KravingCandy - **Fic - Denise - Inside Syra's Walls11-19**

Maridria woke to find a pair of masculine arms wrapped around her. Smiling she snuggled into Seprathier’s sleeping form. Last night had been… well, amazing again. And he’d told her he wasn’t going to be ignoring her again, and that he wanted more. Her heart had beat even faster at that. She didn’t know what they had, but it was obviously something.

She had to admit it was kinda cruel of her to stop right then and ask him that last night, but how else was she going to find out? The guy refused to tell her exactly what he was thinking. Although she had to admit she didn’t really know what was going on between them, so maybe he felt the same.

She felt the light touch of his lips against her forehead and heard the unmistakable “Morning ‘Ria.” She smiled at the familiar nickname.

“Morning Sep,” she replied, lifting her head so that she could lightly touch her lips to his.

When they pulled apart she saw his eyebrows raise slightly. “Sep?”

She shrugged. “What, you expect me to say Seprathier every time when you just have to say ‘Ria?” She shook her head. “I don’t think so buddy.”

He shook his head, grinning slightly. “Just not in public.”

“Why, because its embarrassing or because you don’t want anyone to know?” she asked, curious.

He looked down. “Both.”

She reached forward, stroking his cheek lightly. “That’s okay,” she replied smiling. After all, they didn’t even know what they were, she didn’t expect him to explain it to others. And anyway, at least this way she got him at all. “Just as long as you don’t completely diss me again.” She glared at him warningly.

He smirked at her, sighing. “Okay.”

She smiled, slapping him lightly on the arm for his sigh. “Good.”

Lying her head against his chest she shut her eyes, taking in the slight rise and fall of his chest and the feel of his hand lightly stroking her back. She smiled. This felt right. Perfect.

***

“Hey,” Maridria said, placing a drink in front of Seprathier.

“Hey,” he replied, smiling at her. She returned the smile, pleased that he had actually acknowledged in public. “Been busy?”

Whoa, now she wasn’t expecting that. He was actually talking to her.

“Not really,” she replied. “Just you and the queen.”

“Tes,” Tesavarina corrected. “Geez, I’m twenty years old, why do you always insist on calling me the queen.”

“Sorry, Tes,” she smiled at her. “And a few nobles earlier,” she continued. “How many nobles live in the castle anyway?” she asked, curious.

Seprathier shrugged. “Um, well there’s about seven advisors, four military, and then about five others. They all live in th lower wings though.”

She nodded. “Yeah,” she replied, avoiding Tesavarina’s curious gaze.

She stared at Seprathier a moment, knowing she was supposed to be doing something instead of just standing there. “Oh, I better go get your food,” she said, pointing towards the kitchen, ignoring the sound of Tesavarina’s laughter behind her.

***

Maridria watched as Seprather stood, about to leave. He smiled at her and Tesavarina. “Bye.”

“Bye,” she echoed, hearing Tesavarina do the same. Ignoring Tesavarina’s curious gaze she walked into the kitchen.

“Maridria.”

Grabbing a drink she walked back into the dining room, sitting down next to the queen. “Yes?”

“Seprath was certainly acting usually today,” she commented.

Maridria just shrugged. “I guess.”

Tesavarina raised her eyebrows. “I wonder why. He especially paid a lot more attention to you than he did two days ago.”

She smiled. “Yeah, he actually answered me today,” she replied, feeling uncomfortable.

Tesavarina nodded. “What’s going on between you?” she asked.

Maridria blinked, startled by the direct question. “What?”

“Look, I’m not completely stupid, I know something’s going on. I would think that you two were sleeping together but if you had Seprath certainly wouldn’t be acting like this now.”

“Really?” She tried to hide her grin.

Tesavarina looked at her curiously. “Well, he never has with anyone else before. Once he’s been with you its all over.”

She bit her lip, nodding.

“So what is going on?”

“Nothing,” she replied, shrugging her shoulders slightly. She wondered why she was so comfortable talking to Tesavarina. After all, she was the queen of Antar whereas Maridria was merely a country girl. “So you’re only twenty?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

Tesavarina looked surprised by the question. “Yes. What, did you think I was like fifty or something?” She gave her a horrified look.

Maridria laughed. “No, of course not. I figured you were about twenty but… well, isn’t that quite young for a queen?”

Tesavarina shrugged her shoulders. “I guess, I’m not really sure. Zan’s only twenty-four, but he was forced into being king about a year ago when his father died.”

“What of?” she asked, curious. The previous king’s death had never really been publicised. All she knew was that Zander had been crowned the new king about a year ago.

“Old age,” Tesavarina replied. “At least that’s what I heard. No battles or attacks at the time so I guess that’s what it must have been. So that’s why we’re all so young, because his father died. And then of course Zan chose Seprath as his right hand man and then decided that he should marry his sister. Of course neither of them actually want the marriage,” she added.

She nodded. She didn’t know why Zander would want to force his sister and best friend into a marriage they didn’t want.

“Yeah, so we’re all quite young for people so high up in ruling matters,” Tesavarina continued. “Which some of the older nobles don’t like. They don’t believe that Zan is taking the threat of Khivar seriously enough, and they want him to take action about it.” She shrugged. “But Khivar hasn’t done anything in five years, and in four of those Zan’s father was still ruling, so why should Zan take action now?”

Maridria nodded. “So you don’t think Khivar will attack?”

Tesavarina considered that for a moment. “Well, honestly I don’t know, I mean, anything is possible. But seeing as nothing’s happened for five years I don’t think anyone expects anything to be happening with Khivar any time soon.”

***

Maridria gave the four nobles eating dinner their dessert before stopping at Seprathier’s table, where he ate alone. The king and queen had decided to eat out tonight, and the five of them were the only people who had occupied the room all evening.

“Anything else you want.”

Glancing around the room quickly Seprathier grabbed her wrist, pulling her down so she was sitting in his lap. “Stay with me again tonight?”

She blushed, standing up and straightening her uniform. “I want to,” she murmured. “But my roommate’s going to wonder where I am.”

He just shrugged. “Call her.”

She considered that for a moment. She so wanted to stay with him again tonight, but she didn’t want to neglect Eliazesha. After all she had been a great friend to her ever since she had arrived, and they had mentioned something about hanging out tonight. But then, they hadn’t made any definite plans, and she did want to stay with Seprathier. “Okay.”

He smiled. “Great.” They watched as the four nobles got up and left the room. “Should we go now.”

“Just let me clean up,” she replied.

A few minutes later they were in his living chambers. He pointed her towards the phone. “Press ‘one’ to get out,” he told her.

“To get out?” she asked, confused.

He looked at her. “You know, to get an external line so you can ring out of the castle.” He laughed slightly.

“Hey,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “I come from the country, we don’t have external lines or whatever, how was I supposed to know?”

He stopped laughing and planted a quick kiss on her lips. “Sorry.”

“You should be.” She grinned, picking up the phone. She dialed the number, feeling his lips on his neck as it rang. She pushed him away. “I’m trying to talk.”

“Hello?” she heard Eliazesha answer.

“Hey ‘Lia,” she replied. “It’s me.”

“Hey,” Eliazesha replied. “Where are you?”

“Um, look, I’m not going to come home tonight, okay?”

She could pratically see the shocked expression on her friend’s face. “Are you with him?” Eliazesha asked eventually.

“Yes,” she replied, feeling Seprathier’s eyes on her.

“Mmm-hmm,” came the reply.

“Yeah, okay, so see you tomorrow.”

“Yep,” her friend replied. “Have fun.” She could hear the grin in Eliazesha’s voice.

Hanging up the phone she turned to Seprathier. She walked over to him, swaying her hips slightly as she did so. “Well I’m all yours now.”

He grinned at her, pulling her towards him and catching her lips in a passionate kiss.

A few days later Seprathier was pacing furiously back and forth in Zander’s office. Zander just watched, not knowing what to say when his friend was like this. His unusually calm nature of the past few days had disappeared, replaced by angry hatred.

“Look Seprath,” he began cautiously. “I know you’re mad, but this is no reason to go an attack someone who hasn’t even threatened us for five years.”

“The hell it’s not,” Seprathier replied, stopping in his pacing to stare at him. “God Zan, five years have gone by and still no one has done anything. No one has punished Khivar for what happened.”

Zander sighed. “Look, I wasn’t even in power back then, so it’s not my fault okay? Besides it wasn’t just Khivar, the whole thing was a bloodbath, people attacking and dying on both sides. It’s better to forget it and not stir it up, we don’t want it happening again.”

Seprathier snorted. “You think I don’t know it was a bloodbath? Don’t know what it was really like. I was there. I saw Nikolas-“

“I know,” Zander replied, not wanting to revisit that particular moment right now. “Look I know what happened, and I know its exactly five years since it did, but stirring it all up now is not going to accomplish anything.”

Seprathier glared at him. “How do you know that bringing it up won’t accomplish anything? Why is it that some nobles don’t like you being king because they think you haven’t handled the Khivar thing properly. What-“

“The reason they don’t like me being king is because I’m a lot younger than them and they’re jealous I have the power over them and chose you as my second in command. They are using the Khivar thing as an excuse.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” came Seprathier’s reply.

“Seprathier,” he said slowly, sighing in relief when he actually looked at him, the glare leaving his face. “I know why you’re this upset, I know that its exactly five years since it happened, but the rest of the year you’re not like this, not all out for revenge. Why do you think that is? You just need to calm down. Getting all worked up is not going to solve anything.”

“Calm down?” Zander flinched slightly as Seprathier’s anger rose once again. “Calm down.” He snorted, storming out of the room. “Zan, you don’t understand anything. You can’t understand anything. Your father died of old age. He wasn’t killed!”

***

Maridria had just arrived at the castle and was making her way to the kitchen to start her lunch shift when she collided with Seprathier.

“Hey,” she said, smiling at him.

He glared at her. “What are you doing?”

She raised her eyebrows, narrowing her eyes at him. “I see you’re back to being a bastard,” she commented.

His expression softened slightly for a moment, before he pushed passed her. “I’m not in the mood for this right now.

She stared after him for a moment, stunned. She turned around, grabbing his arm. “You’re not in the mood for what right now?”

He just glared at her, angrily shifting his weight from one foot to another. She took in his set jaw and wild eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he replied sharply.

“Yeah, whatever,” she replied, running her hand lightly up his arm.

He looked down at it for a moment. “You wouldn’t understand,” he said. His voice had softened slightly.

“You don’t know that for sure,” she replied, her eyes pleading with his.

He frowned. “Don’t you have to work anyway?”

She sighed, she’d completely forgotten about that. “Yeah, I guess. But please, will you tell me? What if I see if Cassarina will cover for me during the afternoon and come see you then?”

He sighed, but she could tell he was weakening. Whatever it was she knew it was bugging him, and it would be better if he would just talk about it. She had a feeling that he even might want to. After all it seemed like he was already giving in.

“Maybe.”

“Maybe,” she asked, reaching a hand up to stroke his face. “How about a yes?”

“Fine.”

She smiled, leaning up to kiss him. “Okay, I’ll see you then.”

***

Vilandra pressed her hand against the scanner, walking into the exclusive section of the garden once the gate opened. Quickly surveying the area to make sure their were no other royals or people with exclusive access in the garden she raced towards the far wall, feeling her way along it until she found the hidden switch only she knew about. She had accidentally found it one day and as far as she knew know one else knew it existed.

Flicking the switch she watched as the lower part of the wall rose. Ducking down and rolling under it she was soon on the other side – out of the castle and out of Syra.

A walkway, though barely used, made its way along the entire wall that surrounded the city. Why anyone would want to walk around the walkway Vilandra had no idea, after all, due to the size of the city, it would probably take over a day.

Lowering herself to the ground she leant against the wall, making sure no one was able to see her from the castle. Due to the height of the walls though, she was sure no one would be able to see her. And no one had ever noticed her out there before.

A few minutes later Khivar, wearing a hat and sunglasses which hid his face, arrived on a motorbike to pick her up. Standing up she hopped on, and they roared off along the path until they reached the gateway, before heading towards the countryside.

***

Khivar watched from the distance as Vilandra was cleared through the entry gates of Syra. They had just spent the day together in an empty field in the country nearby. Due to their status they were unable to visit any well populated areas, or just any area where people could recognize them and threaten to tell. He couldn’t afford everything to be jeopardized now.

He had enjoyed the day. They had had a picnic lunch in the field, followed by sex, and then a conversation about their plans for peace. She had tried to convince him to confront Zander soon, but there was still things to be done before that could happen.

He watched as her blonde hair disappeared into the crowds of Syra. He was quite fond of her. He had a feeling that he might actually miss her.
Maridria had gotten Cassarina to cover for her and was now knocking on the door to Seprathier’s living chambers. He opened the door.

“Hey,” she said, smiling at him. He had calmed slightly, but was still looking angry.

“Hey, wasn’t sure if you’d come,” he replied.

“Really?” She raised her eyebrows. “Of course I did.” She walked into his chambers, pulling him to sit next to him on the couch. “So what’s wrong?”

He looked at her for a moment, as if considering something. “It’s just,” he paused. “Look, you wouldn’t understand.”

She leant in closer, running her hand lightly up his arm. “You don’t know that for sure, maybe I will. Besides, it’s better to talk about things, not let them bottle up inside of you.”

He took a deep breath, and she squeezed his hand. “Okay,” he began. “Five years ago, when I was seventeen, I was in the military, fighting in the major battle between us and Khivar.”

Maridria nodded. She remembered that battle, it had gone on for a few months, and there were many casualties. It was the last of many attacks by Khivar and his army, and had occurred not long after the cities were segregated.

Seprathier closed his eyes for a moment. He swallowed audibly then continued. “It was exactly five years ago today, only a few days before the battle ended, when Khivar’s troops made it into the castle. They’d already broken through Syra’s gates and the city was in chaos.”

She bit her lip, nodding her head as he continued.

“Nikolas was among the men attacking the castle.” He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Maridria watched him, wondering where this was going, wondering what it was that pained him so much.

“I was fighting alongside my father, among others,” he continued. “My mother was there too, I’m not exactly sure why, maybe she was already in that area of the castle when Khivar’s army attacked and got caught up in it all. I watched,” he paused, looking down at their intertwined hands for a moment before returning his gaze to her. “I watched as Nikolas stepped forward. I saw him kill them. Both of them with the same sword.”

She stared at him for a moment, feeling her eyes watering slightly. “Seprathier,” she said, wrapping her arms around him. She could feel him shaking in her arms.

“I lunged at him, wounding him with my own sword. But it didn’t really harm him much in the long run, and he was swept away with the rest of the army.” He swallowed, looking at her. “He’s still alive. He killed them both, and many others too, yet he got away. My father was the head of the military, yet they let him get away with it.”

She nodded, biting her lip as she whispered soothing words to him. Now she understood why he hated Sakinians so much.

“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s the day it happened, it’s okay to be angry.”

His intense brown eyes boring into hers. “Really?”

“Yes,” she nodded. “My father left us when I was about seven, and I still get angry about that.”

“You do?” his voice was soft.

“Yes,” she replied, lightly touching her lips to his. “And don’t worry, I’m sure Nikolas will get what he deserves in the end.”

***

Tesavarina curled up next to Zander on the bed. “Are you okay?” she asked, laying her head on his chest and running her fingers lightly up his arm.

She felt him nod before planting a kiss on her forehead. “Just stressed.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she told him, tilting her head up to his. “He always gets this way at this time of the year, he’ll get over it.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” he brushed a few strands of her curly blonde hair out of her face.

She moved slightly so she was lying next to him, propping her herself up on her elbow so she was looking at him. “You understand why though, don’t you?”

He shrugged. “It has been five years.”

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Yeah,” she began slowly. “But his parents were murdered right in front of his eyes, that’s not something you forget.”

“My father died last year,” Zander said. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to go crazy every anniversary of his death.”

“People cope differently,” she told her husband. “His sister moved to the country straight after it happened and hasn’t returned to the city since. Lauriana was only fifteen when it happened, she’s only my age now. And look how she coped. When was the last time he even saw her? It’s like he has no family left.” She paused for a moment. “I miss her.” She looked at Zander for a moment. “Zan, after five years I still miss her, and she’s not even dead. Isn’t he allowed to feel something for the fact that his parent’s murderer is still out there?”

She felt Zander’s eyes on her as she turned away from him, biting her lip. Seprathier’s younger sister Lauriana had been one of her best friends, and she had barely spoken to her since she’d moved. Sure Lauriana had tried to server all ties with the castle and Syra, but she should have tried harder.

“Tes, you’re right,” Zander said, turning her face back towards his. “It’s only a few days a year, I guess I should be more understanding.”

Tesavarina nodded. “Yeah. Nikolas is still out there, even I don’t like that, why on Antar should he?”

“But Tes,” he was staring in her eyes curiously. “There hasn’t been an attack for five years. Nikolas isn’t a threat now.”

“Do you truly believe that?” she asked.

He nodded. “Of course I do. Why would Khivar and Nikolas all of a sudden attack us unprovoked after five years?”

She nodded her head slowly. That was true. But still, she didn’t have a good feeling about it.

***

Khivar stared at the plans laid out in front of him. He knew that with Vilandra’s co-operation they could get in the secret exit, but he had to memorize the castle plans as well, had to know where the king would be the moment he arrived.

He turned to Nikolas, the strongest and most powerful member of his army. Nikolas was the only other person privy to the information. The rest of the army knew an attack was near, but had no idea of the specifics.

“You’ll need to meet Vilandra a few more times before it happens,” Nikolas told him. “Not only to set up the date and our entry time, but also to subtly find out the specifics of where the king will be. Not to mention Seprathier.”

Nikolas had been longing to get back at Seprathier for five long years now. During the last battle Seprathier had badly wounded him, and he longed for revenge. Khivar also knew he wanted to kill the new military leader, Seprathier’s father and mother had been has greatest victory.

Khivar nodded. “Don’t worry, it’s almost time.” After five long years of planning, of waiting for the right moment, it was finally time. The Vilandra plan was working perfectly. She suspected nothing, and was providing them with all the information they needed. Using Vilandra to get to Zander had been his greatest idea yet.

“How long?” Nikolas asked.

“One month.”
He smiled at Maridria as she cleaned up after her dinner shift that night. It had been over three weeks since he had told her about his parents, and he still had no idea why. All he knew was that when he was with her he wanted to let her in, let her know him. And as scary as it was, he had a feeling he was letting her in.

She crossed the empty dining room to stand next to him. He grabbed her waist, pulling her to him and kissing her.

When they pulled apart, both breathless, she grinned at him, before realising where she was. “We’re in public,” she singsonged.

He shrugged. “No one’s here.”

She smiled at that, and he pulled her close. Lowering his lips to hers his arms wrapped securely around her, pulling her up so her legs were wrapped around his waist. Backing her onto a table and setting her down on it his hands roamed her body while his lips sucked on her neck.

“Mmm,” she murmured. He lightly nipped her neck, moving his lips back up to her lips. He gazed into her emerald green eyes for a moment before shutting his again.

He felt her lips leave his, planting featherlight kisses along his jaw. Her hands were running over his stomach under his top, and he had the presence of mind to realise that this was probably not the best place to do this.

He opened his eyes, moving his head away from her lips. “We should go to my room,” he told her, capturing her lips in a quick kiss.

He felt her nod, capturing his lower lip between her teeth as she pulled away. “Okay,” she replied. “But, um, I probably shouldn’t stay the night again,” she told him.

He looked at her confused. Their faces were still only millimetres away, and he ran his tongue along her lips. “Why not.”

She shrugged. “Because I’ve barely been home in the past few weeks,” she replied.

“So?”

“So I probably should go home,” she replied.

He nodded. “I could stay at your place,” he suggested.

He eyebrows rose at that. “You want to?”

“Sure,” he replied, shrugging. “After all, you always stay at my place.”

“True,” she replied, kissing him lightly. “Like now?”

“Yeah,” he replied, grabbing her hand and pulling her up.

So, he wanted to see where Maridria lived. So he wanted to stay at her place. There was nothing unusual about that was there?

So what that he’d never stayed the night at a girl’s place before.

***

They arrived at her building, and Maridria couldn’t help but feeling slightly self-conscious as she pressed the button to call the elevator. After all, Seprathier was used to living in a castle, whereas she only lived in a simple apartment.

The lift arrived and she punched the button for level 11, feeling his eyes on her.

“Why are you so quiet?” he asked her.

She turned to look at him. “I’m not quiet.”

He laughed. “Well, you’re not saying anything as opposed to your normal chattering away, so I think that constitutes as being quiet.”

She just shrugged, focusing her gaze at the buttons as the elevator made is ascent.

“Well?”

She bit her lip, knowing she had to tell him something. “Well, have you ever been in an apartment like this before?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so. Why?”

“It’s different from the castle,” she said softly.

He looked at her confused, lifting her head to look at him. “So? It’s an apartment, I don’t care.”

“You don’t? But you're used to-“ The bell dinged as the doors opened, cutting her off.

He grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the elevator. “Is that what you’re worried about? That I won’t like your apartment or something?” She nodded. “I don’t care about that.”

“Oh.” She blushed, concentrating on unlocking the apartment and avoiding his gaze.

They walked into the room. Maridria noticed Eliazesha sitting on the couch looking out the window. “Hey ‘Lia,” she said as Seprathier wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

Eliazesha turned to look at them. “Hey Ri-“ She noticed Seprathier also standing there and Maridria watched as her friend’s eyes widened and she fell off the couch in shock. Maridria had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

Seprathier looked at her curiously for a moment before returning his attention back to Eliazesha, who was now standing up and walking over to them.

“Oh my god,” she said, staring at Seprathier. “Hi.”

Seprathier smirked, raising his eyebrows at her. “Hi.”

Maridria smiled at her friend. “Sep’s staying the night here,” she explained.

Eliazesha’s eyes widened at that. “Here?”

She felt bad for Eliazesha, she looked so shocked and confused. Of course, Eliazesha knew about what was going on with her and the king’s second in command, but Maridria knew that he was the last person that she had expected to see in the apartment, so that’s why she was so shocked. Maridria herself was surprised that Seprathier had wanted to stay over at her place.

“Um, do you want to go sit on the couch,” she said to Seprathier, gesturing her hands towards the couch while tilting her head in Eliazesha’s direction to convey that she wanted to talk to her for a few moments. Seprathier just nodded, placing a light kiss on her cheek, before walking over to the couch.

“Are you okay?” she asked her friend.

Eliazesha’s eyebrows raised. “Well, considering that I wasn’t expecting the second most important person on the planet to just walk in our front door, I think I’m coping quite well.”

She grinned. “Really?”

“Yes.” Eliazesha looked over in Seprathier’s direction, grimacing slightly. “Oh god, he must think I’m the biggest freak on Antar.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” she reassured her.

“Wasn’t that bad? I could barely say two words!”

That was true. “Well…”

Eliazesha waved her hand in front of Maridria’s face, silencing her. “Look, I’m just gonna go now okay?” she said.

“What? No. You don’t have to. I didn’t mean for you to-“

“No, no, it’s okay,” Eliazesha said, cutting her off. “I think I’ve already embarrassed myself enough for one night, no point in adding any more to that. I’ll see you later okay?” She smiled, making her way to the door. “Bye.”

***

Seprathier smirked as Maridria made her way over to the couch where he was sitting. “Interesting friend,” he commented.

Maridria bit her lip, standing in front of him. “Yeah, well right now I’m sure she’s thinking she just made a huge idiot of herself. She’s not usually like that, she was just surprised.”

“I know,” he replied. He had figured that she wasn’t usually like that. And people had acted strangely around him before, even when they were expecting him to be there too.

“Good.” She smiled at him, running a hand through her hair. That action caused Seprathier to quickly grab her, pulling her down onto the couch next to him. She smiled suggestively at him. “Ready to finish what we started earlier?”

“God yeah,” he replied, catching her lips with his as she melted against him. He pulled back when a thought crossed his mind. “Wait, she’s not just going out for a minute or something is she?”

Maridria trailed her hands up under his shirt, tracing patterns on his chest and stomach. “I don’t think so. I think she’s feeling quite stupid right now, you know? And I think she wants to give us space.”

He nodded, attaching his lips to her neck. He could feel her pulse racing as he sucked lightly on the tender flesh.

“Mmm,” she moaned, moving her hands around to his back to pull him even closer. Pulling back from her neck he kissed his way down to her shoulders, unzipping her uniform to allow him more access.

He loved the taste of her skin, the silky smooth feel of it under his lips. She was amazing, totally amazing. He didn’t know how she made him feel like this, like he’d never felt before, but he hoped it wouldn’t ever stop.

“Seprath,” her voice was soft as she moaned his name, her hands tangling themselves in his hair as he kissed his way back up towards her mouth. Reaching it he kissed her passionately, trying to convey all that he was feeling right now with that kiss. Her hands were pulling him even closer to her.

And then all of a sudden they were pushing him away. He moaned at the loss of her mouth on his.

Opening his eyes her looked at her. She smiled seductively, and hand trailing down towards the button of his pants. “I think we should probably move to the bedroom,” she murmured quietly, deftly undoing his pants as she said it.

He simply nodded, not trusting his voice right now. He picked her up, carrying her towards the bedroom she pointed to as her lips lightly suckled his neck.

She was definitely amazing. Totally and completely the most amazing woman he had ever met.

And, god help him, he had a feeling he was falling totally in love with her.
Tesavarina navigated her way through the castle’s corridors towards the dining room. She was meeting a friend of hers who also lived in the castle there for lunch. Although she was about quarter of an hour earlier, but she didn’t mind, figuring she’d talk to Maridria or other diners.

Nearer the room she was surprised to hear laughing floating out from the room, and was even more surprised to see Maridria sitting in Seprathier’s lap as she entered the room. The two of them had their backs to her and apart from them the room was empty.

She stared at them in shock. She had known their was something going on with them, she’d seen the looks they gave each other, but thought the looks had more to do with the fact that they both wanted each other but wouldn’t admit it than with them actually being together. She couldn’t believe it, was Seprathier actually in a relationship with a girl?

She watched as Maridria leaned in to him and they kissed, arms encircling each other. When they pulled apart Maridria froze, and Tesavarina knew she had noticed her.

Seprathier also turned around, the expression of shock on his face mirroring Maridria’s. Tesavarina watched as Maridria jumped off his lap, standing beside him and straightening her uniform.

“Hey,” she smiled at her. “Would you like anything?”

Tesavarina shook her head, moving over to the table Seprathier was occupying and sitting down there, motioning for Maridria to do the same.

“I can’t believe it,” she told them. “How long has this been going on?”

She saw them exchange a glance and thought for a second that Maridria was going to say ‘how long has what been going on?’ But her mouth closed and Tesavarina knew she’d thought better of it.

Maridria shrugged. “Um… over a month.”

Tesavarina looked at them in shock. Over a month? She couldn’t believe it! Firstly they had been together a month and she hadn’t realised it. And secondly, and most importantly, Seprathier had been with a girl for over a month? That was amazing.

She smiled, turning to look at Seprathier. “Over a month, huh?” she asked, raising her eyebrows at him. He just rolled his eyes at her.

***

Tesavarina smiled at Maridria once Seprathier and her friend had left. Separately of course. She was supposed to be spending the afternoon with her friend, but had stayed behind, claiming she needed to talk to Maridria, which was true. “I can’t believe it,” she said.

Maridria turned to look at her, confused. “What?”

“You and Seprath,” she replied.

Realisation dawned in Maridria’s eyes. “Oh, that.”

Tesavarina nodded. “I mean, I knew there was something going on between you guys, but I had no idea what it was, let alone the fact that you guys have been together for over a month. God, I can’t even believe Seprath’s been with a woman for over a month!”

Maridria grinned. “That amazing?”

She nodded emphatically. “Yes! We’re talking about the guy who can’t even commit to a girl for more than one night. Yet you are actually in a relationship with him!”

Tesavarina noticed Maridria’s pleased smile at that.

“So, spill,” she said. “How did it happen?”

Maridria shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure. I mean, one day he kisses me, then the next we sleep together, and, unsurprisingly, he avoids me. So I kinda yelled at him or something, and then we just kinda ended up together.” She smiled contentedly.

Tesavarina nodded. “You’re a very lucky girl, you know. A lot of girl’s have tried to get Seprath, but none have ever succeeded. Yet you, well, it’s obvious he really likes you.”

“It is?”

“Yep. And you really like him?” she asked, not doubting that she did.

Maridria nodded. “I think I’m in love with him.”

***

Tesavarina burst into Zander’s office, a huge smile on her face. Zander looked up at her, confused. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

“You’ll never guess what I just found out,” she said, sitting on the desk in front of him.

He took in his wife’s long, tanned legs, running a hand down one of them. “What did you just find out?” he asked.

“Seprath and Maridria are together.” She said it cheerfully with a large grin on her face.

Zander’s mouth dropped open in shock. “You can’t be serious.”

She nodded. “Sure am. I walked into the dining room to find her sitting in his lap, kissing. Apparently it’s been going on for almost a month.” She paused for a moment, and Zander could feel her eyes examining his face. “I think he really cares about her. Like, serious.”

“Really? Seprath and Maridria?” Seprathier was actually in a relationship with a woman? And not any woman, but a woman Zander thought he couldn’t stand.

“I knew there was something going on from the way the acted around each other,” Tesavarina continued. He was confused, the way they acted around each other? He hadn’t noticed anything unusual about the way they had acted around each other. Not that he really paid much attention to it, but he thought he would have noticed anything unusual.

Tesavarina leaned closer, running her hand up his arm, sending tingle’s down his spine with her gentle touch. “I take it your surprised? Look, it’s serious, I know it is. And you know he doesn’t want to be with Vilandra. Why ruin his happiness by forcing them to be together.”

“Happiness?” Zander questioned.

Tesavarina raised her eyebrows. “Surely you’ve noticed he’s seemed calmer lately. I’m sure that must have something to do with Maridria. I’ve seen them together, they’re suited to be together, unlike some forced marriage between him and your sister.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “I know V also wants out, but do you think she’d want to be let of it if it meant the whole country knew she was scorned by Seprathier?”

“I don’t know,” she replied. “She might. Talk to her.”

Zander sighed. He didn’t understand why neither his sister or his best friend realised that the marriage would have been a good thing. And now Seprathier was actually in a relationship with a girl. Since when did everything change? “Okay,” he told her, leaning in to kiss her lightly on the cheek. “I’ll talk to her right now then.” He stood to go.

“You can’t,” Tesavarina replied, grabbing his arm. “She left the city a few hours ago.”

He looked at her, totally confused. “She left the city? Why?”

She shrugged. “I have no idea.”

***

Maridria closed her eyes, sighing contentedly. This is where she always wanted to be, lying next to Seprathier, his arms wrapped firmly around her as he planted kisses all over her body.

She could feel him mouthing something on her stomach as he kissed her, but didn’t know what it was. She opened her eyes, running her hands through his spiky brown hair as she looked down at him. “What are you saying?”

He looked up at her, moving up her body so his head was lying next to hers. “Just that you’re amazing,” he replied.

She smiled. “That’s what I’m supposed to say.”

He grinned, planting a quick kiss on her forehead before kissing her deeply. “Fine, you can say that you’re amazing,” he conceded.

She shook her head, hitting him lightly on his arm. “No, that you’re amazing,” she replied.

He just shrugged, shifting himself slightly so that he was lying on his back he pulled her to him so she was lying against his chest. They lay there in silence for a few moments.

“What are you going to do about Vilandra?” she asked, running her hand lazily over his naked chest.

He shrugged. “I don’t know how to convince Zan not to go through with it,” he replied. “Vilandra seems to think that something’s going to happen to change his mind, but I don’t know what.”

She nodded, planting light kisses on his chest.

He tilted her face up to look at his. “It’ll all work out, okay. I’m not going to let Zan force me into a marriage I don’t want. Especially now I have you.”

She smiled at his words.

“Don’t worry, okay,” he said, lightly kissing her nose and forehead. “I only want to be with you.”

Maridria nodded, snuggling even closer into his body. “I know.”
Maridria walked out of the doctor’s office the next day, tilting her head to look at the castle, which was visible through the tall buildings of the Yasla Sector. Deciding to go there now, even though she wasn’t due for her lunch shift until later, she began walking in the direction of the Castelia Sector.

She hurriedly made her way through the tree lined streets, dodging others as they went about their daily routine. Everything had changed now.

The doctor had confirmed her suspicions this morning. She was pregnant. Pregnant with Seprathier’s child, and she had no idea how he would take it.

He said he wanted to be with her, but they hadn’t added a child into that equation. And even if he did want children in the future, would he want one now?

She wished she wasn’t so unprepared for his reaction. What would he say? It was his fault as well as hers, so he couldn’t completely dismiss her, could he? Not after everything. But what would he do. After all, he was still engaged to Vilandra, and barely anyone knew about their relationship.

She idly ran her hand over her stomach. Would he want this baby?

***

Vilandra quietly left her living chambers, detouring past Zander’s office to make sure he was there, before continuing to the garden. It was time.

Entering the exclusive part of the garden she glanced around to make sure there was no one around, both in the normal garden and in the exclusive area. Too much was at stake to have the plan ruined now.

Racing across the garden she reached for the switch. She watched as the lower part of the wall moved. A few moments later Khivar’s head popped through followed by the rest of his body. Nikolas and two others followed, and she was surprised to find that it wasn’t only Khivar who was planning to attend the meeting. “Are they coming too?” she asked.

Khivar nodded. “That’s okay, isn’t it?” he replied, steering her in the direction of the main garden. “I figured he’d have advisors nearby to help him with his decisions, so I thought I’d bring my own to help with the negotiations.” He smiled at her.

She nodded, that was a logical thing to do.

They left the garden, and Vilandra failed to notice that she’d forgotten to lower the wall again, or that there was an army of Sakinians waiting on the other side for the signal to come in.

***

The five of them quietly made their way through the castle, following Vilandra’s lead as she navigated their way through the corridors. A few metres away from Zander’s office she stopped, turning to look at them. “That’s where he is,” she told them, pointing in the direction of his office.

Khivar smiled at her, gesturing for Nikolas to continue as he spoke to Vilandra. He leaned in, kissing her tenderly for what would be the last time. He honestly would miss her, but his power over the planet meant more to him than whether or not he would miss the naïve girl.

“Thank you, my dear,” he told her, running his fingers through her long blonde hair. “For everything.” He tried to keep the smile of his face.

She nodded, looking around at the others. He saw her eyebrows raise in a silent question, and he knew she’d noticed that Nikolas had gone.

He was startled when she moved in the direction of her brother’s office. He and the other two quickly followed her, and they caught her just as she reached the doorway, and she let out a sound as his guards grabbed her from behind.

Khivar watched as Zander turned around at the sound, only to be stabbed through the heart by Nikolas’s sword as his eyes met his sister’s, realising her betrayal. Turning his gaze to Vilandra he watched as her face crumpled, before letting out a scream. “No!”

She thrashed about in his guard’s arms, but they kept a firm grip on her. “No! How could you!” She was shouting at him, her eyes filled with pain and rage.

He leant towards her, smiling at the sight of Zander’s dead body. “Well, my dear,” he said, reaching out to stroke his hand across her cheek. He grinned as she flinched. “Never trust your enemy.”

***

Maridria found Seprathier in the corridor leading towards his living chambers. He had been racing in the opposite direction to her, and she had almost collided with him.

She took in his face, the somber expression on it, and wondered what was going on. The atmosphere in the castle had changed drastically in the ten minutes she had been inside. All had been normal when she arrived, but as she made her way through the corridors to Seprathier’s chambers she had encountered many servants and other people in the castle running in all directions. A couple of servants had brushed past her only moments before she had seen Seprathier, neither of them noticing her.

“What are you doing here?” he asked her, his eyes panicked.

She looked at him in shock at his tone. “Coming to see you.”

He grabbed her arm, pulling her roughly down the corridor towards his living chambers. She went with him without a word, not understanding what was going on, and not liking the eerie feeling that had taken over the castle.

She watched as he impatiently waited for the door to his chambers to open before pulling her inside, quickly closing the door behind them. “What are you doing here?” he asked again, his voice low and panicked.

She looked up at him, confused. “What’s going on?” She had come to tell him that she was pregnant, but now she wasn’t sure if this was a good time.

“Zan’s dead,” he replied, his eyes darting around the room. “Khivar’s men have somehow attacked the castle. Some servants came to tell me about a minute ago, apparently it only just happened.”

Maridria stared at him in shock, feeling the world sway around her for a moment. “What?” she breathed.

He nodded. “I have to, I have to get to the weaponry room, get some weapons.” He shook his head. “Zander didn’t think we needed to be armed inside the castle and forbid anyone having any weapons in their rooms, although god knows we need them right now, the weaponry room is quite a few levels below with the rest of the military facility.”

She was just staring at him, eyes wide, breathing heavily. “Oh god,” she murmured. “Are we under attack?” She took in his panicked brown eyes. “Are you okay?”

He nodded at her, pulling her close. “I’m fine, I have to help though.” He stared at her for a moment, considering something. “You have to stay here. Don’t let anyone in. I’m the only person with access to the room, so I’ll let myself in. Do not, under any circumstances, let anyone else in,” he told her.

She nodded mutely, inhaling in his scent as he held her close. “What’s going to happen,” she asked him.

He shook his head, his eyes pained. “I don’t know. The king’s dead, Khivar is attacking, who knows what’s going on anymore.”

She nodded. “Be careful okay.”

He nodded, tilting her head up to his to meet his lips in a kiss. Pulling back slightly he murmured, “I love you ‘Ria.”

Her heart leapt at those words, although dread also settled in her stomach as he said them. He wouldn’t be telling her that right now if things weren’t serious. Deadly serious. “I love you too, Sep,” she replied, pulling his head back down for another kiss.

They kissed. Love, pain, and fear washing over them as they held each other tightly. It occurred to Maridria that this might be the last time they kiss, but she quickly pushed that thought out of her head.

She ran one hand through his hair, and the other down his back, trying to memorize the way he felt pressed up against her, the way she felt when she was with him.

They pulled apart for air quickly, before returning to the kiss. He pulled her even tighter to him, one arm wrapped tightly around her back while the other took her hand that had been previously on his back in his, holding it.

She could see memories of them together flashing before her eyes, mixed with memories of him when he was a boy, playing with a young blonde haired girl – his sister. She could feel his emotions washing over her.

Eventually they pulled away. His hand lingered on her cheek, caressing it, as they both willed themselves to move away. “You have to go,” she said regretfully.

He exhaled deeply, and she could feel his breath on her face. “I know.”

“It’s going to be okay,” she told him, quickly kissing him lightly on the lips before moving back slightly. She didn’t want to, but she knew he had to go. After all he was the head of the military and they were under attack.

He just nodded, moving towards the door. Maridria let out a shuddering breath as she watched him go.

The door opened, and Seprathier walked through it, stopping briefly for a moment, turning to look back at her. “I love you.”

She nodded, watching as the door slid closed. “I love you too."
Maridria sat alone on the couch in Seprathier’s chambers. The couch on which she had spent many happy moments in his arms. The couch that they had collapsed on, kissing passionately, the first time he had brought her here.

She was getting more and more worried as the time passed. He was going to be okay. He was going to be okay. She didn’t know what she would do if he wasn’t.

She ran her hand over her stomach. He didn’t even know she was pregnant. She knew that right now was the absolute worst time to tell him, and that’s why she hadn’t, but she wanted him to know. She vowed that she would tell him, that everything would be okay. He had told her he loved her, she loved him, she couldn’t lose him. Not now.

Her breathing came out ragged as she once again glanced at the door. The door that remained shut. She knew it would probably take awhile for Khivar’s men to be completely removed from the castle, so the fact that she had been waiting awhile didn’t mean something bad had happened. But still, a little reassurance would help.

She glanced down at her hands, noticing for the first time the two rings on her fingers. Seprathier’s rings. He must have placed them on her hand without her realising while they were kissing.

She brought her fingers to her mouth, kissing the rings lightly, praying that he was okay.

***

Tesavarina had just returned to the castle when she was grabbed from behind. News of the attack had not yet reached outside the castle, and she was unprepared for what she was greeted with when she entered.

She cried out for help, but it was useless. The normally active and people-filled entrance area was now empty, except for her and her assailant. The man turned her, dragging her behind him as he pulled her through a corridor. Looking back at the entrance area she could now see a large group of people, Sakinians she assumed, armed and waiting for anyone who tried to enter the castle.

The castle was under attack, she knew it. All Zander’s comforting that after five years another attack was doubtful, and now they were being attacked. She should have known that Khivar was planning something, should have convinced Zander to take more precautions, but she didn’t. She let out a sob, earning an annoyed look from her assailant.

She prayed that Zander was okay. He had to have known the attack was in progress before anyone got near him. There was major security all over the castle, and Syra itself, preventing Sakinians from entering, so he would have been alerted in time, she was sure of it. Or at least she hoped she was sure.

She couldn’t understand how they had managed to get in anyway. There was no possible way they could get in unnoticed. And no one from the castle would be helping them, would they?

She crossed her fingers, praying that everyone would be fine. The fact they were under attack was bad enough, and she hoped that no one had been killed.

***

Vilandra was in shock as her body was dragged out of Zander’s office. Her body was shuddering as she sobbed and she remembered the way Zander had noticed Nikolas there, and seen her standing in his doorway with Khivar having obviously betrayed him, before he was killed.

She couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe she had fallen for Khivar’s lies. She had unwillingly betrayed her brother and everyone she cared about. And now he was dead. Dead because she was so stupid that she didn’t realise that Khivar was using her to get to him.

She hoped Seprathier and Tesavarina were okay, not to mention the other nobles and people working in the castle. She shouldn’t have let him in. She should have been suspicious of the fact that not only Khivar but three others were also expecting access inside the castle.

She was shoved into an empty office, which she recognized as belonging to one of the king’s advisors. He obviously wasn’t here, so hopefully that had meant he had gotten out of the castle and was safe. Alive.

The door shut behind her, and she heard the metallic click of a lock. She was thrown onto the floor, her face hitting the cold floor painfully.

Biting her lip she turned around to see who was in the room with her. It was Nikolas. Only Nikolas, but she knew that she had more to fear from him than from the two guards that had accompanied Khivar. Nikolas took pleasure in killing. She had heard the stories of his killing of Seprathier’s parents, and knew he was someone to be feared.

“Vilandra,” he said, coming to stand over her, leaning down to run his sword down the side of her cheek. “Sweet, trusting, naïve Vilandra.”

She gulped as he pressed the sword into her throat.

“Did you really think we would want peace when we could have this? If we could get power over you worthless Palitians.” He smiled sadly at her. But it was a mocking smile, a smile full of pleasure. She could tell he was taking great pleasure in torturing her. “Did you really think Khivar would love you? That if he had access to the castle he would want to be with you instead of taking it over?”

She could feel the tears building up in the back of her throat. How could she have done this? How could she have endangered everyone?

“Did you enjoy seeing your brother’s murder?” he asked her. He was grinning now. “Did you enjoy knowing that it was your fault, that the only reason he got murdered was because you betrayed him. I was annoyed that you made a sound at first, but in fact it was good. I feel it was better for him to die knowing that his own sister betrayed him.”

“No,” she said hoarsely. “I didn’t betray him.”

Nikolas shook his head, straddling her legs to keep her from moving. “Yes, you did.” He smiled wickedly. “But you won’t have to live with that knowledge much longer.”

Vilandra closed her eyes, screaming, as she saw Nikolas lift his sword, ready to plunge it into her.

***

Tesavarina willed herself to calm down as she was dragged through the empty corridors of the castle. She had never seen the castle so lifeless, never felt the doomed atmosphere that was pressing down on it. She prayed that something would happen, that their army would come and regain control.

She wished that her assailant would slip up. Slip up so she could get free and run and get help and weapons. She didn’t want to give up without a fight, but she wasn’t sure whether she had much choice in the matter.

Her eyes fell on the door to Zander’s office, and when she saw she was being taken there she felt hope. Maybe they weren’t planning to kill her. Maybe they were just planning to hold them hostage. Maybe Zander was already in his office being held hostage and she was about to join him. After all, if Zander wasn’t there they wouldn’t be taking her there would they?

Tesavarina held her breath as he opened the door, hoping against hope that Zander was okay, that they were going to get out of this unharmed.

It was a painful blow to her hopes and her heart when she saw Zander lying dead on the floor. Lying dead in a pool of his own blood.

She gasped, willing her eyes to shut as the were drawn to the horrible image of her husband, dead.

She was let go of, pushed into the room, hearing the door clang shut behind her. She raced to her husband, cradling his lifeless head in her lap. “Zan,” she murmured, knowing it was futile. “Zan.”

“He’s dead.”

She looked up, seeing Nikolas standing against the opposite wall, not far from the door, in front of which her assailant was standing guard. She gulped and the harsh reality of the situation hit her.

“You killed him?” she whispered, knowing it was true.

He nodded, an evil smile crossing his face. “Yes, I killed him,” he replied. “And his idiotic sister too.”

Tesavarina gasped at that. Vilandra was also dead? Then there was no chance that she would get out of this alive.

He nodded. “Yes, I had the pleasure of killing the traitor,” he continued.

“Traitor?” she asked, almost silently.

“Yes,” he looked at her, a mocking smile on his face. “You didn’t know? The girl sold you out and lead us right into the castle.”

Her eyes widened. Vilandra had sold them out?

“Yes, your so called ‘royal quartet’ is rapidly depleting. Of course, I haven’t been able to locate Seprathier yet, but it will only be a matter of time.” He smiled, an evil smile which held no happiness. “It will be a pleasure to finally get my revenge on him after five years.”

She whimpered, resulting in a harsh look from the man guarding the door.

“Of course,” Nikolas continued, smiling. “It will be a pleasure killing you too.”
Seprathier silently made his way through the deserted corridors, sword in hand. Some castle guards were also gathering weapons from the weaponry room, and they had told him that Vilandra too had also been killed, as well as some nobles and servants, and that they had seen a guard dragging the queen to Zander’s office, which they thought was occupied by Nikolas. They had watched as they went past, knowing they didn’t stand a fight against Khivar’s highly trained men without weapons, and had continued towards the weaponry room.

He hoped Maridria was okay, and figured that she probably would be. After all, he was the only person who had access to his room. Unless, of course, they used the main control panel to get in, but he doubted they’d even figure out it out, let alone use it, after all they would be concentrating more on the people wandering the castle, not hiding in their rooms.

Still, he was desperately praying for her safety. And his too. He didn’t want to lose her.

He hoped Tesavarina was okay. That she hadn’t been injured, or worse. He still had no idea how Khivar and his men had made it into the castle, and wondered whether the rest of the city knew of the attack.

Hearing a noise he stopped, waiting for the person to appear round the corner. The person continued straight ahead, not bothering to look down the corridor to his right where Seprathier was located, and he waited a few moments, making sure the guy wasn’t being followed by another of Khivar’s men, before turning in the direction of the man, quickly glancing to make sure the corridor was empty.

He crept up, drawing his sword and attacking the man from behind. The man immediately fell to the ground, and Seprathier quickly leant down to verify if the man was dead. He was.

Straightening up he was about to move past the man when he felt someone grabbing him from behind, pinning his arms at his back while his sword clattered to the floor. Hearing the voice in his ear his blood ran cold.

“So we meet again do we?” The voice was soft, but he could hear the malice laced through it.

He tried to struggle out of his grasp, but Nikolas held him strong. Seprathier knew he was as strong as his assailant, but Nikolas had the element of surprise going for him. He had no idea how he’d managed to sneak up on him unheard, and from where, as he knew that the corridor had been empty when he moved to follow the man. Maybe he had come from another side corridor?

It was too late to worry about that now, he had to get out of Nikolas’s grasp.

He concentrated on trying to keep still, hoping to surprise Nikolas with his next move. Unfortunately Nikolas seemed to have anticipated that, and continued to keep a tight grip on him. Seprathier swore under his breath. He wasn’t going to let Nikolas win, not after the guy had killed his parents.

Suddenly the lights in the corridor came back on, blinding him for a moment. Nikolas used his momentary lapse in concentration to push him against the wall so that they were now facing each other, Nikolas’s hands pushing him against the wall to prevent him from moving, pressing one of his legs against Seprathier to prevent him from kicking out.

Nikolas then grinned at him, a sadistically evil grin. “So this time I have the power. How does it feel?” he asked.

Seprathier just looked back at him expressionlessly. What was that supposed to mean? Nikolas had killed both his parents right in front of his very eyes, he had definitely had the power last time they had met too.

“You have you beloved to thank for this,” Nikolas said. “Yes, while you’ve been off sleeping with any girl whose pants you could get into, Vilandra has been cozying up to Khivar.”

Seprathier stared at Nikolas in shock. Vilandra helped plan this?

“Don’t get me wrong,” Nikolas continued. “She thought we wanted peace.” He grinned, a twisted, evil grin. “But she should have known better.”

No arguments there. What was Vilandra thinking getting close to Khivar. Their enemy! But now wasn’t the time to think about this, he had to get free of Nikolas. He saw his sword a few metres away where it had fallen. If only he could get to it…

Nikolas made a whistling sound, causing Seprathier to return his attention back to him. What was he doing?

He wasn’t left wondering long. Two of Khivar’s men quickly appeared in the corridor, making their way to Seprathier and throwing him on the ground, preventing him from moving.

Nikolas was standing above him as the two men restrained him. Seprathier kicked out, hearing a muffled grunt from one of them as his foot made contact, but before he could make a move to get his upper body free the man was once again holding his legs down.

“So Seprathier,” Nikolas said. “How does it feel to know you’re life is almost over? I’ve waited five years for this, to get my revenge.”

“Revenge for what?” he replied angrily. “For killing my parents?”

Nikolas smiled. “Yes, I have to say I enjoyed killing your father. After all he was the head of the military. Of course, enjoying you will be even better. You did wound me. No one has ever seriously wounded me.” Nikolas’s eyes narrowed at him. “Except someone as worthless as you. Do you think anyone will miss you? Your betroved betrayed you, and your best friend is dead. Do you even have anything left to live for?”

He did. He had Maridria. But he wasn’t going to tell Nikolas that. He obviously didn’t know about her, and he wasn’t going to endanger her life just to prove Nikolas wrong.

As Nikolas raised his sword, ready to strike, Seprathier braced himself, praying for a miracle.

Unfortunately there wasn’t one, and the sword pierced his flesh. And as he lay there, his life slipping away from him, his only thought was of Maridria and the fact that he’d never see her again.

***

Maridria stared into space, her feeling of dread increasing as the hours passed.

She prayed desperately for Seprathier. Prayed that she wouldn’t lose the love of her life. Not today. Not just after finding out she was pregnant to him.

She also prayed for Tesavarina, hoping her friend wasn’t harmed in all of this. And for Cassarina, hoping she had finished her shift and was long out of the castle before the attack began. She also prayed for the others in the castle.

She fingered Seprathier’s rings, fearing that he was already dead. She had been in a constant state of fear since he left. Fear not for herself, but for him. She had had a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach for the last few hours now, and prayed that was wrong, that he was about to walk through the door unscathed.

She heard the door click and open and her heart leapt. He’d told her he was the only one who had access. Her hope was short lived as two castle servants entered the room.

Unbeknownst to her the attack had ended a few hours ago and Khivar’s men had left, leaving only a few surviving servants remaining in the castle who had managed to avoid the Sakinians. Khivar had left after determining that no important people were still alive. And now, a few hours later, the servants were checking in all the chambers by using the emergency override switch to open them.

Maridria looked up at them, barely recognizing one of the servants, a young man who worked in the kitchen.

“Maridria?” he said, walking over to her.

She swallowed hard. “Oh god. No.”

“Seprathier’s dead,” he told her. “All of the nobles in the castle at the time are dead.”

Maridria felt her world crash down around her. “Oh god. No. No!” She buried her head in her hands, the tears falling fast as the sobs wracked her body. “No! I loved him.”

She unconsciously touched a hand to her stomach, to her unborn baby, the only remaining piece of Seprathier. “No. He can’t be dead. I need him. I love him.” Her words were muffled between sobs.

She didn’t see them staring at her in shock. Didn’t see them leaving the room, as she broke down sobbing on the couch.

How could this have happened?

How could she have lost him so soon?

***

Eliazesha followed the servants through the lifeless corridors. It was only her second visit to the castle, and she hated that it was under these circumstances. She tried to ignore the dead bodies littered in the corridor around her.

She had been called by a servant who had found Maridria’s home phone number to come pick her up. Apparently Maridria had broken down sobbing when she found out about Seprathier’s death, and the servants didn’t know what to do. Eliazesha had rushed straight there, knowing her friend must be hurting really bad right now.

They stopped outside the door, and the servants called someone and the door suddenly opened. Eliazesha walked into the chambers, immediately hearing her friends sobs but not seeing her anywhere in the main room.

Following the sound she found Maridria lying sobbing on Seprathier’s bed, tangled in the sheets, clutching onto the pillow for dear life. She heard the servants walk away as she entered the bedroom, walking over to the bed and sitting down next to Maridria, softly stroking her hair.

“’Ria,” she murmured. “Are you alright?” She knew it wasn’t the best question to be asking at a moment like this, of course Maridria wasn’t okay, but Eliazesha felt that she had to say something.

Maridria turned her eyes, red from crying, to look at her. “He’s dead.” She said softly. “I love him and he’s dead.” She was still tightly clutching the pillow.

“I know,” she murmured soothingly. “It’s not fair, I know.”

“It’s nowhere near fair,” Maridria replied through sobs. “He’s dead. Dead. Gone forever. He told me he loved me and now he’s gone forever.” She lowered her gaze to her fingers, and Eliazesha noticed two rings on her hand that had never been there before, and realised that they were probably Seprathier’s.

“They were his last words,” she continued, while Eliazesha just nodded, letting her friend get her emotions out. “He told me he loved me, and then he left. And now he’s gone! No wonder he hated Sakinians, they killed his parents and now him.” She drew in a deep shuddering breath as Eliazesha took in the new information. She had never known Seprathier’s parents were dead, let alone killed. “And he wanted revenge on them. He knew not to trust them. But the king convinced him not to, that nothing would happen after five years.” She hiccupped. “Well he was wrong, wasn’t he.”

Eliazesha nodded silently, continuing to run her hands through Maridria’s hair. “He was.”

Maridria wiped at her eyes, turning her head to look back up at Eliazesha. Eliazesha bit her lip as she took in the defeated expression on her friends face.

“He can’t be dead. No. He can’t be. We’re in love. I can’t lose him!” Eliazesha watched as her friend took in a deep breath, trying to get a control on her emotions. “’Lia,” she said slowly. “I’m pregnant.”

Eliazesha stared at Maridria in shook as the words set in. “Pregnant?” she said softly, wondering if she’d heard correctly.

Maridria nodded. “I came here today to tell him, only I couldn’t. He’d just found out that the castle was under attack and he had to go. I’ve been here ever since. I’ve-“ she broke off, and Eliazesha could tell that the tears were about to overcome her again.

“Why don’t we head home,” she suggested, standing up. Maridria’s eyes followed her and she nodded mutely. Holding her hand out Maridria took her hand, and she helped her up. “Do you want to take anything?” she asked quietly, seeing the way Maridria reluctantly let go off the pillow she had been hugging ever since she found out.

Maridria looked down at the rings, raising them to her lips and kissing them before nodding. Eliazesha watched as her friend grabbed the pillow, two shirts, and a few other belongings that were littering the room, before heading to the doorway.

She followed her, wrapping an arm around Maridria’s shoulders. “Let’s go.”

Maridria bit her lip, nodding, as the two walked towards the door. She stopped there for a moment, taking one last glance at Seprathier’s chambers, before the door slid shut after them.
Maridria sat on the beach in front of her family’s house, staring out at the churning red sea in front of her. She had returned to the Kiplar District eight months earlier, refusing to stay in a city containing so many memories. Many others had also left the city after the attack, and the castle was now abandoned as Khivar ruled the planet from his own city.

“Hey.” Turning to look she saw Eliazesha walking towards her, carrying her newborn son. “Thought you might like some company.”

Maridria smiled at her friend. Eliazesha had been so good to her in the months since Seprathier’s death. “Thanks.” Reaching her arms out she took her baby boy in her arms.

“Have you thought of a name for him?” Eliazesha asked her, settling down in the sand next to her.

She nodded. “Sepran,” she replied. She had decided to name her son after his father, the only man she would ever loved. Only a few people knew of the baby’s true parentage, but she wondered if maybe more would guess when they heard her son’s name. She didn’t care though. She knew people were already wondering what had happened to her in Syra, knowing that she was upset over more than a castle attack and being pregnant. If they only knew, she thought.

Eliazesha smiled at her, before turning her gaze to look at Sepran. “I like it,” she told her.

“You like what?”

Maridria turned around to see her brother’s Alexier and Kylaer standing behind her. Kylaer had returned from the military not long after the attack, for which Maridria was grateful for. She didn’t think she could stand losing anyone else close to her.

“I named him Sepran,” she replied, tilting her head in the direction of the baby.

Kylaer smiled sympathetically as he sat down next to her. “Good choice,” he commented.

“Can I hold him now?” Alexier asked.

Maridria couldn’t help laughing at her younger brother jumping up and down excitedly in front of her. “Sure,” she replied, handing Sepran to him.

She felt Eliazesha’s arm wrap around her, and she leant her head on her best friend’s shoulder. “Are you okay?” Eliazesha asked softly.

“Yeah,” she replied softly. “I mean, I definitely wish he was here, but at least I have a part of him with me,” she said, gazing at her baby as Alexier held him. “After all, I could have nothing.”

She felt Eliazesha nod silently as she stared at her newborn son.

A son conceived inside Syra’s walls. A son whose father had died battling inside Syra’s walls.

A son who Maridria vowed would never know the heartache of finding true love, only to lose it, inside Syra’s now crumbled walls.

The End

1-10 | 11-19 | Fic