Bastian

by Piper Collins

  Or, it would fall on deaf ears and I’d be at their mercy until what? They killed me? Disposed of me? I knew that was most likely the outcome; Luna obviously had no aversion to cleaning house, eliminating the people she deemed in her way.

  “She promised, Jacques, did you hear that? What a sweet sentiment from Bastian’s good little girl.” She had made another circle around me and now faced me. It was the first real good look I got of her, and I suppressed a giggle.

  “What the hell is so funny?” she asked, looking at me like I was the dirt beneath her shoes.

  “It looks like you took my advice, though it did nothing for you,” I mused.

  “What are you going on about, you common bitch?”

  “You have lipstick on your front teeth; you must’ve tried eating it like I suggested.”

  Her backhand was strong, but thankfully the gloves she wore softened the blow. I wasn’t sure I’d be as lucky the next time. She had turned her back to me, no doubt to discreetly try and wipe at her teeth, so I continued.

  “Killing the king wasn’t enough for you, then?” I asked, my eyes boring into hers. “Do you really think you and your father will get away with a double murder?” I knew she thought so. That was the problem with people like her. She believed she was untouchable, that she was above the law, and perhaps with her father being Prime Minister, she truly believed that.

  “How long did it take you, the historian to figure it all out?” she asked condescendingly. When I didn’t answer, she went on, “Let me tell you, Alana: too long. For someone as bright as you, it surprised us, it really did. But we have the upper hand, you see. We hold the power, not you. And soon,” she said, a maniacal look to her eyes, “all the power will be ours.”

  I looked down, not in defeat, but from boredom.

  “Now don’t get down on yourself, Alana,” she said with false sweetness. “You had your fun…”

  I laughed in utter amusement. “Oh, I see how you would misconstrue my downcast gaze for defeat,” I said. “Let me clarify for you: you’re boring and predictable and your over-heightened sense of pride will be your downfall. So, to be clear, this little kidnap game you’ve orchestrated? It’s entertaining.”

  Before I even saw her react, she slapped my face again so fast, the action didn’t register for several seconds.

  “How dare you?” she accused. Jacques made a step closer, but she held her hand out, stopping him from advancing. She was getting too much pleasure from personally assaulting me, why would she share that with Jacques?

  “How dare me?” I laughed hollowly. “I’m going to spell this out for you, Luna, so pay attention. And don’t worry, I’ll use simple words so you can understand better,” I said. I had her attention, and I knew what I was about to say would earn me another slap, or worse. My lip was already split, blood slowly dripping down my chin in a neat little line.

  “Your story is tired, and your motives are unimaginative,” I began. “You’ve never known a day in your life where you’ve had to want for anything; that is, until you developed feelings for Bastian; but we’ve been over that part before, haven’t we?” Her nostrils flared at the mention of his name.

  “When he didn’t reciprocate them, you and dear old dad devised a plan to kill Arik, effectivley making Bastian the new king. Now, if I wasn’t in the picture, it’d have been so much easier to manipulate your way into his heart—or his bed, am I right?

  “So,” I continued, hitting my stride, “you planned on killing me as well. How easy would it be to console a heartbroken Bastian? In time, he might come around, might even like you, and then you’d be his queen.”

  During my diatribe, she began pacing, my words getting to her. When she looked at me once more, I went on. “Stop me if I’m wrong, but did you ever think that two deaths, so closely related and in such a short period of time, wouldn’t look suspicious? But that’s right, who’d ever suspect the Prime Minister and his daughter?”

  Luna looked at me, expecting me to continue. And then she applauded, the sound muffled from the soft leather of her gloves. “I’d give you a nine out of ten—though that’s being generous. But I’m afraid you didn’t see the twist, did you?”

  Now she had my attention and I sat there, resolute.

  “Not so smart now, are you?” she taunted. “Sure, you’ll die,” she said, “but it’ll be Bash that takes the blame for it.”

  I jerked in my seat, shocked by what she just shared. “You…couldn’t.”

  “I could, and I’m going to,” she replied, seemingly bored. “When Bash made it clear all those years ago that he wasn’t interested in me, it stung. Nobody has refused me before, but I learned to deal with it. I took the rejection and used it. It drove me to devise this part of the plan—daddy did the rest,” she said, waving a hand in the air like that part wasn’t a big deal. “So, once you came along, it was perfect. You’re expendable, but it will be no less fun killing you.”

  I felt there was more to the story, so I sat and listened, wondering what kind of plan she had cooked up.

  “But what will be even better,” she went on, “is framing Bash.” She rubbed her hands together like a deranged maniac. “It’ll be so easy to convince everyone that he fell into a depression after the king’s death, the two of you did nothing but fight, so during his perilous grief, he killed you in a passionate rage.”

  She couldn’t possibly…would anyone even believe her?

  “Have you ever heard of Odysseus? Or Narcissus…Niobe?” I asked. Luna’s face was blank, completely lost. “Let me dumb it down for you,” I said with my own brand of venom. “Achilles? No? That’s a shame,” I tsk’d. “You ought to read more Greek mythology. Or read more in general…” I meant that last part to be under my breath, but I said it loud and to her credit, she actually caught my meaning.

  “You have a lot of confidence for someone about to die,” she commented through clenched teeth. “What do any of those people have to do with me?”

  “Their hubris got the best of them. Odysseus was plagued with misfortune for ten years, Narcissus’ beauty consumed him and he died staring at his reflection, Niobe bragged to another goddess that she had fourteen children to her two; the gods killed all fourteen of them to punish her. And Achilles? He died from a simple wound. And you Luna? You’ll be imprisoned for the rest of your life for your crimes because there’s no way you’ll get away with this.” I wouldn’t say I was smug, but I was happy with my soliloquy.

  “That’s enough!” she shouted. Her resolve was faltering, and it was obvious she sensed she was losing the upper hand.

  Again, I wasn’t sure of my whereabouts, therefore I hadn’t any idea if anyone would find me. The last person I spoke to was Remy. Had he informed Bastian of our findings? Did Bastian cancel his tour based on circumstantial evidence? Were they still sitting around waiting for me to show, or was Remy worried when I hadn’t made it? Had Bastian received my voice mail and texts?

  So many possibilities ran through my head, but one thing I knew for certain: I was running out of time which meant there was no reason to keep me alive.

  I heard a horse whinny not too far outside the thick stone walls. And then a commotion was heard out front. Jack looked to Luna, and they both pulled pistols from their persons.

  I watched their movements, my eyes going back and forth like a ping pong ball. Whatever was going on out there had them visibly nervous. Jack swallowed hard, a light sheen breaking out on his brow, while Luna looked more mad than a shaken hornet’s nest.

  She motioned to him to keep guard at the door, and then she turned on me and pointed the gun at my head. “Any last words?” she asked.

  I’m not sure what came over me, but I felt calm and satisfied watching them come apart at the seams. I opened my mouth to answer her when the door crashed inward and Jack became pinned between its heavy weight and the solid wall behind it.

  Everything after that moved quickly. Luna turned at the sound, her gun drawn but her hand shaky. Day
light poured into the small space, temporarily blinding us before we were able to adjust our eyesight.

  Calculated movements were executed with precision; Luna was disarmed in a matter of seconds, her hands tied behind her back. Using a burst of adrenaline, Jack had pushed the door off himself and leapt for his gun. He reached for it with his left hand, and a moment later, the crunch of bone was heard, followed by a scream. Jack had been incapacitated, no longer a threat.

  Unable to look away, I tried making sense of the situation that was unfolding. I looked around at the aftermath and couldn’t believe my eyes. Henri had brough Jack to his feet, his whimpering unwavering. Remy had Luna by her wrists roughly, a wince evident on her face, and self satisfaction on his. A man I wasn’t able to place right away stood just outside the door, gun drawn.

  And then there was Bastian. He had knelt in front of me, cutting the bindings at my wrists. Once freed, I flung myself at him, surprised at just how hard he was hugging me back.

  “Are you alright, love?” he asked. He was still embracing me, his head tucked into the crook of my neck.

  “I am now. How did you know where to find me?” I asked.

  “Shhh, I’ll explain everything.” He pulled back and cupped my cheek gently. “I’ll kill that bastard,” he said, gingerly running his thumb over the drying blood on my chin.

  “Then you’d be no better than her,” I replied evenly.

  “Her? You mean Luna did this to you?”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore, Bastian.” I had so many things to say to him but I didn’t know where to start.

  Sometime during our exchange Henri and Remy had taken the trash outside, and it was just the two of us left alone now.

  “Bastian, I owe you an apology,” I began.

  “You don’t. If you hadn’t had suspicions, we never would’ve found them out.” There was something he wasn’t telling me.

  “Are you eluding to the fact that there is something else you’re upset with me over?” I asked, bracing myself.

  He sighed. “You need to stop second guessing us, our relationship. I told you from the get-go, I’m in this with you. Bury your insecurities, because I’ll spend the rest of my days convincing you you’re worthy of a love only I can give you. I’ll bear the weight of your demons if you promise to give me them.”

  Tears were so close, it would take one blink to make them fall. I took a deep breath. I was once again astounded by this man, who regardless of what was on his plate, put me first. Put us first.

  I didn’t trust myself not to cry as I answered him, but I threw my caution to the wind and did anyway. “No. I won’t burdon you with the weight I carry. We can face it together, as one.”

  He smiled and if I weren’t sitting, it would’ve knocked me off my feet. He was gorgeous and in love with me, and as long as he and I faced things together, I knew we’d be alright in the end.

  Bastian cradled my face in his hands and placed a light kiss on my lips, careful of the cut.

  “Spoken, like, a, true, ruler,” he said in between kisses.

  I blushed at his assessment, feeling nothing like one, but more confident with him beside me. “I love you, Bastian.”

  “Love you too. Now let’s get you out of here. There’s one more thing that needs to be done,” he said, helping me to my feet.

  Chapter 20

  Bastian

  Immense relief washed over me after we apprehended Luna and the scarred man, or Jacques, as Alana had pointed out.

  Alana was safe and relatively unharmed. Thanks to Remy, Stephan and Henri, things went as smoothly as possible.

  “The police are on their way, Your Highness,” Henri informed me.

  I nodded my appreciation, anxious for this all to be over soon.

  There was one more order of business yet to deal with, and with Alana’s hand in mine, we walked to the castle with a small entourage in tow. As tired as I was of plans, this last one would be worth the pomp and circumstance.

  I was still uncertain if Nikola was present, but my gut told me he wouldn’t have left without Luna. As we entered the castle, I approached my mother’s drawing room where she often enjoyed tea in the afternoon.

  I left the three men in the corridor to guard Luna and Jack, while Alana stayed behind as well, where Remy filled her in.

  Soft conversation could be heard on the other side of the door, and without preamble, I pushed it open. Mother and Nikola were seated in the two tufted chairs before her desk, and Nikola’s face paled when he saw me.

  “What are you doing here, Bash?” Mother asked, wearing a similar look of shock, although for a very different reason.

  “Your Highness,” Nikola sputtered. “Aren’t you supposed to be in the north province making a speech by now?”

  “If I had been there, yes, Nikola.” My tone was cold and sardonic, and it earned me a scolding from Mother.

  “Bastian!” she hissed. “Shall I remind you of your place?”

  I strolled to the desk and sat behind it, leering at Nikola. To his credit, he sat straight and proper, hoping to hide his secrets with his body language. But I knew better.

  “No need, Mother,” I answered, still gazing at Nikola. “I’m well aware of my place for the first time in a long time.”

  Nikola cleared his throat and asked, “May I ask what’s taken you from your duties, Your Highness?” He had a leather folio on his lap and tucked the pen in it’s holder, waiting for me to answer.

  “Ah, about that,” I said, getting comfortable. Not only did Mother have a great eye for design, she was also concerned with comfort, and her desk chair was no exception. I didn’t answer right away, letting the suspense build.

  “Bastian?” Mother prompted.

  “Oh, right,” I answered. “I wasn’t feeling all that well…”

  “Have you come down with something?” Nikola asked, looking like he was slowly turning a pale shade of green.

  “You could say that. I guess Father’s death just hasn’t sat well with me.”

  Mother tilted her head with a compassionate look, while Nikola swallowed loudly.

  “His loss is felt everywhere, Your Highness” Nikola commented. I couldn’t believe his audacity.

  “It certainly is. Perhaps it wouldn’t be if he wasn’t taken from us so tragically,” I said, an edge to my voice. His goatee twitched as I stared at him openly.

  I knew this cat and mouse game would make Mother uncomfortable, but my goal was to make Nikola even more so.

  “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of that hunting trip. I know Luna feels the same,” he said, turning to Mother with an attempt at a comforting look, but to me it looked more like he was constipated.

  “I’m sure not,” I said, “especially when you two had everything to gain from killing him.” I had said the accusation. I dropped it like a lead balloon, eliciting a gasp from Mother while Nikola’s eyes frantically bounced between my face and hers.

  I sat forward, leaning my elbows on the desktop and linked my hands together. I leveled Nikola with a stare so severe it made him fidget.

  “Would you like to explain to the queen the extent of yours and Luna’s power play scheme?”

  “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re referring to.” Another loud gulp.

  “Allow me then,” I said. “You see, Mother, Nikola is just a father who went to extremes to ensure his daughter’s happiness.” I picked at a hang nail, waiting. “After I rejected Luna repeatedly, she and Nikola murdered father on the trip and framed one of the other hunters.”

  Mother regarded me, an ashen color painting her features. “I, I don’t understand…So, by killing Arik, your friend,” she said looking at Nikola who had the decency to at least look ashamed, “Bash becomes king, and you, you did this all so Luna could be queen?”

  I didn’t say anything, but Nikola sheepishly looked at her.

  “But…what about Alana?” Mother said, trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. “I thoug
ht you two were together and happy and in love…?”

  “Oh we are,” I reassured her.

  “You…are?” Nikola asked meekly. “I—I thought you two had a bad row.”

  “On the contrary,” I countered. “In fact, I spoke with her not too long ago.”

  “You’re bluffing,” he practically spit, most likely expecting her body to be growing cold by the minute.

  “Am I?”

  “Prove it,” he demanded.

  I stood, the chair scraping against the wooden floor.

  “Darling? Where are you going?” Mother stood, not to follow me per se, but to put distance between herself and Nikola.

  I pulled the door open and took Alana’s hand in mine. Together, we made our way back to the desk, our position speaking louder than any title could have.

  Mother took one look at her cut lip and quickly approached her, full mother mode taking over.

  “Oh dear…are you alright?” she asked Alana, gently cupping her face with a soothing hand.

  Alana shook her head, then looked to me.

  “As you can see, Nikola, we are still very much in love—and alive,” I said while squeezing her hand in mine. “Your plan to have Alana eliminated didn’t work as well as it did for my father.”

  “This—this proves nothing! I had nothing to do with his death. Ask anyone…ask Luna! She was there.”

  “We thought you’d never ask,” Alana spoke, her voice firm and commanding. “Henri?” she called.

  The door opened and both he and Remy walked in, Luna and Jacques in tow like second-rate consolation prizes.

  Nikola rushed toward Luna, but Remy stopped him short. “Sit down,” he growled. “You lost every right you’ve ever had when you became an accomplice to murder, among other things.”

  “Father?” Luna whimpered, knowing they had lost the game, but still held out for a glimmer of hope. Turning her attention to Jacques, she said, “It was him.”

  “You’re nothing but a lying sack of shit, boss,” Jacques accused. “You paid me to off the brunette, not the king. That was all you and the PM. Said it would be ‘more satisfying watching the life drain out of the king’ than it would be a filthy commoner, if I recall correctly.”