The Price to Pay

The heat and smoke from the flames encircling the room made it hard to breath as Lia stretched, reaching for the dagger that lay just beyond her reach. Heavy boots smashed her grasping fingers into the floor. A choked sob wrenched its way out of her, but she refused to let the tears fall. With his other foot, the man kicked the dagger across the room.

“Give up Princess Dahlia. There’s no way for you to win.” The man knelt beside her, removing his foot from her hand. He wrenched her face up to meet his eyes, gripping her chin with his rough fingers. His blonde hair was tinged gray from the falling ash. Grief filled Lia as she gazed into his eyes. Though others only saw the great and honorable Grand Duke Jasper Schneider, she could see the madness that had taken root in him.

The lodge continued to burn around them. The sounds of the building collapsing echoed loudly but neither one paid it any mind. “Confess Princess, and maybe you will be imprisoned instead of being executed.” His crystalline blue eyes blazed with a righteous fury.

Lia struggled to lift herself up. Her limbs were weak from the relentless onslaught of his attacks. Though she was proficient in self-defense, she was no match for the duke. The fact that even now, even with the madness, he still held himself back enough to not seriously injure her breathed life into her dying hope.

“Jasper, please. This isn’t what it looks like. Please wake-up.” She begged, trying desperately to get through to him.

The Grand Duke Schneider scoffed, “This isn’t what it looks like? The royal family has been practicing black magic! Who knows how many people are under your thrall.” He gestured to the burning room. “You even set fire to the lodge to destroy the evidence. Fret not though Princess, I have more than enough evidence to convict you all even without this lodge.” Frustration boiled up inside her.

“Jasper!” she exclaimed, “Please listen...”

Her head wrenched around from the force of his slap. The stinging on her face was nothing compared to the pain in her heart at the sight of his expression.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to be! Two years ago they were planning when to set their wedding date. They had been together for so long. First as childhood friends and then more as they grew up and grew closer. They had worked for the good of their people, rooting out corruption and fighting against the evils that continued to plague the land. Evils like black magic and demons. Together they’d found new diplomatic solutions for international relationships as well as those pesky and petty internal tensions. Everything she’d fought for, her country, her love, was all crumbling before her eyes.

If Jasper pursued his claims and destroyed the royal family, chaos would ensue. Nature abhors a vacuum and noble society does even more. The differing factions would fight for the power heedless of the impact on the people. Finally after exhausting their strength and resources, a victor would emerge only to immediately be trampled by the Empire of Karthia. As it was, the Kingdom of Aspia was barely holding them off. If there was internal conflict, Karthia would without a doubt seize the opportunity to attack the kingdom and bring the remnants into their empire. Even if a king was named without much fuss, Karthia likely would still use the chaos to take action. War would ensue and her people would be crushed by the fallout.

Despair engulfed Lia. If only she and Jasper hadn’t gone on that vacation. If only they hadn’t sought shelter from the rain in that cave. Why didn’t they just wait it out instead of exploring like fools? Why did they pick up the golden rings they’d found? It was all her fault.

“It doesn’t have to be this way.” The insidious voice tickled her ear. Lia tensed at the ghostly whisper. “My deal still stands. Either you can cling to your pride and useless sense of honor and righteousness while the very trait you value destroys everything you hold dear, or you can surrender to me and sacrifice that foolishness. Things will return to how they should be.” Lia’s skin crawled as ephemeral fingers caressed her cheek. The deep lingering chill contrasting the warmth of flesh.

“Look at where ‘being a hero’ has gotten you.” The voice continued, “Your lover-boy has completely succumbed to the delusions of the ring. His honor and heroism is more important than the truth.” The light from the fire glimmered on the golden ring Jasper spun idly around his finger while he stared hard at Lia. Mocking laughter filled her ears.

“Despite his grand promises, he didn’t even last a year before he turned on you. How hard has he been digging for this evidence against you in the months since then? Remember what he said? Remember how he gave up first?” Lia flinched as Jasper’s voice echoed in her memory.

“Don’t give in Lia! We can resist anything this demon can throw at us. Believe in us, believe in righteousness.”

Grief and bitterness washed over her. The demon was right about one thing. It was Jasper who had given in and stopped fighting first. The voice whispered again. “Your family will be dishonored and reviled by the very research you did to cure his mind. You strove endlessly to break the spell on him and on you. What did he do?” Lia wanted to clap her hands to her ears. It wouldn’t make a difference even if she did though.

“What about your people? Can they survive the coming war. One you alone have held off but now he is setting the stage for?”

“Confess your wickedness!” Jasper yanked Lia to her feet. The heavy smoke burned in her lungs. Lia sagged as dizziness overtook her. Rather than catch her, Jasper let her limp body collapse at his feet, his face devoid of any concern.

“All you have to do is confess.”

“All you have to do is say yes.” Two voices overlapped in her head.

“Leave this place behind Princess. Just shed your pride and heroism and everything will be fixed. Become the villain they think you are and by doing so become their savior.” The golden ring seemed to pulse in time with her own heartbeat. The vicious words gaining a greater hold on her with each whisper.

“Okay.” Her voice trembled. With a sharp crack, the twin rings shattered sending golden debris flying. A swirling purple smoke rose from the scattered pieces. As the wind increased, Jasper’s angry voice rose above it all.

“Consorting with demons now are you?” His raging blue eyes were full of accusation as he met her green ones. The tears she had held back for so many months finally fell.

Her brown hair whipped around in the wind as the swirling purple mass coalesced into a cloaked humanoid figure. Cackling laughter filled the devastated room.

“Do you, Princess Dahlia Everton of Aspia agree to my terms? Surrender the sense of justice and honor that you hold dear and I will return things to how they should be.” Without looking at Jasper, Lia met the glowing purple eyes. “I do.”

He snapped his fingers and instantly the flames were extinguished and the room was restored to its former glory. A second snap returned them to that damp and dismal cave from so long ago. Lia gasped; had they teleported, or had they returned to before, or had it all been an illusion? She didn’t know.

“Lia.” Jasper’s voice was rough as he called her name. Green eye met blue and they shared a long look. Love and relief flowed through Lia as she saw reason return to his gaze. The next heartbeat shattered the moment as realization crashed over him.

“Lia!” He cried again, reaching for her. Anguish filled his eyes as he met an intangible barrier.

“Jasper.” Lia whispered, her chest tight and painful. A clawed hand extended past the edge of the cloak and grabbed her around the arm.

“It’s time Princess.” The insidious voice sounded from behind her. Without resistance, Lia allowed herself to be pulled away by the demon. Together they moved towards a portal she assumed he had summoned. A strange pressure seemed to tug on her, urging her towards the opening.

“You should be happy Princess,” The voice sent shivers down her spine, “You did it. You saved everything. You are the hero.” Lia ignored him, instead watching as Jasper slammed his fists into the barrier over and over again. Sorrow filled her and tears flowed freely down her face.

With each step backwards she took, Lia felt the tears slowly begin to dry up. As she took her final step into the portal pain, anger and bitter regret surged through her. Jasper collapsed to his knees blood oozing from open wounds on his raw hands.

Purple lightening flashed and the portal closed separating the two. A thought crossed her mind. If this is what came from being a hero maybe it really would be better to be a villain.