// Chapter 24 \\

    "What have you done?" Leeyon had practically snarled when we entered the room.

Her green reptilian eyes were radiant in the dark study. They were illuminated only by the lingering green iridescent water foliage that lingered outside of the glass that enclosed the space. It was the only source of light, but it was enough for seeing the marble furnishings laced with gold and green cushioning. Leeyon stood behind her marble engraved desk, nails practically digging into it as she hunched over. The dark blue smooth hair was tucked back into one singular tight braid and her armor from earlier had been replaced with a slick tight golden suit and a turquoise jacket with white and gold embroidering of a serpent's tail.

Yeosang tilted his head, a few petals from his antlers drifting to the ground. His expression towards the Eastern Court High Monarch seemed accusatory, but he kept his tone smooth and unthreatening, "What we've done? We've done nothing but try to help in this situation."

The Serpent barked a laugh in response, though not an ounce of that glare had left her eyes, "Oh really now?"

We'd all stopped at that point, the three of us in the center of the room. I glanced over to Hongjoong to exchange a glance, but found that he looked straight ahead towards Leeyon. Yeosang did the same from where he stood in front of us.

Leeyon's words had cut the room like serpent scales, "Would you care to explain why half of my palace is flooded, my Captain of the Guard was taken into custody, and," One of the hands that had been digging in the marble raised to point a golden-emerald jeweled finger at the three of us, "That this attack played out after you all showed up."

Yeosang raised both of his hands into the air, as if he were guilty. However, he splayed his fingers in a manner of calming a crowd. His voice hadn't lost an ounce of smooth calmness, "I'll admit, if I was in your position, I'd be pointing fingers as well," he lowered his arms, hands slowly falling to his side as he shook his head, "But this wasn't us."

"It was a Taker attack," Hongjoong intervened, hesitantly returning the glance from earlier, "One Taker in particular."

I stiffened before glancing towards Leeyon to find that emerald green gaze of reptilian slits on me. Her eyes slightly narrowed and I bristled at the look. My eyes darted towards the floor as I spoke too weakly for my liking, "I-It was San."

"The traitor from Dawn Court," Yeosang clarified with the title, not seeing the same value in the name as I did, "He was one of the two Takers not in custody from The Black Day."

"And so what would the traitor of Dawn Court be doing here?" Leeyon posed the question.

I shrunk away as the room went silent and I knew all eyes shifted onto me. It stayed like that for a long moment.

"You were the one that walked towards him." Yeosang's murmur was quiet but the silence made it loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I don't remember that." I looked up then to only wish I hadn't.

Everyone's eyes were indeed on mine.

Yeosang's eyes narrowed, his voice louder this time, "Do you even remember what you did?"

His words were subtly accusatory towards me and I couldn't help but be surprised. I trusted Yeosang, but his eyes had the slight impression he thought otherwise of me. I gaped slightly, slowly shaking my head in response. My gaze shifted to Hongjoong's but he immediately fixated his gaze to Yeosang. He was trying to make it subtle but I saw how he stiffened. I'd half expected him to vouch for me.

"What did you do?" Leeyon's tone was curious, yet even more accusatory than Yeosang's.

"I don't remember," I repeated, wrapping my arms around myself to get a better grip on the shaky state taking over me. The pulse in my back was relentless in its beating, "One moment, I was next to everyone when San broke through the glass. The next, I was right in front of him."

"You don't remember attacking us," Hongjoong stated and grimaced at what this could mean. He finally spoke.

But his words were not comforting. I could feel the shaking threatening to take over my body, a quiver forming at my lips. I didn't mean to.

"She began to walk towards him without saying a word," Yeosang spoke, his tone smooth and his face now masked in neutrality, as if he was giving a professional report of events, "We tried to intercept and stop her, but she used her magic on us. We tried once more, but then she used her mind reading abilities to physically stop us."

Leeyon's gaze became neutral as well, analyzing Yeosang's words, "And the Taker?"

"He sat there and watched."

"With a smile on his face." Hongjoong's jaw and left hand clenched at the same moment.

Leeyon seemed to ignore Hongjoong's last comment as her eyes had been drawn to me, "I didn't know your powers had the ability to manipulate others' actions."

My mouth was suddenly dry, eager not to have a voice to respond. So my words came out in a slight rasp, "I... was unsure of that myself."

Her eyes narrowed, "Really?" Leeyon stood tall from her haunched position, arms folded behind her back as she slowly began to walk out from behind her desk. Her boots subtly clicked on the stone floor as she made her way towards me. "You know, you've always seemed to act in a manner of guilt ever since you came here one time ago. You almost killed yourself in the eternal ocean."

I flinched at her words. At how she put it... so simply. I did almost kill myself in those waters. Multiple shivers accompanied the uncomforting pulse beating in my back.

"Ever since then, I've had monsters from the wild waters knocking on the gates of Venelia." Leeyon's eyes grew wary as her green eyes gazed down at me. "I didn't think too much of perhaps the reason being from any of you. Except the day you return to visit my Court, my palace becomes flooded due to a Taker attack— in my city." The harsh bite at the end of her words caused me to flinch.

"I..." I only murmured in a weak gasp. But I was cut off— shuttering as Leeyon continued.

"No. I left to the borders of Venelia to protect it once again. But then I come back to find my palace half taken by the waters and our enemies on the leave." Leeyon's voice dropped to a murmur, "But why didn't I make the connection to any of you sooner."

Her face turned back to Yeosang and Hongjoong who both warily met her gaze. They said nothing.

"Commoner, Captain of the Guard— If there's enough traitors in these Courts, then what's stopping one from being a High Monarch?" She accused, "It could be one of you— it could be you." Leeyon had spun back around to me, emerald eyes flaring, "You were the one that walked towards the enemy. If I recall, he did nothing to harm you or take away your abilities. Or did you leave out something?"

I stumbled back ever so slightly. San hadn't taken away my abilities. He didn't attack me either. But he'd done something.

"You didn't," Yeosang stated as he walked over as well. He stepped in between Leeyon and myself, turning away from me and towards Leeyon, "But before we point fingers and start wars, I suggest we all tell our parts of these stories."

Leeyon squared her shoulders, standing tall and towering over Yeosang. Her eyes gave a relentless glare for quite a bit, before the sharpness of them alleviated, "Alright then."

And so that's what we'd done.

Leeyon began first with the attacks by different ocean creatures. The attacks happened almost daily, taking place at different times from dawn, dusk, night, and day. The large creatures always called for her attention and protection. Her second form was the only thing that could swiftly end the threat of them. The borders of Venelia were defense enough, but only for so much. These attacks were almost everyday and they were relentless. The borders' resources were depleted and Leeyon's magic was admittingly reaching its limits. This had been happening for months. She'd gone out as she had when the attack happened while we were here and she only returned to find half of the palace flooded. She'd seen me— she stated how she saw me lying on the floor while she sensed the chills of San who was escaping. She changed after the merger he escaped in with the mysterious figure, but she'd been reduced to her human form. She was livid when she heard the news that a single Taker had attacked the palace with the help of her Captain of the Guard. After Yeosang had captured him, Leeyon took Como into custody and called for our presence.

From there, Yeosang had explained our side of the story, walking into the dining hall only for San to break through the limpid glass. He told us about the conflict up until Hongjoong and I had left the room to chase San. He stopped there, allowing for Leeyon to digest the information from where she stood, pondering the information.

"How did he break through limpid glass?" Leeyon's brows furrowed as she thought, "It can withstand the wild waters and weather of this Court."

Yeosang responded, "He wielded a scythe if you may recall from what I just told. The material is black, but unknown, and it had penetrated the glass."

It had shattered the entire pane.

Leeyon's jaw clenched as she tilted her head slightly, "And what happened after you split off?"

Neither I nor Hongjoong had a moment to respond when Yeosang spoke his part of the story.

He'd held up the wall as long as he could with his powers. The powers that I knew were the crescent ability he had. He'd been struggling to keep the waves from crashing into the room anymore than it had. But he'd let out and the wild waves took him. He vaguely remembered drifting in the ocean, feeling like the brink of the end was on him when he realized he felt something— someone— grab him. He didn't know what had happened until he was in one of the higher parts of Venelia's palace. He only had a second of his recovery to see Como looking at him, stent he'd himself before he was taken into custody. He was informed that Como had saved him.

Leeyon expressed how it didn't make up for his betrayal and Yeosang simply didn't respond. The attention had fallen onto Hongjoong and I. We both shared a glance then. It was our turn to tell our side of the story.

Hongjoong started first with his chase to San. He spoke of his entire conflict, stumbling with his words slightly as he spoke of losing his arm. He talked of how I came to aid that silver owl, but he'd told me to press forward— to catch San.

And that's when I told my part of the story. My words were bitter and the vein in my back pulsed, intensifying as I continued my tale. I told them of that cloaked Taker and how they shot me with the black arrow. The vein in my back thundered in its pulse and I'd winced. It was like it was attempting for me to not mention it's presence, but I did. To this, they expressed a bit of concern, but it wasn't matched to my link of the unknown Taker. They were the weapon that got rid of our second forms.

"Just what I need right now," Leeyon exasperated, thrusting a fist onto her desk. She spun, but her eyes were a surprising glitter for a second— a flicker of fear, "This links up with Dawn Court, doesn't it?"

No one deigned to answer for those few moments, leaving Leeyon to scoff before a laugh broke from her.

"Of course!" She expressed, throwing a hand into her hair as if she was on the brink of hysteria, "Of course it does! It would make so much sense for them to come after the High Monarch who is engaged to a Monarch who could possibly take the position of a High Monarch in Dusk Court. They would want to ruin my Court."

"That," Yeosang shifted, he glanced back my way before facing Leeyon, as if he was contemplating the Takers' true purposes, "Might not be too far from the truths unspoken."

"Well it is only a guess," The Serpent let her head swivel back down to us, tilting her gaze towards Yeosang, "Surprised you took an interest in it."

Yeosang's lips tightened, debating something in his eyes before he spoke, "Ray, we came here for a purpose that wasn't expressed in our communication."

Her gaze immediately turned into a glare, her tone dark, "And what might that be?"

"We have Wooyoung— one of the wanted Takers in custody at Night Court," Yeosang stated, "We interrogated him and he said we'd find answers to the Takers' plans here in Eastern Court."

Her brows rose for only a moment before she glanced to the ground, "All the saints in the sea.." She pulled herself to her full height with a sigh, "That pieces a good part of the picture, but I think another interrogation is in order."

"You want to interrogate him?" Hongjoong murmured.

Him being Como.

Leeyon hummed before merely saying, "Yes." She'd locked her gaze onto mine now, "But I'm not going to do it."

The pulse of the vien in my back lurched with my heart. No. But that pinned serpentine gaze made me reluctant to have that choice over the others those emeralds could inflict.

"You have been in my good graces, Star of Night Court," Leeyon was now only a couple paces away from me, her tone still rough yet quiet, "This event has me on the verge of thinking otherwise. What does this Taker— San as you called him— mean to you?"

His name rang in my ears like bells and I almost had to bite back a quiver that almost came to my lips. I was speechless, mouth slightly agape. I knew exactly what he ment yet my mind nor words wished to say that— especially to Leeyon who was already considerably on the defensive about me.

"I..." And I said nothing else, closing my mouth and swallowing. My gaze shifted to the floor. I didn't answer more than that.

"I see," Leeyon merely spoke, disappointment and suspicion laced heavily in those two words.

Then she shifted to be right beside me, her body facing the opposite direction as mine. However, I felt her green gaze burning into my head, causing me to lift my eyes to hers.

"I almost don't want you to talk to that traitor, Como Cairior." Leeyon's eyes narrowed once more towards me, "But he expressed wanting a chance to talk with you, Star of Night Court, and I don't want to waste time."

REMEMBER:​​​​​​

1. Smack dat butiful star

2. Leave a comment talkin abt dis tea

3. Share dis tea induced book with yo fwends

WHY? Because I appreciate it 🥺

\\ See u in the next chapter! \\