The silence was unbearable after Meina left. Strangely, Nick wanted her to stay by his side. He felt vulnerable now that she had left. He closed his eyes, concentrating on falling asleep, but he couldn't help but feel an unsettling feeling, as if something bad were going to happen.
Just then, the Oracle's words flashed through his mind.
Nick was so involved in his thoughts that he jerked back when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Immediately, he came back to reality as Feya's form hovered over him. His heart began to beat rapidly as her furious lavender eyes gazed at him. How did she get here? Didn't the guards see her elsewhere? What's going on?
"Hey," she smiled. He couldn't read her expression very well, but for some reason, her demeanor was different. Somehow, she had lost her look of innocence and joy. Her smile seemed plastered, artificial. He managed a weak smile, too. He did not know what to say.
"You're not too happy to see me?" Feya pressed, and Nick could hear the tension in her voice although he could not tell exactly what was the reason for it.
"How . . . How did you get in here?" Nick stammered, not knowing what was going on. But one thing was for sure, Feya didn't seem like she was afraid or trying to hide. She looked calm, strong, and even cold. Her eyes didn't show any affection. She was not the Feya he knew, rather a calculating, cruel queen, he thought to himself. And then it struck him-Meina, not Feya, was in danger.
That's right! How could Feya have escaped when Meina's warriors and soldiers had cornered her in that forest? And on the plane-he was struck from behind. It couldn't have been that their plane was hit. Both of them would have died or been injured on the plane if that were the case. He remembered the bang on his head. It was Feya who had hit him!
Feya must have planned everything and had a force of her own to counter Meina's force. And if he thought correctly, then one of Meina's people must have betrayed Meina and hid Feya somewhere in the palace this past month.
Nick's attention drifted back to the human form in front of him. Feya ignored Nick's question. She sat on the bed next to him and smiled evilly. "You seemed to enjoy Meina's company, Nick?"
Nick sensed that she was ready to kill him right there, judging from her reserved manner. He ignored her comment though. "So I have served my purpose? I'm just a bait, something you used to divert Meina's attention." He said everything matter-of-factly.
Feya looked at him, impressed. "And I thought you were just a little boy who saw nothing, knew nothing, and said nothing. If you would have played dumb, I might have given you a chance to live, but you are too perceptive. You hide your feelings well, Nick. These past two years, I have not been able to read you very well. I don't like when that happens. You know what I mean?"
Nick nodded, speechless. She was going to kill him. He knew that she had planned to do that the first week she met him, but for some selfish reason of hers, she decided to keep him alive longer. "So what happens to me now?"
Feya laughed mercilessly. "I can give you a choice since you've been so useful to me. Let's see, you may choose to drink poison, be decapitated . . . or be shot." She reached out and ruffled his hair, pretending to be motherly. "I'll give you a choice," she said with beneficence.
Feya saw Nick withdraw again. She hadn't meant to sound that cold, but if she showed him any softness, she didn't know if she could go through with his execution. From the first day he stepped onto her territory, she knew that he could not possibly leave alive. He posed a threat to her and her nation.
She was in a dilemma. If she were to continue ruling over Cartasia, Nick could not be by her side. First of all, he was an American, her enemy. She would soon crush the U.S., and having him next to her would be risky. Secondly, he had been 'used' by Meina. Her loyal followers would never allow him to live. It would be best if she executed him herself.
"So what will it be?" Feya pressed on.
"It doesn't matter anymore," Nick realized that he would die ultimately. That was a certainty now. He left it up to fate, and to Feya's mercy. Outside, he heard the lasers being shot. And he heard a shriek as Meina suddenly appeared in Feya's room, her eyes full of wrath and murder. Feya immediately stood up tall and moved away from Nick.
"Well hello my loyal, humble warrior," Feya called out sweetly to Meina. "I bet you didn't think that there would be a day when you would succumb to death, right? I have been building this secret army for a long, long time, with of course my beloved Finor's help. We wanted to give you a surprise party." Feya smirked while she slowly paced about, eyeing Meina.
Meina's face streaked with blood. She breathed deeply, obviously tired from battle with Feya's warriors.
Feya then walked over to Nick, putting a hand on his chest. "I'm not totally uncaring, you know. I left you something pleasurable for the duration of your fleeting leadership." Feya looked down at Nick. "He's good, isn't he?" Feya gestured at Nick's body. Nick never felt so trivial in his life.
Meina's eyes reduced to slits. Suddenly, she laughed a psychotic laugh. Feya smirked, feigning calmness. "What is so funny my dear?"
"You think that you have so much control over everyone. Let me tell you my dear that your pretentious crap will only attract the scum of this world. You think you will rule over a rich nation, but you can only rule over a nation of idiots." With that, she jumped at Feya who deftly avoided her. But it turned out that Meina wasn't aiming for Feya.
Meina was perilously hovering over Nick's body. Her eyes met Nick's. Nick, as if on cue, slowly closed his eyes, accepting Meina's gift of death. She held her laser sword above his body, ready to end his life. Nick knew at that moment that this would be a peaceful death. He had given up hope after realizing that Feya had used him. It hurt him so deeply, knowing that it was all true-he would never find any love in his life. All the women he met in his life never truly loved him. First Crystal then Meina then Feya-none wanted him alive.
Nick awaited Meina's deathly strike. Soon enough, he heard the sound of the laser sword slashing through the air. He felt something fall on his chest. He opened his eyes in shock as Meina's head rolled from her neck onto him. Behind her stood Finor with sword in hand.
Finor smiled gallantly at the Queen. "I didn't want her to have the pleasure," he addressed Feya. Nick stared fearfully at Meina's corpse. At least if Meina had killed him, his death wouldn't be tortuous. But to put his life in Finor's hands was reason enough for him to be fearful. His eyes widened and he immediately looked to Feya.
Feya immediately saw the pleading look on Nick's face. Finor walked over to Feya and handed her the sword. "You know that he cannot possibly live. He would be a deterrence, an obstruction to your leadership," Finor reminded Feya in a soothing tone.
Nick managed to sit up by now. There was no way he could make a run for it. He was too weak and shocked from the quick turn of events. Slowly, Feya walked towards him, the laser sword still in hand. The determination was building in her. She stopped about a foot from Nick. "Do you have any parting words?" she asked curtly.
Nick nodded his head. Curious, Feya waited letting the sword drop by her side. Nick looked into her eyes, the sadness evident on his face. "Go ahead," she whispered. "Tell me."
Nick cleared his throat. "You said I had a choice." Feya raised her eyes. "Or were you just kidding when you said that?" Nick pressed on.
"I wasn't lying to you Nick. I'm a leader. I will keep my promises."
Nick sighed in relief. He didn't want to be decapitated. At least keep his body in one piece if he were to die. "I want to remain in one piece," he said moving his eyes to Meina's decapitated head. "Just give me a glass of poison."
Finor quickly was by the Queen's side. "This is ridiculous your majesty. His death is a certainty and he's here trying to bargain with you." Nick sensed the urgency in Finor's voice. Did that mean that Finor felt insecure with him around?
But the Queen looked at Finor reassuringly. "Get the guards to give him a glass of 'iizite'." Finor looked at Feya uncertainly, but Feya continued. "And put it in wine."
Feya then looked to Nick, her face serious. "Satisfied?" she asked him.
Finor did as Feya told him, but was frustrated that she showed Nick mercy even when his death was impending. Finor made sure that there was more than enough of the poison to kill Nick, but not enough that his death would be quick. He wanted Nick to suffer, especially for having robbed Feya's< heart.
Finally, Finor came back. The Queen and Nick hadn't budged from their positions. He handed the cup to the Queen. It would hurt Nick more if the Queen herself gave him the poison. Queen Feya took it and sat down next to him. "Leave us," the Queen said. "Now!" She had an edginess to her voice that made Finor actually scared. He took his laser sword and headed out.
He stopped when the Queen had one more thing to say. "And call my guards here." He nodded and left.
Feya looked back to Nick. He reached out for the wine, but she wouldn't release the grip on it. Instead she reached with one hand to the back of his head and lifted the cup herself to his lips. She held his head with her right hand and pushed the cup against Nick's lips, forcing him to drink. He drank slowly, but soon, the cup was empty.
Nick felt Feya easing the cup away, but one of her hands was still wrapped around his shoulders. She slowly eased his body back until he leaned on her. Then he felt both her arms around him, giving him a big hug. He felt the tears fall from her face. She kissed him gingerly on the cheeks. Her lips felt warm against his face, which was starting to feel numb and cold. His vision started to blur, but he was still conscious.
Then it hit him all at once-an intractable pain throughout his body. He felt the suffocation. He started jerking uncontrollably and felt Feya's grip on him strengthen. The pain radiated through his body, and soon, his head felt like lead. Then as soon as the pain came, so did the cold. He was freezing. The cold started in his legs and continued up his body. He became nauseated and uncomfortable. His throat stung. What did Finor give him?
His lips began to quiver and he no longer felt Feya's arms, although he was certain that she was still holding on to him. He groaned softly. He didn't want to show any fear. He wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing him in despair. He will die as gracefully as he could, given his situation.
But Feya sensed his fear. She also could tell that the poison was working surprisingly slowly. It had been an hour since Nick was given the poison, but he was still struggling. His body was only slightly cooler than before. This ignited her anger. Finor! Once this whole thing was done with, she would make sure that Finor would pay for this.
She looked down as Nick groaned. He was now gasping for air and grabbing his chest. He was in a great deal of pain. She was afraid that if she left his side, he would die by himself. But she had to do something to stop his suffering. "Guards!!!" she screamed. "Guards!!!"
Quickly, two of her closest guards appeared. "Help me bring him to the carbonite chamber."
Nick was agonizing by now. He had never felt such intense pain in his life. He didn't care anymore. He tried to scream, but he was so fatigued from fighting the pain that nothing came out of his mouth. He couldn't even feel his arms hugging himself. Just then, he thought he heard Feya screaming. Then, he was tugged off the bed. He couldn't tell what was going on. His head felt light and then heavy again.
Maybe he should have chosen the decapitation. Things began happening so fast that he lost track of where he was. Some people were carrying him somewhere. Everywhere he looked, he saw red. He could no longer focus on any object around him. Everything became deathly silent. Yes, all he saw was red. Blood! Blood from Feya's counter-coup.
And then, everything became dark. He felt that he had been placed on something cold and hard. He was in some sort of room. The pain had diminished slightly. His vision was partially restored, but still, he couldn't see too well. By now, he was completely deaf. He became really scared. What was happening around him?
After what seemed like an eternity, he felt an extremely cold granule of some sort land on his forehead. Then another and another. Soon, it was as if it was snowing, except that snow was warm compared to this stuff. Everytime a granule hit him, that small piece of his body became frozen cold. Soon, his upper torso was frozen. His mind was still alert though. Before long, his abdomen froze. Nick was frantic. What was happening? Then his thighs froze. . . and his feet . . . and his toes. His mind became clouded, suppressed. He found it harder and harder to stay conscious. He couldn't breathe. He had stopped feeling his heart beating a long time ago.
Feya looked into the carbonite room as Nick's body slowly froze under the intense pressure and carbonite crystals. He would now be under an eternal slumber. The poison would be frozen. His body wouldn't feel its effects anymore. In fact, his body wouldn't feel anything anymore, once his body was fully encased in carbonite. At least this way, she could preserve him . . . for a later time.
A smile began to form on Feya's lips. She couldn't believe her ingenuity. At least now, she can answer her people's cry for Nick's death. They could not accuse her of not putting the nation's interest up front. He was no longer a threat to them, at least not for now.
She continued staring as his beautiful form became encased in layers of carbonite. One day, she will awake him . . .when the world is once again at peace and she has cleaned up the carnage that resulted from Meina's insolence. . .when everyone has forgotten that he had at one point in time existed.
"Guards," she called to her two trusted guards behind her.
"Yes, majesty," they answered.
"Call the Board of Counselors to me. We have a war to fight."
"But majesty, we have destroyed Meina and her army. Our secret army has destroyed every last one of Meina's people!" Feya smiled. The whole year she had spent using Finor to build her a secret army so that this day would come, when she would crush Meina's coup. Nick had been such a good distraction.
"No!" Feya corrected them. "We have a war to fight. . . with the U.S.!"