Heartless | A Powerless Fanfiction Novella

Chapter 16: Kitt

The streak of moonlight has made its way across half of my room now - it must be midnight. With the world so quiet I could almost mistake reality for a dream, but the touch of the breeze against my skin brings me back to the present as I walk onto the terrace. On the edge of the balcony there sits a basket of fresh apples I had pleaded with Gail to give me after my little boyish mistake in the kitchen until she finally gave in. A bottle of wine and two glasses also stand near - one having already been refilled twice after drowning myself in each sip waiting for Corrine to show. But she hasn't. I almost wish this was a dream then maybe just maybe the twinge of sadness I feel right now would be directed towards anything else rather than her.

Did I really expect her to accept my invitation? To come willingly to my rooms only to share an idle conversation? I knew it wouldn't be this easy, she's too complex of a woman for me to even wrap my head around but that fact exactly is what keeps bringing me back to her. She intrigues me in a way I'd never encountered before, her mere presence forces the question of reality for only in a dream you would see someone like her.

It's been hours and my patience has run its course. With one last sip of my wine I leave my room to look for her. I don't know why I wish to know why she didn't show up, why I can't wait until morning, but I do know there was something in that spark of her clover eyes that twinkled at me when we last talked - I'm not one to forget such a beautiful occurrence, just like a shooting star only it feels different when it's headed straight for the heart. A targeted hit I did not see coming.

Just as I pass one of the countless floor-to-ceiling windows of this palace something catches my attention: a glimpse of white. It only takes me a few moments to focus on the figure galloping through the courtyard heading to the stables to notice the onyx hair flowing one with the speed at which the guard is going.

Corrine.

My steps are quick and silent before I break into a run through the dark corridors. Except the occasional Imperial there is no one to watch me sprint for the stables without a coherent thought in my head. She was not supposed to be out so late on duty, her rounds should have been inside the palace tonight - I knew that, I had made sure of that. Something changed, and I don't know what or why. Just as I approach the door leading to the stables I hear her horse rushing inside, soon joined by another pair of hooves. I don't go in and instead decide to slow my pace until I get to the door left ajar to look at who she was joined by. In the faint light of the room I witness the guard who had summoned her only a few hours ago- I knew him as Matthew - dismount her horse just as she does. Corrine is with her back to me so I can't see her face, but I don't miss the tremble in her hands. What happened?

"Corrine, listen to me," Matthew whispers in a stern tone, "I had to, you don't understand!"

"Don't understand?" Her voice quivers, the woman who I had never witnessed to even shed a tear is now barely making sense of her words through sobs, "Matthew they were CHILDREN!"

"Corrine, he would have killed you!" The Imperial raises his voice, "If you didn't complete the mission tonight I was-"

"You were WHAT?"

Matthew sighs, "I was ordered to kill you. By Lain." He makes to approach her but she starts backing away, shaking her head, "Please Corrine I couldn't. You had to complete it I couldn't-" His eyes snap up to meet mine as I approach the both of them, "Your highness."

Panic is written across his face, not even the mask could hide the fear plastered on him as he takes me in.

"You're highness, can I-"

"Leave us." I say to him, my tone is more bitter than I have ever heard it before, "You're dismissed."

Matthew says nothing more and with one look back at Corrine he retreats with a bow back into the palace. I turn towards her and the sight before me almost makes me lose control of the flames to light up the whole stable. That porcelain skin now stained with tears, those emerald eyes have lost their spark and instead of that twinkle I wish for there is only emptiness in them. Tears still flow down her face, and when her head raises to meet my gaze she lets it all go. I barely catch her in time as she slides to the ground against the wall crying.

"I didn't mean to, I didn't want to, I shouldn't have-" Her words are delirious, syllables entangling together through the sobs.

"Lowes, I need you to tell me what happened." I soften my tone as much as I can to stifle my rising anger at just seeing her...broken this way.

She shakes her head, "I killed them, they're dead, they're gone, they-"

"Hey, hey, Corrine!" My hand finds her chin, stilling her eyes on me.

She doesn't break my stare, whispering as if her voice is no longer trusted to not tremble, "I killed two Ordinary children, Kitt."

Oh.

Kai's job, this was my brother's job not hers. In his absence she must have been reassigned even when she shouldn't have. And knowing who the only man with enough power to issue such a task has is me controlling myself as to not burst into my father's room in the next moment. It's not my place, I have no say. And yet this woman before me is completely, and utterly broken right before my eyes because of it.

"I need you to calm Corrine. Breathe for me,"

She takes a trembling breath, loosening a few more tears, and as she takes another one my hands reach for that cruel leather mask bound to her face, my fingers finding the straps and removing the barrier to see the whole of her. The girl now looking back at me is no Imperial, but just that: a girl.

"I can't imagine what you must feel right now, but please breathe for me. Just do this one thing and I won't ask for anything else."

Her next inhale is more stable and her glassy eyes never leave mine as slowly she calms. From kneeling before her I move to her side against the wall, my hand reaching around her waist to pull her in for her head to rest against my chest.

"Listen to my heart, Corrine." From it racing a few moments ago I still its beat - for her.

She is stiff against me, but as each second passes she seems to relax and her sobbing quietens. I say nothing more and only let her rest on me, I almost don't breathe evenly just to ensure I don't disturb her. This girl, this woman has finally given in to the cruelty of emotion laying bare by my side. 

No more masks, none left to hide behind.

This is her: the true her.