The Surpen King - Part 2 - Rise of the Elves

by Charity Kelly

  Ceceta blinked and peered around her. She was in Bosternd’s arms. The two of them were surrounded by Surpen soldiers who were holding swords. It was then that she realized they’d been expecting an attack tonight. This entire episode had been planned. The soldiers around Bosternd ran past him into the main room. “Are you alright?” Bosternd asked, his mouth lingering by her ear. Ceceta was surprised by the warmth that passed through her, when she felt Bosternd’s arms sliding across her body as he released her. Did she care for Bosternd? No, she thought. He’d just saved her life. She was only feeling thankful.

  Ceceta followed Bosternd as he walked back into the first room. Rhen was standing over Narseth, his father’s former guard. He was wearing a fighting tunic which was now covered in blood. From the look on his face, they could see he was debating whether or not to kill Narseth. The man had physically abused not only Rhen, but many of the soldiers, who were in the room tonight. Rhen gritted his teeth and stepped away from Narseth, letting his soldiers take him away.

  “Mission accomplished, boss?” Bosternd asked, his eyes scanning the room. It appeared they had captured fifteen elves.

  Rhen grunted. “For now.”

  “Aul?” Bosternd asked.

  Ceceta gasped. Aul had been involved? Rhen pointed towards the hallway on his right. Ceceta glanced past Bosternd to see that Aul had been completely shredded, as if a Surpen Beast of War had used him for a scratching post. Only his head remained intact. Bosternd nodded. He was glad Aul was dead.

  Bosternd sheathed his sword. His men had already removed Narseth and were working to gather the sniveling elves together before taking them into custody. “Ngi has rounded up the elves that were keeping watch,” he said.

  Rhen nodded. “Did you also get the elf that told Ceceta to come out here?”

  “Yes, sir,” one of the soldiers said by the door. “She’s in custody. The Thestran king has been notified as well as the elfin kings.”

  “Thank you,” Rhen told the man. “Any sign of Loreth?”

  “Unfortunately, no,” Bosternd said.

  “Damn.” Rhen kicked at the floor. “Bosternd, you’ll–”

  “Rhen?” Ceceta said softly interrupting.

  Rhen paused. “Yes?” He was too ashamed to look at her. He’d promised to protect her, yet he’d put her in danger and when she’d snapped, when she’d believed the lies that EFT’s members had been telling her, he’d left her.

  “What just happened?”

  “Bosternd’s plan worked. We knew someone was trying to kill you, in order to get to me, so we set up a trap to find out who it was.” As he spoke, he walked over towards the main door, his eyes on the floor. “A group called the EFT wanted to eliminate you.” He paused, his hand on the door frame. “Ceceta, Yfetb’s dead. We found him in one of the back rooms. I don’t think he was a part of their group, otherwise Aul wouldn’t have killed him.” Turning to face Ceceta, he said, “I’m sorry for…” Rhen paused. He was sorry that he hadn’t worked harder to find Aul. He should have stopped him before he went after Ceceta. He was sorry she had been put in danger because of him. He was sorry he hadn’t fought harder to help her, when she’d first told him she was being attacked. He was sorry for not fighting for their relationship, when Ceceta had reached her limit. He was sorry he hadn’t been a better husband. He was sorry for everything. Shaking his head, he stepped out of the room.

  “What was the EFT Club?” Ceceta asked Bosternd, who was standing behind her. They were alone in the room, since all of the other soldiers had left. Ceceta wrapped her arms around her chest as she stared at the dusty tables and chairs. There were chains hanging from the walls and ceiling. She shivered. This room reminded her too much of the things she’d seen on Punishment Island.

  Bosternd put his jacket around her shoulders. “I’m sorry we had to use you to catch them. It was the only part of my plan that I, I mean, Rhen, couldn’t stand, but we couldn’t come up with any other way to get them.”

  Ceceta’s thin fingers clasped Bosternd’s jacket tighter. “What is the EFT?”

  Bosternd paused for a moment. “For obvious reasons, I didn’t tell Rhen what the acronym stood for. I told him it was a Thestran term that didn’t mean anything in Surpen.” He stepped closer to Ceceta and whispered, “It stands for Elves for Themrock.” Ceceta squeezed her eyes shut. Bosternd reached out to comfort her, but she stepped away. “They believed that Rhen should be married to an elf. I don’t have proof, but I think the elves’ religious leaders were involved. Ceceta, you will be safe at school from now on. No one will attack you. I promise.”

  Ceceta nodded. She felt numb. The elves had gone after her because she was Neptian. They had probably felt that since Layla was Themrock’s first wife, his second wife should also be elfin. It could be the only explanation. She snorted. They had no idea.

  It took her a few minutes to find the energy to move. Bosternd was there to help her climb the path back to the top of the hill. He chatted along the way, telling her that Rhen was going to blow up the hill and that they’d already chosen a new location for the memorial. When they reached the peak, Ceceta paused. “Rhen’s engagement?”

  Bosternd winced and dipped his head. “I’m sorry about that. We needed to get the elves here. We never wanted to cause you any pain.”

  Ceceta understood where he was going. “He’s not engaged,” she said, just to hear it aloud.

  “No,” Bosternd said. “It was just a way to get the elves here. Rhen doesn’t love anyone but you.”

  Ceceta closed her eyes but opened them a minute later when her friends arrived. They talked non-stop about what had happened while fussing over her. Bosternd stepped back to allow them to escort her to the portal room.

  “The elfin royals have arrived. They personally want to see to the punishment of those responsible for targeting you and ruining your marriage,” Crystam said. “You wouldn’t believe how furious they are. Instead of getting Rhen to join the elves, this group has driven him farther away from them.”

  Latsoh held onto Ceceta’s arm as they neared the portal room. “Are you okay?” she asked.

  Ceceta was trembling. She shook her head. She found she couldn’t speak. Her throat had tightened up so much it hurt.

  Aaron and Sarah caught up to them at the portal. “We are so sorry, Ceceta,” Aaron said. They both looked upset. “When we found out what was happening, we wanted to go after them, but Bosternd told us to wait.”

  “He wanted to use his plan to flush out their organization. He said it was better for us to catch them in the act,” Sarah added. Ceceta was surprised to see tears in her eyes. Sarah reached out for Ceceta’s arm. “I want to apologize to you. I’m sorry that I was rude to you on Crithnians. I had no idea what you were going through.”

  “We all want to apologize,” Aaron added. “We were angry at you, but it wasn’t your fault. We should have done a better job of protecting you. Jack and Shno are with Rhen. He’s been having trouble adjusting to his part in this whole thing. He feels responsible for letting you suffer. They both asked me to tell you that they were sorry for not trusting in you and for not helping you when you were in trouble.”

  “It’s okay,” Ceceta whispered. It hurt her throat to talk. She could feel tears burning behind her eyes, but she wouldn’t let herself cry in public. “It’s not your fault.” There was nothing else to say, so she walked through the portal to return to school. She just wanted to go home to bed.

  Hundreds of students were waiting for Ceceta in the university building and on the lawn outside the Teacher’s Residence Hall. They called out to her, apologizing to her and offering their condolences as she walked down the path to her apartment. Ceceta nodded that she heard them while pushing on, hoping to get to her apartment before letting it all out.

  As soon as Ceceta arrived home, she hastily waved goodnight to her friends, closed the door on them, and then walked into her bedroom to collapse. Within seconds, she was bawling into her pillow. Her marriage, her
life–it had all been ruined by these people, who didn’t know anything. Had they really believed that by separating her from Rhen, he would turn around and marry an elf? She laughed with bitterness at the idea. Themrock was already married to an elf and look how successful that marriage had been. Layla was atrocious. Ceceta cried for hours, until she fell asleep.

  She was woken the next morning by Latsoh, who was giving her something to drink. Struggling to sit up, Ceceta heard Latsoh say, “I hope you don’t mind that I came in. You must have had a fever last night. Are you feeling better now?”

  “Yes,” Ceceta croaked, taking the drink from Latsoh. “Thanks.” The juice soothed her throat. She could tell from the grimace on Latsoh’s face that she looked horrible. Her eyelids were heavy from crying and her mouth felt like it had cotton in it. “So,” Latsoh began. Sitting down on the bed next to her. “What’re you going to do today?”

  Ceceta glanced around her empty bedroom. All of the life that used to surround her was gone. Rhen had always been her life, just as she was his. They belonged together.

  “I’m getting my husband back today,” Ceceta declared, throwing the covers back to stand up. Latsoh let out an impromptu cheer, which made Ceceta laugh.

  “What?” Latsoh asked. “I’m happy for you.” She didn’t add that she was happy for herself as well. She missed Rhen and couldn’t wait to have him around again.

  “I’ve got to change first,” Ceceta told her, staring down at her wrinkled Ventarian priestess robes. Latsoh nodded and together they got Ceceta ready to go.

  When they stepped out of Ceceta’s bedroom, the others were waiting for them in the living room. “Do you want us to come?” Crystam asked, sounding hopeful.

  “Why not?” Ceceta paused then reached out for Crystam and Latsoh’s hands. “Thanks for never giving up on me. I appreciate that you stood by me all these months. You’re the best friends ever.”

  “As are you,” Tgfhi said for all of them. None of them would be where they were right now if it hadn’t have been for Ceceta.

  When they arrived at the University’s portal, Ceceta was confronted with doubt. “Do you think he’ll take me back?” she asked, hesitating before the glowing portal.

  “Please,” Latsoh scoffed. “He’s madly in love with you.” Ceceta laughed and they passed through the portal onto Surpen. The heat was the first thing to hit them.

  “Gods, it’s so hot,” Tgfhi groaned.

  “You wouldn’t mind so much if you wore those tunics, I bought for you,” Crystam told him. She and Latsoh were fine with the heat, but Tgfhi and Erfce, who were wearing Thestran pants and shirts, were already sweating.

  “Stop complaining,” Latsoh told Erfce. “We’re on a mission.”

  They walked down the brightly colored stone hallways, passing rooms painted in the most intense colors imaginable as they headed towards the Surpen royal family’s dining room. Considering the time of day, Ceceta figured Rhen had finished his exercises and was heading to breakfast. When they arrived at the archway that led to the private section of the palace, two guards stopped them. Ceceta couldn’t believe it. “What’re you doing?”

  “You aren’t allowed in,” one of the guards told her.

  Ceceta didn’t recognize them. They both looked young. She figured they didn’t know who she was. Once they learned she was Rhen’s wife, she was sure they’d let her pass. “Do you know who I am?”

  “Yes,” one of the men told her. “You are the Emperor’s ex-wife.”

  Ceceta was floored. “So, let me in.”

  “I’m sorry,” the guard on the right replied. “But we aren’t allowed to let you in.”

  Ceceta’s temper flared. She yelled at them for a few minutes, but when they still refused to let her pass, she marched off to find Bosternd. He would clear things up. She ran into Nk first, as he and his family headed out for a stroll. “Nk,” Ceceta called out, when she saw him. “They won’t let me in to see Rhen.”

  Nk gazed down at Ceceta with a blank expression on his face, although Deirda’s and the children’s expressions said it all. Ceceta was no longer Rhen’s wife, so of course the guards wouldn’t let her into the private section of the palace. Nk had thought that Ceceta would understand that. “Hi, Ceceta.” Trying to change the subject, he said, “That was quite a party last night, wasn’t it? I’m so sorry that we had to use you to catch those bastards.”

  “Nk, I need to see my husband.”

  “Ex-husband,” one of Nk’s children told her.

  “Batnof!” Nk said angrily. Deirda excused herself and quickly took the children away. “Surpen laws, Ceceta,” Nk apologized. “I’d let you in if I could, but technically you’re not a member of the royal family anymore."

  “That’s a stupid law,” Latsoh retorted.

  “True,” Bosternd agreed, walking up behind them. “But it’s still the law and if there’s one thing you must know about us by now, it’s that we never break our laws.” He turned to Ceceta. She looked beautiful, but tired. She was wearing a robe of soft green and had tied her hair back with the white clip she liked. “I’d bend the rules, but it wouldn’t be right since I’m the one who’s supposed to make sure the others enforce them. You understand?”

  “Completely.” She had lived on this planet most of her life and knew how things worked. “Would you please tell him I’m here to see him?” Bosternd and Nk glanced at each other. “What?” Ceceta asked with concern.

  “He’s not really up for company right now,” Bosternd told her diplomatically.

  “What do you mean?” Ceceta searched his eyes. Could Rhen have spent the night with another woman? Did he actually have a girlfriend after all?

  “Well, since you’ve been gone,” Nk began. Ceceta felt her heart drop. “He’s kind of gotten back into the habit, if you know what I mean.” Ceceta was so relieved she laughed. He wasn’t with a woman.

  “The habit?” Erfce asked. Tgfhi hit him on the head then put his hand up to his mouth pretending to smoke. “Ohhh,” Erfce breathed out.

  “He uses it to fall asleep at night,” Bosternd informed them.

  “After you broke up,” Nk added. “It was the only way Rhen could fall asleep, and now he does it every night.”

  “He usually comes out of his room in another hour or two,” Bosternd explained. “Why don’t you go do something? Visit the zoo or go shopping. I’ll tell him you’re here the second he wakes up. I promise.”

  Ceceta thanked them then walked over to a fountain to wait. She sat down on the stone lip of the structure with Latsoh and Crystam while Tgfhi and Erfce left to get them breakfast.

  When they’d finished eating and the sun had risen another few inches in the sky, Ceceta felt they’d waited long enough. She jogged over towards the side of the palace, where Rhen’s bedroom was located, and yelled, “Rhen!” at the top of her lungs repeatedly. When he didn’t respond, she trudged back to the fountain. Plopping down onto the brown stones, she frowned up at her friends.

  “Do you want more to eat?” Tgfhi asked.

  Before Ceceta could answer, Rhen appeared sitting beside her. He was wearing a loose, tan sleeping tunic that had slipped down off his right shoulder, his feet were bare, his hair was disheveled, his eyes looked half-open and he was leaning over onto his knees with his hands under his chin. He yawned and sat up to look at her. “What do you want?”

  Ceceta felt mute. Rhen was gorgeous. She stared at the shape of his face, his sloping lips, his warm, dark eyes, the curve of his neck and his tanned muscles peeking out from underneath his tunic and found she couldn’t respond.

  Rhen misunderstood her silence. He assumed she was there to yell at him for not protecting her. “I know. I should have done more. Let’s talk about it later, though, okay? It’s too early for me to think right now.” He pushed himself off the stones to return to the palace.

  Ceceta reached out to grab his arm, but he stepped away from her. “Please don’t go. I want to thank you for saving my life.”

>   Rhen’s eyebrows raised. “You’re welcome,” he replied with uncertainty.

  “Rhen, I’ve been a fool.”

  “What?” Rhen was confused. “What are you talking about? How were you a fool? You were the victim. I feel…” He was ashamed. He hadn’t protected the one person who meant the most to him in his life.

  “No!” Ceceta barked when Rhen phased away. She ran back around the side of the palace to where his bedroom was located and yelled, “Rhen, it’s my fault we broke up. You told me to ignore them. I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough. It’s all my fault. I was a fool.”

  Rhen reappeared next to her on the gravel path below his bedroom window. He was still dressed in his sleeping tunic, but he seemed more alert now. “It wasn’t your fault. It was my fault. I let you down. I should have helped you when you came to me. I’m sorry.”

  Ceceta shook her head. “No. I fell for what they were doing. I’m sorry. Will you please forgive me? Please?”

  Rhen grew frustrated. Why was Ceceta trying to take the blame? “Ceceta, you have nothing to apologize for. I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry I left you alone.”

  Ceceta reached out to touch Rhen’s cheek as tears welled up in her eyes. She watched the corner of his mouth rise in a half smile. He was so breathtakingly beautiful. Without a second thought, she lunged forward, grabbing him and crushing herself into his body. She kissed him passionately and was rewarded when Rhen’s desires, bottled up within him for way too long, broke free. He groaned and seized Ceceta, wrapping her tightly in his arms. He was so consumed with lust that he lost control of himself and flipped into Themrock.

  Ceceta noticed his shift and pushed back on his chest. “Whoa, love,” she said breathlessly, as Themrock kissed her neck, while blue wisps of power floated out around his mouth. He clutched at her body, pulling on her clothes. “Love, control yourself, you’ve gone blue.”

  “What’s wrong with blue?” Layla snapped, stepping out of Rhen’s back. Themrock was so wrapped up in loving Ceceta that he didn’t even notice Layla. Ceceta glared at her. She didn’t want Layla to ruin her reunion with Rhen. “Go away!” she screamed, while jerking back from Themrock as Layla reached out to scratch her.