♱ Chapter • 07 ♱

♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱

Callisto's arms wrapped around my hips.

"Are you sure you want this?" He asked me, and in his eyes there seemed to be a mixture of doubt and fear.

It was obvious why. Asra was trouble, but, besides, I had hurt myself the last time I tried to help. He must have thought that there was nothing I could do without nearly screwing everything up along the way.

I sank my face into his chest.

I wouldn't give up.

"Yes, that way you can work, and you won't have to endure Azrael on your foot... and..." I smiled, kissing his chin gently, "you can stay by my side too."

He squeezed me tighter in his arms and I knew he was thinking, was really considering, but if I let him leave without giving me an answer, he would ask Azrael and that damned angel would go out of his way to make sure I didn't get involved in anything he considered "serious," like, for example: anything involving Elaine.

"Please" I spoke getting on tiptoe and sealing the king's lips, "I promise... I won't cause any trouble".

He sighed.

"But... we will have to meet with that..."

Elaine.

I felt my jaw clench as I remembered God's chosen woman.

"And you don't want me to go?" I asked, trying not to let my anger show.

I wasn't angry that I had caught Elaine, after all, she was the great protagonist; the one who was able to kill the Black King and destroy his reign of terror over the lands that had once been mortal lands, protected by God.

But I still hated her for the way she had acted with Callisto. For all the times she had forced him to see the worst in him, and even the times she had judged attitudes that were - in my opinion - right.

Callisto stared at me.

"I don't want you to get hurt, Asra."

He was serious, so I nodded.

"I won't.

"You told me you wouldn't go..." he paused, "maybe it's better that we continue as we are."

No!

He was wanting to draw that damned line again. He wanted to give Asra just the job of mistress again. The king's concubine, the one who stays locked up in his palace, full of jewels and silks, but without an ounce of love or affection.

"Are you really going to do that?" I spoke before I realized it, my voice was cold. I shouldn't have spoken like that, but for some reason it seemed like a sharp blow to Callisto.

The king now looked at me wistfully.

"I..."

I forced a smile as I disentangled myself from his arms.

"It's okay," I spoke and slid my long fingers through the red hair Asra possessed, throwing back the curls and looking at the window.

I didn't want to look at that beautiful face with such a tempting expression.

I didn't want to like Callisto right now.

"Asra" he called to me, but I didn't stare at him.

"What is it, Your Majesty?"

He held my arm.

"I just..." he stopped, "why? Why did you suddenly... change?"

My breathing became heavy.

He would ask, of course he would, after all it was not in Asra's nature to wish to help in the kingdom, to wish to act like the noblewoman she was born to be.

She had given up this desire when she heard from Callisto's mouth the words that hurt her the most: you will never be my queen or my empress. You will never have my love.

It was obvious why she had changed, why all that mattered to her was to look "pretty," after all, that was all she had of Callisto. Those were the nights when he warmed her bed, where he kissed her and took her as his own, and that was hers alone, because Asra was Callisto's only concubine and the only one he had slept with since the death of his beloved wife.

I sank my fingernails into my palms.

I was angry for Asra. Furthermore, I was angry for all the shit that had happened, but that didn't justify what I was about to do.

Nothing would.

"Because I realized...that it doesn't matter" I spoke facing the king, "I may not be the empress, but I am the duchess of the entire empire."

The quartz eyes became clouded by something I could not distinguish, but it was obvious that it had hurt.

"Asra..." his mouth opened, but he couldn't speak. I couldn't lie.

"It's okay" I lied, "I don't need you to take me with you to act like a duchess".

"I know" he said looking guilty, "but..."

"But you still prefer everything to continue as before" I laughed, even though there was no humor in my words or even happiness in my eyes, "I don't judge you, Callisto. It must be extremely easy to deal with everything this way, isn't it? To be able to go anywhere and then return to my room, my bed, and always have me there.

It was unfair to him. Callisto had never treated Asra like this, but I confess, I wanted to hurt him a little for suggesting that I just conform and return to before.

Maybe I was being cruel for no reason. Maybe Calisto was just worried, and I could still remember the way he looked guilty and hurt when I almost died fighting Elaine, but... what if he wasn't? What if, in fact, he really wished to reduce me to his selfish and futile concubine?

"Get out" I spoke before he could answer.

"Asra.

"Get out, your majesty" I muttered staring at him, "I don't want to talk anymore, and I think your majesty is... late for his appointments".

He squeezed his fingers lightly on my arm, but soon, he let go and this made my heart sink in a feeling I have never known in my entire life.

"I'm sorry" he murmured as he reached the door, "but... I told you that day..."

I smiled. A clearly forced smile.

"I know" I spoke loud enough for him to hear me, "you will never love me and I will never be your empress or queen. I am your concubine, right? Just your concubine. So now, go back to your work and let your concubine do what she thinks is best with her life.

Quartz's eyes widened at my words, but I didn't give him time to react. My fingers snapped in the air and soon the maids appeared.

"Ma'am?" One of them called out, and I saw Callisto huff before walking out the door.

He would find Elaine, he would fall in love with Elaine and make her his empress, his queen, and his second love.

I bit my mouth hard.

Why did I need to like such a dumb character?