Fallen Chapter Five
Soran wakes up with a raging headache. Luckily there's a beautiful man at his side, however he's about to find out the worst news of his life.
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TW: Sexual themes, transphobia
Soran rustled awake in the sweat covered blankets. He sat up and drank in the gold of the afternoon light as it glimmered across the tiles of his bedroom floor. Beside him, a handsome man turned in his sleep.
Who was it again?
The man twisted his face into the pillow and Soran gave up on trying to figure out who his partner for the night had been. His head pounded and reminded him he had had a bit too much fun after winning the duel the night before.
Nothing a little sunlight couldn’t cure. He stepped out of bed and made his way over to the wide glass doors that led out onto a balcony. He threw them open and walked out into the brilliant light. Warmth bathed his bare skin, and for a moment his mind recoiled at the intensity, but then he let the energy pulse through him and into his bones. Energy filled his lungs and slid through his blood. He sighed as the pain subsided.
Arms wrapped around him, and breath tickled his ear.
“Hey, beautiful,” the man said. The voice was familiar.
Soran opened his eyes. He twisted around to get a look at the man.
Lips pressed against his.
Well, that wasn’t what he had intended.
Warmth spread through him as the man pulled him in tighter. Electricity broke across Soran’s skin wherever he touched. Soran reached his hand up and coiled his fingers in the man’s dark curls.
Did it matter if he knew who he was kissing?
Someone knocked on the door. He ignored it. He pushed his body up against the man’s naked form. Wind whistled around them. He got a glimpse of infinite sky before pulling the man over to the edge of the platform.
“Have you ever done it in the air?” Soran smirked.
The man — a member of the royal guard — chuckled and kissed his neck. Soran opened up his wings and prepared to step off the platform.
“Your majesty!” someone called.
Soran looked past the beautiful guard (he didn’t know the name of) and found his mother's personal attendant, Arniste. Soran frowned from over the shoulder of the guard.
“What?”
“There’s an urgent meeting.”
Soran nipped the guard's neck, who had started to pull away. “How urgent?”
“Your highness, could you at least have the decency to keep your…habits in the bedroom?”
“This is my bedroom.”
“May I remind you that you are outside?”
The guard pulled away from him, a sheepish look on his face. He looked cute, all embarrassed. What a waste.
Soran ran a hand through his hair. “How soon do you need me?”
“Now.”
“Can I at least bathe?”
“No, this cannot wait. I am told it is of the utmost importance.”
How bad was it if Arniste was letting him forgo a bath?
“Let me get dressed, now shoo.”
Arniste grimaced and snapped his finger at the guard. “You. With me.”
The guard scrambled to get his clothes from the floor with a slight blush to his cheeks. Maybe Soran could find him later. His attendants raced into the room to help him get into his daily finery, a golden embroidered shirt with the back cut out for his wings and matching pants. They were tight to prevent wind-drag.
He checked himself out in the mirror. He looked presentable, his unruly white curls messier than usual.
Soran made his way to the throne room. An attendant pulled open the door, and he stepped into the room, like stepping out into blazing sunlight. Heat hit him and he blinked at the gleaming light pouring in through the hundreds of interconnected windows that displayed the sky above perfectly. In the distance, he could make out Alia, the great waterfall, as it coursed down a hill and off the side of the island.
His mother sat on the throne, her golden hair loose and curling around her russet shoulders. A scarce amount of people populated the room, higher nobility, advisers… Dona and his other cousins. He searched the crowd for Anwei, but couldn’t find her. A pit formed in his stomach.
Pressure built in the air and energy prickled his brain.
You’re late. Disappointment pushed up against him and he grit his teeth.
“We can begin,” the Queen said. “What is so urgent, Dona?”
“Where’s Anwei?” Soran asked before Dona could speak.
“That’s actually the purpose of this meeting,” he answered.
Soran clenched his fists and opened his mouth to speak.
“I witnessed something horrendous,” Dona cut Soran off. “A group of abyssal celestials attacked Prince Reno,” Dona hissed.
“What-” Soran said.
“Let him speak.” The Queen glared at Soran.
“I’m sorry I have to report this, your Majesty,” Dona said. “Prince Reno is no more.”
Soran took a sharp intake of air.
Silence. His mouth knotted shut, painfully.
“Explain yourself.” His mother squeezed the arms of the chair.
“He was surrounded.” Dona opened his arms. “I couldn’t reach him in time. They cut off his wings, and he plummeted into the abyss. I raced after him, but I was too far away and then he got lost to the darkness.”
“Liar,” Soran said.
“Soran,” the Queen said.
“There’s no way that happened,” Soran spat. Sweat built on his skin as he trembled.
“I know you don’t want to believe it, but it’s the truth.”
“Anwei wouldn’t be taken down so easily,” Soran said.
“Like I said, he was surrounded.”
“You don’t sound so sorry.” Soran strode over towards Dona. “Where are these so called abyssal celestials?”
Soran’s heart beat throughout his body, too hard and fast.
“Of course I care.”
“Where’s Anwei.” Soran grabbed Dona’s collar. Silver flecked it.
“He’s gone.” Dona said.
“What’s this?” Soran grabbed at the silver feather pinned to the edge of his lapel.
Dona’s mouth tilted up ever so slightly.
“Enough.” Pressure waved out from the Queen and Soran shivered. Wind curled around him and pulled him back almost gracefully. He turned towards her, who now stood.
“Mother-”
“Enough!” His lips slammed shut so tight he could barely breathe.
“How did you see the attack?” The Queen said to Dona.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Dona said. “I happened to see him soaring around. He’s so easy to spot with those lovely wings.” A smile teased on the edge of his lips. “I went to greet him when the tragedy occurred.”
Soran screamed until the charm wore off.
“Her!” Soran cried. “And it didn’t happen.”
“Of course you wouldn’t want to believe me,” Dona frowned. It looked wrong. It didn’t touch his gleeful eyes.
“You’re lying, aren’t you?” Soran whispered. You did it, he almost said…but saying it would mean…would mean…
No.
“Anwei is fine,” Soran said.
Dona watched him. The room silenced, ominously serene.
“You have to believe me-”
“Shut up.” Soran whipped the wind towards Dona and pulled him in close. He grabbed Dona by his collar. “You’re a snake.”
Dona’s eyes widened.
“Release him.” The queen demanded, and he pulled back against his will. His body tensed at the unnatural movements.
“He’s lying!”
“Send out a search party right now,” the Queen said.
Why would they need to do that? She was fine, Dona was a liar.
The nobility shuffled. “Now!”
Arniste startled and moved towards the door.
“Your majesty, it’s too late- “
“Silence,” The Queen growled. “Why does nobody listen to me?”
“I offer my services then,” Dona said.
“No.” Soran shivered.
“I’ll let you organize it, Dona,” the Queen said.
“Why!”
“Be quiet,” the Queen said. “You’re too emotional.”
Too emotional. Soran wanted to puke, to cry, to rage. He wanted to cut Dona down. He wanted to do a million things, but most of all, he wanted to see Anwei.
Where was she?
Dona lied.
“You’re excused.”
“What?”
“We need to try and save your brother. We can’t have you acting like a child.”
“But-” Electricity built on his skin. Guards put his arms around him. He couldn’t move his body as long as the Queen stared at him. “Please.”
“Take him away.”
No.
Why?
Where was Anwei?
Soran looked into Dona’s gaze. In them he found triumph. It wasn’t right.
Soran spit on him.
The room exploded into gasps, Dona’s smug expression turned to scorn.
“Out!” the Queen cried.
Guards pulled Soran away as a tear dripped down his cheek. Everyone lied. Anwei would walk into the room and tell everyone she had gotten carried away flying. She always did. She loved the skies, and it loved her back.
Everything would be fine.
Still, he could barely stand as they dragged him out of the room. His body didn’t listen to him. His mind raged. He couldn’t catch all his thoughts.
But Anwei had to be fine.
She had to be.
I hope you enjoyed this new chapter <3