The King's Day Off
I didn’t often take days off but after the festivities of the night before, I was tired. I was glad that I had waited until the end of the ball to make the announcement. My resolve waivered a little when I announced the Queen Competition. I found myself subconsciously scanning the room for Alexandra to gauge her reaction to this news. I didn’t end up finding her anywhere so that steeled my resolve to go through this competition. I would have had to done so anyhow since the Elder Council already approved the action. What was I thinking anyhow? Did I hope Alexandra would somehow want to stay by my side? Did I want that of her? I was in the library reading when my mind started to drift off to her Blood Ritual. Usually, Grand Pretre would have us exchange blood through touch or ingestion. She went all out and had us do both. I was hesitant to put my lips on Alexandra’s since she had a somewhat horrified look in her eyes at first. I imagined that, from what Blake told me, that was her first kiss, and I was forced to steal it for the sake of a ritual. I felt guilty for that but after the kiss when I looked into eyes there was a different look in her eyes. If I could describe it, it would be amazement. When we had to do it again with her being the pursuer, the doubt in her eyes were gone. What was she thinking just then? What I would give to be a psychic creature like a Xion in that moment. I could understand what it was she was feeling because for me it was electric. The moment her lips touched mine, I felt a spark that electrified my entire body. I think that is what brought about my hesitation in announcing the competition. I didn’t quite know what it was I feeling but I knew I had to say something, anything to her.
I strode out of the room and across the hallway to the suite that housed both Malinus’ desk and my own. As I entered the room, Malinus rose, “Your Majesty, I thought you were taking the day off.” I waved my hand, “I am not here on official business. I merely want to write a personal letter.” Malinus caught my meaning and nodded, “Shall I arrange for the discrete courier?” I shook my head, “No, I would like for you to deliver these letters from now on. It doesn’t look suspicious for you to show up the home of your own kin.” Malinus bobbed his head down once, “Very prudent, Sire. As you will it.” I opened the door to my office and locked it behind me. I would not be disturbed with Malinus there, but I wanted the assurance I would not be interrupted. I walked to the desk to write my letter to the newest resident of Vellum. She would undoubtedly wait until my letter to send another one and I really wanted to keep the chain going. I spent a good bit of time writing and several drafts. I had never been unsure of my words before but this time I found myself writing this one with great difficulty. I finally finished the letter an hour and half later. I strode out of the room and handed it Malinus, “Please ensure this goes off right away.” Malinus rose and bowed at the hip with his hand across his chest, “As you will it. By the way, His Highness was looking for you. I sent him to study to await you there.”
I inhaled sharply; I knew this was not going to be a pleasant conversation given the events of the night before. Between his feelings of intense obsession over Alexandra and him having to witness her kissing me not once but twice, he would likely be perturbed. I was not looking forward to it, but I knew it was coming, I just thought he would stew for a couple of days before coming to me to whine about it. I walked down the stairs to the study, took a deep breath and entered. Blake was sitting in front of the fireplace staring intensely into it, “Nice of you to finally join me, brother.” I sat in the chair next to his and looked at him, “I’m sorry, brother. I was writing letters to various nobles.” I turned to me with a glare, “Those could wait, you make time for family.” I was used to these outbursts by now. When it came to her, his rage would not be quieted so simply. I nodded, “My apologies. What was you would like to talk about?” He clenched his fists and spoke through his teeth, “You know what.” I sighed, “I didn’t have a choice and you know that. If it makes any difference, I don’t believe she enjoyed it either.” I lied to him to show an indifference between Alexandra and me. This would calm down the raging storm inside his brain. He unclenched his fists, “I know that. I feel everything she does. Your little ritual made her so tired last night.” I don’t believe that is what made her tired, she likely felt the room staring at her all night and that is mentally draining. He furrowed his brow, “What was it like?” He closed his eyes, and I knew he wanted to live through me so he could picture his lips on her and feeling what I felt. I would indulge him but throw him off, “Honestly, it was like kissing my sister if I had one.” He opened his eyes and smirked, “She will be one day. I will make her my wife.” This made my chest clench and I had to get up from my seat, “You want a drink brother.” He nodded, “Please.” He was smiling when I brought him a drink back, “She is as beautiful as I had imagined her. She’s so lovely too with her kind smile. She will be fine addition to our society here. I will do anything to make her life here much easier than those wretched humans did.” I took a sip of my drink and thought this could be an opportunity to find out what it was like for her. If I was being honest, for once, Blake and I would have the same goal. I nodded my head, “What was it like for her? I know you had spies on her.”
He looked at me and studied my face for a while before he spoke, “From when she was a small child, she had no friends. Every single one of those children picked on her mercilessly throughout her school experience there. Many of them would be physical with her. One time in high school, a young man was dared to grope her breast to see if they were real. He obliged his bastard friends but took it one step further and pulled her pants down in front of everyone. She was constantly humiliated.” The fire in his eyes could have lit the logs in the fireplace if they weren’t already ablaze. Hearing all this stirred something inside me too. He clenched his fists again, “I wanted to do something about it, but Reggie was able to make them pay one way or another. I know he wanted to rip their throats out just as much as I did. My primal instinct of the old ways come out when I hear that my dearest is hurt. What I wouldn’t give to suck all of those humans dry and watch as the light in their eyes leave their bodies.” This confession made me a little uncomfortable, I had long wanted to carry on my father’s wishes to make a friendship with the humans. We were close to the first phase of the plan with the dealings of the United States president. I cleared my throat, “You know brother, Alexandra was instrumental in continuing the negotiations with the humans of America.” He straightened up and his rage turned quickly a euphoric smile, “I didn’t know that. No doubt she charmed those old men into it. She is truly amazing.” Everything I knew of her; I couldn’t disagree, so I merely nodded.
He suddenly frowned, “Yet I have to watch as she has to compete for a spot beside you on the throne. You know how demeaning it is for me to see that? Couldn’t you just pick Melody Maigny and get it over with?” I frowned to match his, “I don’t have a desire for any woman in the kingdom. The council agreed that since I had no desire for anyone in particular that we would go with this course of action. Trust me brother, if I could exclude her, I would.” Another lie to appease him, I wanted her to compete if I was being honest. I had not realized that until this very moment in time. The desire to kiss her some more came over me, the feel the elation of the electric feel coursing through me. I had never felt it before, and I wanted more of that. I knew at that very moment that my brother and I were rivals for more than just the throne. Who else would covet her? This dread washed over me as I remember how The Chalshin kept looking at her last night. Did he want her lips on his as well? More importantly, whose lips did she covet. Did she want to kiss anyone else or was I the only one? This must’ve been, on a very small scale, what Blake has gone through for years. I felt myself suddenly pitying the poor guy for having these feelings times ten likely. He swirled the drink in his hand, “That Chalshin bastard was eyeballing her last night too. Imagine that puppy thinking he could have a pyrio as exquisite as her.” He chuckled and took a sip, “Anyhow brother, I need to go home. I want to write her to invite her to Mesha for tea now that I am allowed to do so.” He rose and turned to me, “I will see myself out.” As soon as the door closed, I felt myself envying him for once. He was open to spend time with her whereas I had to sneak about and write letters in secret because the fragile noble’s daughters would target her. I didn’t want to be the source of her pain here; it was bad enough the Maigny girl would be an utter hag to her. I knew this because one time when we were all in first school, she made it a mission to torment a girl who had the audacity to wear the same dress to school as her. Her father did nothing to curb this behavior. She would find Alexandra threatening and I could merely warn her. I felt helpless for all the power I held; I couldn’t protect a woman I had a mild interest in. I shook my head out of those thoughts and decided to head back to reading. I wondered if Alexandra would write back right away or if I would have to wait for her sweet reply. I guess, for now, I would have to be patient.
