Wings, Beasts and Claws: Amethyst Flame

Ch. 15 : Visits and Warnings

Breakfast the next day was filled with news.

Ivy chatted happily as she set up the dinette for myself and my brother who was sitting on the loveseat listening intently. She had heard that because of the deaths and the chaos that ensued during the festival, the King and Queen had decided to exempt the Queeness’ from elimination. She also heard that Lady Naveyame had withdrawn as a candidate, packing up her things and reaching out to her family to take her home. This now left only ten Queeness’ within the Palace and the competition, since Lady Heliona was dead and Lady Naveyame was now leaving. This news, though sad, granted everyone a break from worrying about who won the challenge. It also shortened the competition itself by two months, thus removing another challenge that would have been thrust upon us later on. Though the break was quickly taken over as a Palace Maid along with Royal Knights entered my room to announce the next challenge.

They greeted me and handed another envelope to me before turning and leaving just as quickly as they had entered. Arden and Ivy both stared at me eagerly as I opened the envelope, pulling out its contents and reading it. A sigh left my lips as I set the paper down, taking in this new challenge that didn’t seem all that challenging.

“What does it say?” Ivy asked, eyes wide as she leaned closer.

“His Majesty will be spending time getting to know each Queeness in the span of three weeks.” I started, watching my brother take the paper and read it as I spoke. “He will visit each Queeness and spend the day with them then move on to the next Queeness the next day. Each Lady will have her own day assigned to them during the week and the Prince can pick which Lady he wishes to visit during the weekend.” I took a bite of my food and calmly chewed it, smiling as Ivy grew more and more impatient. “During the last week each Lady will get a short visit from the Prince, the King and Queen, where they will get to display a talent or skill that they believe to be useful or that showcases something important about themselves. After the three weeks the winner will be picked by the Prince himself and announced by the Queen.”

Ivy cheered and clapped her hands merrily, fussing about how she knew I was going to win and listing the many skills and talents I had. I just smiled and shook my head at her, my mind mulling over what I could use as a talent for that last week. Arden set the paper down and I looked it over one last time, rereading that these private one-on-one meetings were going to start in two days. This helped relieve some tension and I soon started picturing what I would do during my free time.

I talked it over with Arden and Ivy, planning outings to the library, the garden and the large fountain as well as some other places around the palace that we were allowed passage. They were growing eager just as I was, excited to spend time outside of this room and do something other than sitting around. It didn’t take long for the paper detailing what day belonged to which Lady to arrive. And I was even more elated to see that I wasn’t going to spend all day with the Prince until the second week.

Arden was much more cheerful about getting out and distracting ourselves from the current open investigation and looming danger that the poisonings left over us. He rushed out after breakfast heading towards his room, blabbering on and on about taking Ivy and I out into the Capital to go sight-seeing and shopping.

A few hours after he left I was preparing to leave and make my way towards the Palace Knights quarters, wanting to ask how things would work if I wanted to step out of Palace grounds with Ivy and Arden. I was opening the door calmly and stepping out into the quiet hallway when a loud and rapid clicking sound called my attention. Turning towards the sound, I had but a second to register a familiar face before a loud smack rang out. My body suddenly shoved out one side and my mind swiftly swallowed by white hot shock. I felt a firm, trembling hand on my elbow as my knees buckled, helping guide my body to the ground softly as my dress gathered around me.

“You filthy, spoiled, entitled b***h!” I had to blink through the blur of tears as my hand came up to touch the tender burning flesh on my face, too stunned to face my attacker. “We’ve wasted years of food, clothing and space taking care of you! And you dare to turn your back on us!” Finally, my mind caught up with me and I turned, tilting my face up to find the seething, rage filled face of Marianna, the Duchess of Du Pleasant and mother to Rosanna.

She was in an elegant and fitted blush colored gown with matching white and teal jewels adorning her neck, ears and the skirt of her dress. Matching lace gloves and shoes completed her ensemble, and if it weren’t for the twisted mask of bloodthirsty anger, I would’ve thought she looked rather beautiful. With her golden blonde hair that was the same shade as her daughter pulled back neatly in a knot at the base of her neck and her clear blue eyes that were a few shades lighter than my fathers.

“Madam, please!” Ivy’s quaking voice begged from behind me, still gripping my elbow as she tried to lean around and look at my stinging and softly pulsing face. “I beg you! Control yourself!”

“Who do you think you are?!” Marianna snapped out, turning her burning gaze to Ivy who flinched. “What right do you have to demand anything of me?!”

“That’s enough.” I calmly said, stopping this madwoman from spewing more senseless venom from her lips. “You seem to be in a state of blinded rage, and I refuse to deal with someone so callus and hostile.” I got up and stood straight and proud, realizing that my father was standing just a few feet behind her, stoic and devoid of all emotions like always. “If you wish to speak with me, announce yourself like any other civilized person.”

I struggled to keep the nausea and fear contained as I looked into her eyes, fighting against the vivid flashes of past times when she would look at me just like this. I needed to remain calm and brush her aside like she didn’t matter. I needed to show her that I would never stoop down to her level and lose control of myself like she always did. This was the best way to get the upper hand with a person like Marianna. Acting as if she’s below me, treating her like my lesser while she’s out of her mind with anger would push her past her tipping point. It rubbed salt on every open wound she had. It would scream defiance and let her see that she had no control over me anymore. I was now my own person, free from her grasp and no longer afraid.

Dusting off my skirt first, I turned and started to make my way around her as she started boiling over, her face red and her hands trembling as her claws started to grow. I could feel Ivy’s trembling form following close behind me, her face pale as she watched the Duchess she grew up working for, fight against her inner animal to Shift and attack me then and there.

My eyes then landed on my father and I was once again stunned, seeing his ever present mask of indifference no longer in place. There were emotions glimmering in his sea blue eyes, emotions I had never once seen before and was struggling to grasp. His body was still stiff as he stood there in a tailored grey suit, with his salt and pepper brown hair slicked back neatly. He looked to be struggling with something, his mouth suddenly parting and mouthing out words that held no sound. As I watched him, something in my chest clenched and I was quickly filled with anger.

How dare he try and connect with me after everything my brother and I suffered through under his very roof? What right did he have to make me feel this guilt, sadness and longing for a father-figure when he never once acted like we mattered?

“I never said I was done with you!” The shrill voice of the Duchess pulled me away from my clashing feelings towards my father, finding her stepping closer yet again as her hand came up.

I readied myself for the sting of claws as I noted that her nails were still struggling to return to normal. I knew that I couldn’t fight against this woman. Because if I dared to do or say anything, she and my father would no doubt twist the sequence of events and make me the villain. And having Ivy testify on my behalf wouldn’t help matters either, since she could be painted as a disgruntled servant that turned against her masters.

A surprising presence rushed forward as her hand neared me, and I couldn’t hold back the smile that came over me as I recognized my brother's tall frame partially blocking this madwoman. His hand stopped her potential assault while the other rested firmly on the hilt of his sword that was strapped to his hip.

“Don’t you dare lay a finger on my sister.” His voice was cold and menacing, making the Duchess’ eyes go wide with surprise as she stumbled back, prying her wrist free of his grasp.

“How dare you lay a hand on me!” She shrieked, making me flinch at the crazed volume. “The both of you have become cocky and forgotten your place!” She sneered back at us as Arden pulled his sword out of its sheath ever so slowly. “You need to be reminded of what and who you are… maybe a little trip back to the Greenhouse would help refresh your memory.”

My body ran cold as haunting memories of that building raced through my mind.

The Greenhouse used to be used as it was intended, with a wide range of flowers that bloomed year-round and turned the glass building into a colorful wonderland. But at its very center of it was a large circular slab of concrete that held nothing but two poles that were spaced a few feet across from each other. My brother and I used to be tied to these metal poles when we’d try to escape, dared to challenge the Duchess or refused to do what we were told. Then, with the help of her two older sons, she would whip one of us while the other was forced to watch our twin cry out and bleed. She would go on for hours, or until the one being whipped would go unconscious. Then, once they woke up, the other sibling was whipped and the first would be forced to watch. On days when the Duchess was feeling particularly ‘generous’ she would just leave us there to starve and have her meals and tea in front of us, mocking us when we’d beg for a single morsel or sip to drink.

I blinked away the painful memories, seeing my brothers back tense and move stiffly as he growled at the Duchess. Then, in a blinding flash of movement, his sword was drawn completely and the point of the blade was resting a mere centimeter from the Duchess’ neck, catching her by surprise.

“And you need to remember that we are not children anymore.” His voice vibrated with the sound of his hostile growl, his arms shaking with the urge to swipe the blade downwards, cutting into the Duchess like he wanted. “We have no obligations to you and your family. No loyalties and no sense of respect. And in case you have forgotten, my sister is a Queeness and a guest within the Palace, and I, her personal Guard.” He pressed the blade towards her some more, making her skin dip beneath the sharp point. “I am within my rights to slice open that poisonous mouth of yours for merely insulting her… what more do you think I’ll be allowed to do if anyone else learns that you raised your hand at her?”

A sadistic and satisfied smile crept up onto my face as I watched her pale at his words, her eyes darting around as the sound of thick boots echoed towards us.

“I suggest you leave.” I said coldly, glaring at both Marianna and my father, feeling Arden's rage bleed into my own.

She shook off the fear and glared at us, motioning to our father who had once again regained that blank expression. Arden kept his sword out and aimed at them as they retreated, the flat sharpened surface glinting off the streaming light of the windows as he slowly tilted it. Marianna paused after a few steps, our father continuing down the corridor as she turned her scowl to us.

"You had better be prepared to draw blood when we next meet," She hissed, her eyes narrowing as a dark and sinister gleam grew in them. "And I do hope all those training trips we sent you truly turned you into a Knight, lest you be seen as nothing more than a sniveling boy playing pretend."

Arden growled louder, and his body nearly lunged towards her. But I reached to and took hold of his arm, stopping him from doing something that could risk his title as Knight. Once I was sure that he wasn't at risk to Shift, I focused on the Duchess again, extending my hand out with my palm up and allowing the rage filled inferno to pool between my fingers. A blazing ball of amethyst burst out and flickered into the air, engulfing my hand as I stared her down through the flames.

"I won't ask you again." I warned her, nodding sharply at her to move along and follow her husband.

She growled one final time at us before huffing and turning away. We stood there, tense and brimming with anger as we watched her haughty form grow smaller and smaller until she turned a corner and vanished. Once she was out of sight I released a heavy breath, letting my flames go out as my arms dropped to my side. Arden returned his sword to its sheath and turned to me, all traces of anger gone from his face as he took my face in his hands and looked at the bright red mark.

"That slimy b***h…" He whispered, gingerly touching the flushed skin on my cheek. "Let's get some ice for that."

I nodded, smiling in an attempt to make my dear brother feel better. But he just sighed and shook his head, pulling me in for a warm, tight hug.

"Why do you always worry about me, even when you are hurt?" I giggled, feeling his breath tickle my neck.

"It's my job, you know." I told him, smiling wider as we pulled apart. "You're all I have left Ardy."

"That makes it my job too." He chuckled out, flicking my forehead. "And I've told you not to call me that, I'm a Knight now, not ten years old."

"Well that's too bad Ardy." I turned and started making my way down the hallway with a giggling Ivy beside me. "Because I still see my bossy, trouble-seeking brother behind that serious Knightly façade."

He grumbled behind me as we neared the end of the hallway, muttering something about respecting him and being four minutes older. I couldn’t help but laugh at his words, feeling the heavy tension and bitterness from before evaporate from around us.