I'm sitting in a room. I wouldn't call it lavish, but it would be considered nice by the common people. The bed is comfortable. I have had plenty of food and water. There is even a window I can look out. This is not what I envisioned when I knew I'd be held captive.
Felix tried to hurt me, but Elias, who followed close on my heels when I left the art gallery, quickly put an end to that. He said a lot of things about not "stooping" and also some things about Felix not knowing the whole story. Felix didn't seem to like that, but he tied my hands like the others, and let me be led away.
To be honest, I didn't like Elias's words, either. What makes him think he knows the whole story? What story was he even talking about? My story? Elias has had as little to do with my story as I could manage. I never cared for how little respect or admiration Elias showed War. War is strong, and powerful, and dangerous, and he deserves - deserved? - deserves to be worshipped. Elias is simply a soft-hearted fool who couldn't see any of that. And he has the nerve to tell someone else they don't know the whole story.
War paid Elias a lot of attention, so I couldn't always manage to stay away from him, but I sure as hell tried. I never liked how much attention War gave Elias. Why he would reward someone who treated him with such disrespect was always lost on me. I never got away with so much as dropping something I was meant to hold without War giving me a beating. Why did Elias have so much leeway? War hurt him, obviously, but not nearly as often as he hurt me. I was loyal to War. I gave him everything. What was so wonderful about Elias that he got away with so much?
And Kaija. I have quickly grown to hate that name. She has ruined everything. Everyone I know, everything I enjoy, everything I have has been taken from me. She told War he took everything from her, but that's absurd. She is the one doing the taking. War has held this empire for centuries. He gave people power. He gave them prestige. He made them mighty. She tore all of that down, and I hate her for it. Blaming War for her treachery will get her nowhere fast.
War. I don't know what to think about War. Everyone is talking about how horrible he is. How he has hurt the people. How he has perverted the way those who do not have power view us, the ones who do. I don't see how it's perverted to assume that someone who is more powerful than you is god-like. And War is. He is god-like. He is an Adonis. He is strong, and cunning, and intelligent. Until today, I truly believed he could beat anyone, no matter the circumstances. Now...now I don't know what to think.
War is being held in less...desirable quarters. His hands and feet remain bound unless he is eating, or needs to relieve himself. Only those with power are allowed to see to him, because any mere human would be easily controlled by him. I don't like the idea of War being treated like this. It has kept me awake the past few nights. How can these people defy War so easily? Why are they so sure he no longer poses a threat? Why -
My thoughts are interrupted as the door to my cell- my room - opens. She enters, and I am immediately angry. What is she doing here? What is her purpose? I am certain no good can come from her visit.
"Why are you here? Go! Leave! I don't want you here. You ruined everything. You have ruined my life. You have ruined War's empire! LEAVE!"
My shouting attracts the attention of those outside, and both Felix and Elias rush in.
Kaija holds up her hand as they barge in, slowing them to a halt before they get to me. I am still a few feet from Kaija, but I was rapidly approaching her before they entered.
"It's okay, you two. Really. I will be fine. Let me speak to Cachexys alone, please," Kaija says.
Elias and Felix exchange a glance. Elias and Kaija exchange a glance. Elias and Felix exchange a glance once more, and, with Felix glaring at me as though he could murder me with his stare, they leave the room.
I am still angry, and I absolutely refuse to look at this woman who has torn my world to shreds.
She can talk all she wants, but she can't make me listen.
"It's true, Cachexys, my actions did bring your world crashing down around you. I can own that. I am not above admitting you have been hurt because of my actions. I think, in the long run, you will forgive me. I think it will be a positive change for you. But I understand that right now, you don't see it that way, and that's okay. I can meet you where you're at."
Her words cause my head to spin, which makes me even angrier. I hate how confused I have felt since War was overpowered. I begin yelling again, throwing everything I can at her in an attempt to cause her pain.
"Shut up! I hate you. You have no idea what you've done. You are a fool! I could hurt you, you know! I could hurt your baby. I could kill it." My words become quieter, and I approach her slowly.
"Yes, Cachexys, you could. You could do that. But you are a loyal soul. Elias has told me enough about you for me to see that. You swore an oath to Elias, that you would not continue in the old ways, and I believe you will hold yourself to that oath. I think you have the integrity to do that much, regardless of how you're feeling about me right now."
Her words infuriate me. I close the distance between us, wrapping my hands roughly around her neck.
"I did not swear an oath, despite what your precious Elias told you. The most I did was nod at him, and it was only to ensure my own survival. Don't be so foolish as to think you understand me, or my motives. I could kill you right now. I could take your breath from you. You thought you would die by War's hands, but here you are, about to die by mine!"
I expect to see fear and anger in her eyes, but instead I see sadness. She looks as if she might cry, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
"I know, Cachexys. I understand. I know you have done what you had to in order to survive. I know that you have always done what you needed to do to survive, for as long as you've been living."
She looks into my eyes. She should be pleading with me. She should be begging me to stop. She should be terrified of losing her place in this world. I will make her feel that fear.
"I'm going to kill you now, Kaija." I spit her name, trying to put all my hate and anger toward her into two small syllables.
But Kaija remains calm. She doesn't flinch. She doesn't try to pry me off of her, nor does she yell for aid.
Quietly, she says, "Okay."
Tremors overcome me, starting in my hands, but spreading to my body. I realize that I will not hurt this woman. I will not kill her. Oddly, even though I could easily use my abilities on her, I feel as though I am unable to fight her.
She looks so peaceful, even with my shaky hands still wrapped around her throat. A breeze enters the room, knocking a bit of hair loose from her braid. It falls in front of her face, and for some reason, I can no longer bear this. The tremors become too much, and I fall to my knees, sobbing. I feel myself fall forward, and now I am on my hands and knees in front of the woman I just threatened to murder.
She should be angry with me. Furious. She should be shouting "how dare you" and things of that nature. Instead, she sits down beside me, and gently guides my head onto her lap. She undoes the ribbon tied at the base of my neck, and begins running her fingers through my hair. She hums the most beautiful tune I have ever heard. I feel my body relax. The tremors ease, and calm washes over me. Slowly, I drift off to sleep.