Eliza Calore
I snap my eyes open to find that I'm leaning on Cal's wet shoulder. I blink a few times and when I open my eyes once again, I find that we're in a train. Cal is awake, that was obvious, and Mare was as well. She was staring at me with a deep intention as it all comes spinning back to me.
I looked into Maven's mind. I looked and I watched my Father's death. I watched it all, I watched my own Mother kill my Father. My breathing hitches as I jolt upright in my seat as Mare keeps watching me. Something heavy is over my wrists. When I look down, I see chains. Like that'll stop me. I could melt them down and burn down this train if I wanted too. The thought seemed quite tempting actually.
"Why?" Mare croaked out. I stare at her, knowing what she meant. WHy did I sacrifice everything, why did I ignore every single sign, just to help my brother. I turn to look at Cal. He's staring at me too, my golden hair plastered over my head and his shoulder. He wants the answer too.
For a moment, I think of telling her. I'm also a whisperer. I can read and talk to her telepathically, and I can control her like my own puppet. But the thought disappears the second it pops into my brain. I can't tell her, not yet. She'll be afraid of me, she won't trust me. Nobody will.
"Cal's my brother." I lie, my voice steady. "I know Cal, and Cal would never do the lies Maven feeds the country. Also, I know when Maven's lying." That was wrong. If it wasn't for digging into his brain, I would've never guessed he wasn't telling the truth. "He is my brother after all."
Mare stares at me, a blank stare. I can tell, just by staring at her, that she doens't exactly believe me. But what other explanation is there? I'm the only person in the world with two powers. But then, Cal leans low and presses his mouth to my ear. Then, he whispers, his voice soft and careful.
"You're my sister, Eliza. I know when you're lying too." I stare straight ahead and shut my eyes.
Maybe Cal can know. I can trust him. I gave up everything to save him, I can surely give up my secret to him.
So I whisper in his mind.
I can read people's thoughts...I whisper and I can feel him jolt up. I found out I could 12 years ago... Please don't tell anyone.
Cal stays still like that for a long time. For a moment I'm worried that he might've gone into shock when he whispers back into my ear.
"Your secret is safe with me." He mumbled as I exhale. At least he accepted me. At least he knows. And that's all I can really ask for.
The train speeds by. A man with deep brown hair teleports around. But it doesn't surprise me. Nothing seems to surprise me anymore. I feel dull.
"I love you, Cal." I whisper.
"I love you too, Liz." He replied as for the first time in so long, I cry.
My tears falls out of my eyes as I cry. My tears fall down my face, my weakness exposed to the world. I cry again and again as the world seems to fall apart in front of me. Then, suddenly, a hand touches my leg, assuringly. I turn to see Cal, and remember my Father. That makes me cry harder as I lean my head against Cal's shoulder as I let out a strangled sob.
I cry because I lost everything. I lost a brother, a mother, and a father. I lost my kingdom, I lost my pride, my reputation. I lost it all in one day. My hands are itching to burn these chains off, but I don't.
The only thing I have left is the clothes on my back and Cal. He's all I have left.
Was it worth to destroy everything I'll ever have for my brother?
*E*
A lady ties a red rag over my mouth. I let her, I'm not in the mood to fight anymore. Somewhere deep in my heart, I holding a flame. I'm letting it burn bigger and bigger, but I'm saving it. I'm saving it for that one day when I will unleash it all.
And that day will come.
Me and Cal have a telepathic conversation. He tells me everything that happens, and I let him, even though I already know. But he seriously expresses his hatred towards Maven with a string of colourful words. He hates him, he hates his own brother.
Well, I do too, but somewhere deep in my heart, all I want to do is think that this is all just a nightmare. I'm going to wake up to Cal and Maven teasing me. I'm going to wake up and all of this will be gone. I'll be Norta's beloved princess and Cal will be the Crown Prince. The world will go back to how it was.
But it doesn't happen. I'm still that Traitor Princess, who had just too much faith in her King Killer brother. That's what they'll write down in the history books. Becasue it doesn't matter what the truth is, what matters is what people believe.
Thank you, Eliza. Cal thinks.
Cal, its alright. I reply and I press my burning hot hand against his own.
We haven't lost everything. We still have eachother. We are siblings in the art of war, we are the Prince and Princess of Norta, no matter what people tell us. We are Silver Blooded Royalty, and one day, we will take back the crown.
We have eachother, and that's what matters right now. If I didn't have Cal, then I would have nothing. Without Cal, I'm sure I would lash out my Whisperer power to the world.
"I hope you do not plan to fight." Cal eventually says, speaking to... I don't even know. Despite this entire situation, he seems calm. I can tell its half because of me. I help give him the strength, I am the beacon that shows him that not all hope is lost. That some Silver blood still believe in him. "I hope you plan to run."
"Save your breath, Silver." The lady says. I think her name is Farley or something. "I know what to do."
I narrow my eyes at the lady. She is talking to once the Prince of Norta. Now, she's treating him like trash. Like every other Silver in the world. I want to scream at her, I want to burn this whole train down and murder Maven with my bare hands, but Cal gives me a reassuringly squeeze. Not now, save your breath.
They talk a little bit about war tactics when I just burst. I can't take this any longer, I want my Father, my bed, my food, my flame, my brother, my TV, and a big bag of chips. I want to go back to the life before when the biggest thing I had to worry about was my hairstyle.
"Will you all please shut up?" I ask, my voice sweet and chipper but with a bitter tone to it. "I would like to face my brother with allies, not enemies."
I can tell, just by looking at Farley's face, that she wants to slap me. She must think so lowly of me, she must still think that I think of myself as princess. But she must know better. I'm no princess, no matter what I tell myself. If she even dares touch my very skin, I will burn her. My skin is heated in a shield of fire, I am the flame itself.
We walk around, I don't know where we are. I do know that I'm going to stay by Cal's side. Not like he would leave my own. We are the Burner Siblings, we are strong alone, and invinsible united. I think the thought to Cal, and for the first time, I see a small smile on his face before it gets wiped away just as soon as it arrives. At least it was there, Maven has not taken that away from us. Not yet.
Hide in the shadows. Hide your hair, its too bright. He thinks to me as I easily melt the shakles away. I almost laugh at how simple it was. I easily tie my hair in a quick bun before we run to the shadows.
I hear Maven making a speech and all I want to do is destroy his mind, I can melt it inside out.
Don't. Cal thinks to me. He knows what I want to do. Keep your ability a secret. You must.
So I stay hidden in the shadows with Cal, who's shakles are melted off as well. Then, a missle rushes towards us, narrowing down into us. With one outstretched arm, Cal easily stops it and redirects the flame. I remember the bombing, how it went by so quickly, I couldn't control the flame. I shut my eyes. Never again will I get hurt by the very thing I was made to control.
I shut my eyes and draw open my strength. Then, I do the same, taking my own load. I balence the flame. My flame. It falls over majestically and creates a shield of protection for me. We're going to be safe. I create a wall of fire with my brother, and nobody, not even an army of Nymphs, can tear it down. It protects us as I slowly move backward.
The memory of my father's grin when I made a wall of fire intrupts my rhythm and powers me to make it bigger. More protection. I raise my chin higher and keep going, slowly moving back with Cal.
I am a warrior. I am my Father's daughter.
Mare eventually joins in, her lightening making the wall stronger than ever. Our powers combined turns us into something unique. It protects us all from harm.
Suddenly an arm waves my hard work away, making way for another person.
Maven.
Cal grabs my wrist and starts to drag me away, but I stay firm, my feet planted on the ground. A blaze of fury plastered over my eyes. I want to tear him apart, limb by limb. Mare starts running when Maven stares at me. I want to make him my puppet to control. I want to destroy him.
"Oh, Eliza." He calls out, his voice a menacing growl. "Mother wants you."
Like those are the magic words, I take down my wall of fire. For the first time, exhaustion pushes towards me. Did I ever feel this tired in the past? No, I don't think so.
Me and Cal run, hand in hand as Maven screams after us.
We slip into a room of metal.
I don't look back.
*E*
Yay! Another chapter!
Laughs and Giggles,
Emily
