A Hunger
Melisandra glanced out the window and could feel a surge of power, unlike anything she could have imagined. The moment she had studied, practiced, and dreamed about was nearly upon her with her eighteenth birthday tomorrow. She would take the position of the high priestess that had been vacant since her mother’s untimely demise the night Melisandra had made her way into the world.
She felt that surge of grief quickly replaced with a cold, steely pride. She would surpass all that her mother had accomplished and rest on the laurels of history as the high priestess that brought true change to her magical beings. While that stupid twin prophesies remained, she would not allow some newborn to take her position in history. She vowed that all would come to fear, revere, and worship her. She didn’t intend to use compassion, empathy, and any of the kind white arts her mother had built her following upon. That said, she would play the game until just the moment she was waiting came to pass.
“Hello, my sweet niece,” Aunt Atlantes said, coming into the room, causing Melisandra to swivel to her immediately, plastering a smile on her face.
The woman had the stealth of a ninja and always seemed to be underfoot when unwanted. She was a white magic witch and assumed Melisandra would be the same. Atlantes used her magic to help her kind heal and defend their way of life. She had stepped in to raise Melisandra upon her sister’s death in childbirth and never had she raised her voice or done anything untoward in Melisandra’s life. In a word, she was boring.
What good was all this power in their family and not using it? They were connected to Queen Nye from the same coven revered throughout the land, yet allowed themselves to be relegated to the shadows. Why? They had as much birthright to stand up and seize power as anyone, and Melisandra intended to do just that. She was biding her time, and then Aunt Atlantes would see the true witch she had raised rise to unfathomable power.
“Morning,” Melisandra said in a cheery tone, turning as she plastered a welcoming smile and meek visage onto her person. “Have you seen the Queen this morning?”
“I did,” her aunt confirmed. “They are getting quite excited about the coming engagement. Of course, I want you to be there every step of the way, as our family has always served royalty as confidantes and advisors. I would assume that as Imogen and Prince Vox taking on the crown will mean that you will be working to fully take on the role of advisor, considering how tight you are with them. Luckily like me with Queen Nye, you and Imogen are close, and you are the heir apparent to my role.”
“That is true, and I would be so fortunate to serve the new generation of magical royalty,” Melisandra said with a slight bow of her head, despite gritting her teeth. Imogen would never sit on the throne she wanted for her own. That secret was one that Atlantes didn’t need to know yet. All would be revealed when the time was right.
“I’m meeting with the Alpha of the guardian pack later today,” Atlantes remarked, causing Melisandra to fully engage. “There seems to be some unrest and suspicious activities happening in the Merge.”
The Merge was the space between the magical realm where Melissandra, her aunt, and most magical beings lived. A truce a hundred years ago had set the wolf packs up as protectors of both worlds in the Merge. They could walk in the human realm in that form, and the Merge when wolf. They were banished from the magical realm due to a falling out two generations back. Few beings had the right to interact with the Alpha alone but never fully roam the Merge.
“I would love to see the Merge and meet the Alpha myself,” Melisandra said. She hoped to befriend them, to find a way to the human realm down the road. Aunt Atlantes, of course, did not need that information at this moment.
“You are not authorized as of yet, until officially an agent of the throne,” Aunt Atlantes said, patting her arm. “Your time will be coming very soon, and then you will be able to do these affairs of our world.”
“I understand,” Melisandra replied, trying to keep the rage inside from rising. She despised being denied anything but had to win her aunt and others to her side, biding her time toward her ultimate plan.
“You have always known your place, and that will serve you well,” Aunt Atlantes said, bending to kiss her forehead before turning her head.
Whipping her hand angrily through the air, Melisandra threw a vase against the wall to expand the angry energy consuming her. Inhaling, she returned to her work area to continue working through the book of spells she was practicing.
“Soon,’ she reminded herself quietly as she set to work.
She would soon reveal to the world, the true nature of her magic and they would bow before her. She was determined that would include her sweet, stupid Aunt Atlantes.
