Filed To Story: Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk
Tem noticed how he emphasized only human life.
“It is a privilege to be king.” Maximus turned to face Leo. “A privilege that I know my son will take as seriously as I have.”
Father and son stared at each other. As if in slow motion, Maximus lifted the crown from his own head and placed it on Leo’s. It was a mirror of the Passing of the Crown, only this time, it would remain on Leo’s head.
“It is my honor to crown you king.”
The audience erupted into cheers once more, continuing even as Leo stepped to the edge of the stage and held up his hands.
“My people,” he cried. “I thank you.”
Dread pricked Tem’s stomach. The ceremony was over.
Bastian entered her mind: It is time.
Tem froze. His eyes bore into hers as Leo addressed the audience.
“With my rule, I intend to usher our kingdom into a new era of peace,” he said. “The conflict between the humans and the basilisks has gone on far too long.”
A murmur swept through the crowd. Nobody was used to hearing rhetoric in favor of the basilisks. They were considered the enemy; they were not worth the air the royals breathed.
The Serpent King was staring right at her-staring into her soul.
Crest them, Temperance.
But something was distracting her-a movement out of the corner of her eye. Several tall figures were entering the clearing, running along the edges of the maze. Tem squinted. Their smooth strides made it seem like they might be basilisks. But that couldn’t be right. Only the teachers and the king attended the ceremony.
Leo was still talking. “There have been many cruelties on both sides. Those cruelties end today.”
“Thelonius.” Maximus grabbed his arm. “Cease this at once.”
Leo ignored him, continuing on even louder. “It is my belief that we can coexist, learning from one another as we should have done from the beginning.”
The figures were getting closer, encircling the crowd in an impenetrable line.
Now, Temperance.
Was she really about to do this?
A deep, animalistic urge swept through her. The basilisk side of her wanted to perform the crest. She could feel the need thrumming through her body like a pulse. But Tem was made up of two things, and she did not covet power the way Bastian and Maximus did. The desire to dominate wasn’t something she identified with. Such hubris was reserved for kings. It was a useless thing to Tem-a facade of control that could break at any second, as it was breaking now. There had to be another way.
A shadow of an idea formed.
Perhaps Tem didn’t need to crest the royals. It was a temporary solution anyway-an imperfect bandage for a wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding. Even if she succeeded, Bastian would crest her immediately, and the power she gained from the royals might not be enough to resist him. There was only one source of unlimited power for her-a renewable source. Someone who wouldn’t be hurt by the crest in any way, shape, or form.
Herself.
Tem was two things: human and basilisk. Her basilisk side was dying, but her human side was not. Why shouldn’t she use one to feed the other? No harm would come to her at her own hand. An elegant solution. Bastian would be so proud.
Tem looked at Caspen, who had always protected her. Caspen, who had always called her perfect, who insisted from day one that she was flawless. Caspen, who had always told her that the traits she considered weaknesses were really her strengths. For a moment, Tem dared to see herself as Caspen did: extraordinary. He’d been right all along.
She could do anything. And she would do this.
TEMPERANCE. NOW.
But Tem had made up her mind.
No.
A curious expression passed over Bastian’s face. He looked almost happy. So be it.
“A new future begins today,” Leo was saying. “Effective immediately, I will-“
His words were cut off by a scream.
Every head in the crowd turned at the same time.
Tem turned right along with them, her mouth falling open as the cause of the scream became apparent.
One of the basilisks was transitioning.
Tem watched in horror as scales dappled his skin, his body elongating into a shape she’d seen many times before. Smoke plumed into the air, concealing the nearest row of chairs as people scrambled over one another in an attempt to get away. The basilisk opened its mouth, reared its great head, and sank its fangs into the neck of a stout man with a red beard. The man was so shocked he didn’t even cry out. His mouth formed a surprised O right before his head was ripped from his shoulders.
Leo threw himself in front of Tem, pulling her back as more basilisks streamed into the clearing. Someone knocked into her, and she realized it was Maximus. He leaped from the stage, barreling down the steps without a backward glance.
“Coward!” Leo cried.
His voice was lost in the wind as the rest of the basilisks began to transition.
There was nowhere to go. Some people ran screaming into the maze, but without Leo’s sense of direction, they were merely delaying the inevitable. Basilisks ran after them with all the glee of hunters stalking their prey. A woman ran hand in hand with her husband only to be yanked to a halt when he suddenly turned to stone. She shrieked in pain as his granite fingers crushed hers. Tem watched as another woman pulled her dress from her shoulders, trying to mount a basilisk that had crested her. He pushed her aside, already grabbing the throat of another.
Tem turned to Leo. “Go.”
Despite all the chaos, his eyes were only focused on her. “Only if you come with me.”
“I can’t. I have to find-“
But she cut off as someone appeared beside them.
They both looked over to see Caspen. “Tem,” he said. “Did you perform the crest?”
“No.”
Relief, then immediate worry flashed across his face. He jerked his head at Leo. “He is vulnerable. If someone tries to-“
“I already claimed him.”
There was the briefest of pauses. Then Caspen said, “Good.”
He meant it: Tem could feel his approval, and she realized he liked the way she had thought like a basilisk.
He turned to Leo. “You must go.”
Leo shook his head. “I’m not leaving her.”
Caspen shook his head too.
“No harm shall come to her, Leo. You have my word.”
It was the first time Caspen had called him by his name. Still, Leo hesitated. Caspen stepped forward so they were eye to eye, placing his hand on Leo’s shoulder.