Mare

No one was calling her queen yet. But, perhaps they would.

Chapter Music: A Reckoning of Steel and Lightning

Two long days have passed since Samson's interrogation. Frost has started to cling to the window panes. My only indication of the time is the thin, claw-like scratch marks on the post of my bed. I dig the point of my fork into the wood now, scraping another line. Indicating another day gone and wasted. My bones click when I turn away from the bed in my seat on the floor. My toes reply in kind, crinkling in on themselves to fend off the chill in the room.

Even despite the fire that roars in the corner, I freeze. Sometimes I wonder if it truly is as cold as it feels, or if it's just the hollowness in my chest that makes me shiver. I look down on my hands, scarred with days of picking at the skin, the familiar bands of silent stone glint in the gray-toned sunlight. How awful, I think. These are my only constants.

I have been locked in here. Too many fears that the shooting was the Guard's doing. That the Scarlet Guard will try to save me again. But I haven't heard a whisper from the Guard since I fell into Maven's claws. I don't even know if they think me a prisoner anymore.

Maven hasn't come into my rooms since Samson. Samson. Icy eyes slip into my consciousness whenever I dare sleep. Sometimes it's Samsons. Or Elaras. Often it's Mavens. His are pulled in surprise in my dreams like they were that night as he stared at me on the floor, only this time he is frightened at the knife I hold to his throat.

I barely acknowledge my voice as it is hissed in the air, blaming the sound on the whining in my head that never seems to leave. I only realize it wasn't my imagination when I feel a cold hand on my arm.

When I startle, Jon barely flinches. "I'm sorry," he murmurs.

"You knew," I seethe. I can almost imagine frothy foam forming at my lips as I hiss at him-- more animal than human.

"It had to be done, Mare."

"Is this the great sacrifice you spoke of then?" He stares at me blankly, as if ignoring me could stop him from answering. Fat chance. "Answer me," I snarl.

"No."

"No? What could be greater than this?" I gesture at myself. At the invisible cracks forming in my porcelain skin. At the broken, useless thing I am becoming.

"Something much worse than a bruised mind, Mare." His eyes are low, possibly already examining how the future has changed at his words. But I do not have a bruised mind. It is much worse than that. "Mare, I must tell you something." He lowers himself to the ground, barely moving his veiny hands on my arms.

"What?" I have lost all appetite for you, Jon.

"You must rise, Mare. And rise alone."

"It seems to me that I'm falling alone." Jon chuckles, but it doesn't reach his face.

"Sometimes, you have to fall in order to rise."

"Like a phoenix," I feel my brow smooth as I think of the stories that I was told as a child. Of the magical creature, pure fire, dying to ash, and then returning in an inferno.

" Like an Electricon Queen." He reaches for my hands and holds them tight in his fists. "Alone, Mare." His eyes bore into mine, in them I see the stories of an entire world. I wonder how many tragedies he has seen, and is yet to see.

I don't nod my head like I did that night in front of the fire. My silence quells his pleads anyways. He releases my hands and stands with an uncharacteristic grace of a man of his age. He gives me one last glance, eyes wide pools of blood, before slipping through the door.

Alone, Mare.

The fading of his footsteps rumble in my mind. When they fade away, a new sound replaces them. Voices. My back turns stiff as I strain to listen. I don't catch much, just the last trickles of the conversation before the door opens. Two visitors in one day, how lucky.

"You can't be in here," a voice says.
Evangeline steps in, with a flowing black gown and hand waving the sentinel off.

"I have the King's permission. If you won't believe me ask him yourself." Her cheeks are full, and her onyx eyes glisten as they roll over my folded figure. On her hands -now positioned on her curved hips- metal gloves. She's a much prettier sight than the mad seer.

"Hm, you've looked worse, lightning girl. " A small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as she looks down at me. I straighten out my limbs and teeter my head to lean back onto the bedpost. A piece of unkempt hair falls out of its braid and lays across my face. I truly look like a red rat, now.

"What do I owe the pleasure?" Evangeline ignores me and takes a step deeper into my room before stopping short. She lays a hand over her chest, as if she has forgotten how to breathe, and then continues. I almost wonder what happened, but then I remember. Silent Stone. The magnetron woman has never felt the effects of it before.

"Wren," she coos. Wren follows her in, she hurries towards me and crouches down to place her hands on me. When she touches me, the warmth comes back in.

"He really did a number on you," she murmurs as her hands move towards my face.

"Leave her eyes, Wren. It makes her look fierce," Evangeline advises as she thumbs through the gowns tucked away in the wooden wardrobe.

"Where's Julian?" I ask. I see him now, pale face and frightened eyes. Deep bruises shaping his face as the life is pulled from him from his own set of manacles. I wonder if that's how I look to Wren.

"Safe," Wren says. She doesn't give any more details.

"I'm sorry," I start, "What exactly are you doing here, Evangeline?"

She turns her cold, glare on me. "The Red servants have been whispering that the King has been trying to find his wits to visit his betrothed, and I will not let him see you like this." She turns back towards the gowns and pulls out one. It's black, with horn-rimmed shoulders and gold embellishments on the cinched waist, wrists, and shoulders. Red feathering lines the shoulders. "This one," she murmurs to no one.

"Seeing you like this," I repeat back to her with a soft chuckle. "Never change, Evangeline. Why do you care about how he sees me anyways?"

"Aren't you tired of those manacles?" Evangeline says, looking up from the gown.

My eyes flick away from her, stubbornly trying to pretend I didn't hear her. Of course I am, I want to say. Instead, I stare down at my hands, scarred with fine slices from my nails. Wren sees them too and she moves her hand to heal them.

"Leave those," I say, throwing my hands underneath me. I stand up, turning away from Wren's worried look.

"Fine don't answer," Evangeline snips, "But I saw the way you looked at Maven at the ball that night. Eyes hungry for blood, for vengeance. When will you learn to bite?" She echoes her words from that night cooly, more of a challenge than a statement.

Sometimes I ask myself that question too. When I will wreak havoc on Maven's broken kingdom. All it will take is someone with the means to take it out from under him.

"When the collar around my throat lets me twist far enough around to reach his hand," Evangeline and Wren share a quick glance, but when I blink their eyes are back on me.

Wren takes the dress from Evangeline and instructs me to get into it. Hesitantly, I let my nightgown pool at my feet. Despite Evangeline's warmth today, I have never trusted her. She and I had a bitter rivalry, and silvers have never been known to forgive. Wren heals any bruises I have, and Evangeline gives her the gown. Together, they tie the clasps firm around my figure.

When it's on, they push me towards the mirror. The light catches the gold and it reflects onto my eyes, adding color in the stormy depths. Evangeline plays with the alternating layers of fabric until they fall to her liking. I think I see the glint of metal shards as they lace into the skirt, holding it in place. Wren pulls out the broken braid, and with it the scarlet silk fabric. When Wren braids my hair, more intricate than any of my mothers, she threads it in.

"My brother killed yours," Evangeline says, meeting my eyes in the mirror. "When you get out of those manacles and leave this damn place for good, spare him." Her eyes are pleading, and I feel Wren's fingers tense as she finishes off the braid. She loves Ptolemus, they both do.

"You have never felt the loss of a brother, Evangeline. You have no idea how it guts you. Not that it matters, the only way I'm getting out of his hold is if I leave behind his corpse— or mine. Even if I did escape, why should I?"

"Because Samos' are better friends than enemies." She squeezes my shoulders as she stands behind me. Evangeline has always been cold and calculating, never letting her mask slide. Hasn't anyone told you? Love is dangerous.

But, it is a weapon to yield. A gun to shoot. A knife to slash with.

"I'll leave Ptolemus alive." I let my eyes fall lazily on her, and a small frown pulls at my lips. Never let them see who you really are, Elara says as we walk through the palace, months before. Use that mask and wear it well. Nothing will hurt you, little lightning girl.

She smiles uneasily, and laces her fingers together and rests them on her slim figure. A proper court lady. "Did you know that since you and Julian gave your speeches hundreds of Newbloods have appeared at court. Many have joined a special legion of soldiers, all prepared to fight for the crown."

"Well, that must be a lovely thing for Maven. More toy soldiers for him to show off. To use"

"Are you sure about that?" Wren adds, face sharpening.

When they took their pledges in front of the court. They swore fealty to their Red Queen, not to Maven."

I turn towards them swiftly, not even tripping on the folds of my dress. It causes both of them to take a step back. "Why are you telling me this?"

Evangeline regains her posture before speaking, "The people are starting to whisper about you, Barrow. The Newbloods with them. They talk of a red girl who holds the crown in a tight fist. A peaceful solution to the war. Someone who will satisfy the Scarlet Guard and will intimidate the high lords. We happen to agree with them."

"You want me to what? Strut over and pluck the crown off Maven's head? Have you both forgotten about the house riots? How they yelled for another man to wear the crown? What do the people whisper of him?"

"Cal," His voice seems strange in Evangeline's mouth. I haven't heard his name out loud in many months, "is with the Guard. And he's Silver. The people do not see a resolution there."

"Julian sees the benefits of you on the throne, Mare," Wren whispers.

"What are the benefits when it could get him killed?"

"You're not the only one risking things, Mare." Wren's deep, brown eyes narrow to slits. It seems I have misjudged you. You love both the Samos children.

In my mind, I am far from a queen. Far from what Norta needs. Maven's throne allows him to control the way of this world. But, his throne sits on quicksand. Our engagement has not silenced the people at all. It's pushed them further into my shaking hands. Alone, Mare.

The Scarlet Guard will kill me for this. Cal will never forgive me. I can only hope they understand when the time comes.

"Evangeline," My voice does not sound like my own— snake-like and cold, "I will give this broken kingdom the queen it deserves. Make me Queen."

Damn Jon, he always gets what he wants.