Chapter Two
"Where has she gone to this time?" Akakios barked out. He had grown tired of his betrothed's sudden 'vacations'. It will not be tolerated once they get married. As soon as that silly father of hers dies, then her uncle would have control of her. He would, unlike her father, agree to Aglaia's marriage with him. There would be nothing in his way then. The only problem was, Gennadius was taking his sweet time dying. If only there was a way to speed things up a bit... But he couldn't. His mother and his betrothed might suspect him of it. Aglaia he can handle, but his mother... His mother would go on telling all the other fairies if she wished. Aglaia he could keep quiet–a few beatings should settle it.
Frustrated, Akakios swiftly walked over to the library and after making sure that no one was looking, pulled a thick blue book out of the shelf. A portion of the shelf moved away to reveal a dark staircase. Akakios descended the staircase without a thought of lighting a torch, while deflecting curses and spells that sprang out easily.
Reaching a secret chamber, he walked over to a table with books, pens and herbs scattered all over it. His eyes settled on a pot sitting in the corner of another table. Could he? They would surely suspect him. The contents of that pot was made especially for a human, which was unusual itself. He didn't usually create potions just for them, humans were such vile creatures.
But this one fascinated him. He was making potions when this little human approached him. How he got over the invisible barrier between the fairy world and the mortal world he didn't know. The last human who did that died a few hours after entering and there was nothing the fairies could do. He asked for something-they always ask for something. But this time it was unusual. This time a human asked him if he could kill his queen, and he wanted it to be slow and painful and he wanted her to think of him while she was dying. This fact intrigued him. He had never done a complicated potion and spell combined before. It was just not thought of yet. This man gave him the idea.
Could he use it to kill Gennadius? All he would need was a memory spell for whatever he wanted Gennadius to think of constantly during his painful death. Of course, he would have to alter the potion a bit and make it a bit faster. Slow was not always better. Besides, it was a different matter altogether. The human was the queen's lover and former fiancé. She wouldn't dare speak of him in her thoughts. But with Gennadius, there would be no telling what he would do. He must revise the potion and slip it into Gennadius' drink.
But what of his mother? She would surely tell everyone about his deception. How will he silence her?
~~~
Aglaia hitched up her skirts and, after making sure that no one was looking, muttered a few words that transformed her. No longer was she wearing a pale blue dress. A beautiful gown replaced it, shimmery and sparkling, that only fairy cloth could produce. Even with her hair limp and scraggly the gown made her look beautiful.
Aglaia unfolded her wings and flew. Flew home.
~~~
"Where were you? Your father is on his deathbed and you are out wandering around!"
Aglaia flew beside her aunt Sophronia, who was working herself up to a frenzy. In an attempt to soothe her, Aglaia smiled apologetically at her and assured her that she would not do it again. Silently, at least not while her father was still alive. She didn't want him to worry, but she really couldn't stand being with Akakios all the time.
She knew about his plan to marry her, but that wouldn't happen as long as she didn't agree. And she didn't intend to agree.
There had always been rumors about Akakios and his connections with dark magic. It was told that he made potions that killed people, one even went so far as to accuse him of killing the queen of Tarimal. Leo's mother.
Of course, everything was hushed up the second the rumor comes out. After all, they can't have the fairies losing faith in their king, can they? Rumors about the king's dark side will not do well with the kingdom.
Aglaia didn't notice that they had reached her father's chambers. Sophronia opened the door and led her inside.
She almost didn't recognize her father. Gennadius was a very wise and kindhearted man with a smile for everyone. He would have made a great king. But now he looked sick and so tiny in that bed with the soft sheets and pillows swallowing him up. She felt tears form in her eyes and led a chair beside the bed.
"Father, it's me, Aglaia. I'm sorry I went away. I just had to get out for awhile, but I'm back now."
Gennadius slowly opened his eyes and stared at Aglaia, his glance unfocused. He wrinkled his brow and whispered, "Aglaia?"
Aglaia nodded, "Yes."
"You've returned. You should have gone. Just like I told you. I don't really have much time left. Your don't have to worry about me." Her father had encouraged her to leave. He was one of those who believed Akakios' connection with dark magic.
"No father. I couldn't possibly leave you in the hands of that murderer."
Gennadius shook his head, be it a difficult task. "You mustn't say things like that. The walls have ears. You never know who might be listening."
Aglaia sighed. "Yes father. But I won't go while you're still here."
"Where has she gone to this time?" Akakios barked out. He had grown tired of his betrothed's sudden 'vacations'. It will not be tolerated once they get married. As soon as that silly father of hers dies, then her uncle would have control of her. He would, unlike her father, agree to Aglaia's marriage with him. There would be nothing in his way then. The only problem was, Gennadius was taking his sweet time dying. If only there was a way to speed things up a bit... But he couldn't. His mother and his betrothed might suspect him of it. Aglaia he can handle, but his mother... His mother would go on telling all the other fairies if she wished. Aglaia he could keep quiet–a few beatings should settle it.
Frustrated, Akakios swiftly walked over to the library and after making sure that no one was looking, pulled a thick blue book out of the shelf. A portion of the shelf moved away to reveal a dark staircase. Akakios descended the staircase without a thought of lighting a torch, while deflecting curses and spells that sprang out easily.
Reaching a secret chamber, he walked over to a table with books, pens and herbs scattered all over it. His eyes settled on a pot sitting in the corner of another table. Could he? They would surely suspect him. The contents of that pot was made especially for a human, which was unusual itself. He didn't usually create potions just for them, humans were such vile creatures.
But this one fascinated him. He was making potions when this little human approached him. How he got over the invisible barrier between the fairy world and the mortal world he didn't know. The last human who did that died a few hours after entering and there was nothing the fairies could do. He asked for something-they always ask for something. But this time it was unusual. This time a human asked him if he could kill his queen, and he wanted it to be slow and painful and he wanted her to think of him while she was dying. This fact intrigued him. He had never done a complicated potion and spell combined before. It was just not thought of yet. This man gave him the idea.
Could he use it to kill Gennadius? All he would need was a memory spell for whatever he wanted Gennadius to think of constantly during his painful death. Of course, he would have to alter the potion a bit and make it a bit faster. Slow was not always better. Besides, it was a different matter altogether. The human was the queen's lover and former fiancé. She wouldn't dare speak of him in her thoughts. But with Gennadius, there would be no telling what he would do. He must revise the potion and slip it into Gennadius' drink.
But what of his mother? She would surely tell everyone about his deception. How will he silence her?
~~~
Aglaia hitched up her skirts and, after making sure that no one was looking, muttered a few words that transformed her. No longer was she wearing a pale blue dress. A beautiful gown replaced it, shimmery and sparkling, that only fairy cloth could produce. Even with her hair limp and scraggly the gown made her look beautiful.
Aglaia unfolded her wings and flew. Flew home.
~~~
"Where were you? Your father is on his deathbed and you are out wandering around!"
Aglaia flew beside her aunt Sophronia, who was working herself up to a frenzy. In an attempt to soothe her, Aglaia smiled apologetically at her and assured her that she would not do it again. Silently, at least not while her father was still alive. She didn't want him to worry, but she really couldn't stand being with Akakios all the time.
She knew about his plan to marry her, but that wouldn't happen as long as she didn't agree. And she didn't intend to agree.
There had always been rumors about Akakios and his connections with dark magic. It was told that he made potions that killed people, one even went so far as to accuse him of killing the queen of Tarimal. Leo's mother.
Of course, everything was hushed up the second the rumor comes out. After all, they can't have the fairies losing faith in their king, can they? Rumors about the king's dark side will not do well with the kingdom.
Aglaia didn't notice that they had reached her father's chambers. Sophronia opened the door and led her inside.
She almost didn't recognize her father. Gennadius was a very wise and kindhearted man with a smile for everyone. He would have made a great king. But now he looked sick and so tiny in that bed with the soft sheets and pillows swallowing him up. She felt tears form in her eyes and led a chair beside the bed.
"Father, it's me, Aglaia. I'm sorry I went away. I just had to get out for awhile, but I'm back now."
Gennadius slowly opened his eyes and stared at Aglaia, his glance unfocused. He wrinkled his brow and whispered, "Aglaia?"
Aglaia nodded, "Yes."
"You've returned. You should have gone. Just like I told you. I don't really have much time left. Your don't have to worry about me." Her father had encouraged her to leave. He was one of those who believed Akakios' connection with dark magic.
"No father. I couldn't possibly leave you in the hands of that murderer."
Gennadius shook his head, be it a difficult task. "You mustn't say things like that. The walls have ears. You never know who might be listening."
Aglaia sighed. "Yes father. But I won't go while you're still here."