Impure(WIP)

Velaris looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to speak. I averted my gaze, choosing to take in the details of my hands, noting the lack of old scars. How do I explain Castor?

“Taelia?” Velaris called, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Shall we begin with Castor or not? If I’m correct, he was important, yes?” Of course they already know. I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m dead. They’re just a Bridger. They know my life in its entirety. This is just for me to get used to these facts.

I nodded and looked back up at Velaris. They leaned back and gestured for me to start. Here goes nothing… I exhaled and started our story.

~ ~ ~

The evening after I endured the spectacle of ‘purification’ in Calcerverous, I was dumped on the border of the kingdom of Sylvyrial. I was so weak that I couldn’t move, not that the ropes keeping me bound helped. After what felt like hours, a carriage came up to the border. Royals. Armoured guards surrounded me as their king stepped out of the carriage. I couldn’t bring myself to move for a better look so instead I took in the details of his boots. They were decorated excessively, made of fine leather and adorned in precious metals and jewels.

“Lift them up.” The king’s voice was commanding and cold. As one of the guards lifted my body upright with ease, I had braced myself for whatever cruelty faced me before the sweet release of death. Instead I was met with the face of the king looking at me with a softness I hadn’t felt in a long while. “Free them.” The ropes holding me were quickly cut. The guard holding me set me down gently, letting go slightly only for their grip to return as my body started to fall at the loss of support. The king kneeled down, his wings resting on the ground as he spoke again.

“I’m Sylveros Ruby. What’s your name child?” The commanding king was gone, in his place was a soft spoken man, worried for the lonely child he stumbled upon.

“I’m…Taelia Belfire” My voice was barely above a whisper as I avoided his piercing gaze. I felt his hand gently brush against my shoulder, only for it to retract immediately with apologies spilling from his lips. “Are you here to kill me, Your Highness?” I asked, just waiting for his true intentions to be revealed. I looked back up to see the king’s face contorted to one of broken hearted shock.

“Miss Belfire…I’m so sorry that you’ve endured so many horrors that you think I’m here to kill you of all things.” The king’s hand rested on my shoulder lightly. “No, I’m not here to cause you any harm Taelia.” King Sylveros gave me a sad smile before letting his hand fall from my form. “I’m here to help you, if you'd like, Taelia. I’m here to offer you a home in my kingdom.”

I looked up at him, bewildered at his seemingly gentle nature. This wasn’t what I was taught in Calcerverous growing up. It was preached to all citizens to never cross the border if we wanted to avoid the wrath of The Blood King of Sylvyrial. But after everything that happened over the border and the look on the king’s face, I was more willing to take my chances with The Blood King.

“Why do you want to help me?” I asked, trying to seem commanding like him, despite my blood thrumming with fear. King Sylveros' gaze softened as his gentle smile wilted. His eyes roamed over the dried blood and bruises littering my body, lingering on the rope burns and tears misted his eyes as he looked past me.

“I want to help you because you deserve to exist, despite what your home told you. You’ve been hurt by a place that claims to love and protect all.” His gaze turned back to me. “You and others alike don't deserve the fate your kingdom forced you to have. They break you and send you over the border, hoping for me to get rid of their ‘problems’.” King Sylveros’ voice turned bitter as he spat out the last word like a poison. “Instead I choose to take them in. I bring all those broken and discarded to my kingdom and give them a home, somewhere for them to heal and grow from the old lives they led. I give people a place to be free. So, Taelia Belfire, do you accept my request to do the same for you?” The king held out his arms and looked at me, waiting for my answer.

My eyes flickered between his face and arms, searching for any sign of malice. Waiting for a slip of his mask so I could rationalize my fear for the situation. Seeing none, I tried to calm the panic flowing through my body as I made a choice that would change my existence. Not trusting my words, I looked at the king and gave a short nod. He gave a soft smile and waved the guards away, gently cradling me in his arms before my body could slump to the ground.

“You’re safe. You’re okay, I promise under my care that you won't be harmed ever again. I will keep you safe.” King Sylveros murmured a constant stream of reassurances as he carried my body to the open carriage. Stepping into the carriage, King Sylveros set me down into the plush seating before taking his place next to me. Across from me sat a wide-eyed boy. He was staring at me with intense curiosity. I stared back. The strange boy had wild hair, dark and purposely unkempt and bright blue eyes with oddly placed freckles dotting his skin. Speaking softly, King Sylveros made introductions as the carriage began to move.

“Taelia Belfire, this is my son, Castor Ruby. He wanted to accompany me on my journey to the border today. Castor, this is Taelia Belfire, she’s going to be joining the others so if you’d like to get to know her you’ll have to wait for her to get settled in.” Castor looked over my tattered clothing and disfigured appearance with unblinking eyes. Then his face split into a wide grin, his teeth sharp and slightly crooked. I’m not sure why the odd boy’s smile helped, but after seeing his flagrant display of carefree joy, I felt the fear I had start to finally ebb. I returned his smile hesitantly, and seeing my own grin made Castors that much wider.

“Pleasured to make your acquaintance Taelia! I’m Castor Ruby, Crown Prince of the Sylvyrial Kingdom.” Castor introduced himself brightly as he stuck his hand out to me. I just stared at it for a moment before he dropped it and continued his chatter. “You know, you look like you’d be awfully pretty under all that blood, don’t you think dad? Were you a princess before they sent you to us? You look like you’re around my age, are you? I’m twelve. My birthday is after the summer solstice. When’s your birthday? What’s it like at Calcerver-”

“Castor please don’t badger Miss Belfire like that, she’s just gotten here. Remember that we need to be gentle with our people. Especially those just joining our kingdom.” The king interrupted, stopping Castor's verbal stream. Castor looked at him, his face falling before he shook his head, nodding at his father with renewed determination.

“I’m sorry for talking too much Miss Belfire, I tend to get ahead of myself. We can talk more after you get settled in. It was a pleasure to meet you.” After those words, Castor fell into a lapse of silence for the rest of the journey, smiling to himself as he looked out the window. The inside of the carriage remained silent, King Sylveros glancing over at me every once in a while. My attention remained on Castor, confused how he was so happy that it looked effortless. There were times where he would look away from the window and catch me staring, making him smile wider at me before turning back to look outside.

Choosing to follow suit I looked out the window, taking in the lush valley we were traversing. Looking out the window in wonderment, I felt a hand on my shoulder again. Turning back, I saw King Sylveros looking at me with a warm smile. “We’ve made it to the kingdom Taelia. Welcome to Sylvyrial.”

The panic that was previously quelled returned at full force as I looked out the window to see the valley shifting to the raw obsidian walls that border the main city in Sylvyrial. I turned back to the Castor, looking for any answers to assuage the fear overcoming my body. He met my panicked gaze, and smiled.