Chapter 18: Old Allies
1392 Words
Nick’s POV
Persephone’s cottage is small, but it looks like something out of a fairy tale. Plants and flowers bloom everywhere in her little kitchen, where Nicholas and I sit awkwardly. I vaguely remember that Addy’s elven maid was good with plants, which explains why she’s making a living out of selling flowers in the village square.
As Persephone sets down a pot of floral tea on the table, the front door opens, making both Nicholas and I jump.
“It’s just Sol,” Persephone says quickly, sensing how on-edge we are. “You remember Sol, right? He lives here with me.”
The elf that walks in has long, platinum hair pulled back into a ponytail, and his golden eyes furrow in confusion as he glances between Nicholas and me.
“Y-Your Majesty? But, how is this possible? I thought you were…”
“No, Sol, he is here with us, as well as his Light One.”
Persephone gives Sol a pointed look that immediately makes him quiet, but it doesn’t get past Nicholas.
“You thought I was what?”
“Um, well, Your Majesty...”
Wow, he looks nervous.
“Well?” says Nicholas impatiently. “Say it. Did you think I was dead?”
“Perhaps we should all fill each other in on what has happened while you were away?” suggests Persephone diplomatically. “Let’s chat over our tea.”
Sol and Persephone take a seat at the small table across from us, and she begins to pour each of us a cup.
“Much has happened since the night you disappeared,” she begins quietly. “Your Majesty, when you did not return after taking Lady Addison to the portal, we sent out search parties for you. Rumors began to spread that you had, um, killed yourself out of despair when your mate left.”
To be fair, Nicholas had no idea if he would survive when he flung himself into that portal after us, so she isn’t exactly wrong about that.
“But that’s when the fighting broke out,” Sol adds in a somber tone. “Prince Matthew attempted to take the throne and restore order, but he was no match for the warring werewolf clans. Fortunately, I was able to get Persephone out of the castle to safety before the siege, but for a time, it was complete anarchy. Nowhere was safe. The werewolves would go to war in the villages, without a care for who was swept up in the chaos. Many innocent lives were lost.”
“And Elijah of the Ice Moon Pack came out victorious,” Nicholas says darkly.
“Yes,” Persephone nods. “Peace has been mostly restored, although there is much reconstruction going on at the castle and surrounding villages.”
“Is there anyone at the castle you are still in contact with?” asks Nicholas. “Anyone that could be a potential ally?”
“Unfortunately, most of the servants scattered when the castle was under siege by the Ice Moon Pack. I don’t know if there is anyone left there from your staff, but I can make some inquiries discreetly.”
“Yeah, that would be really helpful,” I chime in. “Addy is being held captive there. If we had some help on the inside, maybe they could help her escape.”
Persephone looks alarmed, and Sol reaches out to take her hand comfortingly.
“Lady Addison was always very kind Persephone,” Sol says quietly. “And to me. We will do anything to help rescue her.”
“Sir Nick, why did you three return to the Demon Realm, anyway? I thought you wanted to keep her safe in your world after everything that happened?”
“We didn’t exactly have a choice. Some witch created a portal, and we were attacked by demons. The witch ended up pushing us through, but we’re not completely sure why. But someone wanted us here.”
“If I may be so bold, I would be willing to bet that King Elijah is behind it,” Sol interjects seriously. “He has been actively eliminating any threat to his claim to the throne.”
Honestly, that doesn’t surprise me, given everything we’ve learned so far about the new king.
“And…does this include the heirs of the House of Ourey?”
Nicholas’ question brings a heavy silence over the room, and Persephone and Sol glance somberly at one another.
“Your Majesty,” Persephone whispers sadly, “Prince Matthew went into exile since there is a high price on his head. We are unsure of his fate.”
“And the others?” Nicholas asks in a tight voice.
I can tell he’s trying not to show how this is affecting him, but I know that he’s worried about his family.
“After your brother fled into exile, your grandmother very publicly threw her support behind King Elijah. She signed away the Ourey lineage’s claim to the throne in exchange for the lives of herself, Princess Aiyana, and Princess Tallulah.”
“And the young princes? Benjamin? Josiah? Jeremy?”
A grave expression crosses Persephone’s face.
“King Elijah ordered their execution,” she whispers. “I believe he wanted to eliminate any of the male heirs from the House of Ourey, despite the Queen Dowager’s proclamation. He wants Prince Matthew dead.”
Nicholas takes a deep breath through his nose, but he refuses to show any emotion. I can’t even imagine how I’d feel if my little brothers were murdered before they were old enough to become men.
“And he will want you dead as well, Your Majesty,” Sol adds. “You are perhaps the greatest threat to his power, and if you have returned to reclaim the throne–"
“I am not here to become king,” he interrupts firmly. “All I want is to rescue my wife and return her home safely. I left all this behind to be with her, and I am not looking to start a war that I know I cannot win. Besides, the people seem perfectly content with their new king.”
There is a hint of bitterness behind his words, so Persephone, Sol, and I fall into an awkward silence.
“Do you know where the Queen Dowager and the princesses currently reside?” he asks quietly.
“I can’t be certain, but the rumors say that they received a permanent residence at the Summer Mansion in the south,” Persephone answers, “in exchange for their public show of support.”
“So, my grandmother’s loyalty was bought with a vacation home,” Nicholas murmurs bitterly.
“Even so,” I say, treading lightly, “perhaps we should pay her a visit…”
Everyone looks at me like I’m crazy. Granted, I only met the nasty old woman once, but she is still the Dark One of my grandma, which makes her my family too in a weird, twisted way.
“Hear me out,” I add quickly. “Like you said, we don’t have any connections here. If your grandma is alive, then she is probably the wealthiest and most influential person we know here in the Demon Realm. It wouldn’t hurt to have her on our side, especially if Persephone isn’t able to find any connections at the palace.”
Nicholas turns his creepy red eyes onto me, studying me long and hard with his steely gaze. I can’t tell what he’s thinking with our bond being so weak, but I can at least tell he’s thinking about my words.
“Perhaps that is the only course of action we have available to us at this time,” he says slowly. “Persephone, how far away is this village from the Summer Mansion?”
“I imagine it would take about a week on foot, Your Highness. Maybe less on horseback.”
“Hmm,” he muses, tapping his finger on his chin thoughtfully. “But what if we fly?”
“You do remember that there aren’t any airplanes in the Demon Realm, right?” I snort. Has he completely lost his mind?
“No, not an airplane,” he answers, his face breaking into a mischievous smirk. “A pegasus.”
- Writer
