Everyone’s Someone’s Monster

Strelitzia paced the length of her room. Ten paces by six paces. The feast served no purpose other than to build up her nerves. She was going to be stuck with Razmyr trying to invade the king's cache. He was already cross with her for even giving them one location.

She could still feel the sting of his slap. Her fingers brushed the purpling bruise on her cheek.

Time and time again now she did her best to help her cousin. Just for everything to be thrown in her face. Why now would Ray'ven be willing to give them the coordinates but she wouldn't even for her own brother? Strelitzia shook her head. Again she sacrificed for nothing.

Ray'ven knocked twice on her cousin's door before stepping inside and closing it behind her. "We need to talk." She said sternly.

Strel stopped her pacing only to glance at Ray'ven from the corner of her eye. "I don't think we have anything to discuss." Her mouth curved into a frown. She couldn't look her in the eye.

Being near her only made it worse. Strelitzia picked back up her pacing if only to keep a little more distance between the two. Not that there was much space from the small space she called a room.

Ray'ven's brows drew together in a frown and she crossed her arms. "Are you really going to continue to ignore me, Strelitzia?" She questioned. "Strel?!"

"Me telling you to leave isn't exactly ignoring you." Maybe Strelitzia was being unreasonable but so was her being punished for trying to do something good. Repeatedly. But no one cared about the consequences that befell her. Ray'ven was raised as an heir, she knew that, but that didn't make it easier to accept.

Strelitzia may have thought she was looking at the greater good but in those moments she'd also been selfish. "I want no part in whatever it is you've come for. Get out."

Ray'ven reeled back as if struck. Her cousin's words stirred up some of the bitter frustration that she had been forced to swallow back. First the men and their boasting, then Razmyr and his annoying smug smirk, and now Strelitzia?

"I had no ulterior motive as to coming here. I actually wanted to make sure that you were alright, but it seems that you are just fine. I wanted to know why you avoided me during the "feast". Something to do with your time with father, I presume?" She studied her cousin closely, noting her sour expression.

"What was it? Was he not pleased with you? Did he strike you? Is that it?" Her tone was more scathing than she had meant it to be. "Well poor you." Ray'ven spat.

Strelitzia's expression went from a frown to a full-on scowl. Now she was going to mock her? When the whole reason any of that had happened: the slipped information, her setting the library ablaze, the sword at her throat had all been for Ray'ven? "Remember that the next time you ask for my help, little cousin. Forgive me for sparing you from the choice and buying your brother more time."

She was livid now. "I'm SO sorry that while I've had to deal with the loss of my home, the death of my family, I'm fed up with all of this nonsense and that I thought the one thing I could do would be to make things easier for you!" She grabbed the door and flung it open. "As I said before, leave. Now. Before either of us do or say something truly regrettable."

Ray'ven laughed mockingly. "You call what you're doing dealing? Mopping about like a lost puppy, with no backbone to speak of. Is that how you honor your family's death? Bending over backward and healing the man that killed them in the first place?"

"He's done more for me than you ever have. So much for family, right? I'm the coward yet you're the one who can't even open your mouth to save the life of your own brother because you're afraid of what Daddy might think."

Something grabbed Ray'ven by the hair and lifted her off the ground. Seconds later, she was flung from the room so hard she bounced off the wooden floors, then Strelitzia's chamber doors shut behind her.

Strel blinked in surprise. She hadn't even laid a hand on Ray'ven. It looked like someone had tossed her yet there was no one in the hall. She was too upset to even check if she was okay.

  ***

Ray'ven sat up, staring at the closed door in confusion. She was unsure of what happened, but in that split moment, it felt as though someone had grabbed her as she looked around she found no one there.

Standing, she gave one last look at Strel's door, guilt welling in her chest at the harsh words that she had said. Leaving, she wandered aimlessly down the corridor, lost in thought. She hadn't meant any of the words that she had said. Lashing out was a defense that she had grown accustomed to whenever someone said something that she felt was offensive. It was how things had been at the home with all of her false friends. The ones that had only stuck around because she was Ja'ule's daughter. The princess. It was all they saw.

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice the man as he exited the room he had been in until she bumped straight into him.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She said, blinking up at him. He had red hair and intense blue eyes that glared down at her, his nose scrunching as he saw who she was.

Baeron instantly knew the person he'd bumped into by the dark of her hair and the green of her eyes; the king's daughter walking freely through these halls. He'd heard about James being injured and saw his shattered shoulder and arm.

The sight was horrid, purple skin so dark it appeared black as though the flesh were decaying, and fragments of none peeked through for all to see on the outside. "You," His lip curled upwards from his teeth. "It's your fault he's injured. It wasn't enough for me, but you went for my liege you wench." His hand tightened around her arm and he slammed her back against the wall.

"These aren't your halls. Watch where you step, slave." Yes, now she'd know how it felt when someone else was above her. When he'd spent years sacrificing his life essence for her father, for a lost cause.

Ray'ven grunted at the impact, her eyes wide as she recognized the man before her. "Baeron…?" He had been a mage for her father. She used to visit him in secret and he'd tell her stories about powerful Vikings that fought off monsters and protected princesses. He had been her first friend, but now. The look in his eyes. They were filled with so much anger and hatred. "Baeron? Why? What happened to you? Y-You were just gone and Father said that you had run."

Baeron released a chuckle, disbelieving her actions. "So, everyone comes second whenever it isn't your blood or your father. It doesn't matter what I say, you'll always believe him. Your father is never wrong to you. You know exactly what you did, and if you've forgotten, I hope your soul is weighed down by the past."

She flinched at his words, looking away, but his other words confused her. What she had done? "I don't know what you're talking about? What do you mean? What did I do?"

"What does it matter? It won't change anything," He leaned close enough so he could whisper.

"This is why there are whispers through the kingdom. There's a curse running through your family, over your father's head, over yours because of his sins. All Aldain daughters lose their life eventually, you are next. Goodnight, live the rest of your days as though it's your last. They're numbered."

He went to turn around.

Ray'ven grabbed at his arm before he could leave her there. "Of course it matters. We were friends. I don't understand. What are you talking about? What sins? Curse? You aren't making sense."

He smacked her hand away and caught her shoulders, slamming her back against the wall once more while his arm slung over her throat and applied pressure. "Don't touch me! Keep your filthy hands off of me. You've taken everything, even who you used to be. This, this empty shell before me is nothing. You. Are. Nothing." Baeron exhaled and the hairs of his mustache shifted.

"This," He grabbed her hand and pushed it down into his pants. "Friends don't do this!" He forced her hand around where his cock should've been, but only a small mound of flesh and balls remained. His weight was pressed more onto her and she sputtered before he released her and stormed off. "Don't let me see you again."

Ray'ven remained frozen long after he left, pressed against the wall. Slowly she slid down it until she sat on the floor outside the room that Baeron had exited. Horror and confusion warred in her mind. Why did something like that happen to him? She had something to do with it? Racking her brain she tried to recall any event that could have led to that, but nothing came up. It was blank. The last thing was listening to the story about his family.

Her heart stung. Yet another friend hated her. A single tear slid down her cheek and she scrubbed it away, pressing the palm of her hands to her eyes. It was always like this, it was why she avoided becoming close to anyone anymore. "I'm so sorry, Baeron." She said to the empty hall.

***

Razmyr didn't knock whenever he came to wake Strelitzia. He simply approached her bed and drug her from her room by the roots of her hair, his calloused fingers entangled within the chestnut strands. He'd felt her twist, probably even kick as he ascended the stairs to the deck. It was chaotic until every eye landed on him.

Immediately his men straightened, setting themselves into multiple lines, not a single soul out of place. "Take Ray'ven and Strelitzia to bathe, have the princess armored. No weapons until she's inside the embassy. If she so as points her sword the wrong way, cut her down like a wolf in the woods." He'd said.

At the end of his commands, the grip on her hair loosened and he released her. She'd probably have a terrible headache later. That was if they all lived through this. Strelitzia brushed herself off and did her best to straighten the mess he'd made of her hair. She sent a glare at Razmyr's back but said nothing.

After her argument the night before, she didn't have the energy. She wasn't even sure why they were dragging her along. She couldn't fight. She didn't know anything of great importance this time and what she did know she wasn't willing to tell. She huffed and looked up to the crimson moon. It was going to be a long day.

The two men nearest to them grabbed their arms and dragged them below deck. Personally, Strel was tired of being led around like a dog on a leash. She yanked her arm away and nearly snarled. "I can walk just fine."

It earned her a hard shove to her back which caused her to stumble. She regained her footing and continued on until they reached the bathing room. The men posted themselves on either side of the door outside while Strelitzia and Ray'ven entered.

Strelitzia hadn't been actively ignoring her cousin but she had nothing to say. It very well could have been their last day together and Strelitzia found herself at a loss for words. She stripped off her dirty clothing and climbed into the wash bin, allowing herself to sink down to her shoulders.

Ray'ven stripped away her clothing as well, settling into the baths, her back to her cousin. She couldn't face her after the awful words she had spoken to her. She had no right to have taken her frustration out on her. They washed in silence, no words spoken and the air felt heavy. Ray'ven pulled her hair over her shoulders, washing away the dirt and oil that had collected in it over the past.

A small part of Strelitzia wanted to comfort Ray'ven. To tell her she still loved her and that they'd be okay. But the words felt flimsy against her tongue so she swallowed them. Casting her glance elsewhere, away from the ghastly scars marring the younger girl's back. Maybe it was better she didn't. Everyone she'd ever cared for at this point was dead. It wasn't her fault. It wasn't within her control. But maybe her silence could save Ray'ven.

She was still thinking of protecting her cousin even after her lashing out. It was enough to make her scoff and laugh to herself. That could be how she saved Ray'ven though. If she could just act like she didn't care, didn't love her, wanted nothing to do with her then maybe the younger girl wouldn't feel so burdened with her well-being. Then she could escape on her own when the time came.

But those were the thoughts of a 'coward'. Strelitzia shook the thoughts from her head and stepped out of the tub. Clothes had been left for them on a stand and she quickly dressed before stepping out into the hall.

Ray'ven followed suit, hesitating at Strel's back. She wanted to say something, but what could she do? So instead, she hugged the girl from behind. It was only a brief moment before she released her and turned away. "I am ready." She told the man who was meant to escort her. The man nodded, grabbing her by the arm and leading her away.