The Scion Of Nyx

IX

Acheron

⚭

She would have killed her. Eulalia would have killed the steward of Queen Eta, and she knew I was plenty aware of the fact. Eulalia used that mortal servants life to goad me into allowing us to retire early. I clenched the glass in my hand, hearing fissures in the crystal. With every step of progress made, she took ten back. She did not kill the steward, but she informed me that she comfortably would, if she did not get her way, like a spoiled child.

The human had not even recognized the danger she was in the presence of. Nobody in this blasted court did. They lacked all instinct for survival. I could not blame them entirely though, for being so easily deceived by Eulalia. If I hadn't been there to witness the change in the girl first-hand, I would have never believed they were the same person.

Eulalia had completely and utterly transformed.

From the second she had stepped into the Court of Night, she had a look of perpetual confusion depicted on her face. She always looked lost, her doe eyes wide, belonging to a startled, new-born faun in a world of monsters. It was as though her entire being had changed, and before me floated the unearthly, timid changeling-child of my vicious, conniving witch.

Everything about her had altered. Her constant sneer had shifted into a pout, with an everlasting gasp of wonder caught between her full lips. She always kept her head tilted gracefully, her milky eyes wandering about the halls. When she did deign to meet your gaze, it was always through her lashes and heavy lided-eyes, timidly glancing up at you through as though she were a true, sheltered royal. Her gait changed as well. She no longer stomped her generals march, instead gliding about the room as if she were a floating spirit.

The change was horrifying. It seemed that I was the only one who could recognize the facade. Even the Queen seemed to fall victim to it, having not properly gouged Eulalia's true personality, from the limited muments they shared. I shook my head at the monstrous issue at hand, only thankful I could rest from her for the remainder of the night.

Eulalia had retired to her rooms silently. I now sat in the gentleman's parlor of the palace, uncharacteristically empty from the ball, which was exactly why I chose it. Shadow servants mutely filled my crystal glass with strong spirits. I welcomed the burn as I swallowed the alcohol down in solitude.

The space beside me rippled, and where empty air existed before, was suddenly replaced by the crown prince of House Night. Cairius wisped into the seat next to me, his body materializing of shadow, his robes unbuttoned at the top. His hair was disheveled and eyes glassy from spirits, making my lip curl up in disgust.

"Interesting to find you here" Prince Cairius announced slyly.

"Go to bed, Prince" I commanded him, easily slipping back into the role of his commander. I had trained him since he was a boy, and the sight of him engaging in such drunken, carnal revelries disgusted me quite thoroughly. It seems capital life had become him.

"Is that what you have done with the war witch? Commanded her to sleep?" He asked me, downing his own drink. My eyes cut to him, narrowed.

"Her whereabouts are none of your concern, Prince" I stated the title without any respect, my jaw flexing as I placed my glass down.

"Typical of you to monopolize her" He scoffed. I recoiled from him even further. Truly, I could not understand what had happened to the diligent, honorable young male I had trained into a soldier. The callous, crude prince before me was not the one I had a hand in raising. This was entirely his mother's influence. She wanted him cruel and careless, and he had become it.