The Huntsman of Adamos (Quartet)- draft
DANCING WITH KINGS

CH DANCING WITH KINGS

Fleur walked over the dark glass mirror and examined herself as best as she could. Was it really only a century ago when Kaleth had ripped a similar dress from her body and burned it? Suddenly, she felt ashamed of how far she was willing to go to fight the darkness. For the first time, Fleur was glad Kaleth was dead, then the darkness reminded her of her doubts. Had he really loved her, or had he loved her because he was ordered to do so by Adamos? He had kept so many secrets from her. The thought of her late husband’s deception made her want to sob or scream, but she didn’t want to ruin Cinna’s elaborate make-up. In the far future, Demona would call her the whore of the House of Adamos, but Damien had stated the truth more accurately, she was simply a concubine. Fleur had refused to believe it, fought to deny it, but now it felt sickeningly true.

She fidgeted with a braided strand that had blood rubies and black diamonds sewn into it. This was the end of the lie that was her life, dressed in a gown she hated and spinning a web of deceit to cause a war. She had become everything she hated. Lifting her lace veil for a moment, she looked at her eyes that glowed peachy white with sirens magic mixed with oracle magic. She breathed out then in slowly and bolstered her range with the dark power she could feel seeping in from the floor and walls; all but Demona must be under the false Siren Queen’s thrall by evening’s end.

“I would say you look beautiful, but I know how you feel about this style of dress,” Yurieth’s voice vibrated her out of her focus.

“You shouldn’t be here.” Fleur said quietly. “I am using siren’s magic and I know it hurts you.” She settled the veil back over her eyes.

His hands rested gently in her shoulders and she could see them through his eyes, just like the image from the glimpse of his memories the obscuring magic failed to hide so far in the future. She had tried so hard to comfort him then, she thought they were friends, but now…

“How are you using Siren’s magic?”

Shrugging, she answered, “In the far future, the dark queen entity will indwell this body, I learned from her. It is very similar to shining only instead of being based on the need to share love, it is based on manipulation. The math is the same.”

They stood in silence then she decided he had stared at their reflection long enough for her to see it in the future. She half-lied to make him leave, “Please go, I didn’t want you to see me like this, or remember me this way. I have become all that you hate. Be honest with yourself always.”

His eyes glowed slightly orangish-pink as her magic tried to gain sway over him, he wanted to let it. He wanted to tell her everything would be fine, and they would be happy again someday in the far future. Instead he said, “I don’t hate you, Fleur. I could never hate you, and as for how you look, I only see your soul, courageous and beautiful facing against the darkness and death.”

She turned to look at him and her heart wept for all she felt and all she thought he pretended to feel. She wanted to hug him, to kiss him one last time, or perhaps to slap him. She bent and pulled the blade he always kept tucked in his left boot out and cut some hair and one of her jeweled braids. She put the hair in his hand then walked over to her table and sliced her and open, letting the blood drip into three glass vials. Wrapping her hand in some of the leftover silk, she then presented the vials to him with his blade.

“Put these in Demona’s room, leave Demona’s sacrificial blade on the table if you can get it, and don’t come back. Send Regis if you don’t trust me to do what I must. Your soul has suffered enough on my account.”

“No, I want to be here,” Yurieth insisted.

“Yuri, I don’t want you to be here,” she hissed, and he grabbed her arm as she tried to walk away from him.

“Why won’t you let me stay with you, save you?” He demanded.

“You already made your choice; you shouldn’t have to change it to uphold your honor.” She carefully peeled his fingers off her arm. “Yuri, when you are rescued, don’t... don’t live your life like you are under orders. I want you to find someone to love again, I want you to find happiness someday. And I don’t want our future friendship further tainted by the memory of my death.” The last sentence tasted bitter in her mouth.

She could feel his worried skepticism, and hear it in his voice as he asked, “Tainted how?”

Fleur turned away slowly and walked out onto the balcony. The air was cool and crisp, and she wished she could see the stars she knew were out there, wondering how different they looked in this time.

“Fleur?”

“I have drawn too much darkness into my soul to fool the Xelusians, I won’t go into the Light when I die.” She explained despairingly. “Just... just take care of our family for me. Thank you for being my friend after Kaleth’s death. And don’t worry, it won’t seem like very long at all until the War Oracle sings for you. She will see you soon.”

“I do not think you and I have the same definition of soon, my lady,” he answered tightly.

“Time is funny stuff, a lot funnier than Einstein ever figured out.” She smiled at the private joke as he stared at her in confusion, so she added what she thought he needed to hear. “Time is irrelevant, my beloved huntsman. Now go, I can feel Lucif’s chancellor coming.”

As if on cue, Regis knocked from beyond the door.

“I love you.” Whispering, Yurieth vanished into the night.

The Chancellor came in haughtily and Fleur resisted the urge to just kill him. “My Queen, we will be ready for your entrance in a short while.”

The dark oracle looked at him with glowing eyes and smiled wickedly, “Do you think all the foolish people below know what is coming for them?”

“And what is that, my queen?”

“Death, dear chancellor, death will wash over them like a wave from Xelusia and none shall escape,” She predicted.

“Your will be done, my queen.” He smiled thinking she meant war and went out.

Fleur stared at herself in the mirror with loathing and hatred, then she collapsed to her knees. Tears she refused to let fall, burned as she blinked rapidly. One leaked out and she caught it in her palm. It was black mixing with the red of her bloody palm. In the morning, Prince Lucif would find her murdered as he prepared to leave for Xelusia, and at the same time, King Xerxes would arrive at the gates demanding her return. All she needed to do was dance with the arrogant fools, bait their greed for her power, and then die.

Regis carefully knelt before her. He took her hand and poured water of light over her palms, healing the cuts. “My lady oracle, it’s time.” He blotted her cheek and palm with a cloth. “You are very brave.”

“No, Huntsman, I am not. I am just a mother doing what she must to save her children’s future.”

Fleur stood as she inhaled slowly the dark powers swirled around her, creating dark sparks and ghostly wisps of shadows. She gasped at the pain it caused her soul as her will forced her light down to keep from fighting it, then she turned to look at him with glowing red eyes. A different creature stood before him and he shuddered under her gaze. The siren’s magic drummed him his mind, rising and falling like the song he heard the day of the Siren’s battle.

Rising, he held out his hand, “This way, Dark Oracle, Lady Naphtala is waiting to take you to Prince Lucif.”

Lady Naphtala led the Dark Oracle down the long staircase that lead into the ballroom. All conversation ceased as she was announced as Lady Fleur, betrothed of Prince Lucif. Fleur could feel the nearly one thousand people, over a third of them had or were using blood magic. Demona glared at her resentfully from a corner, surrounded by her supporters and a man whose magic reminded her of Yuri’s. Demona felt particularly unhappy with him. So, Fleur nodded her head at him and felt him take a step back as Demona’s rage bloomed.

Fleur let the siren magic sing out from her as she had once used her light. Cinna’s amazing and seductive dress combined with the siren’s magic was doing its job of making every man and many of the women desire her, but she could feel the Xelusians and their supporters desired her blood as well as her body.

Fleur could feel the evil of those looking up at her as she descended the stairs. It took her every ounce of resolve not to turn and flee. She was doing this for her children’s future. She held her head up high and let them believe she was the Dark Oracle. She set her will to accomplish this last act as the War Oracle of Aetheria, to save all those she loved in the far future and win the last battle of the war again. Tonight was the final objective of the victory the House of Adamos had bred her for. Her soul did not want to believe it was true, but her logical mind had heard Adamos himself admit the truth; her whole existence was as a tool and weapon. The life and love she thought she had was a lie. The anguish and rage were so powerful, they radiated off her in waves of raw dark power.

Lady Naphtala leaned in to whisper to her. “I do not know how you are doing this, Lady Fleur, but you have everyone’s attention.”

Fleur tipped her head, still smiling, and murmured back. “I must believe if all are to believe. It must feel real.” She withdrew her hand from Lady Naphtala’s and held it out to Prince Lucif, he kissed her palm.

“My Queen, when my chancellor told me you looked like a vison from the shadows, I doubted him. My apologies,” Lucif’s voice purred. “Thank you for taking such excellent care of her, Pale Lady of Baalru.”

“My blood and my soul for our queen,” Naphtala answered, bowing to them both.

“My Prince.” Fleur could feel the way he was looking at her, like he wanted to take her body right there in front of everyone. She could feel the presence of the devouring hunger in him and knew the Lord of Shadows, the chief demonic entity of the Devourer was trying to be present in the Prince tonight. She was sure his normally copper eyes were black at that moment.

Fleur leaned against him to whisper on his neck. “Patience, my prince, all your desires will be fed soon enough.” She could feel his surprise that she had so easily read exactly what he wanted. He turned her to face him. Looking up at him, she bit her bottom lip for a moment and gave him a half-smile. “In front of the Gate of our god, you are mine, my prince. I will be queen, you will be my king, and our son will be born to rule the worlds.”

She pulsed his heart through her fingertips and he seized her hand crushing it against the rapidly beating organ. She felt him tremble. He smiled evilly as he kissed her palm again. To all watching it appeared a simple affectionate display between the beautiful young oracle and the striking prince. Lucif led her down the stairs and around the room, introducing her always as his betrothed. Everyone bowed to them as though they were already King and Queen of Xelusia, everyone except King Xerxes.

“Tell me, child, were you not betrothed to a son of Odini less than a year ago?”

“Yes, King Xerxes,” Fleur answered shyly, “But it was decided that Prince Lucif was a more suitable match for me.” She blinked demurely. “It is my duty to marry as is fated to me.”

Lucif almost laughed at her innocent pretense and she nudged viciously him with her elbow. Lucif bowed slightly, then straighten. “Please excuse us, your highness. My betrothed and I are expected to take the first dance.”

The Prince and the Dark Oracle twirled and moved to the music. Her slippers glided easily as he led her in the dance, and all the while she projected the siren’s magic on everyone in the room. Many couples began to dance around them, but none dared cut in.

Lucif grinned in triumph, “I am the envy of every man here.”

“As you should be,” Fleur purred.

He stopped them in the middle of the floor and kissed her aggressively, crushing her petite frame against his lean muscles.

Fleur leaned slightly back from him, “Xerxes is coming. Let the foolish old king have his way for a dance or two, my prince. He hasn’t many left.”

Lucif bent his neck to kiss her bare shoulder before looking into her glowing blood ruby eyes. She was the most magnificent creature he has ever held in his arms and he could not refuse her. He could love her if he possessed the ability. He could feel the curves of her body pressed against his as they spun across the dance floor away from the pursuing king. “Let’s sneak away to the altar room and finish what we began last night.”

She laughed. “Not yet. I haven’t gotten to dance with the last king of Aetheria. Let me read his madness so we can defeat him.”

He sighed. “As my queen desires.” He dipped her and they twirled back toward Xerxes.

While they danced, she cooed in a flirty tone to him, “You know nothing of my desires, my prince, but you will.”

They stopped in front of the king and she turned away from Lucif before the prince could kiss her again, and bowed to Xerxes, "My king."

“Prince Lucif, you can’t hoard Lady Fleur all evening,” Xerxes demanded drunkenly.

“Of course not, my king,” Lucif purred, “The oracle was just reminding me not to be selfish and that I needed to attend my other guests.” He handed her off to the old king with a kiss on her palm, which she wiped on her dress as soon as he turned away.

The old king’s mind tracked the slight gesture before they started to dance in the center of the floor. After a few moments, he asked, “You do not enjoy the affection of your betrothed.”

“He is a Xelusian blood mage, my king.” Fleur answered sullenly in spite of her smile. “Is my king enjoying the party?”

“More now that I have someone as beautiful as you to dance with, Lady Fleur.”

She could feel him studying her face and made sure her blind eyes only glowed with oracle magic as he evaluated her. “My king is too kind.”

He twirled her away and while her back was to him, she gave Demona a triumphant smirk and mouthed, ‘me, not you’. The princess’s rage exploded out of her and Fleur felt her stalk off to find her father. She could almost hear Demona yelling over the music. When she turned back into the King’s embrace she had a sad, worried frown.

“My dear oracle, why Lucif?”

Fleur shrugged and seemed to shrink on herself. “He was available and powerful, and... and my father told me it was my duty.”

“And more than willing, I am sure.” Xerxes frowned, “I would never have thought the House of Adamos would make such an arrangement.”

“My king flatters me. Lucif only wants me for my blood and my son of prophecy.” She shined him as she did the night of the Autumn Equinox ball. Slowly blending the siren magic with her light.

“Your son, my beautiful creature?” Xerxes inquired, he suddenly seemed less drunk. He spun her at arm’s length as per the dance. Studying her body from head to toe, she nodded as he pulled her closer.

She whispered desperately, “The conqueror of worlds to be conceived on the fourth day of the Celestial Alignment. The Prince...” She cast a furtive glance in the direction of the arguing Xelusian royals. “The Prince believes that with my blood and my son, he will be powerful enough to overcome you, my great King Xerxes, and conquer Aetheria for all time.”

“What makes you say this, Daughter of Adamos?”

“I have seen it in his soul.” She hissed hatefully.

“Did you tell your father?” the king whispered.

“He has abandoned me, abandoned us. Since the first war, the House of Adamos has been loyal to the Kingdom of Aetheria until now.” Fleur let her rage at Adamos’ deception seep out of her. “My foolish father traded me off for my brother’s beloved Princess Serapha and an alliance because he fears war will come again.”

“And what does your mother say?”

“She thinks the prophecy is about Serapha and Abrieth's son, and taking her into our house is the only way to fulfill it properly. She claims the kingdom is corrupt. She has never seen past my blindness and ordained that my brother’s half-Xelusian wife will be the next high lady of our house,” Fleur let resentment and envy seep into her tone. “I may be blind, but I am an oracle of great power, worthy to be the next high oracle of the House of Yophriel. I deserve an Aetherian of power who is also born of the ancient high houses to give me a son and not someone who thieves his power by drinking blood like a parasite... Don’t you agree, my king?” She looked up at him with wide pleading eyes.

“I do agree, my lovely. But who would you choose on such short notice? The Celestial Alignment is in four days.”

Fleur paused in her movement and he still too. “I would choose you, my king.”

Xerxes blinked at her, he wanted her, his mind quickly decided that he wanted her and her child enough to go to war. “It would be my honor and my duty to help you, my lady.”

Glancing across the floor toward where Demona argued with her father, Fleur pulled the old king after her. “Come with me, we'll talk in privacy.”

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