Chapter Thirteen
It was all over the news. King Tiberias Calore VI, murdered by Blood. Secret affair and Royal Blood spilled. Rage for the Throne, Death of the King. Norta's Royal Murder. Mareena Titatnos: a fraud, a Red and a Killer. Tiberias Calore: King slaughtered by Prince. Cold blooded death, His own Blade and Son. The list goes on. The news wasn't made public outside of the Calore gates until just today. Yesterday, the Calore family hosted a ball. It was destroyed by the Scarlet Guard. Mareena Titanos was a part of the Guard. Tiberias Calore VII arrested her and his brother, her fiancé. Then, he slaughtered his father, a blade decapitation. He was in love with Princess Mareena all along, and she, with him. Now, they are hunted. Now, Maven Calore is the new King of Norta. Now, the two traitors, his brother and fiancee, will fight in the Bowl of Bones, the arena where the worst criminals fight to their deaths. Their blood will be spilled for all to see.
A servant held my door open, and I gasped at the sight of the castle. It was grand. It was my first time on the royal property. Because I wasn't a noble, an invitation to the Calore residence was rare. By the castle's main gates, Samson and Alseth stood waiting for me. The Whisper took my hand in his and placed a courtesy kiss on the back of my palm.
"Welcome, Lady Aselia." I curtsied. "Shall we?" He held out an arm for me, and I took it. The setting around me was too imposing. As we neared the building, it seemed to be growing in size, hovering greatly over me. I felt my unease increasing by the second, but I managed to remain poised. The corridors we passed had ceilings hundreds of feet high, windows the size of giants, decorated with velvet curtains. Many rooms were present, all doors closed. Were there guests staying here, or were the rooms all unoccupied? The royal family never seemed too hospitable from what I have observed. They seem to keep a lot of things hidden from the public, but any family with power would.
As we kept walking, a party of soldiers marched by us. I recognized their uniform. They were the Gold Legion, Cal's soldiers. They were Cal's soldiers. The fact still boggled me. I still had so many questions. Prince Cal grew up a soldier, born and nurtured to be a tool who only knew of loyalty to the King, his father, who held indefinite power and status. Maven wanted to cast his older brother out in order to inherit the throne. That much, I knew. That much, Samson showed me. But it still didn't make any sense. Why did Cal kill the King? He gained no merits from such an action. His younger brother would have figured out a way to cast him out of the palace regardless. Since I was sought out, he must have already had one. I must be here for a specific reason. You're strong is not enough of a reason to invite a Silver Elite to become one of the Nobles, especially not one of the the inner circle members, working directly with the Calore family.
I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the corner of my eye but was unsure of whether or not I wanted to glance over. When we finally passed the party of soldiers, a voice I knew too well called out from behind me.
"Ase?" I turned around to see Kaius dressed in uniform, marching with the other Legionnaires. "What are you doing here?" He broke away from the division and hugged me tightly. Was he happy to see me, or was he worried? I couldn't tell, though these days, he seemed more worried about me than anything. I felt delighted of the fact.
"Hey," I said, hesitantly hugging him back.
"Lord Samson, Lord Alseth." He saluted them, and they returned the courtesy. "If you'll excuse us for a moment." Then, his attention returned to me. Kaius took me by the hand, and we distanced ourselves from the two as the legion continued on with intent.
"Aren't you going to get in trouble?" He shook his head.
"I don't care. Why are you here?" I pursed my lips together, unsure of how to answer. "Please don't tell me you're getting involved again," he whispered. Please don't tell me you're getting involved with Reds again, was what he wanted to say. The Scarlet Guard had already infiltrated the castle once thanks to having others on the inside. Did he think I was going to be the next one to let them in? I reassured him I wasn't there for that purpose, and he sighed in relief.
"I'm working here." I stated simply.
"Since when?" He asked flatly.
"Since now," I responded in the same manner.
"Right." He sarcasted. I cocked an eyebrow and crossed my arms.
"You don't believe me." Stating the obvious.
"What's your position?" I couldn't answer and took a second to myself. What was my position? Now that I thought about it, no one ever told me what role I had to play at the Calore residence. You're more powerful than you think, Aselia. That was all Samson said to me, and suddenly, I'm here. "No answer, eh?" I snapped my tongue at him.
"Prince, no… King Maven Calore requested for my presence specifically." Something crossed Kaius's face, but I couldn't exactly tell what it was. "The Queen too, his mother." The faint expression still lingered. "I'm meeting them today, shortly, actually. Right before the Bowl of Bones." The darkness on his face was now evident. Hatred. When Kaius looked directly into my eyes, I froze. A chill traveled down my spine, and it was one much more intimidating than chills Shivers can cause. That cold expression, especially coming from Kaius, someone who I've known most of life, it was foreign. He was always spirited, confident, witty and uplifting; but at this very moment, I felt as if I was standing in front of an entirely different person. He was Kaius, yet he wasn't my Kaius.
I recalled what he told me when we were younger. I remembered when I visited the Kaius house once before. Kaius was upset because of his father. He had tears in his eyes, face pale, boiling with rage. He threw furniture at the walls, shattering a hung mirror with a black, oak chair. His father disciplined him, and he was made to clean up his own mess. If you want to act like a Red, you'll be treated as one, Lord Haven said. I snuck into the room he destroyed and helped him carefully collect the mirror shards to dispose of. I simply broke the silence in the room and asked him why he did what he did. Kaius gripped onto a shard, cutting his palm. With power comes darkness.
He stepped closer to me, causing me to back into a decorative column in the halls. His lips spoke without sound. I tilted my head in question.
"What?" I asked in a hushed tone. He leaned in uncomfortably close, tickling my ear as he whispered softly. Silence. Before I could even turn pale, before the bashfulness from this intimate closeness could even be processed, I reacted instinctively. I knew exactly what he wanted and conformed without hesitation. In less than a second, there was a sensation pulsating through my veins, then it released, an invisible wave. Silvers present in the corridor, near and far, were stripped down to nothing more than a mundane, Kaius included.
"He didn't do it, Ase." He was in pain. "I've been training by his side for weeks. Ase, I promise you, it wasn't him" I was confused at first, but I quickly realized who he was referring to. Cal. This was a moment of weakness for Kaius. It was rare, but I didn't have time to sympathize with him because Samson and Alseth were waiting for me. Because Maven and Queen Elara were waiting for me. But I had questions. More questions. Why did Kaius think the first prince was innocent? Why keep his thoughts silent? Why tell me? Why? My confusion must have been present on my face because Kaius's cold gaze returned back to normal. He grinned at me, complicating my train of thought even more.
"Lady Aselia," Samson called from a distance away. I turned to look at the two men waiting for me, then back to Kaius. But he was already gone. He concealed himself the way he always did best, leaving me with nothing but questions for the unknown. Damn, Shadows.
"I hate that guy," Alseth uttered. He kept his gaze straight ahead, but continued speaking. "He reeks of pride and nobility, and it reminds me of the First Prince." I never realized the accuracy of his statement until just now. I've known Kaius most of my life, and I've only ever had one encounter with Cal. But I was able to see that they do share similar characteristics. It was actually quite commendable. "It's disgusting."
We entered a room, beautifully decorated and spacious, chandelier hanging high above. All this space for a single throne? I wanted to roll my eyes at the thought, but remained with utmost behavior. To my right, Samson, and Alseth was on my left. Across the room, sat King Maven and his mother. The closer we approached them, the warmer the air around us became. Only feet away from the royal Silvers, my body came to a sudden halt. I looked to Samson to see him trying to keep his poise. He disapproved of our current state, but didn't speak a word. Alseth found it more difficult to hide his expression, evidently irritated and snapping his tongue. Queen Elara descended down the step and instantly, the three of us fell into a gentle bow. Damn, it. She was too close, too strong. For the first time in a long time, I felt fear. The hairs on my body began to rise. What's going to happen to me? She lifted my chin up, allowing me to stand again.
"Do not be scared, Arven." Her voice was gentle, but pierced sharper than knives. "Why are you here?"
"I am here to serve the new King of Norta, your highness. King Maven Calore." She tilted her chin up, showcasing her superiority. My eyes glanced from Maven to Samson just ever so slightly. I noticed them both watching me, intently. My eyes grew wide with realization. "You're in my head." She smiled.
"If you're loyal, you'll have nothing to hide." I couldn't even feel her invading my mind. My heart raced. There was no way I could shut her out. She was the queen. She was too powerful. She was the strongest in the House of Merandus. I'm nothing but a weak, pathetic Silver who can't even save herself. In that moment, only one thought ran through my mind over and over. Elara Merandus is going to kill me.
"You are strong." Cal's voice echoed in the back of my head. He spoke the exact words he spoke in my dream. Was it a dream? I felt as if I was in a pit of vulnerability, a hole dug for me by the Queen herself, but the memory of his words lit up the darkness. Just a second ago, I had no control over my body, but somehow, I was able to move. First, it was merely a twitch of a finger, then I somehow clench my fists together. Maven saw the motion and sat up, now on the edge of his throne. I'm here because they want me here. I'm here because I'm strong. I never truly believed it, but people have been telling me since the very beginning. Samson, Eragon, Kaius, and my mother.
Queen Elara pushed herself into my mind. This time, she was no longer hiding the fact. Every layer of thought she penetrated, she made sure I felt it. It pained like a hammer shattering pillars of glass. Like a piercing needle, like rigid, metallic threads being sewn into my skull. But it wasn't going to get any worse. I wasn't going to allow it.
"I…" First, the unbearable pressure in my head lessened, then I was slowly able to feel the control of my body regained. I tilted my head, smiling as it relieved my stress with a single crack of the neck. My feet still felt glued to the ground, but my toes wiggled freely while still under her influence. A sensation of complete control, condescended, and superiority gathered in my chest. It was a weird feeling, but I wanted more. The same sensation rushed through me like a coursing river. I looked at the queen in the eyes. They were cruel, pitiful eyes. The confidence present in her posture faded without a doubt when a sneer unknowingly escaped my expression. "I did not give you permission to look in there." I straightened myself with confidence. I knew it was a bad idea acting so arrogant in front of the Queen herself. She was still royalty. Suddenly, the silver in me wish I never acted like such a rebel. I could slap myself right now.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, my mouth tasted of metal. I was suddenly watching Alseth, his eyes going large. A stinging pain spread across my left cheek in an instant, and I could feel the blood drip down my lips.
"HOW DARE YOU?!" Queen Elara now had one hand tightly gripped around my throat. I struggled for oxygen. I wanted to silence her, to weaken her again, but it wasn't her Silver abilities giving her strength. It was the rage I boiled in her. A familiar and unmissed moment re-lived itself again. Lightheadedness, a stream of blood trickling down my nose. Was this happening because I had just silenced her, or was it because she was going to kill me? I regretted allowing the addicting feeling of power make me ruthless. That excitement and bloodrush I felt just a second ago. In my right state of mind, I never would have disrespected the Queen, especially not with her directly imposing on me.
"Mother, that's enough." Now standing, Maven's voice sounded with power, just like a how a King's should be. Her grip on me didn't loosen. "Mother." Queen Elara finally gave in and stepped back behind her son. She placed an arm on his shoulder, but he shrugged her off and approached me. "Lady Arven, was it?"
"Aselia…" I said, unsure of what tone I had just given. "Aselia Chariot Arven, my King." I didn't look at him directly. I tried to steady my breathing, but with the growing pain and my body's desperate crave for oxygen, it was hard not to look at a disadvantage, especially in front of the King Tiberias's heir. The heat emitting from Maven, was it supposed to intimidate me? He held his hand up, and I shut my eyes tightly. Suddenly, there was a soothing warmth around my cheek, my jaw and my neck. I leaned into it and opened my eyes to see Maven standing right in front of me, a hand gentle on my face. He was taller than I imagined. Taller than his brother. They were similar in so many ways. Dark hair, broad shoulders, but Maven's eyes were a soft hue of blue. I wanted to grasp their color and paint it across a canvas.
"Aselia Chariot Arven," he said, voice both calm and conniving. "Please excuse my mother. She was never a friendly one to strangers." I nodded hesitantly while also trying to stay standing. "You're bleeding." He looked down at my chest where the blood dripped down, causing me to blush. Maven noticed and offered me a smile. "Let's clean you up. I'll have a new dress sent to your room." I almost believed he was the kind Silver every man seemed to have spoken of, not the Second Prince who was full of nothing but bitter darkness, the Silver Prince who plotted against his father and brother for the flaming crown. Mavey… It was Cal's voice again.
He didn't do it, Ase. Then, it was Kaius's words that rang in my head, followed by all the thoughts and questions I had upon arrival. Maven wanted to cast his older brother out in order to inherit the throne… Why did Cal kill the King… His younger brother would have figured out a way to cast him out of the palace regardless. I suddenly remembered my last encounter with the Queen's cousin and all the images he reeled before me. Prince Maven stood with his mother behind him, a gentle hand on his shoulder.
In a blink of an eye, all the missing pieces fell into place. Why did Cal kill the King? He didn't. His younger brother would have figured out a way to cast him out of the palace. The King's death was Maven's way to the throne. Prince Cal grew up a soldier, born and nurtured to be a tool who only knew of loyalty to the King, his father, who held indefinite power and status, and his younger brother was no different. Prince Maven grew up a soldier, born and nurtured to be a tool who only knew of loyalty to the Queen, his mother, who craved indefinite power and status.
"The Bowl of Bones is opening to the public soon." Maven held out his arm, gesturing for me to take the first step out of the throne room. I watched him in horror and disbelief but kept my expression calm. "Shall we?" He offered that same smile again. This time, I saw through it. It wasn't gentle at all. It never was. It was an evil grin, masked to fool the eye. I curtsied in respect, then exited the room, followed by Samson Merandus and Alseth Gliacon. I could feel all of their eyes on me. Maven Calore and Elara Merandus killed the King.