Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
Islept for what felt like three days, but it was merely six hours. Sienna had found lodgings for Jasper with the rest of his kind after I had departed to get some rest. The sun was still far from rising, but we had no time to waste.
The council chambers were empty when I arrived. Something did not sit well with me, and it sent a disturbing sensation crawling up my spine. I didn’t wait long before Geraldine arrived.
‘Any updates from Cain?’ I asked as she took her seat.
‘He’s making progress. They have identified individuals they can trust to replace Jade’s council, but they are finding that Morgad’s claws run deeper than they had initially thought.
They are holding off on any decisive permanent action until they are sure of who has ties to King Sebastian, lest they spook someone too early.
’ I could sense she was holding something back; her usual calm demeanour was edged with something else I couldn’t quite place.
My flame called for the omission of whatever she was holding back.
‘What’s wrong? You seem on edge. More so than usual.
’ Just as I asked the question, the door to the council room opened and in came Sienna and Viv.
Viv looked as though she had not slept since we left these halls three days prior.
Her face was gaunt, her hair unwashed and she was so very pale, with dark rings surrounding her eyes.
What on earth had happened while we were away?
‘What is going on? I will not ask again.’ I looked over their faces and there was hesitation. These people did not hesitate. Sienna looked as equally confused as I felt, so at least I was not being left completely in the dark. Just as I was about to open my mouth and demand an answer, Viv spoke.
‘Visarous…’ she trailed off.
‘Yes, where is he? Did something happen? Is he hurt?’ I asked, as a sudden jolt of panic rushed through me, which I suppressed before it could reach my face.
‘He’s… Skylar I can’t say it. I truly can’t say it.’ Viv looked at me pleadingly, tears welling in her eyes, desperate in a way I had never seen her. Looking to Geraldine for answers, she obliged.
‘We caught him meeting with a spy from Morgad. We believe he betrayed us and he has been working with Morgad for all of this time,’ she said coldly, as though she were reciting instructions to repair a piece of furniture.
For a moment, I thought it a twisted joke, but the reality of the eternal flame remaining quiet within me told me it was the truth.
I sat there, unmoving, barely breathing for minutes as I truly absorbed what was being said. Sienna was as shocked as I.
‘What have you discovered of Visarous and his true nature?’ I asked after my mind began to settle.
‘Nothing. He will not talk. The spy he met swallowed a pill when we found them exchanging information. By the time we dragged her to the dungeons, she was foaming from the mouth and died. The only piece of information we managed to get before the effects of the pill kicked in was the frequency of visits, which gives us an indication of roughly how much Sebastian knows. Visarous never went into Morgadian lands or sent messages; instead, Sebastian would send a spy here once a month for a debrief. The last time was nearly two weeks before the Alumni ball, which means Sebastian has no idea about Demir and you. The spy said Cain’s whispers and shadows were too adept at intercepting messages, so they kept contact one-sided, in person and minimal. ’
‘It’s odd she would disclose even that much when already taking the step to swallow the pill so as not to be forced to speak or turn against her kings.’ I mused.
‘She was bragging. She wanted us to know the extent of Morgad’s reach. It was not a ploy to garner favour before death, it was done to induce fear and distrust.’ Viv whispered before Geraldine interjected.
‘Visarous, however, has not broken. Trying to break him broke Viv. My methods have been far more painful, but not remotely successful. When I found them by the tunnel that leads from the storeroom, I overheard part of their conversation. Visarous was telling the spy that you had gone to see the Wiccans and were now chasing down leads regarding the Ancient Forest. He also said that you had found your Ruhi—I believe this was the information he was trying to relay to Morgad, but we stopped it just in time. My Queen, did you find your soul bonded one, your Zauvek?’
Pressing the tip of the blade deeper I glared down at her.
‘I ask the questions here. I need to speak to him and see for myself,’ I said to no one in particular, but Geraldine nodded just the same.
‘Viv, you know what this means.’ I turned to her, gritting my teeth.
There was only one punishment for traitors if this were true.
‘I-I can’t Sky. I know it’s my duty, but he’s my blood. I can’t hurt him. Please,’ she begged, tears breaking the surface and falling down her face.
‘He is no longer your blood! He is a traitorous piece of shit that deserves everything that is coming to him!’ I screamed as my chest rose and fell in time with my heavy breaths of rage.
My anger, though, was not directed at her; I was angry at myself for being so foolish and bedding a traitor over and over again.
I felt sick and I clung to a morsel of hope that it wasn’t true but the flame inside me told me everyone here new it to be which terrified me.
‘I-I know, Sky, but I can’t. Please, you have to. I can’t.’ Viv, for the first time ever as my Master of War, crumpled in on herself and began to sob into her palms. I had never seen my greatest warrior be so vulnerable. I hated Visarous even more now, seeing what he had done to his sister.
‘How many times will I have to make compromises for you, Viv? You are starting to become more trouble than you’re worth,’ I spat, not being able to look at her.
Sienna met my gaze and flashed me a look as if to say I was taking things too far; however, I was only just getting started.
I was angry, needed an outlet, and was quickly losing my grip on reality.
‘Before I go and interrogate him, it’s time to retest the loyalties of everyone in this room.
Sienna, go and get a tonic for Viv’s nerves; I need her to be more coherent for this.
And bring Jasper back with you; he should witness what it means to cross me.
Geraldine, step forward and kneel at my feet like the good little bitch I need to remind you all to be,’ I said, pushing my chair back as Sienna left the room, hesitating only briefly at the door.
Geraldine was stoic and looked blank as she kneeled before me. I drew my sword and pressed the tip to the hollow of her neck and breathed deeply. Focusing on the flames that were licking at me, they hummed within me, having been fuelled by the rage that was consuming me.
‘Did you know who he really was?’ I pressed the sword deeper, drawing a single drop of blood and a clenched jaw from Geraldine.
‘No.’
‘Are you one and the same?’
‘No.’
‘Can I trust you?’
‘Always.’
‘What else have you been able to uncover?’
‘Nothing, there was nothing. None of our shadows or whispers in the wind could give us anything more. He was too clean. There was nothing left behind in the tunnels to give us any further information either,’ Geraldine answered as shame curled her features.
This was a failure by her and Cain unlike any other. The flames told me she spoke true.
‘You need better shadows. If you cannot do your job, I will find someone who can. You are useless to me if you cannot identify traitors before it is too late.’ At that moment, Sienna returned with a tonic and passed it to Viv’s shaking hands.
Jasper hung back beside the door. Viv slung the tonic back as though it were alcohol, expecting it to burn away the sins of her brother.
‘Sienna. Kneel.’ She walked towards me and took Geraldine’s place as I placed the blood-coated tip of the sword to her neck.
‘Did you know? Did you know he was a traitorous bastard? Did you help him? Have you yourself betrayed me?!’ I snapped, letting the overflow of anger seep out of me.
I hadn’t confirmed any of what they had said for myself, but this life had let me down too many times to count and my spine prickled with the need to attack.
It was the only thing that made me feel safe in this moment.
Anger and vengeance—they were the emotions I felt calmest in. Not doubt and despair.
Sienna flinched at my raised voice and trembled beneath my blade.
She looked at me with tears in her eyes, but they were not tears of fear; instead it was sadness I saw in them.
She knew what this betrayal meant to me, what it would do to him.
What Visarous had meant to me. I had trusted someone and they had used me. Lying to me for what was likely years.
‘No, no, no, never,’ she breathed, holding my gaze. The flame did not raise its head to any lies, but unable to wrap a hold of my anger, I pressed the blade deeper. Sienna gasped and cowered under me. Viv stood up in an effort to stop me.
‘Feeling guilty over something, are we, Viv?’ I asked, smirking, and pressed the blade deeper into Sienna’s neck, drawing a few extra drops of blood.
I turned back to Sienna, holding her gaze, and we spoke to one another without uttering a word.
Understanding laced her eyes and devastation racketed through mine.
I took a few steadying breaths before pulling it away.
‘Kneel,’ I said to the room. Sienna knew she was dismissed and stood by Jasper.
Viv took her place, meeting my gaze as every emotion known to man raged within her, before finally casting her eyes to the floor, shame overwhelming her.
Using the tip of my sword, I raised her chin until our eyes locked once more.
Fear is what I saw on her face. Whether it was fear for herself, or for her brother’s life, was yet to be determined.
‘Tell me everything. You have already spent years lying to me about your lover, Viv. Lie to me one more time, no matter how insignificant—I don’t care if it’s about something as trivial as the fucking weather.
The moment the flames even hint at your deceit, I will slit your fucking throat.
I will not tolerate this any longer. I have been far too easy on you.
All of you. Now tell me the fucking truth before I plunge this gods-damned sword straight through your neck and make you choke on your lies,’ I seethed.
Steeling herself, Viv took a breath before the soldier within her took over.
She sat up straighter and her face slackened.
‘I didn’t know. I never knew until Geraldine caught him and brought him to the dungeons.
I didn’t believe it. I tried to free him from her grasp, thinking it was a misunderstanding, until I saw that unfamiliar look in his eyes.
The moment he was caught, he was different.
I didn’t recognise him. That’s when I knew it to be true.
I spent the last two days trying to beat and beg the truth out of him.
Every blow to him was a blow to myself, cutting me so deeply, but I deserved it for being so stupid.
‘How could I not see who my own brother really was? How could I come from blood that would hurt our own. No matter how much I made him bleed, he did not say a word. He only smiled through the pain. Last night he tried to kill himself by slamming his head repeatedly against the stone walls of his cell. I chained him to a chair that is bolted to the ground. My Queen, Skylar, you have to believe I did not know. I would never do what he did. My loyalty has always been to you.’ The flame remained quiet besides the rage of anger that coursed through me.
‘Will you remain loyal? What if I made you choose between me and your dear Prince Acheron? Who would you choose Viv? Would you betray me then?’ I asked.
Yes, he carried out the oath but I still could not trust them—not fully.
Not now. Today had shown me I could not trust anyone, and I was a fool for thinking otherwise.
‘You—it will always be you, Sky. It will break me, just like this has broken me, but I will always choose you and our people. I will never betray you. I will never leave your side,’ she said, with no hint of a doubt in her voice. She was certain and so were the flames.
Not quite believing her, a simple yet insecure question slipped from my lips before I could stop it. ‘Why?’
She chuckled as if the answer were obvious.
‘What we have runs deeper than blood. I have loved you far longer than I have loved him. You are an extension of me, and I believe in you. I believe in what you want to achieve for our people and know that you will always make the right call no matter the sacrifice. I decided long ago that if I were to be part of what needed to be sacrificed for our home, our lands and our kin. I would do it a thousand times over. I never believed in the spirits or the gods the way you or Visarous do; my faith lies with you and only you. You are my God.’
Pulling back the blade, I walked towards the door without looking back.
‘Do you still want in?’ I asked Jasper, meeting his confused stare.
His glassy eyes refocused on me and he drew his shoulders back. ‘Yes. I am more sure than ever.’
‘Good. Geraldine, send word to Morgad. An invitation to join us in peace talks at the Academy two days from now.’ Everyone in the room looked panicked but I would not explain myself.
‘I want everyone from court and beyond at the arena at dawn. Make sure you’re there Jasper; you need to learn what happens to those who betray us.
I want every Wiccan and Forest Fae, every shadow and whisper.
Everyone. Tomorrow is a lesson none of them are soon to forget. ’
Before I could step through, Viv grasped my hand. ‘I can’t do it, Sky. Please, I can’t.’ Betrayal in our lands meant their blood must, in turn, betray them; Viv was to exact punishment, as that is what our ways called for.
‘I wouldn’t let you even if you begged me. I want to make him bleed for this. He’s mine.’