by Todd, E. L.
“I love you so much,” she continued. “I’m so sorry.”
Zyle wanted to wake her up, but he refrained from touching her, unsure what he should do. It was obvious Accacia was in pain but perhaps she didn’t want the dream to end. Before he made his decision, Zyle felt the emotion disappear from Accacia’s mind. The dream was over. Accacia stopped crying and fell into a dreamless slumber. Zyle wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her hair, comforting her in a silent way. He understood her feelings for Aleco even though it did nothing to eradicate his jealousy. Zyle wished Aleco would leave her heart. It belonged to him now.
Canu
53
“The sun is rising.” Accacia sat up in bed to see the sun shining through the window, but Zyle pulled her back to bed. He hadn’t released his hold on her the entire evening. They had made love all through the night, never stopping for rest or replenishment. Zyle only allowed Accacia to rest for a few hours before he woke her again, kissing her body and having his way with her. Accacia felt exhausted by the lack of sleep, but Zyle seemed rejuvenated by their evening together. He climbed on top of her. “We still have time.”
Accacia pushed him away. “We need to get ready. You haven’t prepared at all, Zyle. Do you even know what you are going to say?”
Zyle smiled. “What is there to prepare for? I am already the monarch, and this is just a public ceremony. The Asquithians aren’t going to demand a new election if my speech isn’t perfect, Accacia.”
Accacia walked into the closet and saw the elegant dresses the hung along the rack. Zyle had placed a jewelry box in her room and stored beautiful necklaces and earrings within the case, knowing she would love them. He inserted dozens of fine clothes and jewelry into the closet to make up for their earlier fight. He hoped it would encourage her not to run away from him again. Accacia walked back to the bed and kissed him. “Thank you.” She smiled.
“You’re welcome.”
Zyle watched Accacia sort through the dresses in the closet. She seemed tired but energized at the same time. He wondered if she remembered the dream she had. “Did you sleep well?”
“I don’t recall getting any sleep,” she said with a smile.
“I let you rest for a few hours,” he said. “You don’t remember?”
“Vaguely,” she said without turning around.
“Did you have any dreams?”
Accacia turned around. “Not that I recall. Why do you ask?”
Zyle rose from the bed and walked out of the room. “I was just wondering. You don’t seem to have nightmares anymore.”
Accacia rummaged through the wardrobe until she selected a sapphire blue dress that fit tight around her waist and trailed to the floor. She found matching earrings in the jewelry box and began to prepare for the ceremony. “No,” she said. “I haven’t had a dream in a very long time.”
Accacia gathered her filthy clothes from the floor. When she grabbed the pants she had been wearing the other day, her necklace fell out of the pocket and dropped to the floor. She grabbed the capsule and stared at it for a moment. She hadn’t worn it since the Master Challenge, realizing it was time to let go of Aleco and move on. Accacia felt the absence of the necklace every day. She still reached up to caress the capsule that wasn’t there, forgetting she had removed it. She decided to put it on again. Just because she was in love with Zyle didn’t mean she had to forget about Aleco. Now he could be a happy memory. That’s exactly what Aleco wanted.
Zyle returned from the sitting room with Koku and Pia on his shoulders. The birds chirped when they stared at her, expressing their approval at her appearance. Zyle’s eyes widened at the sight of her. “You—look—breathtaking,” he said. He stepped towards her with his hands outstretched. “No one is even going to look at me now.” He grabbed her dress and began to untie the material.
She slapped his hand away. “Later.”
Zyle frowned.
Accacia stared at him. He was wearing a dark blue vest that matched her dress, and it complemented his light blue eyes perfectly. He wore plain black pants with his red sword belted at his hip. He looked beautiful. She recalled the first time she had seen him and how she stared at his captivating appearance. As soon as she met him, she was drawn to him. She wondered why it took her so long to realize how much she loved him. Even if Zyle had never told her they were soul mates, she would have realized it on her own—eventually. She repeated the same words she had said to him a year ago. “You are beautiful.”
“Well, I am your other half,” he said with a smile. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes.”
Pia flew to her shoulder then nibbled on her blue earrings, attracted to the gleam of the metal in the sunlight. Zyle extended his arm to her and she took it. “Let’s get this over with,” he said. “I want to go back to bed.”
Accacia rolled her eyes. “We have our whole lives, Zyle.”
“Exactly,” he said. “So we need to utilize the time we have left.”
Accacia watched Zyle from the side of the stage. He stood tall with squared shoulders and a beautiful smile was plastered on his face. She watched him in awe. She was proud of her life partner and everything he had accomplished in his lifetime. The ambassadors each blessed Zyle in turn, stating that they supported Zyle as the new monarch.
Zyle turned towards the Asquithians at his feet. They clapped and cheered at their new monarch, a warrior and healer who would guide them for the years to come. Zyle smiled at their enthusiasm. “I am honored to stand before you today, not just as your king, but as your equal. Every decision I make will always be in the best interest of society, not one of personal desire. Your well-being is always in my heart.” Accacia shook her head at his words. She couldn’t believe he hadn’t prepared this speech at all, that he was making up the words as he spoke. Even after the sleepless night they just had, he was still able to speak eloquently. His intelligence baffled her. Accacia touched the capsule around her neck, which she did often in thought, and suddenly felt dizzy. She didn’t understand what was happening, but the vision before her eyes became blurry. Zyle turned into a silhouette and disappeared.
What Accacia saw instead made her limbs shake. She saw men, women and children dressed in rags, covered in the dirt from the streets. They were sweating under the heat of the sun, working in mines and building homes. They were creating weapons in steaming forges, the heat burning their skin, almost making it melt. She saw Lydia’s face flash before her eyes. She was clutching Sadie and Vance, who both looked underfed.
The image changed and she saw Aleco, or at least she thought it was him, carrying a woman in his arms into Orgoom Forest. Her belly was swollen with a late pregnancy. The images changed, and Aleco was standing in the guild, instructing the Brothers in the forges. The image changed again, and she saw thousands of Drake’s soldiers galloping across the land towards a destination she couldn’t see. She saw the outer edges of Orgoom Forest burn in fire.
“And I promise that this society will flourish under my command. We will continue the education system implemented by Mikah, and the Battle Academy under Lady Laura’s supervision, and we will continue to function as a prosperous society.” Accacia clutched her chest and almost fell over as the images left her mind. She felt dizzy and nauseated, not certain what had caused the dramatic feeling; the images or the experience itself. Accacia knew what she saw. It was Aleco’s memories, his current memories. She was seeing the events of the Continent. She was happy to know Aleco was alive, but she feared what he was facing. He was obviously organizing an uprising against the king, but it didn’t look like he would succeed.
“Lady Accacia and I realize we lost most of kin in the flood that took the island, but we promise we will return our society to its formal glory.” Accacia wasn’t listening to his words. She tried to balance herself before she fell over. An arm grabbed her waist and steadied her falling body. “Are you alright, Accacia?” Accacia recognized the sound. It was Laura. She guided her off the stage a
nd behind a massive tree, hiding her from the congregated Asquithians.
Laura grabbed her face. “What is it, dear?” Accacia’s eyes remained glossy. Laura shook her gently. “Tell me.” Accacia heard the sound of applause and cheers. She knew the ceremony had ended and Zyle would be searching for her, unable to find her behind the tree.
“Get Zyle,” she whispered. “Bring him to me, please.”
Laura nodded. “Stay here,” she said. “Don’t go anywhere.” Laura returned a minute later with Zyle. Accacia couldn’t see his face, but she knew how frightened he was by the sound of his voice.
“Accacia, what’s wrong?” He noticed the glossy surface of her eyes and the dilated pupils. “Can you see?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“We have to go back to the Continent.” She reached out and felt his shoulders then grabbed his hands. “We have to, Zyle.”
“Where is this coming from, Accacia? Why are you saying this now?”
Accacia felt the Soul Catcher in her necklace. “I can see what Aleco sees. I see the destruction of the Continent. He needs our aid. He has organized an uprising with the people of The Continent, but he needs our help.”
“Accacia, I still don’t understand.”
Accacia tried to calm herself. She was speaking too quickly. “This Soul Catcher doesn’t belong to me. It is his. His memories are still being transported into the stone and I can see them—I see what he sees.”
Zyle was speechless. “I don’t know what to say.” The fact that fragments of Aleco’s soul were still being transferred to Accacia across the world astounded him. He didn’t think that was possible. He had never heard of such a feat.
“Zyle, if you love me you will do this for me. We need to save the souls of our kin and now we have the means. Aleco and the others will help us.”
“Accacia—”
“I will never forgive you if you deny me this.” She squeezed his hands tight, relaying her urgency. She knew how much her words would hurt Zyle, but she had to say them. “Either help me or let me go. I will never speak to you again unless you let me leave. Nothing you say will change my mind.”
Zyle ran his hands through his hair. Laura grabbed Accacia by the hand. “How many people are organized against the king?”
Accacia tried to recall the number. “I’m unsure. He has the support of the guild, which is at least a thousand followers, and then he has thousands of slaves at his command. I don’t know—ten thousand.”
“How many soldiers does the king have?” Zyle asked.
Accacia shook her head. “I don’t know. He has more—much more.”
Zyle turned to Laura. “Do you have Grober’s plant?” he asked. “It should clear her sight.” Laura walked away.
“I don’t care about my sight, Zyle!” She dropped his hands and grabbed his shoulders, shaking his frame. “We need to do something about this.”
Laura returned and handed the plant to Accacia. She chewed the vegetation quickly and swallowed it.
Zyle’s voice turned cold. “We already discussed this, Accacia. Nothing can be done.”
Accacia felt like she would cry. She needed to return to the Continent and help Aleco. He had already accomplished so much on his own, and Accacia knew he needed the aid. She already abandoned him once. She wouldn’t do it again. “Drake will eventually discover the whereabouts of this island some day in the future. When he burns his own Continent to the ground, he will need to find new land for resources. We will never be safe. We need to save the souls of our family and protect the innocent people of the Continent. This is bigger than any of us, Zyle.”
Zyle shook his head.
“If you love me, you will do this for me.”
“That isn’t fair.” Zyle cupped her face and pressed his forehead against hers. “That isn’t fair and you know it.”
“Then do it for Cassandra, Henral, and your parents, anyone you have ever lost. Please, Zyle.”
Zyle looked away from her then crossed his arms over his chest. The tone of his voice changed to one of depression. He knew the reason why she was determined to leave Suaden and return to the Continent. She wasn’t this upset when she found out her family had lost their eternal souls. Zyle felt a prickle of jealousy at the thought. Now that Aleco had a fighting chance to return the Continent to a time of peace, Accacia wanted to reunite with him, continuing their relationship. The thought made him want to die. Zyle was her soul mate, the man she was destined to be with. Not this human. Zyle could care for her in a way Aleco never could. He couldn’t stand the idea of her losing her. “You just want to see Aleco.”
Accacia closed her eyes and breathed a deep sigh. “That has nothing to do with this, Zyle.”
“It has everything to do with it. You knew the fate of the Continent when you left it. The only reason you want to return is because you know he’s alive and now you can be with him.”
Accacia shook her head. “But now I am strong and I have an army to bring with me. If I am able to save my home, then I need to make an effort to try. I am not a coward. I was then, but I am no longer.”
“This is your home, Accacia,” he said. “You belong here—with me.”
“Please, Zyle?” Accacia grabbed his hand and kissed it. Zyle watched her beg before him. “Do this for me.”
Zyle took back his hand. “Do you still love him?”
Accacia sighed. “Take Aleco out of the picture for a moment,” she said. “Would you do this for me if he didn’t exist? Would you protect my people from annihilation and save the souls of our kin?”
Zyle was silent for a moment.
“Now that we have a fighting chance would you do it? It isn’t against all odds anymore.”
Zyle ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “I would consider it.”
She stepped towards him then ran her fingers through his hair, looking into his eyes. She loved Aleco and always would, but she knew she was married to Zyle now. It was her fate to be with him. How could she defy the destiny the gods made for her? And she loved him. How could he ever think otherwise? She wouldn’t have returned his love if she wasn’t going to be loyal to him. Aleco had given her his permission and he would understand her choice, even if he absolutely hated it. “I won’t leave you for him, if that’s what you are concerned about, Zyle. I am committed to you.”
His eyes softened, but the fear was still etched into his face. “How can I be sure? I know how much you love him, Accacia.”
“And I love you more. I’ve fallen madly in love with you this past year. I’m your other half, Zyle,” she said. “What’s more important than your soul mate? I’m destined for you. Take solstice in that.”
“Promise me.”
She kissed him gently, parting his lips with her tongue. When she pulled away, she pressed her forehead against his. “I love you, Zyle. And I promise I am yours forever.” When she kissed him again, she felt his body relax under her oath, her vow to be faithful to him. “Zyle, you are my best friend, you are everything to me. Of course I belong with you—there is no question. I am yours for eternity. Please don’t doubt my love for you.”
Zyle released a sigh of relief. He hugged her to his chest. “Then I will do whatever I can to help you, Accacia. I can’t promise anything, but I will try.”
“What do you mean? You are the king.”
Zyle shook his head. “I can’t lead my people into battle and risk their lives without their consent. It needs to be put to a vote by the ambassadors.” He looked into her eyes. “There is something I forgot to tell you, Accacia. Since I am no longer the Forester Ambassador, you have been elected in my stead. I already told them you would agree.” He watched her lips turn into a smile. “There is no one else better suited for the position. At least now you will have one vote in your favor.”
“I am honored, Your Majesty.”
“That reminds me.” Zyle smiled and dragged her away. “I think we have plans tonight.”
Canu
54
Ambassador Mikah rubbed his temples with his fingers. They had been sitting in a conference for hours in the Tower, arguing about this ridiculous mission. “We already established this decision years ago. There is nothing we can do.” He threw his hand out in frustration and knocked over his cup of tea. It broke into pieces on the floor, but Mikah didn’t notice. “The mission is suicide! Yes, we all loss someone to the Soul Binders, but to risk freeing their souls would eradicate our entire population and send us all to the void with them.”
Accacia picked up the broken pieces and returned them to the table. “No, it would not be a suicide mission. There is an uprising taking place this very moment. If we align ourselves with the others, we could prevail.”
“We could prevail? We are risking our immortality for could?”
Zyle glared at him. He hated the way he was speaking to Accacia, the Forestry Ambassador and the Queen of the Asquithians, his life partner and soul mate.
“Yes, we would be taking a risk,” Accacia said. “But we have a good chance.”
“I don’t gamble,” he said. “Especially with my soul.”
“So you stand beside your vote?” Zyle asked.
“Yes,” Mikah said. “And I’m not going to change it.”
Accacia sighed. Her odds of winning were decreasing by the minute. She didn’t know what to do if she lost. She would have to go to the Continent alone.
Zyle sat behind his black walnut desk in the study. He had traded out Roxian’s white one for new furniture, not wanting to touch anything that ever belonged to her. They carried her belongings to her supervised living quarters so she would have something to occupy her time. Zyle hadn’t visited her once. She had tried to kill his soul mate. The act was unforgivable. He couldn’t care less that she was Cassandra’s sister. He was certain his first life partner would hate her too. Zyle turned to Illanya, the Tree Ambassador. “What is your vote?” he asked. He wasn’t sure what her feelings were on this manner. He knew she lost her life partner and two children in the flood, but she had never spoken of it.