(this song is wild

Summary: The child of Julian Jacos, Maven's childhood friend, is obsessed with the idea of the throne.)

I've been watching him for my entire life

Your eyesight lingers on your father for only a second before as you scan your surroundings. You part your lips as you spot the weak Calore King. You tilt your head down, taking in all of his features from afar. His blue eyes sparkle against the chandelier as he too looks around. You remember how soft his eyes were when he was a child. The way they held weight yet the childhood innocence. You stared at him then the same way you stare at him now. 

I hate the air he breathes, his foolish decrees, his words so contrived

And as he looks at you from across the dinner table, he smiles. You smile back with a twisted feeling in your chest that you despise. The happiness you feel when he notices you. You just want to stab a dagger into your heart and remove every last emotion you feel about him. Are they real? Are they faked by your brain to make you hesitant? You look at your father, Julian Jacos, as he looks down at you. Do you have something to do with this, crazed old man?

Or is it Maven's lies, his forked tongue, and fake attitude. Maybe he's doing this to you, fixing you and making you love him. But love can't mask your deep hatred for the Calore throne. A House so weak, so undeserving of its crown. Your House can take it down in an instant. Your House can take anybody down.

& I hate the way the townspeople gather outside

they hang on every breath, cling to his chest, home to his heart full of pride

You hated walking by Maven as he stepped through the weak, poor Red cities. His stride was powerful, asserting his dominance over the people. And you stood by his side. The townspeople quaked from under your gaze, and your rectangle pupils starring into their hearts. One day, you swear, these people will know you well, will recognize your greatness. 

But they believe him. His lies, his deceits. And he knows what he's doing. He knows how the throne impacts them. He knows how this game is played and how he should be playing it, the weak Calore King. 

the oracle told him to beware the ides

And as you sit on the train next to him, he can't keep his eyes off of your devilish gaze. He rethinks his mother's plan over and over again. Marry the Lakelands princess, he assures himself. But he knows the cautions that come with it. He knows he won't make it to the ides of May if he brings a Lakelands into his home, nevertheless marry them. But as you smirk to him, tilting your head in his direction, he understands the greater cautions his mother warned him about you. Not to get too close to the child of Julian Jacos with the heavy heart. She warned him that you were born with the need for power, and he never understood why.

& I'd be lying if I said I wasn't wishing for untimely death or demise

You clench your fist as Maven takes his gaze upon the Lakelands princess. Iris stared at him back, trying to ignore your ungodly sight. Even Orrec takes a second glance in your direction, staring at your fiendish pupils. You wish to leave. You wish to forever get out of everybody's gaze and live for yourself. But everything happens for a reason, you know. Being here will lead you to victory. Will bring you closer to Maven. 

You don't know what you want anymore. As a child, you wanted his heart. You wanted everything to do with him. You wanted his bloodline, his throne, his mind and soul. But as you watch Orrec declare him the groom for his daughter, you realize what you truly want. 

or am I just wishing I could be like you?

You desire the title. You desire him, his clothes and his skin. The way his muscle crinkle from between his teeth. His eyes, bloodshot and filled with glory. The way his fingers clench around your throat and drown you in the fire. 

You want everything about it. You want it all. You want to be him. You want to be inside of his flesh, his skull pounding against yours. Anything you can do to make you him, get his titles and his name, get his crown, most of all. 

that the people would see me too as a poet 

and not just the muse

You hate walking by his side. Why can't you have more? Why can't you have him walking by your side? Why can't you lead the sentinels and the servant in your direction? The child of Julian Jacos, the beautiful artist getting overpowered by the lawful king. Well, maybe you can be king too, right? Be the beautiful poet of words and essays. Just how hard can it be? What would being a king like? You'd have Iris by your side. You'd have your mothers voice in your head, screaming at you every day. You'd miss your father, of course. You'd know you were born for murder, for the throne. You'd know what has to be done to be the most powerful one. 

oh it's not true, I don't wish harm upon you

may the gods strike me down if I forsake you

And as Maven slams you against his wall, the warmth of his firey hands taking over your body, you almost delete every negative emotion you have. His lips feel like the flame overcoming a dose of water, too bright to be executed. You tangle your fingers into his hair, the metal necklace around your neck shaking from all of the pleasure. He overcomes your being, he overcomes your mind. You love Maven Calore, the person you were raised to be with. And as your eyes shutter close, you want nothing more to be in his arms.

frater meus

Your heartbeat increases during the wedding when you stand next to Evangeline Samos. Her silver body; eyes, skin, clothes, and hair-- makes your entire body shake in envy. She gets to show her pride for her House, show off your power to the world while you're stuck with your father, Julian Jacos. The stupid, weak House of powerless people. And for a second, you miss your mother. The warrior, the one you taught you the throne and it's power. The one who made people chant your name in happiness. 

Evangeline Samos turns away from you, your eyes shaking her core more than anything in the world can.

you're beautifully made & to you, I'm forever grateful

I'll never forget that you showed me to make art

The wedding was beautiful, everything about it was beautiful. The flowers, the fountains, the explosions and treasury. How you longed for a sight. It's because of him that you get this feeling. You get to express yourself, watching the fire and the death right before your eyes as you stand where Maven and Iris once would. You're grateful, more grateful than you ever could be. This is everything you wanted. The Scarlet Guard makes your stomach tingle in anticipation. You don't think about Maven, you don't think about his touch. You just think about his crown. How much chaos you could cause. You despise how safe Maven has been playing the game. Think of all the destruction, the red blood; flame; flowers; ground. Think of all the red. Oh, how you love the color of red. 

and I know the love you showed me came from a pure & noble heart

Maven brushes his fingers in your hair as you both escape from the destruction. Iris sits away, her guard down. You could kill her now if you wanted, take Maven for yourself, and then take Maven for yourself. You could do so much. But instead, you do so little. You just hold Maven's face in your hands, starring at his sharp features. You kiss him, adoring every second of his lips. 

I love you & if you want I'll call you king

You love kissing him. The power you get from it.

You sit up, sitting on the seat with your knees as you lean over Maven, not letting him pull away from your touch. His lips feel like Heaven. You don't feel like the muse when you loom over him like this, casting your shadow against his body. He's beautiful like this. 

but why do I lie awake each night thinking 

instead of you, it should be me?

You pull away, not wanting to open your eyes. But when you do, you can't help but find your fingers wrapping around his throat. It's a simple caress. You do not squeeze, you do not push. Just knowing that anything you do can end him now as you stare down at your own shadow. He has a smile on his face, knowing every feeling he has you experiencing. He knows what to do to make you hate him, and everything to do to make you love him. Maybe his mother was right, but he knows how to tame beasts.

something wicked this way comes 

& as I set to face it I'm unsure should I embrace it, should I run?

what motivates me - hatred or is it love?

You lay awake in Maven's bed, next to him as he sleeps. He sleeps so easily by your side, cuddling in a way only a lover can hold another. You can taste the dreams when you kiss his forehead, the soft pull of emotions tingling your body. Your nails gently brush the flesh of his ear, moving down to his cheek and his lips. Your tongue pulsates, wishing to taste his taste. Wishing to be delighted with the victorious touch of Maven Calore, like a God giving their blessing. You just want him, everything about him. Your mind feels split in two; whether to adore everything he is or to take it for your own. 

Maven wakes up to an empty bed, his grip tightening when he realizes you aren't there. His mind races, something about your absent alarms. His room feels empty without your loud presence for him to soak. His heart still beats, like you're around. But everything in his room is missing, everything but a metal gown.

what's more wrong - that I too wish to be great or my mother wished she'd had a son?

You look at Maven, the metal clinging to your body like you just made it. Your silver fingers begin to bleed as you run your hands against the needles. You look like a Queen, a being greater than human. Maven begins to quake when you look down at him with angry in your eyes. 

He watches as the metal raises to your hands, being controlled by something he didn't know. His mother's words echo throughout his mind. The child of Julian Jacos with a need for power. Everything doesn't make sense. But his mind collects when you dart at him, the daggers raising in the air as they come plummeting down where he once lay. The sheets tear as he reaches for his fire bracelet. You look at it, controlling metal and breaking the bracelet in half before he can reach it. 

You walk up to him as he grips at his dresser. He doesn't fight back, not even when your fingers find their way to his jaw, your nails drawing lines against his skin.

"What are you?"

"A Silver, just like you, Maven." 

"You're nothing like me."

The metal bracelet around your wrist unhinges, snapping to his neck as it keeps him in place. Almost like a collar. 

and even if I can't be the one, maybe I could at least help make way for him until the day that he comes

You walk into the Silent-Stone covered room, where Anabel and Julian let you lie. Iris sits with her back away from you, her legs crossed and her form protected. Julian shifts his eyes away from you, not wanting to see the monster you had become. 

He remembers when your mother had cast you out. 

She had the idea that her kid would be a strong, manipulative warrior. Instead, she got a child with the exact opposite sex she had in mind. She had you, (Y/N) Samos. 

Julian took you in, trying to save you from your mother, who had tried to kill you. It was the first life he had ever taken. He told no one, all he wanted was for you to be safe. But as you grew, he realized how much she had poisoned you as a child. 

"Father." You say, lifting your chin. He doesn't look at you, blinking as he stares holes into the walls. Anabel stands, looking down at her grandson. She smiles, even for just a second. It's a smile you're too familiar with.

"Will you come with us?" She asks, ignoring Julian's tightened stance. You glance at Iris. Only for a second. But Maven's shivering tingles your palms.

"Of course."

maybe my name could also be known -

"Julian has a child?" Mare questions, the question more at Cal than you. Farley squints her eyes and you pretend not to notice.

"As much as he dislikes it, yes." You purr out, digging your nails into your arms as you cross them. Farley smiles, lifting her hand for you to shake. You look down at it, trying to convince yourself not to shake the hand of a Red. 

"For the one who brought us Maven Calore," she says with a smirk. You put your hand in hers, squeezing it tightly. 

Cal only stares down at you, noticing the small twitches in your form. He scans your body, noticing the color of silver and black match you surprisingly well.

that I helped return good to the people

and restored greatness to Rome

You remember walking through these tunnels with Maven before, but now that you actually do it, and with him and Tyton getting along, you find yourself amazed at how long they've managed to stay up. They have aged severely. You are fearful that they might just collapse on top of you at any moment. 

You are happy to find yourself back in Norta, the place you rule. You are happy to be recognized in your true house, colors dressed in black. You are happy to be making history, even with all of the gruesome sacrifices it has cost you. 

But you are happy to ride with the wave, pretend everything is fine as you fight for your country. Fight with Reds, but fight with Nortians nonetheless. And you keep your eye on Maven. You keep your eye on him as you have when you watched him your entire life. You even continue to watch him as he escapes, thinking himself alone as he heads to the Whitefire palace. As he heads to your kingdom.

my name is brutus and my name means heavy

And the moment he opens the doors you throw yourself in, piling yourself onto Maven as you run a hand through his hair. He pushes you off, angry in his gaze as he ignites his fire. A bracelet, you notice. 

You go for that first, bringing forth the metal in your hair and the strips laced into your flesh. He puts his hands forth, burning the top of your shoulder as you gasp.

You can feel the pain. It's loud and bright as you feel the flame digging into your tissue and muscle. You want to scream. You want to cry out to Julian. Anything to give the pain away.

You stare at Maven, your rectangle pupils shaking in anger as you lunge for his feet once he tries to run.

so with a heavy heart I'll guide this dagger into the heart of my enemy

You raise a slab of metal, pointing the tip as you bring it down. He puts his fist up to your face as he burns your flesh in the process. You collapse down, screaming in pain. Maven Calore did that to you. He must despise you so, hate you with everything in his being. That must be it. So you must kill everybody who hates you. Everybody who tries to bring you down. For you, too, have a destiny that needs to be fulfilled. You need to serve your birthright. 

When you turn around, you can't see him at all. All you can see is a vague silver covering your surroundings. Is that your blood or your burnt flesh, you can't tell. All you know is how to stand and how to pace the halls, looking for your Calore prince. 

You almost feel like a monster as you feel your skin peeling from your face. But you must still look beautiful, as when Maven makes eye contact with you, his face blushes a deep Silver color. He lifts up his weapon of choice, trying to shield his eyes from your face. As you step into the room, you almost choke. 

please know my actions are not motivated only by envy

"Maven," you plead with a weak voice as you step further into the Silent Stone. His gaze hardens as you place a hand on the table next to him, skin shaking and weak. He moves first, aiming for your face again before you step out of the way and jab him in the lungs with your fist. He stumbles a bit but gets enough control to dig his letter opener deep into your shoulder. 

I too have a destiny

You howl, growling as you collapse against a table. Maven steps back, breathing heavily as he stares down at you. You almost feel time stop as you think about that throne. This is all for that. This is all for your mother, the child she wanted. Was she happy with Ptolemus, the person soldier for her desire? Was she happy with Evangeline, born just for the future king? Is she going to be happy now, knowing her eldest child grew to be the ruler of Norta?

You pull the box cutter out of your shoulder, almost falling over as you jump for Maven. He barely dodges out of the way as you skim his chest.

this death will be art 

the people will speak of this day from near and afar

You see his blood, Silver and shiny as it sprays on your arm. Something inside of you twists and turns as you can't help but put the liquid in your mouth, licking it off of your limb. You don't pay attention as he tackles you, making you fall to the floor. You scream in pain, and for a second, all you see are his blue eyes. He tries to pull your fingers from their sockets as he desperately attempts to collect his box cutter from your grasp.

this event will be history 

& I'll be great too

You just stare at Maven, his eyes bright yet dull as he moves his attention from the weapon to your throat. You just lie limply, letting him take away your oxygen. You gurgle, too scared to fight back. You can see the veins of his eyes, forehead, and tongue fighting against his face as they pulsate. He is animalistic, living in his most primal mindset. All he wants to do is take your life, the one he loved for so long. The one that lied, that betrayed him and tried to take everything he earned. 

You smile, reminding yourself of all the sweet kisses and caresses you shared with him as you lift up your arm, 

I don't want what you have 

I wanna be you

digging the skin opener into his skull. He stills, eyes widened as he looks down at you. You stare into his soul, beaten in lips twitching as his blood drips into your mouth. His dead body hovers above you as you quickly take out the weapon, his blood spilling onto your body. It feels like Heaven, his warm liquids dripping into your open flesh. You savor the feeling as you feel your body getting weaker. Just one more thing, you want one more thing.

I always knew I could be the one

though I feel the endless pain of being & I am scorched by the sun

You always knew this would happen. You knew the end right when it began. And now, you limp through the halls, looking for the room you almost belonged in. The throne room.

The room is wet as water floods into it when you open the heavy door. You see the Silent Stone, how beautiful it looks rotten. It feels even more beautiful as you sit in it, collapsing in the throne. Your body feels weak. You feel like you can't move anymore. Every part of your body drips with blood, either yours or Mavens.

You don't want to die. You hate the thought. Thinking everything you did was for nothing. But now, as you place an invisible crown on your head, at least you'll die a King. A King like Maven, with his blood pumping through your veins. Your face, shoulder, and arm burn like the sun had given you a lovers kiss. 

of humble origins and born of the cursed sex

Is your mother proud? Knowing one of her children have made it? You wonder, if she had accepted you for the way you were born, would everything be different? Or would you stay in the same fate; bleeding to death on the Whitefire throne? Or would you have succeeded, been alive with a real crown on your head? Maybe if Julian was a better father, you wouldn't be dying right now. You almost laugh at the thought. It's everyones fault, you reckon. Everyone's fault you're dying alone, isn't is (Y/N)?

my name is Brutus but the people will call me Rex