Sloane
Beware of the Jaguar, for its teeth are stamps of time, claiming your expiration date. A sheep white as snow follows below collecting your soul in its wool with stains of red until the very end when the Jaguar cuts it clean making it start all over again.
I found myself in front of my subjects. Anger and Sadness were with them. I let him in.... and I lost. I stood on the platform looking among them with Kylian beside me further back. "I want to start off by showing respect for the dead with a minute of silence..." I trail off closing my eyes holding onto the rail for support. Every time I close my eyes, I see his body lifeless as can be. How cold his touch felt. After a minute, I open my eyes staring into the crowd. "A few nights ago, we lost our king, my father. Who did nothing but served his people as they served him. In times like these, we all stand with each other. I am deeply sorry and disappointed myself for allowing this to happen. If I came sooner., we would all be rejoicing of our victory. I promise you heart and soul that I will make things right" I explain before glancing down for a moment and back at the crowd. One of the villager’s questions while yelling "How will you do that? I heard you did not find the last gemstone. Therefore, cannot put down Oasis" he pushes his way to the front. Everyone else either question, whisper among each other, or kept quiet. Another voice chimes in becoming more aggressive, "the gemstones were just a lie. You did all this and for what? You have nothing to show for why you deserve to be Queen! It's all your fault that I lost my child!" she points finger back and forth with her arm following suit. Their voice grew louder and harness. As the crowd move closer, Kylian steps forward standing next to me " The princess is fit to be queen better than any of you. None of you would have last a day in her shoes. She is not to blame. Oasis is the one to blame! She has caused us great pain with Maverick. The one that slaughtered our loved ones and made our once beautiful home into a battlefield. He is the one the blame here. I have lost two important people in my life; we all have lost something " he yells grabbing their attention. There was nothing but silence from them.
I stood there for a moment watching him. No one has stood up me for the way he did. Next thing I knew I left a droplet on the side of my face. A fingertip touches my face showing a red substance. Out of shock, I look over it then at Kylian, who held a tomato filled with pig blood in his hand. He squeezes it allowing the juice to expel out and drops it. In that moment, I turn around walking away from the rail back into the castle as he follows. You could hear the things they were throwing at the door and the yells of anger.
†
In my hand is a lily. He's truly gone. A tear falls down my face once again as I enter the water an inch closer to him, my father. Standing next to me is my brother holding a lily too before placing onto father's body. I hope he knows that I tried. I took a deep breath holding up the torch and drop into the burial raft with Warren and say "My father was a great man. He held his crown up in high waters but his people higher. He never let his people fall short and held our best interest at heart. I love you. May the light be your path to the journey of the after". Flames began to engulf over his entire raft. A group of soldiers push the raft out of the into the river further letting the water guide him to the fall. With arms open, Warren falls in allowing me to wrap them around him as our kneels it the shallow end most of our top half expose to air. He continues to cry gripping onto my shirt and gasps for airtime from time. I hold back the tears glancing down at him caressing his head gently. Among the bank were other rafts of the victims with the same custom as the King. Lights of fire filled the river. I turn my heads to the right looking off at people as I search for Kylian and his family. Each member wore a shade of gray. A family once of 10 has turn into a family of 8. His sisters: Jewel and Venus were on the same raft holding hands. All the siblings stood next to one another holding onto each other crying. Their mother whaling as she holds her husband, who is badly injured by the fight. Being the oldest of the bunch, the twins hold up a torch each setting the raft on fire. As the fire grew, they dunk the torches into the water placing them onto the ground and starts pushing the raft until they could not anymore. Kylian stayed kneeled to the ground holding the triples in his arms as they faced away from fire. Tears cover his cheeks. I caused the tears. I had him right in my hands and I was stupid enough to believe in him.
Once the crossing was over. People kept put, others left in their own form of mourning. Warren and I stood in the water holding hands as we stare off where the edge of the river. At the end, it forms into a waterfall where no one knows its destination. All abilities are cut off once you are in, pure nature. A heavy sigh leaves my lips. Warren's quiet cries found their way to by ears. I glance up at him as I raise my hand wiping a tear before he asks "He's not coming back, is he? When you were away, Father took me to shoot old empty mugs with a sling that mother gave him. At my age, mother would occasionally do her definition of fun hunting with a sling. Dad found that attractive. Apparently, she never wore a dress since age 4. After that, she made it pretty clear of her attire. Hunting clothes, always on the go. Never to be stopped by a puff skirt. Mother would always recite her fondest of poets and a little bit slick humor. The way he spoke about their love and how we were all that he needed more than a throne, more than a title. It shown me how vulnerable he was especially times where vulnerability is labeled as a weakness. Surprisedly, he was more mature than mother at my age. When I was little, he would secretly sneak snacks into my room after our aunt would forbid us sugary delights. Ya know before all this happened, he said he is proud of me... and... he" he trails about to cry again. I let go of his hand rubbing his back. He shakes his head walking away heading back to the castle "I can’t..." he states, two guards follow him.
I stood there in the water letting it hold my hands for comfort. I can feel him, here with me. All eyes were on me. I should have been here. Ready to claim my back as their beating ground. I messed this up and I must pay for it. You sure do. I hold out my hand. A guard near me places a very small raft inside my hand. I grab hold of it putting it both and say "May the light carry your home. It's an honor to be your friend..." with that said, I gentle put Vera's box onto the water letting it float away. Once I was out of the water, the villagers there just stared me with hate or pity. I will not say one word, but I will not let them take over me. Two guards follow behind me as I made my way back home. The night sky hung over us, reminding me of him. The main doors open showing the portrait of my mother on the top of the staircase. In the opening was a window allowing the moonlight to creep in between the painting of my mother and an empty section.
"I want a portrait of the King on the other side in that empty plot" I command slowly walking up the stairs not caring how wet I am. Not one glance at anyone. A servant's voice comes into play "Right away your grace. I'll have some maids come help you undress" he explains following me, but I raise my hand. I stop turning around tiredly "Where is Iyanna?" I ask with all this chaos going on, I never really had the time to even think about Iyanna. I didn't see her among the bodies, and her name was not on the list. The male servant looks up at me "She quit. As of a day before your arrival, she put in a resignation proposal on...." before he could finish, I was already at the top of the stairs heading to my chambers. She did not just leave me. It must be a lie. My hands push the door open, in front of me stood is a purple dress with puffy leaves and white collar with gold accents floating in the air barely above my neck. I stared at my reflection see how red my eyes have gotten. A figure appears in the mirror parallel from it. My eyes widen at the pure shock. Anger quickly held my face hostage. Iyanna smiles at me "You look terrible. Here, let's touch that up for you, shall we?" she asks holding powder up patting her face. A few tears fall down my face asking "Why? Why do this? I thought...you." She stops applying powder and looks at me soullessly before she says "Let's just say I am returning an old debt to your father. One thing I can say he did give it his all, die trying while your mother on the other hand was quite easy. A little dosage of poison can go a long way in making someone slowly fade. By basically delivering you and your brother, we became blood sisters to where she was wrapped around my finger" she smiles sinisterly. Out of anger, I stomp over to the wall close to my dresser grabbing the sword displayed on it and slice the dress in half. Looking around, I found a handle holder throwing it in mirror removing her completely. The glass shatter found its way on the floor. It felt as if my head and heart could explode.
That the person I once called friend, was my enemy the whole time. Right under my nose.
I grab hold of sword with both hands swinging it around. Knocking anything my path. Out of anger, I grab hold of my closet cabinet pushing it to the ground with best of my abilities with not power at my disposal. I began to throw things allowing to the wall to break them.
"Ahhhhhhhhh! He's gone! He's gone!" I repeatedly scream hitting my sword into the cabinet quickly. "I TRIED! I TRIED! BUT IT FAILS. I FAILED! THEIR DEAD BECAUSE OF ME..." I throw my sword. It impales itself in the wall staying there. The Crow is Gone. Vera is dead.... My father was killed, and Maverick is the bastard that killed him. A guard opens the door, but I throw a book at the door "Get out!" I yell. I lost them. I grab hold of hair tossing around. A pair of hands finds their way to my arms guarding me over to a glass free area. Kylian. My body collapses in his arms. "I'm so sorry.... I’m sorry" I began to cry even harder as I grip his shirt.
"Shhhhh. It's okay" he ensures caressing my head rocking side to side with both of his legs on either side of me. "Bring me a medical kit. No one else is not allowed in this room. If word reaches, I will make sure it's your last days" he threatens. Ignoring the pain in my feet. I close my eyes letting the silence comfort me. In that moment, I know that I knew nothing. Like many stars, they eventually burst. Dying overtime. Where star shines too bright and disappears in the night.
Bah-Bah little sheep. Cross my arm and my soul to keep. Take all of me and leave no more for those to seek. Delivery me from this evil for my temptation for revenge is strong. For I question the why and why in me all along.
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