Cirice Forge doesn't know who she is. Other than a piece of paper with her name on it, she knows nothing about her time before she was dispersed into the foster system. Now, she bartends at a popular gentleman's club with plenty of ogling and still...
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Alex knew what he was doing was foolish and completely childish. Yet, as he stood pacing outside his childhood home, he couldn't help but feel the urge to run and never look back.
The sun had finally sunk below the far trees and he knew whispers had already reached his all-knowing father. If he didn't make an appearance soon, all Hell would break loose. So he went and pulled open the front door.
The door opened to a hall where a stairway hinted at a second floor. Alex breathed in the familiar scent as a gasp sounded to his right.
"Alex? Is that you?" Alex's mother, a stout woman with graying brown hair raced over to him. She clasped her arms around his torso, her head barely reaching his shoulder.
"Oh my darling boy!" she cried, nuzzling her face into her son's shirt. It had been years since she had held him close. She pulled back, squaring his shoulders and beaming.
"You've grown a bit," she said with a mischievous grin that soon dissipated. "But wait, if you're back, that means the Princess is too," she said softly, eyeing him.
"Yes, mum. She's safe and sound, back where she belongs." Alex said with a slight edge to his voice. The words were so final, so severing of the two.
He fought back the thoughts as his father's voice called him into the parlor. Alex inhaled deeply as his mother gestured him on into the room. Alpha was sitting motionlessly, his mask donned and his eyes fixed on the small fire in the grate. Alex cleared his throat and took a seat.
"Father." he greeted sharply, his hands contorting into fists on his knees.
"My son, you have returned." Alpha commented, his tone bored. "You delivered the Princess safe and sound?" Alpha said, looking at him.
"Yes, and we have been invited to dine at the castle tomorrow night," Alex reported, averting his eyes. He swallowed hard, knowing exactly what his father would say next.
"Wonderful, I am sure Papa is ecstatic at the return of the Princess. Now, I trust you will honor your bargain with me as well." Alpha said as Alex closed his eyes and shook his head.
"I just got back, can't I have some more time?" Alex pleaded. Alpha clicked his tongue in disgust.
"I allowed your wish to follow the Princess without protest, but I won't let you go any further without securing the future of our family." Alpha scolded.
"Who is saying that I'm not securing our future, and why now? I'm not going anywhere." Alex argued as his mother appeared with a tray of her best sweets and tea. Alex refrained from obliterating the tray, even when his stomach growled at the thoought.
"I expected you to have reservations," Alpha started, Alex laughing mirthlessly at his comment.
"Lots," Alex retorted. His father glared at him and Alex quieted. His mother took a seat beside him, taking his hand gently.
"So your mother and I took it upon ourselves to choose a suitable match for you." The words hung in the air between the three of them. Alex was speechless, turning over the words in his mind as his mother softly stroked his hand with her fingertips. Alpha watched Alex with dismay. He wondered how he could be so headstrong in his quest to ruin their family name.
"No," Alex said suddenly, as if the entire scene had been paused. Alpha raised his eyebrows, though no one could see his expression from under the mask.
"No?" he echoed back. Alex shook his head.
"I'm not marrying anyone."
"Alex, you made a vow to me," "Yeah, when I was 10 years old!" Alex cried, springing to his feet.
"Age doesn't matter. An Idris never goes back on his word." Alpha shot hotly. Alex opened his mouth and then closed it.
"Please, darling. Just meet her. You never know, she could be everything you want and more." Alex's mother pleaded, trying to take his hand again. Alex flinched away from her, glaring at his father.
"Please," he started quietly. "Please, do not make me enter into this. There is no reason for me to marry. There will be enough ti-"
"You are marrying her and that is final!" Alpha boomed, jumping up and approaching him. They both engaged in a stare down as Alex's mother begged them to stop.
"Get out of my sight." Alpha commanded turning away. Alex stormed off, galumphing up the stairs and to his childhood bedroom. He slammed the door, angry yet not surprised that the evening had ended that way. Alex went to his bed, loosening his collar and pulling his shirt over his head.
Falling back onto the bed he pondered his mother's words. She could be everything you want and more. Alex scoffed and turned away from the window and the starry night sky. He knew it wasn't true. There was already someone who was everything he wanted and more. Someone he had been following for fourteen years, falling for a little more every single day. Someone who had no idea he existed until three days ago.
****
In the far West mountains, a storm was brewing--a storm that had nothing to do with the weather. In fact, the dark sky was clear and star-filled as Cardinal Copia looked out over it. He was awaiting confirmation of the whispers he had heard. He had to know the truth.
"Come away from the window, Cardinal." Delphine commanded, eyeing him from her vanity mirror. Cardinal ignored her request and still watched. His window faced North, and in the far, far distance he could just see a wink of light that signaled New Vale.
"Why do you doubt what the shadows have told me?" Delphine asked sourly. Cardinal shook his head.
"I do not, but I have to be certain. If she is here, that means everything has changed." he explained, his hands balling into fists on the stone windowsill.
The castle that had once belonged to the Sisterhood now stood in the cold night under his command. He revelled in the thought.
"All it means is that she will be easier to kill," Delphine said, standing and waltzing over to him. Her robe hung on her arms like a conjures snake, her long blonde hair falling freely over her shoulders.
"Every time, I was so close to getting her," Cardinal muttered, sighing.
"They must have found me out, but why bring her back here? What is that infernal buffoon playing at!?" Cardinal shot, bashing his fists on the sill. Delphine took his hands in hers and met his eyes.
"Listen to me, Majestät. We will find her and when we do, we shall bathe in her blood. Then you will take your rightful place on the Immortal Throne." Delphine said softly, willing the words to calm him. Cardinal exhaled deeply just as a caw sounded from above them.
A large hawk landed on the sill, it's dark eyes eyeing Cardinal. It spoke to him, not from it's bleak but from its mind. Cardinal gasped, taking in the words.
"I cannot believe it," he muttered, looking to Delphine. She watched him expectantly.
"The little ljusbringare really has returned." Delphine donned a devilish grin.
"Shall I give the order?" she asked, eager.
"No, we shall wait, much like the spider does his prey. When the perfect opportunity comes we will strike and we will end them. All of them."
