Rise Of The Mirror King

Chapter 17: Give Me Something

"Get away from her!" I screamed even before I was fully in the hall. Everyone present turned to the door.

Mazikeen sat beside Vax, holding one strand of her braided hair like she was checking it out. Vax laughed at something she'd said. 

I crossed the room in a long stride and yanked Vax up by her hand.

"Ouch!" Vax winced. When she saw the frown on my face, she didn't protest further.

"You will do well to stay away from her." I was surprised at how low and deep my voice sounded.

"You're paranoid; I don't recall you being this paranoid." Mazikeen smiled. She had the effortless ability to smile like a devil.

"We were just talking," Vax whispered.

"Your sister is a natural at magic; she'll surpass even you when she gets to our level."

"And don't think I know that?" I snapped.

She sighed and crossed one leg over the other; her cut dress slid off, revealing her thighs. I looked away.

"What do I have to do to earn a little breathing space with you?"

"How about crawling back to your hellhole?"

"I'm afraid that can't happen, love; we're here to stay." She flashed her forked tongue.

I pulled Vax another step back, putting myself more fully between them. "Then stay away from my sister."

Mazikeen tilted her head, studying me the way you'd study something you were deciding whether to eat. "You don't trust me."

"No."

"Zeldryl, maybe. He has a temper; I understand the concern."

She rose from the bench in one long, unhurried motion. "But I've done nothing to you. Nothing but talk."

"You threatened me in front of the entire hall."

"I flirted with you in front of the entire hall. There's a difference, even if your kind rarely appreciates it."

She stepped closer, and I felt Vax tense behind me.

"I understand why you'd assume the worst. Truly. But you're punishing me for a crime I haven't committed yet."

"Yet being the key word."

Something almost like amusement flickered across her face. "Fair."

She was quiet for a moment, studying me, and when she spoke again, her voice had dropped, losing some of its practiced silk. "Let me earn it, then."

"Earn what?"

"Your trust. Or the beginning of it." She spread her hands, palms up, something almost disarming in the gesture.

"Give me something. A task. A condition. Anything you'd accept as proof I mean no harm to your sister, or to you."

Around us, the hall had gone quiet enough that I could feel every eye still on us, waiting to see what I'd say.

I should have said no. I knew that even as I opened my mouth — knew it the way you know a step is missing before your foot finds nothing but air.

Zudrik's voice was still fresh in my head. Stay away from Mazikeen. Lucifero's contempt. Even Astrid's careful silence whenever her name came up.

But something in the way she'd said my sister, like she understood exactly what that word cost me.

Something in the way she stood still, waiting for my answer instead of pushing for it.

Everyone else in my life had already decided who I was before I opened my mouth — Symon's enemies, Symon's reputation, Symon's sins I couldn't even remember committing.

Mazikeen was the first person in this entire world who seemed to be waiting to see who I'd actually turn out to be.

I told myself that was reason enough.

"Stay away from Vax unless I'm present," I said. "That's the condition."

"Done." She said it instantly, like it cost her nothing.

"And no more theatrics. No touching. No — whatever that was in the hall yesterday."

"You didn't seem to hate it as much as you're pretending now." A ghost of that smile again, but softer this time, almost careful. "But — done. I can be patient."

Vax tugged my sleeve. "Symon—"

"It's fine," I said, though I wasn't entirely sure.

Mazikeen inclined her head, something almost formal in the motion, and turned to leave. At the door she paused, and glanced back.

"For what it's worth," she said, "I don't actually want your sister. I have no interest in children, or wars fought over them."

Her eyes found mine, and for just a moment the performance dropped away entirely, leaving something colder and far more deliberate underneath.

"I only ever wanted you to start listening to me instead of everyone shouting about me."

She left before I could answer that.

I stood there a long moment after the doors closed, Vax quiet beside me, and told myself the unease sitting in my chest was just leftover adrenaline.

I didn't fully believe it. But I wanted to.

'You're making a mistake," Amelia said behind me, almost yelling.

The thought of her telling Lucifero I was Twin-Souled crawled back into my mind. I hissed.

"I make a lot of mistakes, but there are mine to deal with," I said without turning. 

Neither she nor Vax could understand the hostility in my tone.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

I turned to her now and took two steps closer.

"It means I prefer keeping my business to myself. Should I trust someone else with it, I expect they keep it to themselves, alone."

She looked everywhere but at me and hugged her belly.

"Come." I pulled Vax along and headed for the door.

"Symon..." Amelia called. I didn't turn.

I had no idea Lucifero was in the room, but his voice stopped me in my tracks. 

"I thought I told you to stay away from her."

I had barely turned around. With a sweeping arc of his blade, Lucifero unleashed the full fury of his powers, summoning a colossal, roaring dragon of absolute-zero ice that tore through the stone floor.

It was point-blank, and I had no time to react except to jump in front of Vax.

The attack hit me like three trucks; I felt my ribs crack under my chest and my flesh tore like paper. I sank to one knee, coughing up a handful of blood.

“No!” someone screamed. Vax, maybe Amelia. I couldn't tell anymore.

My eyes were more fixed on Vax's bleeding arm and the sudden heat that was filling my chest. My eyes turned red.

"Mana Flow State, Tiger Tail Rewind."