Page 11

VARIANT

Earlann

I hiss through my teeth, sliding deeper into the tub as hot water glides over me.

The ache in my muscles increases, but only for a moment before I finally relax.

Fighting off Theren was harder than I anticipated, but I’m glad he’s recovering.

Decadent soaps made of sandalwood and citrus cut through the dirt and grime that’s been building throughout the day.

I wash away streaks of Theren’s blood before refreshing my bath.

A knock sounds on the door.

“Enter.”

I see her silhouette through the privacy screen that surrounds the tub. Eilish moves closer. “I hope I’m not disturbing you,” she says softly.

“Of course you aren’t.”

She nods. “I just wanted to thank you for what you did today. We’re all grateful and Cambion is making sure the people know it was you who helped save them.”

“It won’t matter. One good deed, after everything that’s been done in my name…”

Eilish remains behind the screen, but she’s unmoving and as silent as the sunrise beyond the windows. The faint smell of her perfume fills me with a serenity I haven’t not felt in ages.

“I’m sure with time they’ll come around.”

“It will take more than one act of selflessness to earn their trust.”

“Yes,” she sighs. “I imagine you’re right. But before I can help them understand you, I have to understand you first.”

“What do you mean?”

She walks in front of the screen and approaches me, taking a seat on the lip of the tub and looks at me, as if she’s trying to see through me. “Everything I know about you is obscured by Morrigan’s spell.”

“And you’re wondering…”

“Whether you’re really a villain or just another victim of fate’s cruel design.”

“Neither.” I sink lower into the water, feeling the tension in my body fade with each passing second.

“When I was born, it was said the gods had reached out and bestowed a blessing on my mother. Songs were sung in my honor and people believed that, so long as I was alive, there would always be light in this world.”

“It was a lot for a child to live up to,” I utter bitterly. “Everyone was blind.”

“How do you mean?”

I shrug. “No one knew the boy who had been blessed with eternal light was drowning in misery. Each day, I cared for my mother as she drifted further and further into madness. Screams through the night, scribbling cryptic symbols on the walls, and forgetting her own name.”

I shut my eyes to the world around me as the memories pour through my head.

“Go on, Variant,” Eilish says softly.

“When I was nine years old, soldiers raided our home. They took me to a city in the sky where I met my father. He seemed every bit the king I was destined to be. But all wasn’t as it seemed,” I say.

“Not unlike Elioth and Theren, my father was threatened by my growing power. He locked me away inside a prison carved from stone. I was given just enough food and water to keep me alive. He used my mother to control me. If I fought back, I was beaten or my wings were burned with a hot iron. For a long time, I thought my life would end in that box.”

“What changed?”

“The Singularity,” I reply simply as I open my eyes and look at her, trying not to be pulled under by her beauty.

“When darkness eclipsed the light, I felt my eternal flame dimming. But then the city in the sky fell from the heavens and standing there to catch me was Morrigan. She handed me a sword of flames and told me to fight for my life. I was thin and damaged by all that had been done to me, but I fought beside Cambion and Dragan.”

“And you won.”

“ We won. For once, I felt as though I was part of something great.” I sit up in the water and scrub my hands over my face, wishing the memories would wash away.

“Morrigan gave my father’s title to me and I rose as the King of Light.

I hadn’t earned it, but I knew I would be a more just king than my father had been.

Theren was King of Oronrel, Cambion ruled the Fae Realm, Dragan had his Shadow Realm, and I.

.. I was a king without a kingdom for a long time.

I only conquered Earlann after the war. The throne belongs to Cambion, truly. It’s his birthright.”

“How did Morrigan take over? How did she control you?”

“She knew my weaknesses,” I say on a sigh.

“My mother died while I was imprisoned and my father died when the kingdom in the sky fell. Morrigan saw that I was starved for kindness and guidance. She gave me what I needed, feeding me scraps of affection until I was wrapped around her finger,” I explain.

My heart is heavy with the truth of my words.

“But I knew something wasn’t right. I knew there was more to what Morrigan was telling me.

She slowly turned me against the others until I was alone once again. That was when she got inside my head.”

“And forced you to kill Baron.”

“I fought it,” I say as I swallow hard and take a deep breath. I can’t look at her until I force myself to look at her. “I swear to you... I fought her every step of the way. I just… I wasn’t strong enough.”

She clears her throat and runs her fingers through my hair. The prickle of her nails against my scalp is soothing. “So, not a villain and not a victim. Then what are you, exactly?”

“I think, despite it all, I’m just simply alive.”

Eilish massages my neck and shoulders, working out the knots that have formed since the start of the day.

“You and I never got the chance to meet properly. Our encounter with Cambion and Silvanus was sort of spurred on by spite. But... it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Variant. The real you, I mean.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Eilish.”

I smile up at her and for the first time, I feel like I’m home.

***

EILISH

Mortal Ruins

“How many refugees?” I ask, holding my head in my hands.

Only four days have passed since Earlann was taken by Abedon.

Already his forces have all but destroyed villages and settlements along the borders.

Elioth is in Oronrel preparing for battle and we’re still recovering from the last attack. The scout hands me a list of names.

“So far we’ve taken in nearly six hundred,” he replies. “Lord Cambion helps transport them to the Delendren Glade and Lord Theren has assisted with taking others to the Dales of Arborel. We’re evacuating as many survivors as we can.”

The doors to the war room open. Cambion enters with a young Seelie woman at his side. “Sorry to interrupt,” he says. “But I thought you should hear this for yourself.”

I shake hands with the scout who has just given me the update on the refugee situation. “Thank you for the report. I’ll send someone to the Glade to arrange more provisions for the refugees.” Once he leaves, I stand up and walk to the other side of the table. “I’m listening.”

“I was a maid in the palace,” the young woman says. “Oronrel is n-nearly a wasteland and Earlann is no better,” she stammers. “Abedon spends his time in the throne room talking about a war to come.”

“What is your name?” I ask her.

“Mila.”

“Thank you for being brave enough to come here. I know it couldn’t have been easy,” I say empathetically. “Can you tell me what you saw in the palace? Anything you can think of will be a tremendous help to our cause.”

The young woman looks around nervously. “H-he sits on a throne made from the remnants of the Raven Forest. Hideous, spiked wyverns sit at his feet at all times. Dark creatures stand guard, helping him find ways to attack the villages. And….”

She pauses and I smile at her, encouraging her to continue. She takes a deep breath and swallows hard.

“I saw the Midnight Queen hanging from hooks on the wall.” Mila shivers in what I assume to be disgust. “Some of us left the palace immediately while others are still trapped inside.”

“Thank you, Mila. Lord Cambion will make sure you’re comfortable.

” I say goodbye to the girl and wait for the door to shut once more.

For the first time in days, I’m alone. I sit back in my chair and close my eyes.

Sounds of the keep swirl around me. I hear engines roaring, voices whispering, and.

.. children laughing. It amazes me that, after all of the hardship we’ve faced and we’re currently facing, there’s still happiness to be shared in this world.

I think of Variant and the words he said to me. Perhaps we should not view ourselves as victims or survivors—maybe we should just be happy we’re alive and able to keep fighting.

The fate of the realms rests on my shoulders.

Instead of pondering what this world has done to me, I should focus on what I can do for this world.

And, like everything else in life, it all starts with a first step.

I stand up from my chair and exit the war room.

Most of my companions are present within the courtyard.

“Kolvar! Aima!” I wait beside the fountain that Noni and the little fae have built. Kolvar and Aima appear before me almost instantly. “Go to the Delendren Glade and make sure the refugees there are well protected and then meet us at the border of the fae realm in a week’s time.”

They nod without question and hurry out of sight. Then I go off in search of Baron. When I find him, I approach Baron quietly. He glances up at me with a smirk. “What is it now?”

“I need you to take the army to this location,” I say as I send him coordinates through the communication rings.

“What is this location?”

“The place where we will establish our camp.”

“And prepare for war?”

I nod. “And prepare for war.”

His smirk twists into a full smile. “I’m proud of you.”

I feel my face heating up, growing flustered beneath his praise. Baron leans over and hovers just inches from my lips. “What are you doing?” I ask quietly.

“Kiss me, Angel.” His hand moves to rest on my hip as I slide my lips against his. I expect him to deepen the kiss, to draw it out until I’m weak in the knees, but he pulls away. “Thank you. I’ll do as you ask.”

He swaggers off in the opposite direction.

I realize I’m not the only female who has taken an interest in the dominating presence of Baron.

Several heads turn to watch him walk away I’m puzzled by the jealousy that suddenly consumes me.

It’s then that I realize my lovers bear no mark of my claim, nothing to show they’re mine alone.

And I have nothing to show that I belong to them.

That has to change. Before I go to find Theren, I put in an order with the blacksmith.

He eyes me warily, but agrees to forge the items I need.

Theren and Cambion are standing near one of the trucks when I find them. Cambion smiles when he catches sight of me. Theren casts a heated glance in my direction as I slowly approach. “I know you’re busy with the refugees, but I need you to do something for me when you’re done,” I start.

“Anything,” Cambion answers.

“If we want to beat Abedon, we need more soldiers. One of the scouts reported that what’s left of the Seelie army is no longer in Earlann. I need you to join Dragan and Variant when they bring the soldiers to the camp.”

“What camp?”

I smile as I realize I’ve neglected to tell him the first part of my plan.

“I’ll send you the coordinates. Silvanus and Pyre will be helping me clear any demons or other threats out of the area,” I explain.

“We’re moving the fight away from the keep.

Our main priority is protecting those we offer refuge. ”

“Wise words from a compassionate leader.” Theren finally meets my gaze. “Be careful, Eilish.”

“You too.”