Everything that weighs on my heart (2)

I went back to him and wiped away his forming tears with my thumb, "I’m sorry you’re taking it this way. It’s never brought me any joy to destroy lives, or to torment you. I did it because balance needs to be restored."

"What does that mean? That I’m your tribute because you blame my parents? Look at the state Father is in, isn’t that enough—"

"I’m not finished," I cut him off in a cold tone.

In a split second, I dropped all pretences and took his hand hostage. I was so fast he flinched, feeling his index finger bend dangerously close to its limit. My aura intensified until it engulfed him, radiating with my unwavering determination.

I let go of his finger when I judged he had had enough intimidation. "I’m not seeking revenge, I’m seeking to recover something that was unjustly stolen from me," I continued. "In truth, your family isn’t the only one responsible. I believe there were three parties involved. To win the Purgatory War twelve years ago, they would have allied and concocted a vile scheme. Like many others, I was just collateral damage in their machinations."

"My grandfather didn’t plot," he replied between sniffles. "He allied with the Revolutionaries to free and unite the people who had been oppressed by the other Wings families for centuries."

"No, Edwoyn. That’s the stupid censorship they fed you at school. The truth, I lived it. Like all the Wings, the Gasencourts wanted to seize Asyria, and you could say they succeeded: with the best assassin guilds in their pocket, the other families fell like houses of cards."

"You’re wrong. It was the Great Revolt, the people who overthrew the Wings—"

"And what better way to hide a massacre than a national revolt? It’s obvious they manipulated the Revolutionaries to become the grand heroes of the revolution. Otherwise, their group wouldn’t have mysteriously disappeared, leaving the throne to Elsmont. They wouldn’t have come back to kill you either."

The more Edwoyn learned, the more perplexed he became. If I were in his shoes, I’d have a hard time believing it too, without evidence.

"Is my family really behind this plot? You mentioned a third party, why would it be my family and not them?"

"Honestly, I think everyone tried to outwit everyone else, but the last group was craftier. That doesn’t mean the Gasencourts are innocent, quite the opposite."

"Who is this group?" The hurry in his voice rang like a command.

"I call them ‘the Traffickers.’ We don’t know much about them, except that De Ritella was in their pay and they created the prohibited weapons. Just before the Great Revolt, they distributed them to the seven Wings families. And when the assassins sent by the Revolutionaries showed up at six of them, what do you think happened?"

"That’s what Justine was talking about!" he realized, shocked. "Justine tried to assassinate an aristocrat Wing? Was that the mission that went wrong?"

"Yes. She and I lost everything because of that stupid war. I’m going to make them pay and get back what they took from me. I don’t care if I come off as the villain."

"What did they take from you, exactly? How I’m linked to that?"

"Enough of these revelations. As far as you’re concerned, it’s just a waste of time," I turned away.

"No, wait!" he grabbed me in a desperate attempt.

I paid no attention, seizing the violet nightgown with a firm grip, "Just let it happen, please. I don’t want to make this harder than it already is."

His panicked gaze landed on the elevated table where I had opened my necromancer journal. No matter what clues were within his reach, Edwoyn would never understand. The nobles wanted for nothing, swimming in hypocritical bliss... They had no idea what it felt like to watch a loved one get murdered before their eyes. To only remember their existence a decade later. To be the one misfortune relentlessly hounded while the guilty remained unpunished.

You don’t know what it’s like to be miserable and rejected. You know nothing.

"I know: they took your fiancé! And if I’m here, it’s to replace him, isn’t it? I’m right, aren’t I?"

I froze, shaken by powerful spasms. After a few seconds, I burst out laughing. My euphoria threw the boy into confusion, until I finally caught my breath, "It’s not my fiancé, it’s Big Brother! I have to admit, deep down, you’re not entirely wrong because he could’ve been! Well, I don’t really know... The thing is, a prohibited weapon stole my memories of him, but I’ll get the answer by bringing him back!"

"Bringing him back? He’s dead?"

"If he is, not for much longer... And that’s thanks to an remarkable magic called ‘necromancy’! Isn’t that amazing?"

My future vessel’s olive-green irises reflected a whole spectrum of terror.

Such a beautiful colour in such arrogant eyes... What a waste.

"Stop fooling yourself: a bit of magic won’t defy the laws of nature. He’s been missing for twelve years. You should grieve and let me—"

I slapped him without warning. How dare he? Prince or not, I couldn’t care less about his opinion, as much as I did about the Queen’s shopping list.

"Don’t tell me what to do. You’re in no position to. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted, they had no right to take it! I don’t even remember his name... His name, damn it! Whether I get revenge or become invincible or rich... Without Big Brother, everything is pointless, do you understand that? I’m completely useless, I... I…"

My arms fell limply. The void had returned to my shell. Without explanation, the beginnings of my anger evaporated as quickly as they had flared up.

Confide in yourself, Miss Aurora, you’ll see, it soothes the pains that eat away at you.

Big Brother's voice had just burst into my mind. I missed his voice so much!

So that was it... The prince had the ability to bring forth a fragment of my soul mate and his sweet memories within me. The first reason I had decided to spare my target came back to me.

Edwoyn resembled him; he reminded me of him both in appearance and in his docile nature. He had the power to reconnect me to Big Brother, one way or another.

That’s what made him… special.

In the end, I realized, the little shrimp had gotten the conversation he wanted. He had managed to clarify things by putting an end to our mutual ignorance.

The tension had completely dissipated, but he hadn’t won. Strangely, Edwoyn hadn’t gotten angry, even though I had just slapped him. He said nothing when I rested my filthy hands on his throat, where an ugly red mark had appeared. For the first time, he was being cooperative.

It’s a bit late for that, don’t you think?

Huddled in a silence heavy with accusations, he stared at me with a hint of pity. He couldn’t move, barely able to breathe. With no other options, he simply gazed inside me, right into my soul. He was like those carefree does facing the rifle of their hunter.

He was no longer afraid of me or my emptiness; I could feel it. He felt rather sorry for my misfortune, displaying an empathy I couldn’t accept.

All trash is the same, so why is this one so different?

The boy surrendered, unable to save himself. He simply accepted his fate with open arms. This was what should have happened a few weeks ago, and thus, things were only returning to their normal course.

Death, nothing more, nothing less.

But in his eyes, his soul screamed. He seemed to have some last words to say, so I release my grip a bit.

“I’m useless too, Aurora. Yet, that doesn’t stop me from moving forward to find a reason to be. Go ahead and try your necromancy if you think an empty puppet will make you happy; it’s not like I can stop you...”

I was no longer irritated with him or his nonsense. Let him say what he liked; as his last breath, I could grant him that.

“Goodbye, prince,” I concluded kindly. “It didn’t last long, but I had a lot of fun.”

~~~~

My target’s cheeks began to turn blue under my grip. He had lost consciousness for a while. Suffocating someone takes much longer than one might think—at least four minutes, because the body fights back in a final survival reflex.

Suddenly, his eyes flew open wide. Two blue orbs, bright as lightning piercing the sky on a stormy night. Calming Edwoyn had done nothing. Now Evil Edwoyn was completely awake.

His right hand abruptly tore through the magically reinforced strap. He seized my wrists and crushed them with disconcerting ease. I was forced to release his neck under the pressure.

“You’re lucky I can’t kill you,” his voice cut through, distorted by magic.

I gave him a lewd smile.

I knew you could talk, my little magical malfunction!

“I return the compliment. Now, you’re going to tell me what you’re doing in my vessel. Where’s your weapon?”

His grip tightened, and his murderous aura intensified, “Keep Nathan out of this.”

“What else? I’ve invested too much to turn back now. I doubt you can offer me anything that interests me more than Big Brother... So do me the favour of clearing out.”

“The Prince of Light... Would that interest you, by any chance?”

My surprise sparked an arrogant smirk on his lips, "They’re conducting irreversible operations on souls. Nathan has fared rather well, but there’s no guarantee of survival. They’ve also harmed your Prince of Light, haven’t they?"

I’m the one asking the questions.

The creature released me, though it still bore a grudge. I took the opportunity to heal my now purplish hand. I didn’t care about its compassion. That wasn’t how one earned my trust. For that, I needed at least satisfactory answers.

“Are the Traffickers in possession of Big Brother, yes or no?”

“What’s left of him, at least.”

“How so? Where are they? What are they doing with the weapons?! Spill everything you know, or I won’t hesitate to torture your little protégé!”

“I don’t possess that information,” the entity retorted. “There was no weapon, and nothing says they were your ‘Traffickers.’ I’ve only heard humans utter that name from my cell. It’s been a while, you know... Now, stop threatening Nathan; he can’t help you. I, on the other hand, can surely assist you.”

The fact that my interlocutor wasn’t succumbing to its primitive impulses raised my suspicion. Its kind had always had one goal in life: to slaughter as many humans as possible without distinction. Yet the creature before me didn’t seem to follow this rule. Why would it have any interest in keeping Edwoyn alive? What were its true intentions behind this offer?

“And what’s to stop you from stabbing me in the back? I’ve dealt with your kind before, you know.”

“You’re not the only one seeking revenge. If I stab someone, it will be the humans who locked me in this body first! I swear on my horns.”

“Where? I don’t see any horns. Are you sure you’re a demon?”

The creature inhabiting Edwoyn shot me a quiet dark look.

“Ugh, okay, okay…” I backtracked. “Demons have no sense of humour, noted... And by any chance, do you have a sense for business? I happen to have a deal to propose to you...”

Life is a game, and I had just gathered all the conditions to start a new round. But while I had always won on my own, this round would be played as a team...

[END of Vol.1]