The cold never left.

Trix knew he could function normally, but he could also feel the seed planted inside him by Lucille the moment he'd tried to draw some out of the energy from Kat. It was even more invasive than his brush with Wolfbane had been. Had Trix known what lay dormant inside Kat, he would've never touched her.

But in that moment, when she had aimed all her magic at Jinx, it felt like he didn't have much of a choice.

Cage had helped him escape his own mind and had reduced the threat to something minimal. Yet, it was most obviously still there. Trix felt it in the way his hands froze, even if he wore gloves.

"Yer a weird one, ain't ya?" One-Legged Pete chewed on tobacco while sitting on a crate outside an apothecary in the poorer side of town.

Trix sat on the ground, his back against the wall, surveying the crowd. He just hummed at the affirmation, the words not important enough to warrant him coming out of his own head.

"With yer gloves and yer creepy eyes."

"What are you getting at, you old baboon?" Trix mumbled. He still wore his eye patch, and this time, his green eye was free to observe his surroundings.

"I heard yeh've been going around town spreading rumors." Old Pete spit out his tobacco and took another mouthful to chew.

Trix had known the man since he was nothing but an urchin on the streets of Valona. He was one of the few people who was kind enough to throw leftover food his way. That did not mean that they were friends, but Pete still knew his way on the streets and after being gone for so long, Trinx needed the connection.

"I haven't been spreading rumors. I've been listening to them."

"Ah, naw. I heards yeh claim that this imposter on the throne is the rightful king. That's dangerous, it is."

"I don't know if you're aware, but he apparently is the rightful king."

"He ain't wearing no crown without a coronation."

"There will be a coronation." The words only intensified the chill inside him, as if the news didn't please the lost piece of soul still residing within his being.

"Hah! I'll believe that when I sees it!"

Pete had always been a moron like that, so Trix didn't see a point in setting him straight. Instead, he focused on that slither of cold, trying to see if he could at least poke it.

"Watcha wearing gloves for?" Pete snorted after a few minutes of silence.

"This place is filthy." The answer came easy, he'd used it a million times before.

"They seem to be fine leather, tho."

"Try to take anything off me, you old goat, and I'll leave you floating belly down in the sewers."

Pete laughed, the sound ragged and breathy. "Yeh always had balls bigger than yer head."

Except this time he could truly back it up, unlike when he used to be a poor defenseless child. "Want to test me?"

"Nah." The old man continued to chew on his tobacco, looking out into the street as well.

People seemed less harassed than they had a mere week ago. Trix had no idea what Cage had been thinking, striding out of the palace with no guards, but his speech and the truth of his legacy had spread like wildfire among the people who weren't there to witness it. Surprisingly enough, the poorer subjects were most inclined to hope that something would finally change.

They even ignored General Harkiss' soldiers who lately filled the streets. But they weren't harassing the poor, not anymore. Instead, they were rushing from one training ground to the next, barely sparing anyone a glance. The people liked that, and rumors started flying that the king had finally humbled the proud general.

Trix believed that, and a part of him wanted to sneak into the Grand Palace again just to ask Cage what he did. Being out on the streets was lonely. He'd gotten so used to always having Jazz, Jinx and Harrison there that it ached to be without them.

The thought of Harrison still made him wince. It was hard to come to terms with the fact that Kat had accidentally killed him with her magic. It was hard to accept anything having to do with Kat. He'd really liked her, and it was obvious that Cage was smitten with her. But now, thanks to Cecille, Cage was alone, confused, and faced with a plethora of traitorous people.

It was Trix's job to ensure that he didn't get stabbed in the back by his subjects as well. Fortunately, it seemed that most of them were eagerly awaiting the coronation. Sure, most of the anticipation was due to the free food and drinks, but they also seemed to hope that his reign would be better than Fherras'. Trix fleetingly wondered what they'd think once Endir declared war on them.

The thought of war once again increased the chill. With a frown, he focused inward, trying to determine the triggers for it. It felt... odd. As if the thought of war made him insecure, unsure of how to proceed. Except he had no business feeling that way.

He took in a sharp breath. Was it possible for that tiny thing left inside him to be Kat rather than Lucille? He couldn't trust it, he knew that, but still... It was Kat he'd touched, and yet, despite how his curse worked, he had no inkling of her thoughts, feelings or history. Only pure power invaded him, effectively bringing him down.

I...Can you hear me? It was a long shot, but if there was any way to communicate with Kat via this strange link, he'd take it.

There was no answer and no stirring in what he now took to be a bond. Yet, the feeling of uncertainty remained. He gritted his teeth, frustrated beyond belief that he had no idea what this could mean, had no idea who to ask... His thoughts screeched to a halt.

Allie. 

Even if she wasn't a fairy, her kind had a lot more experience with magic than humans did. And he hadn't seen her in days anyway. He stood, brushing the dust off his trousers.

"Where yeh going?" Pete asked.

"None of your business, old man."

"One of these days, I won't take yeh in no more."

"As if! The street outside your damn shop is not yours. I can sit here as much as I want." And if it weren't right across the street from the tavern, he wouldn't even be there.

"Yer a weird one."

Trix ignored him and headed towards the harbor. His heart already beat faster at the thought of seeing Alathea, and the warmth inside him chased the cold away. He froze in the middle of the road. A few men smashed into him and let out curses, but he focused inward. 

Was this just because he was looking forward to seeing Allie and he was no longer monitoring the strange feeling, or did it actually retreat in the face of strong, positive feelings? In the face of love? The chill seemed to retreat even more as he thought the word. It only made him move faster, almost running towards the harbor.

He knew Allie wasn't there. Hell, it was crawling with the most unsavory characters. But he moved away from the bustle and hustle, under the bluffs, to a secluded stretch of beach. With longing, he glanced towards the rickety path which led to the lone pier where Jazz used to run his business, where the Jolly Marauder used to dock. He had no idea he could miss a ship that much.

But it wasn't the ship. It was the adventures they'd had while sailing it. It was the home he'd made there, the room he had all to himself, his banter with Harrison. The old man's abysmal cooking.

The pain inside his chest seemed to draw the foreign presence back, as if it were feeding off negative feelings. Or as if it were suffering together with him.

Who are you? Kat or Lucille?

He reached the beach and sat on the sand, leaning his back against the cliff wall. The sun was on the brink of setting, its lower edge mere inches away from the surface of the water. The breeze ruffled his hair, and he closed his eyes, a smile spreading across his face.

Yes, he'd grown up as a street rat, but the sea was his true home, and the salty air would always make him feel better. Lulled by the sound of the waves, he let himself fall asleep.

He awoke to a light touch when the moon was high over the horizon. He wasn't worried, because the feel of her was ingrained into his skin. Allie was there, caressing his cheek, a soft smile on her face.

"Hello, beautiful," he said. She was as entrancing as ever, her sea-colored eyes warm with love, her long black hair covering her perfect breasts. Her lower half was still the fish tail with the colorful scales.

"It has been so long, my love," she breathed.

"Too long." He rose higher, planting a soft kiss on her lips. "I'm so sorry that I couldn't come earlier."

"I know what you're doing. It's what you have to do." She sounded sad, and it only made him hold on to her tighter.

He shifted into a sitting position so that he could pull her in his lap and truly kissed her. She answered with abandonment and enthusiasm and it only made him miss her more, even if she was in his arms. It was his fate to fall so deeply and completely in love with someone who needed to spend time under water.

"Oh, Trixie," she said the moment they broke apart. "I wish we could be together all the time."

He just nodded, burying his face in her hair. It smelled like the sea he loved so much. "I wish things would be less complicated."

Allie stiffened and pulled away, glancing at him with shrewd eyes. "Am I to find out the reason you left inland and came seeking me?"

"Do I need another reason than that I missed you?"

She let out a musical laugh. "I know you. If there's one thing you love more than me, it's what you believe to be your purpose. And let's not fool ourselves. Your new king has given you purpose."

Trix didn't like the sound of her words. In some ways, she was right, but it also seemed to minimize his feelings for her. "I don't--"

She raised her hand. "I don't need your undying devotion. I'm an immortal creature of the sea. You will be dust and I will mourn you. But because of that, I will not ask you to pledge your life to me. Just your love."

He clenched her hand between his own. "You know you have that."

"I do, and it is enough. Now, what is it you wish to ask?"

It was hard to lose track of why he was there with her presence. If it was up to him, he'd damn everything, join her in the sea and live with her forever. The prospect of that actually happening sent a pang of guilt into his stomach. Maybe she knew him better than he thought.

"When I touched Kat..." His voice faded because the expression on Allie's face changed from one of love and curiosity to a storm cloud. "Well, I told you about the aftermath."

"That you did." Her voice was filled with venom. "Those arrogant fairies and their games."

Trix was a little taken aback that Allie didn't appear to be mad at Kat herself. "So you think Kat had nothing to do with this?"

"Kat is a human. Kat is a pawn, just like all of you."

"Well, Kat is not exactly fully human. Lucille claimed she's her direct descendant."

Allie let out a hiss. "Such an abomination."

"It's not her fault."

"Of course not. It's never our fault how we are brought into this world." Her tone caught a wistful edge and he sensed the danger.

"Everything alright back home?"

"Tell me about you first."

So there was. Even if Allie was a mermaid princess, she was considered the runt of her family and was often bullied by the others. It was most likely why she'd even thrown a glimpse his way. He would never stop being grateful for that, but that didn't mean he didn't wish he could protect her.

"Well, you know that after I touched Kat, I took what I assumed was a piece of Lucille instead of her powers. Cage helped me destroy that."

"And yet you mentioned the lingering presence."

Trix nodded, trying to word what followed in an understandable way. "I think that maybe it's not still Lucille. Maybe it's a bit of Kat herself."

Allie tilted her head, curiosity making its way through the disgust. "What makes you say that?"

"The chill seems to intensify and then lessen when I think about certain things. And it comes with the ghost of feelings. For instance, earlier today I was thinking about the incoming war and this sliver of uncertainty broke through. As though Kat is afraid to start a war as well."

She tapped her fingers over her full lips, her eyes lost in the distance. "That can still come from you, my love. Or from Lucille."

"It also seems to slink away whenever I think about love. As if she no longer knows how to."

"If you are right, that is truly sad."

It would also explain how Kat could attack her former country. "It is sad. But is it possible? Could I really be feeling what she's feeling?"

Allie turned pensive. "I'm not sure. Your curse is rather unusual, and the implications of Lucille in this entire mess is unheard of. But I guess that it could happen. After all, you do draw the essence out of people."

The moment she answered, he realized he didn't truly want to know. But now at least he could consider how to use it to their advantage. It could be a clue regarding Kat's future actions against her. A frightening thought took over.

"Do you think it's a two-way link?"

Allie fortunately shook her head. "No. She doesn't have your power. There's a bit of her inside you, but she had no means to take a part of you. And given how you mentioned that most of the presence was Lucille, she might not even be aware that she left anything behind."

"And by she do you mean Lucille or Kat?"

"Lucille. I doubt Kat has any idea what's happening. This... She..." Allie bit her lip in a rare show of uncertainty. "I can only imagine what she is going through right now. As I see it, there are only two options. Either she realizes she destroyed the Jolly Marauder and potentially killed all of you, Cage included, in which case she must be distraught, or Lucille worked her magic and Kat has no idea what happened."

Trix had never considered that Kat wouldn't be herself anymore and the idea was terrifying. A big part of him was counting on her love for Cage to stop her from doing anything too horrible as the heir of Endir. But with that gone and with Lucille's influence, the danger was far greater than he'd expected.

"If you're right and she could not remember what happened, it could be very problematic."

Allie hummed in agreement. "Which brings me to my news. The merfolk have analyzed the information I brought to them, and my father believes that it is a lot more likely for Lucille to have taken Kat's memories to make sure she can use her against Iride."

He winced. "I can see why they would think that."

"We do not interfere in the wars of humans," she continued. "Only that this time, the Tournament of Champions has begun."

"The say what now?"

"Lucille has challenged Cecille for the position of High Fairy."

"Wait, but isn't Lucille a Fae?"

Allie shook her head. "Their species is the same. And just like Cecille won the last game and the throne, so now Lucille hopes to win it back. If she does, the consequences will be dire not just on humans, but on every living being."

That was a lot to take in, but Trix could read between the lines. "Does that mean that the merfolk will get involved?"

"No decision was made. However, we will be keeping an eye on both kingdoms to see how the conflict evolves."

"Do you think...?" He stopped, because he'd be a complete asshole if he asked that much of him.

She smiled at him, the knowing look on her face clearly showing that she knew exactly what he wanted. "Why love, are you asking me to spy on your behalf?"

"I would never dream of putting you in danger."

"I've already decided to do it. But be wary. Not all merfolk are on Cecille's side. Fairies tend to be arrogant and ill mannered. And I think you are well aware of Cecille's own mistakes."

He was indeed. Jazz. Cage. Her refusal to come forward with what she wanted. Trix wondered if Cage even knew about this Trial of Champions. He should definitely mention it.

"How does this trial thing work?"

"No one is sure aside from the fairies themselves, but the last time it happened, the rulers of both Endir and Iride were killed in the fray. So it is safe to assume that the fairies will be manipulating and using the humans as well as any other magical creatures to win an advantage."

Trix winced at this. Was that what Cecille was doing when she cursed Jazz to see the strings of fate? Gaining an advantage against Lucille who could not glimpse into the future? And Cage... His prowess was unmistakable. He was strong, fast, could take a crazy amount of damage, and was very intelligent. The only drawback was that he was also technically dead. Only magic kept him alive, and if Lucille managed to somehow cut his link to Cecille, he was a goner.

"I know what you're thinking," Allie said, drawing him out of his thoughts. "You must let your king know about this."

"It's weird to hear you calling Cage that."

"I have nothing but respect for him."

Trix did too. Only now it was doubled by fear. The thought of Cage stirred the chill inside him, as if it was curious to know more. He blocked his thoughts, just in case that thing was not Kat but Lucille. He needed to decide how to approach that issue, too. And that made something else clear.

His mission was over. It was time to return to court.

⚜⚜⚜

You get the Trix POV!

I know this is longer than usual, but I didn't want to break it up, because it's fun! And look, a potential advantage. Or horrible confusion. Take it any way you like.

It appears that the merfolk understand fairies better because they guessed what Lucille did. But now, with this information... Let's see how things play out.

Thanks for reading!