Carmine (Completed)

Chapter 58

We stared at each other. Her eyes glossed over us with a tinge of disdain. Corona's dreadful hatred washed over me.

I steeled myself, stood in front of Sandream, proud, and ready for her attack.

Corona asked, "Trying to escape? I will not let you. Our mother has wished it for you to be taken to Elam and I will see it done. You will not shame me again in front of her."

My mind became bogged down with uncertainty. Corona said, "Valor your annoyance is amazing to witness."

I looked at Sandream stepping forward. Sandream breathed in then said, "No, he has returned to his original shell. It is the one that will get her vengeance today for your high crimes in Tiam."

Corona tilted her head. "Sandream... I should have cut your head off. No matter, I can end you here just as easily. You are not taking Carmine anywhere."

Sandream's face twisted into a deep scowl, while her hand slipped to her side. My arm flicked up and bashed my elbow under her bosom. Sandream whipped her head at me as her brows creased in rage.

I shook my head with slow menace at her, yet my purpose for Sandream was a fickle hope of her living beyond today.

Fighting Corona was suicide, and Sandream already lost so much, the love of her life and her body. As a friend, I had to protect her from her own vengeful anger.

Sandream's lips pursed into a frown as her eyes glanced to the ground, and her heels returned to the cold embrace of the tile.

I sighed deeply. "Let me go Corona, you do not have to follow her orders, it does not have to be like this. I know you and my mother do not see eye to eye, yo—"

Corona cut in. "You are the epitome of annoying. Your arrogance is amazing, to say the least. Trying to befriend me, asking questions of my past, trying to empathize, sowing seeds of dissent, and trying to make yourself the innocent in my eyes. Very intelligent how you tried to break me down over these last days."

I clutched my fist in worry. She saw right through it all. I said, "A compliment, that is rare coming from you."

"Don't act so innocent. I said a fact. Just like me calling you a cockroach is a fact."

"Cockroach?"

"Why do you think cockroaches only come out at night? When no one is around and eats from the food least protected and gathered around. They are smart creatures that know when to strike and poach on their desires. They have to be because they are weak." Corona stomped her feet. "And they are dead."

Silence settled as her words resided in my mind. Corona's eyes never wavered from me. She continued, "Yes, you would not know, because you are a foolish noble who knoweth nothing, but cockroaches are very smart. That is why they annoy me.

"Weak things should slither into the corner and stay in the darkness, but no, you always want to eat, you. You always try to outsmart the people, the world, because you know that death is as easy as," said Corona, with a snap of her finger, "that."

Corona stepped forward. Sandream came in front of me. Corona gave Sandream a momentary glance before looking over the shoulder towards me. "You know this so you compensate by gathering the strong, physically, but mentally they are weak, all to your cause. Your honeycomb words work well to ensnare them.

"Five drawn in, because he has nothing." Corona pointed at Sandream. "This fool, because she cannot let go of her undying loyalty to a useless boy. Valor, because he wants to bed you and a stupid little nun who knows no better."

Sweat rolled down my forehead, while Corona snickered. "There are nothing more than tools to you. All to keep you alive."

Anger swelled up in the pit of my gut. I retorted, "So are you to Erot."