by N. J. Cooper
“Actually, your Majesty. That’s not true as of yesterday.” Shemar admitted, his body tense. Kyla smiled and pulled up the sleeve on her white jumper. It had a bright red, blistering centaur brand on her wrist. Zarek gasped as did the few who could see what she was exposing.
“Shemar took the vote yesterday and the centaurs agreed to let me into their Elder Council. I protect the realm, same as them and we thought it would be beneficial if I was one of them.” Kyla admitted trying not to grin as much as she wanted to.
“Not just that, King Zarek. Orion willed it.” Shemar added and handed over the piece of paper that Orion had written on for Shemar, in case he didn’t make it through the prophecy. It said that he wanted Kyla to be accepted as one of them, that he believed the centaurs were meant to honour her as one of them and that she needed them as much as they needed her. Zarek read it over then handed it back to the Elders as everyone sat silently, waiting for a verdict.
“The centaur speaks the truth. It is willed. She is an Elder.” One of them admitted after reading the note and then passing it on.
“But she is not an Elder on the sorceress and sorcerer Council.” The Queen snapped, knowing that if Kyla got onto the High Council then she would logically be next on the list for the marriage to Zarek, but what the Queen didn’t realise, was that it wouldn’t matter because Lena wasn’t going to pass the tests. The Queen was going to fail and get arrested and then Zarek could have her whether she passed the tests or not. The only reason she had to be there was to make sure the Queen didn’t cheat and to keep an eye on her, so everything went to plan, well that was Kyla’s reason. Shemar had said it would help because then they will see how much she does for the realm and the realm will allow the union between her and Zarek with no opposition. Kyla sighed and turned to Zarek.
“The rules that are recorded for these ceremonies, the ones in the realm records, state that it must be an Elder, it does not say it has to be from that Council in particular. I checked.” Kyla said.
“It is implied!” The Queen raged. Kyla shrugged.
“But it is not written.” She spoke back and looked to Zarek who was glancing between them. Finally, he sighed and looked over the crowd.
“Kyla is a centaur Elder, on their High Council and as the rules have not been written to include specifics, she will compete in the Elder Trials.” Zarek announced. Kyla grinned and joined the row of Elders before the crowd half clapped and half dropped their jaws.
“Your nominees, Velatem. Let the Elder trials begin!” Zarek announced as the Crowd erupted in cheers and claps. The Queen leaned over to Kyla, her whisper falling on her ears.
“Your cunning plan to expose me will fail because I won’t, Oracle. I have been acting for years and this is just another performance.” The Queen spat before following the others in a line from the stadium, waving to the crowd with an innocent smile. Kyla refused to respond, in case her voice gave away how much the Queen’s words affected her. She hoped everything went okay but if it didn’t, then she had just given the Queen the power to control Imperium. Kyla shuddered and followed everyone back through to the halls of the mansion where they were each directed to their individual rooms.
Kyla’s room was beautiful, white and gold of course, with a bed and a dresser against one wall and a small bathroom attached. On the other wall was a kitchenette that was stocked with coffee as if they had personalized the room for her. That was proven more when she saw the note on her bed next to her things that she had brought with her.
“Kyla Alexis Rhodes: Centaur Elder competing in the Elder Trials for High Council position: Imperium.
This is your room for the duration of the trials. Tomorrow begins the humanity category, then morality then loyalty. You are to join the other competitors in the grand hall when the alarm goes each morning.
You are free to wander the mansion grounds, but you may not leave beyond there to ensure you are not harmed or late. Meals will be delivered.
Once all three trials, practical and theory have been completed, your name will be called in the Announcement Ceremony and the King will watch the results for the first time with the rest of Velatem.
Enjoy your stay at the Royal Mansion, and please don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.”
The note was polite and helpful, and she was grateful but all she could think about was that for the next three days, she was allowed to roam the mansion whenever and wherever she wanted. Of course, she had to be at the hall for the trials, but they weren’t until the following day. Kyla grinned and left the room in search of her King.
~ 14 ~
Kyla made it a few steps out of the door when Zarek was catching up to her, pushing her back into her room, his lips falling on hers as he shut the door behind them. Kyla chuckled against his eager mouth then wrapped her arms around his neck as he pushed her closer to the bed. He climbed over her, tugging at her clothes as she pulled his from his body, her lips going back to his. She sighed as he pressed his lips against her neck, and she relished in the heat of his skin against hers. She let him take away all her worries and help her forget everything else that was outside of their time together.
Hours later as they laid wrapped in her bedsheets, her head leaning on his naked chest, his arm under his head as the other drew patterns over her lower back she sighed.
“I missed you.” She whispered, kissing his ab.
“I needed you. I’m so out of my depth with all this stuff. New Elders, names in the ballad that shouldn’t have been in there, broken rules and this insane amount of power I can feel burning through me; it’s a lot.” he admitted. Kyla swallowed hard, hating that she had contributed to his stress.
“I’m sorry.” she apologized. He sighed and sat up as she wrapped the sheet around her chest and sat up with him.
“Kyla, how did those names get in there? I get you are an Elder but why do you want to compete? It’s created such a divide through the realm as to whether you deserve it or not and I don’t know what to do about it.” He ran frustrated hands through his hair. Kyla shrugged.
“Why shouldn’t I? I want to be able to protect this realm even if Onyx is gone. There are still those who want to hurt the monarchy and I still see them. I need to help the centaurs do that and it seems that would be easiest to do from the High Council” Kyla explained leaving out the bit about spying on the Queen and needing the realm to see her so she could be with Zarek.
“I guess but why my mother? Who thought to put her name in there and why? It doesn’t make sense. You know with her on the High Council, she will never vote for our union.” Zarek said, his face full of worry and sadness that she wished she could erase permanently, and she was trying.
“Whoever did it must have had a good reason, Zarek. They wouldn’t have done it without one. And we will be together. Your mother might not pass anyway.” Kyla added with a shrug. Zarek frowned at her.
“Of course, she’ll pass. She’s the Queen, Kyla. Well she was and that means she has always acted for the realm, she’ll fly through.” Zarek leaned his head against the headboard, clenching his eyes shut. Kyla shook her head.
“You don’t know what happened when your mother wasn’t with you, Zarek. Maybe she won’t pass.” Kyla urged but she was being too pushy and Zarek was becoming suspicious. He eyed her with another frown.
“Do you know something about this Kyla? Please tell me this wasn’t your doing.” Zarek begged, grabbing her hand. Kyla couldn’t directly answer him with a lie so she ommissed.
“You trust me, don’t you?” Kyla tried. Zarek pursed his lips then nodded, “Then trust that I know what I’m doing okay? You are King now, just concentrate on that and learning to use your powers and trust that I will take care of everything else. I won’t let anything happen to you, Z.” Kyla promised. Zarek pulled her into him, kissing her softly before holding her face close to his.
“I should be taking care of you, not the other way around.” he whispered. Kyla smiled and shook her head softl
y.
“The Queen protects her King. Everybody knows that.” Kyla replied, leaning in to kiss him again. He pulled back and smiled half-heartedly.
“This isn’t chess, Kyla.” He said but she shook her head and silenced his protests with her lips.
“Shh. Just let me have you while I can. I only get you for three days, in between tests but do you really want to spend that time talking?” Kyla teased. He grinned and kissed her, pulling her over him so she straddled his waist and they distracted each other from the outside world.
The next morning, Kyla showered and dressed in the white dress they had left for her. She bit her lip as Zarek wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck from behind before he rested his head on her shoulder.
“You okay?” he asked. Kyla nodded.
“Yeah, I think so. I’m just nervous. What are the tests going to be like?” She asked.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never done them. But this is the humanity one, and you are the most human of us all so I’m not worried. Just be yourself Kyla. Don’t overthink what you need to do and make decisions as you normally would, the test will know if you go against what you would normally decide anyway.” He revealed. Kyla gasped and turned to him. That was new information and meant she may just have a chance at beating the Queen.
“Wait. So say someone was acting, was trying to trick the test into thinking they are choosing the right thing but really they would choose the wrong, the test will know? And show it?” Kyla asked. He nodded with a frown.
“Yeah, exactly. Why? You aren’t going to try and fake the test, are you?” he demanded. Kyla shook her head with a grin.
“Of course not. I just think that is a good idea. I didn’t realise that was a thing. But why didn’t it pick up on the others when they did the tests then?” Kyla asked. Zarek shrugged.
“Because they were good when they were chosen. They had every intention of being the best for the realm when they were submitted to the tests. Onyx changed them, got to them like the leader of a cult and trained them to think our way was wrong.” Zarek admitted quietly. Kyla nodded in understanding and snuggled into him. She didn’t have much longer before he would be back in King mode and leading her to where the others would be waiting to do their tests.
“I’m sorry.” she said automatically, truly sorry he had to go through this just after his father had died and he had taken on so much responsibility.
“It is what it is. Just help me fix things, Kyla. Pass these tests and get on the High Council, then we might have a chance.” he sighed. Kyla nodded.
“That’s the plan.” she whispered against him before an alarm blared. They pulled apart and reset their clothes. Her white dress was plain with a tight chest, shorter sleeves and a wavy skirt to it while Zarek wore his King robes. He went to the door and opened it for her, and they made their way to the room where everyone else was waiting by what looked like a dentist chair. Two females with short, slicked back hair and trays in each hand stood next to it as another was by a computer. Cameras covered every inch of the room as all the participants were in white clothes of their own. The Queen was wearing a gold crown, gold make up and looked poised and ready to take centre stage. She sat down at the edge of the bench that the other Imperium area contestants occupied as Zarek moved over to the microphone that had been set up on the side.
“The broadcast is about to go live your Majesty.” A centaur said from the side as Shemar hovered close. Zarek nodded as the room fell into silence and the broadcast came on.
“Velatem Realm. This morning marks the beginning of the Elder trials. We have the humanity test up first, with the vampires beginning momentarily. We will be broadcasting each nominees’ reactions and tests, but we will not show the results until all tests are done, in the final ceremony that will be four days long. First day, vampires. Then giants, goblins and finally Imperium. Now, we will call the first vampire to take the test. Good luck, nominees and remember to think of the realm.” Zarek announced then stepped away from the podium as the first vampire on their seating, stood up and went to lie in the chair. He was handed a serum from one of the trays, that was a purple swirling mixture that he took down in one go, before leaning back as the other staff helped connect wires and a head piece to him. Kyla fidgeted nervously as the tests went on. One after the other, vampire and goblin, then the giants who laid on the floor for theirs and finally it was Imperium’s turn. The other two were first. Then her and then the Queen. She didn’t want to be nervous, she wanted to look as cool, calm and collected as the Queen, but her stomach was turning. Each nominee had come away with a smile but pale and shaking. Was she going to be that weak? One had collapsed and she didn’t want that to happen to her. What the hell happened for them to be so wiped out? They took the first serum, went under for about fifteen minutes and then the next serum where they were gone for about the same amount of time. They had been offered food and drink during the process, but Kyla had refused, she didn’t want to have anything in her stomach that she could throw up afterwards. The first two sorcerers went, and she rubbed her sweating palms against her thighs.
It was her turn. She took a deep breath, barely able to hear her name being called.
“Good luck, Oracle.” The Queen sneered sending another nervous tingling through her. Kyla laid down on the chair and blinked rapidly as they began connecting wires. Her hand shook as she reached forward for the serum, bringing the small cup to her lips. It was bland and tasteless; which she hadn’t expected with the texture of thick oil. She swallowed and leaned back as Zarek announced her to the realm as the Oracle and Centaur Elder. She took a deep breath then forced herself to relax as just like the others, they counted down and then the lights went out and her mind was pushed through a thick, suffocating darkness. But that actually made her feel better. She had been put through the black hole of a vision, so many times that the familiarity of the simulation was actually welcome. Her body dropped into a street that was quiet and beaming with sun. It seemed abandoned with no one else around, when slowly beings began manifesting around her. Including Sky and Wyatt. They sat next to her at a table outside a café that was now bustling with people. Her friends sat there with cups of coffee in their hand as Sky laughed at something Wyatt said. Kyla frowned and looked at them as they turned their green eyes to her.
“You okay, Kyla?” Sky asked. Kyla nodded and frowned. What was she meant to be proving by having coffee with her friends?
“Yeah, I’m just trying to work things out.” Kyla said absent minded as she looked at their surroundings. Everyone was going about their business, doing their own thing. Finally, Wyatt sighed and stood from the table.
“C’mon we have to go. We’re going to be late for work, Kyla.” Wyatt said. Kyla frowned but stood.
“Where do we work?” Kyla asked.
“Uh, with the centaurs. It’s our shift at the mansion in like two minutes. You feeling okay?” he asked as if he really was there. Kyla raised her eyebrows, she worked at the mansion with Wyatt and with the centaurs?
“Kyla’s always that weird, Wyatt.” Sky laughed then stood as well, “I have to get back to the court room anyway. I’m pretty sure King Zarek is going to be judging this ghoul guilty which means me and Kasyn have to take him through the Shadow Realm to the Outlands.” Sky admitted. Kyla didn’t get it. How was she meant to be being tested for humanity? Was she meant to agree or disagree? Kyla sighed in frustration and looked around them again, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But Zarek had said not to overthink things, so she went along with the simulation.
They walked back towards the mansion and Kyla was about to ask about Wyatt and their pretend lives when there was a scream. Kyla turned to the noise and gasped as she saw a small boy huddled against the glass window of a building, tears streaming down his face as he wailed. His pale face and blood red eyes told her he was a vampire and then his fangs popped out and she halted. She wasn’t sure whether she was meant to help. Whether she was meant to g
o to her shift at the mansion because she was guarding or whether the boy was her test. Kyla bit her lip as the boy’s cries got louder before Wyatt touched her shoulder. She spun to him. His face was close, his features were placid as her surroundings became darker.
“What will you do, Kyla?” He haunted. Kyla frowned and looked at the boy who seemed lighter than her surroundings then back at Wyatt who had the mansion behind him.
“That’s what I have to choose between? Going to work late or checking on the vamp?” Kyla asked with a frown, it seemed too easy, but Wyatt nodded once and stood back. Kyla didn’t hesitate, she stepped forward to help the boy who must have only been about seven, if that when there was a roar from the mansion. A defeaning growl that was followed by screams in the mansion and she frowned. She was meant to be protecting the mansion, that was her job and if she was late, they might die. Zarek might die. But she didn’t know what was wrong with the boy and he might be killed by the time she got back. Frozen, Kyla looked towards Wyatt who was still placid.
“What is your decision?” Wyatt echoed. Kyla didn’t have time to contemplate so she followed Zarek’s advice and stopped using her head, using her heart instead. She ran towards the boy.
“What’s wrong?” She asked quickly.
“I’m hungry. I can’t find my mom. I’m so hungry.” He whimpered. Kyla cursed under her breath then looked over at the mansion that was still crumbling. She held her hand out to the boy.
“Drink. Take enough to sustain you. Then we’ll find your mom.” She said. He smiled and bit through the flesh of her wrist and as he drunk, she closed her eyes and concentrated. She focused on the mansion and Zarek and the cries, her mind throwing her into a vision that landed her in the mansion with everyone screaming and running from the ghoul that was meant to be being banished. Kyla bit her lip; it was happening in the present so she could affect it and she had never been more grateful.