Chapter Seven
1017 Words
At the Palace of Azuria
Queen Allura stood alone in a dark room. Her power radiated off of her like heat. Her impatience began to affect her powers. The smell of rain lingered in the air, brushing up her nose. She breathed it in, letting it calm her senses. The power’s throbbing heat subsided. The only light coming from the roof, illuminating the water in front of her. The sunlight shone through the open ceiling. The shaft of light aligned itself into the pool. The earth rumbled. Allura’s emerald eyes locked onto the pool in front of her, and she brushed her hand over it. The water rippling in effect of her motion. An image shimmered into focus.
A young man with blue eyes and messy blonde hair stared back at her. His eyes were empty with regret.
“Good to see you, soldier.”
“You look well, my queen.”
She threw her hair behind her shoulder. “You flatter me. Don’t I always?” He merely nodded.
“Is there something you’d like to tell me? Perhaps the status of the Janadexiand girl. Did Adrien do it? Is she dead?” He averted her gaze. He stayed silent. Absolutely silent. Allura knew something wasn’t right. “Tell me what happened.”
“Adrien did poisoned her. With Devil’s Kiss. Just as you asked.”
“Is she dead? I paid a good sum of money for that poison. It doesn’t come cheap.” He stayed silent. “Is. She. Dead.” Allura said once more.
“No.” Anger bubbled up in her throat.
“Why not.” It wasn’t a question. “Why did she live? That was the strongest poison money could buy. Why isn’t she dead.” The water rippled at the sound of her voice.
“I brought a healer and she did her job.”
Allura slammed both her hands onto the limestone wall encasing the pool. The stone cracked down the middle. “You did what? I need her dead! She is said to be destined to kill me!” She huffed out a breath, and the blonde’s image tried to shrink away.
“She’s just a girl. You shouldn’t kill her. I don’t understand why you have to do this.”
Allura was taken back. How dare he speak to her like that. “I am Your Queen. You don’t need to understand. You have to obey. You will kill her. If you don’t, your brother will die.” The young man continue to avert her gaze. “Is that what you want? Your family to look at you like a failure?” His eyes turned cold. Allura smiled. She knew she opened up an old wound. “I remember the day you agreed to work for me. You were so happy, to finally do something good with the life you were gifted. Your parents were proud that you would sacrifice your life to ensure your family’s. After all, you joined me protect your family. You don’t want to see their disappointed eyes staring down at you, when they learn you are reason their youngest son was killed. Do you?”
She chuckled. “Wouldn’t it be sad if you were the reason your brother would be dead? You love your family. You love them to the end of the worlds and back. But do you love her? An orphan who now creates more orphans?” There was no response. “That’s what I—”
“Yes,” Allura’s head snapped back to see his eyes fully strapped on hers. “I do love her. She is my everything. She showed me true courage, and love.”
“Not your family? Your parents showed courage when they refused to let you go. They love you. You would turn your back on them? Just for a girl?”
“She’s different. She understands me, better than they ever did.”
Allura sat at the edge of the limestone wall. “But, the question is, does she love you?”
“I don’t know. I think so…”
Allura c****d her head to the side. “Think so? Then what is this?” In her hand appeared in a cloud of red, was an image of the girl, and the late general, Karlen Bellaren. Their lips were crushing each other—quite passionately, in fact. The man in the water changed his expression. “Jealous?”
A muscle in his jaw flickered. “No, that was a long time ago. He’s dead. She doesn’t love him anymore.”
“Are you sure? Take a good look. Look at the way she smiles in between the kiss. Look at the way her hand lingers at his jaw. They are most definitely in love.”
“She killed him. How can you love someone you kill?”
“You will soon find that out.” The image in her hand disappeared.
“My family and her—they are my everything. I would gladly give up my life for both.”
She chuckled. “Pick one. You only have one life to give.” She said, her voice singsongy. “Because one day, you will have to choose. Make sure she never leaves your sight. You must ensure that she dies.” Allura waved her hand over the pool and his image disappeared. That girl needs to die. Or Azuria won’t be hers.
“Get those bandits. The drunks you found lurking around the palace a few nights ago. I finally have a purpose for them. Send them after her. I need her eliminated.” She said to no one in particular, but scurrying feet told her that her message was understood.
The Daughter of Janadexiand will soon be dead. Dead. Dead.
- Writer
