Page 28

Fletcher

I sat beside her bed, entranced by the tangles of her half-glowing hair. She seems to be able to physically recover a little, that's good. Reaching out a hand, I held onto her wrist, using my right forefinger and middle to examine the beating pulse beneath her skin. Her pace had picked up, it was going back to normal. The purple veins were still there but they were fading. Good, I was right. She's fighting it on her own. For a moment there I was a bit worried when her pulse had slowed till I nearly thought she had died but then it started rapidly speeding up. It was a wave of ups and downs until it finally stabilized. Her pulse hasn't changed much since I last checked her an hour ago. I couldn't leave her bedside, not with her still unconscious. Who knows what would happen if I did. Akasuki had been bringing in my meals for a little under a week or so now. Since my meeting with my younger sister, I didn't dare leave this room. There was nothing else more pressing than Everetta, the only reason I left for Snow before was because I owed my sister that much. She had kept this court intact and I did feel some guilt over last life events.

Suddenly the door slammed open, the hinges flinging off the door. I whirled around at the soon-to-be-dead asshole who was disturbing Evie's sleep. His dark brown hair and deep red irises stormed in as I rolled my eyes turning back around to focus my attention on the love of my life.

"Where is she?! I know you have her. I've let it go in the ballroom because you were making an entrance and I respect that but it has been five gods forsaken days. Where is she?! Where is my sister?!" Any lesser man might have cowered as the room shook from his roaring screeches. I was sure the whole castle must have heard his shouts by now. Using my magic I fixed the unhinged door. The thing was nearly shattered to pieces. I sighed, wishing I could just ignore his tirade but alas if I did the man would probably annoy me even more. I'd rather tell him what he wants than have the man go behind my back and turn this whole castle upside down searching for Luna while my brother was still sealing his regime.

"Don't think you can ignore me," Lucarious stated as if sensing where my thoughts had traveled. I turned back around to face his arched brows, his stance ready for an attack. As if he'd have to wrestle me for the answers. I sighed, fully aware that I shouldn't even be this close to him, but I needed to do what I came here to do. Turning, I looked up at the man before me. Picking up my notes I looked down at my clipboard and jotted down the measurements I had counted. About ninety beats per minute. Good, that was about right, a bit high but considering her ragged breaths it should be fine. The normal range for fae was forty to one hundred beats per minute depending on your race, humans would be sixty to one hundred beats per minute.

Glancing down at the sleeping beauty before me I could tell from her wild look, that despite my best efforts to try and change her dirty appearance, she still looked rather worn and bedraggled.

Rolling my eyes, I looked back at Lucarious, “If you're referring to Luna, yes, I did imprison her. I didn't think you'd care. After all, it's not as if you haven't done that to her before," I stood heading toward my little makeshift medical center in the corner of the room. It's been five days since Everetta had passed out and my brother had taken the throne, yet my dear Everetta had still yet to wake. I'm quite surprised though; I would have thought the Prince of Blood and Fire would have come earlier. Using the cabinet's upper surface I spread out my numerous potions and vials. Or perhaps my potion worked better on him than I had expected? Fiddling with my newest concoction–a mix of dry-herbed water sprites and woodland sprites, known for their calming abilities–I swirled the orange-looking liquid. Pouring it down a long tube I watched as it heated before adding a dose of red lizard tail for a little bit of a numbing sensation. I didn't want her throat to be burnt when drinking the next bit of this potion, the dragon's fire. Then again, she was somewhat of a dragon, so she should be fine even without adding the red lizard. I don't want to add too much stuff into her system at the same time. Next, I’ll add a dose of pixie dust for a sweet taste to counteract the bitter acid of this potion.

"She's my sister. I would be a fool not to care. To be honest, I was shocked you commanded the act you two had always been so close.”

Now, that could have two meanings: either he didn't know I was planning to torture Luna, or he knows and is trying to cover it in the best possible light. If it was the latter, I didn't need to address him. Or a third possibility he truly was suspicious and wasn't trying to lead me into revealing something.

Turning around, I faced the Prince of Blood and Fire.

Smiling, I looked up at the bastard, “ Prince Lucarious, my patient, my bond, my lover, and my most prized possession was almost killed by a fae whom I regarded and still do regard as my best friend. I did what I needed to do to ensure Everetta's safety. If you have an issue with the way she is kept, please take it up with my brother. I'm but a mere doctor of the spirit realm in this life. Now, if you could please excuse me, my patient does need me." I turned back towards the said patient and examined the small course of blue veins running from her neck to—damn it.

Unbuttoning her shirt, I was nearly done unhooking the first button when a hand suddenly shot for my wrist. I stared at the tanned arm, like a man blessed by the sun, and frowned up at him, "You'll wake her. Who knows how she'll react once she wakes? I'm strong but gods I'm not that strong."

I guess one good thing about the narcissistic bastard was he knew where his limits were, unlike that tiresome brother of mine.

Waving a syringe in the air, I retorted, "She's been passed out for five days. If she wakes, I couldn’t be happier. Now, please let go of my wrist, Prince Lucarious. I am a doctor." I reiterated those last words, hoping that he got the hint and confronted the king of this court about his so-called issues, though I highly doubted my brother could do anything about Luna’s current predicament, regardless of whether he wanted to or not. He's always hated her. I've never understood why but if it works in my favor so be it.

Narrowing his eyes on me, knowing just as clearly as I did that Eli wouldn't do shit to release Luna. I rolled my own, again, at his obvious aggravation. It took him a few more seconds before his iron grip loosened as I yanked my wrist away. My skin was still as pale as fresh snow, so the burning red against my skin was more prominent than for a fae like Lucarious. Trying not to wring my hand free of the pain from his iron hand grip, I turned back to my patient.

Resuming my task, I unbuttoned the first three buttons just enough to show what I needed but not too much for the guy by my left to get a peek at something that was not for his viewing. He better not be looking; if he so much as tries to get a peak over my shoulder, I'd ... I took a small peek to the side. Good, he wasn't. The man had his eyes looked away facing the door. Just as I turned back around, I saw the small curl to his lips.

"You know, even if I did want to look, I wouldn't. Gods know what you would do," he shuddered, from what I wasn't sure. I quite frankly didn't care what he thought of me. Right now, I just needed to save Evie. Looks like the veins are reaching closer towards her heart. Fuck. I'll have to administer an untested antidote unless...

I looked over to the man standing by my left. Eyeing me skeptically, Lucarious hesitantly stepped back. Not a moment ago he was still staring at the door, maybe the man did have some sort of sixth sense for danger. I moved quicker than he could flee away. I plunged the syringe into his neck, my free hand catching his right hand as he tried to escape. My legs spread capturing his between mine as I pinned him against the wall to inject the toxin.

Hopefully, I had replicated the same potion Luna had used before Lucarious arrived; now, the only question is if the drug I administer will work. I stared at the man as his eyes grew wide, his skin catching fire. Yes! Blue veins popped from his neck slowly creeping down.

Lucarious was gasping for air clutching at his neck where I had stabbed him with the needle. His steps were slowly backing him against the wall.

Yes, yes, yes!

They were turning purple in some areas, perfect!

I did modify it a little as well, I made the poison work far quicker than Luna must have intended it to.

Hurrying over to my bench, I quickly snatched the newly brewed antidote. I'd made two batches for this specific reason. I had always planned on testing it out on someone before administering it to Evie. I thought it was going to have to be my brother, a little recompense for what he did to Evie.

Never would I have imagined I'd get to use it on another ROYAL .

Great!

I jabbed the needle with the antidote down his throat in the same area of the initial puncture after I waited for a few more seconds of him writhing in agony. As anticipated he lunged for my neck as soon as he was able to move his body. His hands gripped the soft skin under my chin squeezing until there was no doubt a red mark left in their shape. I waited for the thing to work.

One second, two, three…

I felt the suffocation in the lack of oxygen. The black tendrils in my mind grew wider before I was finally let go. Gasping for air, I stared up at Lucarious in fascination as the blue veins retreated along with his biting fingers at my throat.

"Not an ideal test but, that'll do," I rubbed my neck, feeling the indentations of his fingers. Lucarious stared at me aghast… by what? I didn't care to know. He had to have known I was always going to test it on someone. The moment he stepped in here he practically volunteered to be my test subject.

Turning back around, I unopened a sterile syringe inserting it into a vial of the antidote. Sucking up the liquid I squeeze out all the air bubbles in the tube. I sure do hope this works. I inserted the needle into her skin, pushing the antidote into her system.

"I could have killed you! Are you mad?! Don’t you have any regard for your own life? How could you fucking try to kill me?!" I heard the man bark from behind me. I ignored him. I had more important matters to handle right now. Ignoring his red face, I found her pulse again, making sure there was no drastic change from earlier. Feeling her steady rhythm, I sighed a breath of relief. "Hey! Do you hear me?! The only reason why you're not dead right now is because Ev would have had my head if I'd killed you!" He raged on, and I had no doubt he was angry, but again, that was none of my business right now.

Setting her hand down, I took a step back, watching the clock on my wrist. Five...four...three...

I counted as Lucarious stormed towards me, nearly grabbing me by the shoulder.

Two…

I have no doubt he would have yanked me around, and I would have had a burning dagger embedded into my chest if I hadn't ducked.

One…

Suddenly a hand reached towards me from behind, pulling me away as a dagger was sent flying towards my vacant spot. The dagger flew past me and embedded itself directly in Lucaious' hand. I grimaced a little as the dagger stuck through the center of his palm, nailing him against the wall. But I have no doubt he would be able to heal something like that, so leaving the man to curse in pain, I turned to the woman I loved the most, her wild golden sun-colored eyes were wide open.

"Hello, Love," I sighed, half-exhausted from my restless nights trying to come up with a solution to help her. Looking into her golden eyes, I knew it was all worth it. It seems like my potions have worked. She woke up. But did she recognize me? I did look slightly different from my past. I mean I had the same shade of hair and eyes but whereas my past face had almond-shaped eyes this new face had round eyes instead. Plus, I think my hair is silkier and longer than how I kept it in the past. I had always used to cut it short, but now I wore it a little past my shoulders in a light blue ribbon. Since in the spirit realm, most men have their hair long and tied with a string. I thought I might as well embrace the culture.

"You know that was fucking rude of you!" Lucarious bellowed, freeing his hand from the dagger that had pinned him against the blue tapestry. One hand clutched onto the hilt of the dagger yanking it out. Blood spurted out smearing the light blue carpeted slightly. The wound in his palm was already stitching itself together as the searing heat of Lucarious' magic filled the room despite his calm demeanor of dusting off his suit.

Behind me, a similar heat was emanating off Everetta's body before it swiftly cooled. The first sign that my Everetta was back. Her magic had always been on a tight leash ever since I first met her. I turned around facing the love of my life as she beamed her bright vulture smile. The chandelier light glinted off her pearly whites.

"Oh, did that hurt? I'm sorry, but it's not like I like seeing some fae try and hurt what’s mine the moment I wake up." Everetta bit out as she tilted her head in challenge, cocking a brow as if to say, “Go on try.”

So she did recognize me. I smiled in relief as the tension in my shoulders dropped. Frowning Everetta stared back at me, her head still cocked in confusion as her eyes narrowed against me, “Your face, did you do something different with it?” She asked in her elegantly groomed voice a soft breeze throughout the room.

"Did something happen? Never mind that though. First things first. Lucarious I have a bargain for you." Evie was as straight to the matter as always.

She grinned her enchanting Cheshire grin.

Although I wasn't sure if she should be making a bargain given her current magical state, it was still rather low. No, I needed to trust that Evie knew what she was doing. As if seeing her current flow of magic as well Lucarious cocked a brow of his own, "Oh? Don't you think you should rest, Little Princess ?" With a swift flick of her eyes, a slash of light sliced the air to Lucarious' left, nearly scraping off his cheek.

"I'd rather you not belittle me Lucarious. After all, I don't call you Little Blood Prince , do I? Now will you or will you not make a bargain with me?" Everetta's words promised vengeance if he were to ever call her Little Princess again. She never did like those words together, maybe it was because she was in all rights the Queen of the Griffins. Throne or not, that was who she was and always will be. In other words, calling a queen a little princess was a slight to their power.

Lucarious grinned his own devil's smile as he mockingly bowed. His right arm swirled in the air, far past his head, as he placed his left to his lower stomach bending at his waist, "Come on now darling. I had to make sure you were really you. After all, you fooled me before. How did the mortals put it fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me?" He bent back up at a flick of Evie's hands. Evie never was one for formalities, not even in this life I see.

"Oh, please. That is so not how it goes. The first was totally on you, the second would be mine. In this case though, if I had fooled you it would still be your fault. Now, enough with the formalities. Besides, it wasn't my fault you were stupid enough to fall for Eli's little shenanigans." Everetta’s slick tone was like poison on its own. A tick began to pulse once against Lucarious' right temple.

Tit for tat. He calls her a princess, and Evie calls him stupid. Maybe I should call Akasuki in to enjoy the show.

"But I'm not here to pick a fight with you. I want to revisit that bargain you proposed, claiming your throne back, was it? I accept, on the condition that you do something for me in return." Everetta smiled her feline grin.

“Oh? Here I thought you rejected it." Flashing one of his obsidian chairs behind him Lucarious sat. Knowing fully well if he remained standing he would be eyeing down at Evie who had yet to leave the bed.

I see he still has respect for my love.

I'm not sure how I feel about that one.

On the one hand, I'm glad, she deserves as much. On another, the green monster under my skin was waiting so I could tear his guts out.

Taking the seat by her bedside I sat as well. I didn't want to leave the two alone just yet. I didn't trust that damn devil to not touch my Evie.

"Please, that was Ellie's simple-minded plan," Evie smiled, her lips slightly twitching downwards as she said my brother's nickname. I believe she came up with it one day when she turned my brother into a girl that one time. That nickname has stuck ever since. My brother is still peeved about it.

"Mine on the other hand is much different. We both know how his mind works, protect and control. It doesn't excuse what he did but I understand where he comes from. Still, my wishes are not his wishes. Eli only wants his court back, as you do yours . I don't have to walk down his fucking mind to know that. No doubt he was planning to keep me sedated in my past state, with no memories and no opinions of my own, I would be easier to control that way. But we both know that's not who I am. No, what I want is for us to be back in our places." Everetta continued as she looked over at me, without a word I handed her a cup of tea I had sitting by her bed stand. I'd change the tea every few hours or so just in case she woke up. She loved her tea warm with a tilt toward the hotter side.

The small warming of her smile told me her taste still hadn't changed. Earl Grey, her favorite. It was sweet but also slightly bitter, it was just right. Whispering a thank you to me she turned her gaze back on the man patiently waiting and eyeing our interactions.

"You know the laws of this realm. What Eli plans to do can not happen without the other courts deteriorating. I'm assuming he would’ve had me and you duke it out. Of course, I'd win, I always do." Evie was right. Even as Lucarious’ right eye began to twitch it was true that Evie was the strongest of the ROYALS , the five strongest fae in all the realm. The acronym was a homage to their royal lineage, or so Evie claims.

"Go fuck yourself, Everetta. Just because your affinity for creation allows you to mimic my magic doesn't mean I couldn't overpower you in terms of brute strength." The room remained chilly in the brief silence after the challenge. Evie simply stared across the bed at the man dressed in black before her.

I on the other hand had no such ease to let such treacherous words pass without retribution.

Slipping down a needle from my sleeves into my hand I fought not to slip the tip into his sun-kissed skin. My needles were always dipped in a lethal poison. The one I currently held in my hand was dosed with a drug that would stop your heart in less time than it took you to blink. The rest I had stitched in my sleeves contained a various assortment. I had made my sleeves in a way that would be easy for me to slip one needle down into my hand. Each needle was also designed in a way where there was a small valve holding the poison but once plunged into the skin the deadly serum would be released into the bloodstream.

Evie laughed, her voice ringing like little bells in the summer night, “Sure, though I think Ellie and you might tie for that round. Now handling twin blades, I'll give you that win. But, I rather like using my arrows a lot more. You won't be able to use your brute strength on me if you can't catch me. You can't cut me if you can’t even get close to me.”

"Don't degrade my art. They're not blades, they're called khopeshs. If you ask me they're far more superior to Ellie's swordplay." Lucarious like always was quick to defend his court’s art, his nose wrinkling at the comparison of a sword with his precious khopeshs. Evie’s eyes slid from Lucarious’ crossing over to meet mine, silently asking for my input on the matter.

I sighed rolling my eyes, “I grew up with the sword but I agree the khopesh is more lethal at least in the way you handle it. That's not to say that the sword isn't dangerous as well." I started helping to get the cup of tea back from Evie; setting the half-drunk tea back on the nightstand.

"Please, that thing is far too heavy to maneuver anywhere. Whereas my khopeshs are light. I could throw them from a mile away and still hit my targets." Lucarious boasted as my need to defend my dear brother rose.

"Yes, well it's so small I don't even think you could slay a beast with it. Nick it, sure. Behead it, I don't think so."

Lucarious rose his body hovered inches from the chair ready to try and end my life for the third time today before he was firmly tugged back onto it with magic. It was like an invisible hand had yanked him down forcing his body to remain seated on the carved chair. I looked back at Evie who was still smiling but the light airy warmth in the air told me it was her doing.

"Boys, let's not get sidetracked by here. The bargain, Lucarious, will you take it?" Evie cocked a brow.

"Fine. If say, I did accept that bargain of yours, what would you have me do in return? You also mentioned how Ellie doesn't wish for it so what made you change your mind? It must be quite the favor you're asking of me if you've suddenly changed your mind like that." Lucarious shrugged his composure back in place. He rolled his shoulders as if shaking off his roaring anger.

"As I’ve said before, that deal was Eli's mess. NOT MINE . I’ve never once said no, at least not if I had all my memories intact." Evie replied as Lucarious relaxed back into his seat crossing his tanned arms over his chest. His sleeves rolled up to his elbows in his black-tied suit with a red button-down underneath. "Fine, but are you alright making this bargain?" Lucarious asked, earning a glare back from Evie as she growled.

"I'm quite fine. But thank you for your concern." She reluctantly conceded as she sighed.

"You'll find out sooner or later, but Eli and I had children. Now before you get on my case, no we didn't have sex. As if I ever would with him. The realm umm, sort of gave me an egg and then they just popped into existence after the first whole ordeal with my brother. Your sister hid them from me and here we are. All I ask in return for returning you to your throne is that you find one of them for me and keep it a secret from Eli for now. I'll tell him later." Evie flipped a hand in the air as if to wave away the whole issue. I should have been shocked except I was there when it happened. I was planning something fun for us at that moment but needless to say, seeing babies that had half my brother's genes was a mood killer. As if expecting that very thing Lucarious glanced over at me arching a brow as I just smiled calmly back. Never in my life has it been so hard to grin before.

Did I wish they didn't have children, yes. But they were not just my brothers but half of Evie's magic too. So, do I hate them, no. I'm sure the realm created them for a reason, to what extent I don't know. I'm still not sure how I feel about the whole matter if I'm being honest, just that I will support Everetta in whatever she wishes. I could feel the slight claws of my nails digging into my skin as I hid them underneath the chair.

I knew she loved me and I knew my place by her side, yet. "Fletcher? What's the matter?" Everetta was saying as she too was looking at me. Though my pleasant smile might have fooled Lucarious I knew Evie was looking past my mask, as always. "Nothing. You should finish your bargain." I shook my head slightly, not moving from my seat. Frowning Evie nodded as she glanced back over at Lucarious.

"Anyways your sister’s done countless violations against me. Surely you understand my venom against her LuLu? But fear not, I will return her to you once she tells me where they are and you will get your court back, after just a tiny bit of interrogation. That's all. Don't you want your kingdom back LuLu? All I ask is that in return you help me find one of my children, and I in turn will aid you in conquering back your court. Is that a deal?" Lucarious eyed the outstretched hand Evie offered. For a moment I thought his love for Luna might make Lucarious change the details of the bargain but Evie must have known. The specific phrasing of the honey-coated words Evie sowed into her sentences was all the bait Lucarious needed. He wanted power more than anything, he wanted his court.

"Deal, but I want my sister back unharmed." Lucarious spat as Evie smiled her Cheshire grin as if she agreed.

Standing Lucarious walked over shaking Evie's offered hand to seal the bargain. Two brackets of gold formed on their wrists.

Suddenly, Lucarious was yanked down.

In a grip even I didn't see coming Everetta pulled Lucarious towards her. Sharp eagle eyes threatened golden vengeance against blackening red eyes, “If you back out of this bargain may the realm curse you for all eternity until you suffer an agony far worse than anything you have ever experienced before. Until you claw at your own heart out to seek relief from the realm and even then your soul will burn for eternity. Understood?" Everetta growled as Lucarious grinned, hiding his fear as it oozed out of him.

Hair a glow and eye bright Evie stared back emotionless, her mask off as Lucarious smiled back, “Of course. We both know this body isn't made for such unseemly things." He answered winking back at her as I watched Evie smile back, releasing the man. He didn't waste a moment before backing away until there were at least two feet between them.

Lucarious had never been one to just pee his pants. No, he was like any other fae, hiding behind a pleasant smile even when looking down at doom herself.

"Good, now then. I'm fucking tired. Leave us Lukie. I wanna take a nap before I call everyone else back for a meeting. Magics I'm drained." Evie once again dawned her playful mask as she plopped back in bed. The pillows behind her cushioned her lazy slam against the bed frame.

Lucarious chuckled as he popped himself out.

Once he was gone Evie turned over to me her weak smile telling me all I needed to know. She was drained but she also knew what we had to do.