Queen Witch

by Elle Middaugh

  Wind rushed past me, filling my lungs to the brim with salty sea air. My skin felt like it was peeling off, but all I could think of was how fucking painful it was going to be when we hit the bottom.

  And then I remembered Catfish’s words the last time I was plunging toward a rocky shore. “You’re a witch, Eliza! Use some damn magic!”

  At this point, I was finally close enough to use some sea life as an energy source.

  “Fishes of the salty sea, help me land just feathery.”

  A moment later, I breached the ocean’s turbulent surface. But the sting that should have accompanied the water’s assault on my skin was merely a tickle.

  All air escaped my lungs, flooding out of me in a burst of tiny bubbles.

  Recalling another encounter with Gage, I tried a different spell. “Fishes all around me weaving, give me help with water breathing.”

  Just as I ran out of oxygen, I inhaled deeply and filled my lungs with salty sea water. Thankfully, the spell had worked. My breathing was slower than normal, but otherwise it felt almost as satisfying as air.

  I looked up and saw Nerissa treading water at the surface, frantically searching for me and shouting my name. She had to have been wondering what was going on, why she hadn’t yet won the title. Clearly I was still alive, but she obviously had no idea how.

  Last woman standing, I thought.

  Well, neither of us was technically standing. But after my little stunt with the levitation, I knew floating in water would be just as ineffective as a means to an end.

  For some reason, Ezra was hell-bent on ensuring we inflicted physical harm on one another. I didn’t get it. For a Blood Witch who exclusively used light magic, she was suspiciously violent. Look at the previous trials, too....

  I swam through the murky waters, wondering how to proceed. I couldn’t battle Nerissa forever. I needed to pull a miracle from my ass—and soon—or she’d simply out-power me.

  I was a good enough swimmer to drag her back to shore if I attacked in the water.

  In fact, swimming might just be my strongest suit, the one thing I was better at than Nerissa. She never swam with us as kids. She was talented and rebellious, too busy learning dark magic to have any innocent fun in the sea.

  I suddenly realized that this was it. If I was going to win the Trials, it would happen right here, where I had the advantage.

  I took a deep lungful of water, but the sensation of suffocating quickly crept in. Panicking, I sucked in another, but I still felt like I was barely getting any air. My spell was running out, and so was my time to make a move.

  Two spells, I told myself.

  “Fishes from this dangerous sea, send your power straight to me.”

  The underwater landscape suddenly lit up in an array of vibrant, glittering colors as the fish crumbled into floating dust. The dust drifted over to me and filled me with energy. It stretched at my skin and crowded my organs and swelled up my head and heart. The feeling was intoxicating, but I knew I couldn’t hold on to it. Nerissa would have no doubt seen the magic show from a moment ago. I needed to strike as quickly as possible.

  Time for the second spell.

  “Magic light of heart and soul, help me to achieve my goal.”

  Suddenly the magic exploded, easing the tension in my body. It propelled me through the water like a torpedo, heading straight toward my sister. With a bone-splintering crunch of my fingers, I connected my fists with the underside of her chest and her jaw. It must’ve looked like a shark attack to those watching from above. Both our bodies launched into the air, then fell back to the surface. Blood filled the water as the skin on every single one of my knuckles split open. And Nerissa’s body seemed to have fared just as badly. Her jaw was bleeding, as was her nose, and she was out cold.

  The state she was in made me sick. I might’ve wanted to win Queen Witch, and I might’ve wanted to stop her evil plans, but deep down, I never really wanted to hurt her.

  Gritting my teeth against the pain, I wrapped an arm around her waist and towed her toward shore. Exhaustion filtered through every muscle in my body as I battled the raging waves. When the squishy sand met my toes, I switched from swimming to trudging, and soon we were both lying facedown in sand.

  Get up, Eliza, I told myself through burning gasps. You need to be the last woman standing.

  I tried to push myself up, but my body seemed to weigh three times what it should. My arms buckled under the strain. At first, all I could do was crawl to my knees, then slowly, one step at a time, I rose onto shaking legs.

  Dogged determination filled me as I looked up to the top of the cliff. The entire crowd had gathered on the edge, watching intently.

  The Blood Witch smiled wide and nodded.

  “First place. Eliza Strand.”

  Chapter 26

  The very next day was packed to the brim with events.

  A funeral for my parents in the morning, followed by a brief brunch at the palace and Nerissa’s coronation.

  Aside from me, she’d placed highest out of the Strand family line. That, unfortunately, meant she would become the next Queen of Terranea. There was no way of getting around it. The humans didn’t even know we were witches, and the rest of the supernaturals always honored the Trial outcomes.

  Then there was my crowning at the secret Queen Witch ceremony, followed by a ball and banquet for supernatural beings only at the Hall of Queens.

  Groggily, I rolled over in bed and checked the time. A little after five in the morning.

  Pink ribbons tinted the early morning sky, a warning of foul weather to come. Great.

  Catfish lay curled up at my feet, napping soundly. I sighed and pulled him into my lap, stroking his black-and-silver-striped fur.

  “This isn’t what I expected, Cat,” I whispered, mostly to myself. I figured he was still asleep.

  “What do you mean?” he asked, proving me wrong. He stretched and accidentally clawed my legs.

  I winced. “Winning the Trials. All this time I fought for it, tooth and nail, I wanted it so badly. And now that it’s over and all is said and done, I don’t feel any different. In fact, I actually feel worse than when I started.”

  “How so?”

  I stopped petting him and thought. “I feel... even more hopeless than before. I suddenly have all this responsibility, but I have no idea what I’m doing. Maybe my mother was right. Maybe I am too naïve to be queen.”

  Catfish rubbed his silken fur across my chest. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You don’t know what you’re doing because you haven’t been given a task yet. Hell, you haven’t even been crowned! Just take it one step at a time, Eliza.”

  I smiled. “Thanks, Cat.”

  “Anytime. You know the first step you need to take, though?”

  I pursed my lips. “Figuring out a way to get Laken crowned instead of Nerissa?”

  “No. Before that even. You need to fix your face.”

  I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Of course he’d ruin the moment with a snarky comment. I ruffled his fur, then got up and started getting ready.

  By the time I was beautified and descending the stairs for breakfast, Gage met me in the hallway. He was dressed in pressed black slacks and a button-up blue dress shirt that perfectly matched his eyes. His sleeves were rolled up to the elbows and his top three buttons were undone.

  “Good morning, Princess,” he said, eyeing me up and down. “You look beautiful.”

  He took my hand and kissed it.

  I blushed. “Morning, handsome. Ready for a day full of super exciting festivities?”

  “I can’t think of anything more exciting than funerals, official brunches, and formal balls.”

  A laugh bubbled from my lips as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too,” he said, hugging my waist. “I’m glad the Trials are finally over and we can actually spend some time—”

  A tiny woman with a headset and a tablet rushed over t
o us. Her hair was pulled up into a tight French twist, and wide-rimmed glasses perched on her nose.

  “Excuse me, Your Highness,” she said, curtseying quickly. “My name is Melanie. I’m your new personal assistant. We have a very busy day scheduled, and in order to make sure each event goes off without a hitch, I’ll be keeping tabs on the time for you.”

  I nodded. “Thank you, Melanie.”

  She smiled brightly. “Of course, Your Highness. Our first item on the agenda is the royal breakfast, so if you wouldn’t mind following me.”

  I glanced hopelessly at Gage.

  He smiled and put his hand on the small of my back, moving us to follow her.

  We were seated at opposite ends of an extremely long table. It was supposed to be a symbol of our shared power, but for me it was just depressing. I wanted to be close to him. He was like an anchor tethering me to reality in a surreal world. Instead, we were stuck eyeing each other across a sea of faces.

  It didn’t escape my attention that Nerissa wasn’t present at breakfast.

  Neither was Maren.

  Afterward, Gage, Laken, Nathan, and I walked together to the royal catacombs where the high priest was already waiting to greet us. Melanie showed up and arranged us properly, with Laken and me up front and Gage and Nathan a few rows back. My personal assistant was already proving to be a thorn in my side.

  Maren slipped in just as the priest began the eulogy.

  Nerissa never showed.

  Next came the brunch at the palace. All twenty princesses and their princes mingled about sipping tea and munching on hors d’oeuvres. We congratulated one another and cleverly avoided going into any sort of detail about the brutality of the Trials.

  I took Annika’s hand. “Congratulations on becoming Queen of North America!”

  Then Izabelle’s. “Queen of South America! Congratulations!”

  Then Sasha’s. “Queen of Africa!”

  Then Mei-Lien’s. “Queen of China!”

  Then Sheila’s. “Congratulations on becoming the Queen of Australia!”

  And finally, Chloe’s. Queen of the penguins. I forced a smile. “Congratulations! Queen of Antarctica! You must be so proud.”

  She rolled her eyes, but plastered on a fake smile and bowed to me.

  Gage leaned over, whispering, “Enough ass kissing for one day?”

  I chuckled and bumped him with a shoulder. “Formalities. Cons of being a princess, I suppose.”

  “Queen,” he corrected me with a beaming smile. “Like I always knew you’d be.”

  Butterflies escaped the net in my stomach and tickled my insides.

  Wrapping my hands around the back of his head, I pulled his lips down to mine.

  Formalities be damned.

  Next was the coronation of our kingdom’s new queen—Nerissa.

  But my eldest sister never showed.

  Ezra took the stage beside the high priest, dressed in a formal gown for once instead of her usual native-looking smock.

  “Princesses, princes, ladies, and lords, welcome to the crowning of the next queen in the Strand royal line!”

  Polite applause filled the throne room of the palace.

  “I have just one short announcement to make before our new queen takes the stage.” Ezra smiled and looked around the room. It was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. “Nerissa Strand has officially forfeited her blood-born title and moved to the Outlands, where she hopes to bring deeper meaning to her life via spirituality.”

  I turned around and locked eyes with Gage—because, yes, fucking Melanie had separated us yet again. I understood propriety as much as anyone else, but this was getting out of hand.

  “Spirituality?” Gage whispered from behind me. “She means raising spirits, right?”

  I chewed a nail, barely able to believe what I was hearing.

  “Laken Strand,” Ezra continued with a smile, “you are officially the next in line. Please come forward so that the high priest may bless your reign.”

  The Blood Witch bowed and exited the stage—to excited cheers and whistles this time.

  Laken looked pale as a ghost who’d just found out they’d died.

  Grinning, I pointed to the stage. “Get up there, Your Highness! You deserve this!”

  I watched through joyous tears as the bejeweled crown was placed atop her beautiful head.

  Then it was my turn.

  The Queen Witch ceremony was much smaller than I imagined, and witnessed by more than just the living. Spirits of Blood Witches and Queen Witches past were there to watch the crowning. Including Shayna.

  “Your highness,” I said, reaching out to touch her shoulder, but my hand passed right through her. “What happened to you? How did you die?”

  She smiled and her spiritual body wavered. “Forces of darkness are always at work, my child. I was killed, but it was quick and painless. I never even saw my murderer.”

  I shook my head, unnerved that there was an unknown supernatural killer running around the globe.

  “I’m so sorry, your highness.”

  She smiled like it didn’t bother her in the slightest. “My loss is your gain, Queen Eliza. May your rule be bright so the darkness cannot find you.”

  Ezra walked over to the group of spirits, smiling smugly. “I told you she had what it took.”

  One of the older spirits shrugged, wobbling her tall hairdo. “Just goes to prove you never really know, do you?”

  “No, you don’t.”

  Ezra then took the stage and motioned for me to join her.

  Shaking, I climbed the steps with as much grace and composure as I could muster. My green eyes scanned the small crowd until they fell on Gage’s sparkling blues. Finding him was just what I needed to calm my turbulent spirit.

  “Eliza Strand, do you swear to reign as Queen Witch to the entirety of the magical population to the absolute best of your ability, for the completion of the next decade?”

  Eyes still locked on Gage, I smiled. “I do.”

  Ezra nodded, then nestled the crown on top of my head. “Then by the power vested in me and those who came before me, I hereby declare you: Eliza, Queen Witch!”

  After the excitement of such a grand event, I was more than ready to call it a day. But there was still one more item left on the agenda. Melanie had made sure to remind me of it.

  “The buffet will begin in just fifteen minutes,” she informed me as we rushed through the rain to the Hall of Queens. At least four different bodyguards held umbrellas over my perfectly styled head. “The high priest will bless the meal, then you and Queen Laken will say a few words that will signify the beginning of the ball. It’s customary for the royals to participate in the first dance, but beyond that, you can have the rest of the night for yourself.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  Catfish stuck his nose in the air from his perch in my arms. “That woman’s a bitch.”

  I raised a brow, but didn’t deny it.

  “What’s the point?” he asked me.

  I glanced down. The point in what?

  “In being queen, in having unlimited and unquestionable power, if you’re just gonna take orders from a sexy nerd with an agenda?”

  I laughed out loud, earning a strange look from the sexy nerd.

  You’re right, Catfish. I need to take some control.

  “I know I’m right. I always am.”

  I stopped and lowered him to the sopping-wet ground. “Enjoy a night on the town, courtesy of your new Queen Witch.”

  “Are you kidding me? It’s pissing cats and dogs out there.”

  I gave him a wink. Then it shouldn’t be very hard for you to find your next lay.

  He meowled unenthusiastically. “You’re such a bitch. But... thank you.”

  “I’ll see you in the morning,” I said with a smile.

  Then I took Gage’s hand and faced little miss bossy. “You’re dismissed for the night.”

  She sputtered as her eyes widened. “I’m sorry, your highne
ss?”

  “I’m not overly fond of someone ordering me around, in all honesty.”

  “Am I... are you firing me?”

  I sighed and smiled. “No. We’ll talk more about this tomorrow. But I mean it, tonight you need to give me some space.”

  She nodded, bowed, and gracefully removed herself.

  I glanced at Gage. “Was that too harsh?”

  “Not at all.”

  We entered the Hall, to the sight of Laken looking as nervous as a cat on crack.

  “I can’t do this, Eliza. I was third in line. Third! I was never supposed to rule a whole kingdom! What if I royally fuck this up?”

  Gage cut in. “Well then, at least you did it royally.”

  She flipped him the bird.

  The two seemed to have already bonded in a sibling sort of way.

  Nathan grinned and squeezed her shoulders, then planted a kiss at the side of her neck. “Relax, Laken. You’re going to be an excellent queen. One your citizens will remember throughout the histories.”

  “How do you know?” she asked, and she didn’t even sound sarcastic. “How do you know I won’t be remembered as the biggest fuckup the Strand royal line has ever seen?”

  I smiled and took her hand in mine. “Because we know you, Laken. And we believe in you, even if you don’t yet believe in yourself.”

  A deep male voice suddenly announced their entry. “Princesses, princes, ladies, and lords, please welcome the new Queen of Terranea, Laken Strand, escorted by the future king of Terranea, Nathan Jones!”

  The crowd burst into enthusiastic cheers as they entered.

  Gage squeezed my hand excitedly. “We’re up next.”

  And that was when I saw it, just before the massive doors shut in my face and blocked my view—a flame of red hair.

  My heart nearly stopped altogether.

  Nerissa.

  Chapter 27

  “Princesses, princes, ladies, and lords, please welcome the highest of the high, your new Queen Witch, Eliza Strand, escorted by the future king of all supernaturals, Gage Smith!”

  I burst through the doors, eyes searching frantically through the crowd. Clapping hands here, smiling faces there. No hint of coppery-red hair anywhere.