Chapter Text
Prologue: Japeth
It was a sunny afternoon, when he'd agreed to meet with Tedros. Pity, must be a bad sign. After all, Japeth hated sunny afternoons and it seemed to be everything the Evers represented. Bright, bubbly self-righteous foolishness.
Both sides came in, very well prepared for the possibility that this was a trap, Japeth more confident than Tedros that he would win. Japeth started to approach, smiling with a fake Ever niceness to it, still imitating his dead brother for the audience.
"We have decided to negotiate this peacefully." Japeth announced in the best, most pretentious voice he could muster. "I would like to have a word in private with my competitor, if you all would be so kind." It didn't matter that they were disappointed, after all, EVERYBODY loved Rhian. Stupid, pathetic Rhian who always had the attention even when he did none of the work, standing there like a precious golden boy.
Tedros was glaring at him as the people slowly left, muttering but not too loudly about missing a show. "I can see through your lies, Japeth. At least Rhian had a soul."
Japeth snorted, half in amusement and half in offense. "Well, I'm glad you can, but they still can't. Besides, I did have a soul. Before you and your friends took it away from me. How would you like to be hated by everyone and everything except for one person, and you find out that one person is dead?" Japeth's charismatic tone soon turned into an icy cold accusation as he lost control over his tongue. He stopped a moment, realizing his mistake of giving the enemy this advantage, and composed himself.
Fortunately, Tedros was not very fluent in intellectual mind games. Part of the reason he'd make a horrible king. Tedros continued to glare at him. "If I give you this ring, you won't hurt Agatha?"
"Not unless she provokes me, or tries to hurt Aric, no. What need would I have for revenge, if I'd already killed Dovey. And really, ruling an Ever kingdom is the last thing I'd want to be doing. I only tried to steal the throne from you because I had too." Japeth pointed out snarkily. "Now. The ring."
Tedros hesitated for a moment, looking back at where Sophie and Agatha were standing. Then he looked down, and handed the ring to Japeth, who snatched it and instantly threw it into the fire. With a frantic look in his eye, Japeth flew out of the room, and drew Lionsmane. He had expected to feel different, perhaps stronger. But the only thing that really was different was the pen, which was glowing in some stupid holy light, or something or the other. Japeth really did not have time for that. Leaving Tedros with the crown and throne, he ran outside and stopped by a nearby river.
He wasn't sure why it was there that he stopped, except perhaps just to confirm with his reflection that this was real, not some fever dream that replayed in his head over and over and over and over again, always taunting him. It was real. He might be able to see Aric again.
Drawing the pen and writing on his own hand, he wished over and over and over again to see the familiar face of Aric Lesso, a boy who was his only family, his true love.
At first, nothing happened.
Japeth closed his eyes, trying not to sink entirely into despair. There was always the other way to get to Aric, after all.
But then, a faint purple light shone on the ground beneath him, swirling with black and grey like a storm of magic, as clouds came out to cover the sun. Perfect. It should not be a sunny day, when the two most evil people in the world meet. Aric's form started to appear, and Japeth could do nothing but stare, as his best friend came back to life.
It was Aric opening his eyes that did it.
Those rare, incredible purple eyes that were like amethysts, carved into what was left of Japeth's soul. He remembered how to breathe for a moment, and rushed towards Aric, wrapping his arms around him.
"J-Japeth?" Aric's deep voice, rusty with unuse started to ask. "How-"
Japeth just gripped him tighter, tears starting to form on his cheeks. "Shh. You don't need to worry. I have you, now, and I'm never letting go. Ever."
Aric bit his lip, not sure what to do, as years of built up longing just to see the other was finally satisfied. All the letters he wrote, every minute that he felt like he was going insane, and here he was, in Japeth's arms once more. Being with the most perfect person on Earth, who also happened to be the only one who ever loved him.
"Good. Me neither."