The Pack - Shadow Games

by Jessica Sorrento

  "Liv! Come here!"

  I moved slowly to his side and looked down at the broken King at my feet. He was pushing himself away from us with his one good leg while leaving a bloodied smear across the otherwise spotless floor.

  Calder pressed his sword into my hand but I didn't close my fingers around the hilt.

  "You have to kill him Liv. It has to be you."

  I stared at him with wide eyes. "What are you talking about? Why can't you do it? I can't kill someone!"

  "You are bound to him! If you kill him or he kills you, the other lives! We don't have much time Olivia. Kill him now and I will keep you safe."

  "I can't! Damn it I can't do this!"

  "This is the way of our world. It is bloody but it has to be done!" Calder took me by the arm and pulled me over to the King. He planted a boot against his neck and pressed the sword back into my hands. But he didn't let go. Instead, he wrapped his fingers around my hands and held me tightly.

  "Close your eyes Liv."

  I shut them tight and with a sudden jerk, Calder pulled my hands downward. I heard a choked gasp below me, and then Calder let go of my hands. I stepped back and the sword slipped from my fingers. When I opened my eyes, I saw the silver weapon standing upright, buried halfway to the hilt in the chest of the King. It was over.

  I could hear distant screaming and banging against the large wooden doors of the throne room. Calder pulled me up and looked into my eyes.

  "Olivia, I need you to trust me right now. Do you trust me?"

  I nodded, unable to form words.

  Calder took my hand and turned it palm up before taking one of his pointed nails and pricking each of my fingers until a bead of blood formed on each. He repeated the strange ritual on his own hand, then pressed our bleeding fingers together. It felt like my fingers were on fire as he held our hands together.

  Calder closed his eyes and bowed his head. "By the grace of Thiea, I pledge myself to you." He opened his eyes. "Now you Olivia. Say the same words."

  Calder's eyes filled with fear as I stared at our hands, then the bloodied King, then back at the door. What was I doing?

  "Now Liv! Say the words!"

  "By the grace of Thiea, I pledge myself to you," I said.

  Warmth spread through my hand then down my arm before engulfing my entire body. The feeling burned away my worry and filled my head with nothing but happy thoughts. I had only the vaguest sense of Calder pulling me along towards the empty throne as blissful waves rolled over me.

  The doors opened and a dozen armed men burst in. They all wore the same uniform as Calder, and each was armed. They formed a semi circle around the throne as Calder slowly sat down. I stood by his side as he spoke to the gathered guards.

  "I am Calder, son of Orman. Hear my words and obey your new King!"

  The gathered guards dropped to their knees and bowed their heads.

  "Clear the throne room," he said with a commanding voice. He pointed towards the remains of the old king, "And dispose of that."

  Without a word, the guards mobilized and did as Calder asked. I watched with idle curiosity and a dopey smile on my face. I didn't care what was going on right now. Whatever Calder had done with his little finger jabs had filled me with glee.

  As the guards left and the doors closed, Calder sagged against the throne and held my hand.

  "So what was all that?" I asked with a smile on my face.

  "We are safe for now. I'm sorry for everything Olivia."

  "Sorry for what?" I asked as I swayed back and forth. I felt so good right now.

  "For tricking you."

  "That's okay Calder..."

  He looked at me and grabbed me by the chin. I tried to focus on his face as he pulled me close, but Calder kept splitting into multiple images. I laughed and pressed a finger against his nose. "Boop!"

  Calder sighed and pulled away. "You're drunk on magic. Do you even know what just happened?"

  I shook my head from side to side. Pleased with the head rush the sudden movement caused, I did it again and giggled.

  "It was the only way I could keep us safe. When you killed the King, you became Queen. I need you to understand that. We are married now."

  I closed my eyes and nodded. "That's fine. Fine fine fine. Are you hungry?"

  "Olivia! Listen to me. We are married. It was the only way to keep us safe. Do you understand?"

  My happy mood was wearing off. Something was gnawing at my thoughts. A name flitted in and out of my head as I stared at the handsome vampire in front of me. I ran my hands through his hair and gawked at the lightshow that followed.

  Who is Sam?

  My head started to pound. Calder was still talking but only a few of his words made any sense.

  I love Sam.

  "Olivia! I need you to listen! We are married. Please say something!"

  My eyes focused and I stared at Calder, comprehending his words for the first time since I'd spoken that strange promise earlier.

  We are married.

  I looked at my finger tips and studied the small holes in each of them before I looked back at Calder. "What did you say?"

  He smiled slowly and held my hand as he spoke. "It was the only way to keep us safe. I'm sorry Olivia, but we are married now. You are a Queen."

  Ohh no.