The Real Villian

Year: 4055; Day: 278

{Song of the chapter: Young God - Halsey}

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My body shuddered involuntarily, like it had been for the past seven days. The fear, the horror-- it just never stopped. I had been bound up in my bedroom since that morning Jove... died. My thoughts were empty and devoid. Right after that event, Greon had sent me a message saying I had ten days to follow his commands, or, in his words, 'the girl would die next'. He then said, 'They always say to save the best for last, my young queen'.

"Hey, sis. How are you doing?" My brother's cool and soft voice came from the doorway. I lifted my chin to meet his gaze.

Javi, the most indefectible brother, hadn't meddled or pryed me for any information. As far as he knew, this whole thing was just about Jove's death. As far as he knew, Lake and Cassi were at the Academy right now-- learning about Athletics.

"I'm doing fine," I mumbled, with clear not-fine-ness.

He stepped closer to me, his dark eyes holding utmost concern. "Kars, I honestly don't know how to help you."

"I don't expect you to."

His jaw shifted, and I could tell he wanted to protest my statement. He said, "But I'm your brother. We're family, I should be able to help you."

"Yes, but you're ignorant. You don't know what's really happening," I snapped before I could stop myself. My lips tightened and my eyes fell to feet.

Confusion flashed across his face, then he frowned. "What?"

With a heavy sigh, I held a quick debate in my mind of whether I could tell him everything or not. In the end, I needed someone to help me carry this burden. Although I truly didn't want to weigh him down with me, he was one of the few, if any, people I could trust.

"Javi, I need to tell you something."

"Okay, shoot."

My jaw tightened. A small voice in my head was telling me not to do this, it was even worse to get more attatched to him than I already was, but I proceeded to tell him anyway. "This... This isn't just about Jove, or mother and father. It's about how I got here, how I'm sitting in this luxurious bed right now. I sacrificed so much for this, yet the sacrifices just keep coming."

"I don't think I follow you, Kars."

I huffed and titled my head towards the ceiling in agony. "Greon, that plump old man, is going to kill Cassi and Lake if I don't kill them first. It's my fault, anyways. I was the one who imprisoned them."

His eyebrows furrowed and his face was contorted in heavy confusion. "What? Cassi is at school, sis. Who's Lake?"

"No, she's not. I lied to you, Javi," I told him with a groan. "Cassi and Lake, whom you know as Mr. Gitti, are both in prison right now. They helped me and in return, I..."

I carefully watched the puzzle pieces slowly fitting together in his brain. "What? You're lying," he said, though his voice held little disbelief.

My eyes squeezed shut. My heart was twisting and turning-- like it was on an extravagant coaster ride. I mumbled, "Galaxies, do I wish I was."

"Sis, it doesn't make any sense. You're not an awful person. Surely there was a valid reason for putting them in prison, not?"

"Not."

He regarded me for a second, his face expressionless and unreadable. "I don't under--"

"Javi," I snapped, cutting his words off. "I made a foolish mistake, I thought I could do this without them. I thought it'd be easier without them. And I was wrong, now I'm suffering the consequences. It's not nuclear rocket science, my brother!"

His lips drew into a thin line. "You're just... Not an awful person, Kars. Why would you do that?"

My fiery glare was boring into his dark, pained eyes. "I had been planning this for nearly a year. I didn't think I'd grow attatched. They were just meant to be tools, for lack of a better word, to get me here."

"That's disgusting, Kara."

"Galaxies above, you don't think I know that? You don't think I've had guilt slowly eating my heart away?"

His jaw clenched and shifted when he gritted his teeth. His hands were trembling ever so slightly, in a way only someone who's known Javi his whole life would notice. "Well, what are you going to do, Kara? Going to betray your friends further and kill them? Are you going to continue with this so-called plan of yours? Am I just another toy that you'll kill off soon after?"

"Of course not, Javi," I whispered. My humbled, ran-down voice was hardly my own. Thoughts swirling and pulse deafeningly drumming, my eyes fluttered shut, embracing the stinging behind them.

"Of course not," he mocked, his hands flying above his head in dramatic gestures. "Of course not, Javi! Of course, believe me despite only just spilling my secret life of lying and deception to you!"

"Jav--"

"And of course. Don't for one second think I don't care about you, even when I've discarded anyone else I supposedly 'cared about'!"

"Jav, stop!" I bit back a soft sob.

His dark eyes darted towards me. In a iron glare, he crossed his arms over his chest. "Do I even know you, Kara? Or should I say, 'Queen Nova'?"

"Don't, Javi--"

He stiffened and his glare only became harder, colder. It was something I had never seen before. My mind had grown famaliar to a cocky smile and bright eyes. Not this. Never this.

"I have to go, Your Highness," he growled. With that, he turned on his heel and left the room. I stared after him, desperately wanting to call out to him. Words just couldn't bring themselves to my lips.

Finally, I managed to whisper, "Wait, Jav." He was long gone, and my voice was far to dim for anyone aside from myself to make out the words.

I didn't have any warmth or happiness left to even feel sad about what I had just experienced. I should be used to it by now, I thought, life constantly tearing me down.

Although, it was in poor taste for me to be blaming my problems on life. Life had nothing to do with it. Everything was my fault, down every stroke made on that little note lying on Jove's corpse.

Truth be told, I needed a plan. Another plan, entirely different from my original. I had find a way out of this situation. A way to keep Cassi and Lake alive, a way to earn Javi's trust back.

Much too long ago, I asked myself if all of it was worth it. I thought yes and told myself I was a good person.

It hadn't been worth it, I realized with a sinking subdued feeling.

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Wow, guess who's actually sticking to their updating schedule ?! Me !!!

Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter :) thanks for reading ♡ Please vote & comment !!

-K xx