Commitment To Try
POV: Alexandra
Aphrodite was taken back by my declaration that she handed me the curse on a silver platter. She opened her mouth and then closed it. She sighed, “It is possible. I will have to check with Phobos to see if he knowingly assisted in poisoning the vial that I gave you. I will send you a note later to let you know.” She looked distressed so I rose from my seat and gave her a hug, “You didn’t know, Aphrodite. How could you have known when it was something you weren’t there to witness? Don’t be distressed.” She bit her lip, “I feel like it’s still partially my fault. He’s after you partly because you look so much like me. I’ve always turned down his advances because I just wasn’t very interested in him. I had a huge crush on Apollo, I still do.” I was rather astonished given the way that she often pokes fun at him whenever they were around each other. She was like a small boy who had a crush on the girl but instead of telling her he liked her, he would put gum in her hair. It was rather adorable so I giggled. She blushed and looked down, “I was so happy he chose to help me make your soul. We have something very precious that we share now.” She smiled and rose from her spot on the table, “I’m afraid I must be going. All Mighty has summoned me so I must go see Him.” I nodded, “Give him my regards, please.” She smiled, “I will do just that.” Her body gave way to the small purple orb which then disappeared.
I looked over at Seraphia, “Okay, so we know that I ingested the curse and that it was likely within the potion Phobos provided to temporarily alleviate my fear. What’s the next step?” She smiled, “Nothing for you to worry about for now, dear. My plan only involves how you act naturally around him.” She turned to Lucien, “It will be hard for you though. She will openly flirt with him in front of you. I’m going to need you to suppress your jealousy. It’s obvious you will have it in regards to Loki.” She got up from her seat, “I need to go in any case. The sooner I can discuss it with Mordred, the better.” Lucien got up as well, he reached for my hand and placed a kiss on my knuckles, “I am glad you are okay after that ritual but rather sad you weren’t able to lift the curse.” I shrugged, “It isn’t like the curse affects me all the time. The only time it does is when I’m with you or with him.” He winced a little at the declaration and I placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, “I don’t mean to sound callous. I just cannot put any feeling into things because of this. As I said, it affects me when you’re around because you aren’t able to feel from me what you should. It’s why I was hesitant to even try to win the competition.” He shook his head, “You know very well that I would take you unemotional, mangled, broken, or any other ailment. I love you, Xan. Nothing in this world would change that. Not even someone who has to use a curse to get someone as amazing as you to love him. Please always know that.” I smiled, “I know that. I will try for you and the kingdom to get over my doubts. I promise that at the next event, I will shine brightly and make sure everyone knows that I came to be Queen.” He smiled at me gently, “I look forward to it.”
He turned to Seraphia, “Shall we go back to the capital?” She nodded, “Yes, let’s get to work.” I was standing there as they left the room and I heard my father sigh behind me. He rose from his seat and stood next to me staring at the door, “I suppose we need to get you ready for the reception of the envoy from the Seely Realm now. If you truly wish to win the competition, you need to know everything about the Seely Realm customs. We should probably bring in your mother. I’ll discuss it with her and we will start when you get home from school tomorrow.” I could only think but to dread that I would have to lean on my mother to learn fae customs.
POV: Lucien
I helped Grand Pretre into the carriage and climbed in after her. She smiled at me, “I have to say that despite your tension about Loki, you seem far more relaxed around the young Batiste. I’ve never seen you so at ease in my life.” I shrugged, “I hadn’t noticed but now that you mention it, I guess you are right.” She giggled, “She has that effect on people, I too feel more relaxed around her but it could be her ability to help out. Perhaps it was another thing she inherited from her family with her grandfather’s relaxation ability.” I shook my head, “No, I’ve been around Darren when he’s used that ability and you can definitely tell the difference. I believe this is just something in her personality that allows some of us to feel at ease around her.” She smiled at me wistfully, “You understand her so well. I believe she will make you an excellent Queen. She has to put in the effort and your words just now, might have helped her buckle down. She will likely do this for you even if she cannot love you for now. I will do everything within my power to derail Loki’s plans.” I looked out the window as Blackwood made way for the meadow and small green hills that were out in front of Tarn, “I am hoping that you two can help her out. You know that if you need anything from me, you need only ask.” I felt her hand, small and cold, on my arm, “I will certainly keep that in mind, Your Majesty. Let me ask you something.” I looked over at her, “What is it?” She looked me in the eye, “If you were to come face to face with Loki again, what would you do?” I sighed, “I want to say punch him in the face but in all honesty, I really don’t know. I suppose I would have to be in the moment to know. Why?” She shrugged, “I am just curious should he suddenly appear. How far would you be willing to go to save her from being cursed to love him for the rest of her life and possibly in the afterlife?” I looked at her shocked, “Wait, even in her afterlife?” She looked away from me, “She is a soul child so when she dies, she becomes a Goddess in her own right. The curse won’t go away once her earthly body dies, it is attached to her soul which is why such a curse is so difficult to get rid of.” My hatred for what Loki did to Alexandra grew the more I got to know about it.
I clenched my fists in my lap, “How far would I go you ask?” She nodded, “Yes, I’m rather curious to know. When I look at your chart later, I want to see what the fork in your destiny says.” My fists tightened, “I know that my answer should be about keeping myself safe for the good of the kingdom but in knowing her, I’ve allowed myself to be selfish. I would die for her. No, not just die for her but I would die a thousand or more deaths if it meant that she was safe, happy, and healthy.” She shook her head, “No fate of hers could be happy if you sacrifice yourself. She would blame herself, I think. This is just observation though, I cannot say for sure until I look at your destinies. I am curious to look at them now but I will get to Mordred first. That is my priority.” I sighed, “I think your observation of her is correct but I think if she was allowed to feel the way she wants that she would do the same for me. She would do the same for anyone that she loves. It’s who she is.” We pulled up to the church but Grand Pretre didn’t move to get out. She started to stare at the carriage wall in front of her. I looked at her eyes and they had turned completely black and there were black vines starting to appear on her neck and they reached up to her face. I learned a long time ago that once something was channeled into her, it was best to remain calm and to let it happen. Slowly the veins began to retreat down her neck and the black gave way to her normal white eyes. She widened her eyes, “I must ask you something again, Your Majesty.” I straightened up and asked, “What?” She looked me straight in the eyes and grabbed my hands, “What will you do if you ever encounter Loki again?” I shrugged, “I think my answer would be the same, I would have to be in the situation.” She shook her head, “You need to be even keel when he appears again, you risk war otherwise.” I furrowed my brow, “What do you mean by that?” She sighed, “This envoy that is coming is going to have two people, correct?” I nodded, “That’s what I was told.” She looked down, “One of them will be Loki, in disguise.”
