In An Alternate Universe (Red Queen series Fanfiction)

I // Mare

(Continued from Mare's imprisonment in the Bowl of Bones)-

He shifts, prowling from Cal's cell to stand in front of mine. I can only stare at him from the ground, not trusting myself to move. He even smells cold.

"Betrothed to a girl with eyes for another, for the brother, the prince no one could ever ignore." His words take on a feral edge, heavy with a wild anger. But there is truth in them, a harsh truth I've tried so hard to forget. It makes my skin crawl. "You took everything that should have been mine, Cal. Everything."

Suddenly I'm standing, shaking violently, but still standing. He's lied to us for so long, but I cannot let him lie now.

"I was never yours, and you were never mine, Maven," I snarl. "And not because of him, either. I thought you were perfect, I thought you were strong and brave and good. I thought you were better than him."

Better than Cal. Those are words Maven thought no one would ever say. He flinches, and for a second, I can see the boy I used to know. A boy that doesn't exist.

He reaches out a hand, grabbing at me between the bars. When his fingers close over the bare skin of my wrist, I feel nothing but repulsion. He holds me tight, like I'm some kind of lifeline. Something has snapped in him, revealing a desperate child, a pathetic, hopeless thing trying to hold on to his favourite toy.

"I can save you."

The words make my skin crawl.

"Your father loved you, Maven. You didn't see it, but he did."

"A lie."

"He loved you, and you killed him!" The words come faster, spilling like blood from a vein. "Your brother loved you, and you made him a murderer. I – I loved you. I trusted you. I needed you. And now I'm going to die for it."

"I am king. You will live if I want you to. I will make it so."

I stared at him; and I felt my resolve slightly softened. My mind, on its own volition, thought back to our shared kiss on the boat; thought of the compassionate boy left in the shadow for the crown prince, his brother. I thought back to the promise he gave me; promising that no one would ever hurt me. My eyes find his; brown eyes against ice-coloured ones.

"You know, you did break your promise." He tips his head to the side, confusion scrunching up his eyebrows, wondering what the little lightning girl is up to now. My voice was scarcely a whisper when I provide him my reply but I know he hears it all the same, "You promised no one will ever hurt me but you did."

He flinches but straightens himself once more. "Let me make up for my broken promise, Mare. Let me save you. Be my Red queen and live your life by my side." His eyes burn with determination, his fists clenched tightly at his side. Despite his betrayal, despite letting his mother kill his father and Cal's spirit, he was not willing to step aside to let me die. He wanted to save me from death instead.

I thought of Kilorn then; and of my family. Maven would be hunting for them. I thought of the many other Red families as well; who were going to suffer due to the effect of the new lowered conscription age. So much blood will be on my hands by my order though I did not enact them.

With a jolt, I realised that Maven would also go hunt for those like me. Those who are Red and Silver, and stronger than both. He would want people like me to be wiped out; to maintain the façade that I was Red through and through.

I know what I must do. What I can do to stop all of this, to save those I love. Kilorn once said that I had a bad habit of saving him; I guess he was right. Even when my former betrothed has betrayed me, even when there is nothing that I'm sure of except for the lightning in me, I am still trying to save him.

"So, what will it be, Mare Barrow?"

I lowered my gaze from his pale face and all too knowing eyes. Though he has betrayed me, though he had shattered my heart, I cannot not stop myself from loving him. With a silent laugh, I realised what a pathetic person I have become; pining over a boy who has betrayed me in ways I cannot have imagined. Anyone can betray anyone. The simple words agonise me all over.

"Promise me you will change the new conscription age, promise me you will not find others like me, promise me you will not hurt Kilorn and my family." I blurt out, a little breathless knowing what I was about to do. He raised his eyebrow, "That's a lot of requests. Anything else to add?" I whispered my last request, forcing myself to face his burning gaze, "Let Cal go as well."

He grimaced and his icy eyes flashes, "I can't do that; but," he hesitated, "I can do the rest. That's the best I can offer you." I let out a breath I was holding. Kilorn will be safe, my family will be safe. I tell myself to forget about the fallen prince beside me, who was watching our exchange; I tell myself that I have saved as many as I can.

"Fine, Maven Calore. Save me."

All too soon, I'm in his warm embrace. I could tell that Maven did not expect me to agree to his request; his surprise registered in his face before he used his fire to melt the bars that caged me into the Silent Stone prison. I feel my lightning returning as I stepped out of my prison, and such knowledge comforts me for the first time I'm in here.

Maven gives me a small smile, a smile that spoke of victory; of my choice, "Come, my Red queen."

I allow him to put his arm around my waist, leading me away; leading me away from Cal's intense gaze as I leave him in the cell.