His Hidden Jewel

Chapter 19

“Did ya hear?”

A female were-snake with spiky black hair looks up from her spot behind the bar. She had been wiping down a counter when she heard him.

It’s a regular to this tavern, an elderly male pixie, is seated in front of her.

She raises her eyebrows, taken off guard by his odd greeting. Usually he’s the type of happily greet her, maybe tell a joke. And he’s not one to gossip about news.

She frowns. “What’s that?”

He looks somberly to his wrinkled hands. Though he’s well aged, the yellow of his feathers and hair sticks out a single star in the night sky.

“King Verdinin announced the death of the human girl they found.”

Her eyes widen. “WHAT?!”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought too.”

“But-how?”

The pixie chuckles sadly, humorlessly, the were-snake gets on his drink seeing the gaze in his eyes. “Thats the kicker. He said her death was due to “unusual, natural circumstances.”” He shakes his hardly sadly, a humorless smile on his lips “It almost seemed like he was trying to play it off like she just simply collapsed on herself and died, like it’s a natural thing for humans. Like death should be a natural thing for humans.” He utters in a dark, ominous tone, accepting the drink from the were-snake.

“How horrible! The poor soul; she never got to experience being free.” She tears up, and the were-snake turns her head to the side to hide them. The regular reaches a comforting hand towards her.

“She didn’t. It’s quite heartbreaking to think about. I had hoped that with this new era, Volkari would repent for what he did to humankind in the past, and give this girl a chance. But then he kept her a slave; he doesn’t have supreme power with the checks and balances in place, but he could have easily granted her freedom as show of good will. I don’t think anybody would have any say against that,” he breathes sadly, guzzling down half of his drink.

The were-snake stares at the pixie in shock. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk illy of King Verdinin.”

“I kept a small piece of hope, Verdinin lead us well during the Fray Famine (3), and I held on a small piece of hope that he had changed. My eyes have been opened now.” He finishes with shrug, chugging down the last bit of his drink.

“My eyes have been opened as well, and I think they’ve been opened for many other creatures too.” She breathes softly. “I had hoped for change in our King, after the abolition laws, it looked like there might’ve been some hope. s*****y was still so strong in the royal and noble households when he put those laws into place, and he even made sure all the royals and nobles were the first to free their slaves. It started to feel like our King held some compassion for us, like a change in his attitude. But after all the recent events, it’s obvious our King is just a good actor. And I can’t believe we all fell for it.”

OoooooooooooO

“Does it have to be black?”

“Yes Bebe.” Deep sigh, “it’s the color I picked from my family crest, remember our deal?”

“But would that really be great with gray? And for a wedding?”

Heo clenches his jaw, his face reddening. They have been in his study planning their wedding for hours, and they haven’t even gotten anywhere!

Heo is about to lose it!

He wanted Bebe to do everything, but she refused to do a single thing unless Heo did it with her. And she is determined for him to make a say in everything, even though they always ended up fighting after each decoration because they couldn’t agree.

“Well, if you don’t like it then you can just pick the colors then,” he snaps, rubbing his temples. Bebe frowns deeply.

“I’m not trying to pick a fight with you Heo, so don’t start.” She snaps then she sighs softly, “I’m just trying to point out that for a wedding, our colors are kind of dark and... dreary... look, we both know that we’re the last person each other wants to see, much less marry! But, let’s just try to make the wedding enjoyable for the both of us,” she says with a comforting but wry grin, touching the were-tigers shoulder gently.

Heo sighs, but relaxes. Bebe takes that as his show of acceptance. “So, I know you have a aqua blue in your family crest, what about that inste-“

“Lord Hoftlock, Lady Zeeke, sorry to interrupt,” a servant cuts in with a short bow. “But, Lord Verdinin and Lord Blasmire are here to see you.”

“Thank you, let them know I will be with them shortly,” Heo orders, watching the servant bow and walk away.

“Lord Verdinin and Lord Blasmire?” Bebe repeats, looking curiously at Heo.

“Yeah, Corrin sent me a message yesterday saying he and Marcel were coming by for a visit.”

“To Lybar? From Silvonya? All of the sudden?”

“Yeah...” Heo trails off. He thinks it odd too; Lybar isn’t extremely far from Silvonya, but it’s still a long trip. And to make that trip all of the sudden to speak with Heo at his manor makes the were-tiger curious.

It’s also odd that Corrin sent the message. While they’re all great friends, Marcel is definitely the unspoken leader between the three of them. He’s usually the type to take the initiative to send the message himself before Corrin himself even could!

But, Corrin is a lazy bastard.

Maybe Corrin actually beat Marcel, or maybe this is more?

Heo doesn’t know why, but his gut feels like there is something big to this visit.

“This will be the first time you’ll see Marcel since-“

“Since the ball?” Heo cuts in, tilting his head.

Bebe rolls her eyes. “No, you i***t, since Bunny’s death.”

“Wait what?! Marcels slave died?!”

“Don’t you read the news?” Bebe asks, touching her temples in annoyance.

“Not often,” Heo shrugs.

“How are you even a lord-“ she mutters under her breathe before stopping shortly, letting out another sigh. “King Volkari Verdinin announced her death two days ago. She apparently died of “unusual, natural circumstances.””

“Just that? “Unusual, natural circumstances?” That’s all they could come up with?” Heo laughs a little but mostly in shock and the incredibility at the ridiculous conclusion.

He would mad if they gave that diagnosis to his pet fish! Much less another creature.

“Wait, what does her death have to do with me?”

“Come on Heo, you said what we were all thinking at the ball that night; Marcel and Bunny are close. They barely have to even have to talk to one another for someone to pick it out. Don’t you worry about how Marcel is taking her death? He’s your friend after all, and she did mean a lot to him...”

“I didn’t even think of that,” Heo admits sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with a blooming blush on his cheeks.

“You’re a bad friend,” the were-ferret deadpans.

“Hey! Until the guy tells me himself that he likes her, I’m just gonna pretend he doesn’t. Even if it’s painfully obvious.” The were-tiger

Bebe rolls her eyes. “Whatever.”

“Well, I should probably go to them.”

“We’re finishing this later Heo, don’t think you’ll get out of this.” She narrows her eyes at him before flicking her hair and striding off. He shakes his head at her, but follows her out.

Marcel and Corrin are in the hallway outside his study.

Heos glad to see his friends, but the happiness crumples at Marcel’s deadly serious expression and Corrins missing grin.

“What’s up your behind?” Heo immediately asks Marcel, and if Bebe could have seen the were-tiger now, she would’ve face palmed herself and wept at the idiocy of her soon-to-be-husband.

“Let’s go somewhere quieter first, shall we? It seems your walls have ears,” Marcel offers loudly, pointedly looking at a group of servant watching the three lords from farther down the hallway.

They cower and blush shamefully at the being caught. Heo narrows his eyes, “I don’t pay you to be nosy,” he reminds sharply, and the group all nod in unison with a quick “yes master!” then they scurry away.

“Come on in my study,” Heo motions the two inside, and they follow. They sit down on a couch in his study.

“So, what’s up?”

Corrin snorts. “That’s all you have to say?”

“What? You’re my friends...” Heo trails off unsurely.

“God, you’re an idiot.”

“Oi!”

“Now is not the time you two,” Marcel interrupts coldly. Heo and Corrin cringe; both mumble their apologies.

“Now, let’s focus on why we’re here.”

“Yeah, so why are you both here? Not that I’m not happy to see you both! I just wasn’t expecting to see either of you so soon after the ball...”

“I’m sure you’ve heard of the news?” Marcel states more than asks.

Heo nods slowly, his eyes dropping solemnly. “You mean about your humans death? Yeah, I did. I’m sorry to hear about that Marcel.”

The were-tiger focuses on the vampire, but with no small amount of confusion he notices there isn’t an ounce of grief or sadness on Marcels face.

Though there seems to be some annoyance directed at Heo from Marcel.

Odd. Heo thought with how close they seemed Marcel would be more broken up about it.

Did he just imagine their closeness?

“Well, the story concerning her death isn’t exactly the story my uncle told everyone.” Marcel continues mysteriously. Heo raises an intrigued brow.

“I figured. The excuse Volkari gave is rubbish.”

“Wow, Volkari must have really gone off the deep end with this one if even Heo noticed that poor excuse,” Corrin murmurs to Marcel.

“Hey!” Heo retorts half heartedly. But even he knows his own faults.

“What actually happened, was that my oh so loving uncle decided that I was to kill her.”

“WHAT?!”

Marcel and Corrin cringe.

“You couldn’t have done that right?!” Heo screeches in disbelief and horror.

“No, Heo, I obviously didn’t. When has Volkari ever made me do something I didn’t want to?” Marcel rolls his ruby eyes.

The were-tiger rubs his chin, “that’s true. Every order of his you fulfilled, it’s always at the extent that it serves a purpose to you, like with Lord Okari(1). And if it didn’t, you always managed to convince Volkari to follow through with your plans.

“So, are you saying she’s still alive?” Marcel nods, Heos eyes widen. “But, how did you get out of this one?! And, why is he even suddenly targeting her?”

Marcel tells Heo to fully prepare himself, and recounts the true story of the Crimson Wars. The whole time Heo sits in front of the two with bugged eyes and a dropped jaw. When Marcel finally finishes, a look of fury forms on Heo’s face.

The were-tigers arm shake slightly, and both Marcel and Corrin stiffen. They’ve never seen their friend this furious before.

“You mean... you’re telling me that...” he trails off furiously, his breathes coming in harsh pants. “So... King Volkari and Queen Lokon just lied to the entire world, and forced the entire world to partake in a g******e that no one wanted to be involved in in the first place?!”

Marcel sighs in sympathy. “Yes. The only excuse my uncle could give me for why they wanted Harmoana (2) and humankind gone so badly was because of their reclusiveness.”

“That’s it? That’s vague reasoning.” Heo frowns.

“I guess Queen Lokon saw a threat within their reclusiveness. Though I’m still unsure why my uncle threw himself in with her crazy plan. He wouldn’t do something that big unless something big was also in it for him...” Marcel adds thoughtfully, trailing off near the end in thought.

Volkari never gave an excuse. And while the old vampire clearly views humans as lesser, from his treatment and callousness with Bunny, he doesn’t show any sort of fear towards her. He doesn’t have the same reasoning as Queen Lokon did for what he did. So why? For the pure blood lust?

Marcel knows there’s something else Volkari is keeping from him. And his gut is telling himself it’s a big secret.

“So why now? If Volkari was always after humans since the beginning, why would he even keep her alive in the first place? Why announce her appearance then kill her off?”

“Think about it, Heo,” Corrin pipes in, his head resting casually on his hand. “Volkari couldn’t have killed her off right away. Marcel had to bring her to him when he found her at that Lord Bezings place. And in doing so a lot of creatures saw her face, and well, existence. If he killed her off immediately it would have appeared too suspicious. And with her background, she’s too innocent to be painted as a threat. Volkari had nothing on her, so he had to wait until the public turned on her themselves-“

“Which they didn’t, much to Volkaris displeasure,” Marcel cuts in. “And when Volkari saw the closeness between Bunny and I, he freaked out and realized his plans were backfiring on him. So he ordered me to kill Bunny as a test of my loyalty.” He has to stop for a moment to let out a malicious laugh.

“But, of the course the old fool still adores me and wants me on the throne, so he decided to trust me,” Marcel emphasizes the last words with incredulity, laughing darkly. Corrin and Heo shiver fearfully.

“So, I wasn’t expected to kill her in front of him, so long as I brought proof of her death. In the end, Bunny gave up one of her fingers, and Volkari thinks he’s some mastermind puppeteer!”

His laughs are icy, dark and genuine. Corrin and Heo join in.

“And all of that is the reason why we’re here,” Marcel nods at Corrin, who nods in agreement with the vampire lord.

Heo smirks cruelly. “Finally taking your rightful spot?”

Marcel matches his smirk. “Right now I’m just gathering allies. But there will be a time I will need to call on them. So, are you in?”

“Not yet.” Heo replies much to their surprise and a little to Marcels annoyance. He knows Heo is about to ask for something. “First,” - and here it comes, “I want to hear how Marcel feels for Bunny.”

“Heo, stop playing,” Marcel deadpans.

“I’m not! I know your relationship can’t only be just described to as close, and if I’m going to be putting my neck on the line, I want to hear from his own mouth how much she means to him.” Marcel glares hotly at him, but Heo simply grins back.

Corrins quietly laughing at the two, though he’s can’t says he’s also intrigued in Marcels answer.

Eventually, after a long pause, Marcel breathes a sigh. “Fine. I care about her. I care if she’s happy, if she’s feeling comfortable, and safe...”

“I’ll take it,” Heo grins. He’s just happy to finally force Marcel to open up. “I’m in!”

(1) Lord Okari: (Lord Ranyu Okari) lord from Lybar; first appearance earlier in the book.

(2) Harmoana: the continent that belonged to humankind.

(3) Fray Famine: a small famine in Silvonya a little after the Crimson Wars due to Silvonya becoming the main supplier of food to “Exterminators” (soldiers trained to hunt down and kill humans) around the world. The country ran out of a vegetable called a fray, a green-blue, curly-edged, leafy lettuce that’s a main part of the diets of pixies, elementals of all types, and all were-creatures except for were-snakes.