Candescent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1) (27 page)

“Father!” I ran to him and he hugged me.

“Are you all right Chenille?”

“I’m ok now, but,” I paused to break away from his embrace, “you all left me when I escaped from Sebastian.”

“We didn’t have a choice,” he remarked calmly, but it was predictable. “There are so many of us and we knew it would take a long time to travel here. We didn’t want to leave you…but you’re safe now so it’s ok.”

“That doesn’t make it entirely
ok
.” I rebutted.

“What about Pete? Have you thought about him and how hard it would have been to make him travel? We were lucky he was even able to travel then, considering his condition now.”

“Is it really that bad?”

My father saw my eager face, his still expression turning to sadness before my eyes.

“Would you like to see him now?”

I tried to hide my anxiety as I said yes.

“Then follow me. Pete is waiting for you.”

I nodded my head, prepared myself to proceed. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to see him. I wondered what he would look like and how he was still alive. I wondered what happened in Sebastian’s dungeon. And then I caught my father’s glance once he realized that I wasn’t following him and took a deep breath, pushing my thoughts aside. I couldn’t be paranoid anymore. I couldn’t wait to see
my King
.  

M
y father led me to the strange cave that they dug from a great sand dune. It was here that I found Pete alone, abandoned by the wolves and healers that couldn’t help him and could no longer watch his suffering. Now it was my turn to watch and endure his pain. I waited so long to see him, but when I did, I wished I hadn’t come.

He sat on the cold sand alone. His eyes darted up to me as I stood before him. My shadow blocked the sun’s rays from his shaking body. Sweat beaded and dripped down his face as his heavy black clothes did no mercy for him in the deathly heat. Yet his teeth chattered. His fangs clicked in attempt to bite his lips, which only caused them to bleed instead of stopping the involuntary chatter. He was cold. He didn’t speak to me and I figured perhaps he didn’t know it was me.

I turned back to my father, hearing the howl of wolves behind me. He looked at Pete with a stern face.

“Sebastian followed them as planned. He’s coming now,” my father said.

“Let him come.”

There was a strange sense of confidence in his voice, even though he had to summon his strength just to speak. The wolves continued to howl, drawing Sebastian closer and closer until I saw him. He came alone.

Pete’s shaking grew worse and it wasn’t long before he started to cough. My father knelt beside Pete. He reached for the knife at his side.

“Are we going through with the plan?”

“No, the people need her. She is too valuable, I told you already. That plan is to be our last resort.”

“You won’t make it. By the time he comes here-,”

“Don’t argue with me. I know what’s best. Who will rule if we go through with that plan? Hmm, tell me. We don’t even have an heir to take our place so leave Chenille alone.”

“What will come of her if she is not killed? Won’t she suffer like you?”

“What was your plan?” I interjected. 

They looked at me as though they were unaware that I was standing before them the whole time.

“Remember when I tried to take Sebastian’s blood out of your body and I couldn’t finish because we were attacked? I told you that his blood is dangerous. Now it’s too late to take the rest of it out of your body. You are linked to Sebastian. Since he is a part of you, he can be weakened and destroyed by killing you. But now…it’s just that you came so far for me and for you to risk your life…it just wouldn’t make sense.”

“Pete, he’s hurt so many people. He must be destroyed.”

“I know he does. I will try to stop him. Promise me that you won’t go through with that plan no matter what, even if I fail.”

“Then what will we do?”

“Trust me.”

I looked back to see Sebastian coming closer and Pete became worse. He shook with every heaving breath until his face was stained with tears. I only shook my head. There was no way he would make it.

When my father saw Sebastian and could almost see his face, he grew nervous and grabbed the knife at Pete’s side. He turned his head up to face me as though he asked permission to carry out the plan.

“No!” Pete grabbed my father’s wrist. A new strength was in his voice.

His shaking subsided and he’d changed. His eyes turned gold and his hair and face looked different. I was sure his body must’ve changed too but it was hard to tell with the heavy clothes covering him. I could see the full affect Lucian’s heart had over him as he began to resemble Lucian himself.

Fear stirred around me when he got to his feet. The wolves cowered back, unsure of what he would do or what he was capable of. I couldn’t even address him since I didn’t even know who he was. He took a step, looked out to where Sebastian traveled over the sand. Wind blew the sand around now as the King started to laugh. Sebastian was a mere prince and was no match for him, this king.

He stared at his opponent who came his way, stumbling in the deep sand. He looked at me, his face softened, realizing I was afraid. He noticed the wolves and my Allies cowered behind me, realizing they couldn’t wait much longer. They wanted him to make his move and destroy the Prince before it was too late.

“I’m sorry Chenille,” he said.

Now terrified, I thought he considered his plan, but after a minute of silence, I doubted it.

“Pete…Lucian,” I had no idea of what to call him so I waited for him to respond. He turned his head. “Why are you sorry?”

“You came all this way…you went through so much knowing that I would die.”

“I knew you would be the one to destroy Sebastian. And you might not die, you don’t know and neither do I.”

His eyes darted away. “I never wanted to leave you like this. And now you have to rule alone.”

“Then go through with the plan.”

He blinked. “I never wanted to go through with it. I know I will not survive, so you must stay. Someone has to rule and keep order. Your people need you now. You have your Allies to help you. Just stay and help our people, help our devastated Catastrophe. That is all I ask of you.”

“Will you come back?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then who are you?”

“I am the King of Catastrophe. That’s all you need to know. That’s all that matters.”

“But who
are you
? Who will you come back as?”

He gave me a smile. “I will come back with this strange torturous heart if I don’t slay it myself. I know who I am. I am just confused as to who I should be.”

I looked away from him now, unable to understand him. “Please tell me.”

“Who do you think I am? You tell me.”

“I don’t know,” I said desperately. “All I know is that you have Lucian’s heart and you have his gold eyes, his hair, his voice…and you’re trapped inside of Pete’s body.”

“Maybe you’re right. I guess you’ll know who I am when I come back,
if
I come back.” He paused to look down at his hands. He took something off his finger and threw it to me. “Hold onto this.”

“It’s your Ceremonial Ring.”

“Keep it in memory of me, if I don’t return. And if I do, no matter who I am, I will always be your Eternal Mate.”

His face remained still, unmoved, not even a mask could hide his emotion, his fear. It seemed at that moment he realized his past mistakes that put him in this position. I could see he felt the power of Lucian’s heart and I imagined he was playing the Trial over in his mind. His eyes spoke to me. Without a word, I could tell the physical pain he had endured was nothing in comparison to what he felt now. He knew what I felt - my fear of ruling alone. There was something else in his eyes, something else he could see that forced him to look away from me.

I thought perhaps he saw my future and realized that he was the one who destined it to happen. He didn’t look at me after that glance. Instead, he looked at the Prince of Light and he aimed for destruction this time. The wolves could see this and they retreated to the safety of the sand cave. My father urged me to come in, even when I wanted to stay and watch. I was mortified by the whole idea, but I wanted to see Sebastian fall at last.

It took both my father and Raven to pull me away as the winds picked up and it grew dangerous to stand there and watch. They stayed beside me in the small crowded cave. We all watched, wondering what his plan was. None of us knew.

For a long time I looked down at the Ceremonial Ring, rolled it around in my hands and put it on beside Fitzray’s Ceremonial Ring. I dropped my head, felt Raven’s comforting touch against my face. I felt the soft, reassuring glance of the wolves around me, feeling lost in my solitude. To me I had already lost Pete, for glancing out in the distance I saw a figure that was so strange. That was not Pete, it couldn’t be.

I turned my head to watch him – this strange
creature
, saw his hard focused face, knowing that was not him. I choked back tears knowing I had to face my mistakes. I wanted to deny it all like an ignorant child, but I knew I couldn’t. And now I had to rule alone, rule people I knew must hate me. I ignored what Raven had told me regarding that my people would understand. Foolishly, I resented it. There was a stir of excitement around me and Raven moved to sit beside me.

“Are you going to watch, my Queen?”

I shook my head. “I should’ve killed Sebastian while I had my chance. I had so many opportunities to do it.”

“Please don’t talk like that. There is nothing you can do now anyway.”

“Yes there is.”

I grabbed the knife from his belt. His strong hands attempted to stop me, his gray eyes pleading. I crawled from the safety of the small cave and got to my feet.

“Pete!” I screamed over the winds. When he didn’t respond I summoned the strength in my lungs to try again. “King, my King, please stop. Don’t do it!”

He turned, his face softened and he caught the glance of the knife in my hands. He clenched his jaw at the very sight of me about to cease my own life for him. His face tightened at my decision, his eyes filled with a sudden anger that couldn’t hide his fear.

He turned back to his opponent who continued to struggle in the deep sand. He raised his arms, balled his hands into fists and looked to the skies above.

“Jasper!” He summoned the great white dragon that longed to hear the voice of his old Master. Wherever he was, he heard his Master’s cry and somehow he found him.

I saw the white dragon fly to him with a new strength, bonded by love to his old Master - to Lucian’s heart. The King looked back at me. He saw my fear, my grip tighter around the blade, ready to make my move. He turned back to the flying beast and pointed to his enemy. He screamed his final orders - destroy the Prince of Light.

He held out his hands as we both took in the sight of the dragon destroying our enemy. Fire exploded from the great beast’s mouth, consuming the immortal and the life as he knew it. The strong winds blew the great fire, nearly consuming the beast, but he was stronger and fought for his Master.

The King turned his head for a final glance, took in the dreadful sight and fell to his knees in the sand. His body collapsed over onto itself. I started to breathe through my teeth, took in the sight, and nearly took my life. My Eternal Mate was dead.

I waited for the knife to take me, but I found it on the sand at my feet. My hand was open and held by another. The hand that saved me held my body, wrapped around me and saved me from myself.

“He’s dead. He’s dead.” I whispered, unsure if I should look up again or not.

Smoke blew toward us as the fire died, as well as the winds that kept it alive. The wolves ran from the safety of the cave in their wolf form and went to their enemy’s body. They met the white dragon who wept over his fallen Master,
his king
.

The sight became smaller and more distant when I was picked up and taken away. Rasha was with us, held my horse and asked the person holding me if they wanted to put me down. We went back through the sea of sand, the Arii Desert, and I vowed I would never cross it again. I couldn’t say a word, barely breathing, suffering in more ways than one. I wished I’d died. At that moment I was selfish. I couldn’t even thank my own savior even though I truly wanted to. I didn’t ask where we headed, since I already knew I was going home.

Rasha spoke. “Sebastian is destroyed and his body will be locked away somewhere safe so he can never hurt another soul again. Everyone is returning home and we will take you to Pete’s palace. The wolves are on their way there now. We will find out what happened to Pete and if he will come back. Then we will have a big feast.”

We continued to travel until Rasha stopped from exhaustion. I was placed in the sand to rest but my savior stood, eager to go on and take me home. Then I heard a screech and dark blobs came bounding toward us.

“What is that?”

If Rasha didn’t comment, I wouldn’t have noticed. I simply didn’t care. The screech came again and a black blob flew by me.

“Gargoyles!” Rasha exclaimed.

They stumbled over to me, nuzzled me in attempt to get me up. These were the same gargoyles I stole from Sebastian, who were in my father’s care. They must have followed us.

Galena and Narooma had grown since I last saw them. They were still mischievous and curious, especially when they saw Versailles.

“Aren’t you fascinating creatures?” Rasha offered her hand to touch them but they scurried back and hissed warily. “Still wild at heart, aren’t you?”

I closed my eyes, feeling the gargoyles curl up beside me and sang me to sleep with their soft purrs. When I woke up it was cold and dark, but the sky was blocked by black shadows that were really branches. We were not in the Arii Desert anymore and I was glad.

There were lights in the distance, cracked old lampposts that once bordered and represented our great City, now struggling to stay luminous and flickered. In this dim, eerie light I could barely see the remains of the City. What I could see still stood tall, providing shelter for the homeless while the City was being rebuilt.

I took in what I could, which was very little without much light. Soon I could no longer hear the soft tapping on broken cobblestone, only the shuffle of feet on dirt. We were in the woods again heading toward Pete’s house that was hidden in this thick brush.