Potions, Power and Pain

Chapter 3

Rowan was not sure why, but Reena's words had gotten to him.

Maybe it was because his father constantly reminded him how useless he was.

Maybe it was because in comparison to his older brother Kallik, he was stupid.

Maybe it was because this time Reena was the one saying them.

Either way it didn't matter, because Rowan was tired of feeling stupid and useless. So he decided right then and there that he would prove just how smart he really could be when he tried.

He sat down in his usual spot, near the back, next to Querdo and behind Avana. Mr Datura began his class just the way he usually did, making sure no students were absent and then proceeding to verify whether or not everyone had read the assigned reading for that day by asking questions about it.

"Who can tell me about the beginning of the three Kingdoms and how they were formed?" he questioned while most students had already begun to doze off.

Obviously Reena was the first the raise her hand. Mr Datura was just about to ask her to answer the question, when Rowan raised his hand.

"Mr Nightshade if you would like to go to the bathroom, I am afraid you will have to wait. Class has only just started."

"I don't need to go to the bathroom. I would like to answer the question," Rowan retorted.

A mild expression of shock crossed the teacher's face, for since the start of the academic year, not once had Rowan tried to participate and would say a total of two words when he was forced to. "Very well then, go ahead," said Mr Datura.

Reena glared at them both, which only made Rowan smile.

"Well for starters the current three Kingdoms are: the Celestial Kingdom, the Aquatic Kingdom, and the Earthly Kingdom, the one we live in and the one my family rules over," Rowan said with a smirk. He knew he was an asshole. He knew most people found him arrogant and cocky and therefore hated him. But for some reason he couldn't stop being the way he was and doing the things did.

"But they all used to be a single kingdom named Thesan, which was ruled by Queen Akiva," Rowan continued. "Thesan was separated into three Courts: the Celestial Court, the Aquatic Court and the Earthly Court. But the Celestial Court believed that they could take over the two other courts and rule over the entire Kingdom of Thesan. Queen Akiva had been residing at her palace in the Earthly Court when the Celestial Court stormed it, burnt it to the ground and beheaded her with an iron sword. This forced all three Courts into a long tedious war that lasted forty-three years. The Earthly Court, being in the middle of the two other courts and therefore suffering the most damage, called for a truce. The Aquatic and Celestial Courts, also having faced lots of damage and losses, agreed. All three Courts then became Kingdoms, each of them taking their own Kings and Queens."

"Very good Mr Nightshade. I see that you have done the homework for once." Rowan had not, but Mr Datura didn't need to know that. The history teacher then resumed his questioning by asking "And can you tell me what result the war had on the relationships between the Kingdoms?"

"The Aquatic and Earthly Kingdoms have had a healthy and steady relationship since the war. The Aquatic Kingdom and the Celestial Kingdom do not have the best relationship but they tolerate each other. But the relationship between the Earthly Kingdom and the Celestial Kingdom is still strained, because the Earthly Kingdom has never quite forgiven the Celestial Kingdom for starting the war and murdering Queen Akiva."

"Excellent. And what is being done to repair the relationship between the Earthly Kingdom and the Celestial Kingdom?"

"Well there was a prophecy made a few years after the war, stating that the only way to rectify the relationship and truly restore peace, is for a Prince from the Earthly Kingdom to marry a Princess from the Celestial Kingdom. Which is why my older brother Kallik will marry Princess Zielle. Everyone knows that," Rowan answered in a harsh tone.

It was not that Rowan hated his brother. No. He loved him. Their relationship was simply difficult. Complicated.

One would have thought that being the second born prince would be a blessing. You are infinitely wealthy, never have to do anything for yourself, constantly have everyone and everything at your disposition, and everyone is willing to do whatever it takes to please you. All that without the responsibility of one day becoming king.

But while all those things may be true, Rowan Nightshade could not be more unhappy.

Living in his older brother Kallik's shadow was possibly the worst of all Rowan's struggles considering it was constant and never-ending. For two people who shared the same parents, grew up together, were raised together and even looked quite alike, Rowan and Kallik could not be more different.

For starters Kallik was fifteen years older than Rowan. He was 32, which was still relatively young for a faery, so their difference in age was still considered quite small due to how difficult it was for faeries to reproduce, but it still put a strain on their relationship.

Kallik was mature. Rowan was immature.

Kallik was respectful and respected. Rowan was quite the opposite.

Mr Datura who had purposefully ignored Rowan's last comment began going into further detail about the three Kingdoms, while Rowan found himself gazing at Reena.

The entire class had laughed at his last statement. Everyone except for Reena. She never laughed at his jokes. Never even bothered to acknowledge him when he made them. He found himself wondering what it would take to make her laugh. Or to see her smile.

He pushed the thoughts away.

He reminded himself that her didn't care. Or at least shouldn't.

He hated her.