A Power of Old(6)

Ruby tried to open the door, but Hazel had locked it from the inside. She struggled for a few moments and then gave up, slumping against it, dejected. Ash gallantly went to her side, and I turned away.

I was about to order them out when the small human groaned. She struggled up on the sofa and looked around the room, noticing the devastation that Benedict had caused with wide eyes.

“What happened?” she asked croakily.

It’s over.

I sighed with relief. The final plague was over. I didn’t know what this would mean in terms of the entity’s rise, but for now I was grateful that Hellswan had survived it – barely.

The others all started talking at once, Ash trying to reassure Ruby, and Julian trying to explain to the young girl that it would all be all right.

“Tejus, what is going on with Hazel?” Ruby asked me, cutting through the noise. Everyone fell silent.

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait until she wishes to tell you.”

“What did you do to her?” she yelled, her cheeks heating up as she glared at me.

I turned toward the tower. I wanted to get away from them—I didn’t need Ruby’s judgment adding to the guilt I already felt. I needed to speak to Hazel alone, to tell her that the cravings would eventually pass, that she would in part return to normal…as normal as she could now be.

“Don’t leave!” Ruby bit out. “I want to get to the bottom of this, and my friend’s not speaking to me. I need answers now, sentry.”

I bit my tongue. I had no idea what to say, and it certainly wasn’t my place to tell them about Hazel’s transformation. I wasn’t sure I would even know where to begin…

“You have to wait,” I snapped.

“What about the stone?” the small human asked, breaking the brief silence that followed. “What happens now that Benedict—the entity—has taken another one?”

“And the apocalyptic signs are finished,” Ruby whispered. “What does that mean?”

It occurred to me that I had never felt more responsible for the people of Hellswan and the humans in my care—and never felt more at a loss as to how I could fulfill that responsibility, now that I was no longer king.

“I don’t know what it means. The material Hazel and I read indicated that the apocalyptic signs were just a warning system—not that it automatically meant the entity would rise…but the ministers have been wrong in the past,” I murmured.

Very wrong.

“Why don’t you know?” the human replied angrily. “You’re the king, you should know some of this! How are you supposed to protect your kingdom and all your people if you don’t know any of this?”

I couldn’t help the smirk that twitched across my face.

“Actually, I’m not the king—Ash is.”

The bewildered silence that greeted my remark was satisfying. Ash’s paling, disbelieving face turned to mine.

“What?” he asked.

My smile faded. I didn’t exactly like Ash, but I was handing him more of a curse than a blessing. For a moment I questioned my decision—was this boy able to rule Hellswan?

“You heard me,” I retorted.

“I did,” he replied slowly, “but I want to hear it again—and know what you mean.”

The bafflement of his expression had turned into determination. I remembered why I had thought Ash would be capable. He wouldn’t be plagued with the uncertainty I had faced, the burden of my family’s name. He would rule with fresh eyes—a mind that was less jaded than mine.

“You need to discuss it with the ministers,” I replied. “It is best that they induct you. Although, take the advice of ministers with caution. Memenion will be helpful to you also, should you need it.”

I strode over to the door of my living room and held it open. Enough was enough.

“And I’m afraid that is all I can tell you. Please leave—I want to be alone with Hazel.”

“I’m not sure you should be,” Ruby muttered, glancing balefully in my direction.

Eventually they left. Ash walked out in a daze, with Ruby almost having to guide him to the hallway. I shut the door when the last one was out.

“Hazel?” I called as softly as I could through the bedroom door.

Only silence greeted me.





Ash





“I don’t understand why he couldn’t give me more answers than that,” I muttered to Ruby as we made our way down from Tejus’s tower. “It’s not like the ministers are exactly forthcoming.”

She took my hand, nodding along with my complaints, but a small smile crept across her face.

“What?” I asked.