My eyes widened. “You were the one who… Who killed her?”
He grinned. “Nice setup, wasn’t it?”
I looked at him, seething. “You monster.” I pulled every ounce of magic within me into the foreground sending it hurdling at him.
He deflected it easily though, and I was flattened against the floor with him standing over me.
I squeezed my eyes shut. It was over. All over. I would die.
And in that moment, I let go.
It was okay.
The people around me wouldn’t be my problem anymore. Not ever again, and I might lose Crypt, but I’d be dead, so what would it matter? He’d probably be dead too before the day was out since King Vill didn’t seem like the sort to leave anyone threatening alive.
Vill’s breath was hot on my face as he straddled me and whispered, “You know what?”
I shook my head, trying desperately to banish him from my mind.
“Before you die, I think I’ll tell you the truth about your so-called best friend.”
My eyes snapped open. “What?”
His face was inches from mine, his violet eyes staring down into my blue-green ones. “Oh, yes. Crypt Valldresson. So trustworthy. What a good friend he is.”
I frowned, confused. “What are you talking about?”
He grinned, playing with my knife and pressing the cold metal against my throat. “Oh, you didn’t know. Well, I guess that people don’t normally tell their loved ones that they betrayed them.”
“Crypt didn’t betray me.” I whispered.
“Oh, but he did. How do you think we got into the palace in the first place? How do you think we broke your front lines, come to think of it?” He leered down at me.
My head whirled as I tried to piece it all together. I gave up. I didn’t believe any of it.
Not one word.
What reason did I have to believe my enemy?
“I don’t believe you.” I whispered.
“Of course not. I’m your enemy. Why would I tell the truth? Is that it?” He laughed.
I shook my head. “Just get it over with. I don’t care anymore.”
“I daresay you don’t. Despair is a normal reaction to finding out that your closest companion betrayed you.” He grinned.
I squeezed my eyes closed again, blocking him out.
I felt his magic easing into my body and attacking me. Every cell started to burn it seemed.
Was this what my mother went through? Was he using the same spell on me as he used on her?
It didn’t matter. I lay there, gritting my teeth against the pain as his magic continued to insinuate itself into my form.
I felt my mind drifting off away from the pain. It was almost as though everything around me was happening to someone else and I was just watching. I didn’t even particularly care. It wasn’t me it was happening too.
The door broke, splintering into pieces. Vill’s triumphant expression faded.
Then the pain in my body retreated, and I soared back into my exhausted body.
Only to watch Crypt begin to duel with the King.
I saw Vill’s magic lance at Crypt.
He didn’t block it with his own shield soon enough, caught off guard by the suddenness of the attack.
I screamed as it hit him.
His body went rigid for a moment as his body fought off the spell. A few moments later, a black cloud poured out of his body as he managed to purge himself of Vill’s destructive magic.
I went weak with relief.
Crypt sent his own magic hurtling at Vill while he formed complex weavings of magic around himself to protect his entire body from Vill’s attacks.
Vill too replicated the spells, covering his body in a shimmering black shield.
Not as high-tech as Crypt’s, which was so light that only its shimmery appearance gave it away. But it was enough.
Crypt’s face went paler than usual as he drove down on Vill, trying to break the force field.
Then suddenly Vill’s black force field cracked in half and Crypt’s magic surged to encapsulate Vill.
Vill fought back, pushing Crypt’s attacks away with strained movements, countering magic with magic.
Crypt wheeled to the side as another spell fired off at him.
The spell missed and whatever it was supposed to do, it failed. Vill gritted his teeth. “Give up, boy! You can’t save her, and you can’t save yourself either. So why prolong the moment of your deaths?”
Crypt refused to let Vill goad him into premature action. “I should have known that a killer like you wouldn’t keep his promises. I was a fool. I’m glad I get a chance to fix it.” He growled, launching another attack.
The battle began for real then.
Magic swirled through the air, thick and heavy, and I shrank back from the two men as they maneuvered back and forth across the room’s length and width.
Vill pulled a dagger from his belt, throwing it with deadly accuracy at Crypt.
Crypt threw a shield between them, but the dagger pierced through the shield, passing through without altering its speed at all.
It soared and time seemed to still. There was only the blade glittering in the air as it spun end over end in the stillness.
Then it hit Crypt in the shoulder. He gasped, crumpling to the ground with the impact.
I screamed. Sobbing, I tried to get closer to him, to staunch the flow of blood. He gazed at me, then back at Vill.
I was amazed he was still alive at the rate he was losing blood. The knife had stuck in deep.
But Crypt wasn’t finished. He pushed to his feet, lips forming words.
Vill clutched at his throat as he struggled to breathe. Crypt was doing the same thing to him as he had done to me.
Then Crypt flicked his fingers and Vill slammed against one of my white walls, pinned halfway up as though he were belted there.
For an elating moment, I thought that we could win.
Crypt moved in to deliver the finishing blow with his dagger. I could see that he was using all the magic he had to keep Vill from breaking the bonds holding him to the wall.
Crypt was strong, but Vill was nearly as strong, and it took everything Crypt had to keep him trapped where he could be killed.
Just as Crypt was about to plunge the dagger into the man’s chest, Vill managed to free his sword arm from the invisible spells restraining him. He struggled to bring his sword up. Crypt didn’t see his movements in time and as he was pausing to figure out where his bonds had been broken, Vill plunged the sword into Crypt’s stomach.
I heard his gasp and then my scream through dull ears. I wasn’t really there anymore. I was floating, my mind once again floating away from the pain that this was inflicting. It was too much to bear, and if I didn’t withdraw to that quiet, safe spot deep in my mind, I would break.
But it wasn’t over. Crypt pulled himself up, remarkably retaining his rigid control on the bonds pinning Vill to the wall.
Crypt gripped the dagger tightly in his fist, knuckles white. Looking at the king he whispered, “Is my sister even still alive, you monster?”
Vill smirked. “Doesn’t matter now. You’re dying, boy. Can you feel it as you lose your grip on reality? Even if you don’t die from that wound to your stomach, the sword was enchanted. The poison and enchantments from the blade will kill you if the wound doesn’t.”
Crypt glared at the man, blood pouring down his stomach and over his hand as he held it against the gaping wound. His voice gained momentum and strength.
It was so strong even though he was dying.
I knew that he was dying.
How could he not?
No one survived from a wound like the one he’d taken to the stomach.
The king had withdrawn the sword quickly, but not before I’d seen him twist it viciously and the blade glittered as it protruded from Crypt’s back, just missing his spinal cord.
“You answer me now.” Crypt whispered.
The
king laughed. “Why should I? You can’t do anything to me. Not in your state.”
“What did you do with her?” Crypt hissed.
He closed his eyes, concentrating.
I knew it was taking everything he had to manage this, but he managed to cause Vill to scream out in pain. “I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you. Just please, stop the pain.” Vill shouted.
Crypt smiled coldly.
Vill stopped screaming. He gasped. “She’s marrying my son. Already predetermined. Wouldn’t have ever actually hurt her!”
Crypt’s face went dark.
Mine went ashen.
This confirmed what Vill had said. Crypt was a traitor.
So why was he here now, protecting me even though it just cost him his life?
The knife glittered in the room illuminated by the brilliant sunlight streaming in through the window.
Vill gave a sharp gasp as the knife found his heart, and then he went completely limp.
Crypt’s spells broke then.
Vill’s dead body came crashing down onto the floor, and Crypt’s legs folded under him.
My mind sprang back into action.
I rushed to him, catching him before he hit his head on the floor, and easing him gently down so that his head was cradled on my lap.
“Please, Crypt. Pull through.” I murmured.
He shook his head, stroking my cheek and smearing his blood and Vill’s over my face in the process. “Not going to make it.” He gasped. His eyes clouded as he fought of a wave of pain. “Can feel it already. My whole lower body’s numb, and the poison is working fast.” He whispered, struggling to form the words.
I bent over him, sobbing. “No. No! You cannot die. I forbid you to.”
He smiled sadly at me as the blood continued to pour out of his stomach and his face grew deathly pale as the blood loss continued. “I’m sorry. I betrayed you.”
I shook my head, tears falling down my face and dripping coldly onto his. “I don’t care.” Leaning down, I pressed my mouth against his.
My kiss was desperate and pleading.
I didn’t want him to go. We were supposed to survive this together and get married.
We were supposed to raise the next generation of kings and queens of Argent together.
He wasn’t supposed to die.
That wasn’t how this was supposed to go!
I pressed against him, molding my body against his, not caring that his blood was staining my clothing a dark red.
He was growing weaker.
I could feel that he was slipping away from me.
And I knew then. He wasn’t going to make it.
No matter what I told myself.
No matter how hard I tried to fool myself.
He wasn’t going to survive this.
My fingers slipped through his silky black locks, and I closed my eyes, leaning into the kiss and deepening it. My body heaved with sobs as I did so.
If he was going to die, I wanted it to be with a memory of my kiss seared onto his lips and in my mind.
His fingers, slick with blood, stroke my hair too, messing gently with a few of my curls.
Then I drew away. “I love you.” I whispered.
I wanted to reassure him that he wasn’t going to die, but I could see that he knew the truth anyway.
His eyes were rapidly becoming distant as the poison took over. “I love you too.” He whispered. “And I’m sorry. Forgive me?”
“Always.” I whispered back as his beautiful brown eyes close.
His breathing slowed, and I felt the flow of blood lessening as his body began to cool down too quickly.
Frantic, I felt for a pulse. It was still there, but weak.
I sat there with him, heart breaking.
This was the end of it all.
Chapter 19: Dairdra
I wandered about the hospital’s halls, aimless. My hospital gown hung off my form in awkward folds, scratching at my legs as I walked.
But I didn’t care.
Nothing mattered anymore.
I bumped into someone in the halls.
I barely noticed them as I brushed past and continued walking. I went to find a hidden place. There were little places to hide all over in the hospital.
Someone took my arm, stopping me.
I didn’t resist. Instead, I stood there, waiting.
“My Lady, you’re to return to the palace today.” A woman’s kind voice whispered in my ear. “Your maid is here to collect you. The Council needs to speak with you and they need you to meet with someone.”
The words rang in my ears, dull and incomprehensible. “What?” I croaked out.
Stopping a moment, I swallowed trying to moisturize my throat with enough saliva to speak. I hadn’t had much to drink all day. Mostly, I just wandered the hospital’s halls, not drinking or eating, not speaking to anyone, unless they forced me.
I knew what it was.
It was shock, and it was even worse than that.
It was complete defeat.
I’d given up on life. Because without Crypt, it wasn’t worth it.
Nothing was worth it without him.
I hadn’t realized how much I relied on him until I lost him.
Now his absence left a hollow hole in my stomach and heart.
I yearned for his arms around me and for his lips on mine.
My birthday had gone past unheeded. Sixteen years of life meant nothing when he wasn’t there to celebrate with me as he had every year since we first met.
In fact, even after watching his coffin buried in the ground two weeks ago only a few days after I had lost him, I still thought sometimes that he was waiting just around the corner. That we would go back to our happy camaraderie. That we would still get married now that it was all over.
I sometimes dreamed at night, and, while it usually was a nightmare involving all the things that had happened to me in the past year, sometimes, my dreams were of the two of us together. Smiling. We were always smiling.
In those dreams, I was older and pregnant with his child. I was holding our children in my arms and teaching them what it meant to be truly free.
Only I wasn’t free. Without Crypt, I was more shackled than ever before.
The nurse shook me, her touch light. “Your Majesty?”
I shook my head, confused. “Leave? Why?”
She gave me a concerned glance. Placing a hand on my arm, she said, “My Lady, you belong in the palace, governing the people and negotiating the peace between us and Cyril’s new ruler.”
I looked away, shrugging off her hand. “I don’t care.”
She frowned. “What?”
“I don’t care anymore.” I whispered. “I’m done. Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do. But I’m done.”
She didn’t understand, but she patted my arm, her voice gentle, sympathetic. “Of course. A young woman like you shouldn’t have had to bear such a heavy burden.”
My maid, Yvette, was there then, taking me in her arms and hustling me towards the coach.
The nurse didn’t understand.
When I said I was done, I meant I was really done.
As soon as I could, I was going to appoint a new ruler and leave forever. I didn’t want to rule over anyone anymore no matter what the circumstance. I was sick of leading people and never getting a chance to be myself and just live. And with Crypt dead, I didn’t have anyone to make the crown bearable. So I would leave it all.
I’d never wanted it anyway.
***
My advisor, Claudia, stared at me in astonishment. “What do you mean you’re leaving?”
I wandered off down the halls without thinking about where I was headed. I just didn’t want to have this conversation with her.
She hurried after me, doggedly keeping pace. Not that it was hard. I wasn’t running away. Just meandering along. I had to. It was the only way to deal with my pain.
An image of his kind, loving eyes and his half-smirk filled my min
d along with his laughter. I pushed the images away, not willing to deal with them. “I meant exactly what I said. I’m leaving. Going to some remote retreat somewhere where no one will find me. And I’m never coming back. I’m appointing you as the new Queen.”
Her eyes widened. “Your Majesty, I beg of you, reconsider! I do not want to rule this kingdom. It is yours to rule. Your people love you. They will accept no other as their ruler.”
“Not my problem. You’ll be an excellent ruler because of your reluctance to rule. I trust you to do what’s best.” I sped up, trying to escape her now.
She stopped following me, but she did call after me. “You’ll never escape responsibility or your upbringing. You were meant to be our Queen. You’ll never escape it no matter how much you run away.”
“We’ll see.” I whispered.
She didn’t hear me, and I didn’t look back at her.
***
Three hours later, Yvette had me dressed and prepared for the Council meeting.
I knew that we would be speaking with King Vill’s son. The only son King Vill had. He had married Crypt’s sister a week after withdrawing the Cyrillian forces and asking for a peace parley.
Walking into the council chamber, I looked about. Cyril’s new king is here in person this time. A peace treaty required the real presence of all parties in order to sign a valid document.
“Show me what I need to sign.” I spoke loudly to be heard over the noise of the conversations between all the ambassadors and my councilors.
Everyone looked up, startled.
Then they all bowed low.
I ignored them, walking to my throne.
They couldn’t know that I wanted to be sick or how much I just wanted everything to be over.
I held myself erect and steady, suppressing the trembling spreading throughout my body. I couldn’t afford to appear weak. Plenty of time for that later.
“You may all rise.” I waved to them.
They got up and everyone moved to their respective positions.
I stared at the walls, mind absent, as I waited for them to finish.
The new king of Cyril was young. Probably only twenty or so. He had his father’s messy, alluring black hair. But there the similarities ended. He had a firm, but kind posture. His wife, Crypt’s sister, stood beside him, leaning on his arm. He smiled at her, and that lit up his topaz colored eyes in a good way. Whereas his father’s eyes had been cruel and filled with darkness, his son’s were lit with good humor and friendliness.
In Darkness Lost Page 13