Dead Men Smiling

1.2

Do monsters make war or does war make monsters?

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Leilani was petting a raven with gold eyes when she heard someone knocking on her door. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, "You may enter."

She then faced her visitor. "King Leonardo," she addressed him with a curtsey, "May His Majesty live forever. Sorry for the current state you have found me in. I had no idea of your arrival."

"You may rise."

Leilani straightened and watched with worry in her gaze as he approached her causing a slight furrow in her brow.

Did I do anything wrong? I did something wrong, didn't I?

Before she could continue overthinking, The King pulled her in for a tight embrace, which caused her to feel her face heat up. "Y- Your Highness," she let out an awkward laugh, "Is something the matter?"

"Far from it," he breathed as he pulled away, "Your probation is over, My Queen."

"It's been six years already?" she frowned as she looked at her shoes. He lifted her head using her chin and grinned, "No, My Queen, it's been three years. The investigators managed to prove all the accused as innocent."

Leilani's mind immediately went to the letter she had received from Dolan a few days prior.

So that's what he meant when he asked about how I feel about finally being free to roam and do as I please.

A small smile made its way on her face, "This is marvellous news, Your Highness."

He kissed her forehead, "I must hurry, My Queen. I'll be back to celebrate with you tonight." "But of course, Your Highness."

Her smile dropped as soon as the door closed behind him, "Good riddance, Leonardo." "He seems to like you."

She turned, ready to fight whatever had entered her room only to see Dolan lying on her bed facing her with an amused grin. Leilani walked towards him and sat next to him, plucking a feather out of his hair as she did so. She silently chuckled, "That's not my fault now is it, Dolly?"

not waiting for his response, she gestured to the table she had set for table,"Fancy a spot of tea?"

He scoffed as he stood, "Three years of probation has you talking different. Plus you don't like tea." "If you know a place willing to serve me beer or a strong wine, you know where to find me."

She watched as her white haired companion sipped his tea as he regarded silently. She almost squirmed under his gaze but fought the urge to submit to him. She took a deep breath and met his gaze with her on calculative dark brown eyes.

"Fine," he set the cup on the table, "Meet me at the pub in the nearby village later tonight. We have a lot to discuss." "Do you want to restart The Rebellion?"

He shrugged, "If y'all find a better way of convincing people to rebel against your father other than your peaceful methods that failed you guys three years ago, then I'm in."

He stood to his full height, "We'll continue this conversation later." "But-"

Dolan stood by the window, "I'll see you later, Lani." "See you later, Dolly."

The white haired male was squatting on the sill and sent Leilani a menacing grin, "Oh, and never spike anything I'm to drink again."

With those words, he shifted into the raven and flew out of the window. Leilani huffed as she folded her arms in front of her chest, "Looks like I'll have to try harder to convince him."

True to his word, Dolan was in the pub nursing a now empty glass. Leilani noted how he didn't start when she sat next to him and adjusted her hat.

"How much did you drink?" she frowned.

"You have something to tell me Leilani?" he asked.

Leilani let out a sigh; still as straight to the point as ever. She eyed Dolan before calling for the bartender and ordering ten shots.

By the time she was downing her fourth shot, Dolan snorted, "What a way to welcome our freedom."

She grinned at him, "Oddly enough, I don't feel the slighted bit intoxicated. Madam Bartender can I have ten more shots of your strongest drinks?"

Once the bartender went to attend to other customers, Leilani lowered her voice so as to not attract unwanted attention, "You misunderstood me earlier."

"Did I?" "I believe so. I mean, you didn't really attempt to hear what I had to say earlier."

"I still don't," he took a shot, "Personally, I'm not willing to hold campaigns only to get locked up this time."

She nodded her head, understanding his concern; it was one thing getting probation but it would be a whole other thing to be behind bars. Leilani took another shot, "What if we change how we tell the story?"

"I don't think the story would be as interesting," he sighed, boredom evident in his tone.

"Don't you want to play the villain in the story?" Leilani blurted, causing Dolan to look at her in shock and perhaps concern.

His brow furrowed before he shook his head and laughed. Leilani felt her face heat up and scowled as she fixed him with a glare that caused him to burst into a new round of laughter. Her glare intensified.

"Is this some kind of joke to you?"

"Oh, no. I'm laughing because I was actually considering the words of a mad woman."

Leilani fisted her hands as Dolan's laughs turned into small hiccups. Once he got a hold on himself, he payed the Bartender and left the pub with Leilani hot on his tail.

She so should've gone looking for Maximus. At least he would've have seen her point of view and not laugh.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by a black dog bumping its head against her leg causing her to jump on Dolan's back, "What the hell is that?"

"That little cutie? Reign's a result of stray magic. He has a counterpart though, her name's Malum." "Stray magic?" "More like spells that wouldn't fit. Bits of my magical essence that if in the wrong hands can be a serious problem."

Leilani looked at Dolan in a new light; he wasn't a teenager second guessing every single thing he did anymore. He was as powerful as your standard magician.

Maybe even more powerful than that.

When Leilani was pulled out of her thoughts for the second time that night, she was standing in a flourishing garden with a quaint house in the midst of it. She took in the peaceful looking place and noticed that Dolan was gazing at her in expectation. She furrowed her brows before smiling slightly, "I love how this place looks and the garden"

She lightly touched a leaf, "I could never get the gardeners to do something like this."

He smiles in response, "I have green thumb." "You really do."

He led her into the house and she took in its cozy interior before her gaze landed on a nine inch dagger seated on his coffee table. "What does it do?"

"Nothing yet," came the reply, "If I manage to get the runes and spells right, it should be able to summon a spirit in times of need." "Doesn't that need human blood to work?"

"Sadly. If all the other animal bloods won't work I might be forced to use it."

He let out another sigh, "Take a seat, Lani. I'll go get us some juice."

Leilani nodded and soon remained staring at the blade, an idea slowly forming in her mind. She caught herself and shook her head.

Unwanted blood on that blade was out of the question.