Fatal Heart

Chapter Seven

Two Spririts One Body

It had been two dynions since the lunalight of Damion and Amelia's kiss. And in these two dynions so much had happened that Amelia had to be taken to the medical urgency a crinion before her forteilic check-up. First, Hearth had fallen in 'love' with Amelia's father. Then, Damion had been crowned authority to distribute orders amongst Amelia's adamantine as well as assigned his own two. After that, the hallucinations of Amelia's mother began to grow excessively enough to the point where Amelia ventured into three walls thinking they were doors that actually lead to somewhere. And to confuse things further, she began experiencing excessive amounts of memory loss in large intervals.
"Dinner? We all ate dinner together?"
But the unexplainable events didn't stop there. Even in the medical urgency she had begun claiming, unconsciously according to the nurses, that the demons were coming for her blood. Coming for her planet. Amelia had no idea what was making her act so crazy, but the fact that her father hadn't once asked if she needed anything made it hurt so much more.
She lied in her usual hospital bed. The bed that her body sunk so effortlessly into and in the sheets that engulfed her body in their material of something undeniably soft. The bed was positioned in the center of the room; bleached-white and padded. It looked more like a room for beings in danger of hurting themselves. The ones in mentally challenged institutions. Amelia had saw the other medical urgency rooms. None of them had padded walls. Maybe her father had already thought she lost it and was going to hurt herself. There weren't even windows. And the holo-vision had been encased in a plastic box with rounded edges as it floated in the center of the opposite wall. Beside her, stood a stationary desk of rounded plastic corners, as well. The desk held an enlarged tablet positioned upright to face her. It would aware her about her blood sugar, blood pressure, heartbeat, and whether her thoughts lingered too close to the memories of her mother or the beings of Chōshinsei who could possibly be-
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
The alarm on the tablet began to blare out through the room and drilled an even deeper hole into Amelia's left ear. She immediately began to think of something else.
Damion.
Sitting atop the desk, beside the tablet, lied a gift concealed in lavender wrapping paper. It was from him. He must have assumed it was her favorite color because every room and hall of the castle had some form of it. Amelia sat up, her arms weak from all the loss of blood. If only she hadn't-She looked to the veins that had effortlessly risen from beneath her thin flesh. Her eyes widened. Why was she so thin and weak?
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
Amelia's eyes suddenly began to burn with just a second of nuisance and eyes darting to the desk, the tablet screen exploded. Doubling over to protect her head and hair from the device's demolished and flaming pieces, only slight tension found it's way to her muscles.
It was times like this. In the crynion that she had been in the medical urgency occurrences such as this were more often than not. The first incident lead her to confinement when she couldn't make a table stop floating. Then, the rippling walls. Following that, the voices that attacked her and all the nurses, and now this.
A scream would've found it's way up her throat if she hadn't been so exasperated from her tantrum. She averted her attention to the ceiling.
Why is this happening to me? This isn't normal.
"Death is simple," she began, just as nurse Remedy came sprinting into the room. The sound of the exploding tablet resurfacing her suppressed duties of ensuring Amelia's recovery and safety. "My lady!" she exclaimed softly and on a short breath. She dipped her head to Amelia and then to Adamantine, who had unknowingly positioned herself beside Amelia as quick as a flash. Adamantine glared at the gesture. And it was as if the words formulating in Amelia's mind were being passed to Adamantine's and just began flowing. "What do you want?"
Nurse Remedy looked offended before lowering her gaze to Amelia. "I was to ensure my lady's safety-"
"I was made for that task." Adamantine hastily snapped back. Nurse Remedy's eyes locked with Amelia's. "There was another thing, My lady. You have a guest."
She could feel his presence. Smell his fragrance. Taste his sweet lips. Amelia yearned for his healing touch. Stepping aside, nurse Remedy made way for Damion.
Meeting Amelia's gaze, he approached while nurse Remedy did the opposite, leaving the three. "Damion!" Amelia breathed as she was swept into an embrace. He returned her name, only as if it were honey in his mouth. Amelia sat up, only to notice the distraught expression on his face. The same expression he had when she was admitted to the medical urgency.
"Ya know? It's been lonely since you've been gone." He began, giving her a weary grin. She, too, noticed his eyes had sunken in. His hair was more wild than usual, and his eyes were no longer captivating but at a loss of spirit. Most likely sleep deprived, Amelia thought.
In the four dynions that I've been gone, Liam must've been teaching him everything vital about being a rightful ruler, while he had the chance. I guess it's his only opportunity while Damion isn'tfollowing me around like a lost puppy.
"The adamantines aren't the liveliest and can't hold a conversation to save their lives." he chuckled grippingly. These words brought her attention back to Adamantine, eyes darting to and from her offended gaze. Damion's eyes followed.
"Oh, Adamantine, I'm sorry-I-I-" his stammering made fire burn in Amelia's cheeks and a grin itch at the end of her lips. It was sad, but true. Pene could only entertain Ameliathrough conversation by successfully hurting her feelings.
"Adamantine, could you give us a moment?" At first, she was hesitant, glaring at Damion until her gaze fell upon Amelia's pleading eyes. She tilted her chin up before the clicking of heels echoed throughout the room and finally into the hall. The door slamming behind her. At least Amelia knew she wasn't the only one with a temper on her.
Reverting her attention back to Damion, he was already fixated on her.
"So," Amelia began, pushing her palms into the mattress for the springs to scream out in resistance and for her to reposition herself further against the fluffy, faded-blue pillows behind her. "Why did you really visit?"
As if he knew that Amelia would ask, he let out a steady breath. "Hearth is now carrying." Amelia's mouth dropped, eyes widening. "Excuse me?"
He gave a quick grin. "To cover it up and not have it look scandalous, your father has 'concocted' the best solution he has available."
Amelia's heart began to ramb against her ribs, having nearly exiled them from her chest.
"He doesn't want dirty glances and shamed looks cast at him from his counsel and courtroom members, as well as his subjects. So his only option was to-"
No, no, no, don't say it.
"Voluntarily renounce his throne." Amelia's heart stopped and her eyes pierced Damion's.
F-Fa-Father...
"Your father has ordered my coronation to be within the next week-crynion."
Father would never do that!
Damion's brows furrowed. Amelia's eyes widened with disbelief. Liam was abandoning her. He was running from his mistakes. Her eyes fell. Why was she so surprised? That was nothing new.
"And on that day I will be crowned king."
Her eyes shut as she tried to even her breaths. But the warmth and fiery sensation that was set to her skin at the touch of Damion's thumb on her lips set it off just as quickly. Her eyes dashed open as he withdrew his hand. And with the four words that followed, she knew she would burst like a busted faucet, unable to contain the tears.
"And you my queen."
He stood to leave, but turned short of the door. "Amelia?" Her sullen eyes followed him. She could not express her disappointment enough. "Have any of your memories returned? Are you sure you do not remember anything?"
"I am afraid not. All I remember is returning to my chambers after our discussion."
Damion had left her to her feelings after that. He hoped his absence would allow her to stop the feelings from streaming down her cheeks, but it didn't. In fact, it made them that much harder to contain.
And no sooner than Damion opened the door to leave, Adamantine entered, casting him a dirty look. "Sorry for what I said earlier." he began. Adamantine clenched her fists and Amelia knew what  came next. Living with Adamantine for two years had allowed her to learn every fault, flaw, and flourish; as if Adamantine was a teenager learning her place in the world, as well.
"A tip, for the young successor." she began, "In these palace walls, as well as anywhere else on this planet, we say, 'My apologies.'"
Seeing the two rival so quickly and over so little, Amelia feared for Adamantine's place. But surely, Damion would understand. Damion dipped his head. "Thanks for the tip." And the door slammed behind him.
Amelia shifted her body, slamming it into her pillow as she felt a headache pound its way to her eyes. "Real charming prince you have there." scoffed Adamantine, taking a seat on the edge of Amelia's bed. "You weren't too awful yourself, miss politeness." Amelia tried to say through the tears she was accustomed to feeling tricklel down her face.
Ada's face softened. She had seen Amelia struggle through tough times in lfe, but never, before, had she seen her this distraught. It was one thing to feel sadness and cry out in pain, but to smile and laugh through the tears was a sadness she wouldn't wish on her worst enemy. She started for Amelia. She wanted to hold her in her arms. To just let her know that she was there for her.
But just as her hand brushed Amelia's arm, Amelia's sight began to blur and a woman's voice began to ring in her head.
Amelia doubled over, in a lurching attempt to stop the insanity from corrupting her. Ada grew closer, on instinct. She positioned herself on the side of the bed.
"Stop!" she cried, shutting her eyes tight. "Please, stop!" She knew these things weren't happening to other people, but one question still remained.
Why me?
"Amelia, you know you mustn't tell a soul outside the castle, right? Including Damion."
"Yes, Ada. I-"
Amelia opened her eyes, hoping with all her well being that she wasn't in another transfigured room from the past.
"Oh no. I think I already told him. I was positive he would learn sooner or later. I did not want to keep secrets from him."
"I apologize, My lady, but If I may be so bold. Let me ask...why?"
"I-I...I do not know."
Adamantine was there, lips pursed and fixing a question. The only interesting thing was that she wasn't paying Amelia any attention. Instead, it was fixed upon the desk beside her bed.
"Did you hear that?" Amelia inquired frantically. Adamantines eyes stayed fixated on the desk or what appeared to be that. "Who is this from?" she responded, the springs in the mattress screaming out in resistance as she stood and started for the lavender wrapped gift. Amelia, too anxious to sit back, slid off the bed and made her way to Adamantine. Didn't take more than three steps to reach her. Thank God.
Amelia wrapped her trembling hands around Adamantines, a question formulating that she had been working on since she had been admitted to the medical urgency.
"Adamantine, who was Ninetili?"
The hand in her own grew cold, and it wasn't because of the lack of circulation, nor the prosthetic material of flesh acquired to make her cyborg friend. Amelia's grip tightened on the hand and she bit her lip until it felt as if it was going to pop like a berry. She released, letting the wind catch the hand.
"What are you not telling me?" Amelia's voice was hoarse and cold. It was accusational and she knew it. The feeling. Her nerves went numb, the goosebumps were prominent all across her body, and the draft she felt on her frail skin was no more. She felt akin to a walking corpse.
Her eyes grew red. "Why is her eternal spirit reaching out to me? Why did-Why did-?"
A monstrous fire turning her palace to ash was thrust to the front of her mind. She saw it clear as day. Her eyes widened and tears began streaming as she felt sudden sadness overwhelm her.
"Why did father kill me?!"
Ada looked to Amelia as a child would look learning that mothers were not destined to last forever. The light behind Amelia's eyes wasn't dimming as it had been, but it was growing. It was a flame that would set her heart afire. It could be her demise or her eternal life, but the paths were converging.
Ada was speechless. She had kept quiet for nealy a decade, swearing her allegiance to a king horrible enough to have his own family murdered. But, she had a decision to make. She couldn't abandom Amelia. Her princess. Her daughter in a way, her bestfriend in others. She could not sit by quietly as she had for so long. It was time she turned off the bulbs and drew the curtains to let in the real light.
Ada pulled Amelia into a warm embrace, then discretely whispered in her ear. "Not now, there are far too many eyes. Even the walls have ears. But remember, Amelia. Remember the sister who still lives, not only in these walls. The sister who still searches for you to this day. Remember! When the sun goes down!"
"Remember? When the sun goes down?"  Ninetili. "Remember! When the sun goes down!" Ada. "You are not safe here." Ninetili. "Your immortal soul!" Ninetili. "Need." Ninetili. "You!" Ninetili. Ninetili.
Amelia clamped her hands over her ears to stop the voices in her head. Had Ada really just said that to her?
Adamantine picked up the box, disregarding Amelia's wide eyes and parted lips. Their eyes saw unto one another with a secret. A secret only they knew. Had Ada known? Why would she keep something so devastatingly malicious from her? Why hadn't she saved her? Was she even a real ally?
Amelia questioned her bestfriends loyalty, unsure if it was truly her who Ada swore allegiance to. Or her father. Her eyes grew dark with doubt and anger. Ada's eyes fell nervously. "Open it. Please."
"It's a gift from Damion." Amelia replied, sluggishly yet sharp. Ada shook her head hesitantly. "I do not think so."
That was a surprise. Who else could have possibly gifted her? Amelia took the box. And as she sat, her mind was too tired to predict what it could be.
"A book?"
"A journal, My lady."
The book was eight by five-inches, being of a black leather with distinguishable fading from age. "Oh, not just any book. A title-less, rather old book." Amelia continued.
There were ripped, heavily-faded-blue cloths draping from the back as if it had been wearing clothing; imprints from an unknown object, marking it with black dots and lines; and opening it up dust caked the pages. Amelia grimaced at the sight.
"How thoughtful of them." Ada commented, her voice drop dead. Shaking her head, Amelia shot a glare at her before proceeding to clear the pages of their age.
She blew. The dust was swept up and away to curl back and rise off the page, as if a storm of dirt arose and was spilt over the edges in a blinding cloud of hazel. Coughing emanated as the dust storm caught Amelia's nose. She swatted at the suffocating cloud. And as it cleared, she saw that the pages were unexpectedly yet faultlessly white and unwrinkled. But squinting to see black markings almost unreadable in size, her eyes widened in disbelief as they happened to be actual words.
Amelia lifted the book to get a better view.
"What's wrong?" Adamantine asked, inching closer to the bed.
"And the Helio and Luna ruled together in sacred harmony, but only because the Helio died for the Luna every night and the Luna sought her out every morning. The daily royal entrance for the awakening of an  immortal's slumber."
And as Amelia read the last word an outburst of darkness submerged the room. It was a bomb exploding from the book to stretch until the entire room was black and Adamantine was no longer seen. She had felt it like a sword slice through her till the other side. A wave of unease going through her as if a ghost had walked completely through her to the other side.
A merciless white light beat down on her like the rays of an eclipsed helio, making her pale under its glow and yet the darkness did not subside.
Amelia looked around. She saw nothing but the bed beneath her. Her head fell in defeat. It was tiring. Always living in a moment not belonging to her. And in a space such as that, where she had to only reflect on her thoughts, the message in the book replayed in her mind. It was as if the words meant more. More than what was just on the page.
But when did they not?
Amelia looked closer. The words were beginning to fade. She read what was left.
"The Helio and Luna ruled together...because the Helio died for the Luna...for the awakening of an immortal's slumber."
Amelia thought back to her 'sleep-like-death'. She thought back to her sister's words. "Your immortal soul." The puzzle pieces were coming together. She was Luna, Ninetili was Helio but why those names? Was she really immortal? Was there any way to bring Ninetili back? Why had her 'slumber' been so long? Amelia's face fell to her palms, tears welling in her eyes. "What's wrong with me?" she cried. "What did I do to deserve this?"
She began rocking, rocking herself to a better place. Away from all the silent pandemonium. When she heard it: a whisper in her ear, a faint message in the nonexistent breath of Mother Nature.
"My child...my luna..."
Her head dashed up. Not from surprise or even fear, she had been used to voices-here and there. But this one was familiar. She hadn't heard this one in a while and yet it was a replenishing reminisce that brought back too much at once.
Baby. Dreads. Fear. Tear. Blood. Fire burning through flesh. She gasped.
"Mother."
"Find your sister, Ameleece. She still lives and breathes."
"Ameleece?" Amelia repeated, then she tensed. "Ninetili still lives? W-Where? Where must I go to find her?" There was silence for a while. "Mother? Have you been watching me? Are you-Are you still alive?"
"Listen...you need not travel to find her. You must only stretch your heart. And your mind will clear the distance. You need only ask and you will receice..."
The voice then began to dwindle and Amelia yearned for answers, for more time.
"Mother, please! How is this possible?! What did we do wrong to end up in this situation??  How was such a powerful being reduced to a headless corpse?!"
Amelia  returned to the padded room within the blink of an eye. "Please!"
"Remember, I am always with you. I love you, my little luna." And with that, she was gone.
Amelia screamed in anguish and anger, fear and disappointment. Ada was the first to her side, the fastest, with a look of discernment. She wasn't developed to panic but to subconsciously search for a solution at lightning speed. To her dismay, she couldn't. And before she could sandwhich her bestfriend in her arms and away from the prying eyes of a world too aware of her singularity, nurses and doctors came streaming in with needles, supplements, and liquids ready to force upon her.
The heart rate at Amelia's bedside was screaming, the lines so close and tall they became a block. The disturbing sound it gave would have been unbearable if not for Amelia's shrieking whose far out rang it.
They began to straddle her but she resisted with all her might. The doctors sought tears in the skin as blood stained every piece of cotton on her.
"What's happening to her?" Ada asked, trying to find the science behind a being made nearly entirely of spirit. She asked this as she paged through the itty-bitty journal that seemingly robbed her Royal Majesty of her last ounce of sanity.
"Curse you, Liam! I hate you! You will regret this! I will kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!!" Her cries turned to shrieks and her red blood turned black. The brownish, red stands on her head lightened and the strands stiffened. Her eyes pinched, becoming more slanted, and as Amelia caught Ada staring, emerald-green eyes glared back. And before Ada knew it, Amelia's skin lightened till she was looking directly into the eyes of the little girl she thought she'd never see again.
"Ninetili." Tears filled Ada's eyes and she was frozen in fear, shock, and trauma.  Amelia's shrieks had ceased and  all that was left was a resistant Ninetili. Her eyes were locked on Ada despite the madness around her. They glared though there was a shadow of sadness to them and her full lips were sealed.
The nurses tried to pierce the exposed flesh, torn to view by her nails, but the needle broke before the skin.
Ada was still left frozen when Damion appeared beside her, seemingly from thin air. She may have been unsettled by the situation, but her senses were still as sharp as ever and she knew with every fiber in her that she did not hear a door open and close. She pushed it aside, because when she blinked Amelia was back and she was crying rather than shrieking. Sweat made her forehead glisten in the beeming lights alongst the wedges between wall and ceiling.
Ada's lips parted and before she could tell whether she had been dreaming or not, Damion stood before Amelia. The several nurses and doctors retreated at his order and Amelia sat up to fall in his arms. 
"Shh," he coaxed, pushing Amelia's wild hair strands back and flat against the sides of her head. "Everything's going to be okay. We will get through this together, my queen."
She had sobbed so deeply and excessively that there was a hiccup to her cry. She struggled for air, but when she finally got it she used it as her mother suggested.
"Ninetili," she breathed, "help me!" Damion's eyes flew open against the side of her head and a mischievious grin grew across his face. "Who?" he asked dumbly.
***
"Ninetili...help me..."
The bruised night sky seemed to grow colder. The wind approaching pushed forward harder. She stood at the ledge of Skyport, gazing into the thick, gray-blue  air. From way up there in the sky, the clouds were a cool mist as her hand passed through them.
The loose strands alongst her temple danced on her face and her lungs grew to capacity with the scent of the advancing season trying to make its presence well known. Winter. Her favorite season. Their favorite season.
Hiama's eyes opened. She pulled her wrist to eye level and from beneath the bandage that tightly enclosed the wound that cut her spirit deeper than her flesh, she could see it glow bright white. "Help? You? Never thought I'd hear those words in the same sentence. I guess it truly has been a long time...sister..."
***
After no more than seven days, Amelia was finally able to return to the palace. No longer a place familiarized as home-a place of the heart. But, as a taunting reminder of the gap left behind by her beloved. Keystone Palace was a sneak peek of hell.
No sooner than she entered the large double-doors she was hastily reminded of her duties. The duties no longer saw through as a princess, but as a queen.
"No longer sleeping in till seven during rising. It is now your duty as queen to rise before the Helio, precisely at three. This is to ensure that you are properly garbed in appropriate attire at exactly your previous waking time and ready to spend that extra time with His Royal Majesty Damion." Impenetrable paused, casting a glance up from her IPad to ensure Amelia's full attention.
She sat back against her body-sized pillows, arms crossed, legs crossed, sulking in one of her many elegant holy-white, all lace and painted sleeping attire. Curled-to-no-end strands draped down to her exposed navel; and she wore a displeased and exasperated look, no less gorgeous despite it.
The room was a haze in her mind. It felt more stuffy than usual. Less spacious. Everything had begun closing in on her and she didn't like it.
Impenetrable tightened her grip on her IPad's stylus and her teeth grinded. Beside Impenetrable, sat Adamantine, downloading all of Amelia's duties and sharing them with her sister. Beside her, lied Moonlet.
"Do you not want to hear this, my lady?"
Amelia's jaw locked, before forcing out a, "No."
"Well, I do not care." Pene let out with a sigh as she slammed her IPad to her lap. "You must hear these procedures so that you may recognize and eventually memorize your duties as queen."
"But, I do not want to."
"Amelia, we do not always get what we want. In life we have responsibilities. Sacrifices to be made, even in royal families. But, most importantly, we have positions to be filled. And your position is right beside Damion in the royal court. Ruling over this kingdom like your mother once-!"
Amelia's eyes widened in disbelief of the disrespect. Ada's hand was gripping her sister's arm before Amelia reached her feet. "Hold your tongue!" Ada hissed to the replica.
Amelia had made her way from the luxurious sheets and stood looking down her nose at the waste of time and effort it took to make the replica before her. "What did you say?"
Pene's eyes fell, though she was unlike her sister. While Ada would have apologized, Pene was stubborn and only her downcast gaze showed any sign of remorse. Amelia's hand rose as she was further infuriated by the replica's reaction.
They were tougher than any metal, any ore, they were unbreakable though the impossible happened. Pene flinched. Her eyes went wide and glossy, akin a child pleading for forgiveness.
"I love you...my little luna."
Her hand came down on the warm and smooth flesh of Pene's cheeck. Then, there was a pause. The wind became stale. "Never mention my mother, again, unless you know the reason behind why Your Royal Majesty killed her."
Pene fixed the angle of her face, returning with the shadow of rage. "Do not...speak of His Royal Majesty in that manner! He is still your f-"
"Enough!" Amelia's hand flew out expecting to push away Pene's words. What she hadn't expected was the impact it actually caused. Both Pene and Ada's seats slid back as they were forced against the backs. The pictures on the wall shifted and the door rattled against the frame.
A stabbing pain drew a hand to her skull.
Ada took over, knowing her sister's lack of knowledge would surely get them killed if she mispoke once more. "Amelia, please listen, we do not want to argue with you."
Amelia's body jolted forward and that's when Pene first noticed it. Her blue iris was bleeding. "I do not want to be queen!"
"And I did not ask for this duty. Do you think his majesty asked if I wanted to be your adamantine?" Pene forcefully interjected.
The room fell silent. Adamantine's eyes met Impenetrable's, then followed Amelia from the middle of the room until she stood between the door to the hall. Moonlet followed, and before the adamantines could say another word, she cast a glance over her shoulder, abruptly.
"Then leave."
The door slammed and spiderweb cracks splintered outward alongst the walls.
***
Once in the spacious hallway, Amelia's head began to hurt even more. She cried out in a whisper.
Fire. Fire. Fire! Fire!
It was everywhere. It burned, it hurt. She screamed at the immense pain and blood trickled down her cheek. Her red eyes opened and she saw it. She was strapped-
A warm, wet tongue ran alongst the hills of her face. Moonlet stood long, large, and almost threatening before her.
Her mind was fuzzy and her head pounded, but as she thought past the pain her eyes widened. Her actions finally sunk in.
"I slapped her..." a hand cupped her gaping mouth from sight. It fell as she looked into the eyes of a creature so pure she could cry.
"When did father start reaping all of his promises?" Moonlet's head tilted. Amelia's eyes shut from the pain. "He is so cruel." she whinned. "And now I am being cruel. A-And I don't know why. But-But I don't know how else to make them listen."
"Then just come to me, instead."
Their heads turned in unison. Damion stood tall and strong at the other end of the hall, one adamantine on either side, and a hand protruded. The light of the Helio shining blindingly behind him.
He looked so welcoming, though she was hesitant. Him, her king-to-be, seeking her attention a dynion before his coronation.
The adamantines, both previously introduced as Diehard and Entrench, both wore impassive expressions; as did many newborn or new assigned adamantines. But in doing so, they became a concern. Would he want to discuss foreign affairs as he and her were already business partners combining their two lands as one region?
Amelia's eyes lit like a flame. Maybe this was when he would tell her what lands she would also be reigning over.
As his queen.
The sound of Damion's finger slapping against his palm as he snapped his fingers brought Amelia back and his rounded expression assured her of his urgency. She stood and approached.
"My apologies, my king. I have been absent minded lately."
Wait. Did I really just say that?
Reaching Damion, his fingers brushed her cheek lightly. "You've no need for such formality in my presence, my queen."
Her knees almost buckled, such words of honey stole her heart quicker than a thief on fifty-six hour energy. "I'd like to discuss some important business with you, while I can. If that is alright with you."
His words suggested a question that she couldn't possibly decline. She allowed him to take her hand in his own and lead her to a room which she had never been. Liam's boardroom. It consisted of twenty-two chairs of pure diamond surrounding a long table similar to the dining one. The room was larger than Amelia's room; possibly thirty-five by sixty feet. The walls were mohogany with profile pictures of beings, unknown to Amelia, sprinkled across it.
Alongst the walls, as Amelia followed Damion to his seat at the long table, ran matching mohogany desks overflowing with endless piles of documented files for things Amelia couldn't even comprehend.
I wonder if father taught him all of this in only a crinion and a half.
Damion stopped at the chair at the end of the table-the largest in every aspect. "This is my seat," he informed, before pointing to the seat directly adjacent to it. "This is yours."
Amelia's plastered smile fell. She was not a child and did not have to be spoken to as if she was. Damion's eyes flickered, his gaze catching Amelia's. His eyes of a depressed and weary sea sparked with purple, turquoise, and black lightning. They saw into her and the sides of his mouth quirked up slightly.
Amelia's cheeks caught flame and her gaze fell to the mahogany table. She pressed her hips against it as Damion took a seat and analyzed her closely.
Silence grew between them and that pinch of regret everyone gets when they suddenly realize the mistake in their past actions crept in just before the slam of a door caught her attention. Diehard and Entrench had left the room. Left Amelia and Damion. Left male and female. Man and child. Alone.
"Like you said, Amelia, you're not a child, anymore."
Chin still resting on her shoulder, eyes wishing for the door's lock to have not followed, Amelia let out a sigh and turned to face Damion.
Her posture straightened, eyes narrowed, and her expression dropped any sign of kindness.
"Why did you lead me here, my king?"
Poison in her mouth.
"My my my, how quick you can turn off that charming nature of yours."
"I could say the same for some I know." Her eyes were still blue, though. Interesting, Damion thought.
Damion subtly covered his dominating grin with the tips of his fingers. "How old are you, Amy?" Teeth were now exposed and they dug into the edges of his lips. Deep.
Amelia slowly retired from the table, fingers softly slipping off the smooth surface. Fear began to dominate but was quickly replaced by rage and she lifted her chin to look down her nose at the filth that now filled her father's seat. She stopped, standing ground.
"Why are you asking such questions." Damion quirked an eyebrow. "I'm sorry. Is that forbidden here? I'll make sure to make that a legal question when I become king-oh, I mean tomorrow."
Amelia couldn't quite grasp her emotions. She didn't know how to respond. Half of her didn't even want to respond, but run. And the other half hunkered for something she couldn't fathom. Blood.
Do I hate him? Why? He has been so kind and honest with me. Or has he?  Sweet and seductive, yet...synthetic.Why is he suddenly being so bold?  So charming, yet cruel.
Damion's arms fell to hug the arms of the chair. "I must admit, you are a very hard code to crack. I'll give you that, Ames." He stood, then begun to approach; keeping Amelia on her toes as she tried to stay calm and retire as subtly as possible.
"What are you talking about?" she stammered out, almost out of breath.
He circled her, inspecting every curve, crevice, and color of her being. It was strange and threatening yet it still drew Amelia in. She was a fly caught in his spidery-web and she knew it. He was dangerous and made that clear on every level. But every time, it made her crave him more. Besides, he was like her. They were the same. Right?
The craving grew.
His scent. "Tell me, Amelia. Tell me about these gifts. These gifts of ours that are so similar yet so different. Tell me how they make you feel. " His pace was slow and for the longest she wasn't able to see what he was observing or how. "Would you say they make you angry? Do they perhaps...make you want to cause harm to certain people?"
His touch. Amelia hesitated until he returned to her sight, she dared not turn, and her head fell from his crushing gaze. The fire again. "S-s-sometimes. They make me w-weak...my k- Damion."
What was this feeling? Why was her head fuzzy and cloudy? She felt a pounding in her head every time she saw into his eyes.
He continued circling, even slower. "Elaborate, princess. Is it a voice? Does it take control mentally or physically?" he tapped a finger against his bottom lip.
Is 'both' an option?
"What was that?" he asked, reappearing at lightning speed. A jolt went through her and every nerve was on edge. Amelia's eyes widened. They were red.
What the hell's his problem?
He stepped into her and she retired on instinct. Gazing into her eyes, he intentively watched as the red of her iris faded back into her natural blue. He gave a half smirk before grinning. Even their eyes were opposite colors. "Are you aware that your iris changes colors?"
"Stars! Do they really?" Amelia exclaimed, bringing her hands up to her face. 
"Yes." He beamed with a wicked smile splitting his face. The smile fell and they both stopped and processed how close they were.
"Da-"
His eyes. Amelia fell captivated. Her eyes fell to his lips. "Just one more quick question." His voice softened and his large hands steadily grabbed Amelia's waist.  They pulled her's against his. Her fists clenched against him. They had been pulled up to push him away but her brain wasn't forcing him off as she had planned. What was happening? Her eyes flickered to his. "Where is she?"
Confusion. "Who?" Pain. She first felt it at the nape of her neck, then behind her right eye, then it was upon her whole skull. Damion withdrew, allowing her to fall to the floor. He eyed her with disdain.
It was fire. It was ice. It was agony. From beyond the door, Diehard and Entrench stood on either side taking in the screams and nonetheless maintained their impassive expressions.
Ninetili. Ninetili. Ninetili. She was smiling. She was crying. She was drenched in the sticky scarlet syrup that smelled of metal. She was screaming. She was running. She was deranged, laughing hysteriocally.
Amelia screamed as the images raced across her vision and her mind processed them at an unbelievable rate. Blood streamed down her face and all the while Damion watched unamused. He had seen fits of the blessedly cursed and experienced many first hand. He was cursed to have been able to live after so many and was remorseless upon any with the gift.
"Okay. That's quite enough." He ripped his eyes away and the screaming seized. Her eyes were red, yet vacant and he was unaware of what she was seeing. Even then with his own ability. He stood and her eyes surprisingly followed him.
He fell to a squat beside her and took her chin in his palm. "So loud. Will you ever learn to control that rage of yours...Ninetili?"
"Shhh?" He nodded and smiled sadly. "Yes. Shhh." Her lids fell and she grew a twisted expression. She shook her head and let out a cry as more blood ran. "It's so quiet!"
A single tear slipped from Damion and he let it fall. He couldn't help it. He couldn't stop it. He loved her. Loved her so much. Even in her sister's body. "What do you mean?"
Her eyes opened. "Your corpse." she smiled, then began laughing. "It will be so cold and quiet when I kill you!"
He frowned. "To bad you won't remember. Night, darling."
Screams rang throughout the halls.