The Marks that Define Them

Chapter 7:

Chapter 7:

Reyn

Sitting at his desk Reyn's mind denied the ability to focus on him. Papers scrawled over the place reading was just looking at the words for him. He didn't process it. He didn't register it in his mind. Instead, Reyn couldn't get him off of his reprimanding. Or off the possible future. Aine. Her words poisoned his mind with threats that she knew would work. She tested him by threatening to take things. Take his jobs, the thing he worked the most for. Or take his family. Everything came down to this decision. The position of Astraea. Work or your child. Life or death.

The door creaked open with a small girl peeking through.

"Sir, the Queen is requesting your presence." Reyn sighed while walking to her chamber. The journey to her chamber seemed longer than usual. Because of this, Reyn took advantage of that time to prepare for the awaited conversation ahead of him. Walking in timidly, Reyn's preparation ceased to exist from his mind leaving a blank canvas.

"You wanted to see my, my Queen." Wanting to please her, Reyn tried to conceal his confusion as to why Caitriona was here.

"Reyn. Caitriona and I are here because we need your decision. Caitriona has made her decision to join me and to show that she is loyal to me. Now, we need yours." Caitriona stalked up to him with long strides. Putting on her most seductive face.

"Come on honey, think of it. You don't need her. Forget about that girl. You could have everything, me." He shook his head erratically.

"No. Is that your decision? I wanted to be nice. Really really wanted to. But now you give me no choice. You will either be with us. Which includes working, serving, pleasuring me but also working against her. Or are you against us. Killing all relations with anyone. Losing your position. And maybe tempting your life. So which one is it." I don't know-I don't know-I don't know I DON'T KNOW His response was needed fast but couldn't make it. The word flew out of his mind before he knew what he was saying. He wasn't thinking of the repercussions of this. He wasn't thinking of how this would affect him and others. He wasn't thinking of the future, of the present, of the past. He wasn't thinking. And that was the problem when he answered.

"Yes."

Nestori

Nestori sat in awe at what he had witnessed. Recounting what happened while sitting next to the Queen. He'd never known anyone like that. The Queen's reaction was exactly what he predicted. She pulled him into her chamber.

"I can't believe he would do this to me. No, I can believe that boy would do this to me. All his life he's always been a disappointment." She turned to him angrier than he's ever seen her.

"But you Nestori, you are not a disappointment." Creeping up to him, The Queen pushed his shirt to his shoulders. He knew what she wanted but resilience struck him.

"No," he said scared of her reaction to his insubordination. Aine stopped taking his clothes off and stepped back looking at him with cold eyes. Her calm demeanor frightened him because from his past time trying to read her. He thought of her as more of a person with a high temperament.

"You will not resist me. You are too valuable to me for me to have to kill you. So now be a good boy a take your clothes off. Maybe this time will be a little less painful for you." Not wanting to anger the Queen any further he did what he was told. This time wasn't as painful as the others. When she was finished Nestori wanted to question her.

"How are you able to do this to me? Aren't you breaking the laws of balance?"

"I did as the book said. At first, I didn't think it would work but it did. And as long as you don't tell, which even if you do nobody will believe you, I will have no problem getting what I want."