The Midnight Rebellion

Chapter 5: The Power of Chocolate Cake

Two days later, her father was pushing a scowling Nyx through the door of the Throne room of the Umbrian Castle. "Behave", he whispered, but she was not having any of it. This was outrageous! Why couldn't he at least take her with him to see the troops? Why couldn't he just drop her off in the village with Georgia and James? At least there she could finally talk to Atlas again. She didn't want to meet the damn king and queen. She could care less about them!

"She seems to be quite strong-headed", a voice sneered. It was Queen Rhea sitting in the left throne. In the other throne sat King Deimos. "Forgive her, your majesty, she's simply not a fan of my leaving again", Hector explained while pinching the back of Nyx' neck. She rustled her feathers annoyed, but stood tall next to her father, who looked at her expectantly. She shot him a glare before turning forward to the king and queen and awkwardly bowing. "It's an honor to meet you both, your majesties", she ground out as polite as possible. Her father had spent the last day drilling it into her. She had made fun of him, but it had only enraged him more. 

The queen snickered and Nyx held her breath. It almost sounded like Kevin's evil snicker. She didn't like the queen. Not at all. She seemed ugly and mean. The King, however, was different. He just stared at her, which unnerved her even more. He looked back at Hector. "As I told you before, I will make sure she is well cared for as if she were my own. You have my word." That was all he said. There was no emotion about him. He was like cold stone that had been crafted to a statue. A rather plump statue. 

Nyx felt terrible about all of this. She didn't want to stay. Didn't like any of this.

Hector had just nodded thankfully and left the throne room with her. A maid had been waiting to "take over from here", which basically meant that Hector said goodbye, patted Nyx on the head and left. Just like that he left her behind. Nyx crossed her elbows and stared down the maid, who in return gave her a warm welcoming smile and lead her to a new guest room where a little suitcase with her clothes and Atlas' dagger waited for her. Her new room didn't even have a balcony. It was an ugly room with a big bed, but also a huge painting of Queen Rhea that seemed to stare at you when lying in bed.

Fantastic.

The rest of the day, she tried to hang clothes over the painting so a grim Rhea couldn't stare her down. She didn't even leave the room for dinner. The maid tried coaxing her out, but Nyx threw the dagger after her. It grazed the maid's ear and got stuck in the wall behind her. 

The maid hadn't returned.

When the sun had completely set and the stars come out, Nyx sat down under the window and stared outside. This was stupid. She was furious at Hector for leaving her here like this. 

A small knock sounded on the door and a head with black hair and two golden shining eyes popped in. "Go away", Nyx seethed at the boy. He took one step through the door away. "Why?", he asked plainly and Nyx narrowed her eyes at him. "Because I'll throw a dagger at your head. That's why. Now go away." She turned back to the window, but she could practically hear the challenge in the boy's voice as he said: "I'd like to see you try. Throw it."

"Can't", was all that Nyx said, but she turned around to look at him. He had scrunched his eyebrows together confused by her answer. Nyx pointed at the wall behind him at the the dagger still stuck in the wall. "Already threw it at the annoying maid", she explained flatly and leaned her back against the wall as she stayed sitting where she was. The boy looked at the dagger, reached for it and pulled it out. "Well, it might not be the cleanest knife, it should do", he grinned as he walked toward her and sat down across from her with enough space between them. He sat down the plate he had been holding in his other hand between them. A top of it was a small chocolate cake. "I thought you might be feeling a bit lonely in here, so I brought you my favorite chocolate cake. The cook always makes one for me when I'm feeling down." He didn't even wait for Nyx' reaction. He just used her dagger to cut off two slices and handed her a piece.