DAY 39-4: VOW

Sirens barrage the palace.

Feet scramble in equal frenzy, marching the corridors of the palace, all suited up and ready to battle.

   The chaos is alarming, especially to those gathered in the hall the wedding is to take place.

   "What's all the commotion?"

   A guard is whisked from the crowd only to find himself at the mercy of the man who'd posed the question.

His sharp-toothed smile slices into his cheeks, one of his red pupils dilate; and the other broadens to the point where it scorches the guard's soul. A firm hand to his tall, black hat, he continues, "Her Majesty's made it clear this wedding will go on without interruption. Are you that willing to defy your ruler?"

The ever so intimidating interaction leaves the guard shuddering in his boots. Unable to muster even his voice, he sputters, wordlessly.

   "Isn't it intruders?"

   The voice lofts from above. Perched on the railings of the second floor, is a dark-skinned girl. Lollipop in hand, she listlessly kicks out her legs and tilts her head, the star and moon jewelry adorning her Afro, neck, and ears swaying with the action. Even the star tattoos grazing the surface of her nose glisten under the fluorescent lights. Plopping the sweet into her mouth, she sucks on it with the blankest stare known to man.

   "A Spade is running freely around the palace," she elaborates. "His companions, too. Heard Paola's gotten rid of one of them, though."

   "Spade...?" The word slips like venom off the man's tongue. His ear-splitting smirk widens. "Is he so tough all these Numbers have to be sent after him? One of us should be plenty."

   "Paola's not kind enough to share her prey with anyone." A slurping sound erupts. Somehow, unbeknownst to the two gathered, they've gained company. Solina sits on a mushroom chair, the same tactless fungi that decorates the exterior of her green hat. Her amusement is stifling as she drinks a piping cup of tea. "Mavix must've sent the Numbers as backup since she failed in killing them once already. Regardless, if any of us act now, there'll be an even greater commotion. Her Majesty is expecting a wedding ceremony, and a wedding ceremony is what she'll get, Elora. Naeve."

   Elora's eyelids taper as she sucks on her lollipop.

   Naeve tips the brim of his hat.

   The Number guard he'd had by the arm dashes off in fear for his life.

   "His Highness Avelious and Her Highness Valentina, huh?" muses a short-statured girl, back against the wall, arms folded across her chest. Her black eye-patch contrasts greatly with her lengthy purple hair. "I understand inbreeding is welled deep in our history, but it still makes my stomach churn imagining the thing."

   "Are you possibly skeptic of the Queen's decision?" Naeve remarks. "Don't tell me your loyalty to her is that superficial?"

   "Superficial? Mine?" Myrin has to scoff. "This aching eye socket of mine is suffice proof that I'll never betray the Queen."

"I've once heard a rumour that upon screwing up a marksman mission, you gouged out your right eye and offered it to her," Naeve drawls. "If genuine, I apologize for doubting you, Myrin. But can you blame me? Both you and Jareth are so soft-spoken—who's to say what goes on in your minds."

Jareth, who idles nearby, doesn't put in a word. His cloak and broody demeanour give little leeway to figuring him out.

"What I say still stands," Solina interjects, decibel collapsing to a fierce low. Her tea cup shatters within her vice-grip, a testimony to her frustration. "Even if not at the front lines, as Straeh's Five Holy Sorcerers, we will make this wedding a success. Human, Spade, Mond—even those wretched Harlequins the Queen invited as esteemed guests—none will get in the way of His and Her Highness. No matter the cost."

The silence is bristling, especially alongside the rowdy alarm serving as background noise, and all five of their glowing eyes.

This madness-driven wedding ceremony is only just beginning.

♥♦♣♠

   Upon the Queen of Hearts' departure from the room, Leda heaves the grandest sigh in her possession. The woman is truly intimidating—enough to make all of Leda's nerves stand on end.

   The blaring of horns are deafening, and ring in Leda's ears despite the distance. Whatever it is that caused the commotion—though a bad feeling in her gut links it to maybe Orian still on the run now—it only serves as yet another reminder that she can't lower her guard. Not yet. Not until they're finally free from his nightmare.

   There's only one problem, though.

   "How do I get down?"

   Granted, that isn't the only question she should be asking. Even if she were to somehow get to the ground, there's no chance of her moving. There's also the chance that someone will walk in, see her move, and try to 'kill' her again—however that is supposed to work.

Nevertheless, she doesn't have the leisure to wait for Mavix to return and encage her and the other heads behind a wall of glass, least while her companions are in grave danger. There's also Avel she's worried about too. There's no way he wants to marry Valentina.

   True, there's no reason she should care what happens with him or not. He's an insane murderer, and hid the fact that he knew their identities from the beginning. Who knows if he intends to keep his promise with her or not, either. But...

"I never would've imagined humans were capable of surviving after having their heads severed."

Leda jolts from her thoughts. Lounging by the entrance of the room, side-eye framed to her, is Mavix. Her first instinct is to put on her best dead face—but he sees right through it.

A semblance of a smile quirks his lips as he twists to face her. "Judging by your reaction, you weren't too familiar with the notion either."

Possibly because he behaves the same as when they first met, Leda finds her nerves settling and replacing with anger. Biting her lower lip, she makes no attempt at playing dumb any further. "You lied to us."

"That's what us Hearts do," he replies, weary features shifting to one of amusement. "Some, more easily than others. When you find a fun game to play you do your best to not let it end."

She scoffs. "You find Avel's life to be a game to you, too? That's why you can suggest he marry his step-sister so easily?"

Mavix grins, eyelids crinkling as he adjusts his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "Well, His Highness is the light that will lead Straeh in the future. For better or worse, that's always been for the Queen to decide. It was also up to her to agree with my proposition."

   Leda grinds her teeth. What is he planning to gain from all this?

   "You seem to care a lot about His Highness," Mavix tacts on. "I thought you'd be fuming after you found out the truth. That the only reason he went to such far lengths to bring you to the palace—lie to you—was for his own amusement. He selfishly trapped you and your companions within these castle walls, and hasn't the slightest intention of letting you leave. Why should you care whether or not his future is at the mercy of the Queen?"

  "Because you... and everyone in this damn kingdom treats him like he's not even alive!"

   Mavix loses all nonchalance. He folds his arms behind his back, and sighs.

   "It'd be better for Straeh if he isn't. His Highness was born in order to become the King of Hearts the Queen envisioned. He's killed and killed and killed to become the heartless puppet Straeh requires to seize dominance over the other suit kingdoms. And after today, he will have completed this sole purpose he's lived for."

"Did you ever once question if that's what he wants?"

   "And why should it matter if it isn't?" he remarks, shutting his eyes. "When he was younger, when his father was still alive, His Highness used to prance around the palace after him, declaring his dream was to become a quack skilled enough to cure the people who needed him."

   "But the Queen disliked that idea," she finishes.

   "She made him kill him as soon as she learned of his intentions. For the best, too." He pauses. "You seemed to be raised on the misconceptions lands like Edaps uphold, but you can't run a kingdom based on good cents like kindness, much less a weak life goal like that. The Queen realized that fact sooner than the rest of us, and that's why Straeh has become the great nation it is today. Sure he once possessed a goal, but His Highness has an even greater responsibility to his nation. And it's the king's responsibility to sacrifice for his people, is it not?"

   At a loss for words, Leda lets their conversation simmer.

   There was no overwriting the sins Avel's committed. Regardless... all she keeps hearing time and time again are these convoluted rumours of who he should be, not who he really is. The Avel that had sounded so hopeless when the Queen decided his wedding, who laughed and smiled so freely when outside these palace walls, involving in the easygoing streets of Straeh... Even the him that had vowed to cure Ro. Is this twisted 'King of Hearts' his mother envisioned really manifested in him today?

   To Leda, at least, his life sounded nothing but lonely. Maybe that's why she can't help but be a little hopeful. And maybe that's why... she can understand Mavix's underlying intentions.

   "You are an undeniable Heart through and through aren't you, Mavix?"

   He snorts, unsurprised to find she's seen through him. "Like I said, we Hearts are good liars. But not once when he was with you did His Highness tell a lie. I'm sure when he said he wants to be with you, that was genuine." He makes his way out the doorway, and pauses to catch her gaze. "Now, I must take my leave. Someone should be coming to put up a glass wall soon, so you'd best escape before then."

   He's gone at that.

Leda's jaw falls. "H-how am I supposed to do that? I'm a head for Pete's sake!"

He doesn't make any indication of returning. Left alone in the bedroom, Leda fumes. For someone who's secretly worried about Avel, he sure makes no external sign of that. Then again, the fact that Mavix even went on a roundabout spiel to tell her it's all right to cling to that hope of hers, means something.

The reason he put Avel in this situation, too. Clearly, his loyalty to the Queen isn't as black and white as she originally deemed.

A deafening hoot! rips Leda from her line of thinking. Her nonexistent heart leaps to her throat upon finding herself face to face with that humongous owl. The wind he generates whilst flapping his wings is detrimental, sending a multitude of the heads pinned to the wall plummeting and splatting across the floor. But his beady eyes never leave hers, and Leda quivers upon the premonition that hits her.

Its proven faithful when he unfastens his beak, and a pitch black darkness envelopes Leda.

Fuck, is the sole thought that blares like emergency sirens in her mind. All that comes out of her mouth, however, is a petrified scream.

   "Leda!"

   Grimm halts at the unexpected uproar. He rotates his neck one hundred and eighty degrees in the direction of the source. After heaving in rapid spurts of relief, Leda hastily shifts her focus to the doorway again. She expects to find Mavix, which is why the sight summons fresh tears to the corners of her eyes.

   No matter how much she blinks, the identity of the man doesn't vanish. It's him.

   It's really him.

   "Ro!"

   The ear-splitting smile that peels back her lips is blinding. Though, she isn't given time to rejoice. Grimm's beak skims Leda's ear by a hair, and collides into the wall with enough force to crush the wood itself. Blanching, she's jolted back to her impending situation, and any and all nonchalance disappears.

   Grimm wastes not another instant. After tugging himself free and shaking his head, he plunges for her once more.

   Leda yelps. "Stay away from me! I'm not edible!"

   Her shouts fall on deaf ears. Grimm continues to make advances to swallow her, all the while she shimmies the best she can to avoid them.

   "Ro!" she exclaims. "What're you just standing there for? Help me!"

   Least to Leda's expectations, he hasn't moved an inch from where he is. In fact, eyebrows pinched together, he studies her with narrowed eyes.

   "Leda?" He's mumbling to himself. "No, that's Leda's head. Leda's... head? Her—"

"Yes! We've already established I'm a talking head. Now get me down before this dang owl eats me!"

That snaps him to his senses. Reaching for the scabbard on his hip, he reacts in a heartbeat. One second he's utilizing the furniture in his vicinity to spring into the air, and the next, the world spins before Leda's eyes. Ro hits the ground first. Then, Leda ends up enclosed in a pool of warmth. His fingers wrap over the sides of her face, and her hair and ear nestle against his chest. Firm and warm—alive.

He closes his sword with his spare thumb, and in the same moment, Grimm emits a broad cry. Blood patters from his wings as he crashes to the ground. He'd cut him, as well as the string attaching her to the wall, all in such a short time.

Ignorant to Ro's open-mouthed stare above, Leda produces an overjoyed laugh.

"You're a lifesaver. I was scared I was a goner for a minute there."

He brings her face to his line of sight. His sharp amber eyes and silky blue hair, shimmer, full of life. Even the black uniform he's adorned in—a Heart's—and the weapon at his hip, suit him.

His eyebrows taper. "Leda, I am going to require a proper explanation for this."

"Trust me, I'd like one too."

"I'm also a bit curious."

Hadey emerges from the entrance, stunning Leda into silence.

She speaks again before Leda has the chance. "I did assume this Spade was also one of His Highness's guests, and led him to you, but it really is a surprise. A human, Mond, and Spade... Prince Avel really took a huge risk, concealing you here behind the Queen's back."

Leda's mouth flutters, wordlessly. "You... knew?"

"Even if I did," she responds, apathetic as ever, "that doesn't change my job. As a maid, I've learned not to question the doings of the royal family. Nevertheless, you've really caused a racket. The entire palace is after your heads."

A pause.

"Oh, wait. Was that a poor choice of words?"

Leda can't find it in her to retort. She is a head, but someone as emotionless as Hadey is poking fun at her for it.

The sirens continue blare, loud and profound, garnering a frown from Leda. So this chaos; it's because of Ro too, isn't it? So much for laying low. There's no escaping the wrath of Straeh's military now. Still...

"Why did you help him?" Leda has to ask. "Even if you aren't allowed to question the actions of the royal family, if you knew I was here, and that we're wanted, wouldn't you normally turn him in?"

Hadey doesn't offer an explanation. There isn't a shift in her blank demeanour either. Hunching over the whimpering owl's body, she gently ruffles its feathers as if to soothe the pain.

Can Leda infer she really isn't their enemy? Pushing the thought aside, she turns to Ro.

"How much did she explain to you?"

"The gist," he replies. "Are Orian and Jack Nixon safe?"

"I'm not sure. Orian and I got attacked by that psycho chick from the ship and I lost him. Nixon was captured, and I have no clue whether he's even alive or not."

Conviction swells in Ro's gaze. "We don't have a lot of time, then. Let's reconvene with them before the worst can happen. Our first priority should be to escape."

   "Es...cape?"

   Ro blinks, puzzled by the baffled expression Leda puts on.

   "We have to get out of here. It's too dangerous."

   "But, if we do that how would we save the rest of your people?"

   Leda leaves him at a loss for words. A tiny grin upturns her lips.

   "It is risky, and stupid, I know. But, you being here now only adds to my resolve. Avel may have been dishonest about his intentions for bringing us here, and everyone calls him merciless and unforgiving. And sure he's given me the scare of my life, too. But, he kept his promise."

   No matter how badly everyone tries to paint him a villain, Avel's actions toward her since they've met speak louder than that. If his true aim was to kill them, why go so far out of his way to save Ro and keep his word? He even went to the extent of hiding their existence at the palace. There's no way he'd do that despite the risk—go against someone like the Queen, all for someone like Leda.

   Even now, she knows nothing about him. Even now, she understands there's no reason she should remain in this kingdom; not with their imminent peril staring them in the eye. Though...

   "Ro," Leda says anyway, beam hurting her cheeks. "Let's crash that wedding."

   It seems, after all, she just wants to believe that idiot flirt isn't as evil a guy. She wants to see, firsthand—hear, firsthand—who Avel Hestia really is.

   Not to mention she still owes him a favour for Ro, too.

   Ro heaves a dramatic sigh, defeat morphing his countenance. "Your insanity matches these Hearts. It's because of that bastard we're in this mess now."

   "And it's also because of him you're still alive." Chuckling, she prods, "C'mon. Join me. You know you want to."

   "Even if I refused, you'd find a way to drag me along anyway."

   "He he. You know me well."

   As always, he's easy to fluster. "Let's find your body. Talking to you like this is unnerving."

   "No need to be shy, Ro. I know you love having my face so close."

   "I-I will not respond to that."

   "Your red cheeks give me enough of an answer."

   "Th-they are not red."

   Leda laughs, unable to stifle her happiness for being able to bicker with him like this again. And she continues to laugh up until Hadey speaks once more.

   "It was the Queen, wasn't it?"

   Leda freezes. It's in that moment, the way the expressionless girl glances over her shoulder, that Leda then takes into account her blood red eyes.

   She's seen them before.

   Hadey's frown deepens as she elaborates, "The one who killed Estan... My older brother."

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It seems this book has gotten a lot of new readers this last week or so, haha. Hi. I hope you're all liking the story so far!

I didn't proofread this chapter, so sorry for the stilted prose. Also, I updated the next chapter so check that out too :)

Tell me your opinions about Leda deciding to crash the wedding. Avel's character in general. Ro's comeback. Oh, and that revelation by the end.

Don't forget to vote! <3