Phantasm

Chapter 15: Cry For Me

“I told you to take to her outside through the tunnel, where you were to be caught. You were supposed to make her trust you, not nearly have her killed!” Kiros hissed at Gabriel, the pair standing outside of Izzy's room. Edgar and Calysta were inside, Calysta trying to see the outcome of her situation.

“I didn't expect that to be there waiting for her. She's figured part of it out. You'll have to do something.” Gabriel said, then looking in the room. His eyes lingered over Calysta a moment. “I want to speak to her.”

“You can speak to her when she wakes up.” Kiros snapped. He had never been so agitated. What was taking Calysta so long? Why wasn't Izzy awake? Was she alright?

Gabriel shook his head. “No, not her. I would like to speak to her, but I meant Calysta. She sees something.”

“Then she shall tell me what it is herself.” Kiros said back, feeling a strange surge of protectiveness. Or perhaps it was possession. Calysta was his Seer and he would not have her offering her services to anyone. She was there to benefit him, after all. Though as much use as she had been as of late he could hardly say that she was worth her weight. His thoughts were interrupted by Calysta herself strolling out. “She'll be fine. I see her in the future, just as she was before.”

She was careful not to look at Gabriel, though something in her eyes told Kiros that she wished to speak to him. It struck him that whatever she had to say she did not want to say in front of the boy. Did she see a betrayal in the future from him?

“Calysta, I want you to come by my room later. We have something to finish.” he said, his voice nearly a purr. Calysta's face broke into a smug smile and she agreed, leaving with a skip in her step.

Edgar came next out of the room, coming to stop at Kiros's side. He laid a hand in his arm, before saying “She's almost awake now. Calysta says she'll be fine.”

“Always doubting everyone and everything. You have no trust whatsoever. It's why I made you my advisor.” Kiros replied, moving around him to step inside. He paused at the door. “Perhaps you should go first. Tell her some story of how you brought her here after she fainted. Something to make her believe you had every intention of leading her from this place.”

Gabriel gave a curt nod and stepped inside. He closed the door behind him, moving to the bed to take Izzy's hand, just as she awoke. Her eyes looked around the room, dazed and confused before landing on him. “Where-”

“In your room I'm afraid. You fainted after touching the orb. Luckily, you only touched it a few seconds. I brought you back here. I was afraid you might not wake up. Are you alright?” he answered, keeping his voice soft and soothing.

Izzy groaned. “Here again. Just when I thought I escaped. It isn't fair. My mom, she needs me. You met her. She can't handle this now. My father is gone and I'm all she has. All she had. But Beth and Uncle Stephen—Stephen's the reason I'm here. She has them now, but...I want to go home. I want my family.”

Gabriel looked away from her, something dangerously close to guilt swelling inside him. “Beth—your cousin, she is very attached to you. But she's strong. She'll be fine. And Stephen will be strong for her. Together they'll help your mother. I have a family too, you know. My brother is here in this castle. He's here with Kiros' sister Sophia. She's a queen. She'll be wanting to meet you soon.”

“Meeting the in-laws, how quaint.” Izzy said sarcastically, Gabriel giving her a small smile. “He was worried about you, you know. Kiros. I think he has a soft spot for you.”

“Think he'll let me go?” Izzy asked, smiling wanly.

“I don't think his mind works that way.” Gabriel replied honestly.

“Figures. I only attract the crazy ones.” Izzy said back with a yawn.

“He'll want to see you. He thought I should come in first. Didn't want to startle you, he knows how much you dislike him.” Gabriel said, rising to his feet.

“How considerate.” Izzy replied with a roll of her eyes. She watched Gabriel exit and Kiros enter. There was something different about him now, something in his eyes that was not quite so hard. He walked slowly over to her bed and sat, not looking at her.

“For a moment I believed you would die.” he spoke after a long pause, his voice almost chipper.

“Yes, that would be awful for you wouldn't it, loosing your means to an end. Good thing there's always Beth to replace me. Or maybe even my mother. Any of us will do in a pinch, right?” she said, rolling over so not to have to face him.

“There are things you do not understand.” Kiros said, his voice strained. “Things that even I do not understand. I am king. I have to do what is best for my people. You see me as a monster, but what is your suffering compared to thousands? I had to choose, spare one girl or let hundreds perish. It seems cruel to you, but if you were me you would do the same.”

Izzy refused to speak, processing his words. She was but one person, one person compared to his entire kingdom. Keeping her here would save them—or so said some prophecy. What would she do if she were him? His people were his responsibility. They expected him to take care of them and he was trying. She could hate him for kidnapping her, but his intentions were good, even if his actions were not.

“Why not just explain it all to me? Ask me to come? If I knew why I was here, what I had come to fix then together we could find some solution.” she said finally.

“Because there was no guarantee. Stephen called me. There is a price for every wish, I am bound to take you, just as I was bound to save Beth. When I made the deal, I had no idea of the person you would become, no assurance that it would be a person who would want to help us. I acted in a way that ensured you would be here. I have done only what I must. It was never my intention to harm you in any way.” Kiros explained.

Izzy shifted, casting her gaze upon the man seated beside her. In the light, he looked more shadow than man. More dream than reality. His face was unguarded, his mask down. What Izzy saw was a man that was near breaking, a man holding the weight of his world upon his shoulders. Yes, he had made mistake but he was only a man. He was not a monster.

After a moment's hesitation, she reached forward and placed her hand on his arm. He stiffened at the gesture slightly, before relaxing and turning to look at her. “Whatever it is you need from me, let me do it and let me go home.”

Kiros pulled away from her with a bitter laugh. “It is not that simple. You have to marry me. Don't ask why, it is the damned Fey, they only want to make it impossible for me to break the curse. I have not told you anything, because the prophecy says that you must choose to stay.”

“So you decided to keep me here and hope I change my mind?” Izzy retorted.

“What would you have me do? What can I give you that will make you want to stay? To want to marry me? Name your price and it shall be yours.” Kiros said, getting hastily to his feet.

“The only thing I want is to go home.” Izzy said back, feeling tears sting her eyes. “You should have taken me when I was a child. Why bother waiting all these years after saving Beth? Maybe I would have forgotten home by now. Maybe I would believe that this is my home.”

“Maybe I should, but one cannot change the past. Dinner should be ready within the hour. I did have something special planned for you, but it may prove to be to strenuous. I'll send someone to help you prepare.” Kiros said, turning and whisking out of the room.

Hot tears swelled in her eyes and Izzy let them fall, pulling her pillow to her chest and allowing herself to sob at last.