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Chapter Twenty: Tides
Erik and Ashtyn awake from their time in the afterworld renewed. Hand in hand, they approach their bedroom. Ashtyn is relieved that they were able to mend their fractured relationship. She had finally recovered enough from the trauma of last night to re-enter their bedroom. Ashtyn glances at her lover; he smiles easily at her. Honestly, she couldn't imagine her life without him. Their relationship was unconventional and dangerous, but it was theirs. Suddenly, Ashtyn feels an overwhelming sense of gloom, she frowns.
"What is it?" Erik inquires.
For a moment, she thought to say that nothing was wrong; but she didn't want to lie to him. Besides, she wanted him to reassure her that everything was okay. "I feel that the tides are changing against us," She confesses.
"What do you mean?" Erik asks, though he already knew. Erik could feel it the same as she. A dark foreboding shadow had settled over their otherwise happy reunion. However, it would be a lie to say that glimpses of the ill emotion hadn't already made its appearance. No, they both knew the time that they had stolen was slowly running out.
Erik noticed that she didn't answer his pointless question. She didn't need to, because he understood her completely. They showered separately per her request. Though she said that everything was cool between them, she still at times was uneasy around him. Erik knew that it would take time for things to be right between them. One pleasant night together wasn't going to erase all the horror he had put her through. Erik didn't object to her request, despite it killing him not to be with her. Especially, given the ominous feel of their day. They dressed in silence, only briefly touching each other as if to comfort each other through their sullen mood.
Then, there's a knock on the door. Ashtyn could feel her heart drop. Erik eyed her wearily, then answers, "Enter."
Ashtyn's eyes turn to the door, as Okoye enters the room. Her presence demands their respect and attention. Okoye stares at Ashtyn momentarily, before addressing Erik, "My king, the royal court is ready for your declaration."
"Good. I'll be there shortly," Erik replies. Okoye nods. Again, she looks at Ashtyn, only briefly before she exits the room. Ashtyn knew that look. It was the same look that she had seen on Shuri's and Zoya's faces; it was a plead for help. Their expressions were puzzling to Ashtyn. What did everyone expect from her? Even more troubling, why the hell didn't Erik mentioned the meeting? Ashtyn waited until Okoye had left to question him. However, he speaks up first.
"I know what you are going to say," Erik acknowledges, "I need to be without you, just this once."
"Why?"
Approaching his queen, Erik takes in all her glory. Completely overtaken by his love for his wife, he stands in awe of her. He wishes that he could be a better man because that would make things easier between them. However, being a good man would alter his plans and his methods of achieving his goals. No, this time he would ask for her to stay behind. Ashtyn said that she understood, but he knew she was only saying it to appease him.
Erik exits the bedroom, he looks one last time at his Madam Slay, knowing that she was far from yielding. Loving her fierceness and her fighting spirit he thinks about how he doesn't deserve her. He could say it a million times over, how she could do better than him. Yet, she loves him like no other. It was because of her that he knew the meaning of true love.
Before leaving the room, he turns abruptly and heads directly for his queen. Without a saying a word, he embraced his queen and began to kiss her affectionately. Once their kiss had ended, they rest their foreheads against the other; their breathing was in sync, as well as their heartbeats.
"We are one," Erik declares. As if he was casting a spell. Ashtyn full heartily agreed with his declaration.
"We are one," She echoes. "For now, and always."
"I want you to promise me something."
"What is it, love?"
"If things go bad that you will save yourself."
"Never!?" Ashtyn began to argue, but Erik silences her with another tender kiss.
"I've been selfish my entire life, but at this moment I am trying to be selfless," He explains. "I want you to think about your wellbeing first. Don't try to save me. If you are somewhere alive in the world, then I am at peace. Promise me that you will do whatever is needed to survive."
Ashtyn didn't like the tone of the conversation. It felt as if they were saying goodbye, but it was clear to her that he was serious. She nods, agreeing to his terms. Though she didn't like it she would not deny him this one request; not after betraying him. Ashtyn felt as if she needed to redeem herself and if this would restore his faith in her so be it.
Erik then leaves to attend the meeting, leaving Ashtyn alone in their bedroom. She stood momentarily in silence thinking over their time together. He was a monster, even a devil to some, but to her, he was her dark-angel. The fire that he had set within her helped to guide her to her true self…to him. No matter their tribulations she was deeply in love with him and was grateful that their paths had crossed.
Could she accept his decision for her not to assist him, even if it meant his life? She had promised him, but now without him looming over her, she wondered if she could honor her promise when the time came. Maybe their worrying was unjustified, but her dismissing her intuition was her lying to herself.
The feeling may have started off as an untamed emotion, but now it was a forceful presence. At that moment Ashtyn had decided that some promises just cannot be kept. Ashtyn could never leave his side; because he would and could never leave hers.
"We are one," Ashtyn declares. Before exiting her room heading for the royal court.
Once there, she stood outside their closed doors. She wasn't bold enough to interrupt their meeting. Besides, two members of the Dora Milaje guarded the entrance; it was impossible for her to gain entry. She paced outside of the massive doors waiting for the meeting to adjourn. When the doors finally open, members of the royal court wandered out of the room. None of them look too pleased. Whatever was said must have been disheartening. Ashtyn waited for her husband, who she finally sees through the crowd. His eyes are stern and far from the loving look of pleasure that she saw in them mere moments ago. Something had indeed changed, and he was the cause of it.
Upon seeing her, Erik halts. They didn't exchange words, for nothing needed to be said. Gazing at one another, their eyes conveyed what was within their heart. W'Kabi, who seemed to be anxious to get things moving along, urges Erik to continue their conversation outside. Apparently, there was something that required her husband's immediate attention. Pressing on, he walks pass her but stops for a moment to gently caress her cheek with the back of his hand. An action that he has done numerous times before, but at that moment it was bittersweet.
It was the last interaction between them, before him making his way to his destination. The action though cryptic to most, was crystal-clear to Ashtyn. The subtle gesture was a silent warning for her to stay behind, but she had to know. Ashtyn watches as W'Kabi and Erik leaves, along with the Dora Milaje, and Okoye trails behind giving Ashtyn another haunting look. Again, there was a plea, but she says nothing. Then like the rest, she leaves.
Contemplating her next course of action. Ashtyn waited a few moments before following them to the terrace. There were people all around, busying themselves with their tasks. Hovercrafts were being prepped for flight. Yes, there was something big happening. To not be seen, Ashtyn duck out of sight in the shadows. She watched her husband from behind, giving orders and instructing W'Kabi. Then, one of the hovercrafts lifts into the air but is suddenly struck down.
Ashtyn watched as everyone ran towards the sound of the crash, to see what'd happened. Ashtyn, no longer trying to hide her presence, is immediately by her husband's side. She couldn't believe her eyes, T'Challa, the Black Panther emerges from the wreckage. Ashtyn's heart nearly stops. Okoye happily proclaims that he lives.
Ashtyn then looks at her husband. Erik's eyes are transfixed onto T'Challa; his expression is calm, but she knew that he was concerned. Never had she seen such a fearful expression on his face, except regarding the longevity of their relationship. With crushing realization dawning on her, she realizes that this is the moment they had dreaded. For Ashtyn and Erik, knew that this is where their lives would forever be changed.
"Erik?" Ashtyn asks.
Erik turns to her and says, "Go to where I proposed to you. I'll meet you there." Something about how he said his words had her unconvinced. "Remember you promised!" He exclaims, forcing her to heed his words. Ashtyn leaves, despite her ill feelings.
Erik satisfied that she honored his wish returns his focus to T'Challa. Immediately he could tell that T'Challa had undergone a transformation. No longer was he the uncertain prince who was masquerading as a king; or was plagued by the sins of his father's past. Erik takes note of T'Challa's purposeful strides as he approached the terrace. There was no doubt, only confidence in his desire to reclaim his throne.
T'Challa evokes his right for the ritual combat to continue. Erik realizing that he could lose everything attempts to evade battle. Was this to be his end? Even if it was he was not going to surrender, regardless of his concerns. Erik then orders W'Kabi to have his men to attack T'Challa. Okoye protested his orders, by reminding W'Kabi that the ritual combat hasn't ended. Erik wasn't surprised by her, he has always known that she served him out of obligation. Yet, he knew W'Kabi serve him because he believed in his methods. W'Kabi only took a moment to make his decision to follow his king's orders. His troops descended onto the battlefield. T'Challa masked-up prepping for their assault.
Okoye is horrified. Declaring Erik unfit to be king, she orders the Dora Milaje to split into halves. Some go to defend T'Challa, while the others stay to fight Erik. Though they were formidable opponents they posed no real threat to Erik; who now wore the Golden Panther chain, he transforms before their eyes. He was eager to fight them, for he knew that he was going to win.
As expected the fighting was fierce. In the mist of it, Erik manages to get a hold of one of them. With his weapon pressed firmly to her throat he pondered his options. Truthfully, he wanted them to once again serve him, but that wasn't going to happen. Okoye had a strong will and a deep-rooted loyalty for T'Challa. The thought that everyone would rather half his cousin as their king than him, made Erik rageful.
In defiance, his captive says, "Wakanda forever." Erik understood her meaning behind the statement; he was an outsider and not part of their culture. His entire life he has been considered the outcast. He thought that by becoming king that would end; but still he was no one. Without a second thought, he slits the woman's throat. Okoye screams a loud battle cry, and all the remaining Dora Milaje charges him. Momentarily, Erik is overcome by their force.
Using the technology of the suit. Erik redistributes the built-up force of their attacks. The energy waves explode, tossing the remaining Dora Milaje off the terrace. Just when he thought he had caught a break. Erik's lovely little cousin and Nakia, who Erik assumed was T'Challa's woman, attacks him. He holds his own against Nakia and eventually eliminates her from battle. Alone with Shuri, he is briefly stunned by her energy bands, but eventually, she makes the mistake of getting too close. Erik disables one of her bands; giving him the opportunity to remove the other one. Then he strikes her hard, sending the young princess flying. Shuri, as defiant as her brother, tells Erik how unworthy he is to be king. He smiles, not because he disagreed, but because he knew that she was right.
It took him meeting Ashtyn to learn that being king was never going to fulfill him. Yet, him opening his heart to her did. Nevertheless, this was the hand that he himself had dealt; he would be damned if he didn't see this through to the end. As he raised his hand to deliver the final blow, he thinks to himself that by killing Shuri T'Challa will once again be broken. Perhaps, then, and only then, would he be able to win.
However, before he could kill her he felt a powerful force hit him from behind. Tumbling down to the underpass below he hits the ground hard. Standing to his feet Erik is now face-to-face with his rival, the Black Panther. Removing their masks, they speak to each other. T'Challa's words condemn Erik and his methods. Erik could see that he was determined. The pampered prince was a man. T'Challa had earned some respect from Erik, but it changed nothing between them.
It was too late for apologies, not that Erik would ever offer him one. Erik could feel the end was coming. He briefly closed his eyes to envision his queen smiling lovingly at him. The stabbing pain that struck his heart was almost more than he could tolerate. T'Challa continued to talk, but Erik wasn't listening. All he could think about was his love for his queen.
If indeed this was his last day on earth, he decided that he would take T'Challa down with him. There was no turning away from their destiny. This is where they were always going to end, together in a fight to the death. Erik bracing himself for battle preps to attack. Then he hears his queen calling out to him.
At first, he thought that it was his mind trying desperately to maintain a connection with her, but then he realized that it wasn't a figment of his imagination. He turns to see her standing only a few feet from them. A smile instantly appears on his face, to have her near when some many were against him was a relief.
Then he becomes concern because he wasn't sure what her purpose was for coming. Perhaps she was going to ask him to surrender. Would he, or could he, submit if she were to ask him such a thing? Soon, it became apparent what her true intentions were. As she got closer Erik could see that her claws were fully protracted.
Erik smiles wickedly, then says, "Madam-fuckin'- Slay."
"I couldn't leave without you," Ashtyn says as she closes the distance. Standing by her husband's side they prepare to take on the Black Panther together. T'Challa gets into his battle stance, and Erik and his queen follow suit.
"We are one," Ashtyn says.
"Sho you right." Erik agrees as they both lunge forward.
A/N: Alright the next chapter should be the grand finale! It has been a wild ride. I am grateful for all of you who have followed and supported this story. Please review. I would love to know what your favorite moments of the story were.
Many blessings to you all. Thank you! ~Concrete Lily.
