I could feel the anger welling up inside me. I felt hot all over, like I was on fire. The sensation grew with every second I stood there.
“Let me tell you something Darkwood, no one tells me what to do! No one tells me who to be or how to act! I am the Queen of this kingdom damn it and I will have respect! I could have handled him by myself! I raised myself in the wilderness for years, I had no one save for Zephyr....I was a child! A CHILD!! I...I...I was....”
I don't know when I had actually started screaming. But when I finally took a breath, it seemed eerily quiet in the large room. It took me a moment to realize what I had said and a shaking hand quickly shot to my mouth. Tear's burned my eye's, I shut them tight and turned away. I felt physically ill, I damned myself for letting him in, for letting him opening up old wounds for him when he asked about my past.
I quickly cursed myself for being such a fool, It wasn't Dimitri's fault I had been forced to leave to save the people I loved. Why did I yell at him? I thought for sure he would leave and I would never see him again. He had every right to go. Who want's to marry someone like me? Nobody...I wasn't meant to be happy.
I waited to hear the door's open then close so I would know he was gone and I could turn around and sulk back to my room but no sound could be heard. Then all of a sudden two big, strong but gentle hand's came to rest on my hip's. I turned and all I saw was a pair of beautiful emerald eye's staring down on me.
They weren't filled with anger or hatred or disappointment, but instead they were full of sadness and at the same time understanding and compassion.
“Serra...what happened to you was not your fault. You left to save your parent's and your kingdom. What could be more noble?”
“But if I wasn't so.....so....different I never...”
“Stop! Don't ever think of yourself so poorly. If you had been born a regular human do you think you would have survived that mountain? Do you think Zephyr would have found you without your magical trail that lead him to you? Serra you deserve everything wonderful in this world and more, you're wise, compassionate, just, and strong! Your the best leader I've ever seen and also.......the most beautiful.”
“I.....I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say...”
“Hush now, all is forgiven. Please though, for me, do not go back to see our guest without me.”
“Deal, again, I'm sorry Dimitri. I didn't even know I was holding that all in.”
“It's alright Serra, Now let's go. The ball will be tomorrow evening we need to get everything ready. Did you find a new chef?”
“Oh, yes, actually Emery suggested one from the village right below the castle. I've sent word the chef is to meet me in a few moment's in the kitchen. Could you see to the decoration's? They're mostly done but may need a few minor alteration's.”
He smiled at me as we parted way's to handle the task's I had assigned. The hour's passed on rather quickly and before I realized it, it was dinner time. I thanked all the servant's and sent them on their way with the promise of a rotating shift for the evening of the ball so they could enjoy the it with us. A quick change of clothes and I was off to the dinning hall.
Geraldo caught me before I entered the room, he informed me I had guest's awaiting me just inside. I thanked him quickly and straightened my back so as to look my queenly best. Then waited for Geraldo to open the door's and announce my arrival.
I swiftly made my way to the head of the table and once seated everyone else took their seat's. Dimitri's place was vacant at the moment, but I knew he would be along as soon as he had finished his task.
To my left sat Emery, his eye's twinkled at me as his smile seemed to grow with every second that passed. He reached out and took my outstretched hand and laid a light kiss on the back. The burn instantly began, but as soon as he released me it stopped.
It was so curious. However, it was the person sitting next to him that shocked me the most. Barron looked just as handsome as he did the last time I had seen him. Anger welled up inside me all of a sudden. I didn't dare make eye contact. I busied myself with my napkin on my lap.
Never even hinting that I was in the least uncomfortable by his presence. I smiled like the gracious hostess and welcomed them both. Then began chatting with Emery about the history of the castle. The first course had just been placed on the table when the door's opened and Geraldo came in, up the aisle to stop by my side and whisper that Dimitri had been caught up in town and was running very late.
He would meet me in our chamber for a late dinner and dessert. He also had something he wanted to discuss with me that was of the utmost importance. I nodded and told Geraldo everything would be fine and to have an extra plate sent to Dimitri when he arrived. He bowed, then skirted off to the kitchen.
“So sorry about that gentlemen, but it seems Lord Darkwood shan't be joining us tonight. He sends his apologies and hope's to see everyone at the ball tomorrow.” I embellished a bit.
“Oh that's a pity...I was very much looking forward to meeting the man whom the servant's say has...won your heart.” Emery said in a mock sly tone of voice.
A smile spread across his handsome face as he uttered the last word's. Unfortunately for him Barron nearly choke on his beef stew. He quickly covered his mouth with his napkin and sipped from his wine to straighten himself out.
“What the devil is he talking about Serra?!” he spat.
“Barron, why are you so upset? I'd think you would be happy for our Queen...she's found love!” Emery spat back at him.
“Barron, whether or not I am engaged in any sort of relationship with anyone is none of your business. If I want you to be privy to the detail's of my romantic status I would tell you. BUT, until such a time comes, if it ever does, I'll thank you to keep your snide remark's and rude allegation's to yourself! Now if you'll excuse me, I've lost my appetite and I think I shall retire to the privacy of my room where my ESCAPADES are just that...MINE. Good night Emery.”
He stood and bowed as I rose and straightened my dress. I noticed he kept a wary eye on Barron who now resembled a plum in color. He was so angry he looked like a dam that was about to burst.
“Barron.” I said venomously.
I didn't wait for him to rise or bow or say anything else. I waltzed out of the dinning hall. I made my way rather quickly to my room. But just outside my door he caught up with me. He latched onto my arm like a vice and refused to release me. I turned on him like a cornered snake.
“You can't be serious! Darkwood?!”
“Release me Barron! Now, or you will pay dearly!”
“Serra!” he looked on, menace and jealousy in his eye's. I felt the little shocks of electric start to flow through me suddenly, I looked at the spot on my arm where Barron held me and envisioned blue flames burning his hand until it released me. He jerked away, blowing on his now burned palm. When he looked back at me I saw hurt and anger behind his eye's to his credit he stood his ground.
“Don't...Don't play innocent. Our Escapades?......Really Barron? That's all it was to you?!”
“Serra...I didn't mean it the way it sounded! I had an urgent message about a villager and thieves...”
“Yes, so I read in your note. Funny thing is, no one reported any theft's to me, or any thing to do with cattle and a farmer.”
He looked away. I make it a point to never search someones aura unless I ask first but this time, I needed to know the truth. I called upon my magic and sought his glowing orb that would normally be a beautiful shade of sky blue. What I found was a hazy glow of purple, shame emanated from his very being.
“Yea, that's what I thought. I felt so idiotic, so ashamed, so... so...used! I will not send you away because you are the best Captain of the Guard I've ever had. But I will not put myself through feeling like an idiot around you. I have fallen in love Barron and there is nothing you can do about it. I want to move on with my life and I suggest you do the same.”
I turned and was inside my room and shutting the door before he could bombard me with
more lies. I'd had enough of the lies and the betrayal from the man I once trusted with my life and my safety. I closed my eye's and took a few calming deep breaths as I leaned against the door. I had done something very stupid and rash with Barron and I had thought to much into it.
But I knew that to not be the case with Dimitri. I just felt like something was there between he and I. But I couldn't put my finger on it. A connection of some sort lay between us binding us to one another. I loved him and I felt his love for me and it was pure and beautiful. I opened my eye's to see Dimitri standing on my terrace facing outwards over my kingdom, our kingdom.
I crossed the room, then at the open door's I stopped. What if he had heard my fight with Barron? Would he hate me for what I did with him? I became overcome with the need to run and hide under a rock. I was once again ashamed only this time the shame was accompanied by a new feeling, one I had never felt before....I felt dirty.
I hated myself in that instance, I backed away, arms wrapped around me as I tried to fight the feeling's. All of a sudden I was stopped by something, something big and strong. Dimitri was in front of me blocking my path.
He looked down on me, his face like stone, expressionless. I couldn't hold his gaze, but I wasn't going to look away. I had to show some backbone after all. He slowly smiled. Warmth and love danced behind his beautiful emerald eye's. He wrapped me in his arm's and hugged me tight.
“Oh Serra...I love you no matter what. I don't care what has happened in our past's all I care about is us being together from this moment on.”
“Dimitri how did you...”
“I have many abilities my love. One is knowing my mate's thought's and feeling's.”
“So I take it you heard...being a werewolf and all I guess your hearing is...”
“Pretty damned good, yes. And yes I heard everything. I also picked up on your pain when you first arrived at the door. Did he hurt you Serra?”
My hand instinctively went to where Barron had grabbed me. As soon as my finger's touched the spot I winced. I hadn't felt the pain earlier, but I blame that on the adrenaline I had pumping through me. Dimitri felt my pain and rolled up my sleeve carefully, sure enough, I was already bruised, it looked pretty bad. I had blood spot's where I had twisted, trying to get away from him.
The bruise was already turning black and purple. A blaze lit behind Dimitri's eye's and I could see the fight within him. He wanted to tend my arm, but at the same time he wanted to rip Barron's throat out. I stretched a tentative hand towards him and stroked his cheek snapping him out of his rage.
I smiled like the cat who ate the mouse as I took a few steps towards the bed, then I let my string's loose in the front of my gown so it would fall over my shoulder's. I looked back shyly as it fell away. Dimitri smiled darkly, then in the blink of an eye he was on me. We spent the better part of the night dancing in the sheet's before we finally became so tired we could make love no longer.
We lay in each others arm's, sweaty and covered in each others fluid's. I snuggled up to him and laid my head on his chest as he stretched and held me fast in the crook of his arm.
“I'll never let you go Serra, I swear it.”
“I'll never leave you Dmitri, I swear it.”
With that we were both off to dreamland. This was the happiest I had ever been in my life. I couldn't think of a more perfect night. I slept so soundly I didn't even hear Dimitri get up to leave the next morning. Matilda, my usual maid was tidying up as I woke and pushed myself upwards.
“Good morning, Matilda...say Mattie where is Lord Darkwood this morning?”
“Oh good morning my Queen. He said to tell you he had to fetch his costume and he'd be back in a bit.”
“Oh ok, thank you Mattie.”
“My pleasure milady!”
I hoped off the bed and after a good wash and scrub I dressed in a beautiful deep red gown laced in black decorative designs. I informed Geraldo I was not to be disturbed and headed for the garden's. Once I was safe inside the heart of the maze I knelt in front of my parent's memorial stone's. Being the Queen and King they had been entombed, so I erected the stone's for my own private purposes.
I closed my eye's and breathed deep, focusing on our bond I called to Zephyr. Within a matter of moment's he landed quietly beside me. I opened my eye's and wrapped my arm's around his neck. I took in the sweet smell of his feather's and fur as I released him.
“It's good to see you again little Raven. I have much to tell you!”
“Thank goodness! So you were able to find out information on who the traitor is who's letting the assassin's in and what the assassin's will be dressed as?”
“Sadly, I could not find out who our traitor is but I do know what the two assassins will be wearing, I also know that there are not just the 2, Butch and Lars, but there are 4 of them. Butch and Lars are the lower level assassins, now I couldn't get a real name from anyone I questioned on the other two but I did get nickname's. One is called War and the other, whom they claim to be is the leader goes by The Sorcerer. They have a plan that will take place tonight at the ball. The two lower henchmen are too poison your drink and food. They want to make it look like an accident. Serra...one of the men knows you very well.”
“WHAT?!” I exclaimed in shock.
“I hid in the tall Brandleburry bushes after I had found Butch and Lars' camp and heard them talking to War and The Sorcerer. The one, War acted like he knew you. He gave them detail's about where you had been, who you had been with, and what you had done that day. Serra...we have a spy in the castle.”
I pondered on this for a while as I chewed my lip. How could this have happened? It was insane! No one had ever tried to actually take Nevermore. We are a peaceful people. We bother no one. I just couldn't believe one of my own servant's was a spy. And what's worse was the fact they had let murderous assassin's into my kingdom, endangering the lives of all my citizen's!
They had to be stopped, they would be stopped! No matter the cost I would protect my kingdom! I sat back on my heel's, and let myself slip deep into thought. I knew when and I knew how but I didn't know why. If there were more assassin's out there gunning for me I needed to make a plan. I might have to leave Nevermore. The mere thought of that made my breath catch in my chest and my pulse quicken until I thought I might lose consciousness.
I took a few calming breath's and cleared my throat before I spoke again.
“Zephyr we have 2 side's of this 3 sided triangle figured out. We know the when and the where but not the why. I say when we have the culprit's we interrogate them! Since we now know it will be 4 on 2 I say we call upon some help! I think we need Barron. I know he is upset with me, but this is much bigger than a little lover's spat. (Not to say we are lovers....because we aren't.) He is my Captain of the Guard! It's his duty to protect me and the kingdom! Can you find him and bring him to me?”
“I can, though I think we should enlist the help of Darkwood. I trust him and he's strong Serra. Much stronger than any I've ever seen, aside from you and I.”
“We need Barron. Dimitri could get hurt and I can't fight at my best if I'm worrying about him getting killed. Besides, if I lost him....I could never forgive myself. Now go.”
“As you wish, my Queen.”
The sun seemed to sink slowly tonight. Its face shinned down upon my own and I couldn't help but feel as thought the night would never come, though I knew it would soon descend upon my kingdom. I had always, even as a child, loved the night time. It was full of wonder and mystery.
While other children played with their doll's and toy's of a day I couldn't wait for night to fall over Nevermore. I would run to the stable's and play with the horses. I would put on magic show's for the stable boy's but only after they took an oath not to tell on me.
Now I was marrying the epitome of the night, for I was set to wed a Werewolf it was so surreal. I couldn't have been happier in those few moment's, sitting in front of my parent's memorial's. My thought's were cut short when I heard
the thump and whinny of the carriage's and their horses.
Zephyr still wasn't back with Barron, I began to think something had happened when above me, I heard the soft beating of wing's against the air. Zephyr's larger than life form landed much softer than I had expected. Barron lighted from his back and strode towards me.
Anger and betrayal over me choosing Dimitri instead of him still burned inside his eye's and he made no quarrel about not trying to hide it.
“Serra how dare you summon me here after you...”
“Assassin's plan to kill me at the ball tonight.” I spat quickly.
“What?!” Anger was quickly replaced with concern and shock. He seemed speechless. (That was new).
“Yes, they plan to lure me from the ball and attack me. I need your help. I need guards set up around my maze. I have a plan.”
There I began to lay out all the necessary detail's for my ingenious plan. When I was done, he stood and just stared at me, bewilderment all over his face. I remained silent, giving him time to process and come up with either a reply or a counter plan. He just started to nod slowly as his brow began to furrow.
“How long have you known about this plot to end your life?”
The Nevermore Chronicles: Silencing the Queen Page 6