23 — THE COST OF LOVING
1415 Words
VANESSA
For two days after that night, the guards remained on the lookout for the scheming Rose.
The kingdom was thrown into mourning after the news of their leader reached them.
Lysandros?
He’d only opened his eyes once and it was a nightmare. I knew this because I’d been at his side for two days.
I couldn’t go back to Nyra. Not just because I’d failed, but because I couldn’t give a f**k about them anymore.
Death could come any minute now and I’d gladly accept it.
More people died because of me. People who weren’t included in the deal.
It was a line I never thought I’d ever cross.
The door opened and Yulian walked in, the old man who’d been Rose’s companion.
He was to oversee Lysandros’s health until he was on his feet again, before his execution.
A royal decree made by Noel.
“This salve should be enough to stop the pain and seal the skin.” He passed a small cup to a maid next to me. “Keep the wound dry after. It’ll heal.”
One last look at the helpless Lysandros, I rose to my feet. “I’ll be back.”
I traced my way back to the pavilion where the evidence of that night had been wiped out, following the maze trails until I was deep in the woods.
Leonidas had to be somewhere around.
He was drawn to his home. No way he’d ever leave the kingdom.
I swallowed.
Or leave me.
“Leo?” I called, looking around, grateful for the spill of moonlight through the leaves of the trees. “Come to me, Leonidas. Please.”
The last part was a whisper.
This was my routine now. Care for Lysandros, gather my sanity, stay on the lookout for Leonidas.
“Leo—”
“Vanessa…” a weak voice. “Vanessa, I’m here.”
Cautious the witch could be playing on my mind, I grabbed the dagger I’d taken along.
The darkness morphed into a tall shadow which took on the form of Leonidas but it was hard to tell if it was my imagination or it was truly him.
“Leonidas?” I peered closer at the figure. “Is that really you?”
The tall figure staggered forward into the clearing where moonlight filtered through without the shadows.
My heart nearly leapt out of my chest. One look at his face and I discovered it really was him.
“Vanessa.” He grabbed me and pulled me close to him, almost crushing me with his body.
The dagger fell from my grip as I wrapped my arms around him, and for the first time since that night, I let myself feel.
The result was tears flowing down my cheeks in torrents.
“Come back home.” I sniffled. “Don’t ever scare me like that, you hear me?”
“Listen to me, Vanessa.” He muttered in a hush. “I can’t stay here any longer. I’m a monster. I…I killed my own brother.”
I shook my head, unable to bear the thought of his distance.
“He’s alive. You didn’t kill him.” I assured him, threading my fingers through his matted hair, his face. “He’s only wounded…but he’s fine.”
His eyes shone with a flicker of hope before it faded.
“I swear, I never meant to hurt him. If he wanted the throne, he only had to say so and I’d let him.”
My fingers cradled his face. “Listen to me, Leo, I believe you. You wouldn’t hurt anyone on purpose.”
He was shaking his head before I even finished.
“Other innocent people died because of me. If I did that to them, I’ll do worse to my own people,” he whispered like he was reliving the scene. “I thought I’d mastered the shift until I was certain it couldn’t control me anymore. I should have known better.”
“That’s a lie!” I nearly yelled. “You mastered the shift. It was…” I paused, too ashamed to admit my part in it. “I…It’s all my fault. I’m sorry.”
He pulled my body away from his, staring deeply into my face. “What did you do?”
“The truth?”
He nodded. “The truth.”
Drawing in a deep breath, I began.
“Rose and Lysandros wanted you gone so they paid a syndicate for that. They…” The words got stuck in my throat. “They paid to have you killed. I got sent on the mission. And because…daggers couldn’t kill you, I was tasked with getting a lock of your hair.”
Contrary to what I feared would be his reaction, his face held a small smile. Then he chuckled.
“Is that why you snuck away from my arms the other night? To deliver your errand before you came back to f**k me mindless?”
I buried my face in his chest, ashamed at my actions. Embarrassed that I’d ever accepted the deal in the first place.
“Tell me.” Fingers tugged my chin gently until I was staring into the swirling warmth of his mismatched eyes. “What did you believe about me? Why did you do it?”
“I believed it was for a greater cause, until Rose said she was the witch who cursed you. She was taking out her hate for your father on you, because he killed her father.”
His eyes closed for a moment and when he opened them, there was a pool of regret in them.
“Maybe she is right. I deserve to die for the crimes my father committed.” Then added with hate. “He was human, and yet, he was a monster.”
“No, she’s not. She already killed your father for the crimes he committed.”
As soon as I said those words, he went still, body tensing against my fingers. I could feel the low growl rising in his chest.
“No wait…” I whipped my head so fast to see Rose stepping into the clearing. “He is right. He is the son of his father and we need to be sure the same madness doesn't run in them both.”
Another stepped into the clearing. My blood froze in my veins when I saw who it was.
Nyra.
The expression on her face was hard to read as always. Just a blank canvas waiting to be filled.
“Cipher warned me of this. I thought he was just being a jealous prick, but now I see,” she started, stepping ahead of Rose. “You took an assignment and you fell in love with your target.” She scoffed. “Stupid.”
“If you’re here to kill me, then do it already,” I spat, shoving my fear down. “I don’t like to wait.”
Her eyes flashed with amusement. “Kill you? When I can make you suffer the humiliation? That’s too easy.”
A lump the size of a watermelon lodged in my throat as she brought out a dagger. “We will play first. Being wrapped up with running the syndicate is no easy job. Don’t you think so, Leo?”
He was already on his feet, putting himself in front of me. “I do not care how many bodies I have to tear through just to keep her safe. No one will lay a finger on her on my watch.”
Nyra inclined her head to regard him, a smile slowly creeping out on that blank face. It was empty. Soulless.
“How sweet.” She motioned to Rose. “Do it.”
Rose muttered words and as she did, Leonidas groaned in pain, slowly sinking to his knees as he held his head.
I rushed to him. “Stop!” I screamed, half-blind with fear. “You are going to kill him.” My voice cracked in the end. “Please…”
Nyra held a hand up to stop Rose, and stepped closer. She forced the dagger into my shaking palm.
“Now are you going to do what you were assigned to or do you need a little motivation?” She let out a short whistle.
I looked behind her, eyes widening in shock when Cipher emerged into the clearing with her…
My stepmother, and a knife held to her neck.
- Writer
