Lilly IV

by Tiya Rayne

  “Hello Handsome.” I say to him.

  My youngest has eyes like mine, but there are a few more flecks of green that coat his irises.

  “They are truly beautiful.” Assassin says, beside me.

  “Thank You,” I say to him. “To all of you, for what you did for us. I don’t know any of you, but Thank You!”

  “Oh for bloody sakes, I forgot all about those damn cuffs. Take them off, Assassin.”

  The assassin pulls out the same blade he used to cut my boys umbilical cords. With ease he slices the blade into the cuff on one of my wrist.

  Immediately I feel a heavy weight lift off of me and my body starts to feel better. With the slice of the blade again, the other cuff falls away. A severe headache racks my brain right before my mind is flooded with memories. 20 years of memories. I see my small trailer back in North Carolina where I grew up with my momma, and Uncle Buddy. I see my dog Bo in the forest that is so familiar. (So I won’t be going home to that black dog.) He died when I was just a young girl from that very raccoon attack I caught a glimpse of when I met Tipper. All my childhood comes back to me, with the added bonus of knowing that Assassin was there the entire time. I remember our first meeting in those woods behind my mama’s trailer. I remember telling him about my abusive step-father and I even remember him putting me to bed that night. He stood over my bed and watched me. He thought I was asleep but I was peaking up at him through half closed eyes. I remember thinking, even as a little girl, that he was beautiful. I even told myself that one day I was going to marry him. It was the same thing I had said about Michael Jackson and Garth Brooks. But to my little girl’s mind, marrying the handsome stranger seemed more likely. At least he was here with me. As I remember that night I first met Assassin, other things come back to mind. Him saving me at the diner. The way he held me at the dance at Augustus’s house and taught me to ride a horse. Then the wonderful time we shared in the grass comes to mind. My body heats up as it remembers his face buried between my legs giving me the greatest orgasm of my life. When the memories continue to flow, my heated flush begins to fade. The girl in Diagon Alley, the dinner at the Southern Kingdom and Rykan asking me to be his secret lover. It all comes back to me. I gasp as the memories start to slow and I am fully caught up. My welcome home doesn’t seem so much a welcome anymore. No, they aren’t using me for my blood like Medina, but they are using me nonetheless. And their use is way more degrading.

  Chapter Eight

  I can barely hear myself think with all the noise and ruckus. All three kings and their sons are here. Even Artimus’s young boy has shown up to shout his request. It is standing room only. Packed from wall to wall is, Kings, Princes, Ambassadors, and Generals. Everybody who is anybody in the kingdoms has come out to demand one thing. They want to see Lilly.

  For the first time ever, Avalia and I cannot help them.

  I thought that there could be nothing worse than having Lilly lost in the Locke with no way to get to her. I was wrong. Having Lilly under the same roof as me, knowing that the only thing keeping us apart is a closed bedroom door, is the greatest torture known to man.

  I knew the exact moment Lilly remembered why she left us that night. That look, the one I have feared more than death, slipped back over her beautiful face. Avalia explained that Rykan was misled by my enemy, and that she and I were not or have ever been involved. Even so, I could still see some doubt and mistrust in Lilly’s eyes. She immediately said that she was tired and asked if she and the boys could be shown to her room. There she has stayed for five weeks. She won’t talk to anyone but that imaginary Tipper, she even takes her meals in her room. At first we thought she was taking the news of Matthias’ death bad. His funeral was the only time she came out of her room. The only person allowed to console her was Mogo. He held her, his huge arms almost swallowing her body, as she cried and mourned the brave boy. I’d never been more jealous in my life. After the funeral she went back up to her room and haven’t been down since. Everyone is worried about her. She is not the same Lilly.

  Miriam and the other ladies often help her with the twins, but even they say it is not the same. She does not laugh, she does not smile, and she is quiet and reserved around them.

  Avalia suggest that we allow Lilly to recover at her own pace. However, today the kingdoms are demanding differently.

  “This is absurd!” Bartus shouts.

  We gather in Avalia’s formal throne room. A large rectangular room with curved walls and ceiling. Massive arch ways line the room. Ocean blues and deep greens flows and swirls like tides into the floors. Throughout the room large sculptures of the past queens and warriors stand at attention. Avalia sits on her golden throne up on a dais. Her white hair twisted in an artful design at the back of her neck. Her large prominent crown sitting like a decoration on top her head. I stand just to the right of her throne, Augustus to the left. Standing between her and the belligerent guest is, Himrol, Hyland, Bilal and elven guards.

  “The girl has had plenty of time to mourn the loss of some non-magical peasant. It is time she realizes that what she wants does not matter.”

  I tamper down my anger at his slight to Matthias. I promised Avalia I wouldn’t kill anyone today when they came to her castle demanding to see her.

  “If she cannot handle the situation, she should be forced to give up the rights to our future kings. We should be allowed to raise them.”

  Everyone from the Southern Kingdom cheers at this suggestion.

  I almost smile. I’d like to see them try to take those boys out of Lilly’s hands, I bet then we will see the old Lilly back. Gods how I miss the old Lilly.

  The Lilly before that fucking witch got to her.

  “No one is taking the kings away from their mother.” Avalia says outright.

  “Especially not to give them to you, Bartus.” Artimus says. “We have not yet forgot your treachery.”

  Bartus snarls in the Western King’s direction.

  “Why do you not ask her to come out here, Avalia? Do you not have control of her anymore?” Fisgal this time.

  I can feel Avalia bristle at his comment.

  “I never ‘controlled’ her. Lilly is free to come and go as she wishes. She has never been a prisoner in my castle. As I told you men before, she needs time.”

  “We do not have time!” Rykan shouts.

  He takes a step forward in the crowd. I notice that his signage—the sash he wears across his chest—has two crosses on it now. I guess he went ahead with his marriage to Sarafine. Very wise of him. If he ever tried to come between me and my Lilly again, I would make sure that his death was permanent.

  “There are rumors that the Dark King’s army is growing. We need to prepare for war. Lilly must understand her place in all this. She can no longer hide in her room.”

  The entire room agrees with Rykan.

  Another first for me, I too agree with this assessment. We definitely need to be preparing for war instead of bitching over seeing Lilly. However, he has no idea what Lilly went through during her time in captivity. He never saw her bruises, her cuts, or the way her body slowly melted down from lack of food. He didn’t see the fear in her eyes in those dreams or notice the brokenness that accompanied her. He doesn’t understand what an experience like that does to someone. If Lilly needed time to recover then we needed to give her that. I only hope that she finds her way back to us.

  “You are right, Rykan.” Avalia raises her voice to talk over the boisterous noise of the crowd.

  The room settles only a little.

  “We should be preparing for war. Which is why I am baffled that less than half of the soldiers I requested from your armies showed up for training.”

  The young prince has the right mind to look ashamed.

  Training has been a fucking disaster. The Southern Kingdom sent the numbers. Many of their farmers and workers have showed up in support for Lilly. However what they have in numbers, they lack in skill. It is much different to wield a sword or
a bow and arrow than it is to use an ax or a plow. We have had to start their lessons as if we were training children. But they’re dedicated and committed to learning. Which is more than I can say for the paltry amount of trained soldiers Bartus sent. They’re not committed to the cause. They don’t even know what the fucking cause is. They will not train with us and they will not help train the others. Artimus’s men are no better. He sent only his trained soldiers, which aren’t nearly enough. All they want to do is drink and fight each other. They are like a rowdy bunch of frat boys.

  I once went to a party with Lilly when she was in community college. I watched young college boys became intoxicated and throw darts at each other’s head for fun. The game, of course, turned into a full out fight amongst friends. I made an inebriated boy toss his dinner on Lilly’s dress to force her to leave early.

  Artimus’ men are just like the young college boys. Most of our time with them comes from breaking up their inebriated fights. Fisgal sent less men than any of the others. And they are what we expected, ill-prepared know-it-alls. They will not even talk with us. They stand around all day looking over a map of the Locke arguing about plans of attack and best routes.

  At this rate, we would be destroyed by the Dark King without him even breaking a sweat. Especially with what Avalia discovered from the body of the creature from the forest. The magic that is inside them is potent. It’s obvious the Dark King is gaining his full power. Their skin is thicker than anything that I have ever seen. It took all my strength to get my blade through the creatures back. Their bodies are built for speed and strength. They can go long periods without food, which is great if they need to wait out their enemy. We found next to nothing inside the creatures stomach. On its neck are gills. A useful addition if we take this battle to the sea. And the most shocking of it all, is that they are immune to magic. Just one of those creatures could decimate our numbers in a single attack. They are damn near unstoppable, and all we have are farmers, drunkards, and scholars.

  “If you want more of our men,” Bartus steps forward with a sneer. “Then we will need access to the girl.”

  Agreements go up to Bartus’s request from the other kingdoms. Of course they would be in agreement on this.

  Avalia maintains her composure, but I can tell she is livid. And why shouldn’t she be? We are up against an indestructible army. Yet the kings are holding back on able fighters like children because they can’t get their way.

  “In just a few days, the naming ceremony for the future kings will take place. You will see her then.”

  Murmurs of agreement goes up at this declaration.

  I’m wondering how Avalia will get Lilly to attend this event. When Lilly first heard of our custom of the naming ceremony, she seemed uninterested. She even told Miriam that it was not her custom to wait. However, she has refrained from giving the boys names.

  “Of course we will be at the event.” Bartus states. “I understand you have given the human girl my list of approved names?”

  At this I do laugh. Fuck his list.

  “It has been passed on.” Avalia lies.

  We have barely seen Lilly, of course we haven’t given her a bullshit list of pretentious names.

  “Very Well!” Bartus nods.

  “And Bartus. After the ceremony, I’m sure to see my requested amount of soldiers. Correct?”

  With a narrow of his eyes and a gritting of his teeth, Bartus agrees.

  “Then this meeting is dismissed.”

  The moment the word dismissed is out of her mouth, Avalia’s elf guards start to usher the crowd out.

  Avalia traces away, and we follow her. We arrive in a private meeting room of the glass castle. We meet, Miriam, Lydell, Cleo, Kema, and Mogo.

  “How did it go? Were you able to get the kings to send more soldiers?” Miriam asks upon our arrival.

  She slips into Hyland’s outstretched hands. I turn my head from the love they share.

  “Not without offering Lilly up.” Avalia admits in defeat. She drops down into the nearest chair.

  The room is silent in its misfortune.

  The silence and the situation gets to me and I snap. I toss the small table into the air and it slams into the wall splintering.

  AAGHHH!

  “Five weeks….Five fucking weeks!”

  I punch through the hard as stone walls, pieces of the crystal crumble to my feet.

  Not that the glass castle needed anymore abuse. After the quakes, builder elves worked diligently to repair the enormous castle.

  Yet, I couldn’t contain my anger and frustration any longer. Not after that ridiculous council meeting and another dream last night. My dreams lately were not like the walking dreams where Lilly is pulled into the dreamscape. They are true dreams where I have no control over what happens. This dream was like all the others. It always involves some form of Lilly’s naked body tangled up in mine. Last night’s dream consisted of Lilly slipping into my bed naked. Her smooth dark caramel skin in stark contrast to my pale white. She slides on top of me to ride my cock like she was in a rush to get somewhere. I woke to a staff so hard and engorged it burst through the front of my silk pajama bottoms.

  I crave Lilly, though not just sexually. I crave her touch, her voice, her smile and her laugh. I crave her scent and her conversation. Just being in the same fucking room with her. The craving is so strong it burns through my veins like fire. The need to be with her crawls over my skin like an irritant rash. I’m going crazy, hence the reason I am in here throwing a temper tantrum.

  “GODSDAMMIT!!!” I run my hands through my hair and yank at the roots.

  Patiently and slightly annoyed, Avalia asks, “Are you done?”

  With a heavy sigh and a drop of my shoulders, I nod my head yes.

  Everyone has grown accustomed to my sour moods and temper over the last five weeks. While training soldiers to fight, I’ve often been pulled off of a trainee in fear that I would kill them. Augustus and the others are doing well to accept my new mood, but I can see even they are becoming fearful of me.

  “We are all as frustrated as you. Though not for the same reasons, but I am frustrated. This war is coming soon and we are still ill-prepared for it. Have you seen the soldiers the kings have sent?” She asks and her voice rises.

  We all groan at the disaster of soldiers.

  With an undignified huff, Avalia drops her head in her hands.

  “We are up a creek without a paddle. If anybody has any ideas of how we should fix this, please by all means speak up now.”

  The room remains silent. Nobody having anything helpful to add.

  “We need more soldiers.” Hyland states the obvious.

  A few grumbles of agreement go up.

  “If not for the magicals and the non-magicals of the Southern Kingdom, we would have a bunch of uninterested cocky assholes. They wouldn’t lift a finger to save Lilly’s life if they weren’t ordered to.” Himrol points out.

  That is the biggest problem we face with the kings’ soldiers. They do not care about Lilly. Having a lack of passion for what you are called to fight for is the worst possible scenario when going to war. It is the fastest and most assured way to lose. They are fighting for the duty of their kings. Everyone in this room isn’t risking their life because they were asked to or for a job. We all love our home. We would never want to see it go down in the direct fire that the Dark King is leading it, but it is Lilly that we fight for. I would throw myself against any blade to protect her. I know that everyone else in the room will do the same. We will protect Lilly, not because she will save the Locke, but because she would do the same thing for us. At least she once would.

  “At this point, I’ll take all the southern kingdom’s non-magicals over the soldiers.” Augustus grumbles.

  “I agree. They are undertrained, but that can be fixed.” Himrol says. “You cannot make a person want to die for something they do not have faith in.”

  The room goes quiet again. Everyone lost in thei
r own thoughts. Hoping to figure out some way to salvage this situation.

  Miriam starts to laugh and all heads turn to her. She sobers, realizing that maybe now is not the best time for cheerfulness.

  “By all means, Miriam,” Avalia says in a voice that is a mixture of chastising and joking. “If you have something that could make you laugh at a time like this, please tell us. We could all do for a good laugh.”

  Bashfully, the little elf steps forward looking down at the ground.

  “Sorry, my Queen. This moment just made me think of a time when we were with the goblins.” A smile appears on her face again. “We were all scared and frightened. So sure we would never see our loved ones again. But Lilly was so brave. Even when I pleaded with her to just be quiet, she wouldn’t.”

  Hyland nods his head agreeing with her.

  “It seemed like when the odds were always against her,” Miriam continues. “She kept fighting. She even called an angry goblin; cruel, ugly, and little to his face without even a flinch.”

  The room erupts in laughter. A laughter that was so light and freeing that it seemed to chase away the heaviness in the room.

  “I can imagine Lilly standing up to that goblin.” Bilal laughs. “All legs and attitude.”

  Another round of laughter.

  “She was like a small ball of fury.” Hyland recalls.

  “If you think that was something, you should have seen her stand up to Assassin when she refused to eat at the Queen’s table without us.”

  “I bet even the mighty warrior was shaking in his boots.” Himrol jokes.

  I fake anger as I say, “I do not scare easily.”

  The room laughs again.

  “He was definitely shaking in his boots.” Avalia quips.

  Gods it felt good to laugh. Even at the expense of myself.

  “If we could just get the soldiers to see Lilly being herself, they would see why this war is important.” Miriam says thoughtfully.