by Marian Tee
Crystal disappeared and reappeared, and this time her face was mere inches away from Soleil’s.
It was like staring into the eyes of Death.
“Don’t close your eyes,” Crystal hissed, and her red eyes turned even redder.
Soleil gulped. “I w-won’t.”
“I want you to look at me as I tell you how much I lost with that sacrifice. It was like I had killed my son for the second time, and yet I could have lived with it because I knew I had done the right thing.”
The blue lips pursed.
“But you threw it back at my face by falling in love with the demon you were supposed to kill. You fell in love with my son’s killer---”
She said shakily, “But Ilie wasn’t the one who---”
“They’re all the same,” Crystal said calmly. “That’s what you’ve never understood. Demons are all the same. They lie. They kill. They thrive on pain, and soon you’ll see this for yourself.” Crystal drew back.
“But for now, we shall continue with our tale.”
She snapped her fingers, and once more the Woods of the Wraiths reappeared.
“I went back, and this time I asked them if they wanted another trade. I vowed eternal servitude to their cause…in exchange of revenge.”
In the scene playing out, Soleil saw the wraith-like trees start to bow.
“They said yes, of course. But first, they told me I must die.”
The trees reached out to Crystal with their claws and started shoving her back, further and further from the woods until she fell into the ocean.
Soleil screamed as she saw Crystal’s head hit the jagged rocks at the bottom of the cliff.
Next to this scene, another scene started to materialize. It was her bedroom again, and she saw her double – or whatever it should be called – arching off the bed, her mouth parting in a soundless scream.
The marquis began shaking her. “Listen to my voice, ma lisse, and snap out of it.”
“Foolish demon. Did he really think it would be that easy?” Crystal was suddenly standing behind Soleil’s chair. “Ignore him for now, my dear.” She pointed to the other scene. “And so I died by drowning. When I woke up, I was here in their world, and I knew what I could do.” Crystal started stroking Soleil’s hair, murmuring, “The tea I made you drink allowed me to play with your mind. I know your household is warded with spells, and so I used an illusion to lure your soul out of the house. I was terribly impressed you saw through my illusion, but by then it was too late for you. You already had placed one step out of the house, and it was all I needed. I just need to cut the thread afterwards---”
Crystal’s fingers moved like scissors snapping a thread.
“Just like that, and…” She gripped Soleil’s hair and used it to yank Soleil’s head back.
In Soleil’s bedroom, her body experienced the same thing, and her sisters cried out.
“And now, it’s time for my revenge,” Crystal whispered. “The wraiths told me a secret, and it’s made me realize that death is too good for you.”
A knife appeared in front of Soleil, hanging in the air.
Crystal sang out, “Can you hear me, milord?”
Ilie stiffened at the sound of the disembodied voice that came out of nowhere. He didn’t hesitate, snarling in a low voice, “Tell me what you fucking want, and I’ll do it.” His heartkeeper’s soulless scent had told him what he needed to know, and that was that he was at this person’s mercy, whoever she was.
“Do you see, Soleil?” Crystal’s tone was admiring. “That is how you do it. You go straight to the point and don’t bother about the whys or hows. As expected, from a selfish demon.”
Soleil started to shake her head but stopped when the knife pressed closer to her throat.
“You’re crazy,” she gritted out.
“No.” Crystal’s tone turned kind. “I am not. I simply do not feel, but I have never been more sane.”
The knife began to slit Soleil’s throat.
The marquis’ face whitened when he saw a line of blood appear on Soleil’s neck.
“If you speak,” Crystal cautioned, “you will only quicken your death. You may be his heartkeeper, but the process hasn’t been completed yet. You can still die. It will only take longer than usual.”
Tears ran down on both faces of Soleil.
Crystal called out to the marquis, “Now, milord, I actually do not have to do this if I trusted you to tell the truth. But I don’t. And so it has to be this way.”
Ilie had his hand pressed against Soleil’s throat in a futile attempt to keep it from bleeding. “What do you want?” he asked savagely. “Whatever it is, it’s yours.”
“Just answers,” Crystal answered sweetly. “And you must tell the truth. I shall know if you do not speak of the truth, and when that happens---”
The knife moved another inch, and the line of blood grew longer.
Ilie’s fist clenched. “Yes,” he bit out. “I will speak nothing but the truth.”
“Then…have you ever lied to Soleil?”
What the hell? Ilie knew it was a trap, but he also knew he had no other recourse except to play along. He snapped, “Yes.”
“Was it about heartkeeping?”
His face hardened. “Yes.”
What could Ilie have lied to her about? Soleil tried to make sense of Ilie’s answers even as her vision started to waver. She did her best to keep still, to not breathe too much or do anything that would cause the knife to cut deeper.
Crystal’s gaze locked with hers.
Listen closely, those crazy eyes whispered playfully. And then out loud, she asked the marquis, “What is the lie about, milord?”
Ilie’s lips compressed.
“Don’t dare me---”
He said tightly, “That I have met another heartkeeper before her.”
Soleil jerked in her seat.
The knife slid sharply to the right.
Pain exploded inside of her.
The marquis roared, “No!”
“Oh, dear. That wasn’t even me.” But Crystal’s eyes were alight with joy as she watched Soleil’s blood gush out. “I apologize for the pain, but we are not yet finished.”
“Then what else do you want?” Ilie demanded. “Tell me, just stop hurting her---”
Raising her voice, Crystal asked, “Was it not Georgina – the woman also promised to the demon duke – who is your heartkeeper?”
“Yes, damn you!” As he spoke, he watched tears start to streak down Soleil’s sleeping face. His chest constricted. “Soleil---”
But his heartkeeper’s attacker was already asking him another question.
“Did you not continue to love that woman even when you had already met your second heartkeeper?”
“Yes!” More tears fell, and Ilie felt like each tear burned him alive. “I’m sorry, Soleil, but yes. It’s true.” He gazed down at his heartkeeper’s lifeless body. “So fucking let her go if that’s all you want to hear---”
Crystal whispered to Soleil’s ear, “And there you have it. Live with that knowledge, and enjoy your happy ever after with your demon.”
Soleil closed her eyes.
When she opened them, she was back in her bedroom, and the marquis was staring at her throat.
Her lip trembled at the effort it took not to cry out loud. She touched her throat and didn’t feel any pain or laceration. The only thing that hurt right now was her heart.
“Soleil?”
The hurt worsened. How could it be that hearing her name on his lips hurt more than a stab in the heart?
Ilie reached for her, but she jerked away from his touch.
When he stiffened in shock, she had an even greater urge to cry. “I’m s-sorry,” Soleil whispered. “I know I owe you my life. I know I have no right…but just…”
“No, ma lisse---”
And that…that hurt even more.
She shook her head, whispering, “Just…I just need…” She didn’t know what to s
ay, what to think. He might not have loved her, but he had saved her life. “I’m not angry,” she whispered brokenly. “I don’t blame you. I just need…” But how could she ask him what she wanted when it was because of him she was still breathing?
In front of her, the marquis swallowed audibly. “Soleil---”
She flinched.
Ilie clumsily slid to his feet.
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly.
I understand.
His voice in her mind.
His footsteps fading.
The door closing behind him.
And finally, Soleil allowed herself to cry.
CHAPTER TWELVE
As Soleil came down to join her family for breakfast, Aurora turned towards her with a bouquet of lilies.
Her heart sank.
“Yes,” her sister said with a nod. “It is from the marquis again.”
She forced a smile. “How lovely.” She took the flowers and gave it to one of the maids. “Throw it away please.” Behind her back, the baron and his younger daughters exchanged looks of dismay.
Fleur waited for her oldest sister to take her seat before saying, “ANEX has also sent a missive. I have taken the liberty of reading it---”
“Fleur!”
“And it says that your request has been approved,” Fleur finished. “What did you request? It did not state so in the missive.”
“When have you developed this interest in reading other people’s mails, Fleur? I am terribly disappointed.”
Fleur ignored that, asking again, “What did you request?”
Soleil said calmly, “Nothing that would affect anyone of you.”
Ah. The baron and his daughters had no trouble reading between the lines, knowing that meant it had to do something with the marquis.
The rest of the day proceeded as it had in the past month. It was like any other day for the Orpheline household – or what it used to be before anyone of them had become acquainted with the marquis.
Callers came during the day to be entertained, the sisters talked among themselves about the missions of Trois Belle Lames over supper, and afterwards the baron would retire while the sisters dressed up to attend a ball. It was near dawn when they returned home, and after bidding each other good night they went to their respective bedrooms.
Soleil took a shower, changed into her sleeping gown, and threw herself on her bed.
It was so, so silent.
She tossed and turned, knowing that she needed to come to a decision soon.
She closed her eyes, knowing that if she only opened her mind just a little bit, she would be able to hear him.
And she wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to hear his voice. But how could she ever listen to it, knowing that because of her curse she had unknowingly used his pity to force him into tying his life to her?
There was only one way to release him, and she had to make a decision about it soon.
Forcing herself to get up, she hurried to her writing desk and pulled the drawer open. Taking a clean sheet of paper and pen, she began to write.
After, she pulled the bell and waited for one of the servants to come knocking on her door. “I’m sorry to have waken you,” Soleil apologized, “but it is urgent that you send this to the Marquis of Lunare tomorrow night. Simply proceed to the town hall, let them know this is my missive, and they will know how to reach the marquis.”
“Yes, milady.”
“You must not give this until it is about, oh, shall we say six in the evening?” By then, it would have been completed, and there would be no chance for anyone to stop her. “It must not be earlier than that. Do you understand?”
“Yes, milady.”
“Thank you.” She hesitated. “And please do not let anyone know about this.”
“Yes, milady.”
When the door closed, the servant went straight to Lady Fleur’s bedroom and knocked on her door. The youngest Orpheline daughter had let it be known that she was willing to pay an ample sum for all secret missives sent and received by Lady Soleil.
A sleepy-looking Fleur opened the door. “What is it?”
“What you told us to watch out for, milady,” the servant said.
Fleur became wide-awake. “A moment, please.” She hurried back to the room and when she returned, she handed the servant several notes in exchange of the missive. “Thank you.” She opened the letter and started to read.
Her brows furrowed.
What did it mean that her sister meant to forget the marquis for good?
* * *
Soleil woke up early the next morning, her mind made up for good. She bathed and dressed in a hurry, leaving before any of her family had come down for breakfast. Upon arriving in ANEX, she went straight for the headmistress’ office for a meeting.
The secretary took her appointment book out, murmuring, “Your name has already been listed, but the headmistress has scheduled you for a meeting at seven o’clock.”
Forty-minutes from now, she thought uneasily. “Would an earlier appointment not be possible?”
“I’m sorry, milady, but the meeting preceding yours is not the type that I could reschedule.”
“I understand.” She stood up. “I shall return at seven then. Thank you.” Turning to leave, she thought about what to do to kill time. Heading to the library, Soleil hoped to find a book that would keep her from worrying but instead she saw her new student seated alone in one of the tables.
“Good morning, Zari.”
Zari appeared surprised but pleased to see her. “Oh, good morning.”
When the younger girl started to stand up to curtsy, Soleil shook her head with a smile. “No formalities between us when we’re alone, remember?” She gestured to the chair opposite Zari’s. “May I?”
“Of course.” As Soleil took a seat, Zari started uncertainly, “I’m sorry about what had happened.”
The day following her ordeal, Soleil had written right away to Zari, thanking her for sharing her vision but without going into too much detail about what transpired. She said slowly, “When you told me that there was a person trying to kill me, I thought you meant physically.” She paused. “But in the end, Crystal caused me even more pain by showing me the truth about…my life.”
“Are you speaking of milord’s other heartkeeper?”
Soleil was stunned, and if she had to admit it, she was also terrified. “Is it now common knowledge?” Because if it was, she just didn’t know how she could face the world again, with everyone aware that the marquis had chosen her to be his heartkeeper out of pity.
But he also saved your life by doing so, she reminded herself severely, so you must never hate him for it.
Zari was saying, “I…err…heard it from someone.”
The way the younger girl avoided Soleil’s gaze was telling. “Zari, you’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”
Zari cleared her throat. “Umm…”
“Zari?”
“He always did tell me I suck at lying,” the younger girl muttered.
He being Alexandru Gheorgiu, Soleil thought. How strong this soul seer was, to not mind continuing to think about the man she loved even when they were apart and there was no guarantee that they could be together again.
“I’ve decided,” Zari said out of the blue.
Soleil blinked when the girl suddenly stood up and began gathering her notes. “What have you decided?”
“Follow me to my room, please, and I shall show you something.”
“The last time someone told me that,” Soleil said lightly, “I almost ended up killed.” But even so, she couldn’t stop herself from following the soul seer, knowing at least that within the heavily fortified walls of ANEX, there was no chance of subterfuge and foul play.
As they made their way to Zari’s room, she asked the soul seer a question that had been on her mind for a long time. “Would you be able to choose the visions you see?”
“Not really, but there is a chance that I
will see more of what you want to know if you want me to see the past, rather than the future.”
“Good.”
“What is it do you want to know?”
“There was a man my sisters and I were hunting down, but he died before we could get information from him. I had thought he was in league with Crystal…” She shook her head. “But now I know that wouldn’t make sense. That’s why I’m hoping your visions could help us identify any other enemy we have out there.”
“If you could bring me any item from the scene of his death, I may be able to help.” They stopped in front of Zari’s bedroom door and as she bent to unlock it, the younger girl murmured, “I have never played matchmaker before, so I’m not sure if I’m doing the right thing…”
Zari opened the door and stepped inside her room. “Come and look, Soleil.”
Soleil winced. “I really, really don’t like how that sounds.” But even so, she forced herself to follow Zari inside.
Zari gestured to the tower of missives on her writing desk. “Those are all from the marquis. He writes to me each day, reminding me all of the things I should tell you were we to meet. Mostly, they are---” She enumerated with her fingers. “He is sorry. He misses you. Oh, and that you are the only woman he loves and will ever love.”
“How sweet.” Soleil’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “But I also know he’s lying.”
“Is he? After all, he did not say you are the woman he had loved. He speaks of the present and the future, not the past.” Zari flashed the older girl a painful smile. “Your marquis is…cunning. I actually had to look the word up just so I could find the right way to describe him. And he is that.” She nodded vehemently. “He knew about the time when I also almost parted ways with my Ma---with Alexandru, because of a woman he had once loved, and when he reminded me of that…” She shook her head. “I don’t want you to be needlessly hurt. Just forgive him---”