Rain Of Fire - Book 3 of Infernal War Trilogy

Chapter 2

Rhaena opens the chamber door of her sister without knocking. When she got inside she was expecting the servants would be inside, instead, she found the room empty. A small gagging noise was heard before the sour scent of puke registered in her nostrils. She followed the noise that led to the washing area and found her sister seated on the floor while leaning her elbows on the edge of a huge basin.

Elaena turned to look up and she let out a deep breath when she looked at Rhaena staring at her with wide eyes. 

“I’m with child,” She said before her sister could even ask a question. “And, the father is Jehaerys.”

“Seven save us,” Rhaena said under her breath. This is the first time she utters the name of seven. Because she always told herself that she did not need anyone’s help.

“We got married by the old temple,” She said honestly. As expected she saw the pain and jealousy in her sister’s eyes, and she immediately regretted telling her. But, she swore that she will be honest to the people she cares about.

“I suspected, and now I’m sure. I’m happy for you,” She said. Despite the pain she’s feeling in her chest, she couldn’t deny that she’s happy for her sister.

“Thank you. I don’t know how I’m going to tell the cabinet councils about this. After all that happened, I don’t know how they will take it after knowing that I had married the son of our enemy and now I’m carrying his child inside me.” She mutters in a small voice.

“You’re a Queen and they are just your councils. A Queen does not ask, she commands and her subject will obey those commands whether they like it or not.” Rhaena said and sat next to her on the floor.

“Now, you just fulfilled your duty as Queen. You have ensured the line of our House with this child. I will be by your side no matter what happens.”Her hand was on Elaena’s stomach. As if she can sense the child inside.

“Thank you, Rhaena.” She said and put her hand on top of hers. 

“Now, I have the duty to make sure you and your child are safe.” She said, eyeing the dark shadows underneath her eyes. Telling her that she hasn’t been sleeping. She helped her sister get dressed. She chose a black dress with loose sleeves. It has a silk material to make Elaena comfortable. She braided her hair after combing it while she was seated in front of her dresser table. Elizabeth looked at her sister through the mirror, and she suddenly wondered if Rhaena had someone who used to comb her hair the way Seline did to her and if she had any mother figure in her life.

“You know when I was little, Nikolas would brush my hair and did his best to style it. It was really messy and I looked ridiculous.” She laughed as she remembered that hilarious moment when she felt like killing him. Because the other noble ladies in Sandsteels made fun of her. 

“You’re lucky to have Nikolas by your side. Elliot and I, before King Pol discovered me. We always fight about everything. Because he likes to spend his time at the Tavern rather than help me sell the herbs in the market.” Elizabeth reminisces about the time when things were still normal. Where she doesn’t have to slay demons and her only enemy was her brother and not a Tyrant King who murdered her real parents. Now that Jeorne is under her leash, she doesn’t know anymore who is her real enemy. The mother who took care of her is being held hostage and the mother who gave birth to her is somewhere only Jeorne knows.

Rhaena noticed the frown on her face. “Do you miss your normal life?” 

She shook her head, “My life has never been normal to begin with. I just found out the truth but it never changes a single thing about me. I am still who I am. Regardless of my real name.”

Rhaena grinned, “Yes, you’re still the annoying girl who visited me under the Academy in the Cell.”

“How about you? Do you miss your life in Sandsteel?” Elaena asked her. She rose from the chair and turned to face her.

Rhaena shook her head, “No. I always felt like an outsider in our uncle’s court. He just wants to keep me there because I have silver hair, not because I am his niece. That’s why when I heard that Jeorne beheaded him, I actually felt good.”

“Nikolas told me that he was horrible to him. Treated him like a mere servant.” 

“King Faulan was beyond horrible. I hope he rot in the pits of hell.” Rhaena burst out laughing.

“How about our uncle Orwyn?”

She stopped laughing. Elizabeth could see the hesitant in her eyes. “He has his own ways of loving me. Good thing he wasn’t able to marry, or else he would have made a horrible father to his child.”

“Was he that horrible to you?”

“As you know it. He was an ambitious man. He’s so hellbent to train me hard and making sure that the only goal I would desire was taking back our father’s throne. Since then I never knew what I really want, because every day the only that was flooding my mind was the Infernal Throne.” Yet now, everything changes for her. The only thing she wanted right now is to be with her sister and protect her and the child inside her.

“And, what do you want right now?”

Rhaena looked at her and thrust her hand inside her pocket. Keeping it from trembling. “Right now? I want peace. Though I don’t think that’s possible. With everything that is going on, we don’t even know the real enemy. All we know is that we’re about to be wiped out from existence.” 

Relieve flashes over Elaena, not because of what she said. But because she might have understood why she couldn't pass the death sentence of Jeorne.

“That is the reason why I can’t sign his execution.” She mutters. “It’s because he’s the only person who we’re facing.”

Without asking who she was talking about Rhaena knew already that they were talking about Jeorne. The weather suddenly went cold and the atmosphere went stale.

“Elizabeth, Jeorne must die!” Rhaena’s voice was stern and left no room for discussion.

“And, he shall die. Once we defeated this Celarion Queen.”

“You mean, the mother of your husband?”

Elizabeth took a sharp breath, “I had no idea that he’s Athalia’s son until he was gone, Rhaena.”

“Of course, you don’t.”

There was a soft knock against the door. Caroline entered and curtsey to Elizabeth before she realized that she just interrupted the two sisters from arguing. “The Cabinet Council awaits you,” She says.

“Tell the Lord Commander to bring the prisoner to the Council room.” Elizabeth commanded and walked past her sister.