SGE His Broken Heart (Sequel to His Darkened Heart)

~PART ONE~

But no matter how many times Japeth tried to drive his point home, Rhian still insisted they be "cautious."

It was just recently that Rhian and Japeth settled down in a secluded spot a few miles away from Sherwood Forest. They'd been staying in that particular spot for three days now which was rare because Rhian always insisted they never stay in one spot for more than a day.

Just two days ago, Japeth had attacked Fourpoint, holding numerous people hostage and threatening to hang them in a twisted game he forced Sophie and Agatha to partake in. The girls had been saved of course by the Lion, who'd revealed his face after sweeping Sophie off her feet.

"Rotten men," Japeth had informed his brother days before Rhian kissed Sophie, "Rotten men is her weakness...Lucky for us, you're the most rotten of them all."

That's why Rhian had kissed Sophie after saving her life. Worming his way into Sophie's heart was a big part of the brothers' plan that they couldn't mess up. Without Sophie and Rhian's wedding, Rhian would never obtain the powers of The One True King.

It was Sophie who'd once stolen Rafal's heart. It was Sophie who Rafal had believed would be the one to tip the balance between good and evil. He'd been correct of course, but he hadn't seen Sophie's betrayal coming before it was too late.

To avenge Rafal and Evelyn's mistakes, one of their sons had to wed Sophie, the one whose blood was as evil as their father's once was. Since Japeth had a slim view of the opposite sex (partially due to Aric's influence), and Rhian was far more "warm-looking" than Japeth, it was decided that Rhian would be the one to marry Sophie.

Plus, there was absolutely no way that Japeth would marry some girl, especially a girl as gullible and annoying as Sophie seemed in her and Agatha's dumb storybook. Not to mention Sophie was the one who'd ripped Japeth and Rhian's family apart. Rafal had chosen Sophie over Japeth and Rhian's mother and that was a mistake that'd gotten both Evelyn and himself killed, leaving Japeth and Rhian as orphans.

Japeth recalled coming face to face with his father's killer that day at Fourpoint. In a map room in Jaunt Jolie, he'd pinned her and Agatha against the wall whilst taunting them and telling them the truth hidden deep within his tale.

Tedros was the true snake, Rafal had just wanted companionship, and Aric was the Snake's true love. Japeth had been wary to admit that last part, to tell two girls who obviously wanted him dead that he had a weakness.

Sophie and Agatha knew Aric of course. Japeth had seen him throughout their storybook. From what he'd read in The Tale of Sophie and Agatha, Japeth had found out that Aric had gone to the School for Boys and had also taken a Position as Dean alongside his mother, Lady Lesso.

Sadistic and emotionless, is what anyone who encountered Aric in Sophie and Agatha's storybook would describe him as. But Japeth, of course, saw Aric much differently.

Anger was Aric's strong suit. Being Emotionless was Aric's usual behavior. It was back in Arbed where Aric had been more open with Japeth by his side. Without Japeth, Aric must've closed himself off so he wouldn't have to get close to anyone else the same way he'd gotten close to Japeth.

So far, it'd been forty-two days.

Forty-two days had passed since Japeth learned of Aric's tragic death. It'd been about two months since Japeth truly lost his best friend, two terribly long months of pain and anger Japeth couldn't ward off.

Japeth's Scims were worn out from attacking so many kingdoms. But he took secret delight in fighting Rhian, in posing as the Lion's sworn nemesis. Secretly, Japeth still despised his brother for having Aric be banished, and fighting Rhian is what made every day since Aric's death just a little bit more bearable. A little bit more worthwhile.