Chapter 8

"Lucas Wright, it's impolite to enter a ladies room without her permission ," I say with slight bemusement and reprimand.

"I have a feeling you knew I was coming before even I did, seems useless to warn you of what you already know," he flex's his fingers and I watch as the skin stretch's over his slight finger bones.

I let out a small hum of agreement, putting my sliver earnings that resemble dangling leaves in, and staring at the darker shade of teal that my vanity is, "it's the principle of the matter."

His pointer finger twitches as he goes to fiddle with the curls of his hair, "my apologies, then," he says with a bowed head, "excuse my indiscretions, my lady."

I raise a brow and he looks into the reflection of my violet eyes with confusion.

I wait.

Rolling my eyes I turn my head to him slightly and look at him for the first time since he first entered the room.

Somethings sparks in his eyes, "my queen."

I look back to the mirror, slipping on a silver bracelet with a moon charm.

My sister Irene and I had had matching bracelets. It's been so long since I've worn the thing, but I find myself missing her more than usual this morning.

I stand, raiding to my full height in an attempt to intimate him.

It doesn't work. My five foot height hardy does anything for me. It's my serene smile that's the kicker.

"Are you ready?"

He eyes my attire, "are you?"

My simple, white, night shift isn't the mist flattering thing and defiantly not appropriate to wear when paying a visit to war camps.

"I- um- I can step out for a moment if you like," he stutters our whole backing slowly to the door.

I give him another low hum, "that won't be necessary."

Flicking my wrist, my outfit changes immediately. A simple gown of an aesthetically pleasing purple and blue taking the shifts place.

Walking my way to the door I look back at him, "are you?"

"Right yes," he gets out, "To the training fields," he finishes after cutting me off.

"Do not cut me off if you fancy keeping your tongue, Wright."

He tries to ignore the words, simply continuing on, but still looking chastised, "It will take a four day horse ride to get there, follow me."

A rather un-lady-like snort leaves me as I look at him in incredulity, "Grab my hand."

He looks nervous at the request, the pointer finger the the right of his middle finger twitches once more.

Perhaps he really is like his mother.Lyra used to twitch her right hand slightly to left when she was nervous, he does too.

"Let's go then, hurry up," I command while grabbing my sword of onyx color with subtle diamond ivy vines climbing up the sides from my bed side.

"Wait, whats that?" He backs up in panic, Turing both pale and little green in the same moment.

"A sword, is this some sort of joke," he doesn't respond, "No. Fine. Now lets go."

Within seconds we stand on the edge of the most beautiful forest I've ever seen. The colors are a riot of stunning vibrancy.

Though the trees are somewhat of a dull green, they catch the eye all the same. The flowers, however, are a different matter.

They stand out.

They are bright.

They are untouched by ruin.

And somehow I remember flashes of toned down pines and bright medows in my head. It's an unbelievable thought.

I've never been to these camps, only the southern ones.

Turning around to face the other direction I see hundreds, no, thousands of tents and five stone buildings with a few other stone structures littering the tent area.

Highstone, home of the war.

It's quite the contrast to the beauty of the world behind me, because that's exactly what it seems like; a different world.

Highstone looks like a depressing prison camp. Nothing like in the stories Arsetti would tell me about how alive this place must have been.

Now focusing on it I realize that it is not silent at all, no, it is loud. The clang of swords clashing, tents being hammered, people screaming orders.

It is chaos.

Organized chaos, but chaos all the same.

As I walk forward, I know every man, woman, fae, and creature can feel my presence, my very essence and the power radiating off me as I allow the damper I normally keep on myself to rip free and send a message to everyone.

I'm back.

I prowl towards the tents with quick, defined, steps. I look to Lucas, ensuring that he is still beside me.

I sweep my skirts behind me and pick up my feet again, heading towards the woman that look to be in charge.

"Evelyn Aculiac. It's been awhile," I raise a brow, "of course. You were only a baby when we last met," she reaches out her hand, "Aaliyah Keita, second in command."

I take her outstretched hand and I immediately feel her callouses, "Evelyn Aculiac, Spector queen."

"It's a pleasure to meet you properly."

"I can ensure you, the pleasure is really all mine, Aaliyah."

Her smile is wicked enough to match mine.

O0oo0O

"As I'm sure you are all aware, my name is Evelyn Aculiac. On previous occasions I've been thought to unfairly cruel and most of you have been told of these past indiscretions. My name holds less meaning here as we are all equals in the war camps. We are all warriors of not only battlefields, but life."

"The people here aren't ill minded. We all know war is coming. So I only ask this, do you fight with me, or against me?"

O0oo0O

When I had finished speaking into the runed stones that had ensured every member of the heard me, I had stepped down and spoken with Aaliyah Keita about changing around training regiments.

After hammering out a few details, Aaliyah had to leave for the second mooned training routines, so I decided to take a close look at these trees, which I now sit crosses legged in front of.

The trees remind me of Gavrins eyes. But I stop my line of though immediately. If I start down this road I'll start a never ending spiral of a despair I won't be able to pull myself out of.

I feel a shift in the air, someone is here. I, all at once, flick my wrist, sending the figure crashing into the closest tree and keep the person pinned there.

I look at them, "Leander Night, I presume."

"Leander Varian Night, really. Evelyn Aculiac, I presume."

"I like you. You're not afraid."

"What's to be afraid of. You are my queen, not my enemy."

"To many see the two words as interchangeable."

"Well, I just so happen to be fond of you too," he flashed me a smile, "I bond fast."

"As do I. But I'm definitely not so quick to trust."

"You and I are the same, then."

I nod in agreement even though his words are far from the truth, "cut from the same cloth, one might say."

Looking at him he just seems so pure. So good. So very far from me, so very full of life he is.

"You're not what I had imagined the queen would be like."

A compliment, maybe?

At this point we are both sitting in the grass looking out at that forest that seems so very familiar. The air is touched with purple specks and the sight of me and commander is just so unreal.

"And I still do not think you understand not only the magnitude of my power, but the magnitude of my control over this world."

Manipulation; my favored tactic for the majority of my allied friends. And much more severe punishments for those who aren't friendly with me. Lets say, to put it simply, that very few can be spared from my wrath when I'm on one of my rages.

"Again, I do not believe I have underestimated you at all, I know exactly who I'm dealing with and I know perfectly well you could kill me and everyone in this camp with barely half a though and no regret. The thing is though, I have a kingdom to protect, a duty to the crown I swore to always serve, and if my life is the price for peace, so be it."

I lean in towards him, brushing my lips against his ear, "my entire life I have waited for peace to cross these lands. Peace does not exist. Not for me, not for you and certainly not for this world."

"I choose to believe otherwise," he says almost breathlessly.

I sit up straight again, pulling away and he almost looks disappointed.

"You have balls, I'll give you that. Ambition too. But this isn't about belief, it's what hundreds of years of experience has shown me, no matter. I have plans to plan."

"Very well, I'll lead the way."

Following people isn't really my thing, but the second I had made contact with Leander I knew that I could trust him.

And this was strange, to say the least.

"One more thing, you're to be instated as my personal adviser and a member of the infernal council."

He only stares at me in disbelief, mouth open slightly, "you're quite the little tool, aren't you."

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