Heart Over Sword-Chapter 314: Imposter King (1)

Thalinal’s lips broadened even more. He’d heard Evanna. Surely, she was incorrect. But the King’s mannerisms, the change in character, the madness, the mocking way he spoke to her and how right now he looked at her murderously. This was Scarecrow.

Everything inside of her pointed towards that conclusion. Her sixth sense had been telling her what she could not conclude before her eyes. It had not once been wrong, but if this was Scarecrow, then what happened to Thalinal...

Evanna’s mind raced about the King. The faceless kind took over their identities, eating those in their wake... Scarecrow wore the face of the King because Thalinal was already dead. No... He’d been alive and well, smiling for once, dancing, and accepting her nickname for him. What happened? How could this...

"What... have you done, Scarecrow?" Evanna tried to remain calm, taking a step forward.

Thalinal, or Scarecrow, glanced at her feet warily and stepped back. He was being cautious around her. The last they met was in the forest, using the trees for coverage or, in her case, being tossed against like an annoying flea. Now they stood in finery, surrounded by the nobility of elven court. The air crackled between them, the tension rising as they analysed each other.

"What we all do, princess. Don’t make a scene, Raven; I have all the power here," he threatened in a sweet voice that did not match Thalinal’s appearance or behaviour at all.

Couples around them glided along the polished marble floors, their bodies more ghostly, resembling hauntingly beautiful spectres swaying around them. Yet Evanna and Scarecrow were locked in an unblinking stare. Scarecrow was right.

Evanna swallowed past the lump forming in her throat. "Are there others here?" She questioned, her voice remained level. She didn’t know how that was possible as her body screamed to get rid of this monstrosity in front of her.

Scarecrow shrugged, a cruel smirk on his beautiful lips. "Perhaps. You will have to wait and see."

Evanna narrowed her gaze subtly. What was he planning? To overthrow the Flori from the inside out? That she could not let happen. But how could she explain this imposter to everyone?

In the face of everything, Evanna is still an outsider compared to the imposter King they all trust and love. Dammit. She should have pretended not to notice. If she had, then there would have been time to plan more and discover if there were any others among them they needed to get rid of.

Evanna nodded, hoping to manipulate this being again. However, she’d already fooled him once, and his response had been more than unkind. Understandably so. That didn’t mean she was going to accept his attacks. The creature was cruel and didn’t see any problem with posing as someone he killed.

"So, what now?" She asked, hoping the faceless creature would tell her everything she needed to know to put an end to him. Here’s foolishly hoping anyway!

"Continue your dinner," Scarecrow smirked, gesturing for the princess to retake her seat.

Uhuh. So, Scarecrow wanted to play games. Evanna would play along for now. She knew the immense powers the creature held. Though she now had her own, he was unaware of her skills of the mind. All he knew was that their mind tricks did not work on her. Now she understood why. It was because she had her own elven gift to control people like puppets.

It was creepy how similar their powers were.

Bowing her head, something Scarecrow thoroughly enjoyed watching, Evanna started to pass the imposter King, ignoring the chills prickling goosebumps along her skin as she went. Sitting down again at her table, Evanna’s gaze did not move from Scarecrow. She felt nauseous as her mind kept wanting to race, reminding her that Arawn’s father, the King of the Flori, was dead, even as she stared at Scarecrow, who wore the King’s face.

"Is everything okay, Evanna?" Axel asked quietly by her side. He sensed something wasn’t right the moment the King took her to the dance floor.

"Yes," Evanna replied, tensing slightly when Scarecrow’s gaze flicked to her once more. "Return to your rooms," she added in a hushed whisper.

"What’s going on-"

"That’s an order," Evanna interrupted. She didn’t want anyone to be a casualty, but at least her comrades could return safely until she figured out what to do with Scarecrow or found out if there were others among them.

Axel stared at the princess. She was tense, and although she was well versed in acting like everything was fine within the confines of palace life, Axel and Ronan now knew her better. How could they not after so long on the road together? To everybody else, Princess Evanna was her usual self, but they could tell something wasn’t right. Evanna also never ordered them to do anything. This meant she was protecting them.

"Very well, lass," Axel bowed his head. "We will return for the night."

Ronan frowned at his friend’s words but followed after his arm was tugged for him to follow. He looked over his shoulder, his attention flicking between Evanna and the King, as confused as ever, but he remained quiet until it was only Axel and Ronan walking down the corridor.

"You’re not seriously returning to your room, right?" Ronan hissed.

Axel scoffed, "Of course not. Our little lass is already fighting some sort of battle; we’re not gonna fail her again by sitting out."

"Should we hide out here then?" Ronan questioned. Although Axel was the oldest, usually Ger was the planner of the trio, but he was currently flying or eating, or whatever it was that lizard did when he left for days at a time.

"That’s right. We can find out what we need when Evanna leaves. Or watch from afar, at least."

Ronan nodded, getting into position behind some bushes. They didn’t know how long Evanna would be, but they had her back no matter how long it would take. If anything else caused them alarm, then they would rush to her side.

Inside the banquet hall, Evanna continued the ruse that everything was fine, playing the part of the princess. Nobody noticed something was amiss. Every few minutes, she felt Scarecrow’s gaze landing on her, making her skin crawl. All he did was continue to act as the King. Though his mannerisms were slightly off, he knew everybody’s names.

The nobles believed Thalinal must be in a delightful mood as he conversed more than ever before with others. That was not the case, though. Scarecrow was enjoying himself, pretending to be the most powerful man in the room. Whenever he saw himself in the mirror or a reflection, he couldn’t help but stop and stare, dazzled by Thalinal’s beauty that was now his.

It sickened her. She couldn’t play along for much longer or watch this façade.

Evanna dismissed herself and began walking away from the banquet. Scarecrow had to go. She couldn’t allow him to play ’make-believe’. It wasn’t right. Where was Arawn when she needed him?

"Guards."

Evanna paused outside the double doors that started to slowly close behind her. Through the gap, she watched in horror as Scarecrow ordered the guards to imprison her. All at once, their heads swivelled in her direction, and the last thing Evanna saw before the doors closed was the King’s smug expression. She could almost see his other self beneath the skin, the creepy creature that wanted nothing more than her demise on top of being something utterly beautiful.

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