CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
I was handed over to Corbin while Xavier was led into a room inside the dome we'd walked into.
It looked like a makeshift one with no roof, just plastic that was put together with a door in front of it.
I had no idea what was inside it and Corbin held me back when I attempted getting closer to get a better view.
“You don't want to attract too much attention to you. If they find out you mean anything to him, you'll be used in the tests. That'll probably break him,” Corbin advised me but I shook my head.
“That's a little bit dramatic, Corbin. He doesn't like me that much,” I scoffed at the thought.
“You really don't get it, do you?”
“Get what?” I asked, looking at his face. I hadn't spoken to Corbin in like.. forever and I noticed he'd even grown a longer beard but standing this close to him, I realized I didn't feel anything for him; not even the absolute disgust I'd felt after Xy’thern injected me with his venom.
“Xavier would burn the world and the next one before he'd let anyone hurt you and he's got his ky’rhan's support on that which is absolutely rare. If they find that out, they'll put false images of you getting hurt and if he fails to choose the interest of our people over you, he'll lose his crown,” he explained.
“That's absurd, Corbin. I've literally been seeing the side of him I saw when we first met. He called me dumb,” I added the last bit with irritation and I hated how whiny I sounded but I couldn't get over it so fast.
“I'm sure he has a reason for that so go on easy on him, hm?” He said and I looked at Corbin in a different light.
“You've changed since we last spoke,” I commented but before he could reply, the entire dome shook from the sound of Xavier’s voice as he screamed.
“Don't move!” He said through gritted teeth.
“But he's getting hurt!” I exclaimed.
“He's stronger than you give him credit for. And they're not physically hurting him, just using his past as a weapon against him,”
“You knew about all of this and you didn't tell him before he went in there? You could have prevented all of this! What if he loses?” I snapped at him.
“I know because I helped refresh the system. It was outdated and hadn't been used in decades. It would have been worse if I didn't intervene and I'm not allowed to say anything that might sabotage the experience. A Prince must pass through fire to become our King. We accept nothing less,”
“But he's in pain,” I groaned, the sound of his pants and shouts driving a knife deep into my heart.
“Trust him, he's strong enough to conquer it. He's done it physically, he'll be able to do it mentally too,” he said with steely eyes.
“You mean whatever he's seeing in there has happened to him before?”
“Xavier has lived a difficult life but he doesn't act like it. Don't pity him, he hates it,” he advised but I couldn't help it.
I'd judged him so harshly but he was probably just a victim like the rest of us, shaped by a world that demanded we follow its rules or die.
His father was truly a monster if what I suspected was true.
I hoped against all odds that his physical strength transcended his mind.
“What would happen if he loses?”
“I will be made to go through it and that'll keep happening until every strong ABC goes through it. Whoever succeeds becomes the King,” he said to me without meeting my eyes.
Xavier said he trusted him but then, what if he was wrong about that?
I remembered Theresa telling me about their relationship and how he was the only one he allowed to get close to him but their parents had obviously been pitting them against each other and I somehow suspected King Seth gave him this important position in the state because he wanted to put him in his place.
I doubt that would have gone well with Corbin’s parents.
“Are your parents here?” I asked, curious to know a little bit about the guy. I only had basic interactions with him.
“Just my father. He's always disappointed in me, I don't expect it'll be any different now so I'd rather not go there,” he replied and I followed his line of sight to the old ky’rhans who stood around the makeshift room on the other side.
It looked like they were analyzing his reactions to the tests and a closer look gave the impression that they were placing bets.
It just feels weird that we at the bottom of the food chain were made to believe they all lived in peace and harmony meanwhile, they were all living like cats and dogs, always looking for a way to drag their leader down and take over.
Xavier released another cry and I shivered in response. It seemed like he had my heart with him in there, crushing it to pieces with his screams
“When will it be over?” I asked Corbin.
He looked at his watch then whispered something to a guard nearby us before turning back to me.
“He’s about to start the last one,”
“What is it about?”
“No one knows,” he answered, his tone giving me the chills
“But you were part of the designers, how can you not know?” I insisted, his attitude scaring me.
“No one here knows how it works and we're all never going to find out what happens in there except he talks about it because the machine he's connected to simply wants him to keep choosing the same thing over every other option until the end of the trial,”
“So if he chooses the other option, his suffering will end but he will lose the crown?”
“Smart girl. So no one can predict how bad the tests will be, it's attached to his tail and I think this last one is, his ky’rhan is involved too. Let's hope it doesn't involve you,”
“Wait, why? You seem so sure that it'll be disastrous. The guy doesn't like me like that,” I asked and then I thought about it, if he did win any test associated with me, would that mean he actually hated me that much and would choose his kingdom over me? I mean that made sense since I'd also choose earth above him but it still felt like shit.
“Oh, but he does. He's just terrible at showing it and if he likes you ten times, Xy’thern is crazy about you a hundred times so the only way he's winning that is if he has a strong grip on his monster as y'all call us,”
“Don't blame us for that one. You guys look terrifying when you're angry. Your King has a penchant for throttling me from a distance. Why won't we be scared of you?”
“You have a point. It just doesn't feel good hearing that about oneself,” he grumbled
“What are they waiting for?” I asked, ignoring his attempt at making me feel pity for them. All we did was give them bad names, they gave us bad experiences so he can suck it up.
But in all honesty, the quietness was eerie and I was scared for him. I had no reason to be so concerned about him but I was and it didn't make any sense. I guess it was for selfish reasons. If he didn't end up being King, all of this would have been for nothing so for all it was worth, I hope he comes out victorious.
“I don't know, I think –”
“Tessaaaa!” I hear Xavier scream my name, startling me.
And as everyone turned to me, their brains connecting the dots as quickly as I did, a feeling of dread crept up my spine.
“Shit,” Corbin muttered and I knew we were in trouble.
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