Chapter 11

When I arrive in my own room, filled with few colors and looking rather drab, I send a very detailed message to Val, letting her know that she and the others are free to get up into the HighStone war camps and help with trainings task of helping recruits.

I remember when I had first met Valerie. She was afraid and young, she had no idea who she was. Val, in the beginning, had been afraid of everything.

She hadn't even let me hold her hand, brush her hair out. She had been fearful of my touch, the poisonous queen. But the fact of the matter is, is that she had no where else to go and no one left to run to.

Her village had been burned to the ground. Three had survived. Val, Eva and Mary.

They were the original Spector, but Eva and Mary were human, they died fifteen years after they were recruited.

I may not miss them too much, but I know that Val does. They were like my daughters, but I knew I could never get to attached to them because in the end I knew they would die.

Waking up the this morning was one of the hardest thing I have ever had to do, knowing I have to face the world today. Knowing that I have face war and councils and Aaliyah Keita.

The woman who seems to know something that I do not.

A knock at my door startles me. No one startles me.

Next thing the doors are open and in walks, Lucas Wright.

My immediate thought is that at least a he learned some manners after yesterday. Aaliyah is beside him. I am almost relieved that she is here. I feel a sense of familiarity when she is near.

Lucas Wright immediately goes into a bow upon entering. The bow is so low, I wonder if he's trying to compensate for mistakes made yesterday and getting ahead to today.

His smile is edged, but not sharp. Never sharp. He is a Varsillian, he has a backbone, but he isn't wicked and his face reflects that, "Queen Aculiac."

His voice is so very smooth that I feel myself being drawn into the whole charade. Bat the thought I can barely look at him. I will not be drawn to a mortal man.

Whereas Lucas was grand in his bow, Aaliyah simply gives me a nod saying sharply, "Morning."

"Morning to you too, General Keita," I nod my head in her direction, finishing clasping my earring that looks like a golden leaf hanging down, going to look at Lucas next, "Lucas Wright."

"We've got to get going on the day, plans to plot, you know?" Aaliyah says as she goes over to look at the sword of onyx coloring, she picks it up, running her finger along the sharp edge.

Lucas looks uncomfortable, shifting in his feet with nerves, his hand twitching. The blade cuts like butter, her fingers skin is cut open. It's happens so quick and cleanly that I'm sure she doesn't even know the cuts there until it starts to bleed.

She sets the blade down, her cut healing as quickly as it was inflicted, "nice blade." Her smile is wicked. It always is. Her smile seems to always be edged with the promise of pain.

My laughter is like honey as Lucas looks to me, wondering what damage I'm going to do to Keita. But I do nothing, only laugh at her.

To me the laughter and the smile is fake and hollow, but to them, it's the best mood they've ever seen me in.

The thought makes me want to vomit, but I hold it in, letting my smile float as I speak again in a light voice, "Well then, we must get going, we wouldn't want to keep anyone waiting."

"You should get out of your night clothing first," Aaliyah remarks as I once again go to walk out the door.

Every flame damned morning. I always forget about the clothing. When I had been down in the cells, I hadn't ever worried about clothing, only my words and my expressions, my ability to cut Simone downs with a few breaths, with just a look, with barely any words at all.

Clothing hadn't mattered then and I still haven't quite adjusted to needing it.

With a snap of my fingers my clothes are changed from a flimsy nightgown to fighting leathers and my hair in in tight braids.

Just another one of the many conveniences magic bring to the table.

"Like I said, let's go then."

They take my outstretched hands without hesitation this time, even if Lucas looks like he's about hurl at the very thought of moving through shadows again.

In a snap we are back at the camps. Everything is going as it should be going.

"Morning," I nod my head to the group of maybe ten soldiers."

They all mumble greetings, not looking to happy to see me.

After a moment of dead silence I pull out an apple, taking bite, talking with my mouth filled, "Who here has killed someone?"

They look somewhat shocked at my question and even more shocked when one of them raises their hand. I guess they don't know each other as well as they claim, then.

I take another bite, letting the juice run down my face, "what's your name?"

"Aaron."

Another bite, the sound is the only one. They are either afraid or well instructed by someone who's afraid of me, "how did it feel?"

He looks uncomfortable, I guess that's just one if my many talents, "I- um- I don't- I don't really know. It was fine, I guess."

As I finish my apple of there is a moment of tense silence, everyone hanging on my every breath as they wait for me to speak, to do something.

"What about you General Keita?"

Her lips stretch up into a what somewhat resembles if twisted smile of malice, "it's feels euphoric."

I chuck the core to the side, "well, when I kill, I get giddy, excited."

I sigh, they look repulsed, "war is coming and you'll hesitate before you kill. I can't have that. That hesitation will get you killed."

I pint to the smallest girl in the group, "come here," she does, I point to Aaron, "you too."

I hold up my palm, a young girl, previously hidden is now seen. She looks young, she is dirty, filthy, even. Her clothes are ripped and she looks empty. I nod to the soldier girl, "kill her."

She gulps backing up. As she does so I'm immediately in front of her, a knife at her throat, "in a battle that hesitation would have her killed. Aaron."

He steps forward and cuts to girls throws open, she drops. I hold the young soldier girl as tears pool in her eyes.

We continue like that for the rest of the day and as night falls Aaliyah returns to my side after she had been with Leander the whole day and Lucas comes closer to my side.

"You scared my soldiers half to death. Good work."

I lift my brows, a haughty look slipping perfectly into place, "I live to please, m'lady."

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