The same pointed shoes marched past Clara for what felt like the millionth time. Her hand clenched her jaw shut and her sweat gluing her skin together. She curled her body in a ball, shaking aggressively from fear. In her free hand she clenched onto a wrinkled old piece of paper, holding on for dear life.
She knew she should've taken more time to plan. She acted recklessly, and now she was paying the price. Normally putting herself in situations such as these ones never feared her, but this time was different. The energy in the room was off the moment that man had entered. He didn't belong and even dust mites in the air knew it.
Just out of view another set of footsteps entered the room. Trying to sneak past one person was harder enough, and now she had to worry about hiding from two of them.
"You did wonderful, my boy!" A voice she didn't recognize spoke. "Now fetch my clean cloak, we have a funeral to attend." The man's tone was much too happy for someone talking about attending a funeral.
The other man chuckled followed by more awkward shuffling. Their voices grew muffled as the wondered farther from the table were Calra hid.
"Have you seen…" Their voices growing more clear as they shuffled back towards the table.
"No I haven't seen your stupid pet chicken…" The other voice cut him off.
Clara held her breath as they shifted through papers above her.
"He's not a…"
"Boomer please. My son. Stop your chattering and help me. We have much to prepare and discuss before your brother is crowned."
Clara narrowed her eyes in thought. A new king is not crowned in Grilbend unless the previous steps down or dies. She shivered fearing for the worst.
King Morbucks had sent for her personally to help him with a special task. She had only arrived the other day, never getting a chance for the King to discuss matters with her. She knew he felt ill this morning, but no illness she knew of could take a man's life so fast. No natural illness that is.
Their voices muffled away as they wondered back away from the table. Clara edged herself closer to the gap between the floor and the ratty old table cloth. She peeked out slightly, taking in the sight of the short old man and the curious blonde boy.
He looked familiar to her. She's seen those swirling blue eyes before, but she couldn't quite place it.
The shorter man handed the blonde a vile of smoking blue liquid before leaving the room. The boy turned to leave, following behind his father's steps. Stopping for a split second as he caught Clara's eye. A sly smirk crept onto his face.
"I always loved Blue…" He swired the liquid around for a moment, breaking eye contact. "Dangerous, unknown. Bold." He licked his lips, his eyes wandering back to the girl under the table. "Easy to manipulate…"
Clara shook her head, crawling out for under the table and bolting towards the door. Boomers hollow laughter chasing her down the hall.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she turned the corner in the main halls. She clenched her chest and slumped to the ground, her legs too weak to hold her. Servants of all sorts marched past her without much thought, as she sat there breathing heavily against the wall.
She closed her eyes and stuffed the paper into the inside pocket of her vest.
"You better not be stealing, Ms. Clara…"
She opened her eyes and looked up at Slim, the man responsible for keeping an eye on her.
Slim loomed over her, his hands stuffed in his pockets. Unlike other guards Slim wore raggy old clothes and kept his hair long and wild. He resembled more of a poor bum outside the castle than a high ranking King's guard.
Clara smiled taking a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. "No stealing here. Just got lost and ended down that dark hall. This castle is much larger than the small village im from. Very easy to get lost."
Slim looked down at her unamused. "What's on the paper?" He questioned, nodding towards her vest pocket.
Clara buttoned up the middle button and shrugged. "Just a small sketch I've been working on. Wanted to send my brother a picture of this amazing castle." She gave him a sweet smile. Her legs still fought against her, refusing to let her stand.
Slim's face remained calm as he reached down grabbing the front of her vest.
"Whoa!" She cried. "In Alatas we don't just grab young women by their…"
"Shut your trap." He commanded. "Your lips move too much."
Clara, grabbed his fist, fighting back so he couldn't undo the button. "My lips move when I speak. Lock me up for it." She hissed.
"Fast lips, are lying lips." He explained. He reached down grabbing her two hands in his other fist and ripped the vest off her back.
"So are we going clothing shopping?" She growled, reaching out for her vest.
Slim pulled out the paper and unraveled for inspection.
In beautiful detailed black ink was a painted photo of Mage Untonium, the mythical forest witch, King Frast of Tamilu and a shy looking Alatas woman. They all stood within a room similar to the Royals mage room in the castle.
Slim ripped the paper and sprinkled it in front of Clara. "Funny picture of the castle. Now it's a puzzle." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her off the ground.
Clara yanked her arm from his grasp and dusted her pants off. "You owe me a new vest."
Slim tossed her a single bronze coin. "Buy one on your way home. We don't need you anymore."
Clara blinked blankly back at him. "What do you mean? The king sent for me, may I speak to him. I don't understand why I'm being sent away."
Slim ignored her words, disappearing into the busy bustle of servants.
Clara dug her fingernails into her palms. "YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME!" She screamed after him. But still no one dared to bat her an eye or even acknowledge she stood there as they pushed past her.
Before she could took a step forward she felt a firm strong grasp holding her in tensed under the touch and realed her arm back ready to hit back hard. But before her fist could make contact strangers other hand caught it.
Her heart panicked as she locked eyes with the same swirling blue eyes she had seen earlier.
"I'll listen to you, Blue." He smiled. In one graceful swift movement he spun her around so her arms wrapped around herself still held by him, and their chests press close enough to sync their heartbeats together.
She wiggled and desperately tried to slither away from him, but he only moved in closer until his lips brushed hers.
"Come on Blue, speak to me." He whispered.
She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Your breath smells like the bottom of a fish barrel…" She frowned.
Boomer chuckled, before crashing his lips to hers.
Clara clenched her jaw and began to viciously thrashing in his grasp. She cringed as she felt his tongue slither its way into her mouth and force itself down her throat, placing a small rounded object on the back of her tongue.
Clara bit down hard on his tongue drawing blood and causing him to loosen his grasp. He pulled away from her, but before she had a chance to spit out the small capsule he rammed his fist into her stomach making her choke it down.
Her eyes glazed over and her arms fell to her sides. She could see but she couldn't look. She could feel but not touch. It was as if she watched everything play out from a window. She never felt so far within her own body before.
Boomer brushed a loose strand of hair back out of her face and lightly slapped her cheek. "Don't worry Blue. We're such good friends I can hear exactly what you have to say, without the need to speak." He gripped her jaw and pulled her face back to his. "Give it a few hours and you'll be able to speak to the king."
Brick leaned against the bedroom door. Princess and her mother had left moments ago, leaving just him and the King alone.
The king's breath was shallow but still there. His veins were a clear black behind his ghost like skin, spiralling over his body like spider webs. His eyes crusted shut from dried blood and a few yellow teeth sat on his chest along with splatters of blackened blood.
Brick tapped his foot impatiently, snarling his lip in anger. "Just fucking die." He breathed. He slammed his fist against the door, pushing himself off of it and stomped his way over to the bedside.
The king let out what one could assume was a chuckle before coughing up more tar like liquid. "I am a man. And a real man fights." His voice was weak. Even lying here he felt no fear. "I will make it. And when I do. I'll kill you. With my own hands."
Brick punched the man hard, causing more teeth a black clumps to fly across the room.
The king let out another weak belly laugh. "You're no man. You're hardly human. If only I had seen it sooner." King Morbucks was disappointed in himself. The moment he met Brick he had liked him. He seemed like a strong intelligent young man. What a fool he was.
Brick bared his teeth and knelt beside the King, lowering himself to his ear. "I am more than a simple man. I am the king."
"The people of Grilbend…"
"The people of Grilbend cannot stand in my way. I'll rip them all down if they even think of getting in my way. All of this land will be mine. Not just Grilbend. But Alatas, Tamilu, all of it."
A weak smile curled onto the king's lips. "I wish the best of luck. But not even making a deal with the devil will save your ass from getting beat by…"
Brick bashed the man's face in with one hit, spraying red chunks of skin, hair and blood all over the backboard and sheets. He wiped his hand off with his shirt and rose to his feet. He walked back to the door and gently knocked three times.
The door cracked open slightly before Slim slipped his way inside, dropping to one knee and bowing his head low in the presence of Brick.
"Clean this up. Tell MJ the deed is finally done, and prepare a casket for him…" He looked back at the gushing mess he had just made. "A closed casket."
Slim nodded his head, moving over to inspect the body as Brick left the room.
Just outside in the hall stood Boomer, a wide smile on his face. Boomer cracked his head to the side and pouted. "Have you seen Butch? I'm bored and want to venture off into town."
Ignoring him Brick marched down the hall, stopping in front of a shaking maid.
The woman kept her head low and swallowed hard, playing with the hem of her apron. "I didn't hear anything… Or see anything… I… I swear…" She said shakily.
Brick stood tall over her and gave her a small nod. "I know. Now fetch me a bath, and burn these clothes." He turned on his foot and continued off to his chambers.
The woman nodded her head and quickly followed behind him, still unable to pry her eyes from her shoes.
(Hi, just wanted to say a special thanks to everyone who took time out of their day to read this story, it really makes my day knowing I can make something that some people enjoy. I'll be moving soon so it'll be a little bit until the next chapter, also expect the next few chapters to be a bit longer than these ones. Thank you all again!"