Chapter 38

Once upon a time...

That's how most stories start. Once upon a time the girl walked down the street, the big bad wolf huffed and puffed, the little pigs got eaten. So much judgment and finiality are in the words once upon a time.

My story didn't start that way, in fact, my story begins and somewhat ends in death. My story is filled with open ends and jagged shards that don't quite fit. Stories Humans tell all end, mine doesn't. Human stories wrap up into nice packages, tied with tiny bows to further their finality.

I only wish that life could be so simple. I can only dream of a time where there is no racism, no discrimination. But wishes hardly ever come true and my own are far from ever coming to fruition.

My happily ever after can take a back seat, because I am never getting one.

The people around me, are never getting one either, though they deserve all the happiness in the world. Draven and Leander are walking with me around the city. Aaliyah, Elliot and Gislee had gone down a different path. I think they went to the shopping district.

I figure that now is as good as any time to broach the subject of Haley Atkinsons, formerly Nivirah. I sweep my gaze across the lower city. We walk down one of the paths carved from the mountain, overlooking the city alight with life and beauty.

I've never felt so relaxed and warm in my life. I'll never truly fully let my guard down, but this is as close as I'm going to get. This must be what bliss feels like.

"With Haley's death, would you consider openly being together?" I ask them. I don't want to pry into their relationship, but it looks like they've been together as lovers for a while and I can't help my curiosity.

Leander, looking out at the stunning view, says, "We haven't talked much about it. We never hoped-" he cuts off, trying to keep his voice level, "We never thought something like this would happen. Nivirahs don't just die off. Besides," he sighs, sounding weary, "Draven doesn't have an heir, our relationship would be frowned upon and right now isn't the time to be facing that kind of backlash."

It's clear that Draven has no interest in talking about this. He wants to walk away and pretend that I know nothing, but I just can't let this go. I know that I'm being awful, but considering how my own experience has been, I think that it's almost my responsibility and obligation to help them.

Leander sounds curious about the whole thing. While Draven must be facing his own struggles, Leander is most likely trying to dodge marriage contracts and come ons.

I hesitate wondering if I should say anything else, I'm already toeing the line here, but I do anyway, "there will never be a right time. Backlash will always come back to haunt you, but if you want to do it, do it. I can't guarantee we'll all live through this."

They say nothing, but Leander reaches for Dravens hand and gives it a squeeze before pulling away. Dravens looks anxious at the gesture, not used to public displays of affection.

After so long in the dark, it must be hard. Then again, it's not like seeing them together is going to make me a gossip suddenly.

Leander, still not looking at me, rakes hand through his blonde mess of hair, "How did you do it?"

A smile works its way onto my lips, "I was young when I was married off to Rebekah. Too young to really understand what being with another female meant. At the time, people disliked that I wouldn't be producing an heir, but after I became queen and they started to develop hatred for me, people were glad that I wouldn't. They didn't want the Aculiacs to come back to full strength. They still don't."

"Can you- do you think you might-" Leander tries to get out, but can't quite. I look at him for the first time since we first walked up the hundreds of stairs that lead to this section of the mountain. My violet eyes clash with his brown ones, my own wide open, his slightly lidded.

You wouldn't think that he's a battle general. He always looks a little lazy, even when he's calling out orders. I guess I hadn't looked at him before, really looked and paid attention.

"Yes, of course." I answer his unspoken question, striking out my hand for him to meet, holding my other out for Draven to clasp in his own two.

Again, Draven looks like he wants to do anything but be involved, but a hard look from Leander makes him take my hand gently and sceptically.

I focus my attention on their mental shields as I dive through my memories, searching for the right one before I pull the three of us into it.

Tears streak my face. I can't get to flow to stop as blood coats my skin and rocks fly my way. My lips are quivering uncontrollably and Rebekah takes my hand, unwilling to let go even as I try to keep to myself.

Aries had said that I was to be married off on my fifteenth birthday, so here I am, married to a woman I hardly know, being assaulted by a crowd of rowdy Varsillians, angry at me for marrying a woman I didn't want to marry.

I try to close my eyes, but they are firmly stuck open. I don't want to watch every inch of my dignity fall away, but I just can't look away. How could I?

Rebekah doesn't even look phased at the crowds that throw rotten food, buckets of blood and rocks at us. Flame knows this isn't what I expected this day to be.

Sure, I knew it would be miserable. I never thought it could be quite so bad. Apparently, Rebekah Shariah had expected this. She had thrown up a shield the second we had started the procession outside, but she hadn't shielded me and I didn't expect her to.

The draconian witch queen was told to be no warmer than a block of ice and it shows. Every line of her body is stiff, but not so still that she looks tense. Her eyes glare into everyone and everything, including me, as she sweeps her piercing gaze through the undeterred crowd of ruffians.

I want nothing more than to run away and hide, but knowing that Irene is somewhere in that crowd makes me stop crying. I need to salvage what's left of me and stop feeling sorry for myself.

This is my new reality and I need to stop being so childish and young.

I straighten my back, harden my violet eyes and don a cruel smirk, readying myself for a new kind of war.

The three of us fall out of the memory and the two of them stumble back a few steps. Draven straightens out his suit and Leander looks somewhat startled. He has every right too. His tawny brown eyes look distressed and I don't want to push for conversation this time. Know when enough is enough.

I cough into my hand, feeling nervous that those two were just in my memories and I'm not sure if they only saw one memory or multiple. I'm still working on the skill and I hope to the Hells that I didn't just damage their minds or traumatize them.

The lights are slowly going off around the city and we really need to start heading back. Sector five doesn't normally go lights out for another hour or two, but it will take a while to make it back down the steps.

I would offer to shadow port us, but I know that it makes Leander queasy and I'm sure he's still reeling from what he just saw, "We should start to head back, yeah?"

Draven nods, straightening his tie with both hands, his face still pale, "Of course."

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