by Cici Wickens
The women behind the counter gave him a warm welcome once the door shut. A charming smile graced his face, throwing me off. I hadn’t ever expected a grin like that from him. I didn’t know that he was capable of truly smiling.
He turned from them and met my eyes. I sharply inhale, and my body locks up. His silver eyes bore into mine with an intensity that shook my very core. I find myself unable to look elsewhere until he sat down in front of me and ordered coffee from a waiter who had approached our table. I all but tear my eyes away, trembling from the shock.
Just breathe, I tell myself. King Caesar was here, in the flesh, dressed humbly in black jeans and a comfortable fitting shirt. His hair hadn’t changed though, which is why people were staring. He propped a tall wooden cane against the wall behind us.
The waiter left us, and Caesar leaned back in his chair, hands clasped in his lap. “Good evening.” His voice was low and rolled over my skin in a way that made my insides quiver.
I stare hard at the table, my voice temporarily lost.
“I am sure that you have questions. Ask them.”
I swallow. I don’t want to anger him by being too hasty with my questions. Maybe I should try to start a conversation. A conversation with the man who sent Spiritseekers after you? I internally shake my head, shoving that thought back for now. I’ve got to earn his favor. I need to give him a reason not to kill me and those that I care about. I should be friendly. Treat others how you want to be treated, right?
“I-I see that…you’re wearing normal clothes.” I press my lips together, disappointed in myself. I’m so nervous that I can hardly think correctly. Of all the things I could’ve said, that was the first thing that came to mind.
Caesar sighed. “Look at me.” He ordered.
Tears sting at my eyes. I can’t meet his gaze again. I’m not strong enough. I hate myself for being so terrified of him.
“Look at me.” He repeated, his tone less demanding than before.
Just do it. I hesitantly raise my eyes. He’d dropped his glamour. His shirt was replaced by a finely-threaded golden tunic that conformed to the strong muscles of his biceps and torso. The tunic had been lightly interwoven with dark thread along its neckline and tucked perfectly into his matching pants. A heavy black coat was splayed over his shoulders.
His entire outfit was aglow with an unearthly beauty that took my breath away. His silver hair framed the sharp angles of his face. My face burns when I realize how handsome he is in the flesh. He’s gorgeous. And dangerous, I remind myself, dimming the effects that I feel. There was a small smirk upon his lips, as if he knew exactly what I had been thinking.
“People are going to notice you.” I finally say, gaining more courage as the time passes.
“Yes.” He agreed. There’s a slow ripple over his body. I watch in fascination as the fabric morphs and the colors shift. In a matter of seconds, his attire is humble once more. His eyebrow quirked up at my reaction. “Was that your first time seeing glamour?”
I nod, still in awe.
Caesar shook his head. “You really do not know anything.” His voice was mocking.
I bristle at his comment. “I’ve only just learned about who I am.” I defend with narrowed eyes. No amount of good looks would blind me to his ‘holier than thou’ attitude. “Now, why did you want this meeting? I’ve got better places to be.” My heartrate increases. I’m walking on thin ice here, but I refuse to be talked down to. I have basically made a fool out of myself the entire meeting. I’ve had enough.
The silver in his eyes flashed. “Fine then. No more questions for you. I will get to the point. I wanted to tell you in person that even though Valencia has chosen to recede and give you time to journey to Aurum, does not mean that I plan to. Although you are under her protection for now, when I see my opportunity to kill you I will take it without hesitation.”
I fold my arms, putting all the effort I can into keeping my voice steady. “Have you called off the Spiritseekers for now then?”
The Unseelie King smiled cruelly at me. “Once they have been sent, they cannot be stopped. Unless killed, of course. Your little friend has taken care of two of them. Only one remains. For both our sakes, and your loved ones, you would do well to avoid the last Spiritseeker. If you are killed, Valencia would know of my involvement, and that would make things very difficult for me. In fact, she might even have my head. But not before I would pay my visits to your loved ones.”
I look at him incredulously. “How am I supposed to avoid it? You should kill it yourself. Clean up your own mess! It isn’t my fault you acted without her consent. Why should me and those that I care about have to suffer because of it?” I ask angrily. I briefly wonder who he’s referring to as my friend. But then fury surges through me. For a crazy moment, I want to lunge at Caesar and strangle him.
“That is the life of pawns I am afraid.” He said with a simple wave of his hand. I can tell that he enjoyed getting me riled up. It pisses me off even more.
I’m filled with a clear resolve. One that excites me yet terrifies me more than anything I’ve ever felt.
I will not continue to be a pawn.
I will become a queen.
✽ ✽ ✽
“And that’s all that happened?” Minerva’s eyebrows furrowed, as if she had expected something else.
I take a moment to think back on what I had told them, making sure I wasn’t leaving anything out. I had spent more time waiting on him than actually speaking with him, and his message was rather short. After calling me a pawn, he had finished his coffee and left me with, ‘I trust that you won’t disappoint me.’ I internally roll my eyes at his tone, fire resurging inside of me. “Yeah, that’s all.”
“I say it went pretty well. You’re alive, we’re alive, and it’s over.” Blaze input.
Janelle had seemed distant from the conversation, as if she had other things to worry about. She was usually more talkative, in her weird way, but today she seemed detached. She was so engaged when hearing about the meeting before, but now she was focused more on scrubbing her counter.
“What do you think about it, Janelle?” I question.
She stopped what she was doing and looked up, her blue eyes seemingly confused for a moment. “You said he could not call off the Spiritseekers?” She asked.
“Well apparently, there’s only one now.” I think back to how he mentioned a ‘friend’ of mine. I have no idea what he’s talking about. “But yeah. I can’t let it kill me, or we’ll all be in danger again.”
“We’ll all be dead.” Blaze clarified.
Minerva knocked him in the shoulder, not liking how easily he wrote off their lives. I think she just didn’t want to accept how grave the situation really was.
“You must be careful. Spiritseekers are gruesome creatures. They can kill you without physically damaging your body. Hence the name Spiritseekers. They attack the spirit within us. Hence the name Spiritseekers.” Janelle informed. “And whatever is out there killing the monsters is probably a monster of itself. Just because it is eliminating your pursuers does not mean that it is not pursuing you too. Stay on your guard and be careful Princess, for all our sakes. Stay on your guard.”
I swallow, considering her words. She was right. “How do you defeat a Spiritseeker?” I ask.
Her lips drew into a thin line. “That, I do not know.”
I put a hand to my forehead, silently cursing Caesar for leaving me with such a difficult task. Minerva pulled me into a warm hug. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Me too. I’m glad we all are.” I whisper into her dark hair.
I stay at their house for a bit after talking about the meeting, because Minerva complained about how I hadn’t been over in a while. We mostly talked about school and simple stuff, while occasionally watching Blaze play video games. It didn’t distract me from everything else though. Not like usual. I was too busy thinking about how weak I had felt when talking to Caesar. So miniscule that he could wave me
off as if I were nothing and mock me as he saw fit. It infuriated me. I had to get stronger. Yes, I had been training with Trace every day after school, but even he said that my body couldn’t handle my abilities yet. That meant that I needed to be doing more. From now on, I would do some personal training of my own. In fact, that’s what I needed to be doing right now. Not wasting time watching video games. I push myself off their couch.
“I better get home.” I say.
Minerva looked like she didn’t want me to go, but I had already made my way to the door. “Be safe.” She called after me.
I’ll admit that I speed the whole way home. The last thing I wanted to encounter was a Spiritseeker, and what Janelle said about whatever was killing them only made me more uneasy. I don’t know if I should hope that it does kill the Spiritseeker, or that the Spiritseeker would keep it occupied. My heart rate was spiked. I was freaking myself out.
I park my car in its usual spot, but I’m hesitant to get out. I watch the edge line from my driver’s side window, recalling the times where I had felt something watching me or saw something move. Had it been the Spiritseeker the whole time, or the thing killing them? Could it be watching me now? Waiting to strike? I swallow.
I fling open my car door, quickly making my way into the house while casting wary looks over my shoulder. My dad had been at work all day—I haven’t told him about the meeting. I’m waiting for the right time—and still hadn’t made it home, so I start a brief search through the house to make sure that nothing had snuck in while I was away.
Satisfied with the first floor, I sneak upstairs and nearly jump out of my skin when someone came out of one of the rooms. I clutch my chest. It was just the maid.
“I’m sorry dear. I didn’t mean to scare you.” She crooned.
I had honestly forgotten about her. In fact, this is the first that I had seen of her since the day we moved in. I shake my head at myself. This is ridiculous. I can’t let paranoia be the death of me. “I’m just a bit jumpy. No worries.” I mutter, closing my room door behind me.
I slump down against the door for a moment to gather my bearings. I think about going for a run, but I’m too afraid to go out alone. Instead, I change into some exercise clothes and start with pushups. The image of a smirking Caesar makes it easy to keep going.
Chapter 44
Reviving Me on Valentine’s Day
Iris
I wake up to a familiar smell…roses. For a moment, I think that I’m back home, helping mom water her flowers. The ache of my sore muscles from the intense exercise I had been doing for the past two days remind me that’s not the case though. I turn on my side to see a bouquet of velvety red roses sitting on my nightstand. I inhale their sweet fragrance, grinning sleepily. There’s a small, pink box in front of the vase. I sit up and open it. “Aww.” I fan at my eyes, determined not to cry. I had forgotten all about that bracelet and the tradition that came with it.
Inside was a small rose charm. My mom had started the tradition when I turned thirteen. She had given me a thin golden bracelet with a single heart on it. Every Valentine’s Day after that, she bought me another charm to attach to it. My father had apparently decided to carry on the tradition.
I lean over and tug on the drawer of my nightstand. I feel around inside until my hand closes around a rectangular jewelry box. I dig through it for a few moments, trying to find it. I’m ashamed to admit that I had only worn the bracelet a few times through the years, much to her disappointment. But she continued to buy a new addition for it every year. I had been embarrassed by the silly charm bracelet she had bought me. I thought that I was above something so childish. I wish that I would’ve worn it every day now.
Finally, I find what I’m looking for. I pinch the rose’s hook open and latch it onto the bracelet beside the other charms. There are six charms on it now.
I wrap the bracelet around my wrist and clasp it shut before getting out of bed. I slip a robe over my pajamas. My turn. I pad over to my closet and pull out the present that I had managed to snag for him the other day online. I grin widely as I grip the handles of the gift bag and start making my way downstairs. I have always gone out of my way to buy him the cheesiest and most sarcastically lame gifts a daughter could give to her father. It was kinda my thing.
He was at his usual place, sitting in the living room with coffee and a newspaper in hand. He glanced at my wrist and gave me a big smile. “I see you’re wearing the bracelet.” His hazel-brown eyes traveled down to the bag in my hands. “Ah, is that my cheesy Valentine’s Day gift?” He inquired and set his newspaper to the side.
“The one and only.” I say while handing it over.
I watch in expectation while he pulls a t-shirt from beneath the wrapping paper. He chuckled to himself. “Really? This might be the corniest one yet.” The shirt literally read, ‘This is the shirt my daughter got me for Valentine’s Day.’ I knew it was the one as soon as I saw it. “I’ll be sure to wear this on Christmas.” He remarked with a twinkle in his eye.
I laugh at his comment. “Can’t wait.”
“Well, are you expecting anything from anyone at school today?” My father asked with a raised brow.
“Not really.” I admit, slightly put off by the idea that I didn’t have a Valentine’s crush. Even Jen was hoping to get something. Minerva didn’t care though, so I guess I’d join her in the single party.
“Good.” My father said, not at all unhappy for me. I frown at his dismissal. “You’d better start getting ready for school.”
I look around at everyone who had already been showered by their valentines. Girls were carrying bouquets of flowers, chocolates, and stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes. I think Trace had outdone them all. He got Dara a teddy-bear the size of her, along with some other things. She made sure that everyone saw it too.
“I didn’t think the guys at Shady-Pete High had so much character.” I joke.
“I didn’t either. It’s so sweet.” Jen gushed.
“It makes me want to throw up.” Minerva pretended to barf.
“Oh, you know you wish you had a valentine.” I tease.
She rolled her eyes, but the ends of her mouth drew up into a grin.
We stop talking when we see Thomas and Ron headed our way, and they aren’t empty handed.
“Oh god.” Minerva moaned, wiping a hand over her face.
Jen’s face was as red as I had ever seen it, and I found myself smiling from ear to ear. Thomas handed me a pink bouquet of roses and handed the yellow ones to Minerva. Ron gave Jen a dozen of red roses and a nice-sized box of chocolates, which had his number written in permanent marker at the top. I finally put two and two together. Guys with bright smiles and who always know the right thing to say, huh? He did fit the description. I remembered how her dad didn’t approve of the ‘mystery guy’ and could only hope that he would look past his ignorance and get to know him.
“Happy Valentine’s Day ladies from me and Ron!” Thomas said excitingly. “I bet you thought that you weren’t getting anything today.” He grinned.
“You guys are the sweetest, I swear.” I say, hugging them both. I give Minerva a look when she doesn’t make a move to do the same.
“I guess you two are alright.” She muttered.
Thomas pulled her into a squeezing hug before she could fight him off. “Hurry Ron, take the picture!” He laughed.
Ron had already had his phone out and ready, as if they planned the whole thing. I heard the camera snap a few shots before Minerva was able to push Thomas off.
“Actually, I take back everything I just said.” She grumbled, and we all laughed.
✽ ✽ ✽
The rest of the school day had flown by. I didn’t see any signs of Blaze all day, and I couldn’t help but feel bad for him. I hope that he wasn’t avoiding today because it was Valentine’s. It wasn’t the kind of day you wanted to spend alone. You should at least be with friends.
When I pull into our driveway, I notice a red
truck already parked. My dad was home too, and he was already making his way towards me.
“Hey!” He said, nearly smooshing the flowers that Thomas and Ron had gotten me between us. “Cam is inside the house. He brought you chocolates. I know you can’t eat them but just take them anyways. You don’t want to hurt his pride.” He said more quietly since we were pressed together.
I give a slow nod back, amazed that Cam had driven so far to give me chocolates. Today was just surprise after surprise. I shoulder my backpack again and stand a little straighter. This was so unexpected. Butterflies begin to flit around in my stomach. I walk into the house, and Cam quickly stood up from the couch.
“Iris! Hey.” He ran a hand through his curly black hair. “Happy Valentine’s Day.” His mood seemed to damper when his eyes landed on the bouquet of roses that I held in my hands. I realize how it must look from his point of view. Heat rushes to my cheeks because of the uncomfortable predicament.
“Wait. Do you have a boyfriend?” He asked.
“N-no!” I recover. “These are from my friends, Ron and Thomas. They got Minerva and Jen flowers too.”
His voice sounded skeptic. “They were the ones that were here on your birthday…right?”
“Yeah, that’s them.” I find myself glad that he remembered.
“Good.” He sounded relieved. “I know it isn’t much, but I got you some chocolates…and this.” He held out the chocolates and a small stuffed teddy-bear with a red bowtie. I take the gifts in my other hand.
“Thank you.” I manage. “It’s adorable.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He grinned.
He followed me to the dining table where I set everything down and take my backpack off. “I wasn’t expecting you at all. I’m surprised you came all this way to give me something on Valentine’s Day.”
I swear I see a little pink in his cheeks. “Yeah, well. I guess I couldn’t help myself.”