His Hidden Jewel

Chapter 15

TW: amputation

Yeke and I are in her guest room in the Silvonya castle together, sitting on her bed which has to be the softest thing I have ever sat on. The air elemental is chatting away, and I smile encouragingly, but my mind is somewhere else.

Marcel seemed so off earlier, and he was so mysterious when he left. I wonder what’s going on? Is… Marcel going to be alright? No, of course he’s okay he has to be… but what if he isn’t?

“Don’t worry Bunny, Marcel will be fine. Trust him,” Yeke suddenly says, breaking through my thoughts. My face warms.

“What?”

“I can tell your worried about Marcel, but you shouldn’t; trust him when he says he’ll take care of it. Marcel may be many things be, he’s also a creature of his word; he’s never lied or let me down,” Yeke smiles, and my blush increases.

I’m worried about him? I have been thinking about him a lot.

I guess I am worried about him.

Wait, she was able to see that?

I look down to my hands, fiddling with a small loose string from the black comforter. “Yeah, I am. He just acted so odd, and he’s been gone for a while now…”

“He’s just tense because it’s his uncle, but don’t worry, he’ll be back soon!” Yeke chirps, and I give her an uneasy smile.

She tries to make me feel better with a bright smile as she pulls me towards the closet door. The elemental starts to dig through the clothes. “So, Pria and I are going on a picnic date soon. What one do you think I should wear for the next date, the green dress or this blue suit?” She pulls out the two articles of clothing, showing them off to me.

“You want my opinion,” I ask I’m shock.

“Of course I do Bunny! So which one?” She shakes both of them, I look between them unsurely.

“Um…” I look between them unsurely, “maybe the suit?”

“Bunny dear, you are wonderful, but Yeke the green dress would be better suited for your date. The blue suit is just a tad too much for a picnic date.” Marcel announces as he suddenly enters the room.

I feel an instant smile form, and my shoulders feel a lot lighter suddenly. I stand up and walk towards Marcel, and am I walking quicker than norm-

“You’re back,” I greet, relief in my tone.

“I am,” Marcel reiterates in the same relieved tone, reaching towards my head. He caresses my head and hair, staring intensely at me. I meet his gaze, and a blush burns my cheeks.

He’s acting oddly… did something happen earlier? The relief leaves me.

Yeke seems to feel the same, suddenly asking Marcel, “what’s going on Marcel?” Her tone serious and worried.

It snaps Marcel out of his funk, and he eyes turn serious, but not cold. He drops his hand form my head, turning to address both Yeke and I.

“I apologize, it’s just, my uncle told me a very interesting story today.”

“A story?” Yeke and I question at the same time.

“Yeke, do you remember what we were taught in schools, about how the Crimson Wars started?”

Yeke appears incredulous the vampire would even mention it. “Yeah… …”

“What is it? I’ve been hearing a lot of the “Crimson Wars” but I don’t know much of what happened.” I ask.

Yeke and Marcels expressions sadden, and Marcel breathes a deep sigh of sorrow.

“The Crimson Wars was the start of and the single cause of the extinction of humankind. The story is that 200 years ago, humans kept to themselves on the continent of Harmoana, which is a completely different land mass than what Silvonya is on. Yeke and I were taught that the Crimson Wars all started because of the leaders of Harmoana, a group of people called The Study, and their fear of other creatures. The Study apparently were so fearful of other creatures, that they staged a peaceful meeting between them, my uncle King Volkari, and the pixie queen of Picaria at the time, Queen Lokon, and then attacked King Volkari and Queen Lokon. With Silvonyas and Picarias combined treaties, almost every kingdom in the world was taking part in hunting down and exterminating humans. Many humans were able to escape and hide, some taking refuge in homes of human-sympathizers (1). But the human-sympathizers paid for their law breaking. The only country to not take part was Oxitopia I believe, but their neutrality was on the condition they would turn in any found humans, which they did.”

Yeke looks down. “My grandmother didn’t want too; she never saw harm in a human.”

I sit in shock at hearing the full truth for the first time.

I realize I too have been a little fearful like the humans in the past, but my fear is mostly of the unknown. Now I’m mostly just uncomfortable with the staring, but not scared.

“Why would your uncle call you this late for a history lesson?” Yeke asks.

“Because, that’s just the story my uncle and Queen Lokon painted. The true story is that Queen Lokon was the fearful one; she feared that just because humankind was mostly reclusive and because of their giant land mass of Harmoana, that they would be more of threat. That they would strike a war where one was not brewing. She got my uncles help because of his uncaring attitude towards humans. And then Volkari and Lokon invited the humans to a peaceful meeting, and attacked and staged the humans. Their hope was to make the humans look back and use that to bring in their collective allies to turn the world against Harmoana and humankind itself.”

Yekes and I eyes widen.

“My uncle is now testing my loyalty, and trying to prove a point. He wants me to kill Bunny and bring proof of her death to him,” Marcel says through grinding teeth.

My eyes widen in shock, and I take a step back.

“What!” Yeke says, vocalizing exactly what I was thinking.

“I’m not going to do it, obviously,” he huffs, clearly irritated with his uncles orders. I relax a little, realizing I had tensed up before.

Marcel is suddenly in front of me, resting a hand on my face. “Bunny, I’m sorry, but I’m gonna need to part from you. It’ll only be for a short while.” He glances to Yeke, not moving his hand.

“Yeke, could I ask a large favor from you? Could you take Bunny to Oxitopia with you, and keep her safe with you until she can return?”

“Yeah of course!” Yeke hurriedly agrees.

Marcel glances to me, his ruby gaze softens. “I promise, I will be back.”

I want to question if he’s sure if he’ll be all right, but I don’t, looking down.

“I’m sorry, but when you’re with Yeke you can’t be seen by anyone. Even if my uncle thinks you’re dead we can’t have anyone, especially an enemy, see you. And I’m sorry, but to convince my uncle you’re dead, I’m going to have to cut off one of your fingers.” My eyes bulge and I grab my hand instinctively.

Marcels eyes soften sympathetically. “I know, but it’s the only way to convince him of your death. Your hair isn’t enough, he would only demand to see your whole body then. Something small will be enough.”

I swallow. “All right, take my right pinky.”

“Bunny, you don’t have to do this.” Yeke says worriedly.

I smile assuringly. “A pinky is better than my life.”

“You’re very strong,” she comments.

I don’t think so but I don’t voice this.

I look at Marcel and stoically say, “Let’s do this.”

Marcel nods slowly, I can’t tell he’s only determined because of the situation. His eyes sadden when they land on my pinky.

I smile sweetly, and say, “don’t worry, it’s just one pinky.”

Marcel jerks back to me, and smiles a wry grin that was more of wince. “Yeke is right, you are so strong my bunny,” Marcel compliments, caressing my hair. “But I’m sorry you even have to go through this.”

My smile turns sad. “Thank you but life isn’t fair; I’ve learned that early on.”

Marcel rests his hand on my cheek.

“You are so wise; another trait of yours I adore.” His words brings a heat to my face. “Sit down and get comfortable.” He motions towards a chair near a table, I sit down, placing my right hand on the table.

“Did you want me or Yeke to do it?”

I look between them, my eyes resting on Marcels. His red eyes, that I once viewed as heavy and piercing, now were a comfort and a relief.

“You please,” I say to Marcel.

He nods seriously, he suddenly looks hurt. .

“As you wish.”

Yeke touches my shoulders, I glance up; she’s concerned. “Just relax.” She says with an uneasy grin. I touch her hand with my left hand, trying to comfort her.

“Thank you, for doing this; both of you.” I added, looking at Marcel. He nods shortly and is that a blush on his-

“Of course, that’s what friends are here for, well to be here for one another, not chopping off each other’s limbs that is.” Yeke chuckles half heartedly. I wince a little at the reminder.

I can hear Marcel grab something metal but I instantly focus on the elemental. She’s holding my other hand with both of hers, concern in her icy eyes.

“Squeeze as hard as you need.” I nod.

“Breath deeply; slow breaths, and relax.” Marcel instructs.

I relax as much as I can, slowing my breaths. I decide to close my eyes, fingers deathly curled around Yekes.

Metal meets wood.