Where It Went Wrong, A Red Queen Fanfiction: Completed

Chapter 5

My legs are still weak with shock, and now pain has joined my conscious thoughts from where the King struck my ankle. The blood is steadily trickling from the open cut, dazing my thoughts and weakening my muscles. Perhaps this was a part of his plan. To trick me into thinking that he had become kind once again, and then use Evangeline against me?

Just as I ponder upon his sudden change, Maven appears. Some of the drunkenness seems to have drifted away, as he looks at me with a certain clarity - as if he now knows that I am here for real. "You saved my life, Mare. Evangeline's been taking advantage of me for ages." A look of distaste crosses his face. "Always knows how to get her own way..."

"What do you mean?" I say, hand unconsciously fluttering to my injury. "She doesn't always have a dagger in her possession to harm others?"

His face is grim as he responds. "Indeed. Today was the day that she was going to eliminate the King out of her picture. She was hoping that I would want to marry her, but to no avail. I was never attracted to her," he comments, flushing white as he glances over at me. "I never will be." 

Scouting my countenance, he takes me in properly - since he hadn't when we first came across each other. As his eyes trace over where Evangeline's blade hit my throat, he reaches for something in his pocket and dabs it over the cut. Seeing my confused look, he explains, "Antibiotic and healer. Prevents infection."

I nod, guessing that while Maven got the ointment he had downed something that helped his unclarity from the wine.

"Why did you leave?"

Furrowing my brows, I flounder for an answer. "Do you want the honest truth or what you'd like it to be?" I settle on saying, not wanting to hurt him more than he has been from my disappearance.

His eyes settle on mine - ice blue burning into a muddy brown. Like he's trying to read in between the lines of what I just said. "The truth."

"I was scared of you. I believed that you would kill me when you had the chance. I disliked how cold you had become. How you didn't seem to care about me anymore. That I was drugged and kept out of your sight..."

I cannot continue, for the look that he is giving me is filled with an immense pain. Yet I find that I still can't completely trust him. "Is that really how you felt?" He asks. I nod, looking down as he takes my hand once again. "It was because I couldn't bare to see you - because I knew I would hurt you. That I would have to kill you if everyone still remembered. Trust me, I wanted to care for you. I just knew that it would hurt you and I more than it should."

Maven pauses, observing my relieved expression."Now that I've asked you an awkward question, you might as well ask me one. It's only fair," he states confidently.

"Where did it go wrong? Why did you turn your back onto Cal and I?" I ask, the first question that pops into my head. It is one that had been niggling at my thoughts for ages, even kept me awake during the night. And what truly has happened to Cal. Though I must bide my time before asking him.

He bites his lip nervously, as if afraid of the answer. "I wanted power, more than anything else. My parent's full approval. At first, I didn't care who I hurt in the process. That was before I knew you well, before I..." he breaks off, squeezing my hand. "Before I fell in love with you. And for some selfish reason, I had to continue my job that I had started..."

"I love you too, Maven." I say, unable to stop myself. I flush immediately, embarrassed that I blurted out something I have kept to myself for so long. It's never been the same love as I have had for Cal, but it was always still there.

He smiles at my uncertainty, but then frowns. "How? How could you love a monster like me?"

"I kept the spiteful letters that you left near dead newbloods in hopes that you may change. I'm in love with my friend Maven. Not the King Maven who betrayed us. The Maven who is here right now, smiling at me. Whenever I remember you, I cannot bring myself to dislike the other part of you any more. But, which side of you is the real you?" I ask.

Maven gazes far into the distance. "Truly, I am who I look like tonight when I am with you. For that is my more humane side, the true side that I was born with. Who I am when nobody else but you is looking. Otherwise, I am the King - obsessed with power and relentless. Like my mother wanted me to be. Sometimes he tries to take over, but I won't let him. And I never will, while you are here with me. Or if you forgive my other side, I won't ever let it. Perhaps it will heal itself too."

Smiling, I put my hand on his heart. "I love you both. I forgive the harsh King that took over your soul, and hope that he may find happiness in the life that he lives - and that power isn't all it seems to be."

Tears trickle down Maven's cheeks as he replies, "I will always keep that in mind. I am a man of my word."

"But where is Cal?" I ask, unable to fend off the question any longer. It has been the thought that has chomping away at my thoughts for ages, something that I simply couldn't take off my mind.

The boy King's countenance changes into an expression I cannot read. "I began to bore of just having my brother captive, and not the both of you. I felt that I wanted both halves of the couple that caused me so much pain. You may believe me heartless, Mare - but I would never kill someone who am I related to."

Horror grips at my throat. "What do you mean? Where's Cal?"

Maven shifts so that he is gazing directly into my eyes. "You must understand that it is what I had to do. The Silver community would have been furious if I hadn't. Cal was assigned to command a group of delinquent youths that had been forced to join the army because of their behaviour. I made it appear as if it would be difficult and they would be sent into combat often."

"And, have they?"

"No," Maven says. "They haven't seen combat once."

Author's note:

Thank you for reading! How do you feel about Maven now? And don't worry, Cal lovers, there will be some Cal action soon. Much thanks to RedAsBlood77 who made the beautiful cover for this story! ❤️ If you haven't already, you should definitely check out her King's Cage FanFiction. 

Also, I just finished the Lunar Chronicles! Who are your favourite ships/characters?

- Inkpen_Scroll