1 #3
What’s worse, is that the hybrids, especially ones with physical features showcasing what they are, are all heading towards extinction. Most live in communities where not many people know the locations. All because the fae used to hunt them centuries ago, because they’re different.
For that reason alone, this feels targeted, like it wasn’t just about the war.
That thought makes me sick to my stomach.
“This traitor is not only going against everything we have been fighting for and a cowardly murderer, but they are also a threat to our cause.” The king continues.
Looking around, some of the soldiers seem nervous and others are actually sad.
It’s not unheard of for some of the fae to feel empathy for the hybrids but we were always told that the fae of Erador were one of the worst when it came to the hunt.
Maybe they’re trying to right their wrongs.
Or it’s possible that a lot of these soldiers weren’t alive for the hunt.
“The reason I have brought you all here today is not just to discuss what happened, it is also to address the traitor right before your eyes.” The King says next, making all the soldiers start to tremble.
“It appears we have the traitor among us, in this very room.”
The king announces next with a cool lethal calm, I fight back a gulp and consider that it might be my time to make a run for it.
I may have dealt with situations that would be considered absolute nightmares to other fae in the past but I have no interest in getting in the King’s path.
Especially if he’s already in the mood to kill.
The soldiers look uneasy but don’t dare turn their gazes to one another.
They instead wait for the king to continue or maybe for the traitor to announce himself.
“Bentley.” The King says suddenly, his voice a command. Everyone in the room looks towards a soldier, two seats from where I’m crouching. The soldier looks utterly terrified.
I’ve seen that look from quite a few people in my life, this man knows his time is up.
“Rise and come to the centre of the room.” The King demands, his voice dripping with venom. There’s a look of unforgiving wrath in the King's eyes. A pure hatred for this man that seems to go beyond just being angry at a traitorous soldier.
Bentley rises shakily and walks to the centre, the King rises as well to join him. Looking all the more deadly since he first entered the tent.
“Kneel.” The King says in a tone that I would not want directed towards me.
“Is it true that you sold the information to our enemies across the border?” The king demands.
The man starts sputtering out his words and I’m barely able to understand them.
“No… I would never.” He finally gets out as tears start to stream down his face.
I’m not going to lie, it’s kind of pathetic.
“Liar.” The King says back to him with this deathly calm manner. It’s almost worse than yelling, the cold calm feels much more lethal than if he were to raise his voice and scream at him for the betrayal.
“Let’s test this shall we?” The King suggests mockingly, “stand up.”
The man is shaking like a leaf but does exactly what he is told.
The king puts his hands either side of the man’s head and I hold back a gasp.
Oh my Gods, he’s—
I’ve seen this motion before, I haven’t had it done to me but from the ones I’ve seen, this power allows them to read their minds. If that’s what the king is doing then I have a feeling this man is not going to last long.
He looks as guilty as they come.
The man starts pleading, which is also not a good look for his case.
The king has his eyes closed but I can see the concentration behind his eye lids.
I watch carefully as the King opens his mouth, like he's about to announce what he sees when all of the sudden something slams into my face.
I reach my hand to lift it off, it’s just a piece of parchment.
Confused, I look up, tearing my gaze around the room.
Papers start flying everywhere, empty chairs start to lift up and it’s chaos.
Bentley must be a levitator and my guess is he knows he’s as good as gone and is trying to escape. Whatever the King saw in his mind, must have been damning.
I make to dodge a chair that comes flying at me and put my body flat on the ground. Peering up, I can see the king and his commanders faces. They’re filled with rage as they’re dodging all the debris going everywhere.
Bentley is now running towards me, having the very clear advantage of controlling all the projectiles as nothing is hitting him.
I move my arms so they’re out of his path, just as I see something explode just in front of me. Smoke goes up and I’m thrusted back, my shoulders hitting the tent floor.
I rise up to a seated position and frantically check my body for any injuries from the explosion but it doesn’t seem like a normal one. There was no heat or flames, only smoke, noise and pressure.
Something is wrong, all the projectiles have stopped, Bentley now has a dagger in his back and is flat on the floor in front of me. I start to get up but when I take a glance around the room, everyone is looking at me. My eyes go wide with realisation.
I’m not invisible anymore.