Silver King

Chapter 20 - Mare

I stumble back, and I catch myself just before falling out of the bed. I stand up, shaken, and put my hand on my mouth. I bite my lips to stifle the scream that is already devouring my insides, ripping my heart apart. I feel tears prickling at my eyes, and I try not to let them out. I can't cry now, and not for this.

I take a few steps back, and as his bronze eyes burn through me, I exit the room, closing the door behind me. I run. Away, away, anywhere that isn't here. I don't have a room to go to. But I think I'll soon have one, because the chances Cal will be willing to share his room - and his bed - with a stranger. Even if I'm not a stranger. I press my fists to my eyes, biting my lips harder than ever, because it's out of the question for me to cry, or sob, because of this. It's no drama. It's no real drama, worth shedding even a tear for.

Then I reach an empty room.

I crumble on the couch.

And start sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming down my face.

I can't believe if they had to make one general memory go, it had to be me. At this point, I don't care if he remembers there will be elections. If his father is dead, and his stepmother, and his brother. If he remembers the Queenstrial. If he's forgotten the last year and a half or just me. I selfishly hope he's forgotten it all.

The next morning, I call a council meeting. Without Cal. I can't see him now, and he's probably forgotten all about it anyway.

As everyone piles in, I breathe in and out slowly. I can do this. Everyone gets seated and I get started.

" Good morning, everyone. I know we said council meetings would be over, but as you can probably agree, we have had an emergency. Yesterday, somebody attacked the palace. Her name is Abigail Clencher, she's part newblood - electricon - and part Silver - magnetron. As you can see with the effect her attack had on the palace, she is very dangerous. "

I see people nodding worriedly. Elane Haven becomes slightly paler. Or maybe I'm imagining it.

" If any of you know any information, any at all, about this terrorist, I ask you to say so immediately. "

I see Elane stir in her seat, but she says nothing. I bite my lips.

" Well. Then, we'll just continue the investigation. But there is something else I wanted to tell you all. "

I sigh. This isn't going to be easy.

" Well. Erm... Tiberias Calore the Seventh, King of Norta and leader of this castle... has... sustained brain damage from the electromagnetic wave from yesterday. He... he's lost his memory. We don't know how much he's lost, or if it's permanently gone... but, for now, two days from the elections, Cal is being examined and he's lost his memory. "

" Does he remember the Council? " someone asks.

" I don't know. He doesn't remember me, so he won't tell me anything. " I try to keep the despair out of my voice. It's not their business to know what Cal and I were.

They're all stunned. They don't know what to do.

Well, neither do I.