FOREVER KNIGHTS: #7 King of Assassins
Not Serenade Any Longer

It was the following night when Sebastian awoke from a much-needed slumber. Enough. I need to see her.

He discovered her asleep in her chamber. Standing in her doorway, he watched her sleep a moment. Envious of her peace in rest.

Mine are filled with nightmares. Blood in snow. And dripping off spring leaves. Staining my face and skin eternally.

After a bit, she blearily blinked her eyes open. Tear-stained face assessing him. Still soft from sleep. Lips swollen from crying. Eyes dewy.

Lovely in her sorrow.

He was relaxed, lounging against the door frame. Arms crossed and ankles crossed. The object of her fury now invading the comfort of her chamber, I suppose.

The air in the room vibrated with their energy.

“Is it you, I wonder, that powers this castle of water? I can hear them even now.”

The walls.

“Do you make them flow or do you have help?” Her voice was a low murmur.

“It’s a hundred of me.” He said glibly. “Are you trying to focus on everything except the fact that I’m here, in-front of you?” He queried.

“No.” She argued automatically. Sitting up to face him. Drawing the blanket with her. “What do you want?”

“I heard your thoughts. I came to tell you; I gave you the mirror as no insult. You’re so quick to believe the worst in me.”

“Then why did you?”

“I thought it was lovely...and I wished you to view yourself for the truth. As I’ve seen you. Not through your skewed perception. To learn to see yourself as the same beauty I see…” He paused to allow her to speak.

She said nothing. Only blinking at him. Face expressionless.

“Do you know why I’ve bound you in mortal skin?”

“Because I’m more powerful in my valkyrie form.”

“In the beginning yes.” He cocked his head grudgingly. “But now, because you fear it. I was curious to see why you hide in the form of your beast. Can you come to terms with the woman part? The part that you abhor?”

Her lip curled, and her eyes fell.

“Look at you.” He ordered. “You’re disgusted at the mere thought!”

She looked hesitantly into the dark ocean eyes of her reflection, swallowing convulsively.

“You are beautiful.” He enunciated the word. “What woman wouldn’t want to flaunt such a face and form.” He pressed. “Your thoughts are so dark. And you guard your secrets so zealously even I cannot glimpse them. What is it you so fear, Elsabet?”

At some point while he spoke, he’d left the doorframe to come to her. Now he reached around the front of her to lift her chin. Levelling her gaze in the mirror while he leaned around her shoulder to see her. The other hand encircling her stomach and his breath warm along her neck and ear.

“My name is Serenade.” She squeaked out. Panting.

His head slowly turned to meet her gaze in the glass.

“No.” He shook his head slowly. “Serenade is the angry creature that’d drop a man from the sky.” He caressed a tress of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. “My Elsabet is this.” He stroked her jaw. “A beautiful woman with vulnerability in her eyes, a smile that hasn’t touched her lips in years, I’d hazard a guess...And a heart scared of everything.”