Element Restraint

Chapter 34: Erik

Thump. Thump. Thdump. My heart beats in tune with my fists hitting the punching bag. Every time I hit the bag, I go harder and harder at it. Barely stopping to take a breath.

It has been a month since I have been here, and I am trying to stop myself from losing my mind.

I never get to leave, and I hate the snow. The longer I stay in Lazuli, the closer I get to losing the little bit I have left to stay in control.

I do not understand how everyone is acting like everything is okay. Every day Gale and Aella wake up like everything is normal.

Aella is more than happy to help out with her healing gifts despite her fear of blood. I rarely even get to see her now.

Gale goes to watch at the wall or whatever. Whenever he is not sleeping or there, he is with Amora. He and Aella just forgot about what she did to us a month ago. How can they so easily forgive her, and just move on?

I punch the bag with all my fury. Everyone else may forget, but I will not, can not forget.

"Mr.Aetos,"

I stop mid-punch and turn to who called my name. A middle-aged, dark-skinned man stands in the doorway of the training room. He stands tall, with his legs apart, hands behind his back.

"You are requested at the Tower." He says and walks away before I can ask why. I already know it is Donavan asking for me. He is the only one that can call someone to the Tower I have learned.

I put my hands on my hips and let out the breath I have been holding. I wipe my dark hair clinging to my sweaty forehead.

Something I do not want right now is to have a conversation with that man.

I unwrap my hands, grab my jacket to head for the door.

When I step outside into the courtyard, coldness hits my face like needles. I rub my hands together as the wind blows flurries through the air.

My stars I hate this Realm!

When I step into Donavan's office in the Tower, everyone turns to look at me from the table.

I immediately lay eyes on Acantha. She has barely talked to me since we got back. I guess she is still angry with what I said to her.

Gale told me she tried to leave the night we got back but made me swear to never tell anyone about it. I can not help but feel sort of bad for her now. I guess she is as miserable as me.

Beside her sits Amora, Rawr, Aella, and a man who looks vaguely familiar. His white hair and milky eyes stand out next to everyone else.

I look to the corner of the room and see two soldiers dressed in all-white armor. On their left arms is a light blue engraved snowflake. Palace guards?

The man I recognize stands up and gives me a small smile.

"Have a seat, your highness." He says gesturing to an empty chair. The way he addresses me takes me back for a second. Where have I seen this man before?

I slowly walk into the room, and drop in the chair right across from Aella, beside Rawr.

"Mr.Aetos," Donavan speaks up from the head of the table. "This is Levushkra Snjor. The Kaiserin's husband."

That is where I have seen him before! He has been gossipped about for years after he and Lumi decided to get married. The Realms were taken back when she decided to marry someone that was not of royalty.

"Why are you here?" I ask Levushkra, trying not to sound annoyed.

"I am sure all of you have seen the broadcast from the Air Realm this morning." Levushkra says.

I look at everyone at the table for a second. All of us except Amora and Donavan are confused.

"Well," Levushkra gives a gesture and one of the guards brings a small screen over. He holds it up for us all to see, and presses play on a video.

I choke when I see Casimir appear on the screen. Aella looks at me with wide eyes before returning to the screen.

He stands at a podium, dressed in a suit covered in metals that he does not deserve. My brother looks so different with the black silver crown on his head. The same crown my father once wore. The crown he died in.

"My fellow citizens," My brother begins to say as cameras begin flashing. "The attack at the Gazania Festival brought by the Rebels has cost us much pain. Many of you have lost your homes, friends, and family members."

So much sympathy goes into my brother's voice when he speaks. It is almost hard to believe he caused this attack himself.

"Sadly, my father and mother were some of the beloved people lost." My brother continues. "Many of you have been asking how so many Rebels afforded to have this attack happen. I am very sad to inform you the rumors are true. My older brother, Erik Aither Bores Aetos IIII, helped orchestrate this attack."

A screen above my brother begins to show footage of Acantha and me running through the street trying to find Aella.

"It seems he betrayed our kingdom with a royal Fireling, and took my dear sister captive."

I look in horror at pictures of me carrying Aella through the battle zone, Acantha blasting fire at my father, and us running through the streets with Gale and Amora fighting off guards.

"My brother's betrayal was revealed after he helped this Firling escape our highly secure prison. This terrorist attack from the two of them resulted in ninety-five lives lost, and hundreds injured." My brother's sadness melts away and turns to anger. "As your new king, I vow to have justice for your losses! I will make my brother pay for his crimes, and put an end to the injustices that The Rebellion and the Fire Realm have brought on us."

Everyone claps at the end of his speech before the video ends. I stare off into space, not moving. My mind races with so many emotions. Anger, sadness, hate, ANGER.

My brother is creating these lies. Taking everything I was working towards. Destroying and killing people, but putting the blame on me. What used to be the kingdom I would have inherited in a week, is now his, and he could destroy it.

"We are hoping," Levushkra begins speaking again. "That you can tell us what your brother could be planning, your highness."

I do not respond. I let my eyes stay open so they begin to burn. I hold my breath, ignoring the want to fill my lungs. Time needs to stop. It must stop!

"We know that the attack at the festival was the Water Realm," Acantha speaks for me. "That must mean he has an alliance with them somehow."

"But what is it?" Rawr speaks up.

"Marriage," I speak up.

All eyes are on me now.

"The Emperor has a daughter that is not married. It is the perfect way to make a bond between the alliances." I tell them.

"I guess we have to get ahead of that then," Levushkra replies.

He then explains how we are going to have to speak to the Kaiserin soon. More words are exchanged, but I do not hear it. All I hear are Casimir's. His vow to make me pay for my "crimes".

I feel like for the rest of the day I am going through the motions, but I am not there. At dinner in the mess hall, everyone laughs and talks. I just sit there, trapped in my mind.

Halfway through our meal, Acantha turns to me and asks if I am okay. I do not know if I am. Instead of responding, I get up and leave the room. It is a cowardly way of facing my feelings, but I ignore the shame.