The Ruler's Rift

Open-Ended

Celeste saw little of Lucy over the following days. The queen's busy schedule was partly to blame but Lucy's disinterest didn't help. Their argument left the couple strained but they returned to civility and love, even finding time for intimacy - Celeste had no complaints on that front.

However, good sex wouldn't fix a bad relationship, and Celeste found herself desiring to do something special for Lucy to make up for recent tensions. As she sat upon her throne, answering to the requests and complaints of her subjects, she counted the hours until she'd return to her personal quarters and congratulate the sweet Sharcanid on her career growth. Much to the demon's dismay, a demanding group of subjects kept her overtime with their petty whining and compromising.

Icy rain began to fall outside, cloaking Mystearlia in an even thicker darkness than the night had brought. Amber at last shooed away the subjects and cleared the throne room, an act Celeste couldn't help but give her credit for. "Ugh, thank you," the demon muttered as she stretched and hopped off her throne.

"No problem, they were starting to get on my nerves, too," Amber said. She took a small feather duster from her belt and brushed the day's dust from the regal seat.

"This doesn't mean I forgive you though," Celeste snapped.

"I know." Amber wore the tiniest smile. "I didn't expect that from you, Celeste."

"See? I told you that you're the smarter sister," Celeste snickered before taking her leave. Sticking around risked listening to her aunt's fake concerns.

With each step, with every corridor, Celeste's excitement grew. She'd give Lucy a fantastic night. That burning, passionate blaze of love kept the demon bright-eyed despite the day's work and the weight of her regalia.

Her boots clicked against tile as she crossed over the fancy carpet and to her bedroom door. She swiped it open and danced inside where a flood of fear and depression doused her loving flame.

Celeste stopped, wide-eyed, and stared at the half-empty room. No flower arrangements; no color palettes or concept art scattered across the nightstands. No Lucy.

Muscles tightened and organs hollowed as reality sunk in. Celeste couldn't breathe or swallow or cry. The Sharcanid couldn't have gone far yet. With all her desperation, Celeste shattered the glass pane of anxiety and warped straight to Lucy - no forethought, no caution - she let crackling magic carry her straight to her beloved.

"Lucy!" Celeste cried out into the freezing rain. Sleet struck her horns but she didn't flinch. Her magic had whisked her just outside the palace entrance, where rows of guards swiveled their heads to the sight of their queen screaming and racing after the departing Sharcanid.

Red ears pivoted back before Lucy looked over her shoulder. Before her rumbled a ship, ready to leave the world, and in her hand was a pink duffle bag - the others must have already become cargo. Her eyes were round and tired - full of surprise and panic.

Ignoring the stares of her guards, Celeste trotted to a stop and pleaded, "Lucy, don't do this. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for whatever I did, please can we just talk about this?"

"Talk about what?" Lucy replied after considerable hesitation. "That'll just give you an opportunity to manipulate me."

"Manipulate you!?" Celeste repeated. Her panting mingled with the winter wind. "What are you saying!?"

A gargantuan sigh escaped the insomniac. She handed off her pink bag to an attendant who loaded it into the ship. "You're abusive, Celeste. You say you love me but then you don't help me. All these scars? Are these not abuse?" She lowered her high collar and the ship attendant grimaced.

Celeste gasped. "You..." Shock sharpened into rage. "You know I never wanted to do that." But what would that attendant think? What would anyone think without context? The worst part was that no one cared about context. No one would believe her.

"Yeah, I know you never wanted to help me," Lucy snarled.

"I..." Celeste swallowed her pride and nearly gagged on it. It didn't matter what that attendant, or anyone else, thought of her. "I know you're suffering, Lucille. I'm trying to help you but clearly I'm not doing enough. I'm sorry for that."

"You can also apologize for how controlling you are."

Celeste winced, shutting her eyes against the bitter rain. "...you're right. I am. But not towards you, Lucy, I-"

"Ah!" Lucy cut the queen off. "But nothing. 'But' is just an excuse."

"Wh-!?" Celeste physically reared back as if she'd been punched. "At least let me finish!"

"No!" Lucy shouted. "You're so cynical and arrogant, it's not good for me."

Celeste's knees hit the snow. Her face dipped toward the ground and her hands dug into the blistering ice. She lowered her horns to her lover and begged. There, in her full regalia, before the audience of her wardens, the queen bowed. "Please," she prayed, "you're right. I'm awful. I hate people. I'm all of the things you say I am, but that doesn't change that I love you. I'll prove it to you if you just give me a chance."

Lucy was quiet, and the rough downpour of ice accompanied her coldness.

"I didn't know you were feeling like this so strongly," Celeste continued, "we can talk about this and make it better - like when we first met."

Lucy's tail swished.

"I'm begging you, Lucy..." Celeste's heart pounded; her hands went numb. "Please..."

The silence of the guards and Lucy shattered when she finally gave her answer. "No, you won't guilt trip me like this," she huffed. "I have to take care of myself, Celeste. Being with you isn't healthy for me. I don't owe you anything. I have to do what's right for me. Ever heard of self care?"

The demonic heart pounded, then it stopped. Warm tears contrasted the cold air, and Celeste began to cry. She raised her head to see the smug, self-righteous look on Lucille's face. She shed tears in both sorrow and rage. "Self care or selfishness!?" She snapped, standing. "So you can just step on people and hurt them in the name of 'self care'? Bullshit!"

Lucille pawed back.

"Life doesn't revolve around you! At what point are you looking out for yourself and at what point are you disregarding the feelings of others? You're either cruel or stupid!"

"What are you going to do!? Kill me!?" Lucille retorted.

Celeste had stepped toward Lucille as she yelled, and she stopped just in front of her. At her full height, she had to look down to meet the surprisingly brave face of the true abuser.

Icy eyes glistened with anger and pain. Magic bubbled and broiled within Celeste, but she held it back, deep down. "Go," she ordered. "Leave. Go somewhere far away where I can't smell your traitorous blood!"

Fluffy ears drooped and bravery faltered.

The queen continued, "And if I ever see you in my kingdom again, you will be very sorry."

"Your kingdom is the entire universe!" Lucille gasped.

"Go hide in a ditch, then," Celeste snarled. She turned and walked away, down the alley of her guards. They exchanged glances before rushing to her side.

"Your majesty!" One shouted. Another brushed snow off her and said, "let's get you out of the cold, your majesty. This is no place for you."

With their hollow comfort, Celeste returned to her hollower palace. Yet her heart felt emptiest of all.