Elmira Sielstone: The Empress

Chapter Twenty-Two

The three Royalties were inside the Royal Office which they had already fixed with their Qaraths, the day after the explosion that had happened inside.

"You're sister, Elmira…" The Queen started as she's looking towards her son, full of nervousness, as she had finally had the courage to talk about Alexis' sister who he had known, had died years ago, after days of fighting her fear as Elmira had told her to say everything to him, without leaving any single lie about her.

"She... She didn't die from those people." She said, hesitating to let him know, because she'll know what he would feel if he ever learned about her true status.

"What do you mean? There's another reason for her death?" He asked, looking at her.

The King was just listening beside the Queen, as he was letting her to explain everything to their Son, The Prince of the land, Harzenia.

"No. I mean… she… she d-didn't die… at all." She said, staring at the table in front of her, holding her hands so tight under it, to try to stop the tremble of her hands. She's still nervous, but as Elmira had ordered her to tell everything to him, she's left out with no choice, just to tell him, and besides, it's her fault as to why Alexis had believed for something that is not really true.

Alexis didn't even show any reactions and stayed staring, with his blank expression towards his Mother, whom he was waiting to continue what she was trying to say.

"I'm.. I'm sorry. I should've didn't lure you with a lie. But... But that's the only way I had in mind to explain to your little self what had happened to her." She said. The King held her hand under the table to support her and give her the strength she needed, to explain everything.

"She just... turned seven, when we decided to get her away from danger, as she has no Qaraths. We… We had been trying to hide her in the Palace so no one could see her, as you know, back then, our land was already facing different chaos. Gemus were already on the loose, killing Hazzles." She's still trying to be calm, in order to deliver everything to him clearly, and she's thankful as Alexis didn't even try to intervene with what she was saying, because she wouldn't know what to react if he ever tried to.

"We were all terrified that time, that if they ever found out your sister's existence, without her Qarath, they would kill her, no matter what, and as you know, we don't have the power to counter them, if ever they attacked us. So we have decided to send her away, even if it means not seeing her, we still did it, just for her safety." She said, still not looking at him.

"We sent her to Glith with your Grandparents the day after her seventh birthday. She lived there with them, and that's also the reason behind why your MaRed and PaSmith have been sent to Glith. It's not a mission, but they stayed there for her."

The King could only listen for now, as he lets her do the talking, because he also fears to say something that could get them both in trouble.

"Two days had passed since they had left Harzenia, but you're still staying in your room, crying as you haven't seen her for two days straight which never happened even for once. So I came up with the decision to alter your memory." She's trembling again, her hands were shaking as her nervousness got too hard to hide as it was getting more obvious.

"I wanted you to understand everything even though you're just so young. But I stumbled upon an idea which I had applied to you since I am a mother, and it is better if I put it that way. So I had altered your two days worth of memory. I had given you the memory of playing with her, enjoying the most out of your time with her, and that was your last memory with her, as the second night of your memory became the night that you had changed, a lot. I have let you hear her killers on that night, talking about how she ended up dead, from your memory that I had changed. Because in my point of view, I would rather see you mourning for your sister that isn't really dead, than seeing you miserable in your own space, having the thought of Gemus having known her existence and they got her from you." She had finished speaking, but she didn't even look or glanced at him for once.

"Are you already done?" Alexis suddenly asked her, after everything she had said. She was taken aback by what he had said and it got her attention. She looks up to meet his gaze, staring back at her.

"I'll pretend that I didn't hear anything from you, Mom." He said.

"Alexis." He pushed his chair back, as he stood up, not cutting his eye contact with her Mother.

"Rebecca had asked her family to help us in the South borders, and they had agreed. We'll go there today to meet them, and will be trying to remove the fire after." He said not minding what she had just explained to him, like it didn't even concern him at all. He turned around and faced the door of the office.

"And please. Do not ever talk about her again, and let her rest in peace." He said and walked away from them.

The two were left inside their office, looking at each other's eyes, having their own communication with just staring at each other.

"You still lied to him." Elmira suddenly speaks inside their minds, telling her concern.

She was probably listening the whole time they're telling him the reason behind her going to Glith.

"I told you to tell him everything, without living a single lie, but you still did." She added. There was a sign in her voice that she's very disappointed again with what they have done, as she really is disappointed. It was the best time for them to tell him the truth, but they still lied.

"But you've already done it. And you made your decisions as a Hazzle, so I won't interfere with that. It's not that important anyways. Well, you have explained to him the basics and told him that her sister's alive, so it's fine for now." She said.

"And by the way. You've let Hazzles in Crymph to get back to Southern Qouatilphus. A job well done. But even if you didn't let them go back, they will still insist on returning, so either way of your decision, they will still do what they wanted to."

***

Alexis and Rebecca had arrived in Vainussei using Alexis' teleportation to visit Rebecca's family and be in the borders from Vainussei to control the fire that has been going around for days, killing the forest in between two places of Harzenia.

"Prince Alexis." They all bowed in front of him as a respect for being a Royalty.

They entered the house of the rulers in Vainussei where their office was located. They were received with a warm welcome and let them go to their office.

Their office were fully made of wood as well as their House, but it is neat, and the most beautiful and biggest house in Vainussei.

They sat at a round table inside their office and started their meeting.

"We're very sorry to inform you that we can't help you with that, Your Highness."

"Wait, what?" Rebecca was just listening all the time, beside Alexis, even though it is her own home and Family that they currently have meeting with.

"I thought, we're here so we can prepare with you. Mom. What's this? Dad?" She was raising her voice towards them as she was so disappointed with their sudden change of decision, looking at each and everyone of them.

"Rebecca, we're very sorry, but this is the best that we can do to protect our own Place from other nearby lands." Her Mother said.

"Is that why you were burning down the forest in your borders with Pyrisium?" Alexis asked, calm as he could and trying to act his best to understand them as he is a Prince, and he needed to be very understanding about everything and weigh the reasons out first, before making a plan.

"Yes. And we couldn't risk our people's lives for anything. We're very sorry for putting your hopes up, Your Highness. But we talked about it over night with our people, and no one agreed upon our decision on helping you. They were all against it, as we were the one who told them the trouble that we may encounter if we let the border's open." She explained her very best to let him know the reasons behind their sudden step back from what they had already talked about with Rebecca.

"But you're ruining the forest and the Winxpells' habitat." Alexis told them. "If you continue the fire going on in your borders, it will only put you in danger more. If your only concern is to keep your people safe from harm, and sudden attacks from other lands, I know someone that will give you protection, other than this fire. I will call the person if you agree to help us control the situation there." He said while Rebecca's just looking at him, reading his mind.

"We couldn't make a decision with just ourselves. We need to talk about this with our people first, before giving you an answer, Your Highness." Her Father said.

Rebecca's family is complete inside the room, all were seated in the round table, facing each other.

"Why do you need their approval, if you already make your decisions without telling them? It's not as if they can do anything about your decision if you've already done it." He said, controlling the tone of his voice as he was not used to how Rebecca's Family were ruling their place.

His brows formed a furrow, as he looked in each and everyone of them, until he landed his gaze on Rebecca.

"There's something going on in here." He said in his mind.

"There is. Tell Rebecca to put them all in sleep. I'll be there." Elmira answered him through his mind as she had heard him, and as she was watching them ever since they left the Palace.

"Excuse us, for a moment." Alexis said, and dragged Rebecca out of the room so no one could hear what he had to say.

"I heard it. I mean, I accidentally read your mind." Rebecca said as he didn't even say anything towards her.

"You should stop your mannerism of reading people's mind, Becca. It can be dangerous." He said. "Are you going to do it?"

Rebecca nodded. "I have been feeling the same way ever since we arrived and they started talking about their people, seeking approval. They have never been this way before." She said.

They heard footsteps coming from the other side of the house. They looked around, trying to figure out what's happening, but Rebecca dragged her to somewhere more hidden than where they were.

People were rushing towards the office, getting in, and didn't even close the door. They listened to what they could hear from the open door as they were just near the office.

"We heard you have a visitor, and your Unica Hija came home. Why didn't you told us about this?" A voice of a man was echoing all over the place as he was raging in anger, yelling out his problems.

"Y-yes. It's… it's just so sudden so we didn't have the time to tell you beforehand." Her father was stuttering as he answered the man.

"I told you to tell us everything first before you even accept visitors! Do you really want us to get your positions from you? We can oust you in just a blink of an eye! But I guess you're not even scared of our threats, get them." He commanded his people surrounding him to get them, and they all positioned themselves behind each of them and started pulling them out of their seats.

The two who were hiding, couldn't even know what to do as they were also shocked about what they're hearing. And because Rebecca hasn't been home for the past months, she doesn't know who the people were, threatening her family.

"Find their visitor. I heard it's Alexis, the Prince of Harzenia, and Rebecca. It's a big catch if we get to hold him in our hands. We can get a lot of money from the Palace and maybe, we could get the Palace itself." He said, celebrating his luckiest day in his entire life.

Doors and windows suddenly closed. Everyone turned around and looked for what was happening around them. There was even no wind inside that could get the windows closed so suddenly.

"What's that?" They all had stopped from getting the rulers of Vainussei, turning around, searching for any reason how it happened.

Elmira appeared in front of the two.

They were not surprised by her sudden appearance, but they were surprised at who she was with.

"Gemus." Alexis said as he was looking behind Elmira.

"Get out of there." Elmira said, looking at them.

"Who's that?" The people inside the office were trying to open the door as they were locked inside and heard Elmira's voice from outside.

"What the f**k is this door's problem!" He shouted in range.

"We'll face them. And do not mind this Gemus behind me. They won't harm you, unless you've sinned." She said, pulling Rebecca out of the cabinet they were in. That's where Rebecca had thought first when he dragged Alexis, and as it is the nearest from them.

"Get out of there if you wanted to finish your task here in Vainussei fast." She said towards Alexis as he still didn't move an inch even though Rebecca had already come out.

"Now." As Elmira was already very serious at the moment, he just couldn't do anything but to get out fast, not that he feared her, but he also wanted to finish their mission as fast as possible, as they were losing time to save the forest.

"What do we do now?" Rebecca asked her, as she was trying to avoid having contact with the three Gemus behind Elmira.

"Just stay beside me, and keep your guards up." She said, and opened the door of the office, meeting the Hazzles behind the door.

The man in front of the door was looking at them, eyeing them from head to toe, and he laughed after he had seen them all. It's as if he's belittling them, as he was way too tall, having broad shoulders and long beard, that anyone who sees him can tell that he's just working out to be fit his whole life, while Elmira and her Company, was just looking at him with seriousness and didn't even said any words. They were just looking at him, and ready to take his life away if he happened to do a wrong move towards Elmira.

"Laugh until you can." Sid said as he was looking up to meet his eyes. He was so tall that the ceiling of the office was just an inch above his head.

And it made him laugh on top of his lungs, along with his company who had laughed with him. But their hostages were dying in fear.

Elmira stepped inside the office, as well as Rebecca and Alexis who were beside her, and the three Gemus behind her, as the door closed behind them.

"You're the leader of this group, if I am not mistaken." Elmira said, looking up at him.

"Yes I am, little lady. What do you think you're doing? And… The visitors are with you." He grinned from ear to ear, as she looked at her side, seeing Alexis and Rebecca.

" I think you accidentally entered the door going to hell, Hazzles." He said, not losing his grin.

"You've got two things wrong, Hazzle. First, we didn't accidentally enter the door to hell. You're just so unfortunate to be here when we arrived, and you encountered hell. And second, Only two of us were Hazzles, Three of us were Gemus, and you don't need to know the other one." Elmira said, not changing her facial expression from being serious, while the two beside her was looking at her, because she was talking about herself for that one person who is not Gemus nor a Hazzle.

The man laughed so hard that he was already holding his stomach. "You're making me cry because of your jokes." He said, as he was wiping her eyes for the tears that had poured as he was laughing so hard.

"He's too proud of himself. I'm sorry Sid, but I can see you from him. But his stupid." Elmira couldn't help it not to tell them what she was thinking as the man in front of them was belittling them from the way he laughed.

The Gemus behind her, couldn't help not to chuckle as they had heard Elmira through their minds, but the two beside her, though they had also heard what she had said, couldn't get it why the three behind them suddenly chuckled. There's nothing even funny from what she had said.

"What's funny?" The man yelled at them as he had seen them laughing. It annoys him that much.

"Why do you care?" Elmira came back at him with her savage words.

"Why do I care? Because all your lives belong to me now! Get them!" He said, yelling out his rage towards the woman in the middle.

"And leave that woman for me." He said as her other people came rushing towards them, leaving Rebecca's family behind.

Alexis dragged Rebecca to avoid the people coming to them and went on the side. The four didn't move from their place and waited for them to be near them. Once they were already near them, Elmira flashed a grin on her face, and glued their feet on the ground, except the proud tall man.

Everyone's curious about what was happening, making noises as they couldn't even make a step forward to get them.

"Why aren't you moving? I told you to get them." He said, yelling at his servants.

"Sorry, but they can't move." Elmira said, not trying to sound so boastful, but it came naturally from her.

"What are you saying?"

"I wasn't kidding when I told you that I was with three Gemus and two Hazzles. You should've feared for your life starting from there, but you have chosen to be too proud of yourself and didn't take it seriously."

He still didn't believe her and bowed himself to level to Elmira's eyes.

"I'm not even scared at all." He said and tried to touch Elmira but he didn't succeed as even before she had touched her, his hands were already twitching in pain, as Sinn was already becoming too overprotective towards Elmira.

"What the f**k are you doing? Ah!" He was shouting in pain as he's arms were really twisting, taking it's 360 degree turn.

"Try to touch her again, I will break your neck, I swear." Elmira was just watching him kneeling down in pain as he was holding his other arm.

Elmira walked towards Rebecca's family, who had been watching them play with the people they all feared.

"W-who are you?" Rebecca's mother asked, staring at her, wondering who she was that she could do those things.

"I'm Rebecca's friend." She said, not letting them know her name. "And I am here to tell you that you must let them finish their mission, with your help. You can tell your decision now, so they can hear you." She added.

"We… still can't. It's not just them here in Vainussei."

"I know." He moved to the veranda's door and opened it. Everyone in the room was just looking at her, except the three Gemus who were busy looking out for the big man in front of them.

She went out and looked at the grounds. Their office was located on the second floor of their house and so the ground was just near them.

"That's why we prepared this for all of you, before entering your office." She said.

They were wondering what she was talking about, so they went out with her and looked at the grounds of their home, with Alexis and Rebecca.

There were a lot of Hazzles in their yard, kneeling in front of the office, looking up directly to the veranda, and all couldn't get up to escape. Their two hands were in front of them, bound together with green electric handcuffs, not letting them use their Qaraths.

"H-how did you-"

"I just did."

"Get their leader here." She commanded through the Gemus minds and within a second, he was with them, kneeling.

"What the-" He uttered as he saw all his people under them.

"Now, tell your decision in front of him, and his followers. I can guarantee your safety so these people from Pyrisium could never get back here inside your Place." She said.

They didn't have any idea who she was, but their Ruler, Rebecca's father, had shouted his decision to remove the fire on the forest, and because it had gone so wild from the borders, he had called out all his people who can control the Fire Element to help them, in front of Elmira and the Prince of Harzenia.