"Listen to my voice, can you do that?" Tristian shook his shoulders gently.
Silence.
"Focus on me, do you understand who I am?" He cupped both of his palms against Canton's cheeks and tried to at least make him aknowledge his presence.
Silence.
"God, what did they do to you?" He said, his voice trembling just a bit, terror making his heart beat slightly faster.
Canton painfully raised his eyes up to Tristian's face. Everything inside of him was screaming and crumbling down but he whispered when he said
"Help me."
ERROT
Five.
Six.
Seven hours?
Days?
Months?
No, it's definitely not that long.
Is it?
I feel like my body is turning numb from the immobility.
I can't stretch my arms.
I can't stretch my legs.
The walls will stop them.
These four walls.
These four walls and me.
The ground is cold. I'm sitting on stone.
And I'm freezing.
It's dark. I can't see anything.
I can't hear anything.
It's the kind of silence that can deafen you.
The kind of silence that can drive you mad.
Exactly how he likes it.
I wonder if he got mad because of the silence he puts himself through.
I wonder if he enjoys being isolated.
I wonder if he was always that evil.
I wonder if he ever got to be a child.
Was he born like this?
Is it running in their blood?
I'm finding hard to believe he could actually love anyone but himself.
How did he end up in love with Tristian, is a mystery to me.
He was smiling in that picture.
He actually looked happy.
Safe.
Not himself.
His crown was a lot smaller compared to the one he owns now.
Was he a prince? He couldn't be a king.
If he was a prince then who was the king?
Did he have a father? A mother?
Siblings?
Was he an only child?
Elian never told me his backstory.
No book talks about it.
All the details, everything I learned about him started when he was already a king.
Like all the years before that were somehow erased.
Gone.
Like they never even existed.
My mind had also deleted those years.
I always thought about him as a king. As the king of Ink Blood.
But I have no idea what led to that.
I'm now getting glimpses of Tristian.
Of a guy that existed a thousand years ago.
Of a guy that looks exactly like me.
Of a guy that managed to make the wicked king smile.
Of a guy that's probably dead.
Maybe Tristian is a very important piece.
He is a part of the past that was erased.
Maybe that's why it hurts Canton so much.
Because he wants this part of himself hidden.
Buried.
Maybe he didn't allow anyone to write about his story.
The story that brought him to life and raised him and shaped him into the monster that he is today.
I closed my eyes shut, replacing black with some more black.
I exhaled.
I wonder what would happen if Canton died.
He's the only royal member left.
Will Ink Blood stay headless?
Will anyone from his closed circle take the crown?
Why hasn't anyone ever attempted on his life?
I bet to everything I have that every single Ink hates him.
It would be too easy to team up and take him down.
Ink Blood against their King.
I won't be able to rest until I see his black blood spread out on his very valuable floors.
His own blood spilled on his own throne.
His own blood spilled by his own people.
I want to see him in the same pain he has put me and million of others through.
I want to see his empty green eyes close the moment he takes his last breath.
With that thought in my head leading my dreams, sleep took me away once again.
ODA
"So, basically, everything here moves and breathes in the king's name."
"Precisely." Elvina grinned at me and laid next to me on her enormous bed.
"Doesn't that bother you? That you have to obey to every single thing that comes out of his mouth?"
"Nah, I couldn't care less."
"Yeah, but what if someday he got bored of you and ordered your death?"
Elvina laughed. She laughed and I watched as her eyes crinkled in amusement.
I frowned but looked away to respect their eye contact policy. "I wasn't joking"
"Trust me when I say this, blondie Canton would never, ever, lay a hand on me, let alone kill me."
"Because you are his girlfriend?"
"How did you come up with that conclusion?" Her tone wasn't accusatory. She sounded more amusingly curious than anything else.
I shrugged. "I guess because you're way too comfortable around him. You're the only one who dares to tease him or....-"
Oh no.
I closed my eyes shut.
"And you know that how?" I could sense her amusement leaving her body second by second.
I started biting my bottom lip, my eyes open now.
She knows. She knows we overheard them.
How could I be so stupid. It's not me who usually slips, damn it.
"You eavesdropped, didn't you?"
I took a deep breath. "We kind of...did?"
"We? You and Errot, we?"
Way to go Oda.
Way to go.
"Yes."
Might as well find a hole and crawl inside it for the eternity.
"And what did you hear?" She sounded skeptical. Concerned, even.
Definitely not mad.
"Just you and C- the king fighting with knives and him freaking out about Errot. Or like, the guy he thinks Errot is."
Elvina stayed silent. She was probably processing the information I just gave her, trying to remember if they revealed something they shouldn't have.
They didn't.
I heard her relax next to me.
"Oda. I don't like it when people eavesdrop" that was definitely a warning.
She sounded serious. Nothing like the Elvina I got to know the past few days.
Ever since she took me in, she's being nothing but ...nice to me.
She hasn't tortured or used me in any way.
Well, except from the countless training hours with her. Those are bad. They end with me barely conscious and my body covered with bruises. She says she needs a strong servant by her side and I almost feel bad that she gets a dead servant instead.
But other than that, she's all about making conversation with me, not abusing me or insulting me.
This version of Elvina is the exact opposite of what I thought she was like.
Maybe there's a trap there.
And I have a really bad feeling that Canton is nothing like Elvina.
That Errot is having the worst time of his life and I can't do anything about it.
"Bet it's my turn now" Elvina said.
I almost forgot about the game until she brought it back to life.
It actually amazed me how Elvina's first command was for us to play the question game.
She loves talking and hates silence. She always wants to engage in conversation and have something to talk about.
The fact that she invented this game where we have to ask each other questions in turns and discuss the answers so the conversation never dies, is only causing my inner introvert pain.
"It was Errot's idea for you two to come to Ink Blood, wasn't it?"
I furrowed my eyebrows at that. "Yes, how do you know that?"
"Is that your next question for me?"
I turned to catch her apparently grinning expression when I remembered that I can't.
I immediately turned my gaze away again.
This is frustrating.
"Why can't Elves stand eye contact so much that they have to blind anyone who looks at them?"
Elvina gave me a bitter chuckle. "Canton prohibited eye contact long ago and everyone else just simply obeyed until it became a thing. Now everyone thinks its a threat."
"So if I look at you right now will you think that im threatening you?"
"You could always test that theory"
So I guess she basically told me that I can look at her.
No?
I hope I got it right because the second the chance was given to me, I immediately grabbed it.
I turned my head to the side so it was directed straight at her. I looked up at her face, my cheeks turning red from the look she's giving me.
She looks so evilly nice if that makes any sense.
She could murder a dozen of people now and give her life for someone else the next minute.
Her sinister smirk could literally kill me and then bring me back to life.
Her stare is making my heart sink.
"Still alive, who would have thought?"
I'm dumbfounded. I can't even bring my self to speak.
"See now why Canton and Santos are made for each other?"
Say something Oda.
Anything.
Reply.
Speak.
Stop staring.
Damn.
Funny how your brain stops working at the worst possible time.
"They would both lose it if you stared at them like that while Adan and I couldn't find it in us to care."
That seemed to wake me up from my daze.
"You're right, definitely. Uhm, I'm not staring really. I was just, you know looking. Because, yeah. Because I haven't. Until. You know. Now. It's the first time I'm allowed to look. Look at you and-"
Her smirk widened along with the panic inside me.
"Interesting how you only blush about anything that has to do with sexual thoughts."
My eyes widened at that.
I felt my heartbeat on my ears, drumming back and forth with a rhythm so normally abnormal.
Knowing me my blush just got worse.
I couldn't help but think how I would have been six feet under right now if it wasn't for her.
But it doesn't even make sense.
"Why did you save my life?"
Elvina then snickered amused. "Definitely not because I like you."
Oh.
"I was out of slaves and you seemed like fun"
"The only commands I've been given is to talk and fight with you."
My eyes widened a bit.
"Not that I mind" I quickly added.
Elvina licked her lips a bit in thought before she replied with her usual smirk on.
"Do you remember what I told you when you asked me how I make use of my slaves?"
"Yeah, you told me to find out myself."
"Exactly."
I just looked at her with a blank expression on my face.
"So.."
"So, I only own sex slaves."
My heart stopped and started again.
It then repeated the same action.
Elvina laughed but it only sounded sadistic on my ears.
And then it hit me.
She basically told me the exact same thing a few days ago.
She said she's had sex with merlots.
With her merlot slaves.
Elvina reached out to me and patted my head.
"Tell me, Oda. Have you ever had gay sex before?"
She's coming closer.
Why is she coming closer.
Why does my throat ends up closing unwillingly every time I try to swallow?
She's literally so close, my heart is about to burst out of my body and erupt in flames.
"Elvina--"
I thought I said her name but it wasn't me.
That was definitely not my voice.
Elvina and I simultaneously turned to look at the person who had thankfully walked in.
Santos.
He's standing at the door, his knuckles white from holding the knob too hard.
Almost the entirety of his temple is covered by his black cloak, his dark eyes that were barely making an appearance today, fixed on the scene he just walked in to.
He looked displeased as always while his nostrils flared a couple of times.
He then rolled his eyes and lowered his head.
"I could be naked, Sant." Elvina said, her tone playful.
Santos didn't seem to match her mood.
"Like I care." He mumbled, his eyes moving to me for a mere second and then back to Elvina. "Look, the king asked to see you without the presence of that thing." He said and briefly pointed at me with his thumb.
That thing.
Funny how the shyness goes away the moment I see his face.
When I look at him, I only want to punch him where it hurts.
And I will.
Someday.
Elvina was immediately up and heading towards the door at that.
"Guard her for me, would you gramps?" She smirked and patted his shoulder on her way out, without waiting for an actual answer.
Santos closed his eyes shut for not more than two seconds and then he rolled his eyes once again.
Is this the only thing he can do?
I rolled my eyes back at him and sat up more comfortably on the bed.
"I'm not an item, you know." I crossed my arms against my chest and glared at him.
"Remove your eyes from me."
"What if I don't?"
Santos decided to stay silent at that.
He leaned against the wall and started staring at the window across him.
"You're not saying anything because I actually left you speechless. "
He once again replied with silence.
I'm getting frustrated.
Why won't he like me.
I can't possibly think of one reason why he wouldn't like me.
I haven't done anything to him.
But he was always snappy, always irritated with me.
I curled my fingers into a fist and glanced at him again.
"Why don't you like me?"
That question seemed to catch his interest as he slowly turned his head to face me.
He looked a mix of bored, pissed and surprised.
The latter surprised me too.
"Because you aren't likeable." He said as casually as possible and turned his head back to the window.
"As far as I know, I haven't done anything to make you hate me."
Santos rolled his eyes once again and stayed silent.
I couldn't help but snort at that. "Bro, you're so annoying."
Silence.
I peeked at him. He didn't even move a muscle.
"Doesn't it annoy you that I find you annoying?"
Santos sighed at that.
"Life is no fairytale. Not everyone is going to like you. You need to accept that and move on. "
"Or maybe you should try to be less uptight so it's easier for people to approach you and develop connections with you"
"Or I could just be myself and let people decide if they like the real me and not a socially constructed version of me."
"Aren't you lonely?"
"Aren't you tired?"
I frowned. "Tired of what?"
"Of trying so hard to make others like you and getting defensive when they don't."
His tone was serene enough to drive me crazy.
"I'm not getting defensive. I don't care that you don't like me because I don't like you either."
He scoffed. "Getting defensive."
I clenched at the bed sheets tightly.
"You know, you're still constructed enough to be likeable to your king."
"Believe what you please" he said dismissively.
I would have replied with a very smart remark if Elvina hadn't suddenly appeared.
I would have.
"I'm back"
"Finally" Santos mumbled and walked out of the room without another word.
Elvina looked at me with her eyebrows playfully furrowed.
"Alright, did you ask him anything about colours?"
Now it was my turn to frown. "Colours"
"Yeah, like what's his favourite one or something."
"What that has to do with anything?"
"Didn't Elian tell you?"
Okay. Now I'm practically dying from curiousity.
"Tell me what?"
"Weird. It's not really a secret. Santos is an achromat. "
I literally had to do a double take and repeat the word in my mind.
Being startled is an understatement.
"You know, he can't see colour. He sees life as an old movie. Black and white. Sometimes gray, if he's lucky."
Wow, explains the misery.
"And if the sun is too bright some days he only sees people, furniture and scenery as faded shadows."
"Shit...and did he..how did that happen?"
"You literally have no clue, don't you." Elvina said and sat back down to the bed.
I watched her closely. "I really, really don't."
"Okay, listen. Santos wasn't in our inner circle from the start..."
"Your highness, I assure you, you won't regret keeping me. My abilities will prove my worth."
"I believe Nerissa is your sister, no?"
Santos' jaw clenched at that. "With all due respect, my king I don't see how Nerissa being my step sister has anything to do with my abilities."
"If anything, mortal it only gives you worth."
Santos stayed silent at that.
"But we have Nerissa for that and two spies would be a waste of time and that's final"
"Your majesty. I'm way better than Nerissa could ever be."
"Dad I think-" a small low voice echoed throughout the throne room.
"Shut it, Canton." King Alastair said, his tone harsh and fierce.
Prince Canton immediately closed his mouth and gave an odd look at Santos.
The kind of look that yells sympathy.
Santos held his head high and looked at the king dead in the eye when he uttered his next words. "Give me your hardest case. An unsolved one. A case Nerissa couldn't even dream of solving. And I will go through with it."
King Alastair sighed in boredom. "You're half human. That means that you have emotions. You feel things. Those feelings will stand in your way when you work for me."
Santos glanced at the young prince. The prince who tried to save him not even a minute ago.
The prince who showed empathy.
But he saw nothing now. His head was lowered down, his face vacant of any emotions.
Cold as ice.
"My dimension doesn't work with lame feelings. With blue and yellow and red. It works with black. And you aren't qualified for that. You should consider yourself lucky you even live in Ink Blood."
I can feel the shock radiating through my widely opened eyes.
"So, wait. Canton had a father? He wasn't a king from the start?"
"Canton didn't just exist. Of course he had a father. And a mother. And siblings. But.. that's a story for another time."
"And.." I shook my head. "Santos is half human? Was he already an achromat then?"
"He wasn't." Elvina sighed. "It gets complicated from there. Sant wouldn't give up that easily. He wanted that job so bad. It was his dream. And his time was running out. He knew he had to fulfill his dream one way or another."
"What? What do you mean his time was running out?"
"Cancer. He was half human so that meant that he could actually die from a fatal illness. Yes, he could also shapeshift, sure. But that wasn't gonna save his life. So, he did the next craziest thing he could do. He confronted Canton."
I feel the chills running up and down my spine.
My eyes are definitely watery and if Elvina wasn't here, I would most probably weep my eyes out.
But I won't.
I should stop feeling sorry for every person in the world.
Especially for people that treat me like shit.
"What did Canton do?"
So close.
I was so close.
Elvina's phone buzzed and I almost started cursing out loud.
Absolutely great timing.
She threw a glance at her phone screen and got up again.
"Speak of the devil. Come on, storytime ends here."
"Where are we going?"
"Canton needs me to the throne room. And you're coming with me."
I sighed and got up myself. "Will you tell me the rest of the story tonight?"
"We'll see, gossip blondie." She smirked at me and started heading towards the room with me on her heels.
As soon as we arrived, the whole aura turned odd. Uncomfortable.
King Canton was sitting comfortably on his throne, his face giving nothing away as always.
Errot.
He's here.
The moment our eyes met, I felt like welling up and running to his arms.
He must have felt the same way cause he looked like he was ready to risk it all and flee from Canton's side.
He didn't.
He looked exhausted.
The dark circles under his eyes and the way he looked like he was struggling to hold himself up made me think he was in pain.
He must have seen I got worried because he gave me a small smile.
He told me that he was okay without really telling me and that was enough for now.
Adan was standing in the corner and he was the only one grinning from ear to ear.
Santos looked like a frozen statue, his eyes glued at the girl that was standing in front of the throne.
I wonder if she's another human Canton will kill in a few minutes.
But then I watched as Elvina turned pale next to me. She stopped walking abruptly, her wide eyes stuck at that girl's back.
Okay, maybe she's not human.
But who is she then?
The whole room turned to look at a stunned Elvina.
Including the mysterious girl.
She sighed like she was expecting that reaction. Like she was disappointed but not at all surprised. She locked her eyes with Elvina's cold ones and wouldn't break the eye contact.
Adan looked like he was ready to burst out laughing any second now, while on the other hand, Santos looked angry, upset even.
I glanced at Errot but he just shrugged.
"You're late, Elvina." Canton said, coolly.
But Elvina didn't seem to be able to speak. She blinked and then I watched as her face turned from shocked to collected like she wasn't internally losing it two seconds ago.
She started walking to Canton, her eyes never leaving the girl's.
She bumped her shoulder to hers along the way and took her place next to the king, her expression rough.
"Good. Let's start." Canton ordered.
My heart suddenly skipped a beat.
I don't know why, but I have a feeling that the arrival of this girl will only bring us trouble.
♛