Moon Flowers (Book 1 of the Flower Trilogy) #Wattys2016 #Featured

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX -- PHI (Edited)

PHI'S POV

I exhaled, relieved that his sword no longer hung over my head. I lifted myself up on my feet and distanced myself from him. A few feet. Close enough so that he would not feel the need to come after me, but far enough so that I would see him should he make any further attempt to end my life.

"An Oracle!" the Evil King said, as if he was pleasantly surprised. "I cannot remember the last time I have seen one of your kind!"

Does he plan to use Halia for his own benefit? To see his future?

The Evil King took a few steps in her direction. She, however, stood her ground.

"If you know about my kind, you know I have no control over what I predict," Halia said. I had never heard her speaking in such self-assured toned before. "You know you can't kill Phi, for you will marry her."

She was so brave. Infinitely braver than me. All those years, I thought I was the one helping her, conquering her fear of the people. I thought I was protecting her. It was actually her, the strong one. I was the one who crumbled at the sight of the king's sword, at the sight of my people dying. When did all of this happen? She was a badass now.

"That's right," the Evil King replied, with a hint of malice in his voice. "No one can deny the truth coming through an Oracle's lips." He then turned to me. "So, my dear, it seems we will get married after all."

"It certainly seem that way," I replied. I tried to steady myself, but was shaking all over. "I will do as is my destiny. There is no further use to hurt my people."

The Evil King turned on his heels to face the crowd of mindless warriors and fairies. "That might be true," he said over his shoulder, "but I need a warranty." His voice then echoed loud and clear over the people. "Bring them all in."

With grips of steel, the brutes dragged my people into Wotan's lair, locking the king and the other members of the community all in one of the countless rooms.

"We will be married tomorrow at sundown," the Evil King said before leaving me on the deck. "Take her to her room.

I felt as if I would faint.

Guards climbed up to get me. Two others went on to grab Halia. To separate us.

No! I kicked, fought off the guards. "Please let her stay with me," I shouted to the king, already walking away. "This is the last night I will be myself. I need her with me."

He briefly turned, paused, and nodded.

I didn't expect that.

Was that kindness? I wondered. It was not. Of course it was not. He wants Halia to be awake, to use her as he pleases.

I glanced at the young nymph, to see if she also understood. I saw nothing. Her eyes, her face, were shut. I could not read her.

I don't remember what happened or what I saw on my way back to my prison. My room. My sight was blurry. I could not feel the ground under my feet. Only a gaping pain in my chest, just where my heart was.

The Mother left us.

*

A frenzy took over me as soon as the door shut behind us. I rushed to the place we had hidden the books. My hands were trembling as I touched their familiar covers.

"There must be something in these books that could help us," I said, my heart pounding.

Unlike my father, who had all the spells memorized, as demonstrated by all the sigils and runes covering his body, I still had everything to learn. The books were my only reference.

I sat on the floor by the fire, its warmth lulling me. I flipped through the pages with trembling hands, swallowing my cries. I couldn't allow myself to succumb to despair. The tears flooding my eyes would make it impossible for me to read.

"I'm so sorry, Phi," said Halia. "He's a monster."

I felt her eyes on me, seeking my forgiveness for bringing me more bad news..

I knew it was not her fault. But I did not raise my eyes to look at her. I pursed my lips. Being warm and understanding was not something I could give her right now.

"I am about to lose everything," I replied while flipping through the second book's pages. "Everything that makes me me. My freedom of being. My freedom of thought." There was no way to escape an oracle's prophecy.

I did not want to accept my fate. I shut my eyes, seeing over and over my father's hand being severed and falling to the floor.

"You're angry with me," she said painfully. "Because I told you a truth you didn't like."

"I have my father's power in me, running through my veins," I said. "There must be something I can do. Or I am the world's most impotent queen?"

I was still shaken by the idea that I was now my people's queen. I was not prepared for such responsibility. I tried more avidly to look through the pages of the books, but the Queen of Complaints, who had transcribed them, seemed to have no method to organize them. I couldn't find anything.

I did not look at Halia. I was being cruel. It was the only thing I felt I could do to make myself feel better. I needed to hurt someone else. To get revenge.

After all, I am meant to marry the Evil King. Better get wicked right now.

Domovoy came to sit by my side. He tapped my hand to appease the anger rising in me, but pulled away with a disgusted face. "This tastes horrible," Domovoy said. "I beg you, control yourself so I can eat something more joyful."

Halia pulled away and recoiled on the bed we had shared the past nights, now certain I hated her. I immediately regretted how I was treating her. She did not deserve it.

I glanced at her and a part of me wanted to apologize and hug her like she had hugged me last night, but I was too selfish. I needed the anger. Since I was now hopeless, the anger was the only thing that kept me sane.

Still, I calmed down and continued to flip through the pages, without great conviction that I would find something at all. Domovoy left Halia to look over my shoulder, now visibly less repulsed by my emotions.

"There," he said, pointing at the page I was about to turn. "That's something."

I looked down at the page. It described a wedding ceremony. I didn't see how this could help. "What are you saying?" I asked him.

"That's rather simple. I don't know how I didn't think of it before. Of course, it's not ideal—"

"What?" Halia insisted, her face harsh again. Like when she stood up to the Evil King.

"Well," the hairy creature continued. "You know how when fairies get married, their powers intertwine?"

"Yes," Halia said. "This is why our people have been avoiding unions these last centuries, because it made fairies too powerful."

"If they do get married, it has to be with people of the same kind, like the Merrow people," I added. "Or at the very least of the same element, like Nixie and Fossegrim."

"Precisely," said Domovoy. "Now, if Phi marries someone else before marrying Wotan, a part of her powers would go in that other person, and she won't be totally under the Evil King's control. It's a little far-fetched, but there is hope that, this way, we can find a way to save your people before it is too late."

"But who could I marry?" I asked Domovoy. "You?"

I gave him a suspicious look. Although he had given me no reason to doubt the veracity of his friendship, for a moment I wondered if all this hadn't been a ruse to make me trust him; just so he would inherit my powers before the king. A twisted agenda. That would have been brilliant. All along, I had trusted him.

"I wouldn't dream of it," he said. "No offense, but you're not really my type."

Hah! "So who?" I asked again.

"Who else? There is only one person left in this room."

We both looked at Halia.