The Definer

Chapter 29

"Good morning, princess. I'm sorry to bother you but you have to get up. The King wants to visit you." I heard Emma faintly.
I rolled over and moaned loudly into my pillow.
She giggled. "Are you awake now, Jess?"
I turned to look at her. "No." I mumbled and she laughed again.
I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. "What time is it?"
"10:00 in the morning."
I had forgotten that it wasn't even light when we had the lockdown. Of course it would still be morning. I climbed lazily out of bed, my legs feeling like jelly. I looked around my unnecessarily large room and noticed a gorgeous gown hanging over the lounge chair. I quickly scrambled over to investigate the masterpiece.
"Do you like it?" Emma asked with uncertainty.
"It's... It's beautiful. Did you make this?" I asked.
"No... I designed it and the ladies downstairs made it."
I looked at her. "Thank you. It's magnificent."

With newly found motivation, I quickly got dressed and let Emma stuff around and experiment with my mess of blonde locks. After what felt like hours of trying to get me looking beautiful, I was finally allowed to have a look at myself.
"Close your eyes." Emma said excitedly, leading me to the mirror. "No peeking!"
I just nodded my head and closed my eyes. Once I was standing still, I felt her zipping around me, tweaking final little things until it was perfect.
"Open." She whispered.
I opened my eyes slowly and stared at the person in the mirror. Someone so beautiful that I can't breathe stood in my place in the reflection. I reached out carefully and touched the glass, watching as the person in the reflection does the same. At that moment, I finally accepted that the person staring back at me was me. I had never looked so beautiful in my life. Half my hair was braided while the other half hung in perfect ringlets over my shoulders. A small tiara sparkled on my head. My dress lightly swept the floor. It was a gorgeous blue fading into white at the bottom. Small jewels and sequins spotted the top, shining and glinting in the light that poured through the window. A silver necklace hung around my neck with the letter J on it and a matching bracelet was wrapped around my wrist. Two silver earrings dangled from my ears, swinging carelessly back and forth.

"I'm speechless. You've really outdone yourself, Emma." I commented.
"Thank you. I mean you are meeting the King after all." She said.
There was a knock at the door and my head snapped up.
"I'll get it." Emma offered, scurrying to open the door.
"Hello. I'm here to escort the princess downstairs so I'll take it from here." A familiar voice said quite rudely.
"Of course." Emma replied.
She quickly curtsied and hurried out of the room and the person came in.
"Jane." I said, looking at those blue and red eyes.
I still had that feeling that I'd met her before even though I know I hadn't.
"Jess. Come on. The King is awaiting your presence." She said.
I stole one more glance in the mirror before walking following her out the hall and down the hall. Maids and guards were bustling about, running back and forth. All of them were frantic.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"The King has only just returned. He had business in the Human Realm that he had to attend to." She answered simply.

It seemed like the longest walk of my life before we finally reached a large set of double doors. The were more red than brown and matched the carpet beneath our feet.
Jane grabbed my shoulders and turned me to her. "You are not to look directly at him. Your eyes are to stay on that carpet. Am I clear?"
I gulped and nodded. The two guards on either side, rushed to open the door. It was then that I noticed the ring of red around their eyes. As soon as they were fully open, Jane led me in. I tried to take a peek at the King who I knew was sitting at the end of the red carpet but Jane elbowed me, hard, in the stomach as soon as my head flinched. So I decided to listen to her and keep my eyes on the ground, taking extra care not to trip. We finally stopped and I could just see the steps leading up to the King's chair.
"Hello Jess." Said the King.
My head snapped up and I stared at the man before me. The blood drained from my head as I stared, unbelieving, at the familiar face.
No, no, no, no, no! It can't be him! No!
"It's nice to see you again." He said, his calmness aggravating me even more. "It's been a while."
The room spun around me. Why would it be him? Confusion, anger and sadness all fought for a place in my head.
"Daddy?"

"Yes, darling. It's me. Don't act so surprised." He said.
"Why... Why would you... You're D?" I stumbled. I wasn't sure how much longer my legs would hold me.
"Yes."
"And... You killed mum?"
"No. I simply gave her an upgrade." He said, motioning to behind me.
I turned and there mum stood. I didn't hesitate. I rushed up and crushed her to me in a giant hug.
"Mum! I... I thought you were dead."
But then, just as fast as I had latched on, she shoved me off, my back hitting the floor and knocking all the air from my lungs. I looked up at her in confusion and hurt but then I noticed the red ring around her once blue eyes. I turned to daddy.
"What have you done to her? You turned her into a monster!" I screamed at him, the tears now flowing. "And what did you do with Dean?"
"Oh, him. Dreadfully sorry, we couldn't contain him without him escaping so we had no choice." He said, his voice flat as he spoke.
"Noooo!" I screamed.

"They're in the palace!" Someone yelled, running down the hall.
And then there was fighting, and screams. I didn't care though. I was in my own bubble of grief, screaming and crying. Suddenly, warm arms embraced me and I was vaguely aware of Ariana, crying in the background as she found out the death of the boy that was like a son to her. A chin rested on my hair and soothed me quietly. When I realised just who it was holding me, I quickly shoved him away.
"Get off me! Don't ever touch me again, Tristan! You did this!" I screamed, barely able to talk through my tears.
"Jess, please not now. I'm here to help you." He said, grabbing my wrists.
I squirmed and fought and twisted until he let go and then stumbled back, falling to my knees.
"You did this! You killed him!"
He wrapped his arms around me, tight.
"Get off me! I hate you!" I screamed but still, he refused to let go.
I shoved him and punched him until I collapsed in tears, unable to do anything except for let him hold me.

The room around me went quiet and I was only vaguely aware of the battle and death going on around me. Though I hated Tristan, I couldn't help but feel safe in his warm embrace. I heard Estelle let out a cry and Aleric scream as he goes into battle. I could still hear screams even though they were muffled.
"Let's go home..." Tristan whispered gently in my ear.
And so I would. I would go home today but I would return. I would come back and kill every last one. If war was what it would take, then war it would be. If I died in battle, then so be it.

Because I am The Definer and this was my destiny.