Regius

by Nastasia Peters

  "That is the nature of your relationship." There was no negativity to the tone, not even a large amount of surprise. It was a simple statement.

  "I'm a private person." I figured it best to tell him that right off the bat, avoid having him pry in my personal business in case he was the kind of person to do that. "But yes, Datura and I are together." I don't think I'd ever said it out loud yet, then again, I hadn't really had the chance to do so. Everything was unfolding so rapidly.

  "Solenum told me you are gay." A small smile appeared on his mouth, this telling me he was thinking about her. He shook himself out of memory lane though. "The Keeper and I have known each other for a long time." Standing, he crossed his arms, wincing as the stab wound most likely bothered him, but ignored it further as he calmly started pacing through the room. "We have a strained relationship." He confessed.

  Pursing my lips, I leaned back on the bed. "Yes, I gathered that." Not only was it really obvious due to Datura's change in behavior around the guy, but I remembered what Galax had said. "Why would you ask him to kill you?"

  "It was before I met Solenum. When he and Vervaine became 'issues' since they are so different from other Altors. Flux was asked to come to the Coliseum and he brought me and Galaxi with him." He smiled. "They thought that a change of scenery would help me cheer up. Arriving at the Coliseum, my father was so busy with business and Galaxi and Ivy were trying to take Vervaine's mind off of the situation." That was a subtle hint to the fact that the Elders and other Leaders in Zinc probably had no idea what to do with a Seer and a Keeper of the Dead. I wondered how many dark solutions had been come up with before they decided on the least harmful one.

  "Datura and I spent time together, since I wasn't allowed to go out of the building and neither was he." He frowned at the memory. "He challenged me to a battle, and I accepted. I was in the midst of discovering just how strong I was and so when he pushed too far, I nearly hurt him." Although I'd once claimed Datura to have pushed me, I'd been wrong, he hadn't pushed me. Datura never pushes.

  "Datura never pushes." I said aloud, confused.

  "That's what he said, that it was out of character for him but he was just so curious to see how I would react, that he pushed to find out where my limit was."

  "Because you yourself didn't know what it was."

  Galax nodded. "I'll spare you the distorted view I have on the Keeper as he is your boyfriend. But let’s just say that he found my limit and when he did, it took a lot out of me to stop myself from ridding the Altors of their Keeper of the Dead."

  "Then how did the tables turn? How did you end up asking him to kill you?"

  Galax looked at me seriously. "Although they had no idea what to do with Datura due to his foreign powers, they did know he was the Altors salvation after death. Kill the Keeper and barely any soldier would be able to find peace." When I frowned and opened my mouth to ask, he continued elaborating. "When Flux brought me into his family and his territory, there were many threats on my life. I mean, why wouldn't there be? The Regius heir was in reach. The King and Queen are dead; kill the prince and the royal bloodline dies."

  "That is how the law was created." I realized. "Killing the Regius heir is punishable by death amongst all races."

  "But Datura, in the Altors eyes, is about as valuable as I am." Galax pointed out.

  "While that explains why Datura would make your perfect killer without the law affecting him." I smiled uncertainly. "Apologies in advance, but why didn't you just kill yourself? Datura clearly refused." Thank Zinc for that.

  "When I asked him, I knew I was too cowardly to do it myself." He admitted. "When he denied me my death, I nearly wanted to. I truly contemplated it."

  "What changed your mind?"

  "Vervaine promised me that I would find my light. She said she saw it and that I would just have to wait for them to enter my life and from thereon forward, things would become less painful." He mouthed Solenum's name. "I was in a dark place, but not yet in too deep to want to deprive myself of the phenomenon that is the light among the Regius." He avoided my gaze. "Blue Bloods don't need a trigger for the strength to kick in, but we do feel a change in our body as we reach adulthood. When you've been brought up to believe the Regius are evil, it's harder to accept that change when you are one."

  "You don't have to justify yourself to me."

  "Don't I?"

  I shook my head. "I understand you." This seemed to anger him.

  My eyes widened when he lashed out by kicking the side of the bed, the force of it making it move and grind over the floor. My hands grasped the blanket and I pulled my feet up, trying to keep stable so I wouldn't fall off. Staying frozen like that for a long and silent minute, I detached my twitching eyes from the wall and pointed my stare at Galax.

  "You realize the bed was bolted down, right?" He'd ripped it free with a kick.

  "I am a pure blood!" He roared, marching over to where I sat, his face inches from mine. "How could you possibly understand me?" His voice had softened when he realized I hadn't scrambled back in fear at his reaction.

  "Numerous reasons." I said calmly. "Your strength is something powerful and foreign to even yourself. You don't know how to control it, and even though you may have several techniques to smother it for a certain period of time, you need to repeat that over and over again because it always, always, resurfaces." He frowned, and his eyes remained fixed on my face as he slowly moved away and sat down beside me. "While that is probably more than frustrating, that isn't the real issue though, is it?" I heard him sigh at my guess. "You are like nobody else in Zinc, Galax. There is no other person remotely similar to you."

  "If you know that, then how can you understand it?" He breathed.

  I chuckled. "Everyone is unique. Nobody is alike. Not even Iso and Isa and they are twins." I shrugged. "But unlike you, most people aren't told the thing that makes them unique is to be hated."

  "Then how is it you relate?" He sounded curious, the previous rage melting.

  "I was punched in the throat by LV's bully for being gay. I know I don't carry the responsibility of an heir on my shoulders and I don't claim to know exactly what it is you're going through." I sighed heavily. "But, I know what it's like to be hated for who you are."

  "But that was one punch." He argued.

  "Sometimes one punch is enough, Galax." I lay back on the bed, hands on my belly as I stared at the ceiling. "It's up to you to then decide if that one punch, or the punch that follows, affects you, if it holds the power to make you agree with the hate that is carried within that punch." I absently reached out to wipe some dirt off his shirt, the action making him frown as he saw again that I didn’t cower away from him. "But if you don't agree, you need to learn that when you believe something to be important, others around you will perceive it as such. Make it a big deal, and it will be treated as a big deal." Lupinus had taught me that. "But if you can see the good of what makes you different and accept it, it'll become part of you and it will no longer rule your mind. People won't notice what isn't pushed in front of their eyes."

  "Solenum said something similar. But I can't change what I look like. The dot on my forehead isn't something people will ignore even if I do."

  "Maybe the problem is that you are trying to ignore it. Instead of feeling uncomfortable by it, own up to it. Just because you're Regius doesn't mean you're evil."

  He offered me an amused stare. "Yes it does."

  "Says who?" I continued before he could list off the people I assumed he'd list off. "Words don't mean anything if actions prove different. Have you ever been cruel to someone who didn't deserve it? And don't say me, because you stopped before you let the cruelty even begin." His lips parted and he seemed to think it over. "If you have to think about it, it means you haven't. So stop letting people say you are evil, because you're not."

  I saw a smirk forming on his lips. "I wonder if it's the Seer in you that makes it impossible for you and Solenum to be frightened of me."

&n
bsp; I snorted, sitting back up and running a hand through my hair. "Like you, our blood doesn't dictate our behavior. The only reason we ignore the warnings that come with meeting a Regius is because Acacia always taught us never to judge a book by its cover. Take a moment to open it and read what's inside, you'll find the outside doesn't always match."

  "So, how is it you perceive me now that you've taken the time to read who I am?" He challenged and I was glad to see that the previous nerves were now entirely gone.

  "You're not Regius, Pallium, Altor, Seer or Civilian." I patted his back. "You're just a good guy, Galax." I laughed then. "Possibly with some anger issues, but nothing that can't be overcome." When he frowned, I added. "Does Solenum love you?" He nodded. "Then you are worth loving."

  "Doesn't everyone deserve to be loved?"

  "Everyone deserves kindness. To be worthy of love, you need to earn a person's trust. Not everyone can be trusted." I opened my mouth to continue, but a scream belted free instead when a sword pierced its way through the wood of the door, remaining nailed there.

  Galax hadn't so much as flinched, and while I was trying to slow down my heart, he surprised me by pushing me behind him, pulling the saber strapped to his back free with his uninjured arm.

  "You are untrained?" He asked fast.

  "Yes."

  "Stay behind me at all times and don't try to be a hero. I can keep us both safe." He nodded before I could speak. "Even injured."

  "Aram!" I heard Datura shout and at that same moment, the blade was pulled free from the door. "There is more than meets the eye. It's not that simple. Don't do anything rash, please, hear us out."

  "I am your Elder and you will start by addressing me as such. Your generation pisses me the fuck off, Keeper." The Elder growled before ripping the door open. "Calycanthus, if you know what is good for you, you will walk out of this room right now and not involve yourself in business that is none of your concern." Aram always had a grim air about him, but I had to be honest and say I much preferred that to his angry look. When I hesitated, Aram's nostrils flared.

  "Go to Datura." Galax murmured, stepping aside so I could pass. When I hesitated again, he offered me a small smile. "I'll be alright." Gulping, I nodded and quickly crossed the room. Datura, much like Galax had, nudged me behind him, acting as a shield.

  "What did you expect?" Datura asked. "Nobody listens to what he has to say. If you were in his shoes, wouldn't you take action on your own?"

  "That is enough out of you!" The Elder clipped out. "You have been incisively disobedient and it is time someone took charge before it grows out of control." When Galax moved but an inch, Aram's glare returned, forcing the Prince to halt. "Jansens." Blinking in surprise, I looked out the door and saw that Caltha, Ilex, Dandelion and Jatrop had returned. "Escort Esquivel to his quarters."

  When I was about to protest, Datura turned to look at me. "Go with them. I'll see you in a little bit." A little bit my ass. But the look in his eyes told me I better do as was asked. Sighing in reluctance, I wormed my way out from behind Datura and through the door, stepping over to Dandi and Jaja, who gave me apologetic looks.

  "Caltha." The Elder ordered next. "Detain Datura." Jatrop's arms wrapped around me when he knew before I did that I was going to fight that. "Ilex will help me restrain the heir."

  "What is your problem?!" I shouted.

  "Cali." Dandelion murmured. "Just cooperate; it'll be better all around. They won't hurt them."

  "But they are detaining and restraining! Those aren't good words!" I fought against Jatrop, so much Dandelion was forced to help him manhandle me away from the scene. When I saw Aram and Ilex drag Galax out of the room and Caltha holding onto Datura as though he even had it in him to do any harm, I screamed out in anger.

  It was loud even to my own ears, and the sound of my voice was different from how I usually heard it. With the scream something unusual happened, nothing I had calculated or wanted to happen. I recognized it instantly as the Seer barrier, only this one was small and died out almost instantly. Yet, it was forceful enough to have Dandelion and Jatrop forced to return my personal space. They both fell back on the ground, looking up at me in shock and for a few seconds, I was just a shocked as they were. I didn't let it rule me though, instead I took advantage and let the rage return.

  When I reached Aram, I nearly smirked when he felt the need to take a step back from me.

  "You are a bully." I told him calmly. "Things you don't understand scare the living shit out of you, Elder."

  "Remove yourself." He murmured. "And whatever powers you are tapping into, you must stop them, Seer."

  "Same goes to you." I spat back.

  "Cali." I tore my gaze off Aram when I felt Datura's hand on my shoulder, beckoning me to turn towards him.

  "Caltha." The Elder warned.

  "He'll come of his own free will," Caltha spoke. "Just give him a minute before we bring him down. He's the only one who can calm Calycanthus." He reasoned. I saw Aram nod his head reluctantly, motioning for Ilex to help him bring Galax 'down' already. The Prince grinned widely at me despite being manhandled away. He was clearly enjoying my rebellion.

  "Hey." I smiled up at Datura when he whispered that, framing my face. "How did you do that?"

  I shrugged. "I have no idea. It just sort of happened."

  "Seers who don't see shouldn't be able to create barriers." He said softly, looking me over worriedly.

  I reached up to pat his cheek. "Seers who don't see normally don't have foreign barriers placed in their minds that then need to be broken by a Seer who can see."

  "You believe Vervaine has altered you?" He pressed his forehead to mine and I reached up to wrap my hands loosely around his wrists. He was such a softie. I hadn't been able to appreciate it very often so far, but he didn't exactly hide that side of him either. So however short, he let me experience it every time we did get a minute or two.

  "It's the only logical explanation." When I kissed him, I grinned against Datura's mouth when Caltha cleared his throat and I could see him turn his back towards us. "You better go before Caltha gets in trouble too."

  "It's not so bad down there." Datura assured.

  "How did Aram know?" I asked, placing a quick kiss on his palm, a sign of respect amongst the Altors, before he let go and followed Caltha.

  "I'll make sure to ask him." Licking my lips, I sighed then as I watched them go through a door and disappear from my sight.

  "I believe you owe us an apology." Dandi said with an amused tone, leading me to grin sheepishly back at her and Jaja.

  * * * *

  Chapter 10

  Solenum Everhart

  I woke as little drops of water fell rhythmically onto my forehead, leading me to groan in annoyance. Sitting up, I wiped my head as dry as I could manage with the sleeve of my already slightly damp shirt. It was still pitch black and I had no idea what time it was. I wasn't actually sure what day it would be either. But I was pretty certain that since Digitalis had gotten his hands on me back in Cobalt City up until this very moment, definitely less than a week had passed.

  I refused to believe that the last time I'd seen Galax had been a week ago. It just felt much shorter than that. Of course, I couldn't be completely sure as I'd been doped on tranquilizers from Corium Desert to wherever this place was and considering the switch of scenery in those three times I'd woken, it had to be far. The Wastelands of Xenon were huge though most of it was covered with Immortalis Silva. If every time I'd woken it had been night during my trip to this place, that could be two full twenty-four hours of travel and then about a day in this place from the medical facility to Mallow's conservatory and then to the ballroom, followed by the dungeon. Three days at the most. I hoped.

  Stretching my legs out over the ground, I massaged the sore muscles in my shoulders. Turning the flashlight back on with my other hand while staring intently at the speaker, I tried to see if there was a green light letting me know whether it was activated or not.

/>   "Hello?" No response. Sitting cross-legged, I straightened my back and began digging around my pockets trying to see what else I had stuffed in them. Hopefully things I could use that could become handy in the future torture games lying ahead.

  A wrench, thread and needle, a pocket knife, a bottle opener, a lighter, an old cookie that I ate despite the softness of it, the water bottle Maya had given me, nails, a screwdriver, some paper with a couple of pencils, the rope, a handkerchief, Galax's port phone charger. Well, that was dead now of course thanks to Digitalis' shower.

  I frowned as my fingers closed around an item within a plastic bag. I didn't recognize it straight away but when I'd pulled it out of the pocket and turned it over in my hand, I gasped. The locator. I'd never given it to Galaxi that day we finished the vehicle. Whichever Altor it went to was probably pissed this important item was missing.

  Should I turn it on? I sorta didn't want to die, but I believed what I’d told Xania; they couldn't put tons of lives in danger just for mine. But then, they weren't aware of the location of the Regius base. This locator would lead them straight to it. If they got the message that is.

  Galax wouldn't be coming here by accepting any kind of deal the Regius offered. Could it really hurt if I turned this small piece of technology on? I wouldn't find out unless I tried, that much was certain. Was the tracker even programmed yet? Could it even locate a locator that hadn't been installed? Wait, was there even a simple on and off button?

  I frowned in concentration, turning the item over in my hand again, grinning widely as I saw a switch with on and off engraved onto the metal. Palliums truly did take Altors for idiots sometimes. Not that I minded at this point. I settled my thumb on the switch. Many stories had ended badly after one simple press of a button, a flick of a switch, or the snap of a finger. I couldn't help but hesitate. Pressing my lips together into a tight line, I inhaled deeply through my nose and then pressed the switch upwards, turning the locator on.