The Mountains Blade

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen- Outbursts

Avelina Greywater launched herself at Alaric Venice. "You bastard!" She screamed. Opal had her arms wrapped around her tightly. Avelina, could not be tamed. The calm, cool, collected royal had become hostile as a result of her sisters kidnapping. 

"You set this up, didn't you. I swear, I will kill you." Avelina knocked her head back against Opal, stars dotting her vision as she turned back to Alaric. He looked at her with shame in his eyes. "I did not know, your majesty. I assure you, I would do nothing to harm your kingdom or any of your family."

"Liar, you practically killed her. You had to know that Evander Kane sent his brother and men to come here!" 

Alaric shook his head from where he stood in the conference room. Her parents sat and listened, letting her lash out, watching and studying the soon to be queen. 

The flowers on the table wilted, the bright rose petals, shriveling and falling onto the table into a pile of black dust. 

Avelina gave Opal a pointed glare as she made a move towards her. "If you make another step closer." She warned, looking to the dust and back to Opal.

The only sign of fear that the fallen warrior gave was the slight tightening of her jaw as she took a step back. 

Avelina heaved a sob and wiped her eyes, no doubt smearing her mascara across her cheeks. 

"I want to know everything you know. I  want to know how to get my sister back."

~

Elwyn wasn't known to be nervous, she had played the part to fool others into thinking she was a weak girl; but right now she was not acting. 

Marlowe led her through the crowds of people, carving a path to the door beside the throne, the same one she had seen Aldric disappear into. 

Elwyn frowned at her. Marlowe gave her a somewhat reassuring smile, and lightly pushed towards the door. Elwyn wouldn't have gone, not without some sort of protection. 

She slipped into the door and pulled out the small blade she had snatched from a woman in a blue frilly dress. She had felt the distaste of each person at the party as she weaved in and out of the crowds. The room was swimming with wolves who wanted to pounce on her like prey. They all wore formal attire, some with swords strapped to their waist. 

Elwyn gripped the blade tightly in her hand as the door was shut behind her. She was left in the dark hallway, with nothing but the small golden blade she had nabbed. She twirled it in her fingers, trying to remember the feel of things, her dress drug through the hallway and her heels made a click-clack noise as she went further down. The hallway was nearly two people wide and silent. The noise of the party was gone as if it were never really there to begin with. 

The candles fluttered some, indicating that somewhere a window was open. 

Elwyn wrapped her arms around herself, continuing down the hallway to the first open door she came across. 

It was a grand two story tall library that had her eating her words. Her jaw dropped, it was fairytale like, glittering black candles giving the room a golden glow. It was the brightest room she had seen yet. It was warm aside from the breeze that trickled from the upstairs window. 

Elwyn ran her hands along the spine of the books, inhaling at the comforting smell of worn paper. 

There were three sets of couches in the middle and chairs tucked in the corners with small side tables. Some books were stacked on the side tables and long table by the edge of the stairs as if someone had just finished fishing through the shelves. By the holes in some of them, she assumed she was right. 

Elwyn picked up the front of her dress and took to the small staircase. She could feel the air trickling down and cooling her warm skin. 

Elwyn gasped excitedly as she finally arrived at the end of the stairs. There was a long wooden oak desk with canvases piled atop it. Beside the table was an easel that beheld a black empty canvas. There was paint scattered across the ground, clothes, brushes and used water clumped into a pile on the desk. A black wooden spinning chair had a black suit jacket thrown lazily over it. 

Behind it all was a massive oval window that was open and letting in the chilly autumn air. Although to Elwyn it felt more like winter. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself as she noted the icicles on the edge of the window seal. She could have sworn they weren't there moments ago. 

Elwyn walked around the desk and looked out into the black night. From here she could see the city below the mountains. It was magical, lights twinkled and the stars shone brightly above. The moon was full and a sudden chill ran through her. 

"Don't worry, we don't actually change during the full moon." 

Elwyn whirled around in a panic. Her hands gripped the stolen blade. Behind her stood, Dane. 

"It's a myth." He added on. 

Elwyn paused looking at her once old friend with suspicion. 

"I'm not here to hurt you, I just wanted to apologize." Elwyn rolled her eyes and turned away from him, pretending to be more interested in the paintings than Dane. 

It wasn't hard. The works were beautiful, ranging from otherworldly flowers, to glowing trees and black glittering moons. 

"You don't have to accept my apology but you shouldn't be up here."

Elwyn wrinkled her eyebrows at him. "What do you care what I do?" She hissed.

 Danes feet stayed put on the last step, a look of fear crossing his face. "Elwyn, seriously we need to go." 

Elwyn snorted walking tauntingly close to Dane, just within reach. 

He ran a hand through his brown hair, the scar on his face tightening as his jaw did. 

"Elwyn, this is the royal library, off limits to everyone else." 

Again Elwyn rolled her eyes. "And?" 

"And you're in the kings dead mothers art studio. A place that no one aside from the king and princess are allowed to be in."

Elwyn felt the color drain from her skin. She hurriedly took the stairs after Dane. "My dress." She shrieked, the fabric lodging itself onto a loose piece of the wooden staircase. 

Dane moved to help her but was cut off by a loud booming voice. "Get away from her."

Elwyn watched Dane freeze. Evander Kane stood behind him in the doorway to the library. His hands were clenched into fists, his sleeves stretching from the stress.  His face was dark, a look of anger filling his expression as he looked at Dane, his hand placed around her waist steadying her, as the other fumbled with the dresses fabric. 

Dane carefully took his hand off of her and raised both hands in defense. He looked at Elwyn apologetically as he turned. 

"Get out, General." Dane bowed his head to Evander and as he walked by, he snatched the collar of his suit jacket; whispering something harshly to Dane. 

The general nodded, schooling his expression before he left the pair alone.