A Talk

Zen had motioned to the set of chairs before them, Violet took a seat. "Just say it Zen, you and I are straight forward and I'm tired."

"Two things," he hesitated awkward, "thank you." Violet who had been sipping on coffee choked, grey eyes wide, she coughed up the drink in surprise.

"Don't be annoying!" Zen snapped, he folded his arms a tinge of red in his ears. Eyes still focused on anything other than Violet he continued, "My younger sister, Lily, she's here, she was severely injured, you returned her from the brink of death."

Violet nodded, Zen did not give her a chance to speak, "I am indebted to you, and while I owe you a life, it leads me to my second more important point. I wish for you to remain as far away from Kieren's arms as feasible."

Violet put her drink down eyes narrowed, "I must have you truly worried Zen. I have turned him down, yet here you sit, behind his back, scheming to ensure..." Violet smiled, it was a cold, haughty grin, "that I don't fuck your prince. Tell me the truth Zen, or get out of my face."

Zen growled lowly, "one of the many reasons I was hesitant, speaking with you is always balancing precariously on an swords edge." Viole cut him off, demeanor still condescending and taunting, "Kieren's aware of the sword dance, I think he likes it."

"This may be a game to you Violet," he was getting angry, "but you're playing with fire, more accurately with lightening and I will burn you."

Violet shrugged, leaning forward, "I heal fast..." Zen gripped her forearm yanking her forward, enraged foreheads inches apart, "I am not here for your games, Kieren's path to the Kings chair is not yet paved. I will kill you before I allow someone like you to desecrate it."

Viole flicked his hand away, she met his gaze head on, "that's the truth you're protecting Zen? Aren't all roads to monarchy littered with betrayal, ploys, and usurpers?"

Zen sat back observing her, "The Zordyk family has always been divided, the rightful heir wasn't Kieren and as far as everyone knows he and his parents were pleased with that. Kieren and his cousin Lev were born around the same time. Lev's father was the eldest son, Kieren's father was the youngest son. The four siblings in between only had girls, and they clashed continuously for the crown. Kieren and Lev's fathers were friends, as were the prince's. When Kieren and Lev were six they went on vacation with their fathers and some family members. At the time Lev had already been selected as the crown's future prince, disaster befell, all but Kieren were murdered on that trip. Thankfully Kieren's mother had not been on the trip, he retained some family, and a powerful great-uncle Baros has been ruling in Lev's fathers stead."

Violet reacted unnoticeably, only a small glint in her eyes. Zen continued, "this is how the weight of the crown came to rest on Kieren's head. Baros is wise and strong, he has held the Ruenen in pristine condition, we all are grateful for his guard. Six months after the incident we were placed as his guards, appointed by Baros, we will always protect him. In six months, after his successful graduation, he will be King Violet and you do not fit into the narrative. Apart from your looks, there is nothing of you that can hold Kieren, you are not at his level, and even a one time fuck with 'trash' tarnishes his chances. I do not mean you ill Violet, it is the truth, you were born unlucky." Zen looked up expecting to see indignation from Violet, there was nothing. Eyes, face, posture, all blank. She leaned back, "who said I want any role in your preposterous narrative?"

Zen's mouth fell open, Violet continued, rising from her chair, "You are as stupid as you are blind. If you are finished wasting my evening, I have nothing better to do, but it will be better without you."

She walked toward the restroom, turned the shower on, and pulled off her sweater. She heard the door close behind her. She leaned against the restrooms window momentarily, perhaps there were more facts to be uncovered. How much was Kieren truly aware of, she showered and was drying her hair sitting at the edge of the bed when another knock interrupted her thoughts. "Hmm" she responded, the door opened and Kieren walked in. "Hey Violet," he smiled softly, he looked drained.

Kieren walked up and sat on the floor leaning his back against Violet's legs. He looked up, "We can leave tomorrow, the situation here is all but resolved, in their eyes. I must admit, I am frustrated, nobody will provide any information for the marking stones, but the Ruenen has provided new ones. How is that possible?"

He pulled a part of a broken stone from his pocket and held it up strong fingers bending angrily. "I will not be a puppet."

Violet placed a hand on his head, he closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, "I wish to ask you who I should trust, but I know your answer. Nobody huh, especially not you?"

Violet stroked his hair, she sighed softly, he opened his eyes, giving her that gentle and full of yearning look he reserved for her. "I wouldn't despair yet, you're an ocean of power. You just haven't learned to draw it out yet."

He chuckled, "you're killing me with the riddles." In a set of fluid movements be kicked off his shoes, removed his jacket, shirt riding up parading rock hard muscles, and pulled himself into the bed. He dragged Violet closer to him, rested his head on her stomach, "Will you wake me in a few hours? I have a few last minute responsibilities." His words slurred, "I just haven't been able to sleep." Violet resumed her stroking of his hair and within moments he was fast asleep.

He had asked to be woken, yet Violet had spent the past five minutes attempting to wake him, "Geez, assassinating you would be child's play when you sleep like log!" He grumbled into her arms pulling her in tighter, nuzzling his head into her neck. She pushed him away, "you slept four hours, it's almost midnight, they're going to come look for you."

He replied groggily with his eyes still closed, "so hide me Violet." Violet rolled her eyes and gave up, after several more minutes he opened his eyes. "I'm meeting with the Ruenen's chief counselors, five of them should be arriving soon." Violet tensed,

Kieren nodded his head sensing her apprehension. "Yeah, they're all extremely powerful, they have made many of the decisions in my life. What I do being their backs would kill them. I'm going to ask about the stones, I wonder just how far they'll go to keep me from the truth?"

He sat up, "we are leaving around six in the morning, be ready to go."

"Should I stay far away from them?" Violet.

Kieren pulled his shoes back on, "that never seems to work, stay near Alex if you encounter them."

As he walked down the hallway Violet heard Zen and Ted, "where were you?? We've been looking-"

"I took a nap, are they here? They only waited a few minutes, they'll be fine."

Violet lay back down, hoping she didn't know any of the counselors, they wouldn't recognize her, but reining in her rage... her hands shook. She had to be prepared, reacting here was not a possibility.