Hey everybody. So, I won't take too long on this, as I myself am eager to advance the plot. I just hope you all are okay and the last chapter, well the ending of it, wasn't too much. Anyway, to the plot!
Song of the Chapter: Become the Beast by Karliene and I'd Still Kill You by Nostalghia
Warning: Some graphic scenes, including Camilla losing her shit, unfortunately there are more mentions of some 'bad touch' stuff, and manipulation. My apologies.
Chapter Thirteen: The Loveliest Lies of All
[Three Months Later]
Empty. Camilla felt like a shell of herself, even three months after the trial, her magic remaining weak, and her closest friend gone and out of reach. She was unable to go to her wyvern Athena, the same one that had served Phier, and felt as if her life was collapsing in on herself. Many days she spent tucked away in the room her and Ascalon had shared, hoping that maybe one day he'd show up and tell her this was all a dream, a terribly long and hellish one. Yet, night after night she was alone in that bed, curling around the pillows that still smelled like him and crying, letting only the darkness see her at her weakest point.
It was halfway through the first week of the new month, April, that something changed. A variant entered the ring as she lifelessly entered the grim room, glazed eyes scanning over all that was before her though her mind said nothing would be there. She was proven wrong, violet eyes widening as they locked onto a few items set on the desk, joined by a yellow rose and a pastry that warmed her chilled heart. Camilla's entire body shook as she numbly walked over, knowing who had left all of this for her. Slowly she smiled as she held the flower, noting the thorns had been removed, and after smelling it tucked it gently into her hair. Determined to make the best out of the ominous collection her friend left, the princess scooped up the book, letter, and chocolate horn, going over to the bed and nestling in as she began to read. What she learned was big news, and a possible weakness against the person who stole everything from her.
[Barracks- The Same Night]
Sore and exhausted from the day and previous months, Ascalon put on a brave smile and bade his now healthy soldiers a good night, visiting George and Athena to make sure they were healthy as well. Slipping his best friend an apple and his mother's trusted mount a hunk of meat, the general gave each a kiss on the head before leaving, doing what he could to hide the limp he had. Continuing on his way to his quarters, which were thankfully far from the other's, he grew worse and worse with each step, pausing as a wave of dizziness swept over him, body chilled for an instant and then on fire the next. He felt like his body wanted to quit on life, as he was already worn down by the demands he had been having to meet everyday and night for the last three months. Nevertheless, he held strong and pushed himself forward, knowing he had to to keep his troops and many more alive.
Wearily he opened the door to his room, finding the thorn in his side sitting there, gazing into the mirror on his desk and fixing her make-up. Bitter and wanting nothing but to sleep he stepped in, giving her a bow even as his body protested, and keeping the bile down as the deranged girl happily came over, kissing him and making him wish he could vomit what little was in his stomach. As if nothing were wrong between the pair, Jezebel held his chin between her once again clawed fingers, cooing at him and asking how his day had been. Like clockwork he gave her a neutral response, talking about the boring nuances of training and maintaining weapons and armor. She listened to the wyvern knight, taking off his own armor and putting it away where he usually kept it, offering him tea as she told him to sit. He refused, like always, no longer able to drink the beverage as all it reminded him of was her, and simply waited for whatever was going to happen that night, hardly registering that he was beginning to smell like a corpse.
Pouting some Jezebel stood before him, soothingly rubbing his shoulders in an attempt to relax him, and asked, "So, tonight I figured we could, you know. And then we could cuddle and plan out how to kill Garon. Or you could tell me where my sister is? Does that sound good sweetie?"
Ascalon, holding back every angry, hate-filled answer he wanted to use, instead politely replied with, "Alright, but I do not know where your sister is Jezebel. I smuggled her out of the castle and that was it. You and Iago killed then men that hid her."
Unhappy with his answer she dug her metal talons into him, feeling the muscles and tissues tense at the painful intrusion, and she waited for a better response. When none came, and the general remained silent even through her slowly twisting them, she used her magic to heat the metal. Her uncouth attempt at getting the truth was thwarted as all that came from him was a small whine and his body instinctually flinching at the continued damage. Growling she swiftly yanked the hot talons out, shoving the man onto the ground as he had upset her.
"Fine, your excuse has won for the night. It has bothered me though so…I expect you'll make things up to me for that, right sweetie?" She told him, voice teeming between mocking and caring. All she received was a glum nod. She smiled and went over, helping him remove his shirt, admiring all of the lovely scars she had left on him. He was hers, and that's what mattered.
[The Next Day-Villas- Camilla, Xander, Leo]
"I can't believe this. How could we never tell?" Xander asked, feeling quite dumb after reading the mark sections in the book and the letter that had been left for Camilla.
Leo, grinning in absolute pleasure, said, "I can. Neither sister ever used Dragon Veins, like ever. To discover that they're bastard children from a one-night stand, ha that's the easiest thing to believe. Although it is a shame Kagero can't officially be part of the family."
Camilla, who was overjoyed at the news, sat and watched her brothers argue about the matter, Xander telling Leo the royal family would have been lucky to have their old friend in it. The letter had been one written by Sinistra and addressed to her lover, a man that delved too far into the dark arts and lost his soul for it, telling him that she told Garon the girls were his and that the stronger one would help her eventually kill said king. It was a coup eighteen years in the making, as the mother never truly loved her children, only power. The book held royal birth records, family connections, and so on. However, this volume in particular had been missing for as long as Camilla had been alive, and it was probably because it revealed that neither Jezebel or Kagero were their sisters, completely void of royal blood, and showing that there had been twins instead of a single child.
Still reeling from this sudden news Xander asked, "Camilla, how did you get this information? These are old, worn, and I don't doubt that Jezebel would keep them close to her, as she could be executed for all of it."
Freezing at the question, Camilla answered, unsure if it was the truth. "I…I think Ascalon got them. Him and I had an abandoned room we would always go to and hangout in, nothing else, but after I lost…I didn't see him. I haven't been able to get anywhere near the Barracks, because of Iago, and none of us have seen him but, he would be the only one that could get this from her. My stomach has been in knots because I can only imagine what he had to do to get it."
A new voice entered in, surprising them all, as the youngest princess stated boldly, "We need to save him. I saw him yesterday, during my healing lessons with Luther. He smells like a corpse, is constantly limping, although he hides it from most, he doesn't let people touch him, and he's only eaten once this week. Guys, we have to help him."
"Elise, why are you here? This isn't exactly a-" Xander stated, only getting halfway through his sentence before angrily the youngest stomped down harshly on his foot and yelled at him.
"I AM NOT AN IDIOT! I'M TWELVE AND HAVE WATCHED PEOPLE DIE! I'M NOT A KID AND I CAN HELP! Please guys, he's dying. I know he is."
Camilla, proud of how smart her little sister was, but ashamed that she couldn't handle this on her own, went over and hugged Elise tight. Turning to her brothers she told them, voice strong and law, "Elise is going to help us and that's final. We can't keep treating her like she's a small child. Besides, she can keep us updated on where he is and give us a better chance of helping him. We can't show these items to father while she has a hold of him."
Elise, being brave as all of her siblings were for her, looked at them and explained, "The reason I came here is because right now Jezebel is in a meeting with father. Ascalon is alone outside of the Throne Room, hardly standing but there, and if we get to him before that meeting ends, we can take him."
"Sis, you're forgetting one thing: He's under her command. We can't just steal him. Someone higher ranking than her has to override her orders. And we don't have someone with that power." Leo grimly told to her, worried when her determination remained.
"Leo, you forgot about your most valuable chess piece: Xander. He was just promoted to a higher rank, one equal to Iago who is dad's right hand. Xan CAN command just about anyone he wants in this castle, even Jezebel. Now, can we all hurry!?"
Xander, realizing how right his little sister was, picked her up into a spinning hug, kissing her cheek roughly before setting her down and bolting for the Throne Room, Camilla having a similar reaction and tailing him closely. Soon the other two joined them, the hoard of royal siblings racing to make it in time. Many of the staff were confused for a moment as the sight of the children running faster than a shooting star was odd, however one by one they realized where they were going and, elected to buy the kids extra time. Maids and butlers blocked the doors to the Throne Room, sealing in the king and the evil princess, claiming that a large vase had shattered, and the floor needed to be cleaned right away.
Ascalon, who had been swaying ever so slightly as he stood at attention, watched in confusion the sudden flurry of activity, lost as to why two maids purposely shoved a ten-foot-tall vase over, destroying it, the carpet, and damaging the floor heavily. His dulled mind couldn't keep up with everything and did not register the first calls of the running siblings, only truly hearing them when Camilla shouted his name loudly. Head fuzzy and feeling light, he looked over, bewildered and still lost as to what was going on, noting that there were now shouts coming from behind the large double doors. The world was moving too fast though and, numbly scratching at the blistered skin on his hands, he stumbled and felt an odd stinging sensation. Looking at the source he found a chunk of blistered blueish skin had torn straight off and now laid on the ground at his feet.
Xander skidded to a halt as he watched the delirious wyvern knight stare at the top of his hand, and then the layer of skin that had come off and fallen to the floor, moving again as Camilla rushed past him and over to her dearest friend. Panting and alarmed at the condition he was in both siblings caught their breath and felt their hearts wrench as their friend gazed at them blankly, clearly not entirely there. The small bit of skin they could see was clammy and patchy, dotted with scabs and tinged blue. His breathing mask was gone, and every breath was a wheeze. Worst though was the awful smell that came from him, like a corpse that had sat in the sun for weeks.
"Ascalon, can you hear me? You don't have to speak; simply nod if you can?" Xander asked, calming his voice and speaking cleanly so the weary man could understand. He was relieved when his friend nodded, slowly and almost falling over as he did, but nodding nonetheless. Heart burning fiercely as adrenaline coursed through him, the eldest ordered, just as the Throne Room doors flew open, "General Ascalon Rein Avenstar, I, Prince Xander, eldest son of King Garon and next in line for the throne of Nohr, commander of the Cavalry and Foot Soldiers, order you to go wherever Princess Camilla takes you and to not return to the Barracks until Princess Camilla has released you from her company, understood?"
Ascalon gave one more weak nod, confirming he understood, as an enraged Jezebel stalked over to the group that protectively formed around the wyvern knight, Xander standing in the front. Frustratedly she bowed to the older brother, rage held back by manners, and met his glare with her own, saying, "Prince Xander, what a surprise. What brings you here besides stealing my property?"
"Princess Jezebel, I, Prince Xander, eldest son of King Garon and next in line for the throne of Nohr, commander of the Cavalry and Foot Soldiers, order you to confine yourself to solitude in your quarters, under the surveillance of my personal retainers, and order you to cease using magic until you are brought to the Throne Room. If you break these orders, then the punishment is death. You are also ordered to stay away from Ascalon, Camilla, and everyone else, and can no longer command the Wyvern Troops or their General, your false majesty."
Brown eyes widening in horror, Jezebel watched the eldest son icily glare at her, putting a complete stop on her plans. Distantly behind her Iago, watching from the shadows, cursed and slunk away as he knew there was no way to fix the failing take over plan. A stuttered laugh escaped her lips as she stared at the other siblings incredulously, feeling the last bits of her sanity leave her as she contemplated murdering them all, even the one she loved. She knew, no questions asked, he was the reason that at least the eldest knew who she truly was and in bitter disappointment and defeat her eyes locked onto the wyvern knight safely tucked away behind the others.
Jezebel collected herself and, giving a false pleasant smile, she bowed again and said loud enough for everyone of the to hear, "Very well Prince Xander. Just be sure to let my Ascalon know that he has a duty to his troops…and he's broken his end of our deal. Good day." Her statement, ominous and vague, was enough for the ill man to look up in fear and watch her swiftly exit the area. He would come back, or so she hoped.
Together, hearts pounding, the four watched her leave and felt an unease settle in their stomachs as she gave her last words to them, lost as to what they meant. All were alarmed as the stumbling wyvern knight weakly pushed through them and tried to follow her, muttering 'no' over and over, starting to hyperventilate as his exhausted mind spun in troubled circles. Ascalon was stopped easily by Camilla and Leo, both of them standing in his way and asking what was wrong, Camilla tearing off a piece of her skirt, so she could bandage his hand. Her touch had the opposite response it usually did, triggering her delirious friend to yank his hand away and shove through them, making it halfway through the hall before tripping and struggling to climb back up.
They tried again to gently restrain their friend, unsure what had him so worried that he'd throw himself back into the lion's den, watching as their older brother strode over with a somber expression. Using the hilt of his sword, Siegfried, Xander knocked-out the sick man, guilt rising as he looked to someone who was practically his brother at this point. A dark part of him told the prince this happened because he had not been smarter, hand not thought to do this earlier before things grew this dire. Regretful of his lack in action he lifted Ascalon off the floor, ignoring the putrid smell, and turned to Elise who was watching worriedly.
"Elise, you and Leo are to go get Luther and bring him to Camilla's place. Camilla, we need to get him out of his armor and keep him safe until they comeback. Let's go." He commanded, hand quivering some as he was not excited to learn what had happened in the past three months.
Splitting the pairs dashed off to go to their respective tasks, Leo knowing very well that Xander was doing this to keep the younger kids from seeing all that Jezebel had done, choosing to allow that as neither he nor Elise would be able to forget it. Camilla fled with her brother and friend, siblings remaining silent as they did not wish to overly panic themselves by wondering what was wrong. In her silence though, the lavender-haired princess was alone with her dark and cruel thoughts, knowing that this night was going to be the last one Jezebel saw. The risks meant nothing to her and she was willing to give up her crown, her home, if it meant ending that witch and keeping the others safe from her.
Wordlessly she opened the door and led her brother to her room, clearing half of the large bed of blankets and sheets, resting a pillow under the unconscious man's head when he was set down. Carefully they took of the poorly maintained armor, setting it aside and out of people's way, each one gaging at the sight of the bloodstained clothes worn underneath. Stealing their nerves, the oldest sister and brother undressed him the rest of the way, Xander throwing the disgusting clothes into the fireplace and burning them. What they found past that was enough for both to turn away for a moment, knowing that they couldn't show this horror to Leo and Elise as they could hardly take it in.
Deep gouges and punctures, as well as long gashes and burns, littered the once strong body, many of them infected and oozing, none of them having seen even an ounce of care or treatment. The same conditions they had seen on his hands and parts of his neck continued throughout the rest of him, skin damage almost beyond repair in many places, and completely rotten in one…one that particularly disturbed Xander as he felt a sympathetic pain for his brother. One of the testicles was practically rotted away, dark green in color and the source of the decaying scent. Bruises heavily dotted the pelvis and, shaking in anger, Xander covered Ascalon's lower half with the blanket, unable to continue looking at it.
"Gangrene. A bad case of it…I need a glass of water. I'll be back just, make him comfortable." He told his sister, rushing downstairs to retrieve the drink and splash cold water on his face.
Camilla, left alone with her thoughts and unconscious friend, slowly felt her mind grow darker and darker as she put together what happened just from the wounds, heart roaring in fury as she found the bracelet still on the young general's wrist. Dull now the gold and blue beads faintly shinned in the firelight, catching her eyes and dragging her mind, for an instant, back to that day ten years ago. Jezebel's words echoed in her ears, ringing loudly in her head and dragging out of the blackest depths of Camilla's mind a beast she didn't know she had in her. Thorn covered vines snaked through her chest as the monster took ahold of her, constricting around her heart as it commanded her to act. Face showing warmth only as she kissed her injured friends head softly, she tucked him in gently and turned away, letting the cold fires take over and move her out of the room, down the stairs stealthily, and, taking her trusty axe, the letter, and the book, exited her home.
Determined to end this she waltzed through the courtyard, breezing past her siblings and the healer they had, their questions unable to reach her as she was no longer here. Her mind was on a collision course, set to ruin and eviscerate the one who plagued her so and tried to take everything she loved. Heart stone cold, like the calm expression she wore, the princess approached the wicked girl's home, opening the door without knocking and entering unannounced. The other princess did not hear her, nor hear when Camilla lifted her axe and swung it at the unknowing figure, screaming as the blade cleanly cleaved one of her arms off. Swiftly the enraged lavender-haired girl took off the other arm, earning a second cry of pure agony, mind too focused to realize what she was doing or to feel any joy from this overdue chore. Panting some Camilla numbly grabbed the girl's hair in her free hand and dragged her through the palace, weak heart crumbling and replaced with one refined in the flames of the hell she lived in, one that tried to devour her love and compassion.
Staff watched, the image of Camilla dragging the others wailing and bleeding princess burned into their minds, feeling the cold rage that radiated off of the terrifying beauty that was the lavender-haired woman. She gracefully passed through halls and rooms, immune and deaf to the whispers that trailed her like a long dress train. Past the guards that stood in front of the Throne Room doors she entered the grand room, surprising her father and did not wait for his words as she threw the weakened witch, true for revealed to all and eyes glowing in anger. King Garon watched as his weak hearted daughter, face a stoic mask now, raised her axe one final time that night and elegantly brought the weapon down, severing the witches head from her body, ending her life once and for all. The crowd outside of the room watched through the open doors, gasping at the sight and too shocked to move.
Without missing a beat Camilla stepped over to her father, dropping the missing book and letter in his lap before adding in a powerful voice, "I have proven myself worthy and defeat her in combat. The Wyvern Troops are mine, and this corpse before you was never your child. Good day father, and may you live long." Giving a low bow she turned on her heel and left, leaving a stunned king and hoard in her wake, and feeling the dark beast release her as it had been appeased at last.
The night slowly calmed, after she returned and helped Xander hold down Ascalon as the dead part of him was amputated, his screams and begs for no more burning a brand on her heart. She soothed him as the healer worked alone, refusing to allow the young princess to see the grizzly and unsavory injuries, and wiped away the many tears that sprung when wounds were finally cleaned and closed properly. Camilla's hauntingly cold and lovely face was what her dearest friend locked onto through everything, hands clawing at the sheets and lashing out when certain procedures brought back unpleasant memories, gold eyes raw from crying but holding onto the light at the end of the tunnel. By the time the sun had set, and the moon rose, the wyvern knight was fast asleep and once again back where he belonged, in the safety of his friend's arms.
I'm free! Of at least writing things dealing with Jezebel. It is a shorter chapter, but I figured it was quiet heavy, emotion wise, and dark so I wanted to end it here. Gosh, so glad she's dead. Thank you for reading and I'll see you next time.