Maven's Redemption [Red Queen]

Chapter 10

Sunshine streamed through the glass, tinting the room a soft shade of blue I saw when I first opened my eyes. The bed was no longer dipped where Maven slept so he must have been awake already. I started to roll over to try going back to sleep, which to my surprise, my sleep held no nightmares this night.

"No no no, Mare. We have things to do remember?" I felt Maven's warm hand tentatively touch my shoulder. After a moment he began gently shaking my shoulder back and forth. I groaned loudly.

"Nooooo.." I whined, trying in vain to move away from his touch even though I was tangled in the blankets and there was no way I was moving. Maven was still shaking my shoulder so I reluctantly sat up, I could already feel that my hair was an embarrassingly amount of messy. Maven chuckled at it.

"There she is. C'mon, get up. I have already written a list of all the things we need to pull this off." Maven took my hand and gently guided me out of bed and over to the table where I could already see the paper. The list was extensive, and I started to get nervous.

"Are we going to be able to get all that equipment by tomorrow?" I asked, still scanning the list. Most of it was electronic equipment that I would never be able to identify.

"I am the King, of course we will be able to." Maven answered with a cocky smirk.

"Won't people get suspicious if you start ordering unusual things like all the camera equipment we need?"

"If they do, I can simply threaten them so they will stay silent That is very like me you know." I rolled my eyes even though I knew he was right. Maven had said it too casually. So far, he had been the kind of ruler that used threats to get whatever he wanted, including me. I forced myself to take a deep breath and shook the thoughts of burning flesh out of my mind.

"Fine. We should start with the smallest things and work our way up." I suggested, scanning the list again. "How about we start with all the wires we are going to need to livestream?" I suggested, looking to Maven. He nodded in agreement.

"I can take - uh borrow - them from the Silver Television center." Maven declared as he started towards the door. He stopped. "I will find you some food and fresh clothes while I am out." With that he rushed out the door and he was gone.

Maven's POV

The door shut heavily behind me and I sighed deeply. I wanted to be a better person for her. I needed to be a better person for her. Suddenly, nervous thoughts crept into my head. Leaving Mare alone could be the most dangerous thing I did today. What if she had another flashback and I wasn't there to catch her fall. What if I had forgotten to let off a maid on cleaning rotation and she was found. I had made it a huge point ot have Mare's face all over the media. I painted her a villain, along with her Scarlet Guard. Surely if a maid found her they would be too scared to lock her up themselves, they would just come to me instead. Then, another thought came to mind. This was Mare's opportunity to run. My the door to my balcony was secure, but with a flick of her hand, her electricity would shatter the glass. There was no way she could know that the glass wasn't Newblood proof but she could still get curious and try it. Taking a few deep breaths, I willed the tightness working its way into my chest to go away along with any bad thoughts. I had work to do. Abdicating the throne and Mare were my only priorities right now.

It took me a couple tries before I found the seamstress's room. The door was slightly ajar. Peeking inside, I noticed she was at her desk, completely absorbed in whatever extravagant piece was next in her long list of orders from the nobles that still remained at court and didn't go to the Rift or somewhere else. I pushed open the door, it creaked but the seamstress didn't seem to notice. Clearing my throat, I stepped fully in without waiting for her to notice and invite me further in. I was the king after all.