Drifting Embers (Zero)

The following fictitious events take place in Reality D (Blue)

It was a little known secret that Wiccan relations were a mathematical equation. Zero had never considered the fact because he had chosen a life out of his mother’s way — far out of his mother’s way — as her enemy. Then she’d activated his Caelum tattoo, a spell that bound him to her will, and brought him home to her island fortress north of Sylem, Sylem (the capital of the realm). The island was a Caelum island, and every person on it had the mark of the organization (see: Cult). 

Upon arrival, Zero had been stripped of his marriage to Indigo (1 Divorce). He’d been matched with another young (early 20s, so very much an adult he’d been informed) girl who had been kidnapped from the Dells alongside him. She was the daughter of Sam Hartmaan (Zero’s sworn enemy with a hint of friendship that comes alongside a lifetime of dislike without loathing) and Sam’s ex, Nora. Words, logic, seemed to diminish the stress that she was now carrying his children (a set of twins). His sixth, specifically. Then there was Sabine, a traitor to the Caelum with a son that loathed Zero. She was carrying his 7th child. That added up to 8 children, 2 pregnancies, 1 divorce he never wanted. It was overwhelming. He would have defied all of it, but he’d been ordered to 1) not kill himself and 2) impregnate the women. At least it hadn’t felt nonconsensual, they were understanding and equally driven to not be compelled against their will, instead they consented against their desire.

Zero exhaled. He closed his eyes and bunched his fists at his side. He was now ordered to transport to North Chatka, to the home of princess Naima — his future wife and soon to be mother of his ninth child.

  Death would have been freeing.

Zero dropped the travel pack. His familiar, Jinx, walked beside him. She was a black leopard, but as a familiar was not a threat unless Zero was directly, physically, attacked by. Even Jinx, an extension of his soul, was subject to the Caelum tattoo’s control.

He walked down a hallway of the North Chatka palace. At the end, Naima waited for him. She was gorgeous, with long dark hair and an impressive resting bitch face that even Indigo would struggle to compete with.

“Welcome to North Chatka,” Naima said. She pushed open a door to a large room with high golden ceilings, long pillars, paintings over every surface, and at least three unique sitting areas at various corners of the room.

Zero shook her hand. It felt inadequate for his thoughts: Hello future wife, are you consenting against or with your will? I’m aware that you’re precisely 12 days into your cycle, and 5 to 7 days away from expected ovulation, given the history your parents shared with my mother and step-father. Did you know marriages at that stage with a cycle as normal as yours will likely be fruitful on the first try? Ignore my other pregnant relations, they’ll be our slaves and you’ll have to see them grow my children, but I did it before marriage so it’s acceptable. Shall we marry and take the trial to ascend your throne now, or would you prefer we wait until after tea?

Instead, he went with something more generic and courteous: “Thank you for welcoming me to your kingdom.” Jinx paced the room, searching for an escape.

“Thank you for coming. It is wonderful to have an opportunity to form such a powerful alliance.”

So your parents said you get to marry me and you argued.

“I agree,” Zero nodded. “My mother tells me you’ve been searching for a spouse for awhile, and you are a supporter of Wicca.”

North Chatka was a fairy kingdom, with air magic prodomonitaly. They’d been taken in by the Caelum, and Zero was the final nail in the coffin to seal the future: The Caelum was establishing a stronghold in Elesara.

“I am an avid supporter of anything that makes my kingdom stronger.”

He imagined her teeth gritting against one another, and the sentiment that she was an avid supporter of not dying because a stronger force came in and demanded things. Zero got it: He wasn’t opposed to dying himself, but integrating to power was better than becoming power’s slave.

Zero put his hand on her upper back and led her out of the fancy room and back into the hall. Maybe she would be more herself, unveil her mind, in a different room.

Maybe she was being honest and he was too hopeful, too stupid. He still had some faith in others. Not his mom, but others in general.

“How did you meet the Caelum?” he asked Naima.

“Through my parents. I’m not sure how they found each other is a match made in hell.”

Zero had to think about what she said, but once he processed it he laughed. He glanced at her, a little more hopeful. “I thought you were an avid supporter.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m an avid supporter of my parents.” She tossed her head, and the soft fragrance of honeysuckle and cinnamon wafted from her hair. “Why are you still single at this age? That’s rare.”

Zero’s hand bunched against Naima’s shoulder. He covered it as a massage, like a cat kneading. “My previous marriage was deemed unacceptable,” he stated tersely.

“Pity.” Naima pet Jinx. She slipped out of Naima’s grasp and ran down the hallway, only to stop and look back at their slow approach.

Around Indigo, Jinx was practically comatose. If Indigo was home, Jinx was beside her. She could be found in Indigo’s paint studio lying beside the easel, or on the couch with her nose on Indigo’s lap.

Zero focused on Naima. It had been five weeks since he’d been removed from his home in the Dells. It was time he moved forward and accepted that his life would have to be rebuilt in a new way, not in the same way he’d left it.

“You’re clearly a better match,” Zero said, half sarcastic. It wasn’t her fault he was stuck here.

“Yes, but you could say that about any previous partner for anyone.”

Zero laughed darkly, more like a chuckle. He wondered if she had a partner before this, someone she loved deeply but was told Zero was the epitome of perfection as a spouse for her.

“You would think,” Zero said. He turned her down another hall. It seemed like endless halls were on the agenda, instead of seeing the rooms of the palace Zero was to call home. He had to pass the trial with Naima. “What challenges does your kingdom face?” he asked her. “What sorts of alliances and enemies do you have?” Are you enemies of the Dells?

“We struggle with our southern half, who we will destroy,” Naima said with force — something she believed in with all of herself or something she was so against she had to fake it perfectly. “We have no other enemies because who among fairies would dare take on the Caelum?”

The Dells would try. Nivern if their luck said they could manage it. “What sort of power does South Chatka have that makes them so willing to be an enemy of you?”

“Desperation, lack of anything to lose. They’re all but a waste after my parents took them on.” Congratulations: You’ve inherited a war where we destroy somewhere that may or may not deserve it.

“It sounds like you don’t need a king — you’ve got things handled,” Zero said dismissively. Can I go home yet? 

“And yet here you are.” Naima shook her head in a way that made her wavy copper hair sway. She opened a door, but he was caught on her. What would her familiar be when they married? The elixir would give her Wicca, and if she had Wicca she would need a familiar to help protect her. He could see something like a lion, or perhaps a penguin that was stuck waddling in small side to side sways. For most couples, Wiccans were paired with a predator and a prey dynamic. Indigo had a small bird of her own and a squirrel, one for her soul and one for her body since she hadn’t been born to that body. Jill had an echidna, a good match and Jinx had bonded to her little Osball. Sabine had Esmay, a female pheasant.

Zero shook off the thoughts. Compatible or not he had to make his present work. He wasn’t known for his pessimism.

“The wedding is this afternoon?” Zero asked. He could focus on the excitement of her impending familiar discovery.

“So it seems. Are you willing?”

“Of course.” I want to live.

Naima touched his arm. She nudged him, and he turned toward her. She was taller than Indigo, almost a match for Zero’s six-foot-three. She stepped closer.

You want to know if this can work? Zero stepped against Naomi. He ran his hand around the base of her neck, but he didn’t urge her closer, he let her come to him. The air around them swirled as their lips met.

Jinx yowled down the hall, airborn. Zero laughed against Naima’s lips and glanced at her as the air calmed enough for Jinx to regain footing. Just as Naima pulled away, he moved closer again, against a wall. She moaned against him, then pulled away eyes wide.

“Good.” She straightened her clothes. “That’s settled.” We have chemistry and I can handle intimacy with you.

Zero looked at her again. His body clearly wanted her, his heart beat a thousand beats a second, but there was an endless ravine of mistrust and lack of free will between them.

“I’ve passed your tests?” Zero asked.

“As I have no doubt passed all of yours.”

“The rest of the tour?” Zero asked.

Naima laughed. For a second, the tension seemed to roll off her and was replaced with something that yearned to be wild and free. Perhaps she’d spawn a horse familiar, or a small monkey. “Of course,” she said, teasing his of course. Except, this time she seemed willing. She reached for his hand.

His mind studied her, their togetherness, in a mix of frustration and interest. This was his life now, fated to be elixired (a till-death sort of marriage bound by blood and sex). He was to take the trial. His mom had pushed him to this doorstep, but perhaps he could take the next steps and embrace where he was.

“I see.” He held her hand back, and together they explored the palace. He did have a few core questions. Casually, in one of the many other rooms (this one with an oversized window that viewed a jungle) he asked, “Where are your slaves?”

“Downstairs or with the Caelum,” she replied.

If I’m your king, the slave trade will end. “I see.”
“This can be a way out for you,” Naima said, an eyebrow raised. “Something good, but only if you let it.” She leaned subtly toward him, asking. Will you accept me and my kingdom? Not just by force, but by choice?

Zero put his hand on her back and pulled her against his side. “How so?”

“Look at my beautiful Caelum tattoo.” She pulled her sleeve up and showed her no-tattoo. “If you elixir to me, you get the same freedom.”

“Elixir won’t remove my tattoo,” Zero said, tense. It erased all of the good-will he had hoped to convey with his touch.

“Your stepfather will,” Naima argued. She paced toward the windows. “I told him I won’t marry a drone.”

“Good thing I already consented,” Zero said.

“Yes. I wanted your consent before you knew.”

Zero glanced just up toward the ceiling. He felt like their conversation was running in some sort of circle. Had he caused it? Created insecurity? Had his answers not been enough, or what she needed?

Did he not speak Naima? He was generally decent with girls — at least, he hadn’t had issues with Francine (his first girlfriend), Indigo, or Jill. Then again….he never understood Naomi or Sabine (entirely).

“I consent,” Zero said, firmly.

Naima tilted her head with an almost grin. “How convenient.”

Zero scratched his neck and looked around the room. Where was Jinx?

Beside Naima, on her side, batting at Naima’s boots. The proximity made Zero spark.

“Shall we get married?” Zero asked.

Naima offered her arm. “Together, we can do anything.”

Zero tried to pull his sparks in. Maybe his mom would mistake his stress for desire.

He frowned. That would never happen.

Jinx padded after them beside Naima.

They could do anything together, but was that a promise or an omen?