Flower Queen

by Lilliana Rose

  I’ve got to keep moving. She didn’t, she couldn’t move. She sat there, next to the dead Queen’s body, breathing slowly in and out, trying not to panic. Somehow, she’d made things worse for herself. Even though there was one less Queen to fight, she was out here exposed. Peacekeepers were going to be coming soon and she couldn’t move. And she’d killed again.

  At least I didn’t use the Energy to kill. That thought didn’t help her. Again, she had been forced to take a life and the consequences meant consuming the energy. It was a cost she paid, in order to survive, but it also drained her own energy, weakened her own essence.

  The sight of the Queen’s blood caused bile to rise and Triena’s stomach tightened. Her mind began to spiral down towards blackness. She fought against the process. While fresh, she needed to read the Queen’s energy to see if it offered any sort of help.

  Let’s see who you are. Triena allowed herself to be submerged in the Queen’s essence as it blended with hers. An image began to form around Triena. She observed the scene. Queen Arkina sat on her bed, alone, meditating with the Energy. The walls gray and gloomy, a brick square pattern enclosed the Queen.

  Triena moved closer, to feel what the Queen was looking for. Me. She wants me. Triena recoiled abruptly. The hate from the Queen clawed at Triena and she moved back from the image. She knew she hadn’t been well liked, but the abhorrence that woman had felt towards her caused a chill to weave between their etheric forms.

  Triena caught a tendril of red Energy floating past. The ribbon-shaped flow of energy pulled her deeper into the Field and with a sharp tug pulled her into another scene. Eleven Queens stood in a half moon shape in the catacombs of the castle. Robed in white, they glowed against the darkness that surrounded them. Their hands held in a lotus shape in front of their breasts.

  White veils hung over their heads, made from transparent material, their individual features were hidden, but Triena could make out enough details to find the Queen she’d just killed. She watched the scene closely, desperate to find some information, any details that would give her an advantage.

  “We want her power,” one of the Queens spoke, her voice sharp, high-pitched. A gold, twisted metal band held her veil on her head. The one who governs their meetings. The information flowed from Arkina into Triena’s awareness. I need that gold band.

  “And with patience we will get it,” spoke another.

  “We need to get to them before they arrive,” said the first Queen. “We can’t let them get here.”

  “We could go to them,” said the Queen next to Triena.

  Something drew her closer. She felt it. The desire burned in all of the women here, but in this woman in particular. Power. She wanted it, all of it for herself.

  “Yes we could, but we don’t know where they are.”

  “I can find her,” said Queen Arkina.

  Triena shivered.

  “I’ll go, too.”

  “Me too.”

  They all wanted to go. None of them trusted the others with the chance to be with Triena.

  The Queen with the high-pitched voice clapped her hands, silencing the rest. “We can’t all go. It’s too risky for us to leave. Arkina will go.” She paused. “Alone, since she suggested this plan. That way if it fails, it will only affect her.” The material covering her face billowed gently as she spoke. “Let’s vote.”

  Candles flickered around them but there was no warmth from the light. The Queens slowly moved their hands opening their fingers with their answer of yes.

  “It’s agreed, then,” spoke the Queen in charge.

  “What do we do with the man?” asked Arkina.

  “Kill him.”

  “Yes, he’s caused us enough problems,” said one of the other Queens.

  “We no longer need him. He’s brought her to us as much as he could.”

  Arkina bowed her head in acknowledgement. “I’ll leave at once.”

  The woman’s desire spiked. Fragments of Arkina’s thoughts fell together and swirled around Triena, passing on the knowledge. She wanted me for her own uses. She wasn’t going to take me back to them.

  The image faded as the last of Arkina’s essence blended with Triena. I’ve got to get to Braklen. Triena’s vertigo had settled. A plan began to bloom in her mind. The integration process completed, she sat up on her knees.

  New knowledge sank easily in her mind. A fresh strength flowed through her. For the first time, Triena was excited about getting into the castle. Divided, they’d fall, and she itched to divide the Queens.

  Bracing herself, she quickly stripped the Queen of her white robe, slipped out of her own vomit-stained, black dress and corset and then clothed herself in Arkina’s garments. They had similar colored hair, and while their facial features were different, she hoped that with the hood up she would pass, and no one would check on Arkina in the cell.

  At least not for a while. It’d buy her some time to get into the castle. This was a lot more than what she had to work with previously. It wasn’t easy changing clothes. Sweat beaded on Triena’s face. Arkina’s dead body weight was difficult to move, even though the Queen had been of slight figure.

  Triena didn’t bother tying the corset correctly. She just wrapped it around the woman’s waist and tied it loosely. Then she grabbed Arkina’s bare feet. Stockings were another piece of clothing she didn’t bother to swap. She dragged the Queen’s body back into the cell where Triena had been imprisoned.

  She shivered as she stepped back into this space. Puffing, she pulled the body to the far corner, and rolled it on the side, so that Arkina’s back faced the wall. Down here she only had to trick the guards. It was going to be more difficult to pass as Arkina when she was at the castle.

  Triena lifted the white hood of the robe and pulled it over her head. She arranged the folds of the robe to hide the blood stains. Bile rose to her mouth. She swallowed hard. There was no other way. The Queens wanted to do much worse to her and she had to toughen up if she was to survive. And be ready. As soon as they find out that Arkina’s gone, they’ll come at me with renewed force.

  They weren’t going to be so easy to trick in the Energy, but Triena was going to try. She knew that she had skill enough to mimic Arkina’s energy print and to do something like what the Queens had done to her. But it would drain her essence. The cost will be worth it if I win. She wiped the sweat from her face. Arkina’s loose fitting dress gave Triena a sense of freedom. She placed her boots on the floor and squeezed her feet into the Queen’s black slipper-like shoes.

  Now I can find Braklen. If I’m lucky, I might even find the rabbit.

  “Don’t move, bitch.”

  Triena froze. Fuck the Queens.

  “Hands on your head.”

  She heard the click of a gun. With a heartbeat, she summoned all her resolve and raised Arkina’s energy to the surface of her aura to help her. Triena turned and glared furiously at the man. “That’s no way to treat your Queen.”

  The man paused, looked confused, then blushed as he quickly put away the weapon. “Sorry ma’am.” He hung his head. “I just saw Giert injured on the ground and thought . . . sorry.”

  “Lucky I came when I did. Otherwise the prisoner would’ve escaped.” Triena tried to hide the softness in her voice. She was sorry she’d injured him.

  The Peacekeeper kept his eyes on the ground.

  “She won’t bother you now.” Triena stepped out of the cell and paused next to the man. “She’ll sleep until we arrive. A necessary action I had to take because you can’t do your job.”

  “Ma’am,” he mumbled.

  “Stand up straight!” she yelled at him.

  He responded straight away, eyes forward, and shoulders back. He was obviously afraid of her and what she’d do.

  “Take your frien
d away. Leave the prisoner to me, and if she escapes, I’ll have your life,” Triena lowered her voice. The fury of Arkina rippled through her and she felt that the Queen would chastise the man more. No. She pushed the Queen’s energy down just a little. I’m in control.

  Triena walked away. Her entire body trembled. She expected any second that the man would realize who she really was and raise his gun then fire.

  But it didn’t happen and she was out of the prison cell. A Peacekeeper walked past her. He kept his eyes cast down. So far, so good. Triena allowed Arkina’s energy to dominate hers a little in order to find her way around the ship.

  The ship was well-fitted out, new, clean and very different from the Petal. Another Peacekeeper walked towards her. Triena forced herself to keep her shoulders square, and looked ahead. Walk like a Queen. The man stepped aside, bowing his head respectfully.

  She continued walking down the corridor. She breathed out slowly. They wouldn’t expect her to be anyone else other than a Queen, but she couldn’t relax knowing that any moment she might be found out.

  An elevator took her to the upper level. The longer she was out here, exposed, the harder she found it to breathe. The movement of changing floors quickly caused the nausea to return. She clutched her stomach as she walked from the elevator.

  “Ma’am, are you all right?” A Peacekeeper approached her.

  Triena waved him away. “I’m fine.”

  “I can assist you to your room.” He stopped next to her. His expression was genuine with concern for her, but it was too risky. He had stripes on his shoulder and if anyone were going to recognize an impostor it would be one of the higher ranked officers. I have to get away.

  “I am fine and my room is nearby, thank you.” She stiffened her pose and continued walking.

  “Ma’am.”

  She tried not to hurry, but walk on calmly. Her stomach contracted and twisted and her mind turned with dizziness. She wanted to get out of sight. She paused at the door to Arkina’s room and looked back at the Peacekeeper who had continued down the corridor. “How long until we arrive?”

  “Tomorrow.” He turned back at her. “We’re on time, ma’am.”

  “Good.” With a trembling hand, Triena swiped a card over the door. She could feel him watching her, looking closely. “Is there a problem?” Triena glared at him.

  He lowered his eyes. “No ma’am.”

  Triena detected hesitation in his voice. I was stupid to think that this could work. She held her body rigid, hoping an air of confidence emanated, the sort of assurance expected of a Queen. “Then get on with your work and stop wasting time.”

  He bobbed his head in acknowledgement. “Yes ma’am.”

  Triena watched him walk away, before she stepped inside the room. The door clicked behind her. She made sure it was locked manually from the inside to stop anyone from disturbing her.

  “Lights.” A soft orange glow came on from the lights above, revealing a soft lounge, large bed with plenty of pillows and a table with a cheese platter ready for her. For Arkina. But Triena didn’t care who this food was really for, she picked off a grape and slipped it into her mouth. It’s good to have a bit of luxury again. The sweetness of the grape burst over her tongue and she took another.

  She pushed Arkina’s energy back down within hers, but it was like pushing a balloon into water and the woman’s energy kept bobbing back up to the surface. The tension of posing as a Queen buzzed around her aura, making it difficult for her to concentrate.

  She spied a kettle. There must be some tea around here. She looked through the cupboards and found a small box containing a few basic teas. Nothing that would help her with a reading or to slip into the Energy Field. She grabbed the quem tea which she put to her nose and inhaled deeply. The sharp smell eased the space sickness. She began making herself a strong cup of the tea.

  She kicked off the slipper-like shoes and sat at the table, picking at the food and drinking the tea. She wanted to relax but couldn’t. Images kept forming in her third eye. The energy from the Field pulled her towards it, but she resisted. There was no way she could go there right now. She had to be ready. She needed to weave a cloak to make her imprint like Arkina’s.

  Her head began to hurt. She rubbed her temples. She kept thinking of a package. Thoughts swam around in her head in no particular order, as the tea worked at clearing her mind. Arkina standing in her clothes. A dead guard. Dried buds of flowers crumbling in the wind. Special blend. Flowers blossoming. A small brown paper package. One that had important dried buds inside. Her package. She suddenly stood up. I know where it is.

  She went over to the other side of the room, opened the cupboard and took out a locked black box. Using Arkina’s energy she easily unlocked the box and opened it. Her energy rose as she took out her package. Now I can have a real cup of tea. There were ten important buds and she hid them in the sleeves of her robe.

  She suppressed a yawn. The pull of the Energy took her by surprise, and she grabbed onto the back of the lounge as if the act would hold onto her essence and stop her awareness from being sucked into the Field. She held her breath dragging herself away. Sweat eased from the pores in her skin from the effort of stopping the processes. I can’t afford to go in right now. She had to be prepared.

  The tension suddenly broke and she fell back, landing hard on her backside. Fuck the Queens. She breathed heavily from the exertion. What she wanted to do now was to rest, sleep and increase her strength, but that was going to leave her vulnerable. The Queens are probably calling Arkina wanting an update. And since she had the echoes of Arkina’s essence the Queens were targeting her.

  She pulled herself up and sat on the lounge. Better get this over with. She closed her eyes and began taking deep breaths, oxygenating her body. Instead of slipping into the Energy Field, she stayed aware of her essence, and that which was Arkina’s. She visualized a crotchet hook in her mind’s eye and allowed Arkina’s energy to surface around her. Triena moved the hook, dipping it into the current of Arkina’s energy and pulled up a thread. With a flick she twisted the thread and formed a knot. Triena pulled the thread taut, and used this knot as the bases. The tension of the yarn was kept tight, leaving small gaps between the holes, providing a natural shield to hide behind when in the Energy Field.

  Triena continued to loop the energy yarn, pulling and twisting it around forming a series of knots. Gradually a cloak began to form. She kept the hook moving, slipping it into the loops until she had made a cloak big enough to wear. Triena let go of the hook and it dissolved away into the Field. She held up the red cloak.

  Will it be enough? The doubt made her pause. Then there was a tug from the Field and Triena had barely enough time to pull the cloak around her before she was sucked in.

  Where have you been?

  Surrounded by blackness, Triena tried to work out where she was in the Energy Field. The cloak was tight around her essence. The constriction was unfamiliar and fear welled inside of her, leaking out. She tried to push her vibration of fear deeper inside of her essence.

  Arkina, stop ignoring us. The same woman sent her thoughts to Triena.

  I’m here. She looked closely around her. She sensed them, standing around her. The other Queens were here and they weren’t happy with Arkina. Jealousy stabbed at her through the darkness.

  You better not harm the woman, or use her energy for yourself.

  The surroundings sharpened into focus. They were standing in a semi-circle, lit by a few torches hung on the rock carved wall. The flames highlighted the detail of the castle’s catacombs. Triena felt the similarities between this place and the image she had seen after she’d killed Arkina. Careful, she warned herself and strengthened the etheric walls around the essence of herself so that the others wouldn’t be able to hear her inner thoughts.

  You should’ve arrived
by now. What took you so long?

  I thought you wanted me to be careful with her, thought Triena. You want me to deliver her intact, don’t you? She sent her thoughts through the knots of the cloak masking her true identity.

  Yes, but you don’t need to be taking so long.

  A cold blast of chilling air flooded over Triena. She pulled the cloak closer and held on tight so it wouldn’t blow away. When the gust around her settled, she moved to make Arkina’s energy appear larger. I arrive tomorrow.

  You should’ve been here yesterday.

  Triena held her tongue. The finely twisted gold band sat on top of the Queen’s head. It was best to stop arguing. She tried to edge her thoughts with remorse. Yes, I should have.

  So then, why the delay? The Queen wearing the gold around her head moved closer to Triena. We can all smell the fear on you. What went wrong?

  Fuck the Queens, Triena thought to herself. She pushed the fear further into her own essence. They can smell me. She struggled to keep herself balanced and pulled the cloak even tighter around her etheric form. The energy of Arkina gave her the answer she needed. There was a problem with the man. Triena just managed to keep her balance, with the realization that this man was Braklen.

  That shouldn’t have stopped you from coming back straight away.

  It delayed us a little, that along with the fight that they put up. We lost many of the Peacekeepers. It took longer than expected to bring them back on the ship. Triena gave herself over to the remnants of Arkina’s energy, allowing it to speak for her, since she was unaware of the details.

  The Queen spat. That’s what they signed on for. They are there to be lost.

  It helps with morale, answered Triena through Arkina’s energy.

  Is he all right then?

  Triena couldn’t see the Queen through the veil that covered her face, but she knew that the woman was staring at her intensely. She held onto her resolve and kept her nerve. I thought you didn’t need him.