Page 64 of Royal Lies

Shit.

Quickly moving over to the side, I’d just narrowly missed her sharp talons before having to dodge again.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing Everetta?!" I fumed, flashing behind her and restraining her wrists before she could strike me again.

“No- No don’t fucking touch me!” She screamed again.

Tossing me backward with a flick of her hand, I splayed my palm out, casting a wall of ice to soften my blow. Quickly turning before my front had the chance to hit the cool surface I used the bottoms of my feet to propel myself off my ice, knowing full well where she was going to appear next. After all, I did have a lifetime of experiencebabysittingher. Sure enough, there she was, a claw catching the ends of my hair, if narrowly. Damn it, I'm too drained from that ordeal with Lucarious, the bastard just had to make me use my magic. Now I am too tired, as much as I hated to admit it I sure would love one of my younger brother’s little energizing potions.

Does she even know what she's doing?

Casting a shield around myself, I blinked as my hand swerved, grasping the dagger coming straight for me. Blood dripped down from my clenched fist around the blade. I could feel my skin tearing as she pushed, trying to nick my left eye out. Damn. I underestimated her speed. I should have known; she's always like this when she was angry. But why? I mean, I get why; Flynn turned out not to be Flynn, but she didn't know that, right?

Kicking her hard in the ribs, I managed to free myself without having a dagger plunged in my face. I couldn't say I escaped uninjured. My right hand was sporting a thin long slice across the palm. Damn. There was blood dripping from her long sharp crescent fingertips, not to mention I was already feeling the drags of using all my magic. Slow from the burn out I didn't see her hand reaching for me until she managed to sear the center of my chest. Just because I was running low on magic didn't mean it was the same case for her. A burning red handprint marked where she had stained my skin before I managed to jump back from the pain. I'll fix that later.

Feeling a punch as strong as a strike of lightning reverberating in my back, I gasped for air. Barely catching myself before my face kissed the floor. I flashed a good distance from her before I nearly had my head sliced off. Blinking, I looked up. The sight nearly caused me to pause. I would have too if she didn't flash in front of me, swiping her talons against my face. Damn. I pulled back just nearly enough to only receive three shallow claw marks indented across my right cheek. I could feel the trickles of blood rolling off my cheek.

Flashing constantly, I tried to throw her aim off. No good. This wasn't enough. My magic supply was waning fast.

"Everetta please, youneedto let me help you. You're not in control right now!" I barked as I tried dodging her following attack.

In the next second of me flashing, she was in front of me, claws extended. How is she so fast? How could I possibly get her down? I can't even touch her without getting torn to pieces and this is without her using magic. I need to end this now. I can't have the servants getting wind of this commotion. It might hinder my plans for the throne.

Casting a quick chant, I cast a sleeping rune, I mean ruin, towards the ground. Now all I have to do is lead her there and... Shit! She was only getting quicker. Swinging back, I grimaced at the searing pain in my arm. Damn. Noting the near-white bone under the mess of crimson, I grimaced. But now was not the time to heal myself. I can only halt the bleeding for now. With my arm hanging loosely by my side and not wanting to lose it, I had to run towards the damn circle. Faintly I could hear someone say,

"What's going on here?!" But I couldn't risk the chance of getting distracted.

“No- No- No” She was muttering something as she clenched her head but that wasn’t stopping her from launching herself at me.

Chasing after me, she nearly reached me until the light poured from the circle entrapped her. For a moment, I thought it wouldn't work, but after a second, her eyes blinked slowly as she swayed on her feet. “No, no, not again, please no-” She managed to utter before collapsing to the ground.

I could feel my own blackout inching towards me, but not right now, I need to get her under control. Perhaps it was a memory that had brought her to this state. Scooping one arm under her neck and another around her waist I flashed both Everetta's unconscious body and my own over to her bed. I usedthe remnants of my power to remove the memories that were causing her so much harm.

Forcing out the words from my lips I called out Lucarious' name before darkness enveloped me.

My headache feels like a stampede of seven hundred elephants in my head. Not to mention, my arm feels like a bloody beast went right ahead and bit a chunk of it.

"Morning sunshine," Lucarious' all-too-cheery voice drawled from the seat beside me. Sitting up, I tried recalling the events of the other day. Everetta… right, she was having another tantrum. Lords, she nearly ripped me in half.

"Did you heal her?" I removed my covers finally noticing the chunk of bone that was my arm. I glared at the man before me. Really? Couldn't he have given me the same courtesy? I know he healed her, the question was just a confirmation. He always did love her, in his own way. Well, at least he stopped the blood with a spell. I could recognize the scent of his magic from a mile away. The ashy burnt smell of smoke was like the burning fires of hell. Lucarious smiled devilishly. I glared at him.

Lucarious shrugged. "Of course I did. I'm a gentleman, aren't I? Besides what the gods happened? I walked in to see what the fuss was about, and yes, I also helped erase the little disturbance from everyone's minds if you were wondering. Anyhow there I was by the door seeing you and Ev go about it like some wild animals." He drawled, all nonchalance gone as his steely blood-red eyes stared back at me. I shook my head.

After all, we all knew how bloodthirsty Everetta could be. I sighed, flipping my good hand over my mangled one. How much damage did she do? IfIhadn’t managed to stop her what would have happened?

"She hasn't woken has she?" I made sure to check in on her myself, using my magic to sense if hers had stirred yet. Ensuring that her energy was still in that room I sighed a breath of relief.Lucarious must have moved me to my room after the whole ordeal.

In case she does wake I'll cast another sleep spell under her bed. It's best if she doesn't wake up until I find a solution to contain her anger.

Why did she even get angry? Honestly, sometimes she could be such a child.

"No, I checked on her before and it seemed like she was asleep, out cold if you ask me," Lucarious lifted a shoulder before furrowing his brows in confusion.

"What is it?" I frowned back at the confused man before me.

As if just coming back to the present Lucarious flashed his signature grin, “Nothing. Just worried. I mean that was quite the little explosion she had."

"She’s not herself right now. Quite frankly, I don't have time to deal with her. I've placed a sleeping ruin under her; don't destroy it unless you want to be mauled to death. Needless to say, make sure no one but us is allowed in that room, not even that bloody witch of a sister you have. I have no doubt she must have angered Everetta in some way" I proclaimed, causing Lucarious to roll his eyes. The man was too protective of his younger sister, or perhaps I should say he loved his sister all too much, I suppose I could relate. I wouldn't want anyone to bad mouth Snow.

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