AshesAndBlood

by Katie Zaber

  “What about slavery? You taught me to respect everyone. What happened? Why do you condone child slavery, killing whole towns and villages?”

  “Would you rather the children be killed along with their parents? I thought sparing their lives would be more merciful. When their parents refuse to cooperate or pay taxes, death is the only option for their disobedience. The children are rounded up. Boys become soldiers, girls become servants or go to school.

  “This world differs because of unique influences. Earth has no magic. Politics are not the same. Do you remember those tales I told you before bedtime about mermaids? Syreni that live in the deep oceans. Umbuttah, the bird people who fly across the sky. Where do you think those stories and adventures derived? It is all here, in this magical world. Come.” He walks to the balcony, overlooking the ocean.

  The horizon is endless. Distant spots, far-away islands or boats, are scattered across a teal sea. Syreni work or play in the distance. There are no boats in the area, but they keep diving for longer than a minute and resurfacing.

  “Those are Syreni. I told you about them as a girl. A couple were even at your introduction. Their kids play safely in the bay because of laws I passed. I do not favor slavery, but sometimes I am forced to make hard decisions. Choices you would have never made if given the opportunity to improve. Being a ruler is not fun. It is tedious, time-consuming work around the clock to improve the quality of life for everyone. That includes being fair and just to everyone. Today I must send my general to the town of Barne. They refuse to pay any taxes. I have been sympathetic with the poor crop yield this year, but I must be fair to all. If other towns can contribute, so must they.”

  “Can I go? It would be an interesting experience for me. Learn more about the people and Paradise Kingdom.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “There is much for you to learn. It could be dangerous. You want me to accompany you?”

  “I will be fine. Manadhon will protect me, as will your men. They have their orders to follow, and I’ll watch.”

  The king nods. “I hope after your trip to Barne you understand my actions. Everything has a purpose. I hope to continue righting wrongs and abolish slavery, eventually. You are correct, but when a population has customs, it takes time to enforce change without an uprising. Look at America’s history, the Civil War. I am trying to get people to stop slavery, to see it’s wrong, but it takes a delicate hand to navigate without chaos. Time moves slower for Fae since we age and mature slower than humans. War across the Paradise Kingdom would not be in the kingdom’s best interest. Over time, I create new laws, veto old traditions to accomplish equality. Soon everyone will be free and no one will question it because it slowly evolved instead of being thrust onto them without choice. You must convince them they have a choice, a voice, and an opinion in the matter or else they will riot against you.”

  “Change overnight creates chaos, but what have you done to help?”

  “I passed a new law last year that frees children brought into slavery on their two hundredth birthday.”

  “Long enough to brainwash them? How old is that compared to humans, eighteen?”

  “About eighteen, give or take a couple decades. I do not brainwash. I make them better. I provide them a better future than their deadbeat parents could. They are too lazy to work, support, and provide for their own families. It is pitiful. Repopulating when they cannot afford to feed the mouths they already have.” Taking a sip of wine, his face twists in disgust. “Simpletons. Some are happy to sell their children to pay off debts. That is how Kilyn ended up here. They are stupid, uneducated imbeciles without the knowhow to teach their children how to become functioning adults. I can show them. I can teach them. When they leave Sunce, they will be self-sufficient. They will be responsible adults.”

  “Maybe if you didn’t impose high taxes, they could support their families. Don’t you want couples to have more children, their duty to the kingdom?”

  “I encourage families with powers to procreate. The more powerful Fae are born, the more powerful we become. We persuade Fae without powers not to have children. They are usually poor and cannot afford a family. Taxes are nothing, equivalent to less than a months’ work recalculated once a year depending on status and property. The rich pay more, the middle class pays less, and the poor pay the least. It is as fair as possible.” He sighs. “The children create families here. Many are happy if asked.”

  He’s building his own master race by exterminating the powerless and ordinary people in his kingdom to make room for ideal citizens. When he learned about Hitler, did he read his ideology and think it was the answer, the way to strengthen his kingdom?

  “They’re afraid to answer differently. Kilyn misses her mom and dad. How is that healthy? I’m not mentally fit, and neither is Chelsea because of the damage you caused. Chelsea is a self-centered bitch and I can’t be in a relationship for more than a month before hating the guy, besides never, ever wanting to get married. The thought of sharing my life with someone makes me nauseous. The thought of having a family makes me suicidal. I’m never having children. The thought sickens me.” His eyebrows rise. Yes, Father you fucked us up that bad. “Kids need parents and a structured home life. You can’t provide them that by taking them away from their families. Our family is proof.”

  “Hmm. Oh, another subject we must touch on. Marriage.”

  “No.”

  “It is arranged. You will marry your cousin Mek in a month. That gives you time to become acquainted. No need for love, but you must have a child. Sire the next heir to the throne. You do not have to raise it. There is plenty of help to raise the child; you only need to give birth. Just one. You may take whoever to bed, you can have multiple partners, but you need to have one child with him.”

  “No.”

  “It is not up for debate.”

  “You didn’t marry your cousin. You choose a human from a different world. I’m not marrying my cousin and I’m never having children. Incest is disgusting.”

  “On Earth, it is taboo. Here, it is normal among royalty. Yes, I behaved differently, but I was not heir to the throne. I am sorry for the enormous pressure on you. I understand it is less than fair, and it is not what you expected, but it is the easiest solution that will not result in death.”

  “Whose?”

  He glares, an implication it would be mine.

  I know now, without doubt, without hesitation, he will kill me. If he felt threatened by me in any capacity, I’d be dead.

  He thinks I need fixing, remolded into his image. I feel the same about him. He needs to change, become more like me. I’m far from perfect, but at least I have morals. He has lost all sight of morality. This means we will never see eye to eye. We will never have a relationship. We will never trust each other’s judgment. We will never agree. There will never be peace between us. It’s crystal clear that he is not my dad.

  My dad is buried deep below the Earth’s soil, and will never see the light of day again.

  Chapter Twenty-Four - Kevin

  It’s been two weeks since I started cutting back on drinking. When the group of Fae attacked Megan, I resolved to stop drinking that night. By then, I didn’t think the withdrawal would have been so bad. I was wrong. So fucking wrong.

  The symptoms didn’t start until after we had arrived at Brynjar’s cabin. It might have been the adrenaline rush from the attacks and fleeing into the night, besides my emotions going crazy, but I don’t think I felt anything until the next morning. It wasn’t like I had slept that night or the nights before that, but I had figured it was because of the attacks and stress. No. It wasn’t that. It was the beginning of a horrible two days. I basically picked the worst time to quit drinking, but it had to be done.

  Tapering off alcohol helped significantly. I don’t want to know how bad it would have been otherwise. The first morning we spent at the cabin, everyone woke up, put away their sleeping mats for the day, and started breakfast. Everyone except me. I couldn’t
move. Everything I drank and ate came up instantly. It got to the point where the smell of food would make me vomit, then just talking about it made me sick. Brynjar made me some type of tea. It tasted horrible, but he said it would help my stomach. It didn’t do shit—I think.

  The first day was rough, but the second night was even worse. I started hallucinating, seeing things out of the corner of my eye. Thinking I heard voices when no one was talking. The sweats were unreal. I must have sweated away gallons, more than I thought I had in me. Dana kept making me drink water, even though it wouldn’t stay down. Both Ciara and Dana said I was still getting some, and that I needed to stay hydrated. At one point, I threw a cup of water at the wall because I didn’t want to throw up anymore. I started to get nasty. Everyone left me alone and went to bed while I spent the night sweating to death, staring at the cobweb-covered ceiling, feeling like an asshole.

  On the second day, I thought I was going to die. By then, it must have been my fourth night of insomnia and it was starting to affect me along with the withdrawal. I was hallucinating, shaking, vomiting, and forgetting why we were at the cabin in the first place. I’d get up and try to leave, which was pathetic on my part because I could hardly stand. Xander had to redirect me back to bed at least once. I tried to fight him—it’s the only time I ever lost a fight. I didn’t land one strike. I tried, but seeing triple of the same person doesn’t help, especially when I’m too weak to move my arms and can’t remember why I’m fighting.

  I had the flu once when I was a kid, about eight years old. It made me so weak that I couldn’t stand to go to the bathroom without my mother helping me. I was so sick she even contemplated bringing me to the hospital, but eventually I got better. That was the only other time in my life I had felt weak or anything like that. Withdrawal is like having the flu, but with a migraine while you’re going insane.

  By the third night, I started to feel slightly better. The smell of food wasn’t making me vomit. I still couldn’t eat, but I could drink water again. Brynjar made me more disgusting tea and said I had to drink it all to help me. I’m starting to think it did more than just calm my stomach.

  Overall, the whole detox went better than we imagined. I’ve heard of some horror stories and had seen movies with characters going through it. Even though I felt like shit, I know it could have been a thousand times worse and lasted longer. If I hadn’t started cutting back weeks ago, it would have been really bad. Dana didn’t say anything until after I felt better, but even she was nervous that I would start having seizures. She confessed that she wouldn’t have known what to do if I did.

  I’m glad that the worst of the symptoms are over. Liquids stay down, and I even took a couple bites of toast this morning. I got some sleep last night, but I think it was because I passed out. Again, I’m not sure if the tea Brynjar made only helped my stomach. It might have done more than just that.

  It is day three, and the sun is finally out after two days of torrential downpours. That made the whole ordeal even worse, the fact that no one could venture outside and leave me alone to my misery. They couldn’t leave the cabin. Besides, they were too scared to leave the property. Only Brynjar left, but the rain didn’t seem to sway him whatsoever. He never came inside wet. It’s as if he was protected from the elements.

  Brynjar has spent the last few days in town or at one of his friend’s houses, but has come back periodically to check on us. He says he’s been checking his network for any word of Megan. The only news reported is a new princess named Mealla arrived at the Sunce castle in Paradise Kingdom—a Fae-only region. Word is she is a complete mystery, from nowhere and without a past. The girls got excited saying maybe, just maybe, it’s Megan.

  She’s not Fae. We know it’s impossible. Both her parents are from Earth. Her alcoholic mother is still alive and her father died two years before I arrived in Capo. Uncle Ty’s funeral was my first and last on Earth. He was like a dad for my sister and me after our father split. Uncle Ty always cheered for me at sports games and was a part of everything I did. He replaced my father. He took me fishing, camping, taught me how to surf, drive a boat, and told me to be a gentleman on my first official date. Uncle Ty said men should cherish women, take care, love, respect, and protect them. To always listen to them and never cross the line or become disrespectful. I learned many lessons from one of the best men I knew. I have many good memories of him. Too bad I can’t remember his face. My memories grow more and more fuzzy. I hate how I can remember every detail of my bedroom but have a hard time picturing the people I miss most.

  I try not to focus on the past. It only hurts. Not that our future looks bright, but being outside, breathing the fresh mountain air, and lying next to Dana, makes it easy to forget everything for just a second. Stretched out on a blanket, on the edge of the property where it’s still safe—protected by the wards—this is as alone and peaceful as it gets.

  She’s teasing me, torturing me, now that I’m feeling better. She has me whipped and wrapped around her tiny little body, and she knows it. I love how she tortures me, but I can only endure it for so long. I knew she was feisty. She led me to a wood-covered area right on the edge of safety, saying I needed fresh air. The way she laid out the blanket, bent over, stretching her legs out, taunting me, only confirmed it. But instead of attacking me, she laid down, acting all cute and innocent.

  Cute, yes. Damn sexy, too. Innocent, my ass.

  She arches her back, lying on her stomach, resting on her elbows, twisting her long neck. Her back slopes down, showing off her perfect ass. She knows I love her tight little butt. Fuck it. I’m only a man with a goddess lying next to me. Even though I have little to no strength, I still can’t keep my hands to myself.

  “Kevin,” Dana whines. “Stop. Everyone will hear.” Giggling, she rubs her thighs together, tormenting me even more. She’s so bad, so very bad. “You need a cold bucket of water.”

  “I need more than that.” My lips tickle her neck while my hands work their way down to her hips. I roll her over onto her back. I nibble her earlobe, feel her velvety skin under my fingertips, bury my face in her hair, and absorb as much of her as I can while I can.

  Giggles are her only response as she gives in, pulling off my shirt, even trying to rip it off.

  Crack, crack, crack. Ciara cracks her knuckles close to us. She calls out, “Kevin? Dana?” She waits for a few moments before walking away. I don’t think she saw us.

  “We should get back. See if there’s news.” Dana pants between words. A devious smile spreads across her lips.

  Her lips go to form a no but I press mine against hers. I pull away to say They can wait, but before I can speak, my feisty girl has me literally tongue-tied.

  ***

  It’s a shame she has to put her clothes back on. She’s so beautiful. Watching her put them on makes me ache inside. It’s like covering up a work of art. As much as I protested, she told me it was time for pants. I hate pants. Especially when she’s wearing them.

  We walk back to the cabin to find Ciara sitting outside at the table with Tristan. His hostile poker face has faded over the last two days. I have even seen him smile since spending every minute with Ciara, a positive distraction. The two play card games when people are in sight; they are acting guiltless. Tristan has always chased women and is a huge flirt. It didn’t change the day he met Ciara, except that he only chases her. His eyes follow her everywhere she goes. If she travels out of sight, he finds her. Not only has he become more protective since the attacks, he also can’t stand being separated from her for a minute.

  After countless hours of sharpening his blades, yesterday morning, he finally sheathed them all. He still checked them all last night before bed, his nightly ritual, but he no longer has one in his hand at all times. However, he conceals more knives on his body than he has ever before. I have never asked him why he carries so many knives, or what happened in the past. I don’t want to pry.

  Besides carrying his regular throwing knives, he k
eeps two smaller blades with hook-shaped hilts attached to each of his boots. They have a curved double blade that makes a slight C shape; their handles double as brass knuckles. They’re real beauties, Brynjar’s creation. On his right hip, he has a foot-long, curved blade. It’s overall a utility knife but it can also be deadly. It has a point for stabbing, a thick middle for chopping, and a narrow section by the handle for carving. On his left hip, he carries a parrying dagger made for quick slashes. Each blade can split a hair in two from the way he takes care of them. Plus Brynjar and I crafted most of them, so they are near perfection.

  Tristan asks, “Where were you two? Were you still on the property? Ciara tried to find you.”

  “Yeah. We fell asleep in a grove,” I say, knowing that neither is stupid.

  “Lunch is ready. It must have been some rough sleep. You have twigs in your hair,” Ciara says without a pause, still looking at the cards in her hand. Tristan’s rubbing off on her.

  We are all grateful she is up. None of us knew how she was going to react and are glad she didn’t break down again. We don’t need that on top of everything else. She has been distant, but I can’t blame her.

  Picking out the twigs and leaves, I’m a little pissed Dana said nothing as she stands, laughing along with Tristan and Ciara. It sounds good to hear laughter. There hasn’t been too much of that lately. The nice weather has perked us up besides giving us some time alone.

  Honestly, it’s a weird cabin and property. If you step off the boundary, all you see is a tree. Nothing else. No cabin under a mass of roots, just a humongous tree covered in cobwebs. If Megan sees the message and finds her way up to the cabin, she may walk right past, but Brynjar said if she were near, he would sense her. It’s weird. I never saw the odd Druid telltale signs that surround the entire property until now. Brynjar says they are wards to protect anyone invited and to keep everyone else out. Everything from the roots sprouting up from the ground and wrapping around the cabin, to the spiderweb roofing—which terrifies me—are all part of his wards.