Didn't Think This Would Ever Happen...

Chapter 8: Endless Suffering

"What?! What is it?! What's going on?!"
"Your majesty, he's returned!"
The queen hurried down the stairs, "what?! He has?!" She made it to the large doors just in time for them to open.
Lilia stood with his head down, staring at the ground in front of his feet. His hand still clutched his bleeding side and the back of his shirt was starting to get soaked.
"Lilia!" The queen exclaimed, a smile coming to her face, "what happened, are you-" She noticed that he was bleeding. And that the fresh smell of an awful curse hung around him.
Everyone around was standing as far away from Lilia as possible.
"Lilia..." she reached her hand out and gently pressed it against his arm, "why haven't you healed yourself?... Is something wrong?"
Lilia stepped forward, refusing to look up.
The queen closed her eyes and put her arms around Lilia, "you know you're always welcome back, no matter what. We need you, Lilia. I need you." She smiled.
Lilia was unmoving, "humans are horrible..."
The queen nodded, patting him on the head, "I know. I know. It's going to be alright." She was reminded of when Lilia used to hold her like this. That was so long ago... She was happy to finally repay him.
Lilia whispered, "I wish I could die."
She hesitated, giving the guard closest to her a look.
He nodded, relaying her message to the rest of the guard.
Lilia closed his hands around the queen's clothes, "I wish I could die..." His nails tore through her outer layer and his pupils were the thinnest slits.
The queen gently pat his head, "I know. I understand. Don't be so hard on yourself."
"You don't understand." He whispered.
The queen felt she might be in danger now. She heard the tone of Lilia's voice change and she stepped back quickly, taking Lilia with her.
The doors closed loudly and were swiftly locked.
Metal clinked against the stone floor. Lilia's wounds were healing themselves, sizzling as the iron was pushed out of his skin.
"Sh, Shh..." the queen held him tight, "you're safe, Lilia. You're safe."
He shook his head like a child, "you don't understand." He was shaking and green fire was starting to dance along his back.
"Then tell me. Explain it to me," she offered, "help me understand."
Lilia's breath caught.
The chamber was silent.
"... I don't get a choice..." Lilia said, his grip on the queen slacking as he leaned into her. "You could all kill yourselves if you wanted..."
The queen paused, "why don't you have a choice?..." She certainly didn't want Lilia to die. He was like another father to her and she loved him.
The fires dissipated as he took a long, shaking breath in, "I've been cursed with immortality... nothing can kill me... no matter what..."
The queen couldn't help but wonder who was powerful enough to cast such a curse. She squeezed Lilia, "I'm sorry that happened to you... but you will always have a place in my house... please don't feel like you need to run away..."
"... even you will be taken from me," Lilia whispered hoarsely.
"Not for a long time," she whispered, "not if I can help it."

[Part 1 finished 24 May 2022]