The Emperor's Daughter

by H M Angues

  Calla claws at the sand but can gain no traction. She’s crying loudly now. Her pain must be excruciating, and tears sting my eyes.

  Kainan fists the collar of her shirt, hoisting her up. He pins her to one of the old pillars, one hand around her neck in a deadly hold.

  The crowd cheers as he pulls the blade out of her flesh. She cries out again, and I hear Blade shout a series of curses at my brother. My brother, who, as Blade bellows, flips the dagger in his hand, now holding it properly, and buries it in Calla's sternum.

  Chapter 24

  Calla

  The pain on my back and in my ribs is compared to the searing, white-hot agony in my leg as he brutally yanks the dagger from my flesh. I would sink into the sand and cry if it weren't for Kainan's hand around my neck, holding me at eye level.

  Those eyes. They’re Ramsey’s blood-red, not his kind blue. “Kainan,” I plead, trying desperately to coax out any piece of him that’s still in there.

  My hands claw at his hold around my throat, but he isn’t squeezing enough to choke me. Just hold me there, in front of him. I take one hand and touch his cheek, repeating his name.

  I squeeze my eyes shut for just a second, but it’s long enough. Long enough for the pain of losing my mother all those years ago, and then my brother, and my father to come rushing back. Being tortured at Ramsey’s hand. What one of her men did to me back in Louvelle Prison.

  The physical pain of not having Kainan, not giving into the bond we share. The emotional pain of being torn between the two brothers; wanting Kainan, but not wanting to hurt Rysen. And not knowing which is more important to me.

  It’s too much. For a moment, I forget about my empire and all the people I’m supposed to be fighting for. Screw Jed’s plan. I can’t take this. I can’t go on carrying this agony. Whatever damned phenomenon that created the bond is tearing my body to shreds.

  Only, it isn’t my body anymore. It does not feel like my own. My skin crawls everywhere he touched. I want to step out of my own flesh and leave it here to be destroyed by the harsh desert.

  I want to run away from all the pain and all the responsibility. I want to throw my middle finger up to it all and just have what I want for once. I want Kainan, but I don’t want to hurt Rysen. And another small part of me questions whether I still want Rysen or not, too. I want to be rid of this cursed body, now tainted and destroyed by a wretched man. But I can’t have any of that. Instead, I only have suffering.

  I don’t want to suffer anymore.

  “If you’re in there,” I plead, “end it.”

  I feel the sword find its mark.

  I take in his face one last time, in that final second when my Kainan returns, no longer Ramsey’s pawn. Light brown hair, soft blue eyes, handsome features. And the horror on that face as he realizes what he’s done.

  I want to tell him how I feel. That I love him. But I never get my chance.

  The darkness washes over me like a cool waterfall.

  Chapter 25

  Blade

  When Ramsey’s hold over Kainan's mind breaks, it’s too late.

  Calla’s body slumps to the ground, her blood staining the sand deep brown. All other sounds drown out, and I’m left with nothing but my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.

  I scramble down the Arena seats, almost tripping several times. When I reach the sand, I fall to my knees and grab her, cradling her shoulders in my arms. Sobs escape my lungs as I bury my face in her neck.

  The sword is still in the sand, her blood painting the silver blade a deep, nearly black, red.

  I take it, staring blankly at the weapon. I watched that Dane bastard kill the girl that I love with this. It seems only fitting that I take my own life the same way. I situate my hands, ready to plunge the sword into my own chest.

  A rough hand yanks my arm to the side and tears the weapon from my fingers. Kainan tosses it across the sand, tears staining his dirt-caked cheeks.

  I finally look around, register the chaos happening around me. Coming through the gates in droves are armed Underground soldiers.

  The plan.

  They were going to stop the fight before anyone died. Calla knew she’d have to fight one of us, somehow pieced together what Ramsey was ultimately planning to do.

  Jed is too late, and I see him slump his shoulders as his eyes fall to me, covered in Calla’s blood, cradling her in my arms.

  Kainan forces me to my feet. I adjust my grip, carefully carrying Calla’s limp body, and walk across the sand. He stays right beside me, silent, until someone tears him away.

  I look around the Arena, trying to find Kainan or Rysen, but I am met by a horrifying sight.

  Kainan Emeric Dane, standing in the middle of the Arena, Calla’s blood soaking his skin, his clothes, and Ramsey at his shoulder. She whispers something in his ear. He nods, the tears visible in his eyes, on his cheeks. I can practically feel his pain just by looking at him.

  And then someone, maybe Rysen, pushes me through the Arena doors and the pair is gone.

  Part II

  Kainan

  I had never felt a worse pain in my life.

  She wanted to die. She had asked me to do it. I felt her resolve, her willingness to end it all, through our bond.

  So many months have passed since then. I don’t know how much longer I can go on pretending. I need her to be here with me again. I need her to get me through this.

  I had wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. I had to witness every bloody and heartbreaking second. I was screaming at myself the entire time, urging my body to stop, to listen to me. And then I couldn’t even be there to hold her as she died. At least she’d had Blade with her, even if she won't remember it. She won't remember anything that happened after I killed her.

  Now, here I am, stuck at Ramsey’s side. In her bed once again.

  I have to bear this. For the plan. All for the stupid plan, as much as it kills me to do so.

  But Calla is so, so fucking worth it.

  Chapter 26

  Blade

  Ryse is slumped over in his seat on the hoverjet. The Overseer is in the pilot’s chair, his daughter next to him, flying us as far away from Helkyn and the Arena District as possible.

  I’ve never seen my hands shake so much. I want to burn the skin away. It's been tarnished, caked in Calla's blood. Now, we're going far from all that just happened. From the nightmare that will haunt me until death.

  Far away from Calla. They wouldn’t let me carry her body here. For political reasons Jed has yet to explain, we were forced to leave her in that hellhole without a proper goodbye.

  “You should have done it. We both should have died, too. If you loved her, you would have died with her. But you let Kainan stop you,” he whispers harshly.

  I grab his wrists and force him to meet my stare. “I loved her more than life itself.” My voice breaks. “I still love her so much. But now she’s gone, and we have to keep fighting to save the empire she left to us.”

  “How are you doing it then? How do I get through this? You wanted to kill yourself an hour ago!”

  “Out of shock. And you get past this. You live with it, because she died for you. You live each day for her, because she gave it to you. Every single day is a gift from Calla, to us. Neither of us gets to waste that. She died so you, Kainan and I could live... I’ll kill you if you throw that away.”

  ∞∞∞

  One Year Later

  That conversation floats through my mind every single day since Calla’s death. Since he killed her.

  My life is bleak without her.

  Ever since that talk with Ryse, he’s been one of the hardest working, most successful spies in the Underground. Not a day goes by he doesn’t miss her, and everything we do, we do for her, to honor the emperor we all lost.

  I know he still loves her, despite the fact that, just a week ago, I walked in on him and Fayette in his room... getting close.

  Calla would be happy. It was never clear how she fel
t about him, but I know she’d be happy to see us enjoying some of life’s pleasures.

  I can’t. Everything seems to be gray, dull. Few things bring me any sort of joy or pleasure anymore.

  I look around my plain apartment deep under the swamp lands of Morda Province. Jurynn and the other Underground cities are the only sanctuaries left. The only places that are safe from Ramsey.

  Not long after her death, Kainan showed up at the palace. High Lady Katarina informed the Concilium about his being Calla’s mate. He was declared regent of the empire, until an heir could be found. The moment power was passed to him, he let Ramsey slaughter every single monarch present. Even High Lady Katarina. Ramsey now has complete control. She dissolved all laws and abolished the Concilium, leaving nothing but absolute tyranny. The only thing she kept was Calla’s desire to be given the male title: Ramsey insists on being addressed as king.

  The seat of the empire is now in Darinthe Manor. Stonefire was abandoned, left to rot, and sealed off by Ramsey’s military. Capital City was ransacked and left in ruin after relentless airstrikes, thanks to the allegiance of the Air Force to their new king.

  The Provinces didn’t really have a choice in joining the new Kingdom of Namari. Ramsey had claimed each Province would be granted independence, but as soon as she was given power, she abandoned that dream very quickly.

  She is cruel and strict and absolute in her power. And because of me, we now have to find a way to stop her without Calla.

  Bellamy, being the daughter of Augustus the Fourth, has a legitimate claim. Right now, the Underground’s plan is to take down Ramsey’s government and reestablish the old one with Bellamy as emperor.

  The Great War finally ended, a feat that Ramsey claims is entirely her doing, even though it was actually Helkyn’s king who decided that, since Ramsey renounced her Renald bloodline and was already allied to the Kyn king, there was no longer a need to be at war in the Borderlands.

  There’s a gentle knock on my door. I swing my legs over the bed and pad across the wood floors. Our rooms in Jurynn are small, with only a bed, a dining table for one, and a kitchenette. There are communal bathrooms on every level in the residential sector.

  I open the door to see Fayette standing on the threshold. I haven’t seen her since I accidentally caught her and Ryse together the other day.

  “About what you saw...”

  “Don’t worry about it,” I say, stepping away and leaving the door open. A silent invitation for her to come inside. Ever since that day in the Arena last year, Fayette and I have settled our differences. I might even say we’re friends now.

  “I know, that’s the thing... He wasn’t moving on,” she says, plopping down onto the bed in the corner of my studio apartment. “He told me he just needed a distraction, something to get his mind off Calla. At first, I didn’t care. But then... I don’t know. You and I never did anything, and the only guys I’ve ever been with didn’t mean anything to me. With Ryse, it was different. But then he clammed up afterward and just… left.” She groans and falls backward on the mattress.

  “I really don’t want to hear about your tragic love life, Fay. He said it didn’t mean anything, so it didn’t mean anything. It’s not his fault you were emotionally affected. Why don’t you talk to him instead of me?” I make my way to the kitchenette and start brewing a cup of coffee.

  “I already tried. He told me to drop it and never tell anyone about it. He seemed... angry at me.” She frowns.

  “Which probably means he regrets it. He’s not over Calla—I wouldn’t doubt that he feels like he’s cheating on her or betraying her somehow. Just give him time. And space. You also probably shouldn't be telling me about all of this, since he requested discretion.”

  “I don’t get it!” she cries. “They were never even together!”

  As if on cue, Ryse appears in my doorway. He knocks on the frame, and Fayette shoots upright. Her pale face flushes red. “I, uh... I was just leaving.” She darts around him and out of the room.

  “What do you need?” I ask, sipping my coffee.

  Rysen may be efficient, an Underground soldier, but he doesn’t look the part. He’s stopped styling his short brown hair, letting it knot and fall flat on his head. Purple bags hang under his dull, lifeless eyes. And while he’s kept up his physical shape, he slouches, making himself look smaller than he actually is.

  He looks like the walking dead.

  “I need to talk to you about what you saw the other day, with me and Fayette—”

  “No,” I interrupt. “I’m not camp counselor. She was just in here for the same thing. If you’re moving on, great. Calla would be happy for you. If you’re not ready, then just tell Fay. She’ll understand that you need time. But you need to talk to her.”

  “That’s not—”

  I cut him off again. “I don’t care what you already told her, just go deal with your shit, Ryse. There are a lot of more important things we need to worry about.”

  “That’s not it, man. I have a problem.”

  I lean against the kitchen counter. “What sort of problem?”

  “I would have never even been there if I weren’t drunk off my ass, Blade.”

  I’m not surprised. He wreaks of alcohol—in fact, he usually does. I just never said anything. Maybe I should have. Maybe I still can’t get over watching his brother kill Calla in the Arena, and maybe that blinded me to the fact that I may be losing Rysen, too.

  “How often do you find yourself drunk off your ass?”

  “Too often.”

  “I don’t know what you want me to do, Rysen. She’s gone. You won’t find her at the bottom of a bottle of whiskey, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  He shakes his head, muttering something under his breath about me being no help and wishing Calla were here, sliding out of my room and closing the door gently behind him. I don’t miss the split knuckles and bleeding hands. He spends more time punching holes in the wall than anyone sane that I have ever known.

  I set my coffee down and collapse on my bed. I feel awful for letting him waste away like this. Calla would be heartbroken seeing him this way. Seeing me let him be this way. Combined with the everlasting grief and pain over helplessly watching Kainan slaughter my best friend and the constant nightmares that force me to relive the tragedy, it’s exhausting.

  I need my best friend.

  I need Calla.

  ∞∞∞

  I decide to head to the training center. Bellamy is there, practicing her fire as well as some hand-to-hand combat maneuvers. Several other Primori are here, too; fugitives and refugees we’ve begun welcoming in from Helkyn. There’s one other Fireblood—Syn. She’s been working with Bellamy since she got here a few months ago.

  Bellamy was more affected by Calla’s death than I thought she would be. There’s been more than one occasion where I’ve found her crying in her room or some corner of Jurynn. Crying for Calla, the sister she found—and, just as quickly, lost. I’m sure she misses Kainan, too. They were good friends, based on what Calla told me.

  Once again, I’m reminded of all the pain Ramsey has caused. That I caused, too. If I had never been captured, this would have never happened.

  We’ve become friends, but I’ve been wary to let anyone close. After losing every other Renald, the last thing I need is another friend dying.

  “Have you mastered the whips yet?” I ask her as I take a seat on the floor at the edge of a training mat.

  She shakes her head. After the Arena, she shaved her head. I cut my long hair short, black curls now barely an inch or two long. It's a Primori tradition to only cut the hair when a loved one dies. Now, Bellamy's mocha-brown spirals are slowly returning. The short hair looks good on her.

  “She’s getting close,” Syn adds, smiling at the younger Fireblood. “I haven’t been able to do much demonstration-wise. I’m trying not to over-exert myself. Besides, making forms like that of any element are hard to master. A few Lectrics can do it, same with O
ceanus.”

  Syn rubs a small hand over her barely visible belly. She and her husband have been wanting a child for years but couldn’t bear bringing one into their lives in Helkyn. When they arrived here, the Overseer gave them permission to start the family they always wanted. She’s almost three months pregnant now.

  Syn makes her way over and slides down the wall to sit beside me. “I want to name her Calla,” she whispers.

  I suck in a breath, fighting the sharp pain in my chest. “She’ll probably be a little Fireblood. It’s perfect,” I finally say.

  “I know it’s hard for people here to talk about her. Every time I mention the name, people tense up or change the subject,” she exhales heavily. “I wish I had gotten the chance to really know her. From all the stories I’ve heard, she seems like she was an amazing person.” She pauses. “Calla’s the reason Jeriko and I can even have this child.”

  I tilt my head. “What do you mean by that?”

  Syn purses her lips and doesn’t respond. I don’t press her any further, letting silence ensue for a few moments.

  “She died in that Arena for us,” I finally whisper.

  “I think it was more than just you. I don’t know why, it just... feels like there was a lot more behind it than just you or the others. What is the story behind Kainan, though? No one here will talk very much about it. He spent some time in Helkyn when he was a teenager. I knew him then, you know.”

  I don’t mind telling the story. It feels good to talk about it, and I hate everyone’s insistence on avoiding the topic. “There was this big tower in Capital City, up north. During her father’s funeral, Ramsey had bombed the tower, bringing it down. Kainan and I helped get everyone out. It almost fell right on top of us, until Calla stopped it.