In the Shadows~zayn au~Completed ✅EDITING

~Chapter 60: Secrets Don't Make Friends~

As promised ;)

They walked toward the meeting chambers and Kalysta couldn't help the uneasy sense that overwhelmed her. She had a bad feeling about it all. This meeting wasn't going to go well, that's what this told her. Breaking down her own confidence prior was probably a bad idea, but she couldn't shake the perception that she was headed for disappointment.

Stepping inside, Kalysta felt like she was going to be sick. She removed her cap, letting her hair fall down and glanced at Thomas for his reaction. The man looked stoic for the most part, but his mouth twitched upward in what appeared to be satisfaction. Somehow, he knew.

"Well, well, well." Thomas spoke first and she was correct in assuming he was satisfied at this piece of information. "I'm not particularly fond of Elysians, but this is low, even for you. Am I correct in concluding that you are, in fact, Princess Kalysta of Elysium?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Kalysta responded, grateful when her voice didn't quaver.

"I never realized it, but I would have paid good gold to see an Elysian dressed so ridiculously." The man actually snorted.

Now, Kalysta's opinion went from intimidation to restrained anger.

"I'm not here to discuss wardrobe, Your Majesty," she said, attempting to keep the conversation on the path she wanted. "I've come on behalf of my country. Since I'm sure the Ambassador has kept you well-informed, I know you are aware that King Murdoch of Mullingar has finally made his play toward Elysium, citing failure to follow tradition as an indication that Elysium has fallen under questionable leadership. As far as desperate ploys go, this is quite ridiculous, but I can say for certain that if Elysium were to face the might of Mullingar and Bradford together we would fall before Murdoch easily.

"With this in mind, I humbly ask for your help."

Thomas stared at her for only a second before he laughed.

"And I thought Elysians to be prideful, sitting on their coastal pedestals of grandeur and enlightenment, looking down the poor, uneducated and misled Velians," he said, laughing further, "but clearly you have no pride at all! How far you have fallen, Princess! So far!"

Kalysta gritted her teeth and stared at the ground. Now was the perfect opportunity to prove him wrong, to keep her anger and pride in check. "Whatever your idea of Elysians, I hope you will see us as we are now, in desperate need."

"My idea of Elysians?" Thomas grew serious abruptly. "I can tell you I esteem them lower than the excrement I scrape from my boots after visiting the stables. You are back-stabbing, petty little boils on the ass of this continent. You sit on your high thrones and think to look down on us. Perhaps you should realize you are not as noble as you view yourselves. In believing yourselves above us, the other nations have surpassed you in every way."

"That's awfully rich coming from a King that punishes his subjects for loving someone he doesn't approve of!" she cried. "You are the lowest of low and that isn't my simple opinion. People can't help who they love and it is despicable to punish them for it!"

She expected an immediate scornful response, but the look in his eyes was surprising. All she could see was fear and a painful sorrow the depths of which she could only envision, never understand. Why would Thomas feel pain at this subject matter? Surely he didn't have any personal feelings toward the subject? Kalysta wasn't so sure.

She almost felt she'd imagined it, though, for his face was schooled into rigid control a moment later. That pain and fear he'd briefly shown was too indicative of something deeper hidden behind his anger and caustic behavior. There was something else going on.

Now, his face was vindictive, punitive.

"Did the Ambassador ever explain why Elysium was the last country approached to be part of the resistance? Murdoch's eyes were clearly on Elysium, yet our loosely connected alliance has never approached you until now."

"He didn't," she admitted, frustrated she hadn't thought to question that already. She turned to Zayn. "Why was I the last to know?"

He didn't answer immediately, looking weary and sad. He gave a heavy sigh. "There is suspicion that... someone... in power in Elysium is sympathetic to Murdoch's cause."

"No!" she gasped. "That's simply not true!" She rounded on the king. "It isn't true!"

"Save your protests for your father, Princess," Thomas retorted in a snide voice.

"My father has been working against Murdoch this entire time!" Kalysta protested.

"Yes, but only once Elysium was threatened. Did that escape your notice? Have you ever asked why he turned away from one of his closest friends, King Naseer? When Naseer approached your father for help in overthrowing Murdoch's rule in his country he was brushed off. What does that tell you?"

"No," Kalysta breathed, still not fully comprehending the entirety of the situation. "I can't believe you would falsely accuse him of something. Did Naseer tell you this himself? You have no proof!"

"No, I don't suppose there is," Thomas mused. "Regardless, I'm even less inclined to help Elysium than I would be, say, Wolvecaster or Cheshire. You lot have made your bed; now sleep in it."

She couldn't believe it. Of all the things that could have happened, she hadn't prepared for this at all. Thomas looked at her like she was barely better than Murdoch, only barely. She was aware that her father had kept certain things from her, but surely she would know if he was collaborating with Murdoch!

"Thank you for your time anyway, You Majesty," Zayn said, bowing.

"No, I haven't finished!" Kalysta exclaimed, trying to regain her composure. It was difficult after such an upheaval, true or not. "The whole of Elysium should not be punished for one person's ill-thought actions or loyalties."

"It doesn't matter," Thomas dismissed. "I've made my decision and I won't be swayed. I hope you enjoy the mire your father has thrown you in."

"King Liam of Wolvecaster has pledged his support!" she cried out, anything to stop this avalanche of disappointment.

"He's a fool, then," Thomas scoffed. "He'll have the same fate as you, no doubt."

Zayn clasped her arm. "There's nothing more you can do," he hissed. "Do not antagonize him further. We have to go."

She wrenched her arm away, furious. She put her hair up in the cap and stormed from the room, not bothering to see if the other two followed. They could stay here for all she cared. She'd walk home if necessary. The only people she thought she could trust had kept back information so vital she was staggered by its enormity.

"P- Kal- Wait!" Zayn called after her. "Slow down!"

He attempted to grab her arm again, but she pulled away and swung her hand, bestowing his face with a resounding slap.

At any other time his expression would have been comical, mouth gaping in astonishment.

"Calm yourself," Louis said, catching up with them.

"I'll hit you too," Kalysta hissed, "just give me a chance. You two are vile! You let me walk into that room and beg a man who had such a low opinion of me! To hell with both of you!"

"Now is not the time to discuss it!" Louis was frightened.

"Burn you both!" she snapped back. "I've had enough of it!" She continued on her trajectory toward the room. If they thought this was anger, they would get sufficient reeducation back in the room. Tearing them limb from limb was too good. All this time they'd been holding this back! What a fool she'd been to trust either of them!

A/N: Soooooooo there's a lot more that's on its way. Just you wait.

VOOOOOOTEEEEEE, COOOMMEEEENNNNNTTTT PLLLLEEEEEEEEEEAAAASSSEEE

All the love,

~Kari~