[2016] The Bride Trials Read online

  You’ll find us in my office.

  —Sonovo

  Ditran ran. It only took a couple minutes, but that would be plenty of time to kill her. The door to the office was cracked open just a little. The sounds

  of fighting filled the room and he kicked open the door.

  Sonovo’s office was every bit a show of power and function. Sometimes meetings were held in the room; so it was large enough to have tables and chairs brought in to set thirty people. Today only the large desk on the far side of the room next to a fireplace was in there. The scene before him he hadn’t expected.

  Keyla was dueling Drake. Fire against ice as they moved throughout the room. Holding her own, even as he taunted.

  Sonovo was fighting against the woman from Keyla’s memories near his desk. Mother? Her hand swiped against Sonovo’s arm and the skin peeled away at her touch. Sonovo retaliated by landing a fist to her chin. She dropped.

  Ditran ran to her, as she rolled over onto her back. “You got my note I see,” Sonovo said to Ditran. “I’m so glad you could join us for a little family reunion. Let me introduce you to your traitorous mother. She goes by Suzenita now.”

  His mother sat up. “The only traitor is you. You killed my husband.”

  “Rebellion is the reason he’s dead,” Sonovo said. His fists clenched and they burst into flames. “No. You are the reason he’s dead. I saw you in that forest.” Suzenita stood on wobbly feet. “Uncle, what is she talking about?” Ditran asked.

  “Lies, Ditran. The woman faked her own death, she can’t be trusted.” Sonovo took a step closer. “Look into his memories, Ditran.”

  Ditran took a step forward, as Sonovo took a step back so he was just beside his desk. “Uncle, please let me see what happened.” “No!” Sonovo threw a ball of fire.

  The blast of flame brushed Ditran’s shoulder. He dove for the ground and rolled to put it out. He waved his arm as if to say hello, and formed a shield of ice to carry. “We don’t have to do this.”

  “So you’ll betray me too. I should have known.” Sonovo crouched and set a palm on the floor. The ground rippled underneath Ditran before launching him into the air with a burst of floor tiles. Ditran tucked in his arms and forced his body to spin. As the air moved around him he created a sphere. He threw his arms out and the bubble slowed before hitting the ground in front of Sonovo’s desk and popping. Ditran looked up over the desk. Sonovo stood on the other side.

  “You’re just like Harold.”

  Ditran paused at the mention of his father. It took him a moment to realize the floor he’d landed on, was no longer solid. In fact the stone tiles were becoming more liquid with every second. He struggled to free himself, but it was too late. The thick mud slid from his boots to his ribs.

  “Sentiment was always your weakness.” King Sonovo, said as he moved into view. His eyes were the color of steel. He motioned with his hand and the mud hardened around Ditran. “The people will be heartbroken to learn of your death.”

  “No!” Suzenita ran towards Sonovo. Sonovo swiped his hand. A wave of air threw her into the desk with enough force the desk splintered and broke under her.

  “You’ll die next.” “Keyla!”

  he heard Ditran’s shout from across the room and looked. Suzenita was motionless on the broken desk. Ditran stuck in stone a couple feet away.

  Drakes arms wrapped around her. She struggled to get free and he laughed. Cold ice swept over her middle, freezing her hands at her sides. He grabbed her head to keep it in place, facing the King and the two people who meant the most to her.

  “My ice should have killed you in the forest. But this is so much better. Daughter of the dragon wing, watch your prince die.” Drake hissed the words in her ear.

  He’s the traitor. Keyla’s eyes went wide and she took a deep breath. In with the heat, out with the flames.

  The King looked at her and laughed. “Ditran you should have let her go when I told you to. Don’t worry though, we’ll keep her alive long enough to breed a new Heir. Maybe two if she’s a good girl.”

  Fire burst from her skin. Drake ripped his hand away from her head, the ice around her splintered and fell. She twirled around and crashed her fist into the side of Drake’s head. He dropped to the ground, unconscious.

  She ran towards Sonovo, he stood motionless. “Can’t hold him much longer. His mind is too strong.” Suzenita said from the floor. She had one hand wrapped around the King’s leg. Just above the shoe where there was a thin spot of exposed skin.

  Keyla turned to Ditran, who was already freeing himself from the stone. When the King lost focus, the stone came free.

  “I need to see.” He grabbed his uncle’s hand and his face contorted into a grimace.

  Suzenita let go of the King, and Keyla helped her to stand.

  “What is happening?” Keyla asked. “Ditran is battling the King to see the day his father died.” Suzenita pulled a flask off of her belt and drank it. “We’ll need to be prepared for when they are done.”

  Suzenita searched the King for his flasks and handed them to Keyla. “Burn these.” Keyla set her hand in flames and watched as the glass tubes melted off her fingers. “How long do you think they’ll be like that?”

  “Not long.” Suzenita went to the desk and rummaged through the debris. She pulled out a leather bag from under one large chunk and stuffed a bunch of papers inside.

  Keyla watched the two men. A drop of sweat slowly dripped down the side of Ditran’s face and landed on the collar of his shirt. Even sweaty and dirty he was handsome. He let out a yell, and dropped Sonovo’s hand.

  “You killed him. For all these years you’ve had me hate people who were trying to stop suffering you caused.”

  Ditran used his fist and punch Sonovo in the stomach. He continued to hit Sonovo over and over again. Until Sonovo sank to the ground, panting for breath and holding his middle. His crown fell off his head and rolled to Ditran’s feet. Ditran let the ice grow in his hand until it formed a deadly sword. He made a couple slashes in the air and pressed it to Sonovo’s throat.

  The King looked up at Ditran. “Do it. Kill me just like you did the people in the factory.” “I’ve never killed anyone.”

  “You have the blood of hundreds on your hands. There wasn’t enough time to evacuate everyone in the time you demanded. At least we didn’t have to burn the bodies since you buried them.”

  Keyla thought of the black smoke in Cryssal. The acrid smell billowing from the chimney. Now she knew it was fueled by the bodies of innocents.

  “HELP!” A shout sounded. “The Heir has betrayed the King!” Keyla turned around, Drake was running out of the room. Screaming as he moved down the hall. She ran after him, but it was no use, he was out of sight by the time she reached the door.

  Ditran let go of the sword in his hand and picked up the crown at his feet. It began to glow an angry red in his hands and he set it on what remained of Sonovo’s desk. “Dovesti’s stone will judge you, not me.” Ditran swiped his hand, and the stone floor molded itself to Sonovo’s body.

  “We have to go. Now.” Keyla turned to Ditran. The sounds of footsteps filled the hallway. “How do we get out of here?”

  Suzenita opened an adjoining door. “Remember your training Keyla?” Ditran formed an ice bridge and they slide out of the window into a large tree. They ran from one

  tree to the next through the orchard at the back of the Palace. When they reached the back wall Drake’s voice filled the air.

  “The King is dead. Ditran betrayed him. I am your new ruler, it’s time for the Purists to join me.” This is what she wanted, the monarchy gone. Keyla looked over at Ditran. He took her hand in his. What had they done?

  Jessica is a mom, author, commercial underwriter, and scuba diver. When not stuck inside she dreams of diving the ocean with her husband. However as she lives in the desert she also dreams of camping in the rocky mountains with her kids and dogs.

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