Shadow of the Abyss

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Elder Ashe demanded sharply, perhaps too sharply. "You have insulted the Duke Heir!"

Within his chamber, Elder Yorke's lips buckled out of anger. "Duke Heir," he grumbled. "He has not my loyalty or my love!" He looked at Elena, her legs folded over the other on the settee. "I have given such things to Lord Conall, not the Duke Heir."

"Are you mad? Conall is a bastard! It's hardly a comparison between the Duke Heir and Conall. They want to whip you, you blasted fool!"

Yorke's seamed eyes appear to blaze fire. "Whipped! I am a Transcendent Elder to House Rivia! I—"

Elder Ashe slapped him. "Recognize where you are! The Castellan is one of the Dukes Bannerman. They'd sooner have you dead than ruin this Engagement, or is it you believe the Marquis will plead for your life? When you spat over the face of House Nier before commoners and noblemen alike?"

"I've done nothing wrong," Yorke insisted.

"It's not about right or wrong. It's about perception! You are a bloody elder. A transcendent who has openly objected to the marriage between our two houses!"

"If you do not apologize," Elena said cooly. "The unity between our two houses will be shattered."

For the first time, Yorke looked surprised. "Unity? My Lady, you rode to Inka to break the Engagement. How can you have the face to say such things? Is it because he bedded you!"

"What did you say?"

"They say your moans sweltered through the halls," Elder Yorke added. "How could you turn Lord Conall into a cuckold."

Elena went red, though not from shame. Storming to her feet, she crossed the boundary between them as her palm lashed across his cheek. "I don't know what you've heard, but I am still your Lady! I am still Elena, the rightful Heir to house Rivia. I will not accept such false allegations. Nox and I merely shared a room, nothing more, nothing less."

Elder Yorke gave a flat, empty laugh. "False? Several maids have found you with his seed on your belly. Your clothes ripped and—"

Elena gave him another lick of her palm. "Go home, Yorke. You are dismissed."

"I cam here on orders of the Marquess, my Lady. I cannot merely leave. Even if you command it."

Elena didn't bat an eye. "Then you will either apologize or be executed on the grounds of treason against House Rivia." she turned halfway out the door before Elder Yorke's voice held her step.

"And what do I tell Lord Conall?

Again, Elena could not believe her ears. It simply ached hearing someone she once trusted speak as if she were a cattle to be poked and prodded. And she had to wonder who held Yorke's loyalty: House Rivia or Conall.

"I haven't the faintest idea how or why you seem so close to Conall, but my Father will hear of this folly. As for Conall…" She snorted. "I've not engaged in any sexual activity with Nox. But if you believe I've done something, We'll see who has the last laugh… Yorke. Elder Ashe, attend me. There is much I want to report back to my Father.

And much I need to hear about these nasty rumors."

****

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Altair was halfway into the realm of dreams when his door was flung open open. He didn't turn to know who it was clomping towards him with a fierceness clouding her eyes.

"You bastard!" Elena barked, throwing a fist at the half-suspecting man.

Altair might have dodged if he were afraid. Elena's fist fell short of blowing his head off his shoulders. "As much as I detest the necessity of sleep, a lack of etiquette seemed to be rising on my list."

"You have the face to say such a thing?!" Elena snapped. Elder Ashe closed the door lest her shouts echo down the hall. "You have all but ruined my name! My Honor!"

Altair smiled a smile as cold as ice and as empty as the night. "My Lady, did you not suspect rumors would spread? We even made a bet, or have you forgotten? If it's the latter, then I feel for House Rivia."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Elena felt her heartbreak. "You… I didn't think you'd go this far."

"But Conall isn't insecure," Altair joked. Reminding her of what was to be lost in the near future. At the image of her face draining of color, he crackled like a devil lost in elation, chilling the hearts of those who heard it.

When his laughter dimmed, he glanced at Elder Ashe, too ashamed to look him in the eye. He had heard of the bet they'd made but hadn't much understood the inner workings. After all, not many were aware that Tasha was a devil of the Hells. Elena knew but didn't dare tell anyone lest rumors of house Rivia or Nier be caught up in a feud against the Church of Sepith.

"Damn you! Damn you to hell! Nox!" she said his name in a whisper, pained and broken.

The Vale King lifted her bowed head, his eyes like writhing flames of madness. "When I bed you. And bed you, I shall. Conall will be made to watch. I owe him that. After all, Nox De Nier is no cuckold."

Elder Ashe had heard enough. "I will not allow you to speak to our Young Lady in such a manner! Apologize Lord Nox!'

Curious, the Vale King's eyes crossed the long-faced man, "I shall not." He said in a palatine voice, commanding gods and mortals alike. "This is the consequence of Elena foolishly attempting to break her oath to me."

"You promised me only two years," Elena said. "Two years, and we'd mutually break the Engagement. What would be the point if you ruined my image!"

The Vale King did not seem to understand. "What does that have to do with me? You are here to play a role. If you can't play it, I shall ensure you do. Even if it means shattering the image, you have refined over the years. My Sword Maid has already declared you a liability. And I don't like liabilities, Elena."

'It was a 1000 Years ago!" she screamed in utter disbelief. "You were unconscious for a thousand years! You expected me to wait that long!" Tears pooled from her eyes, staining the bedding. "Its…Its… It's not fair! It's not—

The Vale King looked at her as if she were filth. "Cry somewhere else, not in my presence. It's disgusting. You are a noble. Not some common wench."

"Why does it have to be me? Why can't I just be with the person I lov—"

"Enough," decreed the Vale King. "These are the consequences of your actions, not mine. If you can't deal with them, don't bet." He held her by the cheek, bathing in that look of hollow despair, and kissed her.

"Monster," Elder Ashe said, turning away, shaking.

Teary-eyed, she pushed him away, the sting of his lips against her own, covering the one she had given Conall before she'd left. Despair ran heavily across her paling face, yet she could do nothing… the contract forbade it. Defeat traced her image as she stumbled back onto her bottom, shattered. The walls were shrinking, closing down around her, squeezing the air from her lungs.

Darkness swallowed her vision as she threw her head back, echoing a cry with the last of her strength.

At the sight of her faint on the floor, the Vale King rolled his eyes. "So dramatic… you. Take her away. Have my Medarc look at her. If anyone asks, tell them her Fiance beast that tried taking another bite."

Ashe, who'd thrown himself to catch her, glared furiously at the King. "How could you be so heartless? Is she not your fiancee? How can you treat her less than a piece of—"

"I use what is mine, but it isn't your concern, Elder Ashe. It's the Marquess. This marriage is beneficial to your house. I'm sure you need us more than we need you. After all, you kept the Engagement for a thousand years. Desperate if you ask me.

Now, I have to wonder what the Marquess is thinking." He smiled again, thinking it over. "He needs us. That's why he sent you and Yorke to collect Elena. It's who I know you'll keep your bloody mouth shut when he arrives."

"Monster…"

"Hmmm. Instruct your Lady to play her part well. A selfish fool like her is bound to be the end of House Rivia if all the facts aren't laid out for her. Neither of us wants that. And surely not the Marquess. You may leave."

In resigned defeat, Elder Ashe carried Elena out of the room as Tasha sauntered in moments later, smiling.

"My Lord, you are absolutely wicked. You keep surprising me. How far do you intend to take… Elena."

"Until she is no longer useful," Altair said, his voice no longer as cold and empty. It was flat, as if he were speaking about a stranger.

I cannot control when the Vale King might appear, so there are scenarios I simply can't control. As disdainful as it is… The Vale King has chosen Elena to be a sacrifice to his madness.

He looked at Tasha, breathing a sigh. "I plan to break through by the end of the week. Prepare me a formation. I suspect the Tribulation that will fall upon my head to be catastrophic."

"As you command, my Master."