A crown of flames

Chapter 35

Conner's lifeless head was sitting one foot away from me on a silver plate.

The rest of the room hasn't noticed yet.

The lull of merry chatter was so surreal against what I was seeing.

Then the screaming started.

I was rooted to my chair , frozen.

Nothing but shock.

The handsome face that kissed me a few minutes ago was decapitated in front of me , his lips already turning blue.

I felt a firm hand on my shoulder but I couldn't move to see who it was , I wanted to  , I wanted to run and scream , but i was paralysed.

I couldn't hear the room around me.

The shock was then replaced by an unforgiving wave of grief.

I tuned back in to my surroundings.

I doubled over the table placing my hand on my stomach in disgust, letting out a noise I'd never heard, somewhere between a sob and a gasp.

The prince looked paler than I'd ever seen him , he was so pale I was sure he was about to throw up.

The terror plastered all over his face was a mirror of my own.

Victoria started sobbing.

The servant who opened the dish blinked as he managed to stifle his shock ,picked up the plate and running back to the kitchens.

Everyone around us was equally hysterical, courtiers frantically getting up from the table and running to the court doors.

I try steady my frantic breathing.

In and out.

More screams.

In and out.

Screams.

In and out.

Elide.

It hits me.

The agony.

I stand up and start to wipe my tears but there weren't any to wipe.

I was cold , so cold , I ran out.

No one stopped me.

I didn't stop walking until i reached my room , i wouldn't let myself cry till i was locked in safely .

No.

No.

No.

No.

I repeated the word in my head like it could ever reverse what happened.

Like Conner could kiss me again.

Like he'd ever smile again.

Like I'd ever be the same.

I shut the door behind me as i sank to the ground.

I felt everything , too much.

I screamed out in pain , frantically scratching my body to relieve the heartache.

It was as though flames had enwrapped me and I was begging for it to stop burning , all i felt was agony , i had no mind , no memory , i wasn't Elide , i was nothing but pain.

His head was served for us to eat.

I ran to my bathroom , putting up the toilet seat and throwing up the contents of my stomach inside it.

I choked on my spit as halfway through, coughing so hard I felt as if my skin was about to ripped apart.

I couldn't find it in me to get up, i was weak and helpless, i was so tired.

My throat was so hoarse and i doubted i'd ever be able to speak again.

How could he be murdered like that?What happened?

Conner , my Conner , who kissed me for the first and last time tonight , was killed.

The kind boy who got me a book.

Who asked me to the halloween revel.

Who gave me nothing but smiles from when i first met him.

I wallowed in my own sadness for the rest of the night , no one came into my room to check one me , not that i wanted them too.

I change out of my costume , my body feeling weak and frail for the first time.

I felt tiny , like if anyone blew hard enough , I'd fade with the wind.

I started burning the wood in my fireplace , putting in piece after piece in hope of the warmth gluing together my shattered heart.

I stay there for a while , just staring at the burning fire.

The attack didn't target me.

They attacked him.

But he must have known , he had too.

I remeber the way he looked at me longingly before our kiss , i recall that look being almost sad.

Did he know it was the last time he'd see me?Couldn't he tell me?

The tears begin to roll down my cheek again , but I'm silent, the sobs that had me breathless earlier were starting to fade.

I wasn't stupid, I didn't do any thing wrong.

This wasn't my fault.

But i didn't know how deep in I was.

And now I do.

I know how far they can go.

And i have not doubt the devil's legion was behind this.

I'm going even further.

I will rip Matthew and Alana apart with my bare hands.

I'm terrified, but i've been scared since my first day here.

The only thing stronger than my fear is my anger.

He was decapitated.

His head was served in front of me.

This was either a message to me or Alexios.

Either way, they know we know.

I sob the rest of the night away, I didn't know Conner for long , but grief doesn't discriminate.

He left me feeling dizzy with adoration a few hours ago, dying of happiness.

A girl who's gotten her first kiss from the nicest guy she's met.

Now I'm a girl seeking vengeance.

I'll die trying, I'm not a fool.

But I'll take them all down with me