"The tears so unending that I now wondered if it was some sign of her heart bleeding out."― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Wings and Ruin
Running with the Boys
Chapter XXXVIII: The Bloodshed
Vidia woke with a start.
Her room was bathed in the dark light of night, the whole house silent and calm. She glanced at the camera, the red light didn't blink. No one was watching her. She crawled out of bed, pushing the blankets and pillows out of her way. She stepped down, her moves careful and calculated. Nothing happened. She still wore nothing but her underclothes, the dress the only thing Jace left for her. Her bridesmaid's dress laid crumpled on the floor, she snatched it up, pulling the gown on.
She went to the door, the gold knob was back and the door was slightly ajar. She pulled it open, noticing red spots on the floor. She stepped out, the spot wet under her foot. She stepped around the other one, pausing to stare at the larger collection of liquids. Everything was dark against the carpets, dyed black at her mother's request. Her feet padded down the hallway, passing photos of the city, herself as a child and her grandfather.
She stopped once she hit the stairs, the side stairs that lead to the main staircase. The floor checkered, the same place she used to pretend to play chess, making up her own rules and sweeping across the floor. She descended them, listening for any signs of life. She spotted the checkered floor, she could go out the main doors and head into the city, someone would help her.
She stumbled, crashing into the floor landing on something warm and fleshy. She sat up, the body of her driver laid on the ground, his throat silt and eyes gouged out. She scooted back, her feet slipping in his blood. She crawled over someone else's body, their head gone, and their blood clumped around their neck stub. She climbed to her feet, turning to run but slipped in the gore. She fell on her wrist, she cried out and held it, looking up at the thrones that sat on the first landing.
One gleamed in the light, made of gold and chrome. Colours shimmered through the throne, it sat empty with a crown on the black cushion. Next to it sat a throne made of glass, the edges dipped in blue with sapphires that shone. A throne for Jace and a throne for her.
The King Baron Commander of the World.
She ran from the thrones, shoving the double doors open and headed down the stone stairs. She needed to get to the streets, she could flag someone down and head back to Haven. No, first she'd call Rider, she'd figure out where he was and try to save him from Jace's wrath. The fountain was ahead, she could wash her hands in there and then head for the street. She plunged her hands into the cool waters, pausing for a second before glancing up.
Blood dripped from her nose, a steady drip drip drip that echoed in her head. It cancelled out the sounds of the prisoners shouting, the sound of her name and the laughter. Her mother hung upside down from the grand spout, her neck silt and her mouth hung open. The water was a diluted pink, her blood staining the waters and not washing Vidia's hands clean.
She backed up, grabbing at her chest as something growled behind her. She spun, a man stood behind her, his skin a pale grey. He snarled at her, his lips sliding back to show his fangs. She stepped back, he advanced, his claws long and sharp. She stepped back again, her legs hitting the fountain's edge.
He was quick, grabbing her around the waist and dragged her to his chest. He grabbed her chin, forcing a kiss against her mouth, his breath hot against hers as a fang pierced her lip. He licked her blood, his body shuddering and becoming human again. Jace grinned at her, pressing another kiss against her lips.
"Mine." He growled, pressing her back to the ground, keeping his eyes on hers. "You belong to me." He pushed her dress up, pinning both her wrists above her. She turned her head, watching the prisoners cheer at Jace. She pulled her wrists free, slamming them on his chest. Blue Eco shuddered around her, the Eco crashing into his chest and throwing him into the water.
He splashed in the water, standing knee-deep in the water. She didn't give him a chance to yell at her, she grinned as she plunged her hand into the water, blue sparks danced along the surface. Jace screamed as the Eco surged through his body, his eyes rolling back into his head. Someone hooked their arms around hers, pulling her from the pool as Jace dropped into the water. She laughed as they pulled her from the edge, she kicked her legs, her bare feet flailing as the men pulled Jace from the water.
"I will never be yours!" She scream-laughed. "I belong to no one! You don't possess what he has, a beauty so calm and clear." The men threw her to the ground, she rolled on the grass, still laughing.
"Are you okay?" A man asked.
"Yah, she can't kill me." Jace snarled. "She needs to be taught a lesson."
Her mind raced, Blue Eco spiking in her system before it started to fade. She shivered, holding herself. She heard Rider's voice, calling out to her, whispering her name, muffled against the glass of the hallway. Hands shoved her flat on her stomach, they ripped at her dress, freeing her back. Rider's lips ghosted against hers, a smoky dream, there but gone when she tried to grasp it. Pain raked down her back, she cried into the grass, screaming into the darkness she plunged herself in.
Somewhere in the distance, Kaster laughed; her best friend, finally laughing again. The pain hit again, she sobbed, letting tiny blue fires burn around her as the pain came again, and again, and again, and again. How did the Precursors expect her to live like this? Without Rider, Kaster and Blue Eco?
Her head was yanked back, she looked to the person who held it. Jace snarled at her, his eyes dark. "You're out of Eco, Vidia." Saying her name as if it were a curse, pressing his cheek against hers. "Submit to me and I'll stop the caning, give you Eco and the world." He pulled away from her, running the cane down her back, she winced but didn't cry out. "What do you say, my lovely, queen?"
She grinned, turning to look at Jace. "Your little brother is a better kisser."
TBC…
Author's Note
Screw COVID. Seriously. I can not express how much it sucked. However, I did enjoy the forced family time and the chances to be creative. I did work in emergency child care for the Toronto area, which was something I never I'd have to do in my lifetime. I did not make bread, FYI.
As for fanfiction, there are 9 more chapters for this book. This will be the only update until June, so I can close this fanfiction chapter of my life with the celebration of my birthday. If you are wanting to read other stories, I suggest heading over to Wattpad and find me, katthegrim, and read my science fiction novella The Illusionists. with all the love, Paradise Eco. xoxoxo