Scars and Burns (No Light Without the Dark #1)

13. Aeron

13

Aeron

“ W e will raid them in three days’ time.”, my Father says harshly. “You will kill her and add her power to your own.”

I stare at him in silence. I don’t need him telling me what my task is during this raid. It has been clear for over a decade now. It will be as easy as all my other kills I’ve made to prove my worth. This one might hold a special place in my sinister heart. Watching the twinkle leave the little flower’s eyes after I’ve seen how pure her soul is.

“There must be no slip ups.” My Father says, pulling me attention back to him. “Aeron, are you even listening to me?” I roll my eyes. How could I not be listening to him? He demands all attention whenever he speaks or even enters a room. Only ever calling me Aeron. As if I was just another one of his generals. Not his son that he forced to become the darkness Fae to ever exist. Accelerating the fiery rage burning inside of me.

“Yes, Perseus, I am listening.” I responded. Adding a little extra disgust to his name. Knowing he hates to be called that over ‘My King’, or ‘Your Grace’, or any other title that emanates power.

Sighing I say, “King Elio is too consumed with Princess Saphrina and her betrothal to Prince Proteus of the Celestial Realm to even give a second thought to his ward. Not that it would matter anyway. He is repulsed by her. Has been ever since he laid eyes on her. With the devastation of our other lesions in his castle I will be in and out before he even knows I am there.”

He nods. Giving a grunt of approval.

* * *

Unable to withstand another moment in my Father’s dreadful castle. I head to my billet where my closest friend and confidant, Aemond, is waiting.

Aemond is the same age as me. And the only other person who knows the full depth of my plan to overthrow my Father. Having planted the seed in my mind himself.

It was the same day I had my first interaction with the little flower. She was playing with a serpent and asked if I was a monster.

He lost his family to starvation. He made his way to the castle. I found him that night breaking into the kitchens in search of food. I saw the look of desperation on his face. Cheeks sunken in. Collarbone showing. I could see his ribs through his tunic. Barely enough meat on his bones for the garment to stay on. He had already grabbed some bread and started eating it when I found him.

He seemed so lost and alone. Having been in a similar situation, I decided to show him mercy. Heading to the pantry for a sweet. I grab an extra one for him. Tossing it to him. He drops the bread and catches it. Shock on his face.

“You aren’t going to turn me in? Or kill me?” He asks.

I glance over at him as I take a seat. Motioning for him to come sit beside me. He does. Still skeptical for obvious reasons. I simply answer, “No”

“Why?” He asks in confusion.

“Do you want me to kill you?”

“N - no of course not. I’m just a little confused, is all, your Grace.”

Your Grace. How formal of him. Like most he has no idea of the shame I carry with me. The disapproval my Father bestowed upon me.

I shrug my shoulders. “I’ve been killing all day. I don’t need to kill in the dead of night too. Plus, we’re in the kitchens. Wouldn’t be very sanitary if I were to kill you here.”

Giving me a small nervous laugh, he says, “No, I suppose not.”

“You may finish your sweet. But I don’t want to catch you stealing again.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Thank you.”

We finish eating in silence. You can tell from the tension in the air there is much both of us would like to say to the other. But neither of us dare to make a sound.

Finishing his sweet and getting up to leave. About to head out the same way he came. I stopped him. “Would you like to stay?” Not all that entirely sure why I am asking him this. Nor do I have a clue as to how I would even pull it off.

He’s just staring at me. Clearly waiting for me to elaborate. “I mean, here. Would you like to stay here?”

His eyes scan the room in confusion. “The kitchens?”

“No, here in the palace. I don’t know why so don’t ask but I feel like helping you. The dungeons are overflowing. They won’t notice one more. I could smuggle you in. It’s not much but it would be shelter and food. I would be your only sparring partner so no chance of dying. I’ll make sure of it. You would learn how to fight and defend yourself. And who knows? Maybe in time you will be knighted or rewarded.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t I say not to ask!” I snap .

He slams his mouth shut. His confidence wavering.

Sighing, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. I just…I don’t know, do you want it or not?”

“Yes, thank you. Your Grace.”

Since then he and I have spent nearly every day together. I taught him to fight. He has become quite skilled in the end. Earning himself a knighthood after proving himself on a number of raids.

We ventured into the kingdom together. Drinking, wining and dining women. Mingling with the small folk of the kingdom. Seeing them work day after day.

That’s when we formed our plan.

Shortly after I began beating every opponent I came across. Most importantly my Father. I began to develop a plan. He may be the most feared Fae in the Shadowlands and respected by the nobles. But the common people despise him.

Aemond mentioned it to me first. “You would be a far better ruler than him. Damn him and your supposed disinheritance.”

I eventually did tell him my Father disowned me as his son and heir. I didn’t tell him why or how I would ever earn that honor back. But he didn’t need to know. Nor did he ever ask.

“The people love you.”

“The people do not know me. We sit here. Drinking and eating. Pretending to be one of them but we will never be truly among them.”

He grunts, “We?”, raising a brow at me.

Rolling my eyes, “Okay, me”

He sets his drink down. “That’s exactly my point, Aeron. You relate to your people so much you can’t even see it. They can’t even see it because you don’t sit atop a cloud of perfection and nobility. They have accepted you as one of them whether they know it or not. And if given the chance they would rally behind you.”

I laugh, “You’re forgetting one small very important detail. ”

“Oh, and what is that?”

“I’m feared throughout all three realms. Taking directly after my Father in death and destruction.”

“To your enemies perhaps. But to them.” He motions around the room. “You could show them that you see them. You know what it’s like to be looked down upon for no fault of your own. To claw your way through life. To work for everything you’ve become.”

I don’t say anything. This would mean appealing to their better nature. I’ve never been good at that.

Sighing, he continues, “You are ruthless. You are the best killer there is. Gruesomely killing anyone that dares face your blade. There is no denying that. But you also care and understand your people more so than you think. They will gladly cast your Father aside if given the chance.”

I finally looked at him. “So what would you have me do? Overthrow my Father and bring the other two realms to yield myself. Allowing darkness to descend again?”

“Not exactly but yeah pretty much.” He gives me a devious grin. The ladies do love that grin of his. Works every time. Not so much on me though.

I take another drink. Finishing it before saying, “The other realms wouldn’t respect me if I killed him. I haven’t proven myself yet. His death would only rally them together.” , I pause, “However, if I allowed him to continue his plans. Growing the darkness for me. Setting up the demise of the other two realms for himself. I could strike him down when he is least expecting it. When he has already demolished the other two realms. All I would have to do is kill him and ascend the throne.”

We nod at each other in agreement. Smiling.

It may have all been hypothetical then. But overtime it’s become a reality. Slowly, planting the seed of rebellion in the people’s minds.

That is what we have been working towards these past years. We have created a safe haven. A billet for my people. Or dwellers. As we’ve come to call them. We have grown in number each year. Preparing ourselves for my rule to rise and my Father to finally fall.

Aemond and I have worked with countless males and females. Enhancing their fighting abilities. Expanding their magic.

There are more common folk with magic than I thought. Not recognized for not being born into a noble family. Most never even get to explore their magic.

My Father’s plans are underway. And soon ours will be too.

* * *

After hours of relaxing at the billet with Aeron. I make my way to the stream where I find the little flower.

Shocker.

But this time she’s not alone.

Strange.

She has a little fluffy white speckled thing in her lap. Unable to make it out. I venture closer. My eyes widened. It’s an animal, a lynx. What is a lynx doing in the forest of the Middle Kingdom? They are solitary creatures from high up in the Celestial Mountain range. Hard to come across. Always camouflaged by their fur in the snow. All of the dark creatures rising up have primarily stayed in the forest spreading among the three realms. So there’s no way they are what drove the creature down from the mountains. Granted this one only seems to be a cub. Mother lynxes are very protective. More than capable of defending themselves and their cubs, even if a dark creature had ventured that far north.

Seems fitting these two isolated creatures were to find each other. Right before a cold and brutal end is upon them.

I catch a glimpse of the little flower’s eyes. There’s something there I haven’t seen before. Even the very first night I saw her. Her eyes held a fierce cold embodiment to them. Each time since then, they’ve possessed the same cold longing look. Whether it was when she was playing, exploring, or flailing her blades around in anger. Poorly I might add.

But this look.This look holds endearment to it.

How she manages to find grace and empathy for these monstrous creatures is beyond me. She’s cradling it in her arms. Giving it scratches like it’s a pet. I swear if she brings that creature home with her willingly. She’s more naive than before with the serpent.

No matter. She will meet her fate at the end of my blade regardless of the little monster’s presence or not.