Ashe quickly made his way to the second floor, and started to descend the sweeping grand staircase that led down into the entrance hall. Ashe caught sight of Lord Tremaine and his sons standing by the front door and waiting for him. The fact that they were actually waiting for him caused Ashe to raise a suspicious eyebrow at them.
Ashe couldn’t help but admire the new suits they were wearing, and felt a twinge of jealousy at the luxurious silk material that had been used to make the suits. Lord Tremaine was dressed in a slick, black and gray pinstriped suit with a red tie. As usual Lord Tremaine had on an ostentatious fur coat. This one was black with a white lining.
Picasso was wearing a dark blue suit with a black tie. A black fedora with a blue ribbon around its base sat on his head. Knuckles was wearing a flamboyant, purple suit with a magenta-colored tie that had black polka dots. The fedora Knuckles was wearing was black and had a purple ribbon around its base.
Ashe was surprised that the suits had an unusual design when compared to the typical suits worn by the male citizens of Glass Kingdom, which usually consisted of a vest, cravat, jacket, silk pants and leather dress shoes. Things like fedoras and ties with geometric patterns weren’t common in Glass Kingdom, and Ashe had a gut feeling these designs came from that other world Lord Tremaine and his sons were from.
Ashe had assumed Lord Tremaine would choose to have more traditional suits made for him and his sons. Although, he supposed the Tremaines would definitely stand out from the crowd, and this had to be Lord Tremaine’s intention.
The Tremaines looked up simultaneously, spotted Ashe, and their eyes widened with obvious surprise. “Where did you get that suit, Ashe?” Christian asked as he pulled out a cigar and lit it with his Zippo.
“It belonged to my father,” Ashe explained. “I mended it.”
Christian took a drag from his cigar, and exhaled a cloud of smoke slowly. “I see. No wonder it looks so…old-fashioned.”
Picasso started to climb the stairs and casually approached Ashe. When he was directly in front of Ashe he reached out and touched the frayed collar of Ashe’s suit jacket. “This ratty old thing is about to fall to pieces…and yet you look quite handsome in it, Ashe.”
Ashe’s eyebrows rose to his hairline out of surprise for the compliment. “Thanks. I think.”
“Tonight we are both going to try and win the heart of the princess,” Picasso began in an amiable tone and offered Ashe a lopsided smile. “That makes us rivals. I was thinking that just for tonight we should call a truce, and let bygones by bygones. Let us woo Princess Juleka in an honorable manner without treachery or tricks. Let the…how did you put it before? Better man win her heart. What do you say?”
Picasso wished to court Juleka without treachery? Ashe felt like he could breathe easier at the mere suggestion. There was no reason for him not to agree to this truce if it meant Juleka would be safer. “Alright. A truce.”
“Splendid.” A silky smile curled Picasso’s lips and he spread his arms. “Let’s hug on it, brother.”
Brother? Ashe thought with a pang. There had been a time when his mother had first married Lord Tremaine that Ashe had been hopeful about getting a new family. He’d even been excited by the idea of having two new brothers his age. But the Tremaines had never really treated him as family, and Picasso had never called him ‘brother’. Until now.
It was so unexpected that it caused Ashe to lower his guard. He wondered if maybe Picasso was turning a new leaf. Knuckles appeared to be much more tolerable lately. Maybe…people really could change for the better. Ashe remembered how Picasso and Knuckles had been civil towards him before his mother had died.
It was these hopeful thoughts that made Ashe allow Picasso to step forward and wrap his arms around him. Ashe hesitated before returning the hug. Ashe realized that he’d be willing to forgive everything, even the torture, if it meant having a family again.
“Oh, Ashe, you really are way too trusting,” Picasso whispered in Ashe’s ear right before he stabbed Ashe in the stomach with one of his scalpels. He stepped back and admired his handiwork.
Ashe looked down at the scalpel that was sticking out of his stomach in shock. Blood was already seeping out from the wound and staining the white suit jacket red. Another suit…ruined.
“Oh, dear,” Picasso said mockingly. “You’ve stained your suit. Well, you can’t possibly go to the ball looking like that. You’d scare the princess.”
Ashe looked up at his stepbrother, his golden eyes swirling with hurt and betrayal. “Why, brother?”
“Brother?” Picasso cackled. “That’s unlike you, Ashe. You were never this sentimental. What’s wrong with you? Have your new friends made you soft? The old you never would have fallen for my latest trick! You are not my brother, slave. And you’re too handsome for your own good. I needed to get you out of the way in order to level the playing field. I can’t have you winning Princess Juleka’s heart. If I don’t manage to seduce the princess I’ll never become King.”
“You bastard! I can’t believe I even thought for a second that I could trust you. You’re right. I was being stupid.” Ashe lunged at Picasso, but the macabre artist grabbed him by the shoulders.
“You should be more careful on the stairs, Ashe, it’s a long way down,” Picasso warned right before pushing Ashe sideways, and then abruptly letting go.
Ashe fell and tumbled down the stairs, leaving blood on the steps in his wake. He rolled all the way down to the bottom step where he then remained unmoving as he bled onto the marble floor.
With an air of unconcern Picasso slowly descended the staircase, and had to step over Ashe’s prone form as he headed for the front door.
“But I thought Ashe was coming with us,” Knuckles grunted with a confused expression on his face.
“That was all a lie, idiot,” Picasso snapped at his brother, causing Knuckles to frown darkly at the insult.
Knuckles shot Ashe’s still form a worried look. “You killed him. You weren’t supposed to kill him…were you?” He shot his father a questioning look. “I thought you wanted him alive in case he awoke as a unicorn shifter?”
Christian puffed on his cigar and blew out several smoke rings into the air. He watched as they floated towards the enormous, golden chandelier that was hanging from the ceiling. “Ah, yes, well, Ashe has outlived his usefulness, son. Picasso made the right decision. Ashe is simply too handsome to let live. He’d surely win the heart of the princess, even while dressed in those pitiful rags. Leaving him alive…would have been a risk not worth taking. Picasso must win Juleka’s heart if he’s to be King.”
Just as Picasso was walking past Ashe’s body, Ashe suddenly reached out, and with the last of his remaining strength grabbed Picasso’s ankle in order to stop him. “No. I won’t let you go to her…” Ashe said in a weak, but firm voice.
Picasso’s eyes widened in alarm as he looked down at Ashe. “Aren’t you dead yet? Just die already, loser.” He kicked Ashe in his side, and Ashe was forced to release his hold on Picasso’s ankle.
Picasso crouched down beside Ashe and whispered into his ear. “Don’t worry. You should be relieved I’ve decided not to drug and rape Juleka. It would be too crass. Potions Master Gothel has provided me with a very special love potion. After I slip it into her drink she’ll be acting like a cat in heat. She won’t be able to resist me, or any man for that matter.” A dark chuckle slipped past Picasso’s lips. “I will take her, and she will enjoy it. In fact, she’ll be begging me for more. And I’ll give it to her, gladly. She’s a real peach, isn’t she? And my spies say that she’s still a virgin. I’ll have fun deflowering the princess.”
Ashe’s golden eyes flashed with anger. “Don’t you dare lay a finger on her. I’ll kill you, you son of a bitch.”
“Good luck with that,” Picasso said as he straightened, and dusted his suit off. “You’re already dead. I bet you’re regretting your refusal to join me now.” He raised his foot, set it on top of the scalpel that was protruding out of Ashe’s
stomach, and pressed it down even deeper into Ashe, causing him to cough blood.
“Enough, Picasso,” Christian snapped impatiently. “You’ll get blood on your new suit if you play with Ashe any longer. Let’s go. We don’t want to be late. You have a princess to seduce.”
“Coming, Father. So long, Ashe.” Picasso waved goodbye over his shoulder as he stalked towards the front door.
Ashe watched as Picasso and Lord Tremaine left the château. Knuckles hesitated at the doorway and turned to look at Ashe. He was frowning deeply. Ashe weakly reached his hand out towards Knuckles, and gave his stepbrother a beseeching look. “Knuckles, please, help me. Don’t be a monster like them.”
Knuckles was silent for a full minute, but then shook his head sadly. “Sorry. I can’t. I’m a monster too.” The large man turned around, left the château, and closed the door behind him.
Knuckles having a change of heart and deciding to help him had been his only hope. Ashe let his hand fall to the floor. A pool of bright red blood was forming around him. Ashe struggled to remain conscious, but he could feel himself falling into darkness. “Juleka, I’m sorry. I couldn’t protect you…”
To be continued in…Chapter 12:
Chapter 12:
Queen Krista Glass arched an eyebrow at her daughter, who was covering her mouth with her hand as she tried to hide her yawn of boredom in a subtle manner. Juleka was currently being introduced to a handsome prince from a small neighboring Kingdom, but had barely paid the young man any attention. Queen Krista personally thought the young man was quite dashing, but her daughter obviously felt otherwise.
Juleka looked around the ballroom while trying to catch sight of Ashe, and let out a disappointed sigh when she failed to find him among the crowd.
“You’re waiting for someone in particular to arrive, aren’t you?” Queen Krista asked keenly.
Juleka blushed, and was already starting to miss her unicorn mask. Her mother always could read her like an open book. “No…not really.”
“It’s that slave…Ashe Smoldris, isn’t it?” Queen Krista said with a crafty twinkle in her blue-gray eyes. “It’s why you had me make that proclamation. So that he could attend the ball.”
“Don’t call him that. He’s not-” Juleka began to object, but her mother cut her off.
“A slave?” Queen Krista challenged, giving her daughter a chiding look. “But he is a registered slave, who legally belongs to Lord Christian Tremaine.” Krista smiled at the astonished look on her daughter’s face. “Yes. I did my research on the young man, who has apparently caught my daughter’s eye. If you wish to buy him-”
“No!” Juleka burst out, and an abashed expression formed on her face at her outburst. She offered her mother an apologetic look. “Ashe is going to earn the money to free himself by continuing to fight in the coliseum. He is not some ‘thing’ to be bought.”
Queen Krista’s eyes widened at the passionate note in her daughter’s voice. “You’re in love with him.” Krista let out a defeated sigh before turning her attention to the couples that were twirling across the dance floor. “The people will never accept a slave for their King, Juleka.”
“Why do we even have slaves, Mother?” Juleka asked abruptly, giving her mother a questioning look.
“When your great-great-great Grandmother Queen Gemma Glass conquered this Kingdom…its people were enslaved,” Krista began to explain. “Queen Gemma had the slaves construct all of the lavish casinos, magnificent marble statues, and fountains in Glass City. Slavery helped Glass Kingdom grow quickly to become the richest and most prosperous Kingdom in all of Fantasia.”
“Yes, but that was hundreds of years ago,” Juleka began with a thoughtful expression on her face. “Is slavery still necessary?”
“If slavery didn’t exist how would people that have no money pay off their gambling debts?” Krista asked shrewdly.
Juleka shrugged. “They could work off their debt…like an indentured servant. They wouldn’t have to become a slave who has no rights and who is at the mercy of his or her Master’s whims. The cruelty the slaves in Glass Kingdom are facing from their Masters…isn’t right, Mother,” Juleka said in a vehement voice while thinking of the scars that covered Ashe’s body. “The mistreatment of slaves…should be a crime, at the very least.”
Queen Krista’s eyes widened in astonishment. “A crime?”
“Well, it would be better if we could just abolish slavery altogether,” Juleka added. “When I am Queen-”
“You aren’t Queen yet,” Krista smoothly interrupted her willful daughter. “And I’m not sure the people are ready for such a drastic change. I fear you would lose the support of the aristocracy. This would put your life in danger. Perhaps, one day, but…not now.”
“Mother, I love Ashe Smoldris,” Juleka declared, her gray-blue eyes glittering with love and hope. “And I plan to marry him. I also want to save him by abolishing slavery in Glass Kingdom.”
“But you said he was going to buy his freedom back from Lord Tremaine himself,” Krista pointed out.
Juleka nodded. “Yes. That’s what he intends to do. But…I can’t just sit back and do nothing while he continues to be mistreated by Lord Tremaine.”
Queen Krista gave her daughter a searching look, and decided that she liked the determination that was shinning in her daughter’s eyes. Juleka usually had her head up in the clouds, but right then her daughter’s feet were planted firmly on the ground. “You’ve changed. You’ve become stronger. I’m so proud of you, my daughter. If you really love this Ashe Smoldris and wish to help him then…do what you must. Life is short and unpredictable. And love is so hard to find. It’s worth fighting for.”
Juleka’s eyes flared in surprise, and grew misty. She threw her arms around her mother and hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Mother. I knew you’d understand.”
Krista patted Juleka’s head in an affectionate manner. “I just want you to be happy, Juleka. I love you.”
“And I love you, Mother,” Juleka said, beaming up at the Queen. That’s when Juleka spotted Lord Tremaine and his sons arriving out of the corner of her eye and grew distracted. “Sorry, Mother, if you’ll excuse me. We’ll talk more about this later.”
“Of course,” Krista said with a nod. The Queen’s expression grew sad as she watched her daughter make her way across the dance floor. Falling in love with a slave. Juleka has not chosen an easy path. Krista mused. All I can do is pray that things will work out for my daughter, and that her dreams will come true.
By the time Juleka reached Lord Tremaine and his sons she was slightly out of breath, and her cheeks were flushed. “Lord Christian Tremaine, and…?” Juleka began, giving the two young men with him an expectant look.
“Princess Juleka, it is an honor to make your acquaintance,” Christian purred as he took Juleka’s hand and placed a kiss upon it. “Allow me to introduce you to my sons: Picasso and Knuckles.”
Picasso stepped forward, took Juleka’s hand, and placed a kiss on the back of it. “Princess…” he murmured and then noticed that Juleka was looking behind them with a worried look on her face. A sly smile curled his lips. “I can tell from your troubled expression that you’re wondering where my brother Ashe is.”
It was in that moment that Juleka realized she’d been frowning, and she quickly tried to compose her expression into a more appropriate one for dealing with guests. “Oh dear, is it that obvious? Please forgive my impertinence, milord.”
Picasso lifted his shoulders in a lackadaisical shrug. “I could hardly blame you for admiring him. Many young ladies do. My brother Ashe has become something of a celebrity due to his fighting prowess in the coliseum,” Picasso said in a nonchalant tone.
“Many young ladies,” Juleka echoed, and her lips dipped into another frown.
“You have nothing to worry about, Princess,” Picasso said, his gray eyes glittering with dark amusement. “None are as beautiful as you are. May I say, your eyes are incredible? They’re like di
amonds.”
“You’re much too kind,” Juleka said distractedly. “Uh, so where is Ashe? Is he coming?”
“Ashe told me to tell you not to worry,” Picasso said silkily. “He’s going to be running a little late. He needed to make some last minute adjustments to the suit he decided to mend for the ball. It was one of his father’s old suits, you see. Ashe can be sentimental. He told me to keep you company until then.”
Juleka let out a relieved sigh. “He did? Oh, good.”
“How about a dance-” Picasso was saying when Juleka’s flighty attention turned to Knuckles.
“What was your name again? You’re also Ashe’s stepbrother, correct?”
Knuckles was surprised Princess Juleka was even speaking to him or acknowledging his presence. “Uh, my name is Knuckles. And uh, yeah, I’m also Ashe’s stepbrother.”
Juleka offered Knuckles a warm smile. “Do you know how to dance, Knuckles?”
A look of shock flitted across Knuckles’s chubby face. “Uh, yeah, but…” He shot his brother Picasso a nervous look.
“One dance, Knuckles,” Picasso said through gritted teeth while he tried to appear unaffected by this turn of events. Knuckles wondered if that creepy smile on his brother’s face was really convincing Princess Juleka that Picasso didn’t mind if the two of them danced. “And then it’ll be my turn to show the princess how it’s done.”
Knuckles gulped nervously, and offered his hand to Juleka. Juleka took it and allowed Knuckles to guide her out onto the dance floor. The crowd parted to give them room on the floor. Knuckles placed his left hand on Juleka’s waist and took her left hand in his right. Juleka placed her right hand on Knuckles’s shoulder and they started to dance across the floor.
“You’re a surprisingly graceful dancer for such a big man, Knuckles,” Juleka complimented, her gray-blue eyes twinkling with mirth.
Knuckles flushed. “Uh, thanks. Father made Picasso and I take lessons. In this World, er, I mean, in this Kingdom…it’s expected of young noblemen to know how to dance for when they woo ladies at court.”
Ashe and the Glass Sword Page 27
