Page 19 of Crowned A Traitor
“You think he wants rid of you? Grow up.” Frendall grinned, and Klara bumped into the dresser as he came towards her. “I have seen what the King does to those he hates, and it’s nothing compared to merely shaving your head or rough training.”
Klara hated his shaming tone, “Grow up? As if you are any better, Father tortured you and then gave you a promotion. All hail the Commander,” she said, pointing to the symbol on his cheek. Frendall buttoned his shirt and jacket, “The King didn’t give me anything. I earned my place among the Commanders. What have you done to earn your place as Heir?”
“Nothing, I have done nothing, and until he puts me on the throne, I will do what I please. You think he won’t ever turn on you? Those marks on your back are only the tip of the iceberg.”
“Thank you for the concern, but I don’t need it,” Frendall stood over her, and Klara shoved him back with ease. He wasn’t going to intimidate her.
“I don’t pity you. I feel nothing for you,” Klara said.
“Well, we both know that’s not true,” he winked, picking up the emerald gown.
She clenched her jaw as he studied the corset.
“If I refuse?”
Frendall tossed her the gown, “This is why you need to follow the rules. You show too much of yourself. One day the wrong person will see that fiery temper of yours and extinguish it.”
“Is that a challenge?” Klara asked. They studied each other, neither making the first move. Klara wasn’t sure in her weakened state if she could take him. Frendall opened the bedroom door, “Are you getting changed?” He asked, growing impatient. “Or am I going to have to stay and force you?”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Think I want to be late and suffer Lucifer’s wrath?”
“Out,” Klara barked, but before Frendall closed the door, she couldn’t stop herself.
“I’m sorry my Father hurt you,” the words spilt out as his screams lingered within her.
“I know my place now, do you?” Frendall smiled for a split second and closed the door. Her mind drifted to their last day together as they had run through the winding Maze of Hell.
She shook away the memories, once she was in Kalos Frendall would take her place, and from what she could see, he was almost there anyway.
“Let’s try out this heart, shall we?” Klara said to the Hounds, looking at her ruined clothes and then to the dress, “mutatio.”
A black smock dress took the place of her clothes, and she embraced her bald head. It was one of the simpler enchantments Eve had taught her, but it gave Klara hope for her new heart.
“Happy?” Klara asked, opening the bedroom door, and Frendall shook his head, “determined to stand out.”
“The King does love it when I make a scene,” Klara said, and Frendall led her from the room.
The eerie portraits mounted on the dark navy walls reminded her of the Queens’ Castle. Some were identical to those on the walls of the Castle except these were gateways to other realms and passages within Hell. The tortured soul of Dorian Grey had painted most of them. He might be immortal, but that didn’t stop Father from enslaving him, just like he had Arthur. She hoped Arthur was okay and that the Queens weren’t making his life too miserable back home.The Manor, the Castle neither feel like home.
Frendall paused at the top of the winding staircase, and she bumped into him.
“What were you thinking about?”
“Malum.”
“Desperate to return?”
“Quite the opposite, I’m sure the Queens have starved the Forest into extinction by now.”
“If you want to get away from them, why not come back?”
Klara paused on the stairs.You make it sound easy.
“All the King had to do was snap his fingers, and I would have come back straight through the portraits, the uprising was quashed, and yet I remained in Malum. In a decade, the King called for me how many times, once? twice?” They continued down the staircase, Klara’s hand grazed the smooth railing.
“Lucifer has his pride, and he wouldn’t go back on his orders. Especially not with the Queens involved.”
