Cracked Shell pt.2

**Trevor POV**

Seething with stress and anger, I grabbed the guard by his scratchy uniform. "What were you doing? Two citizens died on your watch! How did a mass murderer find entry into the Queen's royal courtyard? What if King Ulrich or Princess Aileen were visiting with her kids? You'd have their blood on your hands!"

Water from the air around the guard's head was sucked out. His mouth flew open, failing to gather any precious oxygen. The man's eyes became bloodshot, and his nose started trickling blood. Something crossed between hacking and hiccuping sounded from his now chapped lips.

The guard did not deserve my anger. It was more at myself. I'd failed to help Natalie just as I failed my true love. And now I could be too late.

Lightning struck in the courtyard, breaking me out of my rage-induced trance.

The guard's eyes rolled to the back of his head, yet, I held onto my water talent. Appalled, I unclenched my hand. The guard was not able to breathe yet. Oxygen flowed back around the guard's head. His lungs must not have figured out oxygen was available again.

Shit, what did I almost do?!

The man coughed. Okay, he was alive enough. "Get someone to take this man to the infirmary.."

With my knees threatening to buckle under me, one knight behind me, and the other aiding the guard, I entered the lilac safe haven once for the second time today. Comical how a few hours ago, I barged in here happy and whole. Now I walked along the lilac bushes feeling less than a man.

The rain wasn't heavy but wet and cold. Droplets of water would typically cool me and make me feel relaxed in my element. Not today. No, each plop chilled me to the bone.

Taking in all my surroundings, I was shocked to find no traces of blood on the soggy grass or small puddles. Knots formed above my eyebrows. Perhaps they were attacked and drowned? In this dimension, killing without a trail of blood was near impossible; unless poison was used. A floating death. Did they get that mercy?

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. The pond, right. Come on! You have to walk forward. You can't correctly analyze the scene if you don't see the bodies.

I had barely cleared the bushes of lilacs when the scent of burnt flesh hit my nostrils. Sour bile rose up my throat. Copper, fire, and charred flesh outpowered all the flowering plants. The putrid stench was too familiar.

My own skin seemed to catch fire, remembering how Shiuku had used fire to ignite my flesh years ago. All my skin had been scorched, and the DSS healers had a hell of a time. It was impressive; I only had two blemishes on my otherwise perfect complexion. Those two patches of scarred tissue on my back began itching.

Please, God, don't let Natalie have died in the agony of flames. Drowning was better than that! Let her have at least passed easily.

Holding my breath, I made my way over to the two bodies lying beside one another. Neither were smoking anymore, if you could call them bodies. Both people were charred beyond recognition. Upon closer inspection, the blackened remains still had a few teeth in what used to be their mouths. The first corpse held only three teeth near the back of the mouth. The smaller one had one stump in the front, and that was it. Broken white shards were mixed in with the remains. In the other dimension, I would send the teeth to match up with the victims' dental records.

Above the bodies, I found a helmet. It must have belonged to that worthless knight. I got closer to the small, crumbling frame. My pulse thumped in my ears as I searched for any indication that the little pile of burned flesh wasn't my Cupcake.

In the remains, I noticed something shining. I gagged slightly as I dug for whatever was twinkling at me.

I used the rain to pool around my hands. Wiggling my fingers, the fried-up skin washed off the item. A fake pink gemstone winked at me from the center of a glitter-covered strawberry. A tiny teddy bear clutched onto the fruit, its bead eyes staring back at me from his short chain.

No one in this dimension would have such a cute bracelet. They would probably think this sweet teddy was evil or something. Unnatural, so obviously the Devil's work. Natalie would have hidden the cute teddy under her sleeves. I bet she had some sentimental value to it.

I placed the cheap piece of jewelry up to my heart like it was the most precious thing I owned. Holding the bracelet, I glanced up at the dark clouds. Light rain bounced off my face and rolled down my cheeks. Thunder boomed somewhere north of me. I used the opportunity God gifted me with a golden chance to scream in anguish.

If the two knights heard me, they said nothing.

This was my fault, and there was nothing I could do. Not like I could find a necromancer to bring my sweet Cupcake back to me.

Back to me… I laughed internally. She was never mine. The girl who held back her words, making each one precious, had made herself clear so many times without speaking. She wanted me to stay away, and now she was forever beyond my reach. I should have listened.

"My prince, shall I send more men here?" A brave knight approached me. "They can handle this while you prepare for your banquet."

I tilted my head back up to the weeping sky. "No, it's raining too heavily."

"It's barely a drizzle?"

The other knight rejoined us, much more intuitive than his partner. "Let's wait for the rain to clear. Prince Trevor can prepare for the banquet when he is ready, Charl- Princess!" The second knight bowed deeply, a concerned face. Unsure of how the Princess would react. "I apologize for the late acknowledgment., but you shouldn't be here unless with the royal family's permission..."

Lydia waltzed in, oblivious to the dead around her, and gave a cheery grin. Very fake; it looked like a hollow skull with a penciled-in grin. More like an act again.

Her makeup was still perfect despite the drizzling rain. Strange. I held my palm out to feel the droplets, but none came. At some point, the rain had ended. I found a new respect for the second knight. I really should learn his name.

"Where are those knights Princess Aileen loaned you?" I asked, suspicious and drained.

She wrinkled her button nose, "We were going to...find you. I was frightened ...then the...assassin came..and killed them. I… I just barely got away!" She sniffled pathetically.

Great, I would have to compensate my sister now. At least they did their job and protected Lydia.

"You knew I was investigating the assassin. This was foolish, Princess. Why didn't you find someone else to escort you?"

"Because I love and… miss you so much. Now I only trust you… to guard me. Please don't leave my...side again. I d... don't I mean… I'm so scared."

"You should have found someone sooner. You could've been killed."

"I wanted to find you. Besides… you can defend...me a...and we can talk about babies and marriage. I know I'll be a great Mother."

Great mother? From what I had seen, Lydia only cared about her personal agenda.

"Yes, let us hope for a better one than Mother Gothel from Tangled." My voice was dry. I couldn't express any emotion in my quip.

"Thank you! I'll be even more wondrous than Gothel from the land of Tangled." The Princess latched onto me, pressing my arm between her breasts.

Her heavy perfume invaded my nostrils. Did she bathe in it as a sign of her wealth? I heard of some nobility having ridiculous and unnecessary practices. I missed the sweet sugary strawberry scent of my Cupcake. Unconsciously, my fist clenched around the bracelet.

Lydia batted her long lashes at me. "I would love to, my future King. As we spend more time together, I know you'll fall for me as I have you. Let me be your future. I'll bear you children. Anything you want for our family."

I took a quick scan behind me. Muttering an apology, I snaked my arm around Princess Lydia. She gasped, not expecting my embrace.

"Just give me some time." I faked a smile. "You see, I truly did love the girl whose remains sit by the pond. In time I will fall for the beauty in my arms." She didn't blush as Natalie would, but she did snuggle closer to me.

I felt no warmth from her. Not her fault; I was just empty, a cracked shell.

"You'll be back to your true self in time, love."