The Lightning Queen

Chapter 1

"No one is born evil, just like no one is born alone. They become that way, through choice and circumstance." - Victoria Aveyard.

Mare

A cautionary tale is meant to be a warning. The cautionary tale in this term was against me. Maven used me as his infamous exampler and I wonder, I truly do wonder if that keeps him up at night; although that was the least painful thing he did. The memory doesn't keep me up at night as it used to. I hope he has trouble sleeping.

I thought I was the wild card. I ought to reevaluate that assumption. Maven is the wild card. I'm unpredictable but he is a pure lunatic.

A lunatic.

Ah, that's it. A perfect sequence of letters purely meant for him.

I do not expect him to believe someone will breathe life back into him.

One of the reasons I was also drawn to Cal before and after Maven imprisoned me was because, I wanted someone to breathe life back into me.

Truthfully it does works, it works until it does not. It works until your human life supports system fails and you have to fight and claw to restore your own oxygen.

Lifting my gaze, I breathe. Slowly and calm.

He sits on the throne which is elevated by the dais, cheeks flushed grey and sword at his side. He has one-fourth of Norta, Montfort coalition, and some Silver houses loyal to him. Some stayed loyal to Maven, for different reasons. The monster at aleast knows how to be a persuasive talker, and on the plus side when he marries Evangeline he'll have the Rift's succour which he has now but their bond will be solidified.

The room is lined with gold motifs and diamondglass almost covers all the walls in the palace. The train of this thought lead me to Summerton and the diamondglass walls and then to the Stilts which brings a wash of anger and disappointment at me. I clench my fist then unclench my fist, repeating the process a couple more times.

Cal catches my gaze and he looks at me with his eyes and nose crinkle as his eyes darken. It's been three months and six days since Anabel gave him the choice to be king or me. He had his choice. I can't look at him, so my eyes drift back to Shade.

"Davidson wants to talk to you. He's in your room with Farley." He whispers. As he walks with me.

I nod. "Are you coming? " I asked.

"Obviously, I miss Farley." He says as he walks with me.

"You saw her five minutes ago," I say and he rolls his honey brown eyes, which is a little too much sass for my liking.

"It's love Mare, I'm in love." He says with the widest smile I've seen. Love is a luxury that Reds receive, but can be quickly destroyed. Whether it be conscription or something else.

My mind drifts to Maven, I feel my body tense.

The mind is a delicate thing. I tell myself.

Returning to the conversation at hand. "I'm happy for you." I say matching his smile. It feels great to see Shade so happy.

I take one last look at Cal. I wish I had that but I guess I wasn't enough for him to choose me and he showed his true colours and I have to believe him.

When we enter the room rose gold and lavender colour motif lines the wall. We're in Habour Bay. Cal's mother was beautiful and it pains me to say, so was Elara. Cal started reading her journals and then he stopped.

Davidson remains standing by the window and Farley sits on the bed.

"We cannot support Cal's Kingdom any longer." He says turning to us.