Bridgeworlds: Deep Flux (15 page)

“I am no King, I’m a gambler for crying out loud! I’m a conman;
Kings have been the targets of my cons in the past.”

She smiled at him like a parent smiles at a little child who has
said something cute, “You are a King, whether you want to be or not,
but
better
that you don’t.”

The servants came in and trimmed Myles’ beard. It had grown
very long having been in prison, at sea, and traveling in the wilderness
without a razor. Then they cut Myles’ hair short. At the first lock that
went, Myles jumped and protested to the servant but she only held up
the lock of his shoulder length hair with a sheepish smile. It was too
large of a chunk to just leave.
She did that on purpose.
Catalina smirked
as he thought that.
Ugh, will I ever be alone in my mind again? Nothing
worse than a woman that can read minds… well, there might be.
Marrying one might be worse.
Catalina slapped him on the back of the
head for that one.

Myles smiled.
That will teach her.
She slapped him on the back
of the head again but harder. He turned to look at her and she only
smiled.

After they were done with Myles he looked like a proper King.
Myles frowned into the mirror as Catalina walked up and placed the
crown on his head. She smiled back with her reflection before turning
him around. Myles smiled. He looked into her rainbow colored eyes.

She was in her head.
Wait... no, I’m in her head. How?
But
before Myles could voice the thought he was gone and all that existed
was the past playing before him.

Catalina was human. She had been born of a human mother.
Her father was a dark and strange man. She was 6 years old and thought
6 year old girl thoughts of flowers, butterflies, and faeries. There was
color to all of her life until her father came around. Everything seemed
dark at times when he visited her and her mother.

Her mother had gotten sick and died of a plague called "The
Coughing Death", it was something that had come from the Seven
Kingdoms over to Taynin Erets. At 6 years old she was able to take care
of herself for a few days by herself. Her mother lay dead in her room
and Catalina dared not go in, touch her, or try to move the body. In this
memory Catalina sat near the door. She did not know how she knew but
she did know that her father was coming. She knew he was powerful.
To her he was like some dark god out of a nightmare. He looked normal
but there was an emptiness to his eyes.

She sat staring at the door. And he did let himself in after not
too long. He went into the room that she had avoided. Then he came
out and looked at her as if noticing her for the first time. He was dressed
in all black, he was young then but there was age in his eyes. His boots
whacked against the floor as he stalked over to her and then bent down
on one knew.

Myles felt her terror of him.

She jumped as he stroked the back of his hand against her
cheek. But then his eyes changed. They were not empty but deep and
sympathetic. "Sleeping beauty, will you come to my castle and keep me
and my sons company."

Myles could feel the fear but there was a child-like trust that
had begun to grow in her heat born from the hope that she was not all
alone in the world.

Images flashed in Myles' mind as if a movie in fast forward but
too fast for him to process all at once. Then they stopped.

Catalina was 12 years old. Her father had been in a foul mood
that day. There had been two executions. Over the past 6 years she had
been able to soften his heart and teach him compassion but he had dark
days like these from time to time. She had gone out to a flower field and
made a crown of vines and flowers to place on his head instead of the
sharp metal helmet crown he always wore as if he was ready for battle.

When she walked into the throne room he had executed
another man and the body was there on the ground. One man was still
kneeling on the ground still pleading for his life. "I promise we did not
know we were trespassing into inhabited territory. Please don’t kill me, I
have a wife and a daughter at home."

Before he father could react the way she knew he would she
walked in. She was wearing a white dress that he loved on her. He
looked to her and as always seemed a little less cold as she approached.
She walked up to him and removed the crown from his head and put
the flower/vine crown she had made there. He looked confused, almost
dazed for a moment.

Catalina looked to the man and then to her father. "Today you
will be kind and spare this fool's life. Because you do have a kind heart. I
know because I have seen it despite the mask of anger and judgment
that you sometimes wear."

The only fear that Myles could sense in her was for the man
kneeling.

 

"Surely you would not rob a daughter of the love of her father,
no matter how much of a fool he is," she said.

 

He looked back at the man who had tears in his eyes.

Her father picked the man up and looked deep into his eyes.
She knew what he was doing, He was putting a trigger in his mind that
would wipe all memory of the location of the castle once he was home.

Then he pushed him, "Go. Before my daughters spell on me
wears off and I come tie my senses and kill you anyway."

 

Then her memories flashed to a coach ride that they had taken
together just before they had been attacked by the Broken.

Looking at her father through her eyes he could see that she
had worn away all of the hardness. She had one the battle for his heart
over the darkness that had consumed him. She had healed him of the
sickness inside him.

"I can’t give the Kingdom to either of your brothers. Both of
them are too much like I was. Too many people died and the Kingdom
was in ruin before you entered my life and I honestly think one of them
might kill you if I give it to you," he said.
"Then what will you do?" she asked.

"Did I ever tell you that I once had a vision of my own death?"

 

Myles could feel concern rise up in her when he said that. She
shook her head. "No, never."

"On the day I die, the next King of Pathos will save your life. He
will be two men, you must make him be the better one," said the King
just as the coach was tipped over.

The visions stopped. Myles was himself again. He looked into
her beautiful eyes and asked faintly, "What are you doing to me?”

 

She smiled, “Appealing to your responsible side.”

 

He shook his head, "I can't believe you showed me all of that."

Myles shook his head still reeling from the aftereffects of the
visions. “I look like a King, but I still don't feel like one. Doubt I ever will.
Now what?”

She shrugged with a knowing smile, “Now we see what you are
made of; if my father was right to choose you. You will need to face my
brothers in the throne room.”

Myles sighed, it was all happening so fast, and he could hardly
wrap his mind around it. A simple rescue turned into a complicated
political mess… “Any words of wisdom?”

“Smart man," she smiled. "Carn is the smart one and Mullach is
the fighter. Mullach may just outright try to kill you, but Carn will play
the long game with you. Convince him that you have legal right to the
throne. Convince him that you tell the truth and he will back you for
now hoping for a chance to oust you later.”

“And I’m supposed to marry you? With a wife like you, who
needs enemies?”

She laughed and shoved him out the door. She led him to the
throne room; a very large room full of vampires. On the throne sat a
skinny man with light green eyes that reflected light like a cat's. He had
long blonde hair and thin angular features. Myles would almost swear
he was a Miyka, but he did not glow or have pointed ears. Catalina
looked surprised to see him actually sitting upon the throne.

Beside him was a man in full armor. His helmet had horns at the
top that spiraled at least two feet in the air, and he held a glowing
sword across his lap. Myles noticed one common trait amongst the
vampires; none of them were ugly. In fact, if you were to rate their
looks on a scale of one to ten, everyone in this room would be a ten.
Myles never really thought of himself in that way so he imagined he
stuck out. Granted, he knew he had charm and that was all he really
needed, but he never really considered the way he looked compared to
other people. At least not until now; in a room of so many genetic
anomalies.

Catalina approached the throne holding Myles' hand. It was
comforting to have her hold his hand, easing any embarrassment he
might normally have. He stood proud and ready for combat, be it
physical or social.

Catalina whispered to Myles, “The one with the sword is
Mullach and the one on your throne is Carn.”

 

He nodded to her, “I figured as much from your description.”

Mullach began to stand but Carn put a hand out. “What is this
sister?” he asked. “Our father is dead and you bring us a court jester
wearing his crown? I find your humor to be lacking in taste.”

Catalina began to speak but Myles put a hand on her shoulder.
“I must speak for myself now, thank you.”

Carn gave Myles a questioning look. “No formal address for the
princess? Who is this man wearing my father’s crown and holding my
sister’s arm as if she is some trophy?”

Mullach stood and walked over to Myles towering over him
menacingly. Mullach had no white to his eyes, they were just black and
hollow.
This is not a man, it’s a monster.

“He is my brother and monsters have their uses,”
Catalina said in
his head.

Myles turned and looked at Carn ignoring Mullach breathing
down at him. Drawing from wisdom passed down to him from his
grandmother, he spoke in a kind of way he had almost all but forgotten.
“There is a time for fighting and a time for mourning. Your sister brings
me here as her King and her betrothed. She brings you the grave news
of how your father died. It is not a time for fighting but a time for unity.
I tried to save your father’s life from the hands of the ‘Broken’ but I was
too late as the light had already touched him. His last act was to place
his crown upon my head. I could not save him, but I did save your sister.
I find much worth in her though I have only known her for a day; I am
sure you value her all the more so. Mourn for your father, rejoiced for
your sister, but do not fight with me for I want unity.”

Carn paused for a moment before looking to Catalina. “Sister,
does he speak the truth? Did father crown him?”

As Catalina spoke, Myles had a feeling she was showing Carn
what happened because he had a variety of facial expressions ranging
from anger, to fear, to sadness. “He saved me and everything he has
said is true.”

Carn put his hand to his chin considering, “I do not trust him. I
cannot read his mind.”

Catalina cocked her head at her brother, “Do you think that I
would not protect him? I owe him at least that. You will have to accept
my word or condemn me as a liar and a traitor to my King.”

Carn gave Catalina an affectionate look. “Sister, flower of
Pathos, such lies are not within you. I know this.”

He stood from the throne and moved aside gesturing for Myles
to take his place. Myles closed his eyes briefly
, I don’t want this. I am no
King.

“
It is the Kings that want it who are sometimes the worst,”
Catalina thought gently in his mind.

Each step towards the throne was heavier. He felt as though he
was giving up all of the fun in life and trading it for an impossibly heavy
burden. Still he kept moving forward; steadily towards the throne.

Mullach jumped in front of Myles to block him. Myles had been
expecting something from the brute, though, and vanished reappearing
behind Mullach. A hushed murmur fell over the crowd of vampires as he
plunged a dagger into the back of Mullach’s neck. Mullach choked but
did not fall down or ask for help. Unfazed Mullach pulled the dagger
from his neck and stepped toward Myles, but Carn yelled for both of
them to stop. “What happened to no fighting?”

“There are only so many times I will be challenged before
retaliating. I am the King and I will not be disrespected publicly.” Myles
looked up at Mullach's sour face. “Your choice is simple, kneel to me
now or die standing on your feet.”

Mullach stared at him as if judging from the look in his eyes
weather Myles could back up his threat.

Carn knelt and bowed his head where he stood then looked up
at Mullach expectantly. Mullach turned from Myles to walk and stand
beside his brother, also bending to one knee. With their public
surrender, the entire court followed suit. Myles stepped forward; once a
heartbroken boy from Sallisaw Oklahoma, now the King of Pathos – a
nation of vampires. Myles sat upon the throne.
What have I done?

Catalina looked at him and only smiled. That alone gave him
hope and strength to face whatever came next.
6
The First Gauntlet

Kasey sat on the simple thatch roof of the house her Phoenix
Collective had built. She looked up at the stars pondering how she might
bring Misia to the Shepherd. It had been a month and she had taken to
staying in the jail cell with her which had led to twelve attempts on her
life since then. Tonight she would sleep in her own bed; she needed the
rest.
But how do I get through to her?
It seemed the more Kasey pushed
the harder Misia pushed back.

Misia was dangerous; too deadly to let go, and too devious to
leave alone with the other members of the order. She would cause
strife and division in Kasey’s absence. She needed someone who could
handle her… Someone who knew how to handle Kalat Nobility – the
most prideful and stubborn of the race. Misia could take years to
change if she
ever
did. The truth was that all Kalat were vile murderers.
She had to remain a prisoner or die. If Kasey could not turn her she
would hand her over to King Erestar who would likely have her
executed. So her life literally hung on Kasey’s ability to break her, and it
was not going well. Kasey had come close to striking her in anger several
times. That would compromise her integrity and put her in a position
that she could not recover from easily. It was also exactly what Misia
wanted.