His Hidden Jewel

Chapter 16 (TW)

TW: Blood, amputation

A blood-curdling scream echoes throughout Silvonya’s castle.

Jazma is up in an instant. She looks around from her bed, calming a little when she doesn’t see any immediate intruders. Volkari grumbles next to her, but he too was woken by the screams.

The pleasant, piercing screams of a job well done.

It took everything in him not to break out in laughter.

“Did you hear that?” Jazma asks in a hush, worried tone. Volkari sits up and rubs his wife’s shoulders, trying to console her.

“Nothing to concern yourself my dear, it’s from some execution tonight of an old prisoner. I told you about it long ago, I understand if you don’t remember,” he lies.

The vampire queen sighs in relief, pushing back her long, silky hair. “I must have forgotten about it. That’s a relief to hear.”

OooooooooooooooooooooO

Marcel stares at his hand; it’s soaked in Bunny’s blood. He’s suddenly nauseous.

He had done it.

He cut off her pinky.

It lay in a small bag, ready to be presented to his uncle. He knew it could wait till morning for his uncle; the old vampire likely already heard her screaming. They didn’t need their super-hearing to hear that.

Her screams ring in his ear and he swallows tightly. Gods, he feels sick.

At least she’s safe; for now.

Their last interaction plays in his mind, causing his mood to lighten. He grabs a glass of whiskey, his mind replaying that very interaction:

“Take her to your father.” Marcel says to Yeke as he fixes Bunny’s cloak hood, making sure it covered her adorable face enough. She peers up at him through her long brown lashes, her expression adorable and sweet; Marcel feels his face heat.

Gods, he’s obsessed.

Marcel focuses on Bunny. “Go with Yeke to her father Lord Uzui in Oxitopia, he will house you until it’s safe for you again.”

Bunny frowns, concern in her purple gaze. “Marcel, whatever you’re planning, please be safe.” She suddenly urges; her hands reach towards him, almost as if she wants to touch him, but then suddenly pulls away.

Marcels eyes soften. He cups her face gently, relieved when he relaxes in his hold.

“I will be, my darling,” the way he asserts the endearment brings a blush to his darling’s cheeks.

“I trust you.”

“Good, and like I said earlier I promise I’ll be back for you, but things will be different this time. I can’t tell you exactly how right now, but I promise in time I will tell you.” He promises softly. She appears confused, and also saddened. She’s going to miss him.

It warms him knowing this. Marcel pulls her hands towards his lips and placed a short kiss on the back of her hand.

“See you soon, my Bunny.”

“Goodbye Marcel, see you soon.” She smiles, pulling away and filling Yeke into a carriage. Yeke nods a silent goodbye to Marcel.

The vampire lord nods back and steps away, watching as a black and purple carriage ride off into the darkness. —

He’s glad he got to spend that last moment with her. Considering now it might be a long time before he sees her again. It seems even if she’s aware of it or not, Bunny is starting to warm up to him.

And possibly might even feel the same in the future going from her blushing.

Yes.

This is his destiny; Marcel can feel it.

She is meant to be his Queen. And now he needs to take down a certain lying, scheming king to keep her.

OooooooooooooooooO

The brightness behind my eyelids is too bright, I scrunch my closed eyes tighter.

Awareness finally reaches my brain, and my eyes jolt open.

I don’t see the black stone walls of Silvonya that I had grown so used to. Instead, it’s black velvet walls with light purple velvet accents, and it’s the walls of a small two-person carriage.

The events from the night before come back to me, and so does the pain unfortunately. I wince, touching the back of my hand, but don’t dare touch it or glance it. I feel like it’ll only make the pain worse.

Instead I look at Yeke, who’s awake and staring out of the carriage window. She glances over at my movement, and brightens.

“I’m glad to see you’re up Bunny! I was getting pretty concerned about you. You were out for a long time, but it’s understandable considering the evening you had.”

I sit fully up, touching my right wrist.

“How long was I out?”

“You were out all night and all of this morning. It’s evening now; the suns are about to set.” Yeke nods to the sky. I moved towards her side to get a better view. The purple and red sun ease slowly over the horizon, painting the sky with reds, purples, and blues.

I smile at the sight. After I take in my fill, I sit back down in my seat. Yeke is still caught up on the sunsets.

“How much farther is Oxitopia?”

“About another two days of travel. We’ll stop in a town that’s pretty close to the other side of the border of Photarium, the earth elemental home kingdom, in a town called Eureema. Then we’ll stop in the water elemental home kingdom of Nebia. After that it’s a straight shot to Oxitopia.”

“I’m excited to see your home kingdom, even if it’s only out a window.” I chuckle.

Yeke chuckles too. “Yeah I’m excited it have you with me; it’ll be so exciting! Like having spa nights every night!”

“Spa night?”

“Just a night of pampering and spending time with a friend.” Yeke gushes. “It’ll be fun.”

I feel a bit touched Yeke wants to spend time with me. “Well, then I can’t wait!” I gush excitedly.

Yekes excitement suddenly drops.

“I’m sorry I can’t show you around Oxitopia; I wish I could, you would love it! There’s some gorgeous Aeromic (1) temples that just take your breathe away.” The air elemental breaths dreamily at the end.

“Aeromic? Marcel has mentioned something of that before.”

“It’s a main religion in Oxitopia, but there are many citizens that aren’t Aeromic’s. In fact, Pearliocity (2), the religion Pearliocs follow is quite common. Marcel is even a Pearlioc, though Pearliocity is forced down everyone’s throats in Silvonya, even if they are accepting of other religions.” Yeke chuckles sourly, staring off sadly.

It’s does seem odd as to why a kingdom would do that if they claimed to be accepting.

“What is Aeromic like?”

Yekes face brightens again, and I’m glad she got out of her funk. “We believe god, the deity to create us all and give us life, is air. We don’t believe god to be a he or she or they, we don’t even believe god to be a being of any kind. God and life is just air.”

It was a completely different belief than with Pearliocity, with the brother gods.

“That sounds really heavenly,” I comment softly.

“Well, there is more to it than that but it sure is. You know,we get a bad appearance some times as being “too soft” of a kingdom, but Oxitopia is still standing strong, free, and prospering.” The passion in her tone is proud and strong.

And I just know Yeke will be a great ruler too.

“How so?”

“Oxitopia is ruled on a few principles: equality, freedom, and kindness. My father and his ancestors before him are so strict on the equality rule, that they enlisted a law where everyone gets equal share of land; no more, no less. You can do whatever you want to the land, some have their businesses in the front and their homes in the back. On my fathers equal portion, he has a tall, cloud-touching castle.”

I stare at her in awe; I couldn’t even imagine, a building that could touch the clouds?

“But how-“

“Air elementals can fly because of our powers. So can a rare pixie called a zi’ ixie, but that’s because they are born with wings. It’s easy to build tall things when you can fly.”

“Wow,” I breathed at the thought of the winged pixies. “But wait, why would that be a bad thing, everyone having equal land?”

“Some people need more space, whether it’s for children or an expanding business. So it’s not for everyone.”

Oxitopia sounds a lot different than Silvonya, but to be fair I haven’t really experienced either enough to make a judgement. But I did enjoy the trips Marcel took us on.

Marcel…

I suddenly feel so alone. I’m used to his presence, even when he would quietly read next to me.

I change the subject, “so, Pria Norin?”

Yeke brightens, “oh Bunny she’s just so sweet, considerate, caring, soft, and just wonderful. There are times she can be so quiet and almost detached, like she’s off in another world, but then the second she sees or hears me she instantly smiles, and… I think I’m falling for her.”

“That’s so amazing Yeke! It sounds so wonderful,” I gush.

The air elementals smile drops. She looks down at her hands; my brows furrow in concern at her sudden mood change “But the thing is… I’m not too sure if I really love her or if I’m trying to get over Heo.”

Well I wasn’t expecting that.

“What makes you say that?”

“Well… I’ve only ever told Marcel this, but the truth is that I’ve liked Heo since we were children.” Yekes eyes are downcast, she sounds choked up. “Corrin and Heo were more of Marcels friends than mine growing up, but Heo and I got pretty close. The were-tiger may seem like he’s just some player, but once he fully commits to someone, he only sees them. Him and I got that close, so close where I felt like we where I felt like all he saw was me and all I saw was him. And for a moment, I thought he was about to ask me to become his life mate. He would say things that hinted at that. But, then, he suddenly tells me we have to stop seeing one another.” Yeke stops, taking a deep breathe.

“I asked him why but he never explained. He just dropped out of my life… It hurt for a while, I was so lost and confused as to what suddenly went wrong. There was a time I even felt extreme anger at him for being so sudden, for never explaining why he broke it off. I see now of course,” Yeke chuckles brokenly, a few silent tears streaking her white-marked cheeks. “He went to Bebe Zeeke, and I bet for her land too.” She wipes them away and looks at her lap.

“I just sometimes wonder if I moved on too quickly. I had liked him for so many years. I feel like I can’t have already found someone else so soon after being tied to the idea of life mating Heo.” She admits shamefully; I slowly reach across and gently touch her knee, catching her attention.

“I can’t really help much since I don’t have any experience in life mates or mating, but Yeke, I can see and hear the pure happiness on your face when you see her, when you talk about, when she’s mentioned. I’m not sure what to tell you about Heo, but what I can tell you is it’s clear you feel something for Pria.”

Yeke smiles slightly and looks back at her hands, thinking for a moment.

“Yeah, you’re right Bunny, I do. Heo made me feel gogi flies (3) in my stomach, but Pria makes me feel comfortable and safe. And, it makes me feel more lured towards her. You know, I was worried about the ball; that I would be affected by Heo and his fiancé. But once I was there, with Pria by my side, I realized all I care about is her.”

I rub my chin. “It sounds like you’re second guessing yourself because you never got that closure from Heo.”

“Maybe. Probably. But I’m still worried I may not fully be over Heo.” Well I wasn’t sure if this would work, but it’s worth a shot.

“If Heo and Pria came up to you right now, and asked you to become their life mate, who would you choose?”

“Pria.”

Her eyes widen at her instant answer. I smile, “I think you have your answer.”

Tears come to Yekes eyes, and she suddenly embraces me. I stiffen, only to have been touched like this by Marcel and my parents. I force my arms to stiffly pat her back. Yeke looks back up, a smile glistening her cheeks. “Thank you for listening, and thanks for being a great friend Bunny!”

It still takes me off guard knowing she thinks of me as a friend.

“You’re welcome Yeke.”

(1) Aeromic: a religion, in which god and life is air. A major religion in Oxitopia.

(2) Pearliocity: a religion with three gods: The Sun Gods and The Death God. A major religion in Silvonya.

(3) Gogi Flies: a common fly.