“Christopher, please call me a hooker again, I dare you-…,”
“Fighting, and it’s not even six o’clock.” My mother moved with poise across the living room, already dressed.
I watched as she gathered her long hair to on shoulder, smoothing it evenly away from her face. Everything about Roam Perry was graceful, from her eloquent words to her careful patience. She was so intelligent, but never talked down to me or made me feel inadequate. She always told me I was smart in a way she wished that she could have been at my age; practical and prepared. I still had vague memories of watching her graduate from Princeton University while my dad held three-year-old Christopher in his arms.
She had managed to find a job at my elementary school as a third grade teacher, and then eventually my junior high as the eighth grade history teacher. By ninth grade, I’d begged her not to follow me to high school. She understood, and began teaching virtually for the University of North Carolina. She only had to report to the campus once a month, but otherwise ran her classroom exclusively online.
My father had gone to medical school at that point, and was now in his third year surgical residency at Carteret General Hospital.
And they were… desperately… in love.
And by desperately, I meant all-consuming, do-or-die, Dolce and Gabanna perfume commercial in love. But- oh my God could they argue- which I figured was the only normal part of their relationship. Sometimes, when they fought, I could hear my dad yelling from the other side of the beach about my mom spoiling us (even though it was my dad who bought me whatever I wanted) or my mom shrieking at him about being “stubborn and bull-headed” (that was her favorite.)
But, at the end of the day… The way he would wrap his arms around her from behind and dance with her to some silent song, humming in her ear… or the way she would run and jump into his arms out of nowhere and engage him in a desperate, passionate kiss…
I will never have that with Liam… or anyone.
I wasn’t pessimistic- just practical. My mother truly believed that my dad was her hero… because he was. He swept her away into a magical romance, saved her from the evil rapist king, and kissed her every night with an “I love you, baby.” Every. Single. Night.
He was her soul mate, and she was his.
And all I wanted to do was die… someday.
When my immortality would throw me into depression-mode, I’d retreat to my room with my headphones and my sketch pad. I needed no devices, and the headphones were only a courtesy to my family. Usually, at my very saddest, I’d orchestrate a fervent mix of Billie Holiday and Nine Inch Nails, drafting architectural views of the castle I still saw in my dreams.
Art was my escape from this never-ending existence into a predetermined world. When I would finish a piece, the sense of ending, of completion, helped fill the angsty emptiness of my indefinite, infinite future.
I finally hung up my drama queen crown around fifteen, focusing on my love of drawing. Though my mother had tried her best to peak my interest in other subjects, my father nurtured my need for art. By sixteen, I was copying the photographs in his medical journals, trying every medium at least once. The human body fascinated me.
“The Cleveland Institute of Art has the best program for a Biomedical Art Degree,” he told me at the beginning of the school year, as he helped me fill out college applications. “And you’d have Vi, Logan, and Wynn… Morgan, Jason, and Grandpa Cam would be right there near you.”
My mother finally accepted my passion for art, and began enlarging my work and hanging it all over the house. I protested, especially the ball-point pen sketch of the magnified human femur hanging near the dining room table.
“I am so proud of you,” she had replied defensively, but finally agreed to move the dissection drawings to the non-eating areas of the house.
Now, folded in Logan’s hug, she barely looked twenty-four, let alone thirty-four.
“Is King Will coming down for breakfast?” I yawned, my bare feet sliding on the wooden floor as I walked to the counter.
“We have been up for a while, actually.”
His voice jarred me; I turned as Will and my father walked in from the front door. My father had obviously loaned him clothing; the jeans fit tighter against Will’s thighs and hips, and the white, button-down polo was rolled over his forearms. Unshaven, his dark, shadowed jaw contrasted attractively with his ice blue gaze.
I remembered our conversation from last night. A queen does not flaunt her body. My spaghetti-strapped tank top did little to stop the attention drawn to my cleavage; I reached for my hooded sweatshirt hanging on the back of the couch, slipping it over my shoulders quickly.
“Cold?” He asked me, raising his eyes in amusement.
“Just covering the goods like a proper queen.”
“Queen?” Chris nearly spit his cereal out. “Wow. I’ve heard you call yourself hot, which was merely laughable, but queen? Someone catch her giant head before it falls off her shoulders.”
“Eva, we need to speak to you on the balcony. Christopher, wait here, okay?”
He listened to my father, confused. “What in the heck am I missing?”
“I’ll explain in a little while,” West promised, grasping his son’s shoulder lovingly before ushering me out to the balcony.
Will stopped in the living room, staring at the sketch on the wall. The shadowed drawing of the human heart clashed terribly with the bright living room, but my mom had insisted it belonged. “You did this?”
“Yes,” I lowered my eyes at the admiration in his voice, flushing.
“So talented,” he murmured. I nodded once, amazed that he could flatter the words right out of me. I followed him to the balcony.
The unseasonably warm air left me sweltering inside the sweatshirt. I sighed with irritation, tugging the zipper down slightly.
With Logan and my parents at my side, I felt much more confident facing Will as he leaned against the railing.
“Eva, we’re proud of you for agreeing to go. As much as it… hurts,” West gathered Roam into his arms, pressing a kiss to her head, “We knew this was coming, and we knew you’d make the right decision.”
“Thanks,” I kept my eyes down, toying with the zipper on my sweatshirt. “But when he told me about Christopher being in danger, how was I supposed to say no?”
“That is our fault.” Roam flattened her hand over her stomach, lifting her eyes to West’s. “We were careless to forget that it is our child that brings their sun… any of our children, not just you, Eva.” She looked to Logan, and then back to me. “And…,”
“…and now Christopher’s life is in danger.”
“And yours, Eva.” West crossed his arms, looking between Will and me. “Will told me you agreed to go, but also of your conditions. I disagree. Putting yourself in that position will only start a war. I can’t allow it.”
“What do you mean, you can’t allow it? Do you know the sacrifices I’m making here? If I’m going over there, I expect nothing less than queen.”
“Eva,” my mother reached for my hand, and I allowed her to take it. “Being a queen is not glamorous. The responsibility… the sacrifice, is tremendous. If Will were to marry Gabrielle, you would be in her court, and their ward. You’d be protected, but out of the spotlight. Do you understand?”
Gabrielle… so that’s her name. “I’m sure Gabrielle is nice and all, and I don’t expect them to stop seeing each other… privately,” I pulled my hand away from my mother’s, keeping my eyes fixed on my red toe-nail polish. “But I will rule there. I will have power, or I won’t go. I told you that last night,” I cast a thanks-for-tattling-on-me glare at Will. “Or at least I thought I did.”
“Will has made it clear that he is willing to honor your wishes. He knows the enormous sacrifice that you’re making, and he feels that it’s only right to make one of his own. Your mother and I are asking you to reconsider.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I refuse. I will be in a position
to control those people, or I won’t go.”
“Yeah, I know that look. She means it.” Logan dropped to a chair, sitting back. “You and Violet. Stubborn.”
“Only when I have to be.”
“I’ll marry her the day after we arrive. I only ask for the opportunity to speak to my betrothed and break the engagement.”
I turned to Will, feeling guilty for the first time about my resolute demand. “Will, if you need more time…,”
“We do not have more time. Your parents will want to see you safely through, and then your father must get home to Christopher quickly thereafter. Logan has agreed to stay with Christopher until he returns.”
“What about… Mom?” I turned to her, and she smiled gently.
“I’m going to stay with you, Eva. We won’t leave you alone.”
“No!” I looked between her and my father, shaking my head adamantly. “Absolutely not! I won’t tear you apart, not after all you’ve done to be together. I’ll go on my own- I am more than capable of taking care of myself. You both have to protect Christopher.”
I turned to my father, watching his shoulders fall.
I stiffened. “You knew I would demand to go alone. I will rule these people.”
He nodded, lifting his eyes to me. “Of course I knew. You’re my daughter.”
I hurried into his open arms. “It’s not like a real marriage,” I pressed my face into his shoulder, inhaling deeply. I’ll miss them so much. “Just so I can be… queen.”
“I wish for you to find love, Eva,” my mother wrapped her arms around us both, and I hugged her tightly. “You are a passionate person by nature. But you have to be discreet. If you fall in love with someone…,” she took a deep breath, and I could see the painful memories in her eyes. “An adulterous queen is not tolerated by the people or the kingdom.” Her voice threatened tears, and her hands shook.
“Knights in shining armor aren’t my thing,” I promised, finally blinking back the burning tears. I don’t cry. “I don’t need anyone but myself.”
“Someday,” Will agreed, and I lifted my face to his. “You’ll mature and your needs will change. At that point, I swear to support her… decisions… and allow her to be with whom she chooses.”
“Thank you,” Roam stood, walking to Will. “Please protect her. Please.”
“With my life.”
I listened to his words, my heart pounding in my ears.
Saying good-bye to Chris after my father’s ten minute summary of the prophecy and my role launched him into a skeptical rant. “What? No! Why didn’t you tell me all of this? I don’t believe it- I don’t believe any of it.”
“Hey,” I hugged him, fighting his strength as he tried to pull away. “Christopher, you know that I love you. Take care of Mom and Dad. Don’t let them miss me. The world is so much bigger than you’ll ever know,” I whispered into his ear, and finally, he let me hold onto him. “I’ll miss you, even though you drive me crazy. Logan will tell you more.”
“I love you, too,” he murmured before shoving away to rush to his bedroom.
“Time,” my father promised, ushering us into the car.
I crawled into the backseat of the car, shifting uncomfortably next to Will.
“You’re sure you have normal things there… like toilet paper?”
He lifted his eyes, turning to me. “Well, Eva, we do use leaves. Sometimes, we tear the pages from books.”
Dropping my jaw, I turned quickly to my father in the driver’s seat. His shoulders shook silently.
“Ass.” I responded, under my breath, turning to face the window.
“I’m sorry. Yes, we have modern luxuries.”
“Is the clothing still the same?” My mother asked, and Will nodded.
“Mostly. Gowns are lighter now, due to the heat. Trousers are permitted on common women. My people are given the opportunity to express their individuality.”
“Shorts?” I asked. He turned back to me.
“Shorts?” he repeated, confused.
“You know… like pants, only they stop here.” I drew a line across my thigh. He watched my finger trace the cut-off hem of my short, denim skirt, and the muscles in his neck tightened as he turned to look out the window.
“Absolutely not.”
“I wish I could have seen your mother, just one more time.” Roam turned back to us from the passenger’s seat.
“She spoke of her love for you on the night before she passed.”
I listened, turning to Will. His mother just died?
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I said quietly, reaching for his hand.
He allowed me to hold his fingers in mine for a moment, and then pulled away. “Thank you, Eva.”
I spent the plane ride drafting good-bye texts to Emma and Liam and several other friends. I explained that my father was sending me to study art in France, and I’d be gone for the remainder of the year.
… and their lives.
“I don’t even think Liam will care.”
“I don’t like the way he treats you,” my mother responded, focused on the window. Will and my father sat two rows behind us.
“Yeah.” I dismissed her comment, irritated that I hadn’t heard from him since last night. Well, your goal was to fuck him over. Congratulations.
“Are you sure you want this?” She turned to me, her eyes, so like mine, filled with alarm. “I know you want to protect the people…,”
“I don’t give a crap about the people, Mom, honestly. I just want Christopher to be safe.” I lowered my voice, speaking vehemently. “Will told me there are insurgents, and they may be planning to try to kill Chris. I won’t allow that to happen. I also can’t sit around as a ‘ward of the court’ or whatever and protect Christopher- or myself. I will rule there, and I’ll make sure anyone who tries to cross me goes down. Off with their heads… or to the Pit of Despair, or whatever,” I thought of one of my mother’s favorite movies, The Princess Bride. She smiled softly.
“Just remember… to allow yourself to make friends. Don’t isolate yourself in anger. And Eva…,” she gave Will and my father a sideways glance before turning back to me. “Don’t resent Will. He’s worked to protect you for his entire reign. He’s allowed his kingdom to burn, giving you time to grow up. He is a loving king.”
“I don’t resent him. He’s… nice,” I admitted, glancing back at him as well. He’s nice to look at, I corrected, smirking inwardly.
“And respect him. He meant to marry this girl. Don’t create expectations for him that you know he can’t… fulfill.”
“I don’t get what you’re saying.”
“Don’t try to seduce him, Eva,” she said, bluntly. “You’re beautiful, and young, and you’ll be his wife- in name. Let him make his own choices, too.”
“He doesn’t think very much of me, mom,” I argued, echoing his words from last night. “No problem there.”
“He will.” She turned back to the window. “You’re… incredible.”
Hearing my mother’s sincere compliment warmed my heart. I rested my head on her shoulder, and she turned to kiss my forehead.
“I love you so much,” I whispered, reaching for her wringing hands. “I’m sorry for the awful things you… went through… there. Will told me last night.”
“The worst thing that could ever happen to me is losing you again,” she sniffed at her tears, gripping my fingers. “I love you, sweetheart, I can’t lose you.”
Once we landed in Pittsburgh, my dad rented a car to drive to Johnstown. After the sleepless night, I felt my eyes growing heavy and leaned against the headrest. Every time my stomach would churn nervously, I’d stare outside at the fall foliage, focusing on developing my plan.
I have to use magic again, like I did when I made Logan immortal… I have to.
Find Grandfather, have him teach me.
“You are exhausted.”
I turned to Will, listening to my dad jump from song to song on the satellite radio. “
I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Are you anxious?”
“Anxious as in scared out of my mind? Kind of.” I sighed shakily and turned back to stare at the window.
“What can I do to make this more comfortable for you?”
The even tone of his voice was magnetic. I turned my face to his, shrugging.
“Just… don’t throw me to the wolves, okay? Just stay with me, please. I don’t know anyone but you and my grandfather… and I don’t really even know my grandfather, and…,”
“Eva,” he drew me to his side, and I stiffened. “Come here.” I relented, resting my cheek against his warm shoulder. He lifted his arm and pulled me close, brushing my hair away from his mouth as he spoke. “No harm will come to you- I’ll see to that. You are safe with me, little one.”
I was usually hypersensitive about any reference to my height; I had always longed to be as tall as my mother.
Somehow, I don’t mind his words.
“I can defend myself… but I am a people person, you know, I need friends,” I murmured, closing my eyes. “And don’t tell my dad this, but I really don’t pay much attention to history.”
“No surprise there,” my dad voiced from the front seat, settling on the Temptations My Girl and reaching behind his back. I curled my fingers in his, and he squeezed. This was our song, and he held my hand whenever it played.
Will smiled. “My kingdom carries many traditions, very similar to those in medieval history in this world. However, my father brought much technology and progression in his reign… borrowing ideas from this world and bringing them to ours. Though he was a cruel king, we are thankful for the innovations he provided.”
“Hmn.” I tried to keep my eyes open, but the lulling sway of the rented Chevy Cavalier tempted me to sleep.
Sometime later, I felt the car slow to a stop. Opening my eyes, I saw Will’s face above mine; he was speaking to my parents from the back seat. His hand absently threaded through my curls as he spoke, and I realized my head rested against his thigh on the make-shift pillow he’d created from his coat.
So handsome. I allowed myself a minute to stare before sitting up, listening to the articulate tone of his deep voice. He’s just as much a victim in all of this as I am... but he has a kingdom to protect. I thought of his fiancé, and how devastated she would be when he ended their engagement.
Rule (Roam Series, Book Five) Page 4