Candescent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1) (23 page)

I looked up, startled he’d commented and immediately shifted my gaze away. Only one tear trickled down my face and Sebastian saw it, sat beside me, and pulled me into a sitting position. He tried to embrace me, but I wouldn’t let him. I fought him, pushed him away- despised him as I always had.

“What’s the matter with you?” His voice was firm, but there was concern behind it.

I choked back tears, biting my tongue, and pushed him back. “You are the monster you unforgiving, selfish immortal.” I spat. “If you try to marry me, I’ll have you exiled. You will be thrown over the Bridge. You will be sorry.”

“What’s gotten into you?”

“You will be destroyed.” I growled.

He smiled, not at all intimidated. “I want to see you try.”

I reached out, attempting to attack him, and he got to his feet effortlessly, laughed at me, and returned to his friends. I looked out and watched the storm, indecisive whether I would drag myself into it or not. Then I turned to the fire and thought of Pete. I didn’t know if he was alive, but I had to find out. Since Baloo was the only man I knew, and frankly the only one I trusted, I figured I would ask him.

I relaxed, laid back down, thinking there might be hope. I knew Pete had a plan. He knew how to destroy Sebastian. Guardian came over to me, escaping the heat from the back of the cave and sat across from me.

“You made quite the journey back to square one.” The griffin unfolded his wings and began to preen them as though he waited for a response.

Smart ass
, I thought. “You are quite the clever creature.”

He shot a glance at me. “It is my Master who is the clever one.”

“Oh and was he so clever to have exposed your name to me?”

“It was my idea in the first place. It doesn’t bother me that you know it. You will be married to him eventually so you would know it too.” He smiled. “Right,
Mistress
? Wasn’t that what your dragon called you?” he mocked.

“Xavi come here.”

“Yes Sir. Excuse me, my Lady.” The griffin got up and disappeared into the depths of the cave. He returned with Sebastian.

“Sorry I kept you waiting.”

Sebastian and his griffin sat by my side. They looked at me as if they were one creature with their wicked smirks. The two of them disgusted me. Sebastian reached out to me and the griffin attempted to preen a strand of my hair but I shooed them both away.

“When you wake up you will be home. You will be in our new palace.”

“You will be so happy there my Lady.”

And with that, they started to sing. I would’ve smacked them if I wasn’t cupping my hands against my ears. But Sebastian took my hands away, held them just long enough for me to feel drowsy and it was downhill from there. Their song sent me into a deep sleep without dreams or nightmares, just darkness. With darkness in my head, like a coma, I felt nothing, heard nothing. I remained asleep, was carried away by one of Sebastian’s men, or perhaps Sebastian himself for hours. Those hours were days. When I finally woke up Guardian told me I was asleep for three days. I was reluctant to wake, remembering Sebastian and the wedding that was bestowed upon me and then I looked around. I was in a new home.

I got up and walked around the palace to familiarize myself to find that it wasn’t new. This palace was taken over. Some things were broken and furniture was moved but I could tell this palace belonged to someone before us. The library was small, but the woodwork and masterful architecture made up for its size. The eloquence of the small room reflected the greater qualities of the palace itself. To this, I could see the hard work and years of artistry that was put into it. Its structural design was more modern than my old palaces, for an open floor plan was rarely seen and desired if bumping into columns was a constant dilemma.  So I felt welcome in this new palace. I returned back to my room and looked out of my window. Guards bordered the palace and all stood in knee-high snow. This heavily guarded palace was more of a prison.

Somehow the servants found me. They dressed me into a beautiful dress and threw rare, exclusive gems around my neck. They put tight, stifling shoes on my feet, expecting me to walk in them. And they pulled my beautiful hair back, exposing my neck and shoulders. I thought I would be comfortable with this service by now. But now, gazing at myself in the mirror, surrounded by people I didn’t know, I felt naked and embarrassed. Ironically it was the exact opposite. I didn’t look the same. I wasn’t the same strong queen I had been. Well, I was never the same queen since Lucian’s death. Now I was forced to face my reflection, to see what I’d become.

I was thin and without a full skirt I would have appeared malnourished - which I was. As a vampire, I was supposed to have blood or even a form of meat to obtain the nutrients I needed so I wouldn’t deteriorate. And I still wasn’t offered anything, even from my servants since I’d arrived. I only had a cup of water and a piece of bread to hold me over, but that was three days ago. Even though I slept for days, my eyes still looked tired and I was pale as though I was sick. Sebastian was responsible for this.

The servants brought me to another room, a large quiet room where Sebastian stood and waited. I noticed flowers were scattered around me and the scent intended to please me only made my head swell in pain. The servants left me alone, urging me to walk to him.

A man appeared in marvelous clothing at the end of the aisle. He gestured to me, trying to get me to walk over. I refused to move. They couldn’t make me marry Sebastian. But they wouldn’t take no for an answer. They came over to me. The man started to talk so quickly in a language I didn’t understand and I realized it had already started. My eyes darted back to the doors.

“Do you have the rings?”

What? Rings already, two minutes in?
I thought, looking for a way out.

For some reason my eyes filled up with tears and I couldn’t stop them. And then I realized that Fitzray’s Ceremonial Ring had been burned with my Dragon’s Soul. My eyes flooded over and I shook, unable to stop, think, and go through with my escape plan. Sebastian said a few words and he put a ring on my finger. I refused to put a ring on his, instead handing it back to him. While he tried to get me to put it on his finger, I stared down at my ring. I thought it was lost in the fire. Sebastian must’ve saved it. And then I grew sick. He was using it to marry me and become King with this ring – Fitzray’s Ceremonial Ring. While I was absorbed in shock he kissed me and I instinctually broke away, intended on smacking him, but refrained myself and left.

I fled to my room in hysterics, in repugnance, and I was undisturbed until nightfall. I didn’t see him and I missed out on the celebration and festivities, only to be said that I retired to bed early and that I wasn’t feeling well. When everyone was gone, Sebastian heavily walked up the stairs and fumbled with the door. I sat still as stone until he kicked it open. Of course it was locked. He stood in the doorway staring at me. His large unnatural looking crown was on his head as if it was supposed to stand for something.

“You missed out on the celebration,” he said stiffly.

“I never really liked parties,” I nearly barked back.

“Everyone is gone now.”

“Good.” I stared down at the ring that I held between my fingertips.

“It’s just you and me.”

“Oh, how
wonderful
,” I said, my eyes still focused on the ring. He took a seat beside me and took my face in his hands.

“Still not warming up to me huh?” he remarked and then chuckled. “I guess people don’t change overnight. But come on, you can’t honestly be angry with me. Just look at me. Go on, tell me you hate me.”

I looked up to him, meeting his golden eyes, his soft concerned look. I became lost, as if his gaze was poison to me. My breathing became shallow. I hated him, I really did and I was so prepared to say it too.

“I…I…,” I started, shaking my head, trying to get it out.

He smiled. “If you can’t tell me you hate me then tell me you love me.”

I wanted to swallow my tongue immediately because my mouth opened, insisting on forming such words as if I had no control. “I…love you.” I wanted to die. He leaned forward, pleased.

“I thought so.” He eyed me closer. “Now, don’t you think that wedding kiss was pathetic? I thought so. Why don’t you make it up to me? I’ll give you a second chance.”

As though I was under some haunting spell, I kissed him. And something inside of me told me not to be infuriated at him. That night I knew it must’ve been the work of his blood. And he must’ve known it too.

In the weeks that followed I made myself comfortable in my new home and the tension miraculously disappeared when Sebastian came over to me. It was strange and I dreaded it. He was also warming up to me even more – even when I thought it wasn’t possible. He even told me that he planned a feast with our Allies. I was shocked, not able to understand why the Allies would even agree to such a thing. They would be having dinner with their
enemy
.

“When is the feast?”

“Tonight.”

“Who will come?”

“Anyone who can make it.”

“Don’t you mean anyone who’s still alive?”

He shot an icy glare at me and then looked back into the mirror to adjust his coat. “Aren’t you cute?” he said stiffly.

“So, what am I supposed to do while I wait? Should I spend
another
day cooped up in this palace?” I got up and walked over to one of the windows, drawing aside the curtains. “Look, it’s sunny outside. I think spring is finally on its way. Now, do you want me confined, or would you rather know that I’m out enjoying the sunshine?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“I just want to go outside, but no guards.”

“Chenille we need guards.”

“You need guards to
watch me
?”

“No, to protect you.”

“Protect me? Protect me from what? Do we have enemies after us?”

  “I just want to make sure you don’t make any enemies.”

  “Where are we anyway?”

  “We’re on Alfur.”

“And why did you take me here if you knew there would be
enemies
?”

“I brought you up here only because most of Inesious was destroyed in the war.”

“Oh, see what your war did?” I hissed. “And did you get what you wanted? Are you happy?”

“Yes I am. I am King of Catastrophe…and I have you. I think that’s enough.”

“You’re not King as long as Pete is alive, you fool. And you don’t even know if he is or not.” I smiled. “And for all of this you told me all you wanted was acceptance. You remember telling me that. You lied then. You only wanted to become King.”

“That’s not true.”

“Your griffin told me so. And for all of the lives your war has cost, you haven’t even confronted your parents.”

“I don’t have to. I proved to them that I could become King and that I could marry you.”

“So the truth does come out.” I smiled.

“I can do anything I want. I can have anything I want. I have been underestimated by too many for too long. My people will not underestimate me now that they’ve seen what I’m capable of. And you,” he smiled, “you should know better.”

I laughed at him. I just loved pushing his buttons. “I know of another egotistical king who said those same words to me. I thought it was influenced by power, but now I know it must be another characteristic of men on Catastrophe.”

His smile faded at my words and he turned away and left, murmuring my insult to himself. I went to the bedroom window and watched him as he met with a servant outside. He was holding a magnificent horse and Sebastian was looking it over. As he tried to get onto her back, she raised her head and moved away. The servant held her tighter, attempting to still her. A chill ran down my spine as I saw her eloquent profile, and with it the side of her long crystalline horn that rested in the middle of her forehead. I bolted from the window, my legs hardly able to keep up with my energy as I sent myself down the stairs and through the doors. I was faced with seeing Sebastian’s frustration as he raised his hand to smack the unicorn.

“That’s my horse!” I yelled, my legs instinctually carrying myself to her.

Sebastian’s hand froze and she reared, sending the servant to the ground. She ran to me, her broken bridle fell from her beautiful face.

“Mother!” she cried instinctually. Her eyes filled with tears and she came to a stop. “You are
alive
? How long have you been alive? Why didn’t you find me? You didn’t free me when the palace burned! You forgot about me!” I realized now that the tears gathering in her eyes were from rage that was bubbling inside of her.

“Versailles I can explain!”

“And I still looked for you and I was captured and nearly killed! I was sure if you were alive you’d go to the North and despite the savagery that was there – that’s
here
, I still pushed on to find you. And then finally free from captivity, nearly having my horn cut off, I was captured again. I was put on a block to be sold to other savages so they could get their hands on me again. But that’s when he bought me.” She turned to acknowledge the servant that stood beside Sebastian. “He thought I’d be a worthy gift of the King.” She glared at me. “And how is
he
the King? And why are
you
here with him? I know you completed a Ceremony with Pete, everyone knows, but how could you? He killed you!”