REDEMPTION: Queen of Souls (TORMENTED ROYALS Book 1)

by L. N. MALONE

  Everyone rises when King Darin enters the meeting room. I was impressed to see he came with only Jarvis and two guards. I motion for everyone to sit. Once everyone is seated, I address my father, “Hello, King Darin. It is truly a blessing to see you today.” I say with a smile.

  “Daughter of mine, I am the one who is blessed. However, looking around it find it a bit unexpected for King Armand not to be here to greet me. Especially since he was the one who called this meeting.”

  “Yes, it is unexpected. To be honest, he was taken.” I say, more to the point than I was anticipating and letting my emotions slip just a bit. It was always hard to reign in my feelings around my father. He was always so kind and gentle that it made people just want to tell him everything.

  “He was taken. By whom?” A look of true concern crosses his face and I know then that he will help no matter what. Just another reason I love him. At his question I had to lower my eyes and bit for I heard the description Lily gave and I knew the second she described the male working with Lissett who it was. “Jayson. He had the assistance of one of our own and we just now located the location they took him too.” I say anger and sadness filling my voice.

  “Daughter, I sense your anger. Have things changed?” I know what he is asking. The last time we spoke I told him of my upcoming marriage. A unity that will strengthen both kingdoms. A marriage built mainly on duty and respect.

  “Yes, father, things have profoundly changed. While you know he is my chosen, what you did not know is that I am also in love with him.” I say with pride and honor.

  My father is known for his impassive face. Not letting anyone see his true feelings so when a strange look of pride crossed his face, I immediately take notice. He of course schools his face just mere seconds later just before standing up and walking towards me. I also stand to meet him at eye level and wait for what his next words will be. However, words did not come right away. King Darin unexpectantly reaches out and wraps his arms around me in a huge hug that took the breath right out of me. “Ash, I am so happy for you. Congratulations. I am however sorry for what your brother has done yet again,” he whispers to me as the look of love and regret crosses his face. He turns around and halfway to address the room. “The Vampire Kingdom has the support of my kingdom for as long as I live and beyond. I will sign an agreement when we get the Vampire King back. You all are my witness to my word.” He nods to Jarvis and at that very moment I was prouder to be his daughter than ever before. His love for his people and his daughter was shining through with his words and it was inspiring. “In the meantime, let us all work together to find my daughter’s chosen.” Those were the last words he said before everyone in the room stood and bowed to my father out of respect, then they all start devising a plan. I send up a silent prayer that this will work, and my love will return.

  * * *

  Two more weeks have come and went since the meeting with my father. I have felt Armand a few times since and the worry is beginning to affect my soul. I can feel the darkness starting to take hold which is why I am waiting for Iris now. I have kept up with my training since he went missing however, I have neglected my vision training. Honestly, I am frightened of what I might see, feel, and find if I dig too deep. However, now I am feeling the emptiness that neglecting that part of me has left. “Good evening Akasha. How can I help you?” Iris asks while walking into the room. “I am feeling darkness encroaching on me. I need your assistance.” She gives me an assessing glance and I wonder what it is she sees when she looks at me. “You have been neglecting yourself. I can understand your reasonings however, you must remember you are more powerful than anyone else here. Not only are you more powerful but your power resonates from your soul. Because of that if your soul darkens so does your magic. Please keep that in mind.” I stay quiet and I let her words sink in as I realize the severity of my actions. “I apologize for my ignorance on this. I should have taken better care. Can you help me?” I ask. “Oh, dear Akasha, you have no need to apologize to me. Thank you though for considering me enough to feel you should. Now, yes, I can. We will go over the meditation again and enter the Soul Plane and release the darkness.” I nod, take a seat, and close my eyes to prepare.

  Seventeen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Akasha POV

  Ahead of me is a field of white flowers that blow in the wind with a pebble path leading to a small cottage. The cottage is adorable with light yellow paint and white trim with a red door. I can see smoke coming from the chimney and instantly I felt a chill. Looking around I notice dark wisps slowly circling the ground where the flowers are growing. The darkness is intertwining with the stems and looks to be seeping into them. I know I am in a vision, so I know I have nothing to fear however, somehow, I feel a sense of urgency. I rush toward the cottage letting my intuition guide me. Once I am at the door, I slowly turn the knob and carefully make my way into the house. I can smell the scent of fresh baked cookies and cinnamon. I follow the smell glancing around the cottage that is quaint and gives you the feeling of being at home. I could raise children in a home like this I think to myself. “Well of course you could darling. This is where you were going to be raised.” I heard a feathery soft voice say. Following the smell and the voice, I found the kitchen and in front of the stove stands a woman with the same eyes and hair as me. I knew without knowing who she was. “Mom?” I say in a question that I really did not need to know the answer too. “Yes, my darling. Now as much as I wish we had more time, right now you have more important things to accomplish,” she says, and I feel disappointment as it seeps into me. “Ah, Akasha, please do not fret we will meet again.” She says with a confidence that I had no choice but to believe her words. “Not trying to be rude of course but if we do not have much time then, what exactly are you doing here then?” I ask. “A few reasons actually. First, I wanted to see you for myself. Second, you needed a reminder of who you are and where you come from for you to accomplish what is to come,” she says with an amazing smile. “I just learned where I came from so I am so I am unsure that I would need reminding already.” I say with uncertainty in my voice. “My daughter, I am sure just learning about your past has been difficult, however that is not what I speak of. You see, even though your birth is how you came about it is not where you come from. You come from King Darin. You were raised by him and his family and you know more about the evil in Jayson than anyone else.”

  “Yes mother. I do know that evil.” I say not able to hold in the anger that came through in my voice.

  “I can understand your anger my sweet, however please remember that not everything is as it seems. Sometimes evil uses things as well as people. They are just a vessel of sorts. You are going to have to choose between good and evil soon and what you choose will determine the future of all kingdoms. I cannot say more, however I will apologize that my actions of the past have come to affect your future choices.”

  Her appearance starts to fade, and I try to hold on to the image of her so I can have a few moments longer. “Do not mourn me daughter, I am blessed beyond measure to see how you have grown. I have watched you every step of the way. Trust Bassel, Tei and your circle they will help you.” She was almost gone so I rush to say, “I love you mom” and just after she vanished completely, I hear “I love you Akasha” drifting through the air. Her words cleaning my soul like sponge soaking up all the dirt that was left behind.

  I opened my eyes from my vision. The time I was under felt like hours however looking around it seemed that it was just a few moments. “Ah, welcome back my Queen. You seem much better.” Iris says while smiling brightly at me. “Yes, I had…” she stops me mid-sentence with a lift of her hand. “I do not need to know my Queen, what happens in the Soul Plane should be kept to oneself.” she says quickly. “I understand Iris. Thank you very much, I do feel much better, and my soul feels refreshed and relieved.” I thank her again for her time and her guidance as I make my way to exit the room.

  As I shut the door
behind me, I found Bassel waiting for me. “Hello my Queen.” I sigh an exasperated sigh and ask, “Bassel, could you please just call me Akasha while we are not in the throne room?”

  He chuckles “Yes of course Akasha. How was your meeting with the Seer?”

  “It was wonderful. It was just what I needed. Now how can I help you?”

  “I am glad.” he says with a comforting smile. “We are almost ready to go after Armand. Both King Darin and I have people coming in to assist, however we are going in with a small group. We all feel that will be that best course of action.”

  “If we are going in with small group why are we bringing people in?” I ask.

  “They will be our back up. We do not know for sure how many people Jayson has under him. So, after we get King Armand out the remaining army will come in and distract them so you can tend to Jayson.”

  “When will we proceed? Armand has been there long enough.”

  “In two days’, time. Everyone will be here by tomorrow they will have one night to rest then they will start the mission the next day. The humans will monitor all movement during the day and the rest of us will move out at dusk.”

  “As soon as everyone is here, I need an audience with everyone in the throne room.” I say with authority in my voice.

  “Of course, Akasha. I also wanted to talk to you about something else.” he says with nervousness flowing out of him which makes me look up. He looks down at me and gave me a simple smile. “Let’s speak in my sitting room.” I say as I lead him past my sleeping quarters and opened the door right next to it. We walk into the room that is filled with some kind of techno music blaring loudly and see Lily dancing around the room oblivious to us. She turns and when she finally notices us, she jumps and screeches so loud the people in the next country probably heard her. She quickly turns off the music. Her face is so red, and she covers her face with her hands before starting to apologize. I cannot help but laugh she really is an adorable girl. “Oh, Lily I do the same thing when I am alone. So, no need to be embarrassed. I am sure even prim and proper Bassel here does the same when he thinks he is alone. However, I am sorry to disturb you, I was not aware you were still here.” I tell her trying to make her feel a little less embarrassed. “Your majesty I am deeply sorry. I can head back to my room. Nadia knew my love of music and said I could use this room since it is unused much.” She says in a rush and all I can think was how the poor girl was still so nervous around me. “Nonsense, no need for to apologize. I hardly use this room Nadia was correct in letting you use it.”

  “Thank you very much my Queen. I will be going now; I have some chores that need tending too.”

  “Of course, Lily. Bassel and I will have a quick meeting here and when you are done with your chores ask Nadia to find me. I have some things I would like to discuss with you.”

  “Yes, your majesty.” she says with a bow and then made her exit. I look over to Bassel about to show him to a seat when I notice he is frozen in place. The look on his face could only be described as a look of astonishment. “Bassel. Is everything alright?” Laying my hand on his shoulder while I ask trying to break him out of whatever spell he is in at the moment. He shakes his head like he was trying to shake out whatever thoughts he had going on inside his head. “Yes, my Queen. I am alright. Who was that girl?” I can sense his unease and saw how he was fidgeting with his hands. I lead him to his seat and as we both took our places I say, “That was Lily. She has been placed on a probation of sorts due to her silence of the knowledge she had of Armand’s capture. Why, is something wrong?”

  “She is my mate.” His words held no room for argument. Now at least I understand the look that was on his face I say to myself. “I thought the punishment for something of that nature was death?”

  “It normally is, however, Lily is a young vampire and has been secluded from the rest of her kind here by Lissett. I believed leniency was required. Since the time her punishment was handed down, she has excelled. As a matter of fact, that is what I plan on speaking to her about later this evening.”

  “That was a very compassionate thing to do for her. Our people need a benevolent Queen, I am quite impressed Akasha.”

  I sigh a tired sigh before replying. “I hope I can be the Queen they need Bassel. Anyhow, what did you want to speak about?”

  “I wanted to talk to you about Tei and I coming to stay with you up here. She and I both feel like we should get to know you and your chosen. We also know that when Armand returns, and the immediate threat is gone you will need to stay up here for a good amount of time. You will now have two kingdoms to run. While we would love for you to return right away, we know this will be impossible. Your people here need to know who you are, also we have a wedding to plan,” he says with an exciting grin. “We have others in charge back in our realm that we trust, so we can afford some time up here. We of course would take turns going back and forth between realms. You will need advisors in both kingdoms, and we can help you find the right ones in ours. While Armand and his circle can find you ones for here.” When he is done, he waits for my response and seems a bit uneasy.

  “Why are you nervous, Bassel?” I cannot help but ask.

  “You do not know us well, and I would understand if you were to be hesitant. Tei and I were close with your mother and neither of us want to fail you.” His words hit home and seemed to have been filled with more emotion that he was used to because I saw his eyes moistened just before he looks away breaking eye contact.

  “I would be honored for you and Tei to take turns visiting this kingdom and teaching me more of our ways in the Soul Realm. Thank you for your service Bassel.” I really am appreciative of him coming to me the way he did. It shows respect and like my father I value that immensely.

  “Thank you very much Akasha.” We stand and make our way to the door and as he is leaving, he turns to me and with a hesitated voice asks “Akasha, would it be too much to ask to be in the meeting with Lily and you this evening?”

  With a smile on my face and in my voice, I answer him, “Of course, I will have Nadia call for you before we start.” He thanks and me and heads down the hall toward his room and I cannot help but smile inwardly knowing he has found his mate. I needed good news I think to myself.

  The night went on and I had just finished my weapons training with Jin when Nadia came to fetch me for the meeting with Lily. We made our way to the meeting room and I was an excited to speak with her about my ideas. I hope she will like them and accept them. If not, I will not force her. Even though she withheld information, I have grown rather fond of her and wish her nothing but the best. When I walk into my sitting room Bassel and Lily were already there waiting for me. They were both looking everywhere else but at each other. I inwardly laugh at the situation and proceed on greeting them and taking our seats. Best to get this over quick, these two have lots to discuss I giggle to myself. “Good evening. Let us make this meeting brief. It is late and we have a bid day tomorrow. Lily as you know I am the future Queen to the House of Obscurite kingdom, what you may not know is I am also the rightful heir to the Soul Realm.” I give her a moment to react to the news and given the look on her face realization as to who I am destined to be came quick. “I can see by the look on your face that you know what that means.” Lily slowly nods in agreement. “Wonderful. Well, Bassel is from that realm and was close with the Mother Queen and if he accepts will be my Guardian of the Realm.” I look over to him just as he snaps his head towards me. With a look of awe and gratitude he nods, and I returned his nod. “Lily, this brings me to why I wanted to speak with you. First, I would like to tell you how impressed I have been the past few weeks at how you have adjusted within the house. Nadia has nothing but kind words about you personally as well as your work. Nadia says she has you working at a housemaid. How are you liking that kind of work?”

  “My Queen, it pleases me that Nadia is pleased with my work and I also thank you for letting me know. As far as the work itself, I do enjoy i
t. I mostly enjoy the parts when I get to help the ladies get ready. Something about dressing them up makes me feel like I am a kid again and playing with dolls. I know it seems silly.” She says in a shy voice and a slight soft giggle with the last sentence.

  “Not silly at all! I am pleased to hear that because I have a proposition for you. I need a lady in waiting. Someone to help me get ready for the day and honestly it will be a hard job. I would much rather roll around in my pajamas all day than get into those elegant dresses.” I laugh when a memory of me arguing with Nadia about having to wear a dress the first week I got here. “I would also need you to be an assistant if you will. You will act as a liaison between me and others. You will have a list of who can have constant access to me and who you will have to keep waiting etc. Nadia will teach you all this of course. Nadia is a wonderful and sweet lady and has had to put up with a lot dealing with me.” I chuckle again. ‘I worry she is overwhelmed at the moment. I would like to move her to house manager so she can delegate some of the roles and make her life a little easier.” “I should tell you that with this position, however if you choose to accept will keep you within the Palace. You will also have to travel with me between realms. It will require you to stay by sides most of the day actually. Please know however, that I do understand if you choose not to accept. I know how secluded you were with Lissett and I do not want you to feel that way ever again.” I release a bit of empathy to show her I understand her past pain and I do not want to cause more. I look up to her and I realize that she has an amazing poker face, because I cannot read what she is thinking. At least until a smile formed on her mouth and simply says, “I would be honored My Queen.”