Element Restraint

Chapter 13: Erik

Acantha could easily pass as an Earthling. Her long curly hair, and dark honey glow to her skin. But it was her eyes. Her eyes were what caught my attention. Never had I met an Earthling with that color eyes before.

A normal Earthling would have eyes the color of green or brown. But Acantha, she has many extravagant colors swirled around her iris.

Her eyes indeed start as emerald green, but they immediately wrap into a bright amber color around her pupils.

Maybe I am crazy? I mean it is just eye color. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I huff loudly slamming my head down on the desk. I have been reading and researching everything about eye colors, the Realms, and Acantha De Vries. It has been more than a month since I interacted with her and it is safe to say I have become obsessed now!

If Imir was helping me, we would have found something by now. I wish I could ask him. Ever since the other night, I sadly can not trust him anymore. I have my suspicions of who Acantha is and if I am right, what would he do about it?

I look down at the notes I have of her family and read them out loud to myself.

"Ubel De Vries, Father, from Azmar, Earth Realm. He is 41 years old and serves as a general in the army.

"Iris De Vries, mother, from Ula'ree, Earth Realm. Died ten years ago in 1482 at the age of 26.

"They met early 1471.

"Marriage of Ubel De Vries (20) and Iris De Vries (18) in 1471 in Azmar

"Birth of oldest son Raleigh Caspian De Vries in 1472

"1473 was the birth of Acantha Kalama De Vries."

That was it. That was all the information I needed to know I had gone insane. I devoted weeks of my life to researching a girl just because she had pretty eyes.

"You idiot!" I scream to myself pushing everything off of the desk. My papers fly through the air. My books hit the floor with a thud. Pens and pencils rolling across the marble floors.

I look down at my foot and see my silver pen laying on the floor. I pick it up and begin clicking it. The ball of the pen goes in and out faster and faster as my mind begins to race.

"Think Erik!" I command myself. Click-click.

"You are not crazy!" Click Click.

I drop my pen on the desk.

"I just need some fresh air," I mumble.

I rise from my desk and grab my suit jacket. I tuck the silver pen into my suit and set out the room. I walk down the hallway, towards the elevator.

The royal Fire family is dead. I remind myself. Everyone knows the tragedy that happened. The Emira and her husband, princes Blaze, Cyrus III, Aydan, and princess Hestia died in 1471. It would be impossible for The youngest princess, Cyra, was too young to be her mother. She was only eleven when Acantha was born.

But I did the research and only Firelings have amber eyes. No Earthing could have that color eyes. It is well known that to distinguish someone's Realm is from their eyes. But to be fair Acantha does have green in them.

I stop in the middle of the hallway and think for a moment. What if the answer has been beneath my nose this whole time. In fact, the clue has been hanging around Acantha's neck this whole time.

I whip around to head to my room when I ram into a young servant boy.

"Your Highness," He says in a high pitch voice bowing to me. "The king is requesting your presence immediately." I see the fear in his eyes when he mentions the king.

My father is mad. Very mad. And he is sending for me.

I try to keep my voice steady when I speak. "Okay, thank you," I say. He scurries down the hall quickly away from the whole situation.

I walk slowly to the fourth floor, dreading it when I reach my father's study.

I stop at a dark wooden door. My father's study. Ever since I was a child he has always spent hours here. I feared for the events that happened behind this door. All the times as a child when I was called up to my father's study. The nights I would leave this room, my body aching and burning.

"A king does not live in fear!" I mumble. I grasp the cold silver doorknob in my hand. I take a deep breath and open the door.

"You called for me, Sir?" I say when I open the door. My father sits on the black leather couch with a glass in his hand. Such a familiar sight.

He glares at me for a moment; he gives me a swift gesture to come in. I come into the room and close the door behind me. I stand in front of the door not wanting to set another foot closer. I listen to the hum of silence.

My father looks down at his cup and swooshes the bronze liquid in his glass.

"Why do you think you are here, Erik?" He asks me. I begin to scan my brain of everything that has happened. He knows about Acantha! I begin to panic. He is going to kill me before he kills Acantha.

"You have not heard the reports have you?" My father asks me.

"I-I do not know what you are talking about," I say. He rises off the couch and walks over to his desk.

"How is your head so far up in the clouds?" He growls. He picks up a newspaper and shoves it to my chest.

I take it and read the heading of the front page: "Air Realm Sending Weapons to Earth Realm!"

I look up from the paper confused.

"How was this information leaked?" I ask him.

"I should ask you the same question!" My father replies. "The reports were in your possession."

My father gulps down the last bit of bronze liquid and looks at me furiously.

"I get you to do the simplest task, Erik!" My father booms. He throws the glass at the wall. I jump as it bursts into a thousand pieces, flying all over the carpet.

"It is not my fault that-"

My father slaps my face, cutting me off. I clench my fists to prevent myself from rubbing my burning face.

"Yes! It is your fault. You let someone get a hold of this information, and you let them leak it for the whole Realm to see!" He screams.

"Look him in the eyes!" I command myself. "Do not show your fear. Be a man!"

"I can fix it," I say successfully, keeping the tremble from my voice.

"Yes! You will." my father hisses. "You are going to find the rat that is doing this. There is a spy among us, and you have to find them, and kill them!"

I already know who the spy is. It is Acantha who leaked that information. Everything leads to her. The time these things started happening was when she arrived. She has the perfect alibi for being here too.

But what do I do with this information?

"You have four days to find them." He commands me.

I will finally identify myself as a rebel to The Rebellion, approach Acantha about the evidence I have on her, and warn her about my father. I will also make sure my father does not get to her.