Word Count: 2621
My hands brush against the wall, letting it guide me down the hallway as the darkness blinds me.
I'm not sure where I'm going, but it's far from the commotion downstairs. The screaming has ceased, but there are a lot of people moving, like the rebel group are rounding people up and moving them about. How many are there? Tai should be okay down there, but what if he isn't? He needs to stay for his people, but part of me wishes I had encouraged him to come with me.
Suddenly, the lights in the hallway flicker on. Flinching, I cover my eyes until they adjust to the sudden assault of light, and once they finally do, I realise that Vaia is standing in the hallway with me.
She looks startled to see me too, her dark hair swept back off her shoulders, the dark jacket she is wearing nothing like I've ever seen her in before. It's slightly too bulky for her lithe figure, the hood pulled up part way, shrouding her sharp features with shadow.
"Vaia, we need to get out of here," I say anxiously, realising she must have just come from her room, wanting to escape this all before the rebels come up to the top floor. That is until I realise grinly what is strapped to her thigh. "You have a knife."
"You should never have come here. Everything was fine until you did," she says lowly, looking over me with cold eyes, her usually light, verdant irises deepened to a dark shade that's closer in resemblance to Tai.
My lips are dry as I lick them. "What are you talking about?"
"We were gaining control of the throne. You had to come here and bring my father, to strengthen Tai's place," she says smoothly, although the cruel intent that lingers under her tone is painfully evident. It strikes me that Vaia hates me, hates a lot, it seems. She's looking at me as if she wants to use that knife on me, especially as she takes a single step toward me, which I match back warily.
It also hits me that this isn't a random interaction with the spoilt princess. Vaia is a part of what is going on downstairs, a part of the power cut and whatever terrorising it taking place. At first it doesn't make sense to me as of why, although I have to admit that I don't need to know why. Vaia is impulsive by nature, so who knows what she has gotten herself into.
"You're a rebel," I say flatly, narrowing my eyes on her.
"You hated Tai, and yet you still let him marry you," she growls. I adjust myself, wondering if she is even in the right mind. Her appearance is not as close to immaculate than what I've been used to, suggesting that whatever she is going through has already started to change her. Unless of course, she's been this way before.
I listen keenly behind me to ensure no one is coming up behind me, not wanting to take my eyes off Vaia and the knife her fingertips linger near. "Why are you doing this, Vaia? He's your brother?"
"I will never see power, money or happiness with him as King, as my father as King," she tells me, her voice suddenly starting to shake with adrenaline. I sigh through my nose,understanding that at my core."They could give me land, but they won't because I'm female. Do you know what that feels like?"
I've heard how Kailor has spoken about Vaia, about how he doesn't trust her with power, which I have every suspicion is to do with her being a female. Yet I am also sure that if she spoke to Tai he would happily hand her over some land, some money. In fact, he would encourage more. But I have the feeling she doesn't just want to escape this life and start anew...She wants the power all to herself.
"So you betray them?"
"I lead this rebel group. We have ideas for better use of the land, for our people to finally be free," she explains, taking yet another step toward me. I hold my hand out, watching her carefully.
"You have no idea what you're talking about," I explain softly. I want to tell her about Tai and I's plan to educate people from nearby villages about the dangers of the Forbidden River, but I know that's not what she wants to hear right now. She wants to be angry, she wants to hate me.
She takes yet another step toward. "We were so close to making the public resent him, to feel stronger than him and his reign, until you showed up."
"I haven't done anything," I say, confused.
"You became engaged, and people started to like you," Vaia explains, although her expression suggests she doesn't see what they see at all. She's hated me from the moment I walked in; not for who I am, but for the situation that I happened to be in. "The pretty little mistress from the Jade Province who stole the King's heart. How romantic, how hopeful for the wrenches in small villages who have nothing to live for."
I'm unsure of what she wants to hear right now, I just know I need to get out of here before she decides to use that knife on me. "That's not my fault."
"We tried to kill you. First the Summoner, then the shower," she admits, before looking surprised that she even told me that. If she's willing to impart so much important information, it's not a good sign.
Still, I'm more startled by what I'm hearing. I had known someone planned to kill me with the poison in the shower, but I was convinced that the Summoner was to kill Tai, not me. Now knowing that I could have died that day had Tai not shown up...It's terrifying.
"You're sick, Vaia," I growl, suddenly more angry than scared. In those first few weeks here, I thought she was insufferable, but at least I figured I knew why. Something is seriously wrong with you."
"I'm doing to work of the people,"
"And Marek? Why were you so obsessed with him?" I can't help but ask myself. A sudden, raw scream from closer than I anticipated the rebels are echoes down the hallway. I keep my gaze trained on Vaia, who's fingers quiver slightly. She is getting anxious, desperate to join those downstairs to enact whatever plans she has left for this place.
"I never was in love with him. Sure, I'd fuck him, but I needed to get close to him purely to get him on my side," Vaia says with a shrug. "And it worked."
It takes everything in me not to flinch, although dread does stream through my body, my blood turning cold as I turn each of those words over, letting them sink in slowly. I know what she is implying, but I don't want to believe it. I can't believe it, because the idea of Marek having anything to do with Vaia doesn't make any sense...Even if I ignored my emotions, it would make sense.
"You're lying," I mutter unevenly.
"We had him interrupt your wedding so all these wealthy land stealers would be in one place tonight. Then they all die, one by one," she tells me, the fear vanishing, replaced by triumph. She can see how frightened by this new information I am, and she can tell that it means she is winning, all has already won.
I grit my teeth, my fists clenching and unclenching. "Stop lying to me."
"Not at all. It took only one conversation by another rebel and Marek was in. Anything to take down Tai, right?" She murmurs.
Breathing in deeply, I force calm over me. She's not lying, I can tell, and that's why it hurts so much. She has no reason to lie about this, which means Marek may still be in the manor, killing off all those innocent people one by one. I'll deal with the overwhelming feeling of betrayal that I'm struggling to make sense of with Marek later.
"And Jessa? You truly love her?"
"I adore Jessa, she is my true love," Vaia admits with a shrug. More truth, I realise, that makes my stomach turn uneasily. "She took a moment to convince, but once she saw the bigger picture, she was in too. Who do you think could get close enough to poison you in the shower?"
I wince again, that one hitting me square in the chest. "You're lying. None of this is true."
He shakes her head, straight brunette strands falling down to frame her face as she steps toward me more, this time not stopping. My hands run along the sides of the wall as I back up, considering whether I should turn around and run for my life. But if I do, I'll be running right into more rebels, and the amount of them that there may be is unknown.
"Now you have to die," Vaia says shily, although doesn't sound grateful at all. I'm in her way, and ridding of me will do nothing but make her life more convenient. "Even if he's going to hate me for it."
I'm not sure why Vaia would care about what Tai thinks now, but I don't have time to dwell on any of that. Vaia is suddenly advancing on me, sliding the knife out of its hold before brandishing at me. I'm startled at how much technique she has in just the way she holds her knife, clearly having been training for this night.
"Don't do this," I plead, my voice breaking as I back up more before realising there isn't much space for me to keep moving. I need to run.
In a single sweeping movement, I turn, going to sprint down the hallway despite where it may take me, but suddenly Vaia lurches forward and grabs a hold of my forearm, turning me around. I manage to wrestle her arm off me, yet it's not enough.
The Princess doesn't hesitate as she drives the blade of the knife into my stomach.
The moment she removes the knife, I topple onto the floor, feeling no pain, just numbness crawl through me. With my back slumped against the wall, I look up at her, seeing my blood streaked across the reflective surface of the blade. Vaia wastes no time slipping back into it's hold before stepping over me, not even casting me another look as she walks away.
I gasp for breath, hating the way it shakes uneasily, shock and fear gripping me. The pain isn't there, as I press my fingers against the wound, blood already staining through my shirt, just a sense of numbness that I know will fade.
Or it won't fade...Maybe I won't last that long.
Swiping my tears away with the back of my free hand, I try not to dwell on that...Dying. I refuse to even think about Marek and Jessa and their betrayal. I just concentrate on the wall in front of me, keeping my breathing even as I try keep myself alive and awake.
Footsteps shudder through the floor from down the hallway, hurried. Looking toward them, I expect to see a rebel, or Vaia returning to finally end me.
However, it's neither.
"Tai..." I breathe.
He startles at the sight of me lying against the wall, gaze glancing over me quickly. He must have noticed the power come back on and decided to leave too. Or maybe he really didn't want me to get away without him. I'm not sure, I'm just grateful to see him.
"Akara, you're bleeding," he mumbles, coming to kneel down beside me. He doesn't touch, although looks desperate to. I glance down at my fingers which are now drenched in blood. I'm not sure how much I've lost already, but my vision is starting to dance with bright colours, a dizziness striking my head.
"Vaia stabbed me, she's a part of it," I gasp out, trying to get all the important information out in the fewest words before I pass out. "And Marek and Jessa."
Tai blinks, dark brows furrowing slightly. Realising that there is little point in asking me questions right now, a sense of grim determination falls over him. He must not be as surprised as I am.
"I can help you."
"No Tai, you need to go," I insist, knowing there may not be much more time for me. Tai won't get out alive if he tries to carry me out. By now, Vaia may be in Tai's room having realised he is not in there. She will be sending as many people as possible to find him. "She will kill you too."
"I can heal you," he assures me, his words confusing but his voice calming.
I have no energy to fight him off as he lifts my hand away from the wound, pulling my blood drenched shirt up to reveal my stomach. I look away, swallowing uncomfortably. I don't want to see the wound, I don't want to panic anymore than I already am. Instead, I breathe in deeply as Tai rests the palm of his hand against me, allowing myself to trust him.
His hand is warm, but won't be enough to stop the bleeding. The longer he touches me, the hotter his hand seems to get to the point it's uncomfortable. Right before I can tell him to stop, a sudden overwhelming feeling of relief falls over me, soothing my tense limbs, eliminating any of the sharp pain that was starting to gather near my wound.
Looking down, I watch Tai pull his hand away, the blood still there, but as I look closely, I realise that there is no wound...
"How is that possible?" I gasp, my own tentative fingers touching the spot. It's tender, but there is no open wound. He healed me...
"I don't know," he admits, looking at me through his fringe of dark curls, head bowed as he regains his breath, as if that took all of his energy. "I realised it after what happened when killing the Beast. Instead of dying I came back and now I have powers. My band saved me."
I shake my head, unsure I can believe him. Yet at the same time, what I witnessed is not natural. I know of no Tani that can heal, which means whatever powers he gained from killing the Beast are completely unique to him.
"We need to get out of here," he mutters, as a loud bang sounds from down the hallway.
I nod, letting him help me to my feet. My head still spins, but I have enough energy to let him guide me with. We are going to get out of here.
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Hey guys! Just letting you know that the epilogue will be up soon, and as that goes up, so will King'a Seduction on Wattpad (:
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So KING'S POSSESSION is now completed on Radish! The sequel, KING'S SEDUCTION is now up and available to view.
Do not, and I cannot stress this enough, read King's Seduction without completing this novel. It will spoil everything!!
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I'm officially rewriting Alpha Jasper's story now on Radish! It will be following the same storyline with the same characters, but with revised scenes and some new ones!
I love Jasper's story so much that I wanted to go back and rewrite it. I hope you guys will enjoy it, you can find it now on Radish (:
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