⚠️ WARNING: This chapter contains a scene of someone's finger getting cut off. Read at your own risk. ⚠️
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A/N—B was the correct answer to the question in the previous chapter. 😎
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~ JAPETH'S POV ~
Japeth had always thought that Rhian would never understand Aric because Rhian was too stubborn to look past his own pride.
Now, there was Sophie. Sophie, who Rhian was falling for—A fact Rhian himself had admitted when he thought him and Sophie were alone. Except they hadn't been alone when they'd kissed and when Rhian had revealed the truth to Sophie about the brothers' parentage and the prophecy of The One True King.
Japeth's Scim tucked away in Rhian's pocket had been listening all along, listening to Rhian plead for Sophie's forgiveness like a starving dog begging for scraps.
Japeth would've loved nothing more but to knock some sense into Rhian's thick skull. But he'd already tried that two nights ago when he'd told Rhian that Sophie would never love him after all he'd done to her. Obviously, Rhian hadn't heeded Japeth's warning, and Japeth's Scim had to endure the sickening sound of Rhian and Sophie eating each other's faces off.
Needless to say, Japeth was furious and overcome with an odd feeling of cold resolve. Why resolve? Because once upon a time, Rhian had despised Japeth and Aric's friendship and now, in this moment, Japeth himself despised what Rhian and Sophie shared.
How ironic! Rhian had loathed Aric because he was friends with Japeth, and now Japeth loathed Sophie, the girl Rhian was to marry in just two days.
Japeth wanted to chuckle as the absurdity of it all as he stood outside the Camelot palace where two servants were prepping a dark black horse.
Japeth was riding off to Nottingham to kill the Sheriff and retrieve the final ring. It was early morning, and the sun had barely risen above the peaks of Camelot as of yet. Japeth had to leave for Nottingham earlier if he wanted to get back to Camelot by nighttime.
Rhian had asked Japeth to wait for him so he could bid him farewell before he left. As much as Japeth wanted to leave now without having to say goodbye to his brother, he couldn't help but wait because of the way Rhian had apologized to him yesterday.
Rhian had apologized to Japeth for doubting him from their previous argument they'd had over Sophie and Tedros. Japeth couldn't help but be moved by Rhian's apology. It had sounded so sincere and genuine that it gave Japeth hope that Rhian was right about swaying Sophie to his side. After all, all Rhian had to do to get Sophie to let her guard down was tell her the truth about the brothers' parentage and the prophecy of the One True King.
Japeth should've been angry at the fact Rhian had revealed the truth to Sophie because leaving Sophie in the dark would've made it easier to control her. But Japeth only felt saddened for some reason like he couldn't bear the fact that Rhian had really told Sophie the brothers' true intentions.
Japeth didn't have to wait long outside the palace before he finally saw Rhian come near. There was a look of uncertainty upon Rhian's face as he drew close to Japeth. Japeth figured Rhian was uncertain if he would forgive him or not even after Rhian had given Japeth such a sincere apology.
Part of Japeth didn't want to forgive Rhian for releasing Tedros from the dungeons and indulging in his desires for Sophie, but Japeth could never truly hate Rhian, no matter how many times he screwed up or provoked Japeth's wrath.
"How are you?" Rhian asked, stopping in front of Japeth.
"Better," Japeth answered. It was a lie. Japeth was still a bit heated over their argument, and even more heated after having to endure the sounds of Rhian and Sophie kissing.
"Good," Rhian said, seeming pleased with Japeth's response. "That's good...I wanted to apologize, again."
Japeth raised an eyebrow in surprise. Again? "Whatever for?" He asked. "You already apologized yesterday. I definitely heard you. That and the disgusting sounds of Sophie and you making out—"
Rhian's cheeks heated up in embarrassment, and he tugged at the collar of his shirt like he were getting sweaty with nerves. Japeth couldn't help but be amused at the bashful look on Rhian's face at the mention of him and Sophie having what had obviously been meant to be a private moment.
"My scims have sensitive hearing, brother," Japeth informed Rhian. "I heard everything."
"Right," Rhian blurted, hurrying to change the subject until the sound of footsteps made him turn his head.
Japeth looked up too to see Sophie walking down the steps, no other than Tedros by her side. Sophie left Tedros behind on the steps to walk up to the twins, her emerald eyes twinkling in mirth.
"Couldn't help but overhear," Sophie called, stopping at Rhian's side. She looked at Japeth and smiled like all was normal. Japeth felt his lip curl in disgust at the sight.
"We'll definitely be sure Lionsmane is elsewhere next time our lips touch in a passionate, sweet, loving, explosive kiss," Sophie went on, obviously trying to make Japeth uncomfortable.
All Japeth felt was disgusted and Rhian looked as red as a tomato by now. Rhian slowly turned to Sophie, took her hand in his own, and nodded quickly at her.
"I think he gets the picture," Rhian told her. "Now, go. I need a moment with my brother before he leaves."
Japeth watched Sophie turn and began to head back up the palace steps to Tedros's side. But Just when Sophie was about to follow Tedros into the castle, she stopped short.
"For the record," Sophie called, glancing back at Rhian before she winked teasingly. "Rafal's a better kisser than you."
Japeth would've burst into a fit of laughter at the dumbfounded look upon his brother's face if only Sophie hadn't just stated that the twins' own father was a better kisser than Rhian. Just Sophie's remark brought images of Sophie and Rafal kissing flashing through Japeth's mind that he struggled to push away.
"I think I'm gonna throw up," Japeth muttered under his breath, shaking his head viciously to ward off the unwanted thoughts dancing around in his head.
Sophie's laughter echoed through Japeth's eardrums long after she headed into the palace.
"Well...she sure is something," Rhian remarked, staring at the spot Sophie had been in before she disappeared.
"Yeah, something dreadful," Japeth corrected his brother, glaring at the same spot Rhian was staring at.
Rhian's attention suddenly snapped back to Japeth and he looked sheepish. Japeth had never thought Rhian looked so out of his element right in that moment. It was like Rhian was so head over heels in love with Sophie that he was no longer his usual self. How terribly pathetic.
"Anyway," Rhian said, his demeanor switching back to the concerned brotherly look Japeth was so used to seeing, "Yeah, I wanted to apologize face to face this time. I'm sorry that I assumed the worst after Kei told me you were seen talking to someone outside Camelot. It's none of my business if you were making a new friend or giving a stranger directions or whatever. I know that now, and I'm sorry I keep trying to fix everything on my own in the way I want things to be fixed...The thing is I forget about what you want."
Rhian paused as if waiting for Japeth to speak up, but Japeth was quiet, listening closely as Rhian went on; "You believe that keeping Tedros in the dungeons is better than letting him roam freely throughout the palace as Sophie's steward. You also believe that nobody can ever forgive me for all the deceit and betrayal I caused, and I understand. But this time, Japeth, I want you to know that all I want moving forward is peace between us. Peace for you, and for everybody else."
Japeth felt a lump form in his throat, chocking him, and for the first time, he didn't try to chase away the emotions threatening to consume him. Instead, Japeth welcomed these emotions with open arms, feeling traitorous tears prick his eyes as a feeling of love overcame him.
How could Rhian make Japeth so annoyed and full of hatred in one second, and then in another second make Japeth feel grateful and full of hope?
Japeth hated Rhian as much as he loved Rhian. It was an oddly confusing sentiment, but it was all Japeth had to hold onto of him and Rhian's twin dynamic that part of him hated but loved at the same time.
"Thank you..." Japeth breathed, and Rhian's face lit up in happiness at those two words.
Rhian opened his mouth to say something else when the sound of the horse nearby rearing up on its back legs caught his attention. Japeth glanced over too and saw the two Camelot servants struggling to calm the massive black beast down.
"Guess that's my cue to get going," Japeth guessed, moving towards the black horse.
Japeth could feel Rhian's eyes boring into him as he took the reins from the servants before climbing up onto the saddle. The horse shook its head, making its dark mane sway around, and snorted, flicking its tail as if it were impatient to leave.
Japeth's grip tightened around the reins as the horse began to trot forward, its pitch black pelt an oddity against the lightening sky. Japeth should've just left Rhian behind without a word, but there was more left to be said still, so he turned back to look at Rhian and mouthed the words; "Love you, brother."
Japeth saw a smile find its way upon Rhian's face before Japeth turned his attention forward as the horse galloped on. All the while, Japeth could feel Rhian's gaze glued on him, watching the snake ride away on his black horse.
~~ • ~~
The last time Japeth had been in Nottingham was when he'd gone there to attack the heroes, only to get caught in the School Master's sack.
This time, Japeth's only target was the Sheriff of Nottingham himself who had the last ring that Rhian and Japeth needed destroyed. All the rulers of the kingdoms in the endless woods had been convinced by Rhian to burn their rings except for the Sheriff. Why? Because the Sheriff was supposedly upset about his daughter, Dot, being one of Tedros's friends who was stuck in the dungeons. There was no way the Sheriff would burn his ring until he saw his daughter was safe and sound.
Since Rhian hadn't had any intentions of releasing anymore prisoners with Tedros being the exception, it seemed the Sheriff wasn't gonna get his daughter back. Therefor, the Sheriff would continue to hold onto the ring until Japeth came around to steal it from him.
Of course there was the matter of how the ring could be burned at all if the Sheriff was too stubborn to give it up, let alone destroy it. Fortunately, Japeth had learned that the Sheriff hadn't named his daughter Dot as his successor, but rather his jail attendant, Bertie. Since the Sheriff would obviously be too stubborn to burn the ring himself, Bertie could burn it in the Sheriff's place, destroying the Storian's mighty powers once and for all.
All Japeth had to do now was find the Sheriff, kill him, and get the last ring. It was as simple and complicated as that.
It wasn't tricky seeking out the Sheriff's home. After all, the Sheriff's home was the last house Japeth had visited in Nottingham last time he'd been here.
Soon enough, Japeth had arrived in front of the Sheriff's home. The window that had once been broken by Rhian's forced entry had been boarded up with wooden planks as if the Sheriff couldn't bother to replace the broken glass.
Japeth dismounted his horse and left it behind as he drew towards the front door. All was quiet, almost like nobody was even home, until Japeth picked up the distinctive sound of voices.
Cautiously, Japeth crept up to the front door and pressed his ear against the wood to listen, hearing what sounded like two men arguing. Japeth recognized the Sheriff's rough vocal chords but the other voice he couldn't seem to place.
For a moment, Japeth listened in but couldn't clearly make out what the two were bickering about. Eventually, Japeth became impatient and grabbed the door handle to push the door open.
The front door swung open hard and flung against the wall as Japeth forced it open. The sound of the door flinging open made the two men standing in the room glance up.
The Sheriff was there, and the other man that stood by him would've been unrecognizable if it weren't for his feathered cap that Japeth identified as belonging to no other than Robin Hood, the Sheriff of Nottingham's moral nemesis himself. What a treat.
Japeth noticed the open satchel hanging at Robin Hood's hip that was full of necessities one would only need if they were going on a trip. Even the Sheriff's pockets were bulging with items, making Japeth suspect the two men had been prepping for a journey.
"Going somewhere, Sheriff?" Japeth purred deviously, stepping through the threshold.
Both the Sheriff and Robin Hood's eyes followed Japeth closely, and a malicious smile played across Japeth's cold face.
"I assume you were about to leave for Camelot to stop the execution and save your precious daughter," Japeth said casually, eyeing the sewn up sack that'd once captured him.
The sack was clutched in Robin Hood's hands. For a second, both Robin Hood and the Sheriff exchanged glances as if they were having a silent conversation between them.
"You're Japeth," Robin Hood said, looking him over.
"You've heard of me?" Japeth asked, taking a step forward and making the two men tense.
"Before you and your rotten brother captured Agatha," The Sheriff butted in, cracking his knuckles, "She told us that she went to the Lady of the Lake and discovered the snake was Rhian's twin, so the snake and the lion were working together all along."
Japeth licked his lips and took another step forward. This time, Robin Hood snatched a bow and a quiver of arrows from off the floor and aimed an arrow at Japeth's head, preparing to release it at any moment now.
Ah yes. Japeth had completely forgotten how he'd kissed the Lady of the Lake, good's greatest ally, and left her to rot right after the Lady had witnessed him strike Chaddick down. Japeth would never think he'd ever kiss anyone, let alone kiss a random woman. Except that random woman hadn't been random at all. Japeth had only kissed her for his own benefit; to steal the Lady of the Lake's powers away from her so she could no longer help the heroes using her powers.
"Mmm, what a clever girl Agatha was before she got herself captured by my brother and I and became locked up in the dungeons," Japeth mused, flicking his tongue out like a snake. "Such a shame that she'll have to die tomorrow, alongside your precious daughter, Dot."
The Sheriff gritted his teeth in barely restrained rage and his chest swelled in anger. Japeth could bet that it was taking every inch of the Sheriff's willpower not to attack him right than and there.
Japeth's gaze flickered back to Robin Hood who was still aiming the arrow at him. Japeth glimpsed the determination and defensiveness in Robin Hood's gaze as he drew the string back on the bow even further, his fingertips barely grazing the fletching of the arrow.
This time, Robin Hood released the arrow and it soared towards Japeth. But Japeth was expecting it, and he ducked just in time for the arrow to fly out the open doorway, disappearing into a cluster of bushes outside.
Robin Hood cursed under his breath and clumsily reached for another arrow in his quiver. Japeth wasn't so lenient this time around, and a Scim shot off his scaled suit to dive bomb for Robin Hood's head.
"Get out of here!" The Sheriff yelled at Robin, moving to intercept the Scim before it could pierce into Robin's flesh. "If I don't make it, take care of Dot...We both know you were always the better father figure for her than I could ever be."
There was a strange tone of sadness lacing the Sheriff's words as he spoke about his eventual death. Even Robin Hood looked sympathetic. For a while, he stared at the Sheriff before he made his decision and rushed through the front door and outside.
Japeth let him go. All he was after was the Sheriff, not the Sheriff's frenemy. So Robin Hood safely got outside and left the Sheriff's home behind, leaving Japeth and the Sheriff of Nottingham to square off.
"I believe you know what I came here for," Japeth told the Sheriff crisply, walking further into the house.
The Sheriff's whole body was rigid as if he were prepared at any moment for Japeth to strike. The heavyset man clenched his meaty fists and met Japeth's icy blue gaze.
Then, Japeth slowly and deliberately stepped closer, and the Sheriff responded by bracing himself against the wall beyond the wooden table as if that pathetic piece of furniture could protect him from what was about to come.
"Who do you think you are coming in here to pick a fight!" The Sheriff snapped, backing slowly away from Japeth without once taking his eyes off him.
Japeth scowled, and took a step forward, but the Sheriff raised his fist as if to strike him, and he stopped his advances.
"Do you know what I think?" The Sheriff said, his meaty fist reaching behind his back to grab something Japeth couldn't see. A weapon, perhaps.
"Like I care what you think," Japeth hissed, his scims rearing. "Don't waste your breath, old man."
The Sheriff's gaze darkened and suddenly he drew forward, and Japeth tensed. The Sheriff's fist raised from behind his back and Japeth saw the flash of a blade before the Sheriff brought the knife down without warning, aiming it straight for him. A flare of pain stabbed at Japeth's shoulder as the Sheriff sunk the tip of the knife into his flesh.
Japeth stumbled back to avoid another stabbing, crashing into the table and breaking the tabletop in the process. He was quick to get back to his feet and his scims retaliated, flying off his suit to rocket towards the Sheriff with their knife sharp tips.
The Sheriff's arms flew over his face as the scims attempted to blind him by slashing at his eyes. Blood dripped down the Sheriff's hairy arms, and a guttural roar ripped from the Sheriff's throat as he smacked scims away, grabbing one in his fist to crush it to a pulp.
While the Sheriff was occupied fending himself off from the Scims' attacks, Japeth lunged forward, grabbing the Sheriff's head to slam it against the wall. Stunned, the Sheriff fell heavily to the floor and before he could collect himself, Japeth was upon him, digging his fingers into the Sheriff's neck until the man was gasping for breath.
Still not done fighting, the Sheriff raised his meaty fist and slapped Japeth across the face so hard that Japeth felt his nose snap out of place with a sickening crunch. Blood gushed down Japeth's broken nose, and the pain was so great that he loosened his grip on the Sheriff's neck, giving the Sheriff the perfect opening to shove Japeth away.
The Sheriff spun on Japeth and instantly flung himself forward, his round belly slamming so hard into Japeth that he almost lost his balance. The Sheriff was ruthless, grabbing the knife and slicing the blade across Japeth's chest. A cry arose from Japeth's lips as his shoulder throbbed, his chest burned, and his nose continued to gush a waterfall of blood.
"You know what I think, huh?" The Sheriff growled, seizing Japeth in his ironclad grip as Japeth struggled to break free. The Sheriff smiled bloodstained teeth, but his tone was serious as he leaned close to Japeth, his rancid breath hitting Japeth's face. "I think you're a real coward coming up in here to attack me. And all for what—because your brother told you to? You're a real coward, following your brother. He's got all the glory you don't have. You have no honor, no dignity, no pride. You're everything your brother ain't."
Japeth felt a surge of anger rattle his bones as he spat a wad of spit in the Sheriff's face. The Sheriff's lips curled in disgust as he raised his arm to wipe the saliva off his face.
"That's where you're wrong, Sheriff," Japeth hissed, raising his knee to hit the Sheriff in the groin. "I'm not doing this for my brother. I'm doing this for me. For love."
The Sheriff let Japeth go, releasing him to grab at the place between his legs. As the Sheriff bawled over in the kind of pain only males could understand, Japeth's scims launched off his body. The scims speared into the Sheriff's hands and ankles and buried themselves into the floor, essentially nailing the Sheriff's body to the floor.
A strangled groan of pain erupted from the Sheriff's mouth as he struggled to rip himself free, twisting his hands and feet, only for fresh blood to trickle to the ground. The Sheriff was immobile, unable to get up. All the heavyset man could do was stare up at Japeth as Japeth stalked forward, his shoulder and nose screaming in pain.
"You won't win," The Sheriff said, glaring daggers at Japeth. "And when I'm dead, you'll see that I was right all along. Rhian will always outshine you. He'll always seek his own happiness above yours, leaving you to fall into a pit of darkness you can't crawl out of. No matter what, you'll always be a slimy little snake."
Japeth bent down to pick up one of the broken table legs off the floor. He split it over his knee and held the sharpened end up like a stake. He could've picked up the Sheriff's fallen knife off the floor to use instead, but Japeth didn't have the patience.
"Didn't I tell you to save your breath, Sheriff?" Japeth reminded him, stepping closer to the Sheriff and raising the stake over his head, prepared to bring it down in one fell swoop.
The sharp end of the stake pierced the Sheriff's flesh as Japeth drove it through his heart. The Sheriff released a feeble gasp and his body convulsed once before it stilled, going limp. Japeth extracted the bloody stake and flung it aside, staring down at his handiwork. Deep dark red blood seeped from the wound in the Sheriff's chest to soak into the front of his ratty shirt, forming a puddle of blood around his body.
Japeth checked the Sheriff's pockets for the ring, his breaths becoming hard as he searched faster and faster, scouring through his victim's pockets until finally, he pulled off the Sheriff's boots and found what he was looking for.
There on the Sheriff's big dirtied toe nestled the last ring; Japeth's last hope of ever getting Aric back.
Japeth gripped the silver band and pulled with all his might, but the ring would not budge. It was as if the ring was stuck to the Sheriff's stiff toe permanently. Desperate, Japeth scanned the floor of the Sheriff's destroyed home and spotted the Sheriff's knife lying nearby. He snatched it in his hand and turned back to the Sheriff's feet.
Only an insane person would think to cut off a dead man's toe. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and Japeth really wanted that ring, so he brought the knife to the Sheriff's toes and pressed the blade against the Sheriff's big toe.
Japeth's hand moved back and forth as he slowly but gradually sunk the blade into the Sheriff's toe, sawing the blade back and forth.
Eventually, the blade cut through the top flesh of the Sheriff's toe, before Japeth then began to saw at the bone with much more force now.
Cutting through the bone took a longer time than Japeth expected, but soon he'd accomplished just that. By now, the Sheriff's big toe was hanging off the last shred of flesh Japeth needed to cut through. Getting impatient, Japeth merely raised the knife up and brought it down with considerable force, hacking off the Sheriff's toe at last.
Japeth threw the knife aside and snatched up the Sheriff's severed toe. Slowly, he gripped the silver ring between his fingers once more and pulled. This time, the ring did come off, and Japeth found his fingers trembling in excitement as he raised the ring up to the fading sunlight.
The carvings etched into the ring were filled in with the Sheriff's blood, but Japeth didn't care about the sight. All that mattered now was that he was holding the last ring that needed to be burned to finally destroy all the endless woods' faith in their precious Storian.
For a moment, Japeth basked in the fading sunlight streaming in through the dirtied window of the Sheriff's ransacked home. He closed his eyes, tipped his head back and took a deep breath before heaving a relieved exhale that made his bloodied body shudder. When he opened his eyes, he caught sight of his reflection in the window's dirty glass pane.
Japeth's nose was bent at an odd angle and throbbed in pain. His chest was stained red where the Sheriff had cut him, and his shoulder bled heavily. Despite Japeth's mangled reflection staring back at him, he couldn't help but smile, feeling tears of happiness prick his gaze.
Two days. In just two days, the final ring would be burned, and Rhian would grant Japeth his only desire. Aric was finally going to return, and nothing could stop it.
Grazing his thumb across the silver swans on the ring's band, Japeth felt a sense of anticipation fill him from head to toe. He would've cried in joy right then and there at the thought of finally getting the last ring and being one more step closer to bringing Aric back from the dead, but then his attention snapped to the Sheriff's dead body.
Before he'd met his fate, the Sheriff had been adamant that Rhian outshone Japeth and that Japeth was a fool for following Rhian. Perhaps that was true. Perhaps all Rhian would see in Japeth was a slave he could order to do whatever he wanted. Or perhaps Rhian thought that Japeth had given in to being the Snake, had given in to being a monster, when in actuality Japeth had only let go of who he used to be.
It was in that moment—a moment that was meant to feel perfect—that Japeth realized his brother's biggest mistake; Putting Japeth through hell over and over again, and only truly showing affection towards Japeth when he wanted Japeth to do something for him.
Of course, Rhian saw Japeth as a brother, but somehow still made that brother do all his dirty work of attacking kingdoms for him to "save." If Rhian was anything but Japeth's twin, Japeth swore he wouldn't be trying to appease Rhian like he was. If Rhian wasn't his twin, Japeth wouldn't be going along with Rhian's idea to make up with him after the many times Rhian had demonstrated his desires to deal with Sophie and all her friends in a positive manner.
If Rhian continued to grow closer to Sophie like he seemed to be doing yesterday, Japeth didn't give a crap as long as Rhian heeded his warning that Sophie would never truly love him. Sophie was a conniving little witch and Rhian would be stupid to fall for her tricks.
Japeth stared at the Sheriff's dead body one last time before he walked out of the house into the chilly air. With the sun fading ever so slowly, Japeth went back to his horse and before mounting the saddle, he stuck the ring in the saddle's hanging satchel for safe keeping.
Japeth flicked the reins to get the horse going, and then he was trotting down the road, leaving Nottingham behind.
There was a point during Japeth's journey back to Camelot that he became woozy from all the blood loss, and he drifted in and out of unconsciousness, almost falling off the horse a few times in the process.
The cold air felt like shards of ice against Japeth's wounds, and his scims were dormant, too weak to stir. Japeth gritted his teeth from the agonizing pain and continued along, riding through the darkness with only the waning moonlight lighting his path long after the sun had faded.
Japeth felt like the journey back to Camelot from Nottingham had lasted an eternity, but it couldn't have been more than seven hours since Japeth left Nottingham behind. When he finally arrived back to Camelot, he dropped his horse off at the stables, retrieved the ring from the satchel, and headed straight into the palace.
Japeth's legs felt like jelly and he found himself wobbling pathetically up the steps into the palace. He felt weak from his wounds and more than a few times, he almost stumbled.
Japeth passed a few Camelot guards who looked weary at the sight of him. For a moment, Japeth almost thought he hadn't donned his liege's uniform before he'd entered the palace until he looked down and saw his Scim suit was perfectly concealed. The guards were only concerned about Japeth's wounds, that was all. A few guards even tried to help Japeth and offered to escort him to the infirmary, but Japeth shooed them away.
Japeth wanted nothing but to crawl into bed and try to rest, but he headed for the King's chambers instead, knowing Rhian would no doubt wish to see him when he returned.
As Japeth limped towards Rhian's room, he saw the door wasn't closed, but slightly ajar, and a sliver of light was peeking through. Through the crack in the doorway, Japeth glimpsed the giant king sized bed where Rhian and Sophie sat, their heads bent in deep conversation.
As Japeth watched, Rhian drew Sophie close and kissed her. Japeth couldn't help but gag at the repulsive scene. If him and Rhian's father could see Rhian and Sophie now, he'd surely be as repulsed as Japeth was.
Struggling not to think about his brother kissing that blonde witch with so much passion, Japeth pushed the door open, not bothering to knock before he stepped into the room. Rhian and Sophie broke away, startled at his sudden approach, and Japeth felt a sliver of satisfaction curl in his gut.
"Brother," Japeth said frostily, unable to keep the bitterness from his tone. He felt his fist that held the ring loosen as he prepared to throw the ring at Rhian's feet. He flung it out and the ring flew through the air before landing on the end of the bed, the carvings in the band's silver steel glinting in the candlelit room.
"Got your ring," Japeth sneered, his scims stirring in anger. For a moment, Japeth's rage was so palpable that he could no longer feel the pain from his wounds. "But don't worry, it's not like the Sheriff hurt me or anything...Besides, I can see now that you obviously weren't worried about my safety. You only care about that wench's infectious kisses."
Japeth's tone was sarcastic, but deep inside, his words rung true. While Japeth had been out there, risking his life to get the final ring and having to endure wound after wound, Rhian had been in here sharing kisses with his future wife like all was right and merry in the world.
Did that mean Japeth was jealous of Rhian and Sophie's closeness? Perhaps. Because Japeth would give anything to be close to the one person he cared for with all his heart, yet that person was dead. Japeth was alone, but Rhian wasn't alone because he had Sophie.
Rhian could never see Japeth. The Japeth who was breaking inside and still devoted to the one boy Rhian loathed with all his being. It's like all Rhian saw in Japeth was a pawn to be used, just like the Sheriff had said.
Rhian snatched the ring and held it up as if to inspect it clearly before he looked at Japeth, a concerned expression falling across his face for the first time.
"Are you alright?" Rhian asked, and the question sounded like a joke to Japeth who was obviously not alright.
"Alright?" Japeth echoed stupidly, taking a step forward. He gestured to his face where his nose was broken before he clutched his wounded shoulder and showed Rhian his bloodied fingertips. "Do I look alright to you! Of course I'm not alright!"
Rhian flinched and looked Japeth over as if seeing the damage for the first time since Japeth had stepped into the room. He opened his mouth to say something else, perhaps an apology of some sort, but Japeth cut him off, his temper flaring; "You know the only thing that'll make me better is some blood. Sophie's blood to be exact."
Japeth took a step forward and he raised his arm to hold his palm out to Rhian despite the way his shoulder screamed in protest. "Bring it to me," he hissed. "Or I'll take it, leaving her with another scar on her pretty little wrist."
Rhian's gaze flickered to Sophie sitting on the bed, and for a moment it looked like Rhian was gonna protest to Japeth's demand. But suddenly, much to Japeth's surprise, Sophie approached him and stuck out her arm in offering.
"Go ahead, Japeth," Sophie told him. "You're hurt. You need it."
Japeth was stunned and suspicious all in one. He couldn't grasp the fact Sophie would willingly give up some of her blood unless she was trying to play a trick on him. If anything, Sophie would probably love nothing more but to see Japeth be in pain. But Sophie wouldn't dare pull a trick on Japeth while Rhian was watching.
Japeth stared at Sophie for a long second, trying to determine what her end game was, until the pain became too great to bear, and Japeth gripped Sophie's hand in his own and used a knife sharp Scim to slice open her wrist. Japeth pressed Sophie's arm against his chest and instantly the healing fever swept over him, making his toes curl in relief as his pain dissipated and his wounds healed over, leaving no evidence that he'd even been in a fight save for the blood covering his body.
Japeth felt refreshed and no longer weak. But with his newfound strength and refreshed feeling, his temper came back, stronger than before. Slowly, Japeth's gaze flickered back to his brother who was standing there.
"Rhian...We need to talk," Japeth informed him, not even bothering to say thank you to Sophie and choosing to ignore her entirely. "Alone."
Rhian glanced at Sophie as if silently asking her permission, and Sophie nodded approvingly. Leaving the two brothers to talk, Sophie exited Rhian's room, closing the door softly behind her.
"What is it, Japeth?" Rhian asked.
Japeth felt the urge to snap at Rhian. Japeth had already warned Rhian once about Sophie, did he really have to it again?
Perhaps the Sheriff's last words were getting to Japeth, or perhaps it was the fact that Japeth felt a little bit jealous that Rhian had Sophie when he was all by his lonesome without Aric, but Japeth wanted nothing more but to scream at his brother.
This wasn't fair! It wasn't fair that Rhian got the girl he loved while Japeth was left without the boy he loved. It wasn't fair that Rhian got all the glory while Japeth was stuck in the shadows. The Sheriff had been right all along; Rhian would always outshine Japeth.
But would Rhian really put his own happiness above Japeth's own? And all for what—for the sake of sparing Tedros and Agatha's lives and for getting Sophie to love him?
And how could Japeth forget about that pit of despair the Sheriff claimed he would fall into? How could he forget that the Sheriff had told him he would always be a "slimy little snake?" Those words also had to be true because it was Japeth's disparity over Aric's death that had drove him to become the snake in the first place. Without Aric, Japeth would always feel disparity, and therefor he would always be the snake.
"Did you kill him?" Rhian said, and Japeth scoffed in disbelief.
"I'm not you, Rhian," Japeth said, knowing Rhian was obviously referring to the Sheriff of Nottingham. "Unlike you, I don't show mercy to my enemies and wish to foolishly make amends with them. You should know by now that I'm the evil one here and you're not. You're the good one. The one who can 'do no harm.'"
It was honesty. Despite knowing Tedros and Agatha were against him, Rhian still was trying to find a way to spare their lives from the execution. And although Rhian was clearly aware that Sophie's loyalties were still bound to be lying with her friends, he still begged for her affection as if he was a lovesick fool.
But by trying to be so good, Rhian was only causing more harm. By trying to prevent the heroes' deaths—heroes he knew were his enemies!—Rhian was unintentionally pushing Japeth away. He was pushing away the brother he'd apologized to just yesterday, the brother he'd counted on to attack kingdoms, and the very same brother he mistook to be his liege.
Everybody though goodness was purity, honor, and strength, but it was nothing more but a foolish idea. Because Rhian's goodness, Japeth realized, seemed to be the complete opposite of what it was meant to be. Rhian had shown time and time again that goodness was destructive, dishonorable, and weak.
After all, Rhian had demonstrated his so called "goodness" by forcing Aric to leave Arbed House and breaking his brother's heart in the process; an obviously destructive act. Rhian had lied to Tedros and the others when he'd posed as the Lion. In fact, Rhian had lied to the entirety of the woods when he'd claimed the Snake was dead and when he'd pulled Excalibur free, so how could anyone believe goodness was honorable? And oh yes...Rhian had shown weakness over and over again by expressing his desires to make amends with the people he'd once deemed enemies of Camelot.
So if Japeth was evil, than Rhian was the worst of the worst. Rhian was the most evil of them all—the most sinful, corrupt, vile, and destructive monster anyone could ever encounter.
"Never mind the Sheriff," Japeth dismissed the subject, fixing his attention back on Rhian. "I wanted to discuss more important matters...Sophie for one—"
"Oh, come on, Japeth!" Rhian exclaimed, exasperated as if he was fed up with Japeth's persistent nagging about Sophie. "I told you that I can get her on my side. I don't understand what the big deal is. It's not like Sophie is gonna..."
Japeth felt his scims squirm in anger and his anger was so hot that the sound of blood roaring in his ears drowned out Rhian's voice. It's like Rhian was deaf to everything Japeth had literally just said.
Rhian didn't understand what Japeth did about Sophie. Rhian couldn't comprehend the fact Sophie had turned her back on her friends time and time again, only to eventually turn her back on not her friends, but the boy who had thought he'd once loved her.
Sophie had destroyed Rafal's ring and watched him crumple to dust just because her love in her friends was greater than her love for the School Master. If Sophie had killed Rafal just to save her friends from death, there was no telling if she'd do it again at the execution tomorrow. She could end up killing Rhian just like she killed Rafal, and then Japeth wouldn't just lose his brother, he'd lose the wish Rhian had promised to grant. Japeth would lose Aric.
"Sophie is gonna betray you just like she betrayed our father!" Japeth blurted before he could take the words back.
Rhian's brows furrowed in confusion and he chuckled like he thought Japeth was delirious. "Sophie never knew our father, Japeth," Rhian stated. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Japeth realized what he'd said, and he clenched his jaw. He was furious and frustrated at himself for being so daft. He had to remind himself that Rhian believed King Arthur was their father, not Rafal. Rhian didn't know what Japeth knew, and it had to be kept that way.
"I'm...my apologies," Japeth said, hanging his head to hide the frustration in his expression. "I meant Sophie's friends, Tedros and Agatha, not our...our father. Have you forgotten that Sophie betrayed them both many times before? If she's willing to backstab her own friends, I don't even want to imagine what she might do to her fiancée."
Rhian opened his mouth and his chest swelled as if he were about to argue with Japeth, but then he abruptly closed it and clenched his jaw. Japeth realized Rhian didn't want to fight with him any longer over Sophie's loyalties. But this time, it wasn't Sophie's loyalties Japeth was concerning himself with. No. Japeth was concerned about Rhian's loyalties because if Rhian decided that his loyalties lied with Sophie, then the future was uncertain.
Japeth's future alongside Aric would be cast in doubt if Rhian chose Sophie. Choosing Sophie would mean Rhian might really spare Tedros and his friends' lives at the execution. Japeth could not allow Rhian's mercy to ruin their whole goal of attaining the powers of the Storian. Japeth could not afford to lose Aric just because Rhian had fallen in love with their father's killer!
Either Rhian spares Tedros and the other prisoners' lives or Sophie kills Rhian. Japeth was fond of Neither option.
The third option was going through with the whole thing Rhian had intended from the start; executing Tedros and all his friends.
Tomorrow morning at sunrise, the execution of the prisoners in Camelot's dungeons had to take place or else Japeth would become even more doubtful of Rhian's loyalties than he was already.
"The execution is the last step that needs to be taken before your wedding to Sophie," Japeth persisted to Rhian, his tone hard in warning. "It's the last step that needs to be taken in order to get everything we've worked so hard to reach."
Japeth stepped towards Rhian, and leant in close until he could see his own reflection reflected in Rhian's gaze. "If Tedros, Agatha, and their friends do not die tomorrow morning like scheduled," Japeth told him, his voice as cold as ice, "I'll know where your true loyalties lie."
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An early update?? Yayyy!
I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, and if you're wondering when the next update will be, it'll be very soon, I promise you. I'm actually halfway finished with writing chapter 16, so the next chapter should hopefully be posted sometime this week. 🥰
Anyway, what did you guys think of Japeth's fight with the Sheriff, and how do you guys think the execution is gonna go?
Will Rhian go through with the execution, or will he spare the prisoners' lives?
Thanks for reading!
Don't forget to comment and vote as well!
—Alexis Peters ❤️