The Crown in The Abyss

Chapter Nine: Estella POV

“The royal court and I discussed about how the royal beta will be decided,”I explained.

“The ball will continue as planned, once the meeting of our attack to the rogues is adjourned, we will have a competition for who’s going to be beta, then it will be followed by a coronation and a union with Aramis Lycan,”I sat down on my chair and the royal court stood closer to me.

“And the funereal your majesty,”one of the Alpha wolves named Icarus asked.

“It will held later today,”I felt that the blood wanted escaped out of my lungs. I held my breath and clenched my fists. Weakness was something I didn’t want to show. It would give reason for competition and the rogues to attack more. I needed time to reveal my end was coming.

“The choosing of the beta is a important matter for the Cilia Clan and the other clans,that being said I also want to know your opinions,”I leaned forward.

“Your excellency let’s put it on vote,”Rizon said. At least he was taking care of the fight that was happening. Rizon had his own type of anger. But he was also very patient.

“Everyone ok with what Rizon has proposed?”I looked around. Everyone nodded in agreement. Aramis was standing just watching.

“Everyone in favor,”Aramis asked. Everyone rose their hands.

“Every well, the meeting is adjourned,”I stood up and left the room. The royal court went to their offices and I remembered I had to get checked up for my weird symptoms I was presenting. So I walked to my room. The doctor and the butler came in.

“The physician came your majesty,”as he said that Aramis came in.

“I will take my leave,”he did a reverence and he walked out the door. The doctor began checking my blood pressure and my pulse. I coughed some more. I hacked out some blood. Aramis came and sat down with me.

“Are you sure you want to do the wedding, you always wanted to wait after the attack with the rogues,” he said. The doctor finished and left. I cleared my throat.

“And may I remind you wanted to stay as friends,”I crossed arms. He whimpered like a puppy dog. I sighed and petted his hair. He was a big baby that needed a lot of attention.

“Selene is gone for now, my reign is coming to a end,” I explained.

“Your saying that your dying soon?” he looked in my eyes. His eyes were full of rejection and pain.

“Your cure didn’t work a hundred percent, I can barely maintain my reputation let alone the throne,” I curled next him. I got my father’s family ring crest.

“I need to produce a heir and to have you to secure my throne,”I coughed some more. He kissed my forehead. I felt warm. He played with my fingers as he took a deep breath .

“How do you feel about Elio,” he asked. I buried my face in his chest.

“Right now I have mixed emotions,”I curled closer to him. I wanted to find comfort in him. He nuzzled me.

“Hey it’s alright,”he held me close.

“Your all what I have now, I’m not ready Aramis, to give the throne, I’m just eighteen, I wished I could’ve of protected Elio it’s my fault that I’m in this mess,”I cried some more.

“To be honest there was nothing to be done and it’s my fault that you can’t transform,”he looked away.

“So what are you going to do, some of the alphas will want to challenge you for the throne,”he rubbed my back.

“I don’t know,”I held onto him tighter.

“Why don’t we tell them the truth?”I looked at him.

“You know that it’ll be harder for me to maintain the throne,”he cupped my cheeks.

“Your not alone in this Estella, you have me,”I smiled at him. Then we heard a knock on the door. He looked away and let go and straighten my dress. I cleaned my face that was full of tears.

“Come in”I announced. The butler came in and did a reverence. He wasn’t alone but he was with Rizon.

“Your royal excellence,”the butler said. Rizon bowed.

“What is it,” I asked.

“The royal court wants to have a audience with you your majesty,”Rizon explained.

“Yes a matter of a fact you know very well that the royal court wanted the queen to get her well being checked, and they want to discuss the results with you your majesty,”the butler explained. I hacked some more blood on the sheets. I cleared my throated.

“Very well, where will they the audience, I don’t want the wolves to know yet of my illness,”I explained.

“Your majesty let’s have it in your room, the closest of the court will come here and we can make a decision for you,”Rizon knew very well that my end was near. I could read it on his grim face. It even complimented the sky. I nodded and made a hand gesture to go gather the royal court. I snapped my fingers to my butler.

“Please get the remaining of the maids to my chamber, I must get ready for the funeral,”I ordered him. He bowed and left. Aramis stayed.

“I could help change you know,”he explained. I laughed.

“You know how to handle a corset,”I said with the laughter. Then I felt the need to cough again.

“I could learn Goldie, I’m fast learner,”he smirked. He looked so idiotic with that look that it made me burst into laughter again.

“I don’t want it end like last night,”I said. He embraced me in his strong arms.

“Don’t we have to make a heir,”he began kissing my neck. I was pushing him away playfully.

“Aramis,”I tried saying. Then we heard a knock. I smacked Aramis with a pillow and he fell over. I stood still.

“Yes come in,”I yelled as best as I could. The maids entered and did a curtsy. They had the black silk dresses. I walked to the part where they could draw the curtain. They put on a gray corset and black jacket with gold embroidered designs and a pencil skirt. They also gave me a gold crown with a huge black star sapphire and Tahitian pearls. They also gave me a black onyx pearl choker necklace with some earrings. I grabbed the also the scepter that I had enclosed in glass case. The pulled the curtain aside and Aramis was also changed to all black attire. I sat down with him. The memories this color had. The color had so much personality that it had built over the past years in my reign. I couldn’t stop the dam from coming and began crying. The maids left without announcing themselves. Aramis looked at me and cleaned my tears. Then we heard a knock. I sensed it was the royal court.

“Your majesty, we discovered you have some sort or respiratory problem, Aramis’ blood is acting like some sort of cancer for you,”Charlie explained.

“So this means my fiancé’s lungs are um broken?”Aramis asked. I faced palmed. I really needed to get him to English classes. But I couldn’t find a really brave tutor to even help him in English.

“It means King Luna that your future mate is dying,”Leon explained.

“We suggest that once that once the wedding takes place you take a very long honeymoon you’re majesty you don’t have much time left,”I looked at Rizon.

“How much do I have?”

“Approximately two years,”everyone in the royal court looked away. I coughed out some blood.

“I have to secure Aramis’ place,”I said grimly.

“No no you don’t have to do that,”Aramis tried saying.

“Aramis my family’s legacy lies on your shoulders,“ I looked at him. He glanced over the window. Then there was commotion coming in the castle. There was screaming and kicking.

“What’s this commotion,”I looked at them sternly.

“LET ME GO YOU SAVAGES,”it was female voice.

“We caught what seems a human that has wolf scent, she seems to have a mundane smell to her, she states that she was looking what could one say answers,” Rizon explained.

“Bring her in,”I ordered. Charlie tapped his cane twice and the guards brought the girl in. She was brunette. Her face looked soft. Aramis was staring at her. He was examine her and a surge of jealousy jolted. I squeezed his hand as tightly as I could. He stopped looking at her.

“Wow you look like the queen of England but in a emo style,”she said. The royal court growled and I raised my hand.

“What’s your name,”I asked her. I deepened my gaze. I felt threatened by her presence. I keep my eyes on her all the time to see if I noticed something about her.

“Name’s Ruzena, my friends call me Ru,”she said.

“Now tell your dumb guards or whatever to get off me,”she said. She wasn’t intimidated by me. Neither her dormant wolf. Something was off. As I wanted to figure out more the morgue doctor came.

“Your majesty, you may deliver your last words to Elio,”he said shaking. I got up. I looked at my guards. I grabbed the key that unlocked the handcuffs. I twisted the key and let her scrawny arms loose. I made a motion with the guards.

“I want you two to show her a room in my wing, once the funereal has taken its place I will interrogate her some more, is there any last thing my court wants to say me,” I looked at them. Aramis stood behind me.

“No your majesty, just we will be going to our respected regions after this, our six month time is up,”they said as they lowered their head.

“Very well, everyone is excused,” everyone left except Aramis.

“So what are we going to do”he said. I had no idea. I knew that once I let the news out everyone would be treating me like nothing. I started coughing some more I put my hand on my chest to try to grasp some air. But it seemed that the air was slowly escaping me. Aramis slowly rubbed my back. I pushed him away I was still mad at how he examined her.

“For now I have to tell them the truth,I can’t hide this, someone will figure it out,”I explained to him. He didn’t look pleased with the idea. I got up and walked down to morgue part of the castle. It was underneath the castle. I saw Elio’s body there. It seemed like I was reliving the same memory again. But this time I was walking it alone. My legs were made of some type gelatin. I forced myself to the casket and fell to my knees. I sobbed and let the sorrow flood the room.

“You promised that you’d never leave, you promised we would be in this together,” I yelled and bang the casket in desperation as my legs began quivering.

“Why did you leave me alone,”I gasped. I leaned against his casket. I took off my white gloves and got up slowly and stroke his cold pale face.

“I’m not strong enough without you Elio,”I wanted him to come back. I wanted to hear his voice when he was disciplining me. But most of all I wanted to see him behind me. Then the butler entered.

“The boat and all the clans are ready your majesty, the royal white guard shall carry him to the boat,”he explained. I signaled them to come in. I kissed him on the forehead.

“Farewell father, I’ll see you in the stars” I followed out the butler and I saw Aramis. I fell in his arms and he caught me. I felt weak.

“Let’s go to the funeral site,”he comforted me. I leaned in closer and we were followed by the the white royal guard. We got out of the castle and my clan were reunited outside. Everyone had their heads down as the casket passed behind me. I snapped my fingers so Aramis could transform as we exited out the dome. He did swiftly without anyone noticing his changing form. The weird thing I had noticed about his transformation was that his bones didn’t crack, It didn’t seemed painful. As we walked on the barren tundra. The night was shining bright. When spring came I knew that the clouds would come and the night sky would be gone. We got to where everyone was. Everyone was transformed in their wolf forms. I grabbed the torch that was embedded on the ground. It was tradition that we burned the Lunas, the Great Kings and the Betas,for it symbolized as a new beginning. My mother was the exception. My Father loved her so much so she was buried in a graveyard close to Riven’s territory. Aramis stood behind me. The white royal guard put the casket on the boat.

“May we remember you in our hearts not only as our royal beta but as a friend,” I said.

“You were also a father to me when I needed you most, so with this fire may it symbolize as a deep scar in our hearts,” I slowly lowered the torch onto the boat and the royal white guard pushed the boat. I saw as the boat caught on fire and slowly started breaking apart. The ember made everyone howled at the moon and the northern lights. I saw gray smoke go up to the sky. I walked back to the castle with Aramis on my side and everyone parading behind me. We walked to the throne room. I sat in the throne.

“I have news to give out so please listen,”My clan entered as well.

“Tomorrow shall take place the new years ball, but sadly my reign is coming to a end,”I explained. Everyone was unsettled.

“I have come in contact of terminal illness, therefore my mate will take the throne,”I explained. Everything was in turmoil. Then I heard Alpha Koen bones crack.

“And how can we the people and your clan be safe with a Lycan your majesty,”Koen came up to the throne.

“EVERYONE here knows how a Lycan Wolf can go mad for power, HOW this menace of a wolf to all the clans caused destruction and drove the extinction to all the packs in the desert,” Aramis growled at his remark. It was true what he was saying. Aramis’ great grandfather was power hungry and killed all the remainder packs in the desert until my great grandfathers stopped his reign of terror. Sadly we the royals were too late. It only took a day for a Lycan single handily to take a full army out. I tapped my staff. I could see Aramis’ family had hid a lot of things from the future generations. Sadly I had a scroll that supported the claims that Koen, Hugo, and Eryx had.

“ENOUGH,”I screamed. I coughed out some blood and stain the gray part of the shirt with blood. Everyone calmed down except Aramis. I started petting him.

“I will assure everyone that you will be safe with the Lycan, have I ever been distrustful,”I looked at everyone. Everyone looked calmed.

“Selene is dead and as her vessel I would not let anyone or my clan be in harm, so please I beg of you and my clan to trust my word,” I rose my hand. Everyone who was still human rose there hands and the wolves howled. Then one of the Royal court Charlie transformed.

“I would also address a new a law that’s going to be made after tomorrow, that’ll ease the Queen, she will have her reign secured until her very last breath so the future King Alpha can be challenged and if one of you defeat the Lycan King the throne will be yours after the Queen passes on,”I smiled at him. At least Charlie understood how important this was for Elio.

“Those are all the announcements, I will reunite one last time with the royal court and the other clans,”I dismissed everyone. Everyone was storming out the castle. This was the first and last time I would reveal my identity. I was scared. Aramis nuzzled me.

“Go back to your room and change I have a lot of work ahead of me you can go plan the wedding,” I explained to him. He transformed.

“But aren’t we going to talk with that girl,”he asked me..

“I will deal with that, I just,”I took a deep breath. He kissed me softly. I backed away a tiny bit.

“I understand, well I will see you in the hidden forbidden area?”I giggled a bit and nodded. He walked away. I slowly started getting to the room that she was in. Of course there were guards outside of her room. Luckily this room didn’t have windows or else she’d escape. The guards bowed and let me through.

“Ah emo queen came,”she exclaimed. Her vulgar language irritated me. I sat down and order the guards to close the door.

“Why do I have babysitters out my room? It’s not like I’m going to run away or tell,”she tried to say and I flicked my hand to shut her up.

“So tell me how did you find this place,”I asked.

“My adoptive parents told me about something about how they found me and I accidentally stepped in a huge mansion,”she explained.

“Don’t tell me this is some type of cult,”I could smell her fear. She moved her hands a lot for someone like her. Then I saw she was fiddling with a gold necklace. It seemed familiar.

“I want to see that necklace you have,”I said.

“NO it’s been with me since I was born,”she snarked. She had a explosive attitude. I extended my hand.

“You want answers or not, I’ve let you in the castle gave you hospitality, and let you insult my name SO show me the bloody necklace,”I glared at her. She took off the necklace. It was the emblem of the royal wolf clan. Which meant she had the same blood as mine.

“So what does this mean,”she asked. She was desperate and afraid.

“You wouldn’t believe me, but if you want answers come with me outside,” I said. I snapped the guards to come.

“I’m not going with your dumb guards,”she said.

“Fine very well,” my blood was boiling with impatience I had for her. I got up and she followed me out the the room.

“I want you to give aid to the southern village, and to the clan,”they bowed and left. We walked around the corner. And then we got outside. I summoned Riven to come through my mind canal. He came as soon as possible. He bowed to me.

“So there are some things you won’t understand, it’s normal for humans to not understand,”I explained to her. My servants came and gave a black cape with a hood as the snow was entering the dome. I still had my staff with me. I slowly tapped the snow and ice and made Riven transform. His bones popped and his snout grew bigger. His clothes turned into shreds. She was surprised and looked at me.

“SO your telling me I’m not human,”she said enthusiastically.

“Technically your a lost duchess, a royal wolf,” I explained. Riven went to me and nuzzled me. I petted him. Then we heard a thud. Riven transformed slowly. He was old.

“I think that wasn’t a way to approach this my lady,”he said.

“I know but at least it made shut her up,”I said. The guards behind me came and picked her up.

“Take her to her room, have one of the royal court ready to explain to her ,”I explained to the guards.

“Your majesty I think it be best if Aramis was there to talk to her,”I glared at Riven. I felt he was questioning my decisions. Aramis looked at Ruzena like a priced jewel. He examined her bodied when I first saw him.

“HAVE you seen how he looks at her,”I felt threaten by that remark.

“I know, but if he was your mate he wouldn’t cheat on you your majesty,”what Riven stated was correct. I needed to prove Aramis’ love and loyalty to me.

“Aramis’ knows of this vulgar language, I know he grew up with these humans, so who better would give her a warm welcome,”I growled.

“Fine I will tell him,”I ordered the guard to go take her back. I didn’t know Aramis grew around humans. It didn’t seem like it. His wolf was fully intact. It was wild and terrifying.

“I will be heading back Queen Alpha,”he bowed and left. I walked back with some guards behind me to my office area.

“Get Aramis,”I sat in the office chair. The guard bowed and left. I was stressed and I didn’t know how to deal with anyone with my loss. When my mom died I had dad and Elio to lean on. But when my father died Elio decided to hide me away. I thought that the reason of him hiding me was because I was the next target, or maybe my father ordered him. I could sometimes lean on Elio when I needed to but I only had my mate. I broke crying on my desk. I wanted to make the rogues suffer, I wanted to kill each one. I thought I killed the leader but it seemed they got a new leader. I wondered who it was. Then the royal physician and scientist came.

“I didn’t order you to come, whats this about,”I glared at them.

“Your majesty we wanted to know the cause of death of the beta,”the doctor explained.

“HE got murdered,”I coughed.

“But your majesty Elio was in great condition, a silver bullet would of but it would’ve tooken at least two bullets or your grandfather’s gun,”the scientist said. I glared at the doctor. I didn’t want my father’s death be blurted in front of me.

“The council had decided it be best-,”I raised my hand silenced the doctor.

“Then explain how Elio died,”I said. The scientist put on some gloves. And pulled a clear plastic bag out and grabbed the smallest bullet I seen. It was a sliver ball. But it was hollowed. It seemed it exploded as a bomb. And inside it seemed black blood.

“Lycan Blood,”they explained.

“H-how, my family made it illegal to sell Lycan blood, the beta’s had always checked what everyone sells and buys, and wouldn’t we heard the bullet,”I looked away.

“I think the rogues developed some what of a weapon to shoot far and silently, or one of the rogues got close,”he said.

“There is also a report of missing Lycans, we recovered it from a Rogue we captured,”I was frozen with fear. Then I heard fighting outside. And someone stormed in. It was the rainforest region two of the bigger tribes. I looked at them. When they hit the floor the room shook with my body as well. The guards separated them.

“Your majesty, I CAN explain,”João exclaimed.

“I DID NOTHING TO YOUR DAUGHTER,”Davi yelled.

“Your majesty he’d kidnapped MY daughter, AND the females of my TRIBE,” João. I opened my mouth but for a second the words were mute.

“How could you know it was Red Rossa,” I looked at João. I wanted to fix this as soon as possible so I could to talk Aramis about the visitor even though I didn’t want to. Something was off the way he looked at her. Kenzo came in. I smiled at him I needed the support. I knew Aramis was outside.

“I got word that my men saw some of his MEN attack my tribe,”João explained.

“OH PLEASE JOÃO it was night WHAT IF IT WAS THE ROGUES, YOUR MEN ATTACKED MY TRIBE IN THE MORNING,”João slapped him. I hit my desk.

“Stop PLEASE, who knows who stole all of the females from the Red Rossa and Nanaki so please refrain from starting a war,”I explained. They growled at each other. Normally the rainforest clans are peaceful, they get provoked when no authorized war happens.

“WE will talk about it about tomorrow,” I dismissed everyone but Kenzo.

“You can tell Aramis to come in now,”I massaged my forehead. Everything was going downhill. Aramis came in with Kenzo.

“You called me princess,”he tried kissing my forehead. I pushed him away.

“Hey why are you so pushy,”I ignored him.

“I felt how sexually aroused you felt with her,”I mumbled a tiny bit. Kenzo’s eyes opened wide and looked over to Aramis. Aramis tried to keep his laugh in. I wasn’t amused.

“I wasn’t aroused,”he said jokingly. I could see Kenzo was fidgeting with his back pockets. He knew something.

“Well Riven was offering an idea,”I said.

“And what is it,”he sat on my desk. Riven was right he had a lot of vulgar behavior.

“T-that you give her a nice warm welcome and that you teach her our ways,”I said. I hoped he said no.

“Sure why not,”he said. I blinked several times to see if I was dreaming.

“S-sure? You will have less time with me,” I tried bringing up. My jealously sparks were jolting out.

“But you will become busy during these few weeks, but don’t worry, we still have night time to hang out,”he explained. Sadly he wasn’t wrong but I enjoyed his office visits. I sighed and looked away. He came closer to me and picked me up.

“HEY what are you doing, PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT,”I exclaimed. I coughed a bit. I was over his shoulder.

“Kenzo clear my schedule tonight, Goldie seems to be in her jealous moodiness time,”I was banging on his back. But instead of causing him harm I kind of hurt myself with my punches. His back was probably made of steel.

“Um Aramis you literally don’t do anything,”he sighed. I grunted.

“Well clear all my phone calls,”he said and started walking to my parents rooms.

“ARAMIS LET ME GO,”at this point I thought he was annoying. As walked the halls down I could see the black curtains and wooden boards were taken down. All the doors seemed new. As we entered the master suite it was all clean and decorated. There rose petals everywhere. My mother’s painting seemed like he had taken it somewhere else. There were also candles everywhere.

“I wanted you to do a small surprise,”he said. I was impressed. He started to kneel on one knee. I was confused. Then he took out a ring.

“Will you marry me,”he asked. I laughed.

“But we are getting married,”I said with laughter.

“I just want to make it official,”he explained.

“Then my answer is yes,”he smiled and hugged me tight.

“To be honest Aramis you have told me very little about yourself,”I was in a tight embrace. He sat down and pulled me to bed.

“Some people say you raised yourself with humans but how exactly,”I wanted to him to answers my questions about his past. I stared at his hazel eyes. He stood there blank. I felt his heart pounding. Tears were flooding.

“Aramis?”

“I-I’m,”he tried saying. I tried shaking him. But nothing seemed to get him out his trance.