The Dragon and His Prince{ManxMan}

*Chapter 56

Zavian

They lowered her casket into the ground and I was numb. I stared blankly at the descending blue streaked wood and and blocked out the sounds of the pastor spewing words of comfort.

Why was she dead? What sick joke had been thrust upon me? Who did this? Why? Why now? Why her?

I clenched my hands into fists and a warm hand enclosed the right one. I yanked my hand from his grip wanting to feel anger instead of the grief in my heart, I wanted to be hurt, to lash out to be alone.

She was gone. Taken from me too soon and I had allowed it, I had been unable to stop her. I told her time and time again to be careful, I tried to keep her here, with me in the palace. I tried to keep her safe and I failed.

Long after the service ended I was stuck to my place. Watching as the rest of the first ground flooded her space. What were they doing? Suffocating her corpse in a box? Toping it off with sand? I lunged, tears dripping from my face and I remember screaming, I remember losing myself, allowing them to see me, to see how broken and defeated I had been.

Zavian had held fast, I clawed at his hands around my waist, I spew words of hate and anger as I tried to get to her. She was suffocating, she was dying under there.

"Its alright," Marius spoke into my ear having turned me from the sight of the ground my sister laid in, I heaved into his chest, his hand on my head, he held and I pushed but I couldn't break his hold. Curse him and his strength, curse him for using it now, with me. "It's going to be alright."

His voice broke and I panted, freezing as I felt it, as I heard it. He sniffed and wetness touched my cheek and I swallowed, clenching my eyes closed I sobbed into him, allowing his warmth to comfort me.

"I'm sorry," I muttered into him. "I'm so sorry." He hushed me, his hand rubbing up and down my back and I welcoming it, the momentary comfort he sought to give me.

I heard her laugh in the courtyard, I stood, four days after her funeral, my hands in my pockets and watches the space she used to play growing up. Memories of her stubborn need to play with me, pouting and stomping her foot flitted through my mind. I watched the whole scene, a ghost of her child-like form staring at me, running around and I smiled.

"Wait for me, zy." I murmured, my feet moved without hesitation. I grinned running after her then, feeling the wind rush out of me as I ran after her, we ran past the stable and off the palace grounds before I was caught. I reaches out for her ghost, her laughter ringing in my ears as she his behind the tree and I tried to go to her only for her to disappear and I frowned.

"Wait for me!" I yelled out to her, pulling against the obstacle which held me. I stumbled and turned to see her, eyes watery and bloodshot.

"Your Highness, please." I blinked down at the girl whose head grew into her ears. Ellyn wore all black, sniffing and looking up to me before I blinked furiously, her watery green eyes being replaces with cornflower blue and a smile.

"Zy?" My mouth trembled as I reached for her, she stuck her tongue out at me then and I laughed running my Hans over her hair. "You waited for me." I blinked furiously and the sound of a sob met my ears which didn't match the smiling glee of my sisters face.

"Your Highness." I looked up and saw Marius, I offered him a smile.

"Mar, she came back," I brought her into my arms. "Zyandra came back for me." I hugged her and a burst of crying rang and I felt something wet on my chest. "Zy? Why you cry-" I blinked down at Ellyn who shook her head, her hands to her chest sadly.