The Two Queens- By: Lilly Taylor

Chapter One: Discoverer of Secrets and History

I’ve spent my entire life living almost completely separately from my father, the king. Though he is wise in many things, he does not conceal everything from me as well as he had planned to. You see, I was raised with the best. The best education, clothing, rooms, ladies in waiting, even the best defense instructors. The only thing I did not have that was the best? My relationship with my father.

I had started asking too many questions too young, and father had distanced himself from me because of my sharp wit and unshakable thirst for knowledge. Knowledge of things little girls, especially royal princesses- shouldn’t know. Generally speaking, magical creatures are banned in the Wolfbane kingdom. However, I suspected the truth was a bit more sinister. Once when I was around 8, I overheard a group of maids quietly gossiping, chattering about werewolves and the “royal alpha” eagerly awaiting the arrival of his “mate”. Naturally, I had questions.

About a week after asking my Matron, all the maids who were involved with the tiny sliver of gossip, pure rumors, that I had to go off of- were gone. All mysteriously replaced and vanished without a trace- their households even being barren when I implored my nanny to take me.

That was all the information I had gotten until I was 16- nearly two years ago. I had been soaking in the royal baths when the maids walking by and chatting idly forgot to check their surroundings thoroughly, my eager ears keening to discern any rumors.

“Haven’t you heard? The royal alpha lost his mate- she died rearing his pup, taking the pup with her to the Moon Goddess. T’is be a tragedy, she was a beauty- kind, too. There are rumors that he’s since grown sickly,” the maids had gone out of my hearing range, but I knew if I moved, my splashing to get out would alert them, and they’d disappear as well. I stayed still, hearing their whispers continue to fade out of range until I was certain my snooping would not be discovered.

I dressed quickly and departed, heading directly to the castle library for more information about this…. “alpha” I have now heard whispers of twice. No signs of servants, the royal librarian off, presumably smelling of elder berries and seeing double, I crept through the shelves and disarrayed piles of books, manuscripts and scrolls. I was looking for one book in particular- the oldest thing in this room, if not this entire castle. I had chanced upon it once, right after the book had been moved from my father’s royal chambers to the very room I was in, scanning with alert eyes.

I moved slowly, my eyes taking in every title, every weathered cover, carefully stepping over and between various stacks when little alarm bells sounded in my head. Someone was coming. Having been banned for venturing too far into the kingdoms history section, this resulted in the entire section being removed and, according to rumors from maids, burned. I had a choice to make- hide amongst the stacks, hope whoever was quick so I could finish my little mission- or… the alternative- return, get caught, hand myself over to my father’s disdainful glare of reproach about disobeying him once more. Hearing the footsteps close me in, I dove behind and between three stacks- and waited with baited breath.

I didn’t have to wait long. The footsteps drew closer, and I could smell the sickly sweet stench of elderberries. The Librarian was indeed inebriated, his steps fumbling and lopsided, narrowly avoiding knocking over the very stacks I was hidden away in. On the downside, someone was there. On the plus side- he was obliterated.

I couldn’t help but smirk as I gracefully snuck out of my book-haven of obscurity and zeroed in on the last location of the book I sought. I tiptoed, keenly aware of the librarian behind me, but knew he was too far gone to notice me unless I made a disturbance audible over his own loud wailing, as he had started drunkenly singing the chorus to a song he only partially remembered.

I continued through, the drunken fool now approaching his stout desk at the end of the library, I refocused my efforts on finding what I had come in here for. A few minutes pass, and I could hear the steady snoring of the too-drunk librarian. I turned down an aisle of bookcases and started scanning the shelves, finding myself back in the “legends and myths” section, knowing if it had been placed anywhere, it was likely there. I scanned a few rows, ensuring to read every title, not wanting to miss it with unneeded haste.

I got through three entire shelves that way, top to bottom and was starting to lose hope when finally, my eyes spot the stained satin blue spine adorned with gold print. I gingerly took the book from the shelf, blew a thick layer of dust off of it, before turning to exit the room. I crept out slowly, not wanting to wake the sleeping librarian when freedom- and knowledge- was within my grasp.

I weaved back out, and once I reached the main corridors, I sprinted as quickly and noiselessly as I could back into my chambers, stopping only once the doors have been shut and sealed. Out of breath, I slid down my chamber doors and unclenched the book, finally gazing at its cover in the pale light of my lanterns, disbelieving it had been so simple.

The print glittered, the gold lettering a bit worn but still easily visible, “Grimoire of a Witch Hunter: A guide to magical creatures and legends behind them.”

I took a deep breath before opening the book, ready to devour the words contained within. I was ready for answers. Or so I foolishly thought.