity.
Lulu’s grip tightened as though her hands were made of iron. ‘Ooh, she’s strong. Not seen this power before.’
The king grinned wickedly. ‘I train my children well. Apologies, dear Lulu.’
Perhaps she wasn’t made of blood and bone, but of fire and fury.
Scarlen couldn’t understand why it burned so white hot beneath her skin.
Why she was still breathing. She needed to let go of the cut glass she was holding, but if she surrendered, Bear would disappear along with every heartbeat she possessed.
She had never known such pain. It was as if he were before her, dying in her arms. The horror of him no longer existing was raw agony.
Bear.
He was fading.
Bear.
His features a blur.
Bear.
‘Stay with me, Scars,’ he whispered.
His lips felt soft upon hers, his gentle touch on her neck a comfort. Then he was gone.
Panic stole the air from her lungs, restricting all thoughts, feelings, senses. With nothing more to overwhelm her emotions, she dropped to her knees, Lulu going with her, holding tight.
The sound of water trickling nearby, washed through each ear as Scarlen closed her eyes, writhing as her body realised it was free, but her mind was somewhere high in the sky, floating on fluffy clouds in a gentle breeze that kissed her cheeks and bid her goodnight.