Poison for Lovers

Magnus waited impatiently in front of the doors to the Labyrinth. The parchment he received from Gennava earlier that evening seemed hurried.

Tonight. Thirteen hundred. The usual place. I need to see you.

After her avoiding any physical interaction with him, that she was suddenly needing to see him at all, left him on edge. Something was wrong, something must have rattled her. A moment later, she appeared, quietly walking through a hidden side door. Her pace was slow, her movements stiff, and her face was pale, slightly swollen as if she'd been crying.

On instinct, he reached for her, wrapping his arms around her, tugging her close. But Gennava bit down on a cry, flinching as she pulled out of his embrace.

Magnus' eyes widened. "You're hurt."

Gennava wrapped her arms around her middle protectively before taking a step back. She kept her gaze downcast, as if she were ashamed to look him in the eye.

"What the fuck did he do to you?"

Gennava bit her lip and slowly, so slowly, lifted her gaze to his. "Nothing he hasn't done before. Nothing he won't do again. He knows I'm hiding something, Magnus. Knows I'm lying to him."

He seethed. "I'll kill him. I'll fucking kill him for hurting you."

Gennava just shook her head, closing her eyes. "His punishments help make me into a better, stronger Immortal."

Magnus stared at her, his eyes full of anguish. Her words weren't for him. She was trying to convince herself of their truth. "Gennava…"

"He does this because he loves me." She said with as much resolution as she could muster, although even she couldn't deny the tremor in her voice. "I know he loves me."

That was love, she convinced herself.

Love was strict boundaries. Love was harsh words. Love was a riding crop.

But looking at Magnus, the expression on his face. Pity. He held pity for her. Because, unlike her, Magnus grew up with parents who never failed to tell him how much they loved him.

Gennava's lip quivered as tears welled in her eyes. "I don't think I know what love is."

Her voice came out so weak, so defeated. Magnus slowly went to her, cupping her cheeks in either hand as he gently wiped away the tears that began to fall.

"Come with me, Gennava. You say you don't know what love is? If you let me, I'll spend the rest of my life showing you."

Gennava's eyes widened, the breath catching in her lungs. "Are you saying you love me?"

Magnus smiled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He smoothed away a loose tendril of her hair, curling it in his fingers. "I've loved you since the moment you stumbled into my courtyard and pierced through my shadows. I've loved you since the moment you slapped me."

A half-sob, half-laugh burst from her throat, followed by a bright, beautiful smile.

Magnus lowered his forehead to hers. "Oh, my wild one."

Gennava kept her lips close to his, sharing breath. "Why do you always call me that? Is it because you wish to break me in?"

"No. I wish to free you."

He pressed his mouth to hers in a searing kiss. Gennava felt her knees buckle beneath her before Magnus gently wrapped his hands around her waist, careful to avoid her back, keeping her pressed up against him.

"Come with me."

Gennava pulled away, breathless, looking up into his emerald eyes. "I can't. This is my home. And I can't abandon my friends."

Magus cupped her jaw. "Then let me help you. We can find a way together to usurp your father. With the backing of the UnSeelie Kingdom we could…"

"What?!" Gennava pulled away, fully. "Are you insane?"

Magnus lowered his brows. "It's the only way to remove Jareth. We can place you on the throne…"

"No." Gennava shook her head. "No, this is crazy. To even talk about this is treason."

"You've been committing treason since the moment you came to my ball. Don't act like this isn't the only way for you to claim your birthright, for us to be together."

Gennava stepped back, her mind a windstorm. "I… I don't know what to do. I can't usurp my father. I can't abandon my Kingdom… I can't…"

"You can't allow him to continue to hurt you, to force you to marry, to rule you."

"He's my King!" Gennava roared, baring her teeth. "My King, Magnus. Do you have any idea what you're asking of me? The risk I'll be taking? What happens to us when this inevitably blows up in our faces? What happens to my friends, Sarah's friends, when I'm no longer here to look after them? Gods, Magnus. You're asking me to take my life as I know it and set it on fire."

Magnus stilled. "I can protect you. I can protect Ludo and Sir Didymus."

"You have no control over that. You know it. I know it." Gennava closed her eyes, wiping away the tears streaking down her face.
Magnus watched her take in a shaky breath. Watched her square her shoulders before turning back to face him. And the look on her face. The resignation there… he nearly fell to his knees at the site. He knew what she was about to say.

"Don't. Please." His voice cracked, his plea desperate. "Don't give up on us."

But Gennava resigned herself to her fate. "I'm sorry. This is over. Please don't write to me again."

She turned, and Magnus took a pleading step forward. No, this was not over. What was between them was larger than their Kingdoms. Larger than her fears and resignation. He refused to let her give up on them. Refused to let her go.
He made to reach for her, grab hold of her arm. "Gennava…"

But before he could say what his heart was roaring at him to express, a jolt of pain radiated down his spine, followed by nothing but darkness.

~.~.~.~.~.~

"Wake up."

Magnus felt a harsh slap land across his face. He attempted to open his eyes, but the grogginess was unbearable. He felt like he'd been chucked off a rooftop, his head throbbing violently. He made to raise his arms, only to realize they were bound behind his back.

"Wake up, princeling."

Opening his too heavy eyelids, he assessed his surroundings. The space he resided in was small, cramped, filled with dusty odds and ends as if the room was used for storage. He didn't see a door, couldn't make out any exit. The only light came from a few sconces that illuminated rock walls peppered with dark moss. He pulled against his restraints but was met with biting resistance. Something icy-hot wrapped around his wrists.

"I suggest slow movements. Ashbane has a nasty habit of depleting your magical reserves the more you struggle against it."

He knew that voice, even without ever meeting the Immortal.

The Goblin King.

Magnus willed his eyes open, lifting his head to meet Jareth's mismatched eyes, Gennava's eyes.

A crooked smile graced his narrow face. "Look who I caught."

Magnus refused to look away. This was the monster that hurt his mother, hurt Gennava.

"Imagine my surprise to find the UnSeelie Crown Prince trespassing on my lands."

Magnus bared his teeth at the King but said nothing.

Jareth leaned back on his heels, still crouched before him, rubbing his chin in thought with a gloved hand as he examined Magnus. "I admit I've been curious to meet you. I wondered who you might look like. How unfortunate you favor your father's looks. But your eyes… You have Sarah's eyes."

Magnus gritted his teeth. "Don't you dare speak her name."

Jareth's eyes glimmered with amusement. "But Sarah and I are old friends. I'm sure you're familiar with our history. She was my Champion, after all."

"She wasn't your anything." Magnus spat. "Except your prisoner."

"That's a rather harsh way to look at it. I prefer guest. But then again your mother always had a wild imagination. I'm not surprised she made me out to be the villain in her fairy tale."

Leaning forward, Jareth sniffed the prince, and Magnus had to force himself steady, refusing to lean back. He watched Jareth's eyes darken. "My daughter's scent is all over you."

Magnus tried to square his shoulders, but the weight of the ashbane against his bound wrists seemed to suck whatever strength he had right out of him.

"Tell me, princeling. What is my daughter to you?"

Magnus clenched his jaw so hard it popped. "Why? What is she to you?"

Jareth furrowed his brows.

"She's your only child, yet you beat her. She's your heir, yet you deny her the crown."

Magnus watched Jareth stiffen. Watched his hands clench into fists. "She tries to live up to your expectations, yet you deny her love. So again, I ask; what is she to you?"

"She's mine."

Magnus spit in Jareth's face. "Fuck you."

Jareth smirked, calmly leaned back and stood, removing a handkerchief from his jacket pocket.

"You need to be taught a lesson in manners, princeling. Perhaps I should string you up in the Goblin City square. Leave you for the birds to pick at."

Jareth began pacing the small room. "Or maybe I should force you to watch Lord Damon take Gennava's maidenhead? Force you to your knees at the edge of their marriage bed, and just as he enters her, rip out your throat so your blood coats their silken sheets."

Magnus struggled against his restraints. "Don't you fucking touch her!"

Jareth's lips curled. "So, you do care for her. Do you love her?"

Magnus didn't hesitate. "Yes."

"And does she love you?"

Magnus tensed.

Jareth raised an amused brow. "No?"

Magus opened his mouth to argue, but Jareth was right. He saw love written across Gennava's face. Felt it in her kiss. But she never said the words to him.

Jareth tsked. "How unfortunate. Though, given your reputation in the Underground, I'm sure it won't take much effort to find someone else to warm your bed. Not that I see you having that opportunity anytime soon."

Magnus seethed. "I'd be careful what idle threats you spout my way, Goblin King. I will remember each one before I kill you."

Jareth chuckled at the threat. "There's Lucian's arrogance. I wondered what parts of him you inherited other than his ghastly appearance."

Magnus wanted to rip the Goblin King to pieces. He'd start with his tongue, ceasing the disgusting words falling from his hateful mouth.

Jareth sauntered up to Magnus, kneeling in front of him again, albeit not as close as before. "Speaking of your father, he and I have unfinished business..."

Something flickered across Jareth's gaze, some sort of realization or plan. Magnus' eyes widened. "If you lay one finger on…"

"Don't waste your breath, princeling." Jareth quipped, standing back to full height.

"Consider this your lesson for thinking you had any right to claim my daughter, let alone approach her. She's mine."

Before Magnus could retort, Jareth disappeared in a bright flash of light, a push of air billowing out from where he just stood extinguishing the sconces, leaving Magnus alone in the dark.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Sarah and Lucian sat at their breakfast table, sharing a laugh over a letter Sarah received from Rasmina's daugher, Jesminda.

"She's inlove, apparently. Want's my support when she tells her mother."

Lucian raised a brow. "Why would she need your support?"

Sarah chuckled. "You know Rasmina. No one is ever good enough for her daughter."

"Can you blame her?" Lucian said, a glint of pride in his eyes. "Jesminda should be picky. Any male would be lucky to have her. Besides, she's young."

"She's 91!" Sarah scoffed.

"Exactly. Plenty of time to find a mate."

Sarah smirked at her husband. "Speaking of eligible UnSeelie, where is Magnus? He usually makes an appearance for breakfast."

Lucian leaned back in his seat, clearing his throat. "I think he's avoiding me."

Sarah raised a brow. "What happened this time?"

Lucian shrugged off the question. "It's the same battle we've been having. He's distracted. We had an… intense conversation about that. It didn't end well. I think he just needs time to mull over my words."

"Should I talk to him? It's been ages since he's visited my conservatory. Maybe I should send him a note to meet me there this afternoon."

Lucian rose from the breakfast table, leaning down to kiss his beautiful wife. "I think he just needs time, whereas I need to start my day. I'll see you for dinner tonight."

Sarah smiled up at him. "Have a good day, my King."

Lucian gave her a smoldering gaze, his crimson eyes glittering like rubies. He loved when she called him her King. Especially when she cried it out in bed. His look held the promise he would have her doing just that this evening.

Lucian teleported to his study, and immediately stiffened.

Something was wrong.

Nothing looked out of place, but the air felt heavy, with the faintest hint of leather and violets. Then he saw it, sitting atop a pile of correspondence on his desk.

A folded piece of parchment sealed in wax bearing the Goblin Kingdom's sigil. He lunged for the note, ripping it open.

If you wish to see your son again, meet me, without aide, in the Outer Lands after sundown.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Lucian manifested in the Outer lands just after sunset. Memories instantly flooded his mind. Memories of Sarah calling to him after she managed to escape his Kingdom.

How broken she looked.

Memories of Lucian intercepting Jareth's attempt to steal Sarah back from the Above.

The battle that ensued.

How close he came to losing Sarah.

And now Jareth had Magnus.

What the fuck was Magnus thinking? How did this happen?

"Well, if it isn't you."

Lucian swirled to find Jareth leaning back against the doors to the Labyrinth, a foot propped up against the ancient wood. Even a century later he looked the exact same. Same heather grey trousers and dusty red leather jacket. Same platinum blonde hair. He swirled a crystal in one hand, the other propped up behind his lower back.

"I'm been some time since last we met. Almost a century."

Lucian turned and faced him fully, placing his hands casually in the pockets of his tailored pants. "Not long enough."

Jareth smirked. "And how is my Champion?"

Lucian kept his expression stone. "You don't speak of her."

"Oh, but I have such fond memories from our time together. The way she looked on her knees as she stared up at me, tears streaking down her beautifully broken face..."

"Is that the only way your cock gets hard?" Lucian asked, keeping his expression a cool mask of calm. He refused to let Jareth rile him. "That's rather pathetic. But I suppose force is necessary when no woman in their right mind would want you. When's the last time someone willingly bedded you, Jareth? I'm guessing centuries."

Jareth huffed a laugh. "Sarah was quite willing the first time she took me in her mouth. It's not my fault she needed a little… breaking in. I'm sure you benefited from my ministrations without even realizing it."

Lucian's jaw ticked. He would kill him, wrap his hands firmly around Jareth's throat and squeeze the life from him. But he needed to remain cool, calm. Jareth had Magnus.

"You've detained the UnSeelie Crown Prince. I demand he be returned immediately, unharmed, or I'll bring the entire UnSeelie army down upon your head."

Jareth's gaze hardened. "He trespassed on my lands. Not to mention the little fact of him consorting with my daughter. I'm within my rights to detain him for as long as I like." Jareth kicked off the doors, taking a step towards Lucian. "Did you know?"

Lucian needed to play this right. "I knew, and encouraged Magnus to end the relationship."

He watched Jareth's free hand clench into a fist, his other still playing with that gods-damned crystal. "How?"

Lucian furrowed his brows. Was Jareth asking how they met? How long they'd been secreting away together?

"You should ask your daughter."

Jareth moved his gaze up towards his castle in the distance. "Oh, I intend to. But in the meantime, there's the little matter of what to do with your son."

~.~.~.~.~.~

Magnus' head hung low, his shoulders slumped. His hands were still tied behind his back with ashbane, the clasps digging into his skin. It took all his strength to rise to his knees. There was nothing he could do, as incapacitated as he was. How long had he been down here? Minutes? Hours? Days?

Fucking Jareth… the threats he made. Towards his mother, towards Gennava. He would kill him. He would make it slow.

He heard a click then, and the wall to his right opened slowly, revealing a hidden door. He squinted in the darkness, making out a giant figure squeezing through hidden door.

"Ludo."

Ludo lumbered over to Magnus. "Come. Now."

Magnus tried once again to rise but the biting cold of the ashbane dug further into his wrists, eliciting a sharp hiss of pain. "I can't. Ashbane."

Without a word, Ludo grabbed Magnus by the arm and lifted him to his feet before turning him. He then revealed a large ring of iron keys, taking his time testing each one until Magnus heard a distinct 'click', and the cuffs fell from his wrists.

He felt a surge of energy enter his body. Not much, and nothing magical, but enough to bring life back into his limbs. Rubbing away the numbness in his wrists, he turned towards Ludo. "Ashbane doesn't affect you?"

Ludo shook his head. "Immune."

"How long have I been in here?"

"One sunrise, one sunset."

Magnus breathed a sigh of relief. One day. Good. Hopefully Jareth hadn't time to enact whatever plan he saw growing in his eyes. "Where's Gennava?"

Ludo shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know. Worried."

Magnus swallowed. "Do you know where her chambers are located? I need to find her…"

"No." Ludo raised his hand. "No time." He then pointed his finger at Magnus' chest. "Keeper in Outer Lands with UnSeelie King."

Magnus' eyes went wide, fear filling them. "My father is in the Outer Lands with Jareth?"

Ludo nodded.

"Take me there. As fast as you can."

~.~.~.~.~.~

Jareth began a slow pace around Lucian, his crystal dancing back and forth in his hands.

"It seems UnSeelie males have a habit of claiming what's mine."

Lucian quirked a brow. "You seem to have a tilted definition of the word 'mine'."

Jareth smiled. "Oh, Gennava is mine. I'm within in my rights to bury your son in my Oubliette for the rest of time."

"Your daughter is not wholly innocent in this. She teleported to my Kingdom, disguised as a party guest the night of my son's coronation ball. That's how they met."

Jareth's face paled. "What?"

"From what I can tell, they've been courting ever since. She encouraged my son along, despite my warning him to end it."

He watched Jareth run the math in his head and realized he'd made a grave error, giving him so many details. Death danced in Jareth's eyes, and Lucian couldn't help but fear for his daughter's safety. For as much as he abhorred her relationship with his son, he bared Gennava no ill will.

Lucian cleared his throat. "I'm not blaming Gennava. She and my son hold equal blame perusing this relationship. But let it be done now. Return Magnus to me, and I can guarantee there will be no more interactions between the two."

He watched the storm brewing behind Jareth's eyes and widened his stance. Jareth was an explosion waiting to be lit.

But as quickly as the storm built, it seemed to dissipate, Jareth's stance relaxing. "Regardless of the past, how they met and who's to blame, the simple fact is: Magnus is in my custody. Underground law dictates I may do with him as I like."

Lucian kept silent, inwardly seething at his son's stupidity.

"But as a show of benevolence, I'd like to offer you a trade."

Lucian stiffened. "A trade?"

If he even hints at trading my son for Sarah, I'll kill him.

Jareth went back to his pacing. "Our Kingdoms have lacked trade relations these past decades for obvious reasons. Because of this my Kingdom has… fallen behind in certain areas and I would like to rectify that."

Jareth stopped his pacing, turning to face Lucian.

"I'll return Magnus to you, unharmed, and in return I want Drolo Domas."

Lucian blinked. "Are you insane?"

"Don't worry. You will still own the lion's share of the volcanic range. Sign the rights to Drolo Domas' mine over to me and Magnus will be returned to you healthy and whole. Refuse, and I have every right to do as I see fit to your son."

Lucian gritted his teeth so hard his jaw popped. "You want the title to my Kingdom's main source of income?"

Jareth gave him a disgusting smirk. "Along with an iron clad agreement that no war or female can break apart."

Lucian had to concentrate on breathing. What a fucking mess Magnus caused. A tangled, crippling mess.

"Well?" Jareth asked, impatiently, "I haven't got all night. Some of us prefer the daylight hours after all and I still have a daughter to punish. What will it be, Lucian?"

Lucian gave the barest of nods. "Bring Magnus here, now, and I'll agree."

Jareth gave Lucian a crooked smile, stilling the crystal in his hand. "Done. Let us shake on it as Kings."

He extended his free hand, walking forward. Lucian willed his rage down as he clasped his hand in his most hated enemy.

A moment later, as quick as lightening, Jareth manifested a dagger from his crystal, and plunged it deep into Lucian's side. He still gripped Lucian's hand in his, holding him close.

Lucian's eyes went wide, seconds passing before the pain began to radiate though his body. Pain and weakness. He felt his magic drain away, his legs buckling beneath him.

He sank down to the sandy ground, Jareth going with him, still gripping the dagger buried deep in his side. "Do you really think I give a fuck about your mine? The only thing that matters to me is my legacy, Lucian."

Lucian gasped, trying to force air down his lungs, but his breathing was thick and wet. Blood began trickling down the side of his mouth.

"You know, I never got over the way you cheated death the last time we battled in the Outer Lands. It's only deserving you meet your fate this time."

Lucian tried to will any remaining power, any remaining magic into his palms. But it was gone, drained away.

Jareth leaned in closer, his lips grazing Lucian's ear. "You took Sarah from me. I refuse to let your offspring take Gennava."

Jareth yanked his ashbane tipped dagger out, causing Lucian to slump over on his side. Jareth straightened the lapels of his jacket, staring down at him, a look of pure satisfaction on his face. "Finally bested you."

~.~.~.~.~.~

It took over an hour for Ludo to lead Magnus through the maze of underground tunnels that led to the gates of the Labyrinth. Just as Magnus made to push them open, Ludo placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't come back."

Magnus furrowed his brows at the request. Did he mean to the Labyrinth? The Outer Lands? Don't come back for Gennava?

"Why?"

"Too heavy a price."

Magnus stalled for a moment, staring at Ludo as he slipped back into the tunnels below, wondering if he would ever see the gentle beast again before shaking away the thought. He needed to focus. Jareth and his father were on the other side of these doors. He needed to rally his weakened strength.

But his magic was still drained. The ashbane, although no longer against his skin, had done its job well. The only weapon in his arsenal was the fact that Jareth thought him locked up in his Oubliette. He needed to take Jareth by surprise. End the bastard before he made to hurt his father. Free Gennava from his tyrannical rule.

Magnus pressed his ear to the anchient wooden doors, attempting to hear anything. Perhaps Jareth's voice. The scuffling sounds of an altercation. But the only sound was some sort of wheezy, rasping noise.

Magnus' heart stilled.

He pushed open the doors, rushing out. There was no sign of the Goblin King. No sign of a battle, even. But there, crumbled on the ground a few feet to his left, was his father.

No.

He recognized the clothing first. Recognized the size of the Immortal. The strong, broad shoulders he himself carried. The long, jet-black hair.

No, no, no.

It wasn't possible. His father possessed the strongest will of any Immortal he knew. He was the UnSeelie King. Invincible.

Magnus fell to his knees in front of his father, grasping his shoulders, rolling him onto his back. Lucian gasped in pain. A weezy, rasping gasp that made plain his lungs were filling with blood. A gaping wound poured blood from his side.

"Gods, what did he do to you?"

Magnus pressed his hands against his father's wound. Lucian struggled to speak. "Dagger… tipped in ashbane. I can't heal."

Magnus gathered his father up in his arms and forced his shadows to envelope them, but his magic was still too drained. He managed to teleport them some 100 yards further into the Outer Lands. Squeezing his eyes shut, gritting his teeth Magnus forced every modicum of magical energy he had and teleported them only a few more yards before collapsing on the sandy ground.

Panting, Magnus laid his father on the ground next to him. "I can't move you. The bastard used ashbane on me too. I'm drained."

Lucian's head lulled back and fear like Magnus had never experienced before descended like a thick fog, enveloping him. Blood. So much blood poured from his father's side, pooling around his body. Lucian's face was grey, his eyes glassy, and his wet breathing continued to shallow.

"Denek!" Magnus didn't know what else to do. If he lacked the strength to teleport them both, surely Denek would be able to.

"Denek!"

Denek appeared before them, immediately assessing the situation before slamming his knees into the ground, putting pressure against Lucian's wound. "What the fuck happened?"

"Get us home, Denek. Jareth used fucking ashbane on us."

Denek took Magnus' hand in his and made to reach for Lucian's, but Lucian pulled his hand away, instead reaching for his son. "I'm… not going to make it, Magnus."

"Just hold on a little longer." Magnus pleaded. "Once Denek gets us home we'll have the healers attend to you."

Lucian squeezed his son's hand. "Let me… say my peace. Please."

Magnus shook his head. "No. I'm not ready. I still need you."

Lucian tried to smile, but only managed a slight tilt of his lips "I love you, Magnus. Your… your mother and I have always been so proud of you. Always… believed in you. I know, without any doubt, that soon you will learn to believe in yourself too. Trust your instincts… and you will be the greatest ruler… the Underground has ever witnessed."

Lucian took a shallow, wet breath. "And… tell your mother how much I love her. She is… the moon that turns the tide in my Kingdom. She is the light… amongst the darkness."

Magnus watched his father's crimson eyes dim. "And tell her… when she's ready… I'll be waiting for her in the Summerlands."

Lucian closed his eyes, and let death take him.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Her screams were the worst.

Worse than witnessing his father's final breaths. Worse than knowing he was responsible for it.

No. None of that compared to the screams his mother bellowed when she ran to him after Denek teleported them home. The look on her face when she realized the lifeless body Magnus carried in his arms was her husband.

Magnus aimlessly walked the darkened hallways of his castle. Despite exhaustion pulling mercilessly at him, every time he closed his eyes he saw the look of pure torment etched across his mother's face as he explained what happened. Every time he took a breath he thought of his mother's heaving chest as she gasped between sobs.

And her screaming.

She screamed until her throat became raw, her voice like sandpaper.

He held her close through it all, trying to give her comfort. He let her slap his face and punch his chest in anger. He wiped away her tears when she no longer had the energy to raise her hands. He internalized every word she spoke.

"How could you trust Jareth's daughter?"

"How could you let Jareth take you?"

"How could you?"

Finally, exhaustion took her, and she collapsed in his arms. He put her to bed in the Queens chambers under the care of Rasmina before retiring to his own rooms. Along the way, passing by the old Kings chambers.

After they married, Sarah asked Lucian to share the Queens chambers with her, as opposed to the two having separate rooms as was custom. She didn't want to abandon the beautiful rooms she had grown accustomed to. Lucian was more than happy to oblige and expanded the space to include a dressing chamber and study for himself, as well as expanding the bedroom.

Since then, the Kings chambers had remained empty.

Until now…

The thought clanged through him as violently as the raging thunder storm outside. When Denek teleported them home, the storm was in full force, as if the Kingdom already knew the terrible fate that had befallen their King. Tremors coursed through the ground, slight at first but growing in intensity over the hours.

Passing by the Kings chambers, a tremor shook the castle so severely, Magnus had to press his hands onto the doors to keep from falling.

It seemed the very ground rebelled against the news. The air seemed electric. The storm outside more violent than usual.

Looking up at those formidable doors, Magnus thought of his father's last words to him.

"You will be the greatest ruler the Underground has ever witnessed."

Magnus was now, by rights, the UnSeelie King. The very thing he had rebelled against his entire life had come to fruition. And he had played a hand in it.

Did she play a hand in it?

She was there, in the very spot he found his dying father, just hours earlier when he poured his heart out to her, only to be refused and taken captive by Jareth.

Gods, did she know what happened to his father? Was this all part of some plan? Some ploy?

"How could you trust Jareth's daughter?"

Pain and anguish overrode all sense and reason as Magnus gripped his hands into fists against the dark oak doors as another violent tremor shook the castle.

His father was right. They were a mistake. His love for her was a mistake. One that cost him everything.

Cost his mother, his joyful, wonderful mother the love of her life.

Gods, her screaming.

Magnus gritted his teeth as tears freely poured down his face.

He was King now.

There was no going back.

He was King.

And his first act would be war.

~.~.~.~.~.~

The UnSeelie Kingdom shook. The ground vibrated with such intensity cracks formed into ravines, hills leveled, and forests flattened.

The once placid waters atop Drolo Domas now undulated and bubbled up. Whirlpools sprouted, sucking the water beneath, replaced with scorching eruptions of steam. The stench of sulfur filled the air. Plumbs of ash bellowed up from the hot, fiery depths below.

Suddenly the lake descended, as if the very bottom collapsed downward, leaving a giant pit in its wake, followed by a violent eruption of ash and molten rock. The perpetually dark sky above now illuminated in color, streaks of orange and magenta dancing across the clouds, reflecting the eruption as Drolo Domas came to life once again.

The UnSeelie King had been murdered in cold blood, and the mountain of fire demanded retribution.

Author's Note:

Please don't hate me!

Song:
Poison For Lovers by ARTY

You can find the Marked playlist on my Spotify account: EastOfGatewood

Hope to see you next Friday!