Ophiuchus
POV: Alexandra
I woke the next morning wondering just what the insignia on that ring could do to save the world or, at the very least, help me to do so. I rolled out of bed and got ready for the day ahead until I heard a knock on my door. I walked over and opened it but stuck my finger to my lips when I saw Jheelis at my door, “I have a little on asleep in here.” I looked into the room and spotted the small girl in my bed and nodded. He whispered, “I’m told that I need to guard you starting today.” I stepped out into the hallway and closed the door quietly behind me, “Yes, I was told that as well. I’m afraid you’re going to be my lone guard today. I think His Majesty Lucien was going to assign another guard to me but they are kind of stretched thin.” He shook his head, “Actually, I saw a tall pale man around here somewhere wearing the blue garb of your Citadel. I think Mordred called him Toby.” I widened my eyes, “Toby is here?!” He smirked at me, “Another lover?” I rolled my eyes, “First of all, you make me sound like a whore, and second, I don’t have the right…parts to be his lover. You know Teddy?” He nodded, “Yeah, he's a pretty neat guy. He showed me a few water elemental things. That guy’s a genius.” I started walking toward the long winding staircase and Jheelis followed, “Well, I’m trying to get Teddy and Toby together. I think they’d make an amazing couple.” He pursed his lips and stopped in his tracks, “I always forget who you are related to. You must have a knack for matchmaking.” I smiled, “Well, I haven’t really made any matches yet.” He reached up and ruffled my hair, “You’re being modest. I heard that you introduced Ny to the woman she’s crushing on. You also gave yourself a good rival for Prince Blake. I imagine you could find someone for that emotional guy over there.” He pointed toward Cal’s room and leaned in, “That is if you don’t become our princess yourself. I wouldn’t hate staring at your pretty face every day as I guard you.” I sighed, “You already get to. Lucky you.” My words were dripping with sarcasm as the topic of conversation was starting to annoy me.
Mordred was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for us, “Ah, my dear one. Did you sleep well?” I hugged him and I think that might’ve startled him because he tensed up, “I slept well. Thank you for keeping us safe here.” He stroked my head and laid a peck at the top, “It's the greatest pleasure a man could have to keep the ones he treasures the safest in his home. You are one of the few treasures my life holds and I would do anything for you, dear one. Now, do you want to eat something before I take you to Lucien’s place?” He leaned back and looked down at me, “Hmm, do you have fruit? I’m not hungry but I feel like I probably should eat something. I have the sneaking suspicion that I’m going to need it.” He looked over my shoulder to the shadows. A woman stepped out of the shadows. She was dressed in a black dress that had a hood, there were slits where both of her legs were so you could see the thigh-high boots that she wore. You could hear her walk because somewhere on her body she wore bells. Mordred smiled, “Ah Jynx, I was wondering if I might see you before we leave.” She bowed at him, “Of course Your Majesty, you beckon and I follow. What do you command of me?” She looked up at him and her golden eyes shimmered and something about her was just so sultry. I wasn’t even into girls and I had to keep myself from drooling. He smiled down at her, “I wanted you to meet Alexandra.” She did not get up from her bow but she did look at me, “The Worldly Princess? Why have you bestowed this honor upon me, Your Majesty?” He chuckled, “Well, each King in her life has decided to give her a guard so I figured why not me as well. Please escort her while she is away from House of Dark. You are my most trusted knight, Jinx.” She fell to her knees and kissed his hand, “You will not regret giving me this honor, sire.” He patted her on the head, “You will be rewarded for each day she comes back unscathed. Make me proud.”
He turned toward the dining hall we were in last night but Jynx gasped before we could reach the hall. She reached down and pulled up my hand to her face, “Ophiuchus? He appointed you guardian of the Sun?” I shrugged, “Is that what that means? He didn’t really explain it.” Mordred looked over his shoulder and snapped his fingers as if he just remembered something, “I knew I forgot something. Alexandra, Jynx is not only a knight but her order is particularly dedicated to Ophiuchus. Jynx, you will need to bring her to the temple to have her anointed when she gets back. Can I trust you to see to it?” She bowed at him, “It is not only my honor but my sworn duty, sire. Of course I will take the priestess to the temple.” I furrowed my brow, “Um, can someone please clue the clueless in here?” Mordred circled his finger to create a mini-portal much like Whisperia did when she stashed things in her special place. He reached in, pulled out a book, and looked at it. He shook his head and placed the book back in, “I know I have it in there somewhere…” He reached in again and looked at the next book. He smiled then handed it to me, “You can read this to catch you up. I really don’t have the time or energy to explain. Perhaps, Jynx might be kind enough to clue you in as well?” He looked over at him and she smiled. Dammit, even her smile was hot. I looked over at Jheelis who was now staring at her and I sighed and whispered to him, “You got a little drool on your chin there beasty.” He touched his chin to wipe the drool off but looked at me confused. I laughed hard, “It’s a figure of speech Jheelis…though…hmm.”
I grabbed him and stuck him next to Jynx and took a look at the two. It was an odd pairing since Jheelis was really tall, slim, and had silvery blonde hair whereas Jynx was slightly shorter than me, curvy, and had that beautiful dark brown hair. I nodded, “Yep, there’s another one.” He looked at me confused, “What?” I shook my head, “That’s for me to know and you to find out.” I turned to Jynx, “So Jynx, do you have a boyfriend?” She looked taken aback, “Boyfriend? What is this boyfriend you speak of?” Mordred laughed, “She’s an innocent, dear one. She doesn’t know about those things. She’s allowed to have men but this one has been taught to be devoted only to her master. I see the wheels in your head turning, dear one. You should probably table that one for now. Give it time, don’t be in such a rush to pair everyone up.” I grabbed Mordred's arm and hugged him, “How about you dear uncle? Wouldn’t you like to find love again?” He shrugged, “I think I spread my love far too much in my youth. My love days are over, I think.” I squeezed his arm, “Never say never. You never know what or who will come your way.” I thought about any of the older women that I might’ve known but no one other than Zeb and Dorothea were coming to mind. I knew those would both be unmitigated disasters considering Dorothea likes them young and ‘hunky’ as she called them. From what I understood of Zeb was that she took a vow of celibacy in order for her to gain the power that she did. I thought to myself that I would revisit the operation to hook up Mordred later. For now, I would have to make sure I was able to be fueled for the day ahead.
Renier was already sitting in the dining room enjoying a cup of tea and toast along with reading a book. He looked up and smiled at me, “My beautiful Highest Highness.” It dawned on me that I had so many titles that if someone were to write them all down and use them to introduce me, it would take forever. I sighed, “I just keep collecting titles like trading cards.” Everyone turned to look at me and Mordred chuckled, “You aren’t wrong dear one. If you could just be so much less charming, perhaps more people would leave you alone.” Renier nodded, “Something we can definitely agree on.” He smiled and looked down at my hand, “ What is that?” Mordred spoke before I could, “It’s a little gift to help my dear one achieve her destiny. It’ll amplify her powers that she has.” He straight up omitted the true symbolism of the ring he gave me but I understood that this was probably for a reason. If there was anyone more clever than Renier, it was Mordred. This was his way of protecting his family from a perceived threat. I knew coming here that he would match wits with Renier. Mordred likely saw all of this as a game that he was determined to win. Renier put his book down and smiled, “Hmm, I am pretty sure I am going to be the one to provide her with the tools to achieve her destiny.” Mordred smirked and chuckled in a sinister way, “That’s cute that you think you can protect her better than her own family.” Renier leaned forward, “Funny that you think you’re her family.” I could have sworn at that very moment I heard thunder rumbling outside. I heard Jynx behind me and she whispered, “Your Highness, please calm him down. The last time he was this mad, it took us a while to fix the castle.”
I stepped toward Mordred, grabbed his hand, and held it, “Deep calming breaths, Mordred. Let me speak.” He looked down at me and breathed in deeply then nodded. I looked back at Renier, “I would have to rebuke you there, Your Majesty. Mordred IS my family. Blood isn’t always what constitutes a family. Would you consider me family if you decided to bring me into it? It’s the same thing. I would ask that you respect my uncle in his own home.” He nodded, “I will concede this because you have asked me but I do think we need to have a conversation at a later time.” A chill ran down my spine as I realized that he wasn’t really talking about having a conversation with me. He was talking about what I had assumed at the time was a duel. I sat down and a servant brought forward a plate of fruit and I thanked them. Renier looked at my plate, “That is all you are going to be eating?” I nodded, “I’m not hungry right now but I’m eating to keep up for the day. Why is that all YOU’RE going to eat?” I gestured toward his plate and he looked down then back at me, “You got me there. Be sure to eat more throughout the day.” It was weird being around Renier sometimes. He would look at you as if you were a tool to be used up by him and thrown away to get what he wanted. Other times he exhibited enough care that he was trying to be a father to me. He had just sat there and pissed off Mordred in a pissing contest as to who was the better helper for me, and the next moment he was fretting about my health. I finished my breakfast and went to leave. I stopped to wait for Mordred to take us to the castle. He smiled up at me, “Jynx can take you to and from House of Dark. Have a good day, dear one, and don’t worry. She will stay by my side all day.” I knew he was referring to Lucy and I felt a sense of relief wash over my body. I nodded at him and I stepped out of the room. We walked out to the front of House of Dark where Jynx opened a portal to the castle. We stepped out on the other side in front of the castle in Tarn. I saw a familiar carriage sitting there and sure enough, Seraphia jumped out of the carriage, “Hello Alexandra, Lucien said you are excused from work for the morning. We need to have a little chat.”
