by K.N. Lee
“Well,” he cleared his throat. “Let me explain something to you, Lilae.” He spoke softly. Lilae looked up curiously. He waited for her breathing to return to normal. “My people have waited a long time to be returned to power. I have secured such a power for them. Once we were the strongest of the races, and once again we can feel proud that we are again. The humans can benefit from my rule. I treat them well, don’t you agree?”
He looked at her and his eyes narrowed at the look on her face. Her face was screwed up in confusion.
“Wait…What?”
Kavien made a face. “Which part don’t you get?”
She sat up a little. “You said your people, and then you spoke of humans as if they were separate.”
It hit him. He stared at her, mouth agape. Lilae didn’t know. He shook his head. How could she not know?
Kavien composed himself and sat back on his cushion, waiting patiently for Lilae to sit back up. She returned to her seat, never taking her eyes off of him. He didn’t even know how to begin.
She knew nothing. He should have felt pleased with himself for a perfectly executed plan, but she was supposed to be the Flame. How could no one have told her that they were mortal enemies? Kavien almost didn’t say anything. He didn’t really want to be her enemy, but there was no way he could keep that from her.
Lilae had to know. Maybe then, she would understand. He was named. Perhaps she would figure out what he was going through. He looked at her for a long time. Even with a frown on her face he found her incredibly pretty. He sighed. His shoulders slumped and he sat back against his cushioned back rest.
“You really didn’t know that you are now in the first Mithrani kingdom since the Great War? That we have conquered most of the human realm with little, to no, opposition?”
Her face lost all color. Kavien waited in anticipation. Maybe her ignorance was why she wasn’t what Dragnor had told him she would be. She never knew. Perhaps now, he would see her true colors. He just waited for her to change, to become the villainous beast he had envisioned her to be.
“You,” she began and paused to swallow, “are the Cursed one then?”
Kavien hid the wash of sadness he felt at hearing his title. The prophecies couldn’t have been more accurate in his naming. It was the tenderness in her voice that caught him off guard. The empathy in her eyes stirred his deep feelings of regret.
He knew it. She was not what Dragnor or Wexcyn had told him she would be.
Kavien breathed in. He looked down at his lap. He had no appetite. He knew she watched him, and he felt afraid to meet her eyes.
His mother put her hand on his shoulder. Kavien was young again, a boy of only four. He had just killed his cat, Jinx. He had screamed and wept as he used all of his strength to crush the cat’s throat. The look in Jinx’s eyes would haunt him forever. He hadn’t meant to. He didn’t even want to.
The voice had made him do it. His curse. He cried that day until his eyes were raw. She knelt down and hugged him tight. He could still smell the rosemary oil she used in her hair. It was the most pleasant smell and calmed him. He had loved that cat. He used to smooth its white fur as he fell asleep at night in his little bed beside his mother’s. How could he kill it? His heart wept, but his mind rejoiced at his success.
“Good job, my boy,” it kept saying. He hated the voice, even then. He didn’t know whose voice it was, until Dragnor stole him from his mother’s small home in the south of Eura. Back then, there were only a couple thousand of Mithrani, the descendants of the four Mithrani people that survived the Great War, and the creation of The Barriers. They lived simply. They kept to themselves.
Hidden, in the goblin city, the Mithrani never wanted another war. Wexcyn, however, could care less what they wanted. He would have his war, through Kavien. Now there were millions of Mithrani, thriving, and blending with the humans the way no other race could.
Kavien looked up at Lilae in horror. There were tears trailing down his face. She was watching him, her mouth agape. Her eyes were sad.
Kavien roughly wiped his face. He cleared his throat, and hardened his voice. “You were born to kill me. Do you understand what that means?”
Lilae shook her head. She spoke softly. “I don’t. I never did understand it. I used to follow the law of The Winds. I would only kill those who deserved it. You killed millions of people with your armies. The humans don’t even know what you are. I have seen countless horrors in my life. Results of what you did. But knowing what you are, the Cursed, I can’t help but wonder…do you deserve to die by my hands? Are any of those actions your own?”
The question made his eyes widen. He almost came to his feet. He could have kissed her with joy right then. She understood. No. He shook his head. She couldn’t. It was a trick. It had to be. He couldn’t hope for more.
“What games are you playing,” Wexcyn chimed.
Kavien winced. He could never have more than a few minutes to himself. He growled and came to his feet.
“Take her away,” he said while walking to the window. He needed air- just a moment of peace. Just to get away from her eyes would be a blessing. She was weakening him.
Vasira pulled her up. She walked along with a questioning look on her face. When the door was closed behind her, Kavien stood there for a while contemplating what had just happened. She had just disproved everything he’d been told.
He had been lied to, since childhood. He needed to figure out what he would do with her. As unsettling as what he had learned was, it didn’t matter.
Kavien had made his decision the moment he’d laid eyes on her.
Chapter 40
Lilae was taken from the room. She was confused by what she had just seen. Emperor Kavien was a big man, a big Mithrani man. He had conquered nearly all of Eura, and yet, she was certain she saw regret in his eyes. There was a deep pain in his eyes, a silent suffering that made Lilae feel uneasy.
She was afraid that she would never understand that man. One moment, he was choking her, the next, he spoke tenderly, and actually shed tears. The Cursed. She couldn’t believe it. She’d been there for months already and she would never have guessed that he was the Chosen of the Mithrani. Were the Mithrani so different that she couldn’t tell them apart from humans? Darker skin, bright gray eyes, larger bodies, these were the only things Lilae could differentiate. She wondered what skills they had.
Wexcyn’s greatest weapon. Kavien proved to be far more complex than she could have imagined. Still, his eyes never ceased to make her feel breathless. She hated to see tears in those eyes.
Ugh, she thought in annoyance. How could I feel sorry for him? He will kill me the first chance he gets.
Her stomach itched. Whatever Dragnor carved into her skin bothered her. She spent hours in the harem baths, staring at it, trying to make sense of it. Black symbols were spread across her white flesh. It made her worry every time she thought about it. Dragnor had warned her that he could evoke the spell whenever he wanted. That long night with Dragnor kept her awake in terror most nights.
“What did you do now?” Vasira’s gray eyes bore into her own. Mithrani woman.
Lilae rolled her eyes. She would not speak to that woman. She was responsible for her unjust punishment.
Vasira pursued. “The emperor looked quite upset. What did he say to you?
Lilae pursed her lips, looking ahead. Vasira stopped abruptly and swirled on her.
“You answer me.”
Lilae stared at her blankly. She tilted her head, and blinked, showing the older woman that her words meant nothing to her.
Vasira examined her eyes and pulled back with an exasperated sigh. “Have it your way. Be stubborn while I try to help you. Makes no difference to me.”
She stormed ahead. Lilae frowned. “Help me?” she called after her. “You’ve done nothing but cause me pain. I don’t trust you.”
Vasira didn’t turn back around. She did slow her pacing and Lilae caught up to her. She gave Lilae a sidelong gl
ance. “I never expected the emperor to send you to that elf. Let’s get that clear. He’s never done anything like that.” Her eyes read true. “Tell me, what did the emperor say? Why was he upset?”
Lilae wasn’t sure she trusted Vasira. She never gave Lilae a moment of kindness before, why would she care now?
Lilae spoke cautiously. “He seemed sad. Regretful. I can’t explain it.”
Vasira lifted a skeptical brow. “Sad?”
“Yes. Sad. Something is bothering him. Why do you care?”
Vasira laughed then. “I cannot believe such a thing. I’ve never seen Emperor Kavien sad. Perhaps that is what he wants you to think.”
Lilae never thought of that. What would be his reason for manipulating her? Then Delia’s words came back to her.
It’s not that they want you dead, necessarily. They want something from you.
“Maybe.” Lilae felt defeated. She had almost believed Kavien.
“Is that what you think? Do you think he was being sincere?”
Lilae thought a moment. “I do. But you know him better than me. Vasira, what will happen to me?”
Vasira turned to her. “Nothing good. Unless you try to be as unthreatening as possible.”
Lilae rolled her eyes. “Why do people keep saying that? How am I a threat?”
Vasira shrugged. “How am I supposed to know? You must be someone special or important, to be kept so close to the emperor. That Dragnor though, my god, he hates you. Trust me, I’ve been around for a long time, and I know that Dragnor influences the emperor. Don’t let him convince the emperor to get rid of you. I’d say you’re much safer close to the emperor.” She turned a corner with a smirk. “But what do I know?”
They reached the gardens, and Lilae felt a chill run up and down her body when she saw Sister Eloni waiting by the fountains at the beginning of the garden.
Vasira froze. She put a hand out to Lilae as she gave a low bow. Lilae hurried and followed suit.
“Ah, Lilae.” Sister Eloni smiled big with her arms extended out towards Lilae. “Come.”
Lilae hesitated and stood tall. She did not want to be anywhere near her. She shook her head and looked at Vasira.
“I said come.”
Lilae went closer to the strange woman and stood before her awkwardly. She didn’t know what to do with her hands or where to look.
“I can stay, if you’re not going to require Lilae for long, honored Sister,” Vasira said, still bowed.
Sister Eloni waved her off. “I can return her once I’m ready. Now run along.”
Lilae and Vasira exchanged glances and for the first time, Lilae wondered if she had found an ally in that woman. Perhaps getting Lilae sent to Dragnor changed how she felt about her. Nonetheless, she was left alone with someone she really didn’t feel comfortable with.
Lilae shivered as Sister Eloni put both of her hands on Lilae’s face, cupping her cheeks. She frowned. She would never get used to people just touching her whenever they wanted.
“Oh child, you’re filling out. I am glad to know the emperor has you well fed. You were nothing more than a twig when you arrived,” she laughed lightly as she put her hands on either side of Lilae’s waist.
Lilae cringed and shrunk away from her hands. Sister Eloni’s smile flickered when Lilae stepped away from her. “Something wrong?”
Lilae shook her head. “No. Everything’s fine.” Everything wasn’t fine. She was sure she sensed evil coming from that woman. It was a look in her eyes. If Lilae looked deep enough, she could see a glint of insanity in Sister Eloni’s eyes.
Sister Eloni didn’t seem convinced. She stared at Lilae for a moment. She grabbed a fistful of her hair. “Your hair…it turned gold just now. Why does it do that?”
Lilae hadn’t realized what she had done. She could never hide her emotions. Her anger was showing. She wished she had her cloak, to cover it. “It does that sometimes, when I’m happy.”
Sister Eloni gave her a look as if she didn’t believe her. “Happy Lilae? What are you happy about?”
Lilae didn’t like Sister Eloni holding her hair like that. The woman was pulling it, making her scalp sore, and there was iciness to the woman’s voice that Lilae wasn’t used to hearing. “I hear my brother, the king of Auroria, arrives soon. I am anxious to meet him.”
Sister Eloni nodded, but Lilae could tell that she still wasn’t convinced. Sister Eloni flicked her wrist and before Lilae could blink, she caught something in her small hand.
A stick. No, it was a long, thin, bone. Sister Eloni turned her back. Her long hair brushed the back of her heels.
“And what will you say to him? I trust you’ll tell him how well you’ve been treated. I’m sure you’ll convince him that an alliance between Avia’Torena and Auroria is a wise choice.” She straightened her shoulders and looked up at the moon. “The only choice. You see, it is best for the humans. We will protect them from the other races. Will you do that for me? Convince him of this?”
Lilae nodded, slowly. “I will,” she lied. She would do no such thing. If it was the last thing she did, she would tell her brother the truth. She would honor the dead and protect the living, even if she died for it.
The woman nodded slowly, giving Lilae a hard look. “Do I look like I am stupid to you Lilae?”
Lilae stiffened. Her tone had changed. There wasn’t a shred of kindness.
“What do you think you are doing with the emperor? He is mine. You are mine. I will not have you distracting him.”
Lilae’s hair burned red. She felt something inside spark.
Sister Eloni watched her. “I knew it.” She reached for Lilae’s hair again.
Lilae had enough. She blocked her hand. She swept her other hand across the Sister’s throat. Lilae’s face reddened. She glared down at the stunned woman. Something warned her that she had just made a mistake. Somehow, Lilae didn’t care. She would take the punishment.
Sister Eloni glared back at Lilae. Then her lips curled into a malicious smile. She lifted whatever was in her hand towards Lilae and a haze of light radiated from it. Lilae’s eyes widened. She turned to run.
A jagged purple light shot from the stick. It struck Lilae right in her chest. Lilae screamed. Her hands flew up to her chest to block whatever it was that stung at her heart.
Sister Eloni’s smile turned maniacal. “I don’t trust you Lilae. I want a guarantee that you will do what you are told. I find that pain is usually the best solution, next to kindness. But I can see that you are a sneaky little bitch. You think you can lie to my face?”
Lilae’s body was lifted into the air by the light that cut into her core.
Sister Eloni took deliberate steps closer as Lilae flailed in the air. “I tried to be nice to you. I really did. I thought that maybe we could be allies. Dragnor was right. You should have been killed a long time ago. But no matter, this will surely rip any rebellious spirit out of your body.” She spoke words that Lilae didn’t understand.
The light sent colors all around the garden. It was beautiful, and yet Lilae felt as if she was dying.
The pain shot through her, sending every vein and artery into a screaming torrent. Lilae gagged on her own blood. Her fear intensified as she wondered where the blood was coming from. She saw Sister Eloni below her and reached for her. Lilae wanted to kill her. If only she knew how.
She called her power. When it didn’t respond, her hopes were dashed. The power was truly gone.
Sister Eloni covered her mouth with her other hand, suppressing a laugh. “What are you going to do? You have no power here. You will do as I tell you, or you can die right now for all I care. And I will eat your remains for dinner, with a large mug of your blood,” her lips curled into a cruel smile. “And I will enjoy your youth for an eternity.”
Lilae’s mind raced. She felt nothing but pain. The sound of her own screams was deafening in her ears. Her ears actually pulsated with the rush of blood. Her face felt hot. She thought she might explode, not knowing
if she could stand the pain any longer. Her body felt as if it might break apart.
Lilae saw out of the corner of her eye, something approached. A dark shadow. Dragnor, she thought with tears in her eyes. How could it get any worse?
She fell to the ground. The light from Sister Eloni’s stick instantly faded. Lilae choked on her own blood. She coughed and struggled to breathe. She clawed the ground and tried to pull herself up.
She glanced up. Kavien held Sister Eloni up by her throat. The woman’s eyes bulged. The look in his eyes made Lilae suck in a breath. There was tension in his arms, as his muscles bulged with his strength. He tossed that woman far into the garden. She fell in a crash into a bed of roses.
Lilae crawled away, fearing the woman’s retaliation. She sniffled and climbed onto the fountain stairs.
Kavien stood there, his hands balled into fists as Sister Eloni popped back onto her feet. She flew at him, her magic stick pointed at him, a determined look on her reddened face.
Kavien didn’t move.
Her white hair was wild now, and flapped all around her face. Her glare darkened and she aimed and shot Kavien with a massive blast of light.
Lilae shielded her eyes and ducked. A loud popping sound made her jump. The air flew all around as if a tornado was brewing.
Peeking between her fingers, Lilae saw the blast bounce off of Kavien’s body and return to its sender. Sister Eloni screamed and her own power knocked her down again. He towered over the fallen woman. She looked up at him in anger. A glint of fear passed through her eyes and disappeared, but Lilae caught it.
“You may not harm her. If you put another finger on her, I will kill you.” His voice was calm, yet there was no mistaking how serious he was. He shared a long hard look at Sister Eloni.
Finally, she nodded, still shaking. She panted and climbed to her feet. She turned and flew away. Lilae watched her body disappear into the darkness.
Lilae waited. She was too afraid to breathe too loudly. She was confused by what had just happened. Kavien had just saved her life.
He turned and came directly over to her. Kavien avoided her eyes but his face was troubled. He picked her up with both arms and carried her away. Her blood stained his shirt but he didn’t seem to care. He held her to him and walked towards the palace.