The Monster and His Queen

Chapter 21

"Wake up. We have a problem."

Elaria struggled up from sleep, confused and disoriented. Sunlight streamed through the windows. Draven was already out of bed, pulling on clothes with urgent movements.

"What's wrong?" She sat up, pulling the sheets around herself.

"Selene escaped from the dungeons. Sometime during the night." Draven's expression was grim. "And she took three guards with her—all dead. Killed by shadow magic."

That woke Elaria completely. "How is that possible? She's not void-touched. She can't command shadows."

"She can now. Or something can through her." Draven threw her a robe. "Get dressed. Your father is calling an emergency council meeting."

Fifteen minutes later, they were in the small council chamber. King Zarek sat at the head of the table, looking exhausted. Captain Ryver stood beside him, reporting on the escape.

"The guards' throats were slit by shadow blades. The cell door was torn off its hinges by what looks like void magic." Ryver's voice was tight with controlled anger. "We have patrols searching the city, but she could be anywhere by now."

"She had help," Amariel said from her position near the window. "Shadow magic requires either natural ability or a pact with a void entity. Selene had neither when she was imprisoned."

"Meaning something marked her while she was in the dungeons," Draven concluded. "Something gave her power in exchange for... what?"

"Revenge, probably," King Tavian said. He'd been invited to the meeting given the threat concerned both kingdoms. "A woman scorned is dangerous enough. A woman scorned with void magic is lethal."

"She'll come after us," Elaria said. "After me specifically. This is all because I took what she thought was hers."

"Let her come," Draven said darkly. "She won't survive the attempt."

"We can't just wait for her to attack," Zarek said. "We need to find her first. Captain Ryver, expand the search to the surrounding countryside. Check every building, every hiding place."

"There's more," Ryver said reluctantly. "The bodies of Lord Marek and fifteen other conspirators were found in their cells this morning. All dead. All bearing the same shadow blade marks."

Silence fell over the council chamber.

"She killed them all," Elaria breathed. "Eliminated everyone who could testify against her."

"Or someone killed them to tie up loose ends," Amariel suggested. "The Void King made a deal with you yesterday, but that doesn't mean he's the only void entity with interests here. There are others. Smaller, hungrier, looking for opportunities."

"You're saying something else is loose in my city?" Zarek's voice was dangerously quiet. "Something that can apparently grant void powers to humans?"

"It's possible. The barrier between worlds is thinner now after yesterday's manifestation. Things could slip through."

Martha entered the chamber without knocking, her face pale. "Your Majesties, we have another problem. Princess Saphira is missing."

Elaria shot to her feet. "What?"

"She didn't come to breakfast. Her maids went to check on her and found her chambers empty. Her bed hadn't been slept in." Martha's hands shook slightly. "There was a note on her pillow."

She handed a piece of paper to King Zarek. His expression darkened as he read it.

"What does it say?" Elaria demanded.

Zarek passed her the note. In elegant handwriting, it read:

An eye for an eye. You took what was mine, so I'll take what's yours. Come find her before the shadows consume her completely. Alone. Or the little princess dies screaming.

"It's a trap," Draven said immediately. "She wants to separate you from me. Weaken the bond."

"I don't care. That's my sister." Elaria's voice was steel. "Where does she want to meet?"

"The old ruins outside the city. The ones everyone says are cursed." Zarek stood. "You're not going alone."

"If I don't, Saphira dies."

"If you do, you both die." The king looked at Draven. "Can you track her through the shadows? Follow without being detected?"

"Possibly. But if whatever entity gave Selene her power is watching, it will sense me." Draven's jaw tightened. "Unless..."

"Unless what?" Elaria asked.

"Unless we split. You go to the ruins like she demands. But you take the vial Amariel gave you—the void essence. If things go wrong, if you need power, drink it." He looked at Amariel. "How long would the effect last?"

"Ten minutes, maybe fifteen. Enough to fight, to escape. But the cost—"

"Is acceptable if it means staying alive," Draven finished. He turned to Elaria. "I'll follow through the shadow realm, staying just out of sight. If she springs her trap, if whatever entity she's working with shows itself, I'll be there."

"This is insane," King Tavian said. "You're walking into an obvious ambush."

"Do you have a better idea?" Elaria challenged. "Because I'm open to suggestions that don't involve letting my sister die."

Tavian was silent.

"Then we go with the insane plan," Zarek said. "But you take guards. Hidden, at a distance, but present. Captain Ryver, select your best men."

"What about me?" Martha asked. "I know those ruins. I know the old magic there. Let me come."

"You can barely walk up stairs without getting winded," Zarek said, but not unkindly. "You're too old for this."

"I'm old enough to know when dark magic is at play. And that girl is going to need all the help she can get." Martha's expression was stubborn. "I'm going."

After more argument, it was decided. Elaria would ride to the ruins with a small group, Martha, Captain Ryver, and six guards. They would stay back while she went forward to meet Selene. Draven would follow through the shadow realm. Amariel would stay at the palace to maintain protective wards in case this was a distraction for a larger attack.

As everyone dispersed to prepare, Draven pulled Elaria aside into an alcove.

"I don't like this," he said, cupping her face in his hands. "Everything about this screams trap."

"I know. But Saphira—"

"I know. She's your sister. You love her. You'll do anything to save her." His thumbs stroked her cheekbones. "Just promise me you'll be careful. That you'll drink the void essence if you need to. That you'll let me help you."

"I promise." Elaria rose on her toes to kiss him. Through the bond, she felt his fear for her, his need to keep her safe. "I love you."

"I love you too. Which is why if Selene hurts you, I'm going to make her death very, very slow."

Despite the situation, Elaria smiled. "My violent shadow prince."

"Your violent shadow prince," he corrected. "Now go. Get ready. And Elaria? Don't die. I'd be very annoyed if I had to go to the void realm to drag your soul back."

"I'll try not to inconvenience you."

One hour later, Elaria rode through the city gates with her small group. The ruins were five miles north, in a section of forest that people avoided. Stories said the ruins were all that remained of an ancient temple to dark gods, destroyed centuries ago but never truly abandoned.

As they rode, Martha moved her horse closer to Elaria's.

"I need to tell you something," the old woman said quietly. "About the ruins. About what you might face there."

"I'm listening."

"The temple that once stood there wasn't dedicated to dark gods. It was dedicated to void entities. It was a place where humans and void creatures could communicate, trade, make bargains." Martha's eyes were distant with memory. "When I was young, when I was first marked with shadow magic, I went there seeking answers. I met... something. Something that offered me power in exchange for service."

"Did you take the deal?"

"No. I was too afraid. But I've always wondered what would have happened if I had." Martha looked at Elaria seriously. "If there's an entity there, if Selene made a pact in that place, it will be powerful. Ancient. Not like the Void King—smaller, hungrier, more desperate."

"How do I fight something like that?"

"You don't fight it. You negotiate. You're a priestess daughter. You have the bloodline, the ability to speak with void entities. Use that." Martha pressed something into Elaria's hand, a small crystal that glowed faintly. "This will show you the truth of what you're facing. The entity will try to deceive you, make itself appear stronger or weaker than it really is. The crystal cuts through illusions."

"Thank you."

They reached the edge of the forest. The ruins were visible through the trees, crumbling stone walls covered in vines, a few remaining pillars that reached toward the sky like accusing fingers.

"We'll wait here," Captain Ryver said. "As soon as you need us, signal. We'll come running."

Elaria dismounted and walked toward the ruins alone. With each step, the temperature seemed to drop. The shadows between the trees grew darker, thicker, moving wrong.

Through the bond, she felt Draven nearby, tracking her through the shadow realm. His presence was a comfort, a reminder she wasn't truly alone.

She entered the ruins through what had once been the main entrance. Inside, the devastation was more apparent, shattered altars, broken statues, walls covered in symbols that hurt to look at directly.

And in the center, bound to a pillar with shadow chains, was Saphira.

"Elaria!" her sister cried out. "Don't come closer! It's a trap!"

"I know, sweetie. I'm here anyway." Elaria moved forward carefully. "Where's Selene?"

"Right here," a voice said from above.