Pride and Ashes - S01 E29

Story 2 years ago

Pride and Ashes - S01 E29

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 29

In which it's the King

They have promised dreams come true,

But forgot to mention that,

Nightmares are dreams too

~Oscar Wilde

There wasn't much to pack.

Alpha Bruno had sent my stuff to the Castle after I first settled in, but all it really consisted of was some clothes, books and a photo album that I kept of my old life. When mother and father were alive and smiling. 1

I considered it my treasure.

It all fit within one suitcase.

There were other cases though, clothes that I thought I didn't need, but Alto insisted I had to bring. Dresses of different colors and training gear that I was just starting to learn how to use.

Various types of beauty products and other items that Lizzy and Jane ran around grabbing that the Academy list stated I needed in order to learn how to become a "proper royal."

With the short amount of time Alto had given us, I was amazed at Lizzy and Jane's efforts in managing to get everything.

"I might have stolen one or two things," Lizzy said. 10

Jane put her hands over her ears, "Please don't tell me that." 12

I laughed and watched their interaction with sadness.

I would really have to leave them this time. 2

Though a small part of me knew that we would eventually see each other again- I felt a crushing sensation in my chest that made it difficult to breath. I didn't want to go alone. I scolded myself all night over being a coward.

But then, who wouldn't be scared to go to a foreign place without those you loved. 20

I slept with Lizzy and Jane that night. They curled around me in my to-large-bed, holding me close to them as they whispered words of comfort to me.

That it would pass quickly.

That I was brave.

That they would miss me.

All three of us had cried.

I felt anger at Alto for making me leave these girls who loved and cared for me. For leaving him. 6

But morning came and the time to leave was upon us.

Before we could walk out of my room though, there was a knock.

"Come in," Lizzy said, edging closer to me protectively while Jane crept to a drawer, pulling and tucking into her skirts a small knife. 4

A man opened the door and stepped in, "The King requests your presence before your departure Lady Fayette." 25

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

I took note that he did not call me princess like how everyone else did. 14

"Right now?" I asked.

He nodded.

I looked at Lizzy and Jane with worry. If I was being honest, the King was high on my list of who had poisoned me. However Alto and Elden argued fervently that it had not been him. 69

"Alright then," I said. Lizzy, Jane and I began to step forward but the man shook his head, "they were not requested."

I cross my arms at that.

I had enough of Lizzy and Jane being denied.

"This," I motioned to Lizzy, "is my bodyguard. And this is my assistant," I pointed to Jane now. "They will escort me and I refuse to go if they cannot."

Conflict showed within the man's eyes but he finally let out a sigh and stepped aside, "they cannot enter the room with the King however," he warned us as we walked down the hall.

I nodded stiffly. I felt a cold object being pushed into my hand as Jane slyly passed the small knife to me. The man was leading in front of us and noticed nothing. Making sure to not cut myself, I tucked the blade within my pockets, glad that my jacket was long enough to block the slight bulge. 31

We came upon a door that was similar to the Queen's- only instead of the beautiful redwood, this one was dark and almost black. 4

A man guarding the door stepped forward and patted me down. He pulled out the knife and gave me a hard look before taking it. 14

I glanced at Jane who was exchanging a worried look with Lizzy.

I tried to give assurance to myself that the King was never really going to outright attack me. There was no need for the knife. 1

The doors opened then, and I gave one last look to Lizzy and Jane as they stood closely together, their eyes wide and worried.

The doors closed behind me, cutting them off from my sight.

I turned around and found myself in a study room. Even though it was morning, the fire was already burning brightly within the fireplace. The King stood over it, watching the flames. 5

"Please sit Fayette," he said.

I cautiously came forward and sat down in one of the chairs, the one farthest away from him.

He took note of it and smiled at my actions.

"I will not bite," he said, laughing at his own joke. 18

I waited for him to continue and get to the point of why I was here.

"I have a job for you Fayette," he said, turning now to face me, instead of the flames. 2

"A job?"

"Yes. You are the inventor of x-bane correct?" 2

I nodded slowly. Most had forgotten, with the announcement that I was Alto's life mate, that I had invented x-bane.

"The Academy you are going to has a science department there. I want you to do something for me."

I stiffened at this, "What?"

"I want you to create a counter for the poison Agravain." 76

I grabbed the arms to my chair and sat up. "Why do you want that?" Small panic leaked into my voice as I asked. 1

The King stepped closer to me as I pushed further back into my chair.

"I know you were poisoned Fayette."

"How-" 1

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

"Please," at this he rolled his eyes, "I may have a short temper. That fault I will admit to. But stupidity is not one." 10

I continued pressing myself cautiously into the back of the chair, weary of the words he was saying.

"There is already an antidote to Agravain," I said.

"I don't mean an antidote. You know what I mean."

I glanced at the door before setting my eyes back onto the King, "you mean a cure."

He nodded, "Agravain is not a poison you can become immune to. It is something that has always been on my mind - that it can kill werewolf's - even with our heightened powers." 14

I nodded slowly at his words. They did make sense in a way. I had never heard of Agravain until now, but after being poisoned by it, I delved into researching it and found out all I could upon the subject. 1

Truth be told, I don't know why I had not heard of it sooner. Werewolf's feared it. It was one of the deadliest poisons, and one of the few rare ones that, if handled with the proper amount, could actually kill werewolves. Humans had an advantage over us by using it. However we co-existed peacefully with them. 6

"I'll see what I can do," I said, admitting to my interest in the project.

The King shook his head. "This is an order by your King. I will not let you pass the Academy and come home until you have fulfilled my requests." 32

I stared, shock and blank-faced at him.

"Requests?" I said, questioning the word.

"Yes. There is another task I am setting aside for you to do." 2

I felt panic rise up in my chest. More. More for me to do? I already felt an enormous pressure set on me now with the challenge that I could not come back until I had found a cure for a poison that no one had been able to find yet. To find a literal immunity to it.

"I don't think I will be able to finish two things," I said, voicing my doubt out loud.

The King's eyes flashed in a way that reminded me of Alto. How he held authority with such ease, expecting people to listen and follow.

"You created x-bane."

It seemed that these words were his solution. That I had created an impossible before, so I could do it now again. What the King didn't take into account was that I was desperate. I was a frightened girl who wanted her father back and would do anything in the world to accomplish it. But the threat of not seeing Alto until I had done it could prove to be as big of an incentive. 1

"Fine," I sighed, bewildered that the King had come to me for this, "What is your other demand." For it was a demand. I knew that even though he phrased it as a "request" I had no choice in the matter.

"There are things that go on within this Kingdom...actually within the world, Fayette, that you, Alto and many others are blissfully unaware of." 4

I looked in confusion as he continued, "I'll admit that I did not want you at first. I still hold grudging feelings about you. You are a weakness really. Do I think that August will be a good ruler? No, not really," my eyes widen at this father's admission of his son. He looked down at me and grinned at my shocked expression before continuing in his rambled speech, "August acts without consult. August thinks his overbearing power will make people listen to him. August commands in a way that drives fear into others hearts and makes men go home and tell their wives a plan of action in case they do not arrive again the next day. August is not a fit ruler."

I felt anger course through me that the King would say this about his son. But also anger that there was some small truth to it. 18

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

August was some of these things. He softened up around me, but with others, he was all the King described him to be.

"You just don't want to give up your rule," I said hotly. 26

The King raised an eyebrow at me, "Is that so wrong? That I don't want to give up my kingdom and power to a boy. It's as if you were to one day go to your Alpha and tell him he had to leave, that this was no longer his pack." 14

I shivered at the comparison. I had never thought of it like that. I didn't want to hear the King's side to the story. I wanted to be on Alto's side. I wanted to support Alto. But both sides made sense and were right and wrong in their own way.

"I cannot stop law. Traditionally Alto would not take over until I passed. But Law states that because he has found his life mate, he has to rule." 2

A brief thought flashed through my mind if maybe, Alto's long search for his life mate had not been as romantic as the media and court gossip made it to be.

"I've gone off topic though," The King said, walking back to stare at his fire, "As I was saying, there are things that go on without your knowledge. There is a drug that is currently being spread. Many do not know of it. I have been fighting it and the system it's under for years now, but I think you can be my solution."

I waited, knowing the long-winded answer was finally coming.

"This drug has the capability of making humans into werewolves."

My eyes widened at the news. I had never heard of this before. 1

"Humans are using it against us. They are transforming into hybrids that are monsters. Sometimes they manage to capture werewolves themselves and use the drug to turn them into even more grotesque creatures. Creatures with too much power." 19

"What do you want me to do?"

"Create a drug that will negate it's effects. I want a drug that will make the humans go back to their original state. One that will make the drugs effect null."

With these words he pulled out a golden necklace with a circled charm.

"Inside this charm is the drug. This is the only safe way I can think of transporting it to you and of you carrying it."

He walked closer to me and I stiffened as he pulled the chain over my head.

I looked closely at the necklace. It was plain and had no special design or inscription other than the King's royal crest.

"August will think it suspicious that I called you. So just say I wanted to give you that." He points to the charm.

I noticed the top and saw, upon closer inspection that it looked like it could open if twisted.

"Use the amount carefully. It was hard to obtain this." 11

I looked up at the King then. "Why should I trust you. How do I know that this is really what you say it is? For all I know, I could be making a poison like no other for you."

The King threw his head back and laughed, "You could. I guess you will have to trust me." 10

He gave me a feral grin, letting his eyes glow and fangs slide out. I shivered at the sight.

"Don't test me Fayette. Everything I do is for this Kingdom." 47

I glared at him.

"Don't forget now. The cure for Agravain and the drug to null the effects of this one," he points to my new necklace.

"I still don't trust you," I said. 1

"And I still don't like you," he threw back, "I hate the thought that I could kill my son right now just by killing you. It could even be an accident- maybe you fall down the stairs. But if you fall you bring him down with you." He glared back at me as we both stared into each other's eyes, loathing and hatred filling them. 39

"A Queen is suppose to protect her King." 6

I clenched my fists at that. He didn't like anyone. He didn't like his own son, he didn't like me. I was sure now that he didn't even like his current Queen.

"Do you..." I hesitated at the question, but something nagged within my brain to ask, "Do you know who poisoned me?"

The King stared at the flames, his fascination for them making me uncomfortable, "I have my suspicions." 21

I stood then and took a brave but tentative step towards him, "Tell me," I said.

He shook his head, "No Fayette. This is deeper than you will ever realize. Who can you trust, who is really good? Who is really bad? I have learned that you only can really trust yourself. You should remember that also."

I bristled at the comment, not happy with the answer.

"What makes you think I'm not going to tell Alto everything here?"

"You can't," his answer came out so simply.

"Why?" I narrowed my eyes in suspicion now.

"Even through the life mates bonds, I am still your King and my command is higher within your mind. Your wolf, no matter how buried inside you she is, will not allow you to disobey me. Keep this from August. Do not tell anyone of your mission. There are a lot of lives resting upon you now Fayette. I hope you take that seriously." 9

I stood there, mouth gaping and not knowing what to say. 1

The King suddenly turned then and walked towards the door. 1

"Don't worry about eavesdroppers either," he said, "the room is soundproof from werewolf hearing, so my son and your two little friends were not able to hear our conversation." 1

Before I could ask what he meant, he had swung the doors open to reveal a furious Alto.

I choked at the dark air that swirled around him and the angry expression within his eyes, "What did you do to her," he growled, walking slowly up to his father.

For all his big talk, I could still see the obvious fear in the King's eyes. He knew his son could overwhelm him.

"I was just wishing her luck at the academy and giving her a parting gift."

Alto's eyes zone in on the necklace that I was now wearing.

"Take it off," he said, his voice calm yet the coldness within it making me shiver. 1

He reached as if to grab it from me but I stepped back, "No!" 7

Surprise cracked through me from the bond. He had not thought I would defy him.

"I...like it...."

I waited for the angry beast within Alto to lash out, but to my surprise he reigned it within. Instead he cast one last glare at the King before grabbing my hand and dragging me out. I turned just in time to see the smile on the King's lips as he waved goodbye.