Witch Queen

by Kim Richardson

  “You cannot resist my magic,” taunted the witch as I saw her shadow move closer to me. “No witch nor human can resist my power. Yield.”

  But I didn’t yield

  Another thrust of magic sent me rolling to the ground again, and I screamed as I thrashed in breathless pain.

  I thought of Jon. I could see his beautiful lips, his dark sensuous eyes and lips, and I realized how much I was going to miss him. I knew that I might die today. That this might be the end of the road for me. Perhaps I’d see Jon again in the afterlife…

  I began to sob. I didn’t care if the whole of Witchdom saw me cry. The warm, thick tears spilled down my face. I cried for Rose. I cried for Jon, and I cried for me.

  The pain suddenly stopped. My magic had healed what it could, but there was too much damage. Even I knew that I was broken, inside and out.

  I pushed my body to a standing position. I shook all over, as though a fit had taken over me. I knew it was exhaustion. My magic was starved and exhausted, and I knew I could not replenish it.

  I didn’t know how or even if I could, but I picked up my witch blade. I knew it wouldn’t help, but I felt naked without it.

  I faced the witch.

  Surprise flared in the witch’s eyes. “Stubborn human. Yield, and I will let you live.”

  But yielding would be admitting defeat. Yielding would make, Garrick, Max, and Leo’s deaths meaningless. That couldn’t happen. I couldn’t live with myself if I backed down now. And I wasn’t a coward.

  “Let’s finish this.” My voice was ragged, my throat raw and swollen, and I tasted the coppery tang of blood. Too bad Fawkes wasn’t here to see me die.

  The dark witch was so close to me now that I could smell the garlic on her breath.

  “So be it. Today, I will erase the last steel maiden from this world forever.”

  I narrowed my eyes. She had said steel maiden like she believed it. She knew I was one. She knew I was the last steel maiden. She wanted to kill me because the witch queen had ordered her to.

  My face warmed with anger. “You know. You know I’m a real steel maiden.”

  The witch tightened her lips, but it was enough of an answer.

  It was like a fire had ignited in my breast and was spreading new strength and new confidence throughout me. I controlled the power inside me again. If my magic couldn’t cast spells, I knew it could still help me do impossible things.

  “Kill her!”

  I looked to the royal box. The queen was practically falling over the ledge in her fury.

  “Kill her! Kill her now and finish the trials!”

  I could see the king staring at his queen in disbelief.

  The dark witch roared with beastly fury and lunged for me.

  In a desperate attempt to save myself from the worst of it, I threw my sword at her with the last of my strength. My sword hit her magecraft pendant and severed the chain. It fell to the ground.

  The witch jumped back in surprise. Her hand went to her throat like I had cut her. But there was no mark, and I could see that my blade hadn’t touched her. I didn’t understand why, but fear flashed in her eyes. The skin on her face sagged, and she looked haggard, like she hadn’t slept in years. She suddenly looked old and frail. She hesitated as though her magic had been spent.

  The faces of all my friends flashed in my mind’s eye, and I knew what I had to do.

  Goddess forgive me.

  I thrust my blade into her neck where her pendant had been.

  The witch’s eyes went wide. Her mouth fell open, and blood spilled out. I yanked out my sword, and her body collapsed at my feet.

  I looked over to the king. He raised an eyebrow at me. It was the only emotion on his face, but he clearly wasn’t displeased with what I had done.

  The witch queen’s face showed hatred and shock.

  “Elena!”

  I recognized the voice even before I saw him.

  Fawkes struggled and thrashed with the two witch guards who held him near the doors to the arena. Finally he broke free, and in a few great strides he was next to me and holding me up.

  “Fawkes,” I hissed, as it hurt to speak and breathe. “Where have you…? Why weren’t you…?”

  I couldn’t finish.

  He seemed to understand and squeezed my hand gently. He smiled.

  “It’s not important. I’m here now,” he said. “You did it, Elena. You defeated your opponents in the witch trials. The king will have to acknowledge your claim.”

  My eyes automatically went to the queen. “But I’ve killed the rebels.”

  Fawkes followed my gaze. “What do you mean?”

  I whirled on Fawkes and grabbed his shirt for support. “The witch queen means to kill them. She killed…”

  “I know.” Fawkes held me close. “I heard what happened to Leo. And it wasn’t your fault, Elena.”

  “Of course it was.” I started to shiver. “The queen warned me. I don’t know why, but she wanted me to fail on purpose. She said she’d kill the others if I didn’t obey. And now look what I’ve done. I’ve killed them, too.”

  I felt numb and no tears fell from my eyes.

  “Don’t worry about the men,” Fawkes’ green eyes flashed. “I’ll take care of it. I promise.”

  I almost smiled. I managed to take some small breaths, even though the pain in my ribcage was still excruciating. My body was bent and broken, but I managed to lift my chin and meet the witch king’s eyes.

  He rose from his seat and clapped once. I knew what it meant.

  I had passed the witch trials. I was the last steel maiden.

  CHAPTER 29

  I HAD JUST DOWNED another of Celeste’s magic cocktails at breakfast the next morning when she said, “The humans have miraculously escaped.”

  I nearly choked.

  “What?” I jumped to my feet and didn’t try to hide my relief. I thought I had seen an unusual hop in her step.

  Celeste just shrugged. “No one knows how they managed it on their own,” she said with a gleam in her eyes. “It seems they just vanished after the trials. Like ghosts.”

  But I knew exactly who had helped them. I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten that Fawkes had told me he would take care of them. He had saved the men for me. The elemental witch had been true to his word and had freed them. If he had been here I would have kissed him all over his grubby face.

  Celeste squeezed my hand. “I thought that might cheer you up.”

  I blinked the moisture from my eyes. “You have no idea.”

  Celeste slipped the empty vial into the folds of her gown. “It appears you have friends amongst the witches.”

  “I doubt that very much.”

  “Well, the entire fortress is bustling with the news of your victory,” she explained. “Many higher witches are anxious to meet you, and so is the Coven Council.”

  I shook my head. “Of course they want to meet me now. But I remember they chanted for my execution just yesterday.”

  I was left alone in my bedchamber for most of the day, and I pondered how Fawkes had managed to get the men out of the fortress without getting caught. Apparently he knew the fortress well enough to sneak out a group of humans from right under the witches’ noses. I had to hand it to Fawkes. He had balls. I knew the witch king and queen would regard any help for their prisoners as treason. But no one suspected him. The humans had simply disappeared.

  My heart raced when I finally heard feet outside my bedchamber. I grasped my blade instinctively and flattened myself against the wall next to the door. I strained to listen, but after a few moments there was no other sound except the pounding of my heart.

  I released the breath I had been holding. I knew that sooner or later the witch queen would come barreling in, magic blazing, and try to send me to the afterlife.

  I had ignored her threats, and I knew she would try to make me pay for it with my life. I had to get the hell away from this fortress before she had the chance.

  As it was,
I had been left alone and was going out of my mind with boredom. I had sprawled on the bed and was staring at a stain on the ceiling that looked like Jon’s face when the door swung open and Celeste strolled in. Her arms were spilling with bundles of fabric.

  I didn’t pay too much attention to her until she dumped the material on my bed. I sat upright immediately and saw it. The beautiful gold and red Witchdom silk gown was made of material so fine and so delicate that it shimmered like liquid stars. I couldn’t stop staring. I could see a subtle but unmistakable pattern of swords etched into the silk. The gown had been sewn with the Steel Maiden clan colors and emblem.

  “What the hell is this?”

  Celeste looked suddenly worried. “You don’t like it?”

  I shook my head, regretting the tone I had taken with her.

  “No, that’s not it. It’s just…what’s it doing on my bed? I mean on this bed.”

  “You’ve been invited to dine with the royal family tonight.” Celeste stared at me. “You defeated all the other clans at the witch trials. You’ve earned your right to be here as an esteemed witch. You are no longer considered a threat. In fact, the rumors in the fortress are saying that the witch king wants you to be treated as an honored guest.”

  I sighed. “I’m not so sure the witch queen would approve.”

  I looked at the dress, but I didn’t dare touch it. The last thing I wanted or needed was to dine with these witches. My stomach churned at the thought. I knew it would be a mistake.

  “I can’t do this.” I swung my legs off the bed and moved next to her. “How can I eat beside a group of witches who have just tried to kill me? I’m just a joke to them, a toy. And I won’t be played for a fool. Not anymore. They can eat without me because I’m not going.”

  Celeste’s face flushed. “I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.”

  “Of course I don’t.” A cold fury grew in my chest. “Because I’m still a prisoner, no matter what the witch king says.”

  “It’s just dinner,” she said and held the dress up in front of me.

  “The gown goes amazingly well with your coloring. I knew it would.” She smiled with satisfaction as she spread the gown back on the bed.

  “It’s probably just a dinner to discuss your plans. I know Fawkes will be there. So it can’t be all that bad, now can it?”

  “I guess not.” The fact that Fawkes would be there did still my anger a little. Just a little. One measly dinner couldn’t hurt. But I couldn’t pretend to be happy about it. The truth was I hated all of them.

  “You hate the gown, don’t you?”

  I sighed. “It’s not that. It’s just…I’ve never worn a dress in my life. Ever. I’ve never had the opportunity to wear one before. Why would I?”

  My head sagged a little, and I was surprised at the emotions I felt.

  “I couldn’t afford clothes like that where I’m from. We barely had enough to eat.”

  I could feel Celeste’s eyes on me, but for some reason I couldn’t look at her.

  “Well,” said Celeste, and for a moment she looked older than her years, “you’re going to wear it tonight. And you’re going to look gorgeous.”

  A few hours later, after a second bath, and with the help of another witch maid called Luna, I almost made myself believe I looked like witch royalty. Luna had found rouge for my lips and had made my dark eyes pop with a thin line of kohl over my top and bottom lashes.

  And the gown, well, it was divine.

  It had not fit perfectly at first because I had been so unnourished. But Celeste was something of godsend as a seamstress and within an hour had the gown fitting me like a glove. She’d put in padding to fill out the breast area, for which I would be forever grateful. I didn’t have voluptuous breasts like the witch queen, or even like Celeste and Luna. My breasts were small, and I had hardly any hips, but my waist was small enough to give the illusion that I had fuller breasts and wider hips.

  Celeste styled my hair down except for two small braids around the top that joined at the back with a golden clip. When everything was finished, I was surprised at the woman who stared back at me through the mirror. Her olive skin was too dark to be considered ladylike, her cheekbones too high, and her eyes too small, but she was still beautiful.

  “You look exotic,” said Luna with a dreamy look on her face. “Just like in the stories of the witches from the north. You look like a real steel maiden.”

  I wanted to tell her I was a real steel maiden, but I decided not to be uncivil with her. She’d spent hours helping me get ready for this dreadful dinner.

  “I’ve never looked this good, or even thought I could look this good.”

  I looked away from the mirror with a lump in my throat. I wished Jon could see me like this. I smiled. He’d probably rip off the dress and throw me on the bed. My face flushed.

  “I wish I could sit next to the witch prince,” Luna prattled on. “He’s so handsome. And powerful. And strong. I’d give anything to be you…”

  I rolled my eyes.

  A knock came from the door, and Luna squealed and dashed across the room. She came back beaming with a velvet box in her hands.

  “It’s a gift from the prince,” she said and handed me the box.

  As I held it in my hands, I already knew what it was. I’d stolen so many of these boxes in my lifetime that I almost didn’t want to open it.

  “Aren’t you going to open it?” Luna stared at me wild-eyed. It was a gift from her beloved prince after all.

  I could tell that she knew exactly what I was feeling.

  I let out a long, shaky breath and opened it.

  It wasn’t grotesquely large or gaudy like some of the ones the other witches wore. It was a simple gold chain with a small dagger pendant. A single diamond was set on the hilt of the tiny sword, but it was so small I could hardly see it.

  It unnerved me that the prince had known I would prefer something small. We’d barely spoken.

  Luna looked slightly put out at the simplicity of the necklace.

  “Why is it so small? And it’s just plain gold? Anyone can buy a plain gold chain. He’s the prince—”

  “Hush,” hissed Celeste, looking a little embarrassed at her friend’s boldness.

  I shook my head.

  “I can’t wear this. It’ll give the prince ideas if do. I don’t want anything from him or his family.”

  Luna exchanged a glance with Celeste, who seemed mildly alarmed by what I’d just said.

  “The prince will see it as an insult if you don’t wear it,” explained Celeste after a moment.

  “It’s an insult to wear it?” mumbled Luna.

  Celeste scowled at her friend. “At least just for tonight,” she said, “to avoid any…tension.”

  I knew exactly what tension she was referring to. I couldn’t risk ruining my chances to get the king’s help. Reluctantly, I let her clasp the necklace around my neck.

  “Ready? It’s time.” Celeste beamed.

  But I didn’t feel ready. I felt like a fool, like one of the priest’s concubines, like someone’s pet.

  I did look forward to speaking with Fawkes about my friends who had escaped, however. That would be an interesting conversation.

  “Okay, just a couple more days, and then I’ll be back to my old self.”

  But I could hardly breathe when the two coven guards escorted me through the grand halls and ushered me down the elegantly crafted staircase into the great hall. The coven guards released me just outside the heavy doors, and I crossed the vast room alone.

  It was decorated with Dark Witches clan tapestries and banners. Several hundred guests were seated at long tables. I hadn’t realized there would be so many. Mounds of food and drink were piled on the tables, and swarms of witch servants ensured that no glass was ever fully emptied. The room was alive with conversation, and I was glad they were preoccupied and that no one appeared to be paying me much attention.

  But as I made my way, I spotted several
human hide tapestries on the walls, and my anger and disgust helped me to calm my nerves. My gown billowed and swished behind me as I made my way between the tables in search of Fawkes. I spotted him at the end of the king’s table, a few seats over from the witch prince.

  The witch king sat at the head of the table. I could tell he had seen me when he tipped a goblet to his mouth. His wife sat on his right in a jeweled black gown. She appeared to be conversing happily with the male witch next to her, but her eyes keep turning to me. She was full of smiles, but I could sense a terrifying fury in her demeanor.

  The prince sat to the left of the king. I could see he was looking at my necklace, and I blushed before I could stop it. I kept my eyes on him as I crossed the room. He smiled, but there was something in his look that I couldn’t read.

  As I neared, Fawkes and Prince Aurion both pushed back their chairs and stood. I blushed again. The other male witches watched me warily, but they did not stand. The king looked intense, and although he seemed pleased, he looked as enigmatic as the prince.

  Fawkes pulled out the empty chair next to him, five chairs down from the prince, and I realized he’d been saving me a place. I kept a straight face, but I was overcome with relief because I didn’t know where the hell I was going to sit. I made my way to him, thankful to sit next to the only witch I trusted in this goddamn place.

  “No,” said the witch king.

  I froze, as did the entire hall.

  “You will sit next to my son.”

  The witch king gestured to a seat that was already occupied by a pretty brunette witch. She looked mortified at the king’s request, which was much more like an order. Her face reddened, but she got to her feet quickly and dashed away—though not before she had given me a hateful glare.

  Like any of this was my fault.

  I wished I could tell her that I’d rather not sit there, but the entire room appeared to be waiting for me to sit. No one spoke, and Fawkes looked nervous. I knew that I could not argue with the witch king, so I took my seat next to the delighted prince. All eyes were on me, and I felt like throwing up. But if being the center of attention at an extravagant dinner was the price I was going to have to pay for the king’s help, then I would gladly take my place. I’d do whatever it took.