Cobalt Scales

Chapter 1: Smeared in Black

(A/N: This is actually a continuation of what happens to Shivan Miraakson, Ari's brother and the Prince of Jotunheim, so don't read this intriguing book without reading "Hidden in the Rubble" (Chapter 16)!!!)

Chapter 1

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Smeared in Black

"I'll give you one last chance before a big cut comes," Kjer warned, holding 12-year-old Shivan at knifepoint. Shivan struggled for air, his lungs screaming for oxygen. "I told you, I don't know," he said weakly as he wasted more oxygen.

Kjer was strangling his throat, hoping to find answers of where the Dark Elves are really headed to. He knew that they wouldn't have scurried back to Svartalfheim, because that would have been too obvious. "Tell me," Kjer commanded, sliding the tip of the bronze blade across Shivan's blue flesh, leaving a long, thin line upon his arm. He screamed in response, not knowing the answer to his question. However, if he did know, he wouldn't tell the King no matter what kind of torture he applied to him.

"Idiot, if you had told me already this would have ended a long time ago," Kjer said harshly.

"Brother, I don't know! Why do you ask me when you know that I don't know? Ari never told me where she was headed, she just told me to keep the elves secret, which I really failed to do. Do you believe me now?"

"Fine. If you don't spit out a hint in the next five weeks, you're dead. Literally."

Kjer let go of the knife, its orange blade clinking against the stone floor. He sighed from relief, glad that he could finally be relived of the torture. Several large cuts adorned his chest with maroon blood, each drop of liquid flooding down his abs. However, no matter how aggressive Kjer tended to act, he still hugged Shivan after he finished with the failed attempt to strain the secret out of him. Shivan did not cry, for he expected this to happen.

With Ari missing, everything was out of order. When they reached the hallways again, Shivan quickly rushed to his room. He sat on his bed, gathering a wet cloth from the table near him. He was absolutely exhausted from the torturing.

Why does he do this? I thought he was on my side, Shivan thought dreadfully. He sighed, regretting that he'd ever helped the Dark Elves. Yes, he was madly worried for his older sister, Ari, but at least he had more time to go to the beach like he always did instead of dealing with her 'I don't like the beach' complaining. He loved the beach, but never more than his 16-year-old sister. He trusted Kjer to no end, but he thought the king was taking himself too far on catching Ari, despite the occasional sorcery meditations he would do. Shivan cried into his blankets, letting the tears flow throughout the folds. He had always been happy and beyond joyful, but today, he felt as if he had killed a village. "What did I do? What did I do?" Shivan whispered repeatedly, trying to let his sadness fade off along with the talking. He wiped the tears off with the damp cloth, soaking his face in the warm water.

He wiped his cuts, feeling as the liquid plunged deep into each one, tingling with the feeling of bee stings. He cringed at The stinging sensation, pulling his cloth away from the wounds. Shivan walked over to his dressing room and wardrobe, grabbing a black leather jacket and a pair of brown boots to cover the scars. The belt he also grabbed contained the same sapphire knife, its blue blade glittering in the moonlight that shone through his window. Why he grabbed it, he did not know. The gemstone scales upon its grip shown in an exotic array of blue, white, and black. The pommel of it represented the end of a fish tail, but in all the hilt looked like a fish tail. He kissed the lower end of the blade, blood rushing down from his lips and onto the weapon.

The blood loss was driving him mad, but that did not bother him.

"Shivan, supper is ready. Be out before it gets cold," Kjer said plainly from behind the bedroom door. Shivan heard footsteps fading from behind it, so he said, "The only cold thing around here is you." The footsteps suddenly stopped, but they continued after a number of seconds. He hurried out the door, hiding his knife in his boot. Shivan met up with Kjer, a serious look planted on his face.

"What? Is it too cold in here for you? Is my aura spreading?" Kjer mocked, referring to how Shivan called him cold. Shivan replied with, "I just wish you were warmer, Kjer. The presence of a tyrant disturbs my conscience and fills it with a cold feeling of hatred and madness. Why present the dark side of a planet when the light side shines with life?"

"The dark side of the planet also contains mysteries and excitements of new joys and wonders. After all, no area on a planet stays dark forever, and thus, discoveries are made."

"That is called greed, dear brother. That discovery is one of disgust that has been lying unnoticed, unwanted, and unorganized. Darkness is only a cover for what really lays beneath the rubble of life."

Kjer stormed off, leaving Shivan well behind him. Perhaps he could not handle the truth that has stung him for the years that he lived.