MARE
Cal seems surprised. Scratch that, he seems shell-shocked. I suppress the urge to slap him. I'd been downright stupid ,thinking he was any different than Maven, that he didn't share the mentality that he owned me.
MINE.
The word resonates in my ear, Maven's phantom voice sending goosebumps rippling down my skin. I shudder. Kilorn probably thinks it's because of Cal , judging by how his grip tightens. I wonder what his reaction would be if he knew which Calore I'm thinking about...
The Silver who had actually been part of the Scarlet Guard,if only to spy. The King who'd held me in Silent Stone manacles, leaching my power like his throne most likely leached his.
The younger son, living in the shadow of his brother. The broken boy who preferred my company simply because my murderous intentions he was aware of, unlike the same of others.
The Prince who'd looked tortured when he realized it was his brother I, too, preferred. My, albeit reluctant, fiancé, whom I actually (no matter what I told everyone) did love a bit. Maybe more than a bit.
A lie.
I sigh.
And yet , despite knowing that, despite knowing the Maven I knew doesn't exist - Never did, I can't deny my feelings towards the shadow prince. Especially now- now that I know it wasn't all pretend. That boy ,that boy does exist; he exists in the bits of the real Maven Elara hadn't poisoned, the Maven only I seem to have seen. He's the boy Cal fantasizes about saving.
The boy who, along with the despotic prince he shares a mind with, is fated to die at my hands.
" What? " Cal asks, and I snap out of my daze. For a moment I think he heard my thoughts. But then Farley repeats her question, the question I asked her to pose:
"I said, do you know of any ways to bypass the clicker?"
Cal (again) seems shocked, and goes, "Why would I -"
He stops when Farley throws a glance my way. "Well, you invented the damn thing right? Mare said so," .
Damnit Farley! Cal looks my way, yet again looking shocked- hell, looking like someone sucker punched him. I hold his gaze though, until he looks away.
"It doesn't have any weaknesses that I know of," he finally mutters, looking apologetic as Farley curses. "However, I'll try my best to think of any-"
"If any," Farley growls. "You don't do things halfway, to my knowledge,"
Yikes. Apparently she still holds a grudge from the Sun Firing. Cal hangs his head. Annabel seems like she's barely resisting being downright livid. The Rift Royalty seem like they're barely resisting being downright gleeful.
Ugh. Politics.
They keep discussing stuff I'll probably be a part of, and that's as far as my interests go anyway. I only snap to attention on hearing a familiar name.
"No."
The assembly looks my way. It should be unnerving. The tempting idea of pissing off House Samos, however, wards off the nervousness.
"You have something to add , little lightning girl?" Queen Laurentia asks. I ignore the jibe. I could roast her and her wild entourage in a jiffy. Animals aren't the best protection against lightning, to my knowledge. Excellent conductors, though.
I turn my back on her, facing Farley and Davidson. "Cameron won't fight on the battleground-" won't not can't, " She isn't comfortable with killing,"
...
EVANGELINE
"So?" Mother sneers. "She's just a weapon , who cares if-" her boa suddenly spills into her lap from it's place on her shoulders, slamming heavily to the ground as she jumps up (quite ungracefully I might add). The serpent is dead, it's corpse glistening in the light. It looks eerier now than it had as part of my Mother's wardrobe.
I stare at Mare. So do quite a few other people, including Mother. And she is livid, in contrast to Mare's calm and collected demeanor.
Before she can utter a word though, Mare speaks.
"Why so upset?" she asks blankly. "It was just a weapon, after all," .
...
Hiya folks! I know, short chapter, but I couldn't resist the cue for a cliffhanger. I'm annoying that way.
Next time, for the first time ever on this fanfic, I'll attempt a Camerone pov.
Until then, Ciao!