by M. D. Laird
“I’d rather hoped you would have figured it out yourself.”
“How?”
“I hoped that you would have pieced things together after speaking with Hallward.”
“Can’t you just tell me?”
I can’t tell her of the king’s intentions. I can’t risk my decree. If she declares war, I am done for.
“The magic you have is the power of Creation.”
“What do you mean? I can’t create things. I can only destroy them.”
“All creation is destruction and destruction is creation. You can’t create something without destroying something else or destroy something without creating something new.”
“Right, I suppose that makes sense. But what do you mean I have the power of Creation?”
“When Hell was first formed there were nine high princes. They had the power to cause pain and healing, creation and craft the great metal of Hell. They had taken the magic from powerful alchemists in Anaxagoras as they wanted to rival the archangels in Heaven. However, when we allied with Heaven, we were told we could only have seven high order princes, so two were demoted to first order princes and their magic was removed from them. The magic has then been stored waiting for alchemists worthy of the power. You are one of those alchemists.”
“I’m an alchemist?” The queen appeared shocked.
“A very powerful alchemist.”
“But my power isn’t that great—it is used quickly.”
“That’s because you haven’t mastered it. You need to understand it and understand equivalent exchange to use it to its full potential.”
“Why did I need to keep it a secret?”
“Because this power is legendary. It is thought to be a myth. There are people in this world—in this country—who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a power like this. You have allied many of your people, but you do not have their full support. How many dark alchemists are still out there? How many are unknown? How many want to see you removed? The Imperium is gone, but what of its supporters? What of the Imperator’s people? He wasn’t running the Imperium alone.”
The queen appeared nervous, though she steadied her features to disguise it. “I don’t know,” she said. “The alliance dealt with the Imperium before I came to rule—I had heard enough about the people who were executed and I didn’t want to know anymore. I never asked. Everything was so overwhelming at that time. The alchemists… Well, I don’t know, there could be thousands. But do I need to worry about them? If I am the only one worthy to wield it, what does it matter?”
“Others may not be able to use it to its full potential, but they may still be able to use it or use you.”
“The Alchitch had the power before me, the alchemists could only use it to enhance their existing gifts.”
“They did not realise what they had—if they had things could have played out very differently.”
The queen shuddered and frowned. “I bet Asmodeus knew what it was. He could have told me.”
Asmodeus?
“High Prince Asmodeus? Why would he tell you?” asked Thomas, puzzled.
“I went to Hell twice to speak to him,” she said plainly. “He could have mentioned it.”
Thomas felt his mouth gape a little and recovered himself. “What for?”
“I needed help to fulfil the prophecy. He told me the magic was old and it didn’t belong to the Alchitch and belonged to someone worthy. I later went back to plead for the life of a demon who was lost during the battle with the Alchitch, and though he knew I had the magic, he didn’t tell me that he knew what it was. Maybe that was why he offered to let me reign at his side.”
“Huh,” said Thomas, surprised. It wasn’t often he was lost for words.
“Who did the magic belong to? Which first order princes?” the queen asked.
“Prince Avalon and one of the Vernasian princes.”
“Avalon was a high prince?”
“Yes.”
“Would he be angry if he knew the truth?”
“I think he is probably over it by now.”
“So only you and I know about it. We should keep it that way,” she considered. She suddenly looked horrified. “Have you told the king?”
“No,” he said, “but it isn’t just you and me. Verrine Prince Nathaniel knows, and so does the princess.”
“You have told the king’s daughter!” exclaimed the queen. “You have told the girl sent to you so you would spy on me. How do you know she’s not a spy?”
“She isn’t.”
“How can you be sure?”
“She isn’t. Trust me, Your Majesty. I have been watching people for a very long time, and I know when a person is genuine and she is not a spy. She’s an innocent girl who has been tormented by her father for her entire life.”
“It could all be a front. She is too good to be true is she not? She hates her father, she wants to unseat him and is part of a band of rebels. Does she not seem a little too perfect? It could be a front to stop you from looking too closely at her.”
“It isn’t. I trust her, but, more than that, I can tell what is at the core of her essence. Some people are difficult to figure out—you for example—but the princess is open. She is honest.”
“But how can you know for sure?”
“I can’t explain. If you were a demon, you would understand.”
“Okay,” said the queen, resigned. “I will have to trust you.”
Eve woke to find herself cold and naked. It took her a moment to remember what had happened before she had fallen asleep and to realise why she was now lying alone on the floor in front of the dying embers of the open fire.
Calab had persuaded her to make love again. She had been determined not to, but his kisses and his words convinced her. She loved him, and though she knew it would hurt her afterwards, she wanted the closeness. She wanted the scraps of affection he offered her. She had fallen asleep in his arms on the floor of his library, and now she had woken to find him gone. He had left her there. He had left her unclothed on the floor. She felt angry. She was hurt and rejected yet again. She pulled herself to sit and drew her knees to her chest.
Why do I let him do this?
She stood and tried to locate her clothes. They had been strewn around the room after Calab had eagerly undressed her.
After dressing she pulled back the library curtains—it was still dark. She checked the time—it was three-fifteen in the morning. She sat on one of the armchairs as she pulled on her shoes. She felt tears begin to trickle down her cheek and brushed them aside.
Where did he go?
She crept out of the library and headed towards the kitchen. She expected to find him sat there with a drink in his hand, but the house was in darkness. She climbed the stairs and crept towards his bedroom door. She stopped and listened. Her stomach lurched when she heard him breathing through the door. She opened his door quietly and saw him fast asleep in his bed, she closed the door quietly despite her urge to slam it.
He left me on the floor and went to bed? How can he do this to me?
She walked down the stairs and out of the door towards her vector. Her guards were waiting for her in the guard house Calab had built for them. The guard house was nothing more than a large shed, but it meant that they could sit in comfort and make drinks and food when they were on duty. She had made similar arrangements for them at the Guild of Impærielas and had given them a room a few doors from hers so they no longer had to perch on rooftops for their entire shift. Barakel and Kyriel left the guardhouse.
“Are you well, Your Majesty?” asked Kyriel, noting her tears.
“I… No…” she started. “I just want to go home.”
Eve did not see Calab for two days after he had abandoned her on the floor of his library. He had not even contacted her to apologise. She hated how she was so attached to him. She hated that she let him treat her this way. She wanted to be there for him, sh
e wanted to wait for him to adjust to his emotions, to wait for him to be ready to marry her, but she could not go on this way.
On the third day, Calab sent her a note to request for her to attend his house for supper. The note made the tears come again because she knew exactly what he would do. They would barely finish supper before he would try to be intimate with her. They might not even have supper at all and then she would be sent away or left to freeze on the floor. She declined the offer and told him she would instead call in to see him at his office at the library the next day.
She woke that night to find him in her room. He had shaken her awake and began kissing her and lifting up her pyjama top.
“Calab, stop,” she said, pushing him away. “I don’t want to.”
“Please,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss her again. “Please. I need you.”
“I don’t want to,” she said. “You left me on the floor wearing nothing, Calab. I’m tired of you treating me this way.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” he said sadly. “I tried to wake you, but you were fast asleep.”
“And you couldn’t carry me to your room?”
“I had to be alone.”
“At the very least you could have spared my dignity and covered me with a blanket and put a log on the fire, so I didn’t freeze.”
“I didn’t think, I’m sorry,” he said, leaning in and kissing her neck. “Please. I will make it up to you. I love you so much. I need you, Genevieve.”
She relented and returned his kiss. For a few precious moments, he was hers completely. In those moments, she saw her life with him, she could experience what it would be to be his wife and be with him every day. All too soon it was over. He didn’t hold her and stood to pull on his clothes as soon as he was finished. Eve felt herself flush with rage.
“You’re going already?” She growled.
“I’m sorry, Genevieve. I know I’m being difficult, but I will make it up to you.”
“No, Calab,” she snapped. “I’m sick of this. You’re not to touch me again. You’re not to come back here. I will not make love to you again until you are sure of your feelings. I can’t deal with this.”
“I won’t,” he said hurriedly. “I have to go.” He midspaced out of her room leaving Eve feeling furious.
She pulled on her pyjamas and marched to her guards’ room.
Captain Leliel was on the night shift. “I’m glad you’re here, Captain,” she said. “I want you to stop Mr Hallward entering my room at night.”
Leliel bit his lip. “We can ask him not to, Your Majesty,” he said. “We can inform him that it is against your wishes, but if he insists, then we cannot stop him. He is our general, and we have to follow his orders.”
Eve stared open-mouthed before collecting her thoughts. “Captain, do you mean to tell me that, as queen, I have no powers to ask my guard to stop unwanted visitors entering my bedroom?”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” he said. “We can stop anyone else, just not Mr Hallward or Son Jacob. Perhaps you should talk to him.”
“Perhaps I should just blow him up,” she hissed. She softened.
It’s not their fault.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “He is my problem; I will deal with him. Goodnight, Captain.”
Prince Nathaniel embraced Leah, the thorian woman he had just mated. He began to nibble at her ear as he heard the footsteps of his attendant approach his door. The attendant knocked.
Nathaniel groaned. “Yes?”
“Your Highness, His Majesty is here and requests an urgent audience.”
“Tell His Majesty I am engaged in intimacy with a beautiful woman, and I will see him when I’m done.”
Nathaniel heard the sound of his attendant’s retreating footsteps and turned his attention to the thorian. She giggled as he kissed her neck. The prince groaned again as angry footfalls pounded up the staircase.
“Brace yourself for an audience with the king,” he said. The woman pulled the blankets around her as the king threw open Nathaniel’s door.
“How dare you keep me waiting!” he bellowed.
Nathaniel grinned lazily.“I said I was busy and I would be down soon, Your Majesty. It is not as though I was expecting your visit.”
“You have clearly finished, and you are still keeping me waiting.”
“A gentleman does not abandon a lady the moment he is spent.” The prince smirked, stretching his arms before placing his hands behind his head.
“Get up.” The king snarled.
“Are you going to leave so I may attire myself?”
“Get up!”
“As you wish.” Nathaniel chuckled before turning to place a kiss in the hollow between the woman’s neck and shoulder. “Don’t go anywhere. I haven’t finished with you yet.” The king growled again. The prince rose from the bed and stood naked in front of him with his arms folded.
“So, how can I help?” Nathaniel asked nonchalantly.
The king’s face bristled with rage. “Get dressed and meet me in your office,” he shouted before leaving the room and slamming the door.
The prince pulled on his trousers, picked up his shirt and midspaced to his office. The king marched into the office to find Nathaniel sat with his bare feet on the desk and his shirt open revealing his bare chest. The sight did nothing to improve the king’s mood.
“You know the princes of Arkazatinia are much more refined and dignified. How did we get stuck with the rabble?”
“Well, they have to keep up appearances for court whereas we are free to behave and misbehave however we choose.” Nathaniel gave him a lazy grin and the king looked as though he could throttle him. Instead, he took a seat at the desk.
“Is the midspace clear?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Nathaniel, sensing no one in the space nearby.
“Good,” he replied. “I want to ensure our discussion remains private. This is rather a delicate business. You may be aware that I have recently come to an arrangement with Prince Thomas, and as part of that agreement, he married my youngest daughter.”
“I’ve heard something.”
“Well, I am concerned,” said the king. “I am beginning to regret my haste. My daughter is vulnerable, and I worry that he is abusing her.”
“In what manner?”
“In all manners. She is my treasure, and I fear I have put her in danger.”
“What am I supposed to do about it?”
“If he is, then he is breaking the decree, is he not?” asked the king. “Does it not state in the Michælis that a demon should not subject any member of his guild to unnecessary suffering?”
“It does.” The prince yawned. “A fact that Thomas is aware of and will no doubt ensure that he does not breach.”
“I fear that he is breaching it.”
“Then he will answer to High Prince Sonneillon. There is no need to trouble yourself.”
“There is every need!” exclaimed the king. “My daughter is at risk, and as her father and the ruler of this land, I will ensure her safety. You are going to help me.”
“I am, am I? And what is in it for me?”
“You may take my next youngest as your bride.”
Nathaniel threw back his head and laughed. “You want to solve the problem of having one daughter married to a demon by marrying another to a demon?”
“I feel you are rather more trustworthy than Prince Thomas. You treat the girl upstairs with kindness.”
“I spend a few hours with her every few weeks, I’m sure I would be less tolerant if I had to live with her.”
“It is up to you how you run your house. This daughter is obedient and will abide by your wishes. Princess Eleanor can be a little difficult, and in hindsight, not the best choice of bride for someone as volatile as a demon.”
“If I wanted a bride I would marry the girl who is currently warming my bed,” said Nathaniel, “but I don’t. I’m sure havin
g all of your daughters defiled by demons is great sport, but let’s not pretend that your intentions are to save your daughter.” The king glared. “You see, Your Majesty, Thomas and I do speak occasionally, and he has concerns of his own.”
“Is that so?”
“It is. He seems to be under the impression that you married your rebellious little treasure to him in the hope that she would provoke him into assaulting or even killing her.”
“Don’t be absurd. Why would I want to harm my own daughter?”
“Thomas has a theory. It sounds outrageous to me, but I will share it with you.” Nathaniel smirked at the king’s increasingly reddening face before continuing. “Yes, he is under the impression that you learned your daughter was not quite as chaste as you would have preferred, and as she was of no use to you to marry out, you intended to execute her. Thomas believes that you gave her to him in the hope that he would carry out the deed for you.”
“This is the most preposterous theory I have ever heard. Why on earth would I do any of this?”
“This is what makes no sense,” mocked Nathaniel. “He thinks that if he killed the princess or punished her without fair warning, then he would break his decree. If the first order prince is found to violate the decree by harming a noble, then you can evict him and everyone under him from their guild and from the land and take the guild for yourself.”
“What would I want with a demon guild?”
“I have no idea,” said Nathaniel dramatically. “I mean it is no different from any other guild. Well, it probably has a better quality wine cellar, and the occupants are better looking, but apart from that there is no difference.”
“I am not even going to dignify this nonsense with a response,” the king snapped. “You have insulted me with this talk. You are going to help me without payment. You are going to spy on the prince, and you are going to report to me if you see anything suspicious. If you do not, then I will consider you to have broken your decree by endangering my daughter, and I will evict you from Axandria. Is that clear?”
