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“I like him too, but what you and I have…it’s different.”
He smiled, nodding at me in thanks. “I feel the same way.” He kissed me on the head as we continued through the streets of the city.
Dinner had begun. It was almost time. I was so close to getting everything I had dreamed of for the past few months. I was nervous and terrified, yet excited with anticipation. I wondered how Otar would kill him. Would he rip out his heart? Tear him to shreds? Rip the artery in his neck with his teeth and then laugh as the blood splattered on his wife and daughter? I didn’t care. As long as it got done.
Otar was roaming around here somewhere. He would have smelled my blood on Gaelin and Levos by now, so they were safe. Everyone else wouldn’t be so lucky. I smiled, imagining the mess that would have to be cleaned up.
First course was almost over; time to move. I walked out of Gaelin’s chambers, heading for the throne room. The alfar would be seated in one room, lined up perfectly for Otar to slaughter. I would enter the room and stand directly in front of the royal table, taking the best seat in the house. I would look at the royals, daring them to hurt me. Just as the thought crossed their minds, Otar would attack. I laughed.
I got to the doors of the throne room. The servants began to move through the aisles, preparing to clear the alfar’s plates. One minute until Otar entered the room. Two minutes until the king would be dead. I stood off to the side, counting down the seconds until I would step in front of the table to watch him take his last breath. My heart was racing, and my hands were trembling.
I took a pitcher of wine. Time seemed to slow as my senses became hyper aware of everything that surrounded me. I wove in and out of the alfar as they feasted. They didn’t look up. Why would they? I was just another pig roaming their halls. Nothing more than something to spit on and use. Little did they know this pig would be responsible for the death of their king and potentially their entire court.
I made it to the main aisle and headed for the royal table, stopping ten feet from the platform. A line of servants spilled from behind me, carrying the second course of this evening's meal. I raised my eyes slowly. The king’s gaze met mine. He grimaced at me, but I didn’t care. I smiled.
Before the king could reprimand me, Otar appeared behind his chair as instructed. His black glistening body caught the light of the candles as razor-sharp horns appeared down his spine. Two additional arms and hands emerged on either side, creating thirty razored talons poised to strike.
Otar dug his nails into the king’s chest, tearing him to shreds. Blood splattered everywhere as the screaming and yelling began. Otar buried his sharp teeth into the king’s neck, pulling out his artery. A ulyrium blade appeared in one hand as he stabbed the king over and over again. For Otar’s final touch, he shoved one of his hands through the king’s chest, ripping his heart out and tossing it to the ground in front of me. The king slumped across the table as Otar finally released his mutilated body. I couldn’t help but smile as small tears of relief rolled down my cheeks.
The guards emerged from every angle, working to obtain Otar, but he was too fast. He disappeared in an instant, then reappeared behind the queen, stabbing her in the heart three times before evaporating into thin air again. The guards surrounded Princess Daealla, making it impossible for Otar to get to her. He appeared briefly behind me, only for a split second as if to ask for his next marching order.
“The others,” I said.
He nodded, disappearing again. The high lords and ladies couldn’t move fast enough. Magic began to erupt throughout the room, but Otar was too fast, and the members of the high houses had been too complacent. They had allowed Gaelin and his warriors to do their fighting for them. Now, they were weak and out of practice, unable to think tactically.
Otar spun around the room, ripping, tearing, and stabbing as many as he could. Blood pooled on the polished stone floor. Body parts littered the tables. Beautifully crafted alfar heads were flung to my feet. I once thought the sight of a severed head would send me hunching over in sickness, but now I just stared, watching as my demon did my bidding.
Something hard and full of momentum slammed into me. I looked up, realizing Gaelin had picked me up and was hauling me away from my symphony. I glanced at the throne room one last time, memorizing the sight of the king’s dead body. Dozens of guards filled the room and closed the doors behind them, locking Otar inside with them. A part of me hoped he survived; the other hoped he would parish with his victims. I didn’t know which feeling was stronger, but I was thankful to him, nonetheless.
Gaelin carried me to his room, slamming the door and locking it behind us. I turned around to see Levos and Madison also on the edge of the bed. I snapped out of my blood rage and exhaled in relief that my friends were okay. Madison was trembling, clinging to Levos tightly.
“What in the hell was that?” asked Levos.
Gaelin was breathing heavily as he turned around to face us. He checked me over, making sure I was okay. Oh yeah, I thought. I am supposed to be panicked and scared. I let my face fall to the floor as I took a seat on the edge of the bed and wrapped my arms around myself, as if I was in shock.
“Otar,” Gaelin muttered.
“I thought you killed the bastard. How is he alive?” asked Levos.
“I don’t know. His body was missing this morning. I’ve had men out looking for him and I doubled the guard around the palace, but apparently, he never left. He was inside the entire time,” answered Gaelin.
“Why would he stay? I thought you said he was smart. Wouldn’t it have been the wiser choice to go and regroup with his armies?” asked Levos.
“I don’t know. None of this makes sense,” said Gaelin. He paced the room, his face stressed, his body tense from the shock.
“The king is dead,” muttered Madison. “Which means you’re our new king.”
Gaelin looked to her, then to Levos, then to me. “I’m going to go check on the throne room to see if they’ve captured him yet. You all stay here until I come back. Do not open the door for anyone or anything,” instructed Gaelin.
We all nodded. I rushed to him, taking his arm before he could leave.
“Please be careful,” I whispered, kissing his cheek softly.
He nodded and then left.
I sank into the couch, waiting to hear if my reaper had been killed. Levos settled Madison into Gaelin’s bed before coming and sitting next to me. He didn’t look at me.
“This was your vision?” He asked, quiet enough that Madison couldn’t overhear.