Tough Love Pt.2

"Evander...", Aven repeated.

"Get away from her!", Jessi yelled.

Aven set me down gently backing away from me. Jessi ran towards me bringing his knees to the ground just to hug me. "I'm never leaving you again, I swear on my life", he whispered.

I let my tears flow freely while he embraced me. He shushed me like he did many times before reassuring me that I would be fine.

He didn't let go of me until I stopped crying.

"Evander...", Aven called out to Jessi.

He responded "Yes, prince Aven".

He bowed hesitantly to Aven.

I looked up at him in shock, "Don't call me that Evander, you may call me as you like, you were my brother after all", Aven spoke.

Aven hugged my brother, and Jessi hugged him back. "Hi, Aven".

"He helped me as I fell", I spoke to Jessi.

He nodded as he broke away from Aven's brief hug.

"Aven, could you give me and Letharia some room?"

"Certainly", he immediately left the room.

"Letharia, I need you to listen to me carefully, I know you're confused but I need you to love Aven. How are we going to free our people in the Slums without cooperating with him?

I looked at him confused.

"Explain to me about what the hell is going on then!"

Jessi sighed and sat on the bed "I'm not telling you, I suggest you get close to Aven then ask him but if you wanted the source of all of this information ask Nero".

My head hurt, Jessi didn't usually act like this.

"Have you seen Father?", I've changed the subject.

Jessi lifted a brow "Mm. Yes, I have, he's in a hospital bed with chains tied to his body and his wrists, kind of like a mental institution."

"Like a mental institution..., I whispered under my breath.

Jessi made eye contact with me "He's in dire condition, they've done all that they can for that man, they've given me the final call on what I do with this man's life".

"This man? That man is your Father... Jessi, why are you acting so strange, did they brainwash you?"

He let out a faint chuckle "Lethi, you sure are hilarious, my thoughts are overrun on what I should do for the people in the slums, sure our father started the rebellion but maybe if you can't beat them join them."

He approached me and put his hand on my shoulder. "I'm going to kill that bastard Nero and I swear on mother's grave. But I mean it Letharia, get close to Aven. Have a conversation ignoring the things he says that bother you and we'll figure this out. But for right now you have a meeting with the council.

I brushed Jessi's hand off my shoulder and took a deep breath before I extended my hand out to him. "Fine then, let's go".

-//////-

Council Member Meeting 15430:

"Councilmember Zane Velis state your issue".

"Yes well, the issue of the matter is, my daughter".

"Your daughter?", Arlin had spoken.

"Yes sir. She's gotten quite sick and there seems to be an issue of what I can do to free my daughter of her sickness".

"Council member Velis, you serve life on the council. Your daughter was a dangerous product this is what the gods are calling to take back. You cannot heal her, let the Gods and let the Goddess take care of it".

"Arlin. I'm begging you to heal her. Have I not done enough for Xoria?! Have I not done enough for the Kings?! I have been on this council since I was 10 years old, have I not been an asset to you?!"

"That is enough council member Velis, if you continue these outbursts I will have you kicked out the council, then your daughter will fall in the hands of Hades."

Zane held his breath, clenching his fists.

"Yes sir, this is the last you'll hear about the matter".

Meeting 15430 Adjourned

-///-

"Hello Letharia!", A different man had spoken as I had entered the room.

"Hello", I had bowed.

Aven sat in a corner looking amazed as I had shown obedience.

"You may sit in that chair in front of the council Letharia", he had pointed.

Jessi had quietly taken a spot near Nero.

I looked behind the man speaking to me to see council member Velis in a far-left corner looking unamused. There were 4 other chairs next to him filled with ominous members I haven't met.

"You may call me Council Member Arlin, not just Arlin, and you may not address me as just a council member or sir as there are different ranks. Now Letharia, you may see your younger sister after the Blue crescent ball. Do you know what that is?"

"No, Council Member Arlin", Nero laughed at my obedience and at my lack of knowledge.

"Well, it's tomorrow. It's a ball of course celebrating the once-in-a-lifetime blue crescent moon. It is also a chance to meet the queens and kings, princes, and princesses of other nations. Depending on how well you do you may earn privileges as well as your sister's life. You have to impress our guests, you have many roles to memorize along with a dance number with prince Aven., you will be taught how to dance, waltz, etc "

Jessi interrupted "Excuse me uh... Sir... Arlin... oops.. council member Arlin, Letharia knows how to dance she was taught by my mother at a young age. But please do continue..."

Aven raised a brow.

Arlin raised a brow as well due to Jessi's disrespect. "Fine then, we need a demonstration of this dance... Prince Aven, if you may?"

Aven nodded, while he walked towards me and extended his hand out. I extended my broken hand.

"Well isn't this going to be a problem?", I spoke softly.

"No it won't", he spoke loudly.

"Council member Velis!", he called.

He walked down the steps and extended my hand, mumbling Greek.

He then whispered something in my ear, I nodded and tried my best not to be alarmed.

"Now give me your hand", Aven commanded.

I didn't feel any pain when he held my hand.

The music had started playing each lapping sound became louder than the last it had filled the air. I took Aven's lead, he spins me around a few times, he even put his hand on my waist. Then I braced myself for the final crescendo, I spin and spin and spin then jump in the air while spinning, Aven catches me on the last note.

Aven looked at me in amazement while the council clapped. I quickly bowed "Is there anything else you require of me?"

Arlin smiled "Yes, your first test or obedience and loyalty to Aven would be to bathe in the spring of kanathos every day, you will tell him first beforehand, understood".

I nodded and bowed once again. I turned my back and thought about what Zane said before approaching my brother.

"Meet me in my room at midnight".