Ophelia

4. Zoomie

Suffice to say I had once again managed to make a fool out of myself as King Kaelus looked down at me like I had grown a second head.

"What the hell is a Zoomie?"

How would I even explain it to him? I wanted the firebird that brought me to this wretched place, for the same reason so he could transport me right back home.

"Err, if I may My Liege..." Gill piped up leaning more toward King Kaelus.

Said King whipped his head toward the Blue guard.

"Evangeline wants my firebird." Gill glared at me. I preened at his displeasure.

If the firebird was Gill's, I wanted it.

He must have heard my desperate screams on the firebird and attempted naming session to understand who Zoomie was.

I didn't miss Gill's fierce glare at me as he finished what he was saying. I smiled at him, almost childishly.

The King reeled back in incredulity.

"Of all the things you could have asked for you want that?" he asked me, almost insulted.

I leveled my look back at him, almost way too pleased with my choice.

"Granted." the King must have seen my satisfaction, deciding to humour me for once.

Gill grit his teeth.

All through out the reception, my mind was on the firebird. I didn't know much about the animal, so my mind was on hyper focus mode. Instead of dancing with King Kaelus, I grabbed Gill's hand, forcing him to do the couples dance with me. Instead of the appalled whoos and haas from the guests, I recieved amused giggles as if they had come to expect it from me.

King Kaelus was less than pleased with me though as he stood at the edge of the dance floor watching me dance with another man.

It was a crime to deny the Queen, I knew this and so did the King. Gill was only following the rules.

"It was so nice of you to give me your firebird." I taunted him, as he led me through the dance with almost perfect movements.

He smirked at me with mirth.

"You clearly do not know much about firebirds Evangeline." I could hear the evil smile in his voice.

I stomped on his foot rather hard, making him grit his teeth. Luckily the action was easily ignored by the gathering crowd.

"Enlighten me Blue Coat." I whispered in his ear, watching my now husband seethe from his seat on the throne.

He must have stomoed there in a rage while I wasn't looking.

"Firebirds choose their rider. He chose me. Good luck getting him to flap a wing with only you on his saddle." Gill was almost smug.

I chose to remain silent, contemplating what I had just learned. Was this why Long Kaelus had just granted me the bird? Because he knew Zoomie already chose his rider? Clever man.

I would obviously have to regroup on my plan, this was just a minor bump in the road.

After what seemed like a very long while of dancing with the rest of the room, I finally caved when I saw the King's dark and stormy mood. I decided that now was a good time to poke the bear.

He watched me with gruesomely evil eyes, as I climbed the stairs to the main throne.

"Have I finally qualified for a dance with my wife?" King Kaelus muttered, as each of his knuckles cracked.

"I won't dance with you Cad. I came to congratulate you. Now that you have a wife what are you going to do with her?" it was strange to speak of myself  in third person but I was stalling for time.

"Flay her skin for money on the dark market. That perfectly unblemished skin would fetch me quite a considerable price." I wasn't sure if I was supposed to feel threatened by his words. Whether or not to take them seriously.

He certainly looked like the type who would enjoy such a transaction.

"You'll find that she's quite thick-skinned. I'm pretty sure even on her death bed she'd find a way to make life difficult for you." I replied nonchalantly.

I don't know what unhinged me more, that we were having a civil conversation or that we were talking agreeably about peeling my skin off with a knife.

King Kaelus' lips turned up in a half laugh type of way.

"I wouldn't want her any other way." was he flirting with me by using my own twisted humour as a key point?

That discovery warmed my body for some reason. I spent the rest of the ceremony sitting on the steps below King Kaelus who was still a storm cloud of a mood.

He left before I did, I noted as I was led to a new room. One much fancier than I had ever seen in my life.

King Kaelus stood in this room, absolutely shirtless. I watched as he leaned over a 3D map of the land and everytime he moved, one of the muscles in his back would clench.

I don't know how long I stood dumbstruck for.

"You'd find that the bed is a lot more comfortable than the piece of floor you're standing on." his voice rattled my bones.

My body seemed to kick start itself as I shimmied out of my stupor. I walked to the bed, taking the blanket and two pillows off of it, stomping towards the very comfortable looking couch he had nearest to the wall by the door. Throwing the items on the couch, I made quick work of wrenching out of my dress. Purposefully standing in my underwear as the still moody King watched my every movement.

I then started making myself comfortable on the couch.

"Do me a favour and let the light switch electrocute you on your way out." I commented closing my eyes.

It was only when I heard complete silence did I open my eyes. King Kaelus was standing over me looking the exact picture of fury.

"I have allowed you to speak to me the way you want to, disrespect me in ways no other would dare. Now I take what I want from this deal." his voice was menacing... Exciting.

My body throbbed in anticipation. Pure excitement. I felt like a traitor to my own morals as I watched him descend on me like I was his prey.

And despite all of my anger toward him and some hatred too... I couldn't help but love what followed his vengeance seeking words.