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WITHIN DAYS, CAPTAIN Marquis, along with Prince Farid and Kuruk, were able to map out the best route into Hivena for the soldiers without being detected.
Immediately we set out from Torrent. The army travels around the border towards the Sono kingdom to the west. Because the mountains border the Sono Kingdom and Hivena, we’ll be able to stay undetected and not run into any trouble as we enter the forest. That’s where we’ll get a better and closer entry to the castle.
While we’re traveling towards the west, the whispers and chatter of the ominous cloud consuming the sky doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s grown tremendously since we first laid eyes on it as we were leaving Mrs. Rendezvous’ house. It looks grotesque, and I can only come to one conclusion.
This is the Mercurial Spirit...the Queen Eater that The People have summoned to this world.
Night falls. When we finish setting up camp within the mountains and get the soldiers settled, we reconvene on the plan and go over everything once more.
“Does everyone know their part?” Kuruk asks, looking pointedly around the circle. We all nod. Rowan, Jabari, and I will be taking the lead on guiding the magic users into battle. Malala, Captain Marquis, and Lieutenant Rue are in charge of the soldiers that came with them from Hivena. Prince Farid is overseeing the Torrent soldiers, and Kuruk is overseeing his own.
It’ll be paramount that we follow the plan as closely as possible. We don’t want to overexpose our hand too quickly to the enemy. So far, all has been quiet. This is what we’ve been planning for, and it’s time to take back Hivena and disband The People once and for all.
When day breaks, we take some of our troops and travel ahead into the forest. There should be a clearing for us to rest, and not too far in the distance, the castle.
Malala and I say nothing to each other as we walk side by side leading the pack. The adrenaline for what’s to come rushes through my veins and it takes all of my energy to focus on the task at hand.
After walking for a while, just like the map that Mrs. Rendezvous gave us stated, the clearing was there and the castle in the distance...as well as Obediah, The People, and their soldiers.
Malala and I halt our troops and stare at the sea of soldiers waiting for us in the clearing. They spot us immediately, and there’s no doubt in my mind that they’ve been waiting here, just for us.
Someone tipped them off.
Malala and I step forward into the clearing and Obediah does the same.
“Look who decided to join us.” He grins. “Did you really think you could sneak up on us on our land?” he tsks. “And it looks like Queen Malala has come back to fulfill her duty.”
Malala tenses next to me and I reach out and graze my fingers against hers. I’ll never let him do that to my sister again.
She straightens and lifts her head defiantly.
“No.” Malala says sternly. “We’ve come to take back what’s rightfully ours and stop this madness. You've gone too far Obediah. What kind of sick man encourages others to slay their brethren in the streets? It’s awful.”
He laughs boisterously and wipes away tears.
“You think that’s awful? What’s awful is allowing these vile creatures to roam amongst us and steal from the great master while corrupting his powers. Everytime one of those imbeciles uses their magic they are stealing from god.”
I sniff. I can see the magic coursing through him as clear as day now that my powers have grown, and I scoff at his hypocrisy.
“Do the subjects that follow you also know that you’re a magic user? One of the disgusting creatures you speak so lowly of?”
“Me using magic is allowed!” He bellows. “I use magic to fight for the Mercurial Spirit so he can keep what’s rightfully his, and cleanse this world of anything else abusing and leeching off of its power. He’s chosen me as his champion! I use his power to make this grave mistake right. For centuries I’ve obeyed his will, therefore, when the time comes, my comrades and I will be forgiven for our misdeeds.” Then he glares at us. “You’ll see who’s side the Great One’s on soon enough, the only thing you should be worried about is how you’ve pointlessly marched you and your friends to their deaths. It’s a pity how no one will remember this little stand you’ve taken against the Queen Eater.”
“Is that right?”
Malala sends up a signal and the whole army of Drones from Zaphyre and the soldiers from Torrent come out of the trees as well as a platoon of magic users, all dressed in their armor.
Obediah’s eyes widen at the amount of soldiers that come spilling out of the forest.
Captain Marquis was correct, as soon as we crossed the border into Hivena from the mountains, they’d have eyes on us. But while their scouts were watching Malala and I and following us here, they didn’t expect the army following behind at our backs.
The man sneers.
“No matter! No matter how many men you think you have. Whether you die here or die when the Mercurial Spirit arrives, none of it matters to me. I’ve had enough of you. It’s best to not let a pest fester.”
He makes a gesture and all of The People and traitorous Hivena soldiers send up a war cry and get in a defensive stance.
Then they attack.
I'm a bit taken aback as The People, in their masks made of melted faces, have many more magic users amongst them then I thought. And they’ve been trained well. The others are only regular subjects and soldiers with weapons, but they’re no less volatile.
“Attack!” Kuruk calls to his troops and they let out a resounding, deep war cry that vibrates through my entire body. They’re ferocious, and yield their weapons expertly as both of our armies clash and they plummet through traitorous Hivena soldiers and The People alike. Kuruk looks dazzling as he swings his sword, effectively blocking and fighting off enemy soldiers.
The rest of us join in.
“Push them back!” Captain Marquis calls as he and Prince Farid guide the Torrent soldiers next to the Drones in pushing the battle line farther towards the castle.
The magic users display their powers hesitantly, but effectively. Jabari and Jubilee wield their fire powers expertly, successfully keeping the enemies at bay and scorching them if they come too close. Sol blinds anyone who comes near with her light, allowing her fighting skills, along with the other soldiers who fight hand to hand combat to be more effective, and Pierre thrashes his water whips as if he’s grown ten tentacles from his back.
At first I was worried for our soldiers to fight against Obediah’s and The People. When we first entered the castle to rescue Malala their forces seemed more intimidating. But now that we knew what to expect and were more prepared, this battle is far from impossible.
I glance over to Obediah in the distance, looking over the battle in disdain and anger. I smirk to myself.
You didn’t expect this kind of army now did you?
Something in his stance and demeanor suddenly changes. My alarm bells go off, then I watch in panic as magic ignites within him like someone striking a match. It circulates through his body and builds and builds until, in a flash, he directs it towards his soldiers.
The People twitch as the outpouring of magic from Obediah swirls around them and seeps into their bodies as if possessing them. I watch in horror as the traitorous Hivena soldiers stiffen and a vacant look fills their eyes, right before they break out into fighting like savages.
My stomach lurks in disbelief at the smell of burning flesh filling my nostrils as the enemy soldiers walk through the fire eaters flames and continue to fight, unbothered as it melts their skin and singes their hair.
Although Sol blinds them with her light they fight unseeingly, swinging madly in all directions, not even caring if they strike each other! They all push harder, seemingly ignoring any pain and not taking precautions to protect themselves from any of our attacks.
One soldier swings madly at a soldier from Zaphyre. The Drone cuts into his leg with his sword and the soldier continues to lash out as if he can’t even feel the blood leaking out of him, or the sliced flesh.
What the hell?!
I run towards a magic user to stop one of The People from attacking her from behind. I knock them to the ground and draw my sword, slicing at their chest. Her mask knocks off in the process, and even though she lay there on the ground wheezing and bleeding out, she still tries to get to her feet with a murderous look in her eyes. Completely ignoring the gaping and fatal wound in her chest.
Soon, the tides turn, and the vicious way The People are fighting takes over. Soldiers and magic users begin to fall at the hands of their weapons and die at the same rate as The People. For every Hivena traitor that dies, they take two of ours with them in their blind rampage.
The blood of Diana, one of the newest Lost Souls recruits, splatters across my face and my heart plummets into my stomach as she crumples before me.
No!
I look around madly. I have to stop this. There has to be a better way to protect everyone on the field from The People’s recklessness.
Obediah’s magic is causing them to not even care for their own lives. They’re able to keep fighting even when they suffer a massive blow before they die themselves.
It’s a massacre.
I look around me at the fighting armies. Malala and I didn’t come here to kill all of them. We came here to stop the madness and defeat the Queen Eater. At this rate, both sides will suffer considerable losses until there’s no one left. And unlike Obediah, I’m not willing to sacrifice the wellbeing of my people for my goals. I have to stop this.
I think back to what the Ringmaster said about my powers having the ability to sense and protect. It has to be good for something. I can’t let the battle continue on like this.
I stop and take a deep breath, tapping into my powers like I’ve never done before. Exploring them deeper and deeper to find something useful.
My body tingles as my magic gathers in my veins and swirls about my limbs and torso. It immediately opens me up and my eyes snap open to a completely new world.
I can sense everything.
The whole world glows a bright blue as I watch everyones’ magic and life force moving within them and swirling about the battlefield. I feel like an exposed nerve.
It’s invigorating, and overwhelming.
I snap myself out of my awe and focus. I don’t have time to examine my magic, I have to save our people. All of them.
Suddenly, I sense something close by that isn’t coming from everyone on the battlefield. It’s strong. This magic feels older...more established...and ready.
I call to it and look around to see if I can pinpoint where it’s coming from.
Then I hear them. The sounds of hundreds of voices calling out to me from a distance. They seem to know me as they whisper my name and ask me to use them.
I hear you...I hear you.
A calm washes over me, and it isn’t hard to latch on to the growing source. It becomes clear that they’re coming right from the castle! On instinct, I open up to them, and a zip of energy rushes through me. As if my body is being plunged into a stream of cold water.
In a flash, orbs of brilliant colorful lights beam down to the battlefield and explode one by one, leaving the imposing figures of past Hivena queens in their wake.
I gape in awe as Queen Astrid, encompassed in her white aura, stands tall. Brandishing the infamous engraved swords that made her the most skilled and recognizable swordswoman in our history. Her techniques were the genesis for many sword styles today.
She moves effortlessly amongst The People in their crazed state and cuts through them with ease. Parring off blows and protecting the other soldiers from unseen attacks.
She stands between five Drones and Torrent soldiers and extends her hand, connecting a string of magic to each of them. They all straighten, their eyes glowing an intense white.
Much like Obediah, Queen Astrid takes over the bodies of the soldiers, but instead of fighting in a blind rage, they fight with precision, brandishing their swords as if they studied under Queen Astrid herself.
Not too far from her, Queen Talula materializes onto the field in a beam of dark moody purple. Known as a war hero of her time, she lets out a battle cry and bounds through the traitorous Hivena soldiers with little to no effort.
Some of the younger Dwarf Queens that are too young to fight, seep into the other Drones and soldiers. They become paralyzed for a moment before their eyes glow intense colors and they re-enter battle with renewed strength and power.
With the upper hand, The People begin to fall back and yield, unable to stand a chance against these unleashed queens of Hivena’s past.
“Get up! Get back out there!” Obediah snarls, enraged by the retreat of some of the traitorous Hivena soldiers and The People. “You cowards!” He spits. He takes off his jacket and stalks towards me as I kick away one of his soldiers I just stabbed in the shoulder.
“You!” He grits through his teeth. “Yield!”
The magic mingled in his words form like a dagger and pulses from him. But before it can get a hold of me, I deflect it with a wall of magic of my own, absorbing the energy and throwing it back in his face in a gust of power.
He stumbles backwards, caught off guard by the force, then stares at me with wide angry eyes.
“You’re the source of this magic.” He whispers, gesturing towards the Hivena queens and enhanced soldiers.
He grabs a weapon off the ground and tests it in his hands.
“Let’s see how long you can keep this up before you realize the inevitable..” He charges at me while throwing out commands. I try my best to dodge both the physical sword and his magic at the same time, but I’ve never had to fight like this before. Physical combat sure, but my magic is still new.
I give it everything I’ve got, deflecting and using his own magic against him, but his onslaught of attacks become more and more fervent. It seems like the longer we fight the more he’s learning my skill and how to get around it.
Being more experienced, he brandishes his magic as if it were a snake-like weapon. It sneaks up on you from all sides at the most unexpected times, and I barely have enough time to deflect and absorb the magic, let alone use it for an attack of my own.
Without warning, I feel his magic take hold of me and my hand releases my sword just as Obediah back hands me with the hilt of his. My head snaps backwards and my face feels warm and numb.
“Zemira!” Jabari calls, brandishing both of his arms engulfed in flames. He charges for Obediah, but before he can use them, Obediah uses his own magic and stops him in his tracks.
I can see the panic that rises in Jabari’s eyes as his body refuses to move of its own accord.
“No–Jabari!” I cough.
“Attack your friends.” Obediah commands, and it all happens so fast that I couldn’t even register to deflect the magic away from him before it completely takes hold and Jabari turns towards our troops, unleashing his fire.
Screams of pain and agony come from their direction as they attempt to scatter.
“No!” I shout. With the distraction, Obediah kicks me in the stomach, dropping me to my side. I gasp for air and try to right myself when he kicks again, causing me to roll a few yards away.
I look up through the haze, my vision swimming.
No! This can’t happen. I’m sorry...I’m so sorry. I should have been quicker! Having a magic user like Jabari under Obediah’s control can be deadly for all of us. Once we release him from Obediah’s magic, he’s gonna hate himself for what his magic has done. I’m so sorry–
“This is not the time to feel sorry for yourself, Zemira.” A familiar voice echoes within my mind. “You’re not alone, and we are not done.”
Ringmaster?!
“This battle is not yours. I still have unfinished business to take care of. Just let me in.”
He’s still here?! He’s still alive?!
A flood of relief washes over me with his familiar presence. If anyone is going to know what to do, it will be him.
I nod to myself and open up a gateway for the Ringmaster. Suddenly, a surge shoots through me, filling me with power that’s not my own.
Ringmaster?
The euphoric rush zips through me and encompasses me like a cocoon, dulling the pain from my wounds. I get to my feet, and stand to my full height.
Obediah gasps and I look into his horrified face as he stares at me. No...not me...something around me.
“Aldrich.” He whispers under his breath. “So, we finally meet again, after all this time, cousin. Where have you been hiding?”
“That’s enough Obediah.” The Ringmaster's words come from my mouth, intermingled in my voice. “I should have ended this long ago. But because I was afraid for you, and cared for you, I thought if I showed grace, you’d change. I see I was gravely mistaken.”
Obediah gives a boisterous laugh and glares daggers at me.
“You still think so highly of yourself Aldrich? Do you think you truly ever had the power to defeat me?! This has nothing to do with you nor is this in any of your control. The Mercurial Spirit has finally arrived, and it’s greater than ALL of us! It would have reclaimed what belonged to it with or without me. I was just the one blessed enough to be chosen to usher it here, and for that, I’ll be greatly rewarded.”
“Greatly rewarded? Look at it Obediah! Does that thing look like it’s capable of rewarding you?”
He looks up and so do I. Amidst all the fighting I hadn’t even realized that the Mercurial Spirit has completely taken over the sky above. Darkening everything.
I gasp at its form. It doesn’t look like a storm cloud up close at all. It looks like something reminiscent of boiling black tar.
My heart drops into the pit of my stomach as fear shoots over me.
“You know nothing of my god Aldrich. So I’ll do you a favor and spare you the details of explaining what great of a day this is. Afterall, judging by the form you’re taking,” He gestures to me. “You won’t be around long enough to even see it.”
He attacks and my body moves of its own accord. At first I try to keep up and control it, but I soon realize that it’s slowing us down. So I let go, letting the Ringmaster take control.
Through his extensive knowledge he’s able to use and access my powers in a way I haven’t learned yet. Some of what I’m capable of even catches me off guard.
Obediah isn’t able to get an attack in this time, it’s like the Ringmaster could see it coming blow for blow. Deflecting and absorbing every magical command.
Obediah starts to lose steam, and in a fit of rage, he gives it everything he’s got.
“Pay close attention Zemira.” The Ringmaster whispers. In one final motion, he gathers every attack that we’ve deflected and calls it forward, and I realize that all this time, the magic that I’ve been absorbing that I haven’t used back hasn’t disappeared.
It had been stored inside of me!
Now, the Ringmaster is gathering all of that magic, and uses it on Obediah in one burning blast that causes me to stumble backwards.
Obediah screams in fear and anguish as the blinding light encompasses him. I’m shocked as it burns him to ash as if I was wielding one of the twins’ fire powers.
I stand there in shock, breathing heavily.
I didn’t know I could do that.
“You’ve done well, Zemira. The powers you wield will serve all magic users well. Now I must leave you to finish the task at hand. My work in this world is officially done.”
Without any time to say a final goodbye the Ringmaster leaves my body, and in his absence, I feel exhausted and almost keel over, but I push through. But in his absence, fear takes over.
What if he’s wrong? What if I can’t do this by myself? He was able to use my powers in a way I’ve never seen before. What if I’m not strong enough?
The chaos around me knocks me out of my thoughts. I gather my bearings and straighten. Now’s not the time for a pity party. My friends and everyone I care about is still in danger.
With Obediah gone, his magic hold on anyone he used his magic on is gone, including Jabari, who collapses to the ground in confusion surrounded by burnt bodies. But that doesn’t stop the enemy soldiers from fighting.
With the Mercurial Spirit looming over us in its true form, they’re more emboldened than ever.
Our soldiers are still gaining the upper hand and Kuruk is doing a great job at capturing The People as to minimize the death.
I have to find Malala.
I let out a startled shout as the three Sages appear in front of me in their black hoods.
“Get to the castle.” They disappear in the blink of an eye and Malala comes rushing over to me. God I’m happy to see that she’s alright.
“Let’s get to the castle!” I tell her.
We fight our way through the battlefield and make it into the castle through a side entrance. We take the halls and find a set of stairs, but stop short as more guards and masked people bound towards us from down the corridor, brandishing weapons.
Malala and I look at each other and get into defensive stances. We have to take care of them now. If they follow us up the stairs the space will become smaller and tighter, which will make it harder to fight and not hit each other.
I tap into my magic, preparing for the collision, when Minister Ishmael enters my peripheral vision and calls from the top of the stairs.
“Hey!”
The guards look towards him, and with my enhanced vision, I see tendrils of magic rush from him and wrap around the guards, making them drop their weapons in fits of pain before they blacked out.
What did he just do to them?! Stop their hearts?!
Malala grabs my arm and we both turn to stare at Minister Ishmael in a panic. That magic looks extremely dangerous.
I prepare myself to deflect any attacks, when he turns to us and bows.
Malala and I glance at each other, confused and on guard.
“Your Majesties, I know this can’t possibly make up for any of my misdeeds. But I’d like to offer my sincerest apologies for the part that I’ve played in this war.”
When he looks up at us his eyes are rimmed red, and they reflect the shame of a man who’s been tormented by his actions not aligning with his beliefs. I know self betrayal well. It’s one of the worst kinds of pain.
“It wasn’t my intention for everything to go this far. I didn’t know what to do. What Obediah was orchestrating was far greater than what I was capable of handling, or even stand up against. It was easier to keep quiet and go with the strongest tides. I was afraid if I didn’t then I would just become another puppet under Obediah’s control anyway, so I played along and allowed many things to happen under my watch, and for that, I am deeply ashamed and sorry.”
The tension lessens as we watch him for a moment. Malala gives me a curt nod. Knowing my sister, he isn’t fully forgiven for his participation in such a blatant disregard and attack on the monarchy, but for now, the issue will be put to the side.
“We have to get to the royal conservatory, quickly.”
He nods profusely.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll clear a way.”
He gestures for us to follow him up the stairs and we do. As we emerge into the hall of the second floor, a troop of guards come out of the shadows, bolting towards us. True to his word, Minister Ishmael fends them off with his magic, causing them to drop two at a time.
“Go! I’ll hold them off.”
We nod and rush off down the hall to the royal conservatory stairs but come to a skidding halt when Balail slides in front of us, bloodied and bruised.
I grab hold of Malala’s arm and pull her behind me. He gives us a wicked smile that makes my skin crawl, and it makes me wonder how much of the blood on his armor is his, and how much of it came from our army.
Without a word, and with a glint of joy in his eyes, he brandishes his sword and swings. My heart hammers in my chest as Malala and I reach for our own, but before the blade could make contact with either of us, Balail is knocked clean out by a fist to the jaw. He hits the ground with a hard thump and we stare in shock.
“Queen Mother?” I gasp under my breath. She looks over at us, standing in a glowing aura of red.
I can’t read her expression. There’s so many emotions swimming through her eyes that I can barely grasp on to one before it’s replaced by another.
Then she turns and disappears.
Malala and I swallow, shaking ourselves out of our stupor.
“We have to go.” She rasps.
We continue up the stairs into the warm royal conservatory. Through the glass you can see that the entire sky is covered in a thick layer of darkness. No sunlight can peek through the walls or ceiling. You can see the Queen Eater gathering towards the Weeping Wall in the north, looking like a raging black hole.
Malala rushes over to the small balcony and opens the doors to get a better look at the Mercurial Spirit over the horizon.
“Oh my god.” she gasps under her breath.
“We don’t have much time.” Malala and I both startle at the voice and whip around to find the three Sages standing in the middle of the room. “We need to get started. Hurry!”
Malala and I set off to gather the materials at the Sages' request. We harvest as many euphorbia flowers as we could and gather them at a wooden work bench next to the balcony doors.
“Why can’t we just use the royal jelly reserves that we have stocked in the pantry?” Malala asks as she quickly separates the stalks from the petals.
“Because we need the petals.” The Sage explains. “The royal jelly is harvested from the center of the flower, but the petals have a potent poison that we need. It’s the substance that makes royal jelly so selective. Only small traces of the poison leeches into the euphorbia nectar, but in the petals, it’s highly concentrated. This is what we need to take down the Mercurial Spirit.”
The flower petals are what leeches poison into the nectar? That explains a lot.
I take the petals and grind them as instructed in a pestle and mortar.
“How are you sure this will even work? Have you seen this before?”
The Sages go quiet.
“Yes.” One finally says. “We’ve seen the Mercurial Spirit many times before.”
Malala and I freeze as we look at each other worried.
“This will work because the Mercurial Spirit is drawn to all of the queen's spirits trapped here in the castle and within the Weeping Wall. Their remains are a feasting ground for it.”
That’s the energy I felt on the battlefield coming from the castle. It was the voices of all the past queens still here. But... I shake my head in confusion.
“How...w-why are they trapped here?”
The Sages go quiet again, but we make it a point to not progress any further with the potion until they open up about what they know.
“There was an enchantment put on this land long ago that keeps them here after they pass. Now take the crushed petals and put them in the bowl. We’ll take it from here.”
We do as instructed and take a step back.
An enchantment? Who would make an enchantment like that? And why?
The Sages gather around the table and place their hands over the bowl. They start chanting in some language I can’t understand, and within minutes, the crushed petals have all melded together into a clear substance that they pour in a nearby bottle.
“That’s it?” Malala asks, eyeing the little bottle.
“Yes. We’ve been through many worlds that weren’t able to sustain the growth of the euphorbia flower. It’s a miracle in itself to have it here in abundance. But, in order to be effective...one of you must take it and offer yourselves to the Queen Eater.
I glare at the Sages in disbelief, then turn to Malala whose face is mirroring the same startled expression as I am.
“You didn’t say anything about having to sacrifice anyone!”
As usual, the Sages go quiet, and I question the trustability of them. The more they say, the more questions I have.
“It’s the only way.” The main Sage finally says. “Much like the royal jelly, the euphorbia essence will only be activated inside the body of someone who’s well adjusted to it. Someone who’s already used to its magic and consuming it...”
“Like a dwarf queen.” Malala whispers. The Sages continue.
“Any other being would die immediately from taking it.” The Sages point to the two of us and our stature. “The euphorbia essence is harmless in this bottle. It will only be effective and show its true power when it is consumed by someone who can take it.”
Malala and I look at each other in shock and fear. We’ve only just gotten each other back, only for us to have to lose each other again?! I didn’t come this far to give up my sister.
“Fine...I’ll take it.” I say stepping forward. Malala grabs my arm.
“No Zemi...I’ll take it.”
“Lala, it doesn’t have to be you. You’ve done so much already–”
“It does have to be me,” she squeezes. “I took an oath as the reigning queen of Hivena to protect this land and the subjects at all costs. I’m the one responsible for the wellbeing of this queendom, not you.”
My eyes well up with steaming tears as a swirl of emotions rampage through my chest.
When did my sister get so tall?
“I’m sorry I ran away.” I whisper.
“What?”
“I’m sorry I ran away the night of the Thinning. I was so scared back then. When I heard Tempest blow her pip that night, my whole body froze in fear and...I couldn’t do it.” I hiccup and swipe away some of the tears staining my face. “I wasn’t brave enough to come out and fight you guys. I wasn’t brave enough to take on the responsibility of the queendom. I was afraid to stay. I was afraid to die...and I was afraid what would happen if I survived. So instead of facing you and our sisters, I broke the rules and ran without thinking about how it would affect anyone else. I was selfish and I left you to pick up the pieces–”
Malala hugs me tight, cutting off my blubbering.
“Nonsense Zemi. You’re speaking nonsense.” After a long moment she pulls back and grabs my face. “The best thing you did was escape this place. You were the bravest of all, because none of us were brave enough to break the rules and stand up for what we believed in. None of us were brave enough to say no to the demands placed on us and choose a different fate...but you were. And look where it’s gotten us.” She gestures around, pointing out the courtyard and the clearing where Lost Souls, Drones, and Torrent soldiers were still fighting. “None of this would have been possible without you. If you weren’t here I would still be trapped by The People in my bedroom. Hivena wouldn’t have been able to stand a chance against the Mercurial Spirit. And I wouldn’t be able to stand here with my sister.”
A watery smile comes to my lips as I try to sop up my tears and snot with my sleeves.
“But I still feel guilty–”
“So do I.” She whispers. “I feel guilty that I’m the one who killed Tempest and Reyna. I feel guilty that I couldn't save Suri. I feel guilty that I was the one who survived.” Then she smoothes a hand across my hair. “So you don’t have to feel alone...because we’ll carry the weight of our guilt together.”
She puts her forehead to mine and we stay like that for as long as we could.
“So,” she sniffs away her tears. “I will take the essence. You have so many people depending on you to make it through, and I have so many people depending on me to protect this land...however I can.”
We stare at each other in tearful silence, then Malala breaks contact and steps forward, stretching her hand to take the essence. But before she can, footsteps bound into the conservatory and burst through the doors.
Oh no! Is it more guards?!
We whip around to see Rowan, Madame Rosely, and Balenda standing in the doorway.
What are they doing here?!
“No, I’ll take it!” Balenda says approaching us out of breath. “I’ve seen enough of my daughters die and sacrifice themselves for ungrateful people who care nothing for them. No more! I’ll take it.”
“You can’t Balenda.” I cry.
“The euphorbia essence can only be taken by a dwarf queen...” We try to explain.
“Is it finally time for you to tell them who you really are, Balenda?” Madame Rosely steps forward. “To let Zemira here know she isn’t the first runaway dwarf queen to escape these walls.”
A confused gasp escapes my lips, and both Malala and I turn towards Balenda questioningly.
“It’s true.” She says remorseful. “I was born a part of Queen Nasira’s brood, and on the night of our Thinning, I escaped to Madame Rosely’s.”
Malala and I both gasp and start talking over each other in disbelief.
“But you don’t have any traits of a dwarf queen.”
“How is this possible?”
“Yes well, extracting the royal jelly from her body was quite a challenge of course, it came with many drawbacks and lifelong scars. I thought for sure it was only a matter of time before this body would give out. But it seems like I was wrong.” Madame Rosely says.
I stare at Balenda in disbelief, and she grabs me and Lala’s hands.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you before, but it was best for everyone if you didn’t know. I was able to watch you girls grow up into beautiful young women all these years, and it’s been my greatest joy. I’ve learned so much from you. You've grown to be such brave and amazing young women and there are a lot of people counting on you two to lead them.” She squeezes our hands. “I wasn’t able to save you all and protect you like I wanted to, but let me protect you now.”
Tears blur my vision and pour down my face as we hug tightly.
“I-I don’t want you to face this alone.” I cry.
“But will the euphorbia essence hold inside of a body that’s been drained of royal jelly and hasn’t partaken in it all these years?” Madame Rosely asks the Sages unabashedly.
“She won’t be facing this alone.” We turn and gasp as a bright aura appears in the middle of the room, illuminating the entire space. Then, out walks Queen Ramona, the very first queen of Hivena.
We all instinctively take a step back as she approaches, her statuesque frame and confident demeanor embodies everything a dwarf queen was fashioned after.
She approaches Balenda and looks down at her with a smile.
“Are you ready?” she asks. Balenda nods, and for a moment I question what will happen. Then, within seconds, Queen Ramona seeps into Balenda’s body, making her stand taller and prouder than ever before. Her eyes glow bright as if she has a light that’s shining from within.
They walk over to the table and pick up the panacea. My heart is beating a mile a minute. As soon as Balenda takes that potion, there’s no going back.
“We aren’t sure how long a body like yours will be able to sustain the elixir. It’s best if you take it minutes before confronting the Mercurial Spirit, just in case.” The Sages inform. She nods and puts it in her pocket, then looks at us.
“So, how are you going to get me there?” She asks, pointing to the Mercurial Spirit consuming the Weeping Wall.”
We’re quiet for a moment, then I turn to Rowan who’s been silently watching everything unfold by the door, his face looks aged. I walk over to him.
“I wouldn’t be asking this of you if I didn’t think it was really important,” I say. He looks at me startled, like he’s sensing what I’m about to say. “Can you teleport them to the Weeping Wall?”
He looks panicked.
“I-I don’t teleport people anymore Zemi, it could be dangerous.”
“Rowan, I know. But you’re our only hope. The Queen Eater has descended upon the wall and is currently feasting on the remains of thousands of young girls and queens that came before me. It’s going to become even more powerful and completely take over the land, and god knows what else. We need you.”
He stares at me hard, then looks to Malala, his face softening. With a hard swallow and a look of resolve he nods.
“Fine, I’ll do it.”
Malala walks over to us and grabs his hands into hers, looking him in the eyes.
“I believe in you.” With tears in her eyes and a shaky voice, she whispers. “You need to be careful, and make sure you come back to me.”
“Of course.” he says with a small lopsided grin. “I will, if only to see your face again.”
They gaze at each other lovingly...nervously, before finally releasing each other's hands.
He walks over to Balenda, and with some deep breaths and instructions for her to hang on and stay close, he teleports them to the wall without an extra moment to even tell her goodbye.
