The Mating Games

Chapter Eighteen:

ELOISE:

Knocking on the door wakes me from the light sleep I managed to propel my body into at some point in my darkness. I don’t even know how long it’s been, but the crustiness in my eyes and the blinding light coming in from the door says long enough. Two blurry figures march in, dressed in their armored regalia, and pull my naked body from the bed. I try to protest, but I haven’t got the energy. I know why they are here and my f***s to give have run out after last night. I never ever thought that I would be someone to become so hopeless in my hours of death, but what else am I supposed to feel? Magical live well into their thousands and I am all but twenty years.

“Get up, hybrid. You are needed in the Great hall for your sentencing.”

The one guard spits at me.

“Seth, calm down. Get her a blanket.”

A voice I know. Johnno. I look up and see him offering me a hand. I decide to avoid him and stand up on my own, two, shaky legs. Now that I am waking up a little more, I see there are actually five, huge men ready to escort me to my death. I scoff.

“Five guards? I know I am a hybrid, but what chance would I ever stand against you lot and all your weapons?”

“YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SPEAK, YOU ABOMINATION!”

The big guy, Seth seethes and throws the blanket at me, which I place around my shoulders.

“Is being sarcastic really wise considering the circumstance you find yourself in, Lady Eloise?”

I roll my eyes as Johnno starts to shackle me up with even more chains, locks, and cuffs. How much reinforcement do they really think they need? I know better than to fight against this moment, so instead, I roll my shoulders and chin up. If I am dying today, I will do it with the last bit of grace that I have. Yes, my soul and heart feel barren of any hope, but NOBODY needs to see that, not even the dog prince.

“This way. Let us go before the King grows impatient.”

At first, the chains feel heavy and I almost stumble a few times heading out of the room, but I manage to find my own rhythm and walk without support. Johnno watches me very carefully, his eyes flashing with a river of emotion as he sees me fighting my own demons.

“What?”

His eyes widen as I ask him the question as all six of us walk across the cold and empty corridor. Everyone is already waiting to watch me die in the hall.

“I have just never seen someone walk so gracefully towards their death. Usually, the prisoners need to be dragged or even sedated. You walk like…”

He seems to think for a moment.

“Like a true Queen.”

His words warm me, but they shower me with coldness all at the same time.

“Yes, well, I am NOT and NEVER WILL be your queen, Johnno. My fate was decided the day I was conceived in the womb and now I will disappear as every other innocent soul did in your kingdom. Just as Queen Ria did.”

All the guards seem to slow down a little at the mention of their former Queen and Johnno has a flash of emotion in his eyes that I don’t understand. We exit the gloomy corridor and finally enter into the grand entrance, which I know is only a few steps away from the Great Hall. I straighten my shoulders again, my eyes taking in their last of the golden finishes and beauty of the world. I squint my eyes as I look outside at the blue sky and the green grass. I will always remember running through the fields of Shraya. Those are the moments I will hold onto now. The chains rattle as Johnno opens the doors into the Great Hall and all the chatter from inside dies down to eerie silence. I take a step forward, with all eyes on me and my heart rate goes through the roof. This feeling is so overwhelming, so I close my eyes for a brief moment to remind myself of who I am and how I want to be remembered here today. When I look up, I see King Augustus sitting on his throne at the center, with Prince Ares watching me darkly from his throne too. Everyone has gathered to form a path for me down the middle and right at the front there is a small platform where I will take my last breath. Another deep breath in and Johnno motions for me to continue walking. Even though I wish I could disappear, I somehow find the strength to move forward across the crowd and onto the wooden platform in front of the wolf royals. Everyone whispers foul things as I walk by, but I block it out, deciding to keep my gaze solely fixed on the wood in front of me and on my memories of Shraya. The chatter dies down as the King lifts to his feet.

“AS THIS IS A MATTER THAT DEALS WITH THE FORMER MATE OF MY SON, PRINCE ARES, IT WAS AGREED UPON BY MYSELF AND THE COUNCIL THAT HE MAY DELIVER THE SENTENCING. LET THIS CONTINUE TO BE A SHOW OF WHAT TYPE OF LEADERSHIP WE ASPIRE TOWARDS IN APREEZ AND HOW HIS HEART AND MIND BELONG TO HIS PEOPLE BEFORE ALL ELSE.”

More silence for a few seconds until loud, heavy footsteps drum across the room.

“We are gathered here today to bear witness to the unexplained life of Lady Eloise of Shraya. On the evening of the Spring Equinox, it was found that Lady Eloise is not only a fae, but a wolf too, making her a hybrid species in Zenox. Do you agree to what has been said thus far, Lady Eloise?”

His voice comes out strong and calculated as he addresses the people, but also me. A shiver runs down my spine as I look up into his black eyes and see no emotion.

“Yes, but I…”

He interrupts me and continues.

“You agree to be a hybrid and are you aware of the legality surrounding your species type in Zenox?”

“I know it’s illegal to be a hybrid, but I…”

Once again he turns around and interrupts me.

“You also agree to understand your rights. Being a hybrid is ILLEGAL and all hybrid species are to be placed into a peaceful slumber where they can roam their after-life in peace and not cause havoc here with the living.”

“But I am innocent!”

I blurt it out and the room stills again. The Prince turns to face me with bitterness. He almost looks disgusted in me and slowly I feel him tugging at the little bit of strength I had left inside me.

“Are you saying that YOU are more innocent than other hybrids who had to face the same sentence? My mother, Queen Ria? Babies? Loyal guards? Do you think yourself more superior to them?”

His words stun me into a stupor and my mouth runs dry. His eyes search mine for more but I have no idea how to even respond. Does he really think so little of me? A few moments go by.

“I thought so.”

His heels click until he is standing next to Lady Sabrina, Caleb, and Nate who are all wearing neutral expressions. Just behind them is a very tearful Linda who is being consoled by my father.

“Lady Sabrina, please prepare the space for the sentencing.”

“Anything for you, MY prince.”

They share a flirtatious smile that has me feeling ill. I guess it will be easy for him to throw me away so he can be with the Kingdom's favorite Barbie doll. Sabrina makes her way closer to me with daggers in her eyes and I sigh. I always knew she hated me, but I didn’t ever think enough to actually be my executioner. I know better than to spit venom at her though and I would rather hold my tongue in case she decides to make my passing more painful than it needs to be.

“Please stand on that dot there.”

I see the black dot at the center and move on to it. Sabrina places stones and sands around me in a type of Mandala before climbing off the platform. Look down and notice the sand swirling around the stones and then locking onto my feet as if to bind me in place. The sand then moves up past my ankles, leaving behind a hot sensation in my feet.

“Just say when Prince Ares.”

Sabrina purrs again and the Prince nods sharply.

“In accordance with the laws of zenox, Lady Eloise is sentenced to death by magic. Do you have any last words, Lady Eloise?”

The first tear escapes my eyes as I blink at the cruel man in front of me. In fact, the cruel people.

“You all make me sick. Sabrina, were you so far gone into your jealousy that you felt killing me would be fun? Nate and Linda, I thought we were friends. I even blessed the river with fertility and happiness for you which seems to have worked! I blessed the river for the whole of Apreez!”

Everyone gasps and Nate’s eyes well up as he looks at Linda.

“Caleb, you were my closest confidant and now you stand there expressionless?”

My eyes snap to Ares and now all of me shatters.

“And you…”

“You were supposed to love me and accept me, but now you deliver my death. Have you no heart? I am innocent! I didn’t know I was a hybrid! I am not a volatile, dangerous or evil person. Surely all of you can feel that in your hearts? Surely you can…”

“Sabrina, now.”

The Prince cuts me off as my sobs become uncontrollable.

“I loved you and you betrayed me! You hurt me far more than any death could ever!”

Sabrina waves her hand in the air and the sands start to buzz further and further up my body. I won't stop staring at Prince Ares now, who has no love, care, or remorse in his gaze. He is the picture of coldness as he stands and watches me die. The heat intensifies a little around my legs and I try to move, making it feel worse.

“Stop fighting it, Lady Eloise. It will only make the death more unbearable.”

Another sob. And another. And another. My eyes open in tears as I see my father holding his chest in pain. I do the same, but the sands only see it as me fighting my fate. I mouthed an “I love you” to him and he does the same then my eyes look to the prince again with sorrow. He blows me a tearful kiss and when the faint air reaches me, I feel his embrace of care and warmth. He sends with it images of him and me sitting on the wall together, hand in hand, and talking about the love for our land. He has always been the most incredible father. My eyes snap back to the Prince.

“You are murdering me, just as your mother was murdered…”

The sands reach my throat and cut off my ability to speak. My eyes move around frantically as I realize I’ve lost control of my body. It isn’t painful, but it’s also not pleasant.

“Close your eyes, Lady Eloise. Think of somewhere nice and forget about the sand.”

Nate says now and I see the painful stares of those around me. I can't even imagine what this all looks like to those around me. What is this even? One last tear escapes my eyes as I look at each person, ending with Prince Ares as I say goodbye. This one was the hardest, but the pain lulls me to finally do what Nate says. I close my eyes and as if ready for it, the sand covers my whole head. At first, it’s like I have put a duvet over my entire body. My imagination runs wild as I think of the grass in Shraya or the trickle of water from the river. Then the warmth slowly fades and so does the picture of nature. It’s like those moments before falling asleep. A few more twitches and I hear the last whispers around me before everything fades into a very dark, never-ending void of blackness. Then I feel my body slowly starting to shut down limb for limb. First, it’s my toes, then my legs disappear and finally, my whole body feels trapped in death. All that is left is the humming of my heart, but even that gets slower and slower and slower.

Until…

Nothing.

*~*

PRINCE ARES:

The sands start to settle and all that is left is a lump of the naked body on the floor below. The naked body of what was supposed to be my whole future. Nate and Caleb walk to where Eloise is dead and they do a body check for a pulse. Their nods only confirm the devastating truth. The room has fallen sickeningly still and all I want to do is scream for everyone to f**k off, but I know better than that. My father lifts himself from the throne and also checks the pulse of my deceased, former mate and the smile on his face has my throat and chest tighten in disgust.

“THE HYBRID IS DEAD! LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE OF ZENOX.”

The room now erupts in cheers as people start to stream out. Some even discuss parties to be held in the streets.

“I am proud of how you handled yourself, my son. You are to be an honorable King to these lands. Perhaps it is time for me to pass my crown to you, after all?”

My father smacks my shoulder and bile rises to my throat. Is that really what he is thinking of right now? Yes, I know that this all needed to be done for the greater good, but I will forever be haunted by Eloise’s screams at the end and the visual of her whole body decaying under the magic. I look around me and see that Nate is moving out of the room with Linda, Sabrina is talking to some other witches as they leave and Caleb is trying to console a very distraught father. Even my father looks celebratory as he moves out of the room with a mug of beer in his hand already.

“You okay there, my Prince?”

Johnno asks and I look at him blankly.

“Will any of us ever be okay after this, Johnno? We just killed our future Queen.”

He also looks down at the lifeless body on the platform. Despite being dead, his skin is still shining and smooth as I remember it from before.

“Sometimes great suffering and sacrifice are needed in order to achieve greater things, you know? I get that it might seem impossibly difficult right now, but unfortunately, all of this is for the greater good and only time can be trusted to heal.”

I look at my goofy friend with wide eyes. Since when did he get so philosophical?

“But what if this was a mistake?”

He looks at me now seriously and we share an understanding.

“But what if it was not a mistake? Think of the consequences then.”

This is what he leaves me with before patting my back.

“Do you need help?”

He points to Eloise and I shake my head. I need to do this myself otherwise I feel I may never recover. Johnno nods and then walks out the hall, leaving me alone in the static silence of the hall. A shiver runs over my spine as my heavy feet edge closer to the woman I just sentenced to death. She was right. I was supposed to love her, understand her and accept her whole-heartedly and every part of me wanted to, but I just knew it wasn’t possible in this lifetime to have a hybrid mate. She lies so peacefully on the wood, her hair messy but soft and her skin porcelain against the slight blue of what was once cherry lips.

“Still so beautiful.”

I lean down and capture her lips for the last time and this small gesture is enough to bring on the waterworks for me. In the sentencing, I had to be strong, but now I am alone and can handle this loss of my own will.

“You will always- always be my g-greatest loss and regret. I will have to live with this agony for the rest of my life, Eloise. I will have to find the power in me to move forward and continue breathing without you, but I know it’s going to be so difficult.”

Tears start to drip down onto her frozen skin.

“I am so sorry that I could not protect you more. I am so sorry that I couldn’t be more for you and that I have let you down. I just hope that you may find some peace where ever it is you are now and that one day we may be reunited in love and souls, even if it takes millions of years to get there.”

With shaky arms, I lift up her body and groan at the dead weight. Slowly I begin to move her to a small door by the hall, where a carriage is waiting to deliver her body to the mass, hybrid grave site in Zenox. I wish I could have offered her a more suitable burial, but the law is the law and she is to rest with her own kind. It is where my mother lies too. The undertaker waits patiently for me with a coffin ready for the body and the horses rearing to go. I look down one last time and place my forehead against Eloise’s.

“Rest well in your slumber, Eloise. I love you.”

And just like that, I am left watching her body disappear along the windy road out of my land. I quickly wipe away another tear, my heart becoming colder and colder as think about how f****d up everything has been these past few days. Even the thought of last night makes me feel sick. I went there to check on her after Linda told me that Eloise STILL wasn’t eating or cleaning herself. I went in there angry with Eloise and annoyed that she wasn’t looking after herself, but when I saw her looking so fragile and vulnerable, I knew that I was wrong for expecting her to be okay in a really bad and messy situation. Hell, I don’t think I would bother seeing to my basic needs if I had a countdown to my death. Then Eloise opened up to me and her arousal coated the air around us. The last thing I ever expected, or even wanted for us emotionally was to have s*x the night before her death. I knew it would make all our feelings come up and feelings are the last thing we need when her death sentence was hours away. Nevertheless, she wanted and needed it just as much as I did and man, it was just as spectacular as the first time. Eloise was made perfectly for me in every single way. I guess it lets us connect for the last time, but all of that was interrupted when Nate's mind linked me that my father was coming up to spy at the door to her room. I guess there is a part of my father that just doesn’t trust me with Eloise. My question is why? My feet drag me across the halls to where the parties are currently underway.

“Son! There you are! We were just talking about a possible date for your coronation…”

My father's voice drowns out and the world turns to slow mode as I watch his mouth move. Eloise’s words in the bath resonate and scream at me over and over. I envision Eloise running her soapy hand across her leg and muttering her thoughts. If only I could tell her how smart she is and how her words were keeping me up long before I ever knew she was my mate.

“Then at a drop of a hat, after all the good she did for hundreds of years, she all of a sudden turned bad and started killing innocents? In the space of hours, she went from feeding her people to killing them. She was the most adored figure in the history of Zenox and now her name is wiped from every storybook.”

“I am not insinuating anything, PRINCE ARES. I am only saying that there are always two sides to a coin and so far, we only know what one of those sides looks like. Maybe there is more to her story. Maybe there is more to hybrids.”

Such a clever woman. She read right between the lines, but I couldn’t allow her to have it. I have to be the obedient Prince my father thinks I am. The reality is that the dots don’t add up to me either. How exactly did my mother die? How did those violent riots begin in the first place and why was my father so panicked about killing Eloise so quickly and hybrids in their entirety? I had to lose my greatest blessing from the Moon Goddess, but there is no concrete reason as to why it was a good decision to make. Guilt washes over me.

“Son, are you listening?”

My father snaps me back to reality and I blink a few times at him before smiling and shaking my head.

“Sorry. Just tired.”

“Ah! Well, that is to be expected. I remember the days after your mother died too well. Just trust me son that this is better for all of us.”

I nod my head and take a sip of beer. Killing Eloise today either makes me a hero or a villain in this story. We will see.

*~*

The next few hours drag by at a snail's pace. I never thought time could feel so empty and wasteful as what these have. My father rumbles with laughter and is hardly able to walk out of the room where he decided to indulge after witnessing the worst moment of my life. How can people celebrate the loss of such a precious life? An elective paradox I am yet to understand about the magical kind. I swing my tipsy body around at the bar and click my fingers for another drink. The bar-lady willingly obliges, probably feeling incredibly sorry for me. I guess I do look like a sap.

"You don't think you have had enough, old friend?"

Nate's words slur as well and if I were even just a tiny bit happy I may have laughed. He clicks his fingers too and two glasses of whiskey get placed in front of us. We both share a serious look and then down its cold contents, pulling faces because the twentieth round doesn't go down as well as the first few.

"Goddess, Linda is a mess."

My friend runs a hand through his hair.

"And is expecting a pup, apparently. I really am thrilled for you, Nate. Perhaps your pup can be the next King for me."

I mention this part and Nate stares at me.

"You will still have pups, Ares."

I roll my eyes and click my fingers again. I know it seems rude, but I don't give a f**k right now.

"What was all that stuff about Eloise placing stones?"

"Ah, yes. I remember that day vividly. I took her to my spot down by the stream and she placed blessing stones in the water. Something about asking nature for help and guidance. One stone was to bless you and Linda with children and the other was the bless the people of Apreez. I kissed the s**t out of her after she told me that."

The memory makes me laugh, but the emptiness in my heart makes it fade. Eloise is gone.

"Eloise was a beautiful person. A true Queen."

I look at my friend now and see he is being completely serious.

"That may be so, but we both know we had to do what is necessary. Nobody will accept Eloise as a hybrid, even if we provided a compelling argument as to why she would make a good Queen."

"Maybe the time will..."

Someone clears their throat behind us. We both swing our chairs and I see Kiko standing in front of me. She also looks like a tipsy mess and I guess that Eloise's death also affected her badly.

"M-my Prince, beta..."

Hiccup.

"I have something here..."

Hiccup. She pulls out a small piece of paper and hands it to me. I quickly unfold it and read the tiny writing in cursive.

FIND THE NORTHERN STAR.

"What is this?"

Nat asks now and Kiko hiccups again. She looks around her and then leans in as if it is a state secret.

"It is the answer..."

Hiccup.

"To all your questions about THAT day."

Nate and I look at each other with wide eyes. Answers? When I turn to ask Kiko, I see she isn't there anymore and neither is the bar lady.

"Who is the Nothern Star?"

We both stare at the paper.

"I don't know, but it looks like another trip ahead for me."

I down the last of my drink. Whoever this Northern Star has answers to the things eating away at my soul.