Broken Beginnings

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight- The Consequences of Anger

"She's alright?" Ashered asked again. Opal nodded continuing to pack up the small ultrasound machine.

Ashered let out a breath of air and I watched from where I sat as he stood up. I opened my mouth to ask him to stay but he spoke first. "I need time to calm my anger." He straightened the watch on his wrist and disappeared out of the door.

I sat on the bed my mouth half open. I frowned pulling my body to the edge of the bed. I looked at my body in the reflection of the vanity mirror.  There was a small bump on my stomach, a growing being inside of me. I clenched my jaw as I thought of Indra. The sound of the door opening pulled me out of my thoughts. My attention turned to Opal as she exited the room. "You should stick to politics." She suggested coyly before shutting the door.

I sat in front of the mirror pondering Opals statement.
I needed to figure out what Sena wanted from us. I held the edges of my sleeves with my fingertips, taking in a chunk of air before venturing out the door. As I walked down the hallway my attention turned to a loud snap. Inside one of the guest chambers sat Indra, Opals hand holding her arm. Indra grunted a thanks stretching her arm. As Opal moved I came into both their lines of sights, not before Opal slammed the door in my face. "You've seriously got to work on your reactions, kid." Violet said emerging from the stairwell.

I glared at her, pushing past her. Violet laughed at this, darkly. The sound stopped me in my tracks. " Remember who's really in charge here, Hope." I stiffened at her words, the underlining meaning cutting into me. I reached out to the power around me, a flame forming at my fingertips. Anger filled me but Violet simply smiled. "Hope." Ashered hissed in my ear, arriving at the edge of the stairs. His hand grasped mine, snuffing the flames. "What is wrong with you?" He snapped. "Hormones." Maeve called from the first floor. "Come, child,I will make you a tea to help with that fire inside."

Somehow I now sat in the dinning room sipping tea with Maeve, Violet, Ashered and Sena who decided to join last minute.

I could feel the heat from my hands as I clasped them under the table. I was literally burning with anger. I felt like every little thing was setting me off. "Now, my dear." Sena said passing me a small teacup. I looked at it with distaste. "What do you really want?" I snapped. Violet smirked, dark eyes flickering to mine. "Feisty." She snorted. "We want to discuss things." Maeve said taking a light sip of her tea. "Not now." Sena hissed. Maeve rolled her eyes. "She's not going to be friendly until the hormones pass and that won't be for another eight months, Sena." She waved her hand dismissively.

"Sir Ashered, Hope, you are carrying the new heir to the kingdom. You will be the faces behind the kingdom until the child is of age. For now, you will do as we say."
"And if we don't?" Ashered challenged.
I took a small gulp of the tea in my hands watching the expressions of the three women harden. "Don't forget the power we hold here, boy." Sena growled.
"We just want a strong kingdom." Maeve tried to correct. " You want chess pieces and you want our child to be a part of your game."
Sena stood up abruptly, her chair crashing to the ground. "I know where your sister lives, I know where your friend is with her mate. I know where Amy's quarters are with her newborn son, I know where Opal sleeps." Senas eyes trained harshly onto mine. "How's your tea?" She purred. As if on cue, I gasped for air. There was no oxygen going into my lungs. I stood up frantically and Ashered grasped onto me as I spiraled. "What did you do?!" He boomed. A fire ate away from his feet to Senas. Maeve raked her hand through the air, stilling the flame, stopping it from reaching further. "I control everything here. Don't you children see that? I can destroy you. You are only alive because I allow it! You will have this child or I will destroy everyone you love."
I screamed in pain as the images of Fallon lying dead were shoved into my brain. Ashered held onto me but all I could feel was the flames as I slipped away, Ashered lifeless beside me.
"Stop, you'll kill her!" I heard Ashered say. "It's just pain, but I will kill everyone she loves which is just the same if you don't both obey."
Reality slipped back into place, oxygen filled my lungs. I blinked the water from my eyes and behind them stood Gale. Her brown eyes were wide as Violet pulled a pistol from her  jacket.
"No!" I cried lunging forward. Ashered snatched me by the waist. "Stop!" I cried, "she's pregnant." I screamed. Violets lips curved upwards. "We know. But she's not carrying the heir."
"We're not fighting you, there's no reason to hurt her." Ashered tried to reason. I tried to figure out how they acquired Gale, they must have taken her somehow. She already lost one baby, it would break her to lose another.
" Then listen, this baby will be the heir and you will do as we say or-." Sena didn't finish her sentence but looked to Violet as if that was enough said. "Okay, please." I begged. Ashered held onto me as tears slid down my cheeks. His arms flexed and I could tell he was holding back anger.
Violet lowered the ground and I let out an audible breath.
A gunshot rang throughout the room and I blinked. Gales scream echoed as her leg gave out.
Opal was beside her in seconds, seemingly out of nowhere. "It's only the leg." Violet rolled her eyes as Maeve looked at her appalled. "Go to your rooms." Sena instructed. I looked at her wide eyed. "What?"
Violet looked at me annoyed, cocking her gun
"Now." Ashered pulled me away and I watched as Opal held a cloth to Gales bleeding leg. Her eyes met mine and they were filled with rage. She quickly looked away and I barely registered I was moving up the stairs until all I saw was cream colored walls.