Blood Curse - Red Queen Fan Fiction

Chapter 1

I look to the sky. I spit on Corvium's soil as I stand up, flip back my braid and meet Davidson's eyes. Not for him to see the Lightning Girl downtrodden because of a boy - a boy who wants to be a king more than anything.

"Sounds excellent", I say and the slightest smile shows on Davidson's face. "What do you intend?" I continue, urged on my his smugness. I want to share Davidson's commitment, yet at the same time I wonder how I can be so detached. This is Cal we're talking about. Cal who'll be betrayed again, by me, and by the friends he's made in the last months. I take Farley's hand and she squeezes back.

It hurts.

I shove the thought away. Cal has made a promise to me and he broke it. The Guard means nothing to him, he's been clear about that.

The premier shrugs. "You have seen how stretched the alliance already is. You don't believe what King Volo has claimed either, I assume?"

Farley sets her hand on her hip at the mention of the magnetron king, but she remains silent. Yet her frown intensifies as Davidson explains.

"Each of them want their own realms, and all of them want the lands the others have. They will start most of the quarrels I intend by themselves, but with the right prodding -" his words hang in the air as he focuses on me. I swallow but I don't move while it is Farley who breaks her composure.

"You speak as if the Silvers would ever keep their fights among themselves, but let's not pretend they will quietly assassinate each other while the Reds can lean back. The Silvers will just - "

"They will let Reds fight against Reds, as always," I utter. "Maven said as much. The wars are supposed to keep us down and - smaller in numbers." Farley glances at me acknowledgingly, her jaw tight. She isn't a person who stays quiet about her opinions and I understand her concerns.

Davidson nods. "Of course I'm aware of this General, Operative Barrow. I promise you that I - and my agents - will orchestrate the ruse with utmost regards to protect civillains and those in favor of our goals, should they cooperate. I don't intend to wage another 100-years-war."

I notice the underlying message in his promise, aimed at me.

Tiberias will die along with them

Cal has only to change sides once more, and I might spare him.

I could read it either way and he knows it. I smile at him - wolfishly, I hope - without conveying which outcome I'd prefer. Do I even know myself?

"We'll see the Red Dawn", I proclaim instead. Farley startles at my evasion, and I squeeze her hand.

"I doubt this is the right place to discuss our strategy," she says and looks around us as if to demonstrate.

"I'd assume the same, General," Davidson agrees and the two of them begin to chat about the next meeting coming up, including a party. I stop listening, remembering those will likely include Cal. I look at the administrative tower of Corvium. He's there, right now surrounded by those Silvers pushing him onto a throne stained with blood. He's making a mistake, I think, and chide myself at the same time because I still make excuses for him. But I can't erase the last weeks with him from my mind.

Davidson's soldiers and the most of the Scarelt Guard won't be surprised to hear of Cal's defection, and they wouldn't hesitate to finish him off if the chance presented itself. And the Silvers up there would eat the man I love alive, unless he's been one of them all along.

I sit listlessly in the room assigned to me. having forced myself to nibble at a simple dinner. I suppose there is an actual feast assembled for the victorious Silvers and their unlikely allies, to celebrate the renewed betrothal of Tiberias VII and Evangeline of the Rift. Ella has come to me before she went there herself, but I wouldn't participate even if they were to able to toast to Maven's decapitated body.