Wake of Darkness [1]

Chapter Twelve

 ♕ Creep and Creepier  ♕

Sybilla had woken up and found Mason sitting against a wall with his eyes closed. From the light in the room she could guess she was rather late for her daily interrogation. Sybilla stood, ignoring the heaviness of her heart, and slipped into the closet to dress. She stared at her reflection making sure every inch of her was presentable. That there was no sign of distress on her features from the night before, not sign that would let them know just how desperate she felt inside.

When she walked out of the room, Mason was waiting for her his silver pin shinning with the light. Sybilla had intended to ignore him but no matter how much damage he'd done to her, they had a better chance of finding her together.

"You look beautiful" he said and Sybilla rolled her eyes.

"I'm done screaming." She said. "If we want to find Aubrette we need to work together" Mason didn't not smile but Sybilla knew him well enough to know he was dancing on the inside. "Don't get me wrong Mason. This doesn't mean I forgive you."

"I know" He said and sighed. "I'll try to go back to Blackstone, ask around to see if someone saw anything" Sybilla nodded.

"The king has allied with Starhaven" she said, and Mason nodded. "You knew?"

"Yeah I saw the little prince when I was at Goldcrest" Sybilla nodded and headed for the door. "Sybilla?" Mason asked and Sybilla waited, not turning around.

"I am sorry" Sybilla nodded.

"Me too" she whispered and headed out the door.

☾

Sybilla had waited around in the throne room for hours, but there been no sign of the king or Zander anywhere. So she'd wondered off, wanting to be anywhere else but her room in case Mason still wondered around. Sybilla's steps where followed by the echo of her heels against the marble floor. A sound she was not used to. She could not remember the last time Aubrette had even bothered to were such a formal attire. But it was as much as a weapon as any, to remind the king of who she needed be, of what she represented. To keep his attention away from looking for a lavender wave of hair somewhere around in Regno.

"What do you think is worth more Zander?" The voice of the king reached her ears. Sybilla froze in her place.

"I don't know" he replied.

"Neither do I." The king said, his voice angrier. "But I know I made a choice, and if this is the consequence so be it."

"There was only one bottle there" Zander said after a few seconds of silence. "There has to be more"

"There is more" The king reassured him. "We just have to look more carefully."

"I don't know if..."

The king interrupted, "If you want the stardust for Starhaven you'll complete your part of the deal"

"Fine." Zander said. "But I will not be anyone's butcher." Sybilla held her breath. "Find someone else to do the dirty work for you"

She did not wait for them to step out and find her hearing their conversation.

Sybilla turned hurrying her step and walking rapidly pass the halls, not even keeping track of where exactly she was going. Her steps matching the beating of her heart. She did not turn to watch in front of her until a second to late. Bumping into a guard and falling to the floor.

She was about to apologize when she realized she was to expect an apology. She was a princess, people where supposed to move for her not the other way around. Sybilla locked eyes with Mason the overwhelming tension on her shoulders dropping. He was wearing goldcrest armor, No sings of the silver moon pin he'd worn just hours before.