Ashes of Crown end Claws

Chapter 4

Lumina woke up from the stinging breeze of the morning. She creased her brows and at up. When she looked around, she was at her cottage, a piece of wood placed over her.

She searched her bag immediately, the rabbit was gone

“That beast…did it eat the poor rabbit?” she got up and searched under the wood.

She saw a pile of wood and leaves close by, when she checked, the rabbit was there, asleep. She scooped the rabbit in her arms before walking away.

“Lumina!” Lai called from a distance

“Where on earth did you run off to?” she asked

“I went to the cottage to grab somethings”

“You got half of the village looking for you” Lai grabbed her arm along.

Lumina was back at Calista’s house, hanging laundry after a meal. She glanced back at the rabbit with Imara, a soft smile appeared on her face. At least, she could save the poor thing from the wolves.

The gates dashed open immediately, Lumina peeped from behind the clothes. A group of palace soldiers marched in, Imara ran to Lumina and stood behind her.

“Is there a problem misters?” Lumina asked, Lai and Aurora coming out of the house.

“Search everywhere” the leader commanded

“What are you doing?” Lumina stopped them “What do you want?”

“Little thief, do you think we wouldn’t find out?” the leader gave a smirk “Search”

The soldiers shoved Lumina aside as she collided to the ground.

Calista came in and saw the guards

“What is going on here?” she asked

“Old lady, your girl stole a royal item” he said

“Steal? I didn’t steal anything” Lumina stood in her defense

A guard marched out

“Retrieved!” he announced, holding up a golden ornament. Everyone in the courtyard gasped

“I didn’t do it” she said

“Guards” the leader called, two men held Lumina at both sides

“Nonsense, why Lumina? She isn’t the only girl on my court” Calista said

“A witness led us to her, if you have anything to say, say It to the King himself” he said as the men dragged Lumina outside.

“Stop!” she struggled “I didn’t steal it” she dashed her heels against the foot of the guard.

He slapped her immediately before lifting her over his shoulders into the wagon.

Lumina was held by both guards in the wagon as they headed towards the palace.

The wagon went through the giant gates of the palace, royal guards standing at each side. Lumina looked around, she had only seen the palace from a distance.

“Get out” the guard pulled her from the wagon, dragging her violently into the palace.

The stone statue of the king and other kings that have ruled over the kingdom surrounded the palace grounds. Four fountains with a lion statue which water flowed out of their mouth stood at the four corners of the yard, royal guards moving around and keeping watch as she walked along the stone floor into the palace.

The heavy doors pushed open, a sense of warmth settled gently on her skin. Giant pillars and carpet spread all the way to the grand staircase. The inside looked almost unreal. Lumina looked up at the huge lights hanging from the top, laminating over the room.

“Stay” the stern voice of the guard cut through her awe.

The guards fell on a knee immediately they heard the boots clicking on the stone.

The guard forced Lumina down immediately, keeping her gaze down

“Your Highness” they chorused at once. Lumina attempted to lift her head but the guard held her down.

“Who do we have here?” the King spoke

“Your highness. After getting the report from the villagers, we traced and retrieved the ornament at Calista’s cottage” the guard said

“Calista? Who is that?” the Queen asked

“An old lady at the village square”

“Look at me, young lady” The King’s deep voice echoed through the room.

Lumina looked at King, seated on his throne, the Queen also seated beside him

“Do you know the weight of your crime?” he asked

“What crime? I didn’t steal anything” she said

The guard immediately whipped her on the back. Lumina screamed.

The King held his hand up, the guard stepped back

“You don’t have to admit it. Judgement is upon you already” he said

“Your highness! You can’t just put me to judgement before looking into it properly. I lived in the village my whole life, I don’t know my way around here” she said

“Are you calling me something else?” the King thundered

“No, your highness. Please” she held her hand together.

The Queen’s eyes fell on the scars on Lumina

“What are those scars on your body?” she asked

Lumina looked at herself, then covered it up.

No one had survived the beast, not even the strong men of the kingdom. If she told them she had survived it, they’d either laugh at her or suspect she is the beast and probably kill her

“My former master used to beat me” she lowered her voice

“Why? Did you steal too?” she asked.

Lumina looked up at the Queen

“I don’t steal, I’ve never done that” she said

“That doesn’t change anything that the ornament was found in your belongings” the King said

“For this, you will be…” the king was cut off by the presence of someone else.

“Your Majesty” the guards lowered their heads towards the grand stairway.

Lumina looked up to the stairway, the lights blurring her vision, but she could see someone standing there.

“Son, what are you doing out?” The Queen asked.

He stepped downwards to the grand floor in his silk, white, clean robes. His white hair fallen over his shoulder, a golden belt hung around his waist.

Lumina finally saw his face. For a while, their eyes remained connected. He looked young yet older than Lumina looked. He held his hands behind him then stood beside the king’s throne

“I heard there was a palace lifter so I thought if you would give me the chance to oversee this” he said

The Queen looked at the King for a second. The King cleared his throat then-

“Lock her up for now” he told the guards.

As soon as they left, the king got up

“You’re never interested in political affairs” he said, walking by the portraits on the wall as the prince followed behind

“Zephyr darling, are you sure you want to do this?’ his mother asked

“One day, I’ll be the King over this kingdom, it is high time I learnt how to rule like father” he said.

The king nodded in affirmation before turning to look at the prince

“What is your judgement over it then, since you have heard about the issue” he looked at the prince in the eye.

Lumina was thrown into the dungeon before the iron bars shut still

“I didn’t steal whatever that was, let me out” she shook the gates but they turned to leave anyways, leaving Lumina with the candle

“At least they were nice to leave a candle” she slid down the walls

“Imara” she sighed.

It got cold at night, Lumina curled up on the brazen floor then she remembered Aveline again. she sat up and took out the book from beneath her dress.

She flipped through it, one page after the other. She saw the gates Aveline drew when Lumina told her the dream.

Lumina heard the dungeon gates open as she quickly hid the note. She looked to see who it was and behold- the prince.

“Your highness, I mean your majesty, I really didn’t steal it” she held onto the bars

“What proof do you have?” he asked

“I don’t have a proof, but I…”

“Tomorrow is the feast of the beast” he cut in “Do you know what happens on that day?” he looked down at her with his blue eyes

Lumina shook her head

“Offenders are thrown into the beast’s den” he said “And look around, how many of them do you see?” he asked.

Lumina looked around “me?”

“Brace yourself” the prince turned to leave

“Your majesty! Please! Hold on, you can’t do this” she shook the gates violently but the candle faded at the tunnel.

Lumina fell to the floor, panic running over her

“Is this how I die? What’s with me and beasts?” her eyes stung with tears as she stared at the candle almost fading out

“I don’t want to die” she cried, then the fire went out.

---------

The loud sound of drums and chatters and cheers filled the palace grounds. Lumina got up from where she slept. She was sure it was day but she couldn’t see if it was.

She remembered the celestial with her but then, it had been long since she felt it. Ever since the beast incident, the presence hadn’t been around her

“Useless guardian, never there when you need” she kicked the dirt on the floor.

In the upper room of the palace, Zephyr stood by the window, the curtain partly opened. His eyes fixed on the whole of Neven.

A knock banged on the door

“Zephyr darling!” the Queen called. He wore a smile before opening up

“Is there a problem mother?” he asked

“Son, I was wondering if maybe you’ll be showing up to the guests today since you don’t normally do that. I mean it’d be nice if you do” she said.

Zephyr’s expression remained unreadable

“Why? Is something special happening today?” he asked

The Queen sighed

“It’s your first time passing a judgement, of course you have to join us at the table” she said

“Whatever you say” he said

“Thank you darling” she reached for his face

“Shouldn’t you be with the King?” he asked

“Oh! You could have just said no” she walked away. As soon as she was out

of sight, Zephyr’s face turned ice cold again.

Lumina drowned in her own thoughts of what her fate was tonight

“Dear universe, dear all the Gods of the kingdom, if I get eaten by this beast, let the royal family get eaten too” she pleaded

“Who am I kidding?” she sat on the floor and awaited what was coming.

The festival lasted till the night, the music and chatters echoed through the dungeon.

Lumina had fallen asleep. Her eyes snapped open when she heard the iron bars of the dungeon move

“Move it little thief” the guard grabbed her by the arm out of the dungeon.

Lumina barely used her feet as they pulled along through the corridors.

Lumina was bound around her chest with her arms with ropes, tight enough to cease her breath.

Like butchered meat in the market, Lumina was displayed in front of everyone. She looked around and saw the prince sipping like he had no care in life. He looked almost unreal and clean, even the way he spoke those unmerciful words, still sounded pleasant.

The King addressed the nobles seated about Lumina, the grave crime she committed and her judgement.

Lumina knew all hope was gone especially when the people nodded their drunken heads to the judgement passed by the prince.

Apparently, every three months of the year, an offender is sacrificed to the beast in plea to stop terrorizing the people.

Lumina scoffed

“Do you even have any idea people are dying because of this so called beast you keep sacrificing people to?” she mumbled. Except it was a different one, then she was doomed.

Lumina was escorted to the dark pit they believed led to the beast. According to the king, before past prisoners had landed, they’d been devoured by the beast.

Lumina kept her gaze on the one who had pronounced the judgement on her, he kept sipping from a cup, barely turning his neck to see. Lumina remained bound. Below her was the pitch dark pit.

Cold swept through her skin as she swallowed.

The first drum banged, the court witch called made some enchantment. The second banged, the people roared.

Lumina fought to keep her eyes open as a tear slid down her face. The third drum banged-

The wood beneath her feet gave way. She dropped in. her scream echoing through the dark. Festival drums began to play as the people continued their feast.

The prince got up and stepped away for the night

“Son, why don’t you stay a little longer?” the Queen asked

“I have had enough wine for the night” his voice was low and calm.

The prince disappeared into the building alone, up into his chamber.

Lumina’s eyes opened gradually. She was alive at least for now. She moved against the cold stone floor and got up, leaping on a leg.

Above, the moon shone down to the pit, she looked around as she wrapped her hands around her arms. It was freezing cold.

For a moment, she didn’t hear anything nor see anything

“Is this real?” she shivered through her words.

A distant thump, the water in the potholes shook. Lumina caught sight of a shadow. It was here- her doom.

Lumina stood behind a rock and peeped behind it to see. It roamed around, snarling and growling, its giant feet shaking the earth beneath it.

Lumina stayed down, her hands clutching her clothes. She looked back and it was…gone.

She peeped over the rock, there was no beast. She stepped out still bent over hoping to make it to the rocky stairway leading upwards.

She turned around without looking then her body hit something. There was no rock as tall as that.

She swallowed before shifting her eyes towards it. The dragon like creature stood there, its eyes settled deep on Lumina

“Oh God!” she whispered. It raised its claw to strike her but Lumina was quick to dodge. She took to her heels as it

ran behind it.

A nameless creature. A scary hybrid. It had the head of a dragon but the feet or a tiger. Furless.

Its head shoved Lumina aside. She rolled away and got up soon to run again. its tail slammed her against the wall

“Argh!” Lumina cried, unable to move. She held her back in pain as the creature walked towards her, its shadow looming over her gradually.

It looked different from the one in the forest but then she noticed the symbol on its forehead. The beast in the forest had the same one.

Lumina shrunk next to the wall, shielding her face from looking.

For a moment, there was stillness in the cave

Lumina looked up to see the beast still looking at her.

Lumina’s hands lowered as the beast reached out its claw on her shoulder. It tore through her skin.

Lumina couldn’t shout but tears wouldn’t hold back. The beast took a few steps backward.

Little lights like snowflakes began appearing, the multiplied with time.

Lumina looked around in awe of what was happening.

The lights surrounded the beast till it became almost like a shield around it.

Soon they began to fly and fade away but something was different. The image forming before her wasn’t enormous.

It was getting smaller by the second.

Lumina looked carefully and when it all came to one image before her. Her jaw dropped. Her shoulders fell.

Her eyes were fixed squarely on the image before her. In white flowy silk robes, white long hair fallen over his shoulders, white fan in his hand. And-

Blue eyes.

“Your Majesty?” Lumina called.