The Crown Prophecy

by M. D. Laird

  Does he regret what he said? Did he mean what he said, but thinks he went too far? She smothered her internal chaos with an external air of indifference in Ezra’s presence.

  “Is the library really necessary, Your Majesty?” he asked.

  “Yes,” said Eve, “I have had to abandon everything I know and love from my old life, including my love of learning. I do not regret that I have been made Crown, and I will do my best to serve you well. All I ask in return is a little piece of happiness for myself.” Ezra blinked. This was the most she had ever spoken to him and Eve felt her indifference fail her. She blinked away the tears that threatened her yet again.

  Why can I not speak without crying?

  “I apologise if I have seemed unkind, Your Majesty,” said Ezra, shifting uncomfortably at the sight of Eve’s emotional outburst. “I shall ask the carpenters to start work on the library as a matter of priority.” He bowed to her and turned to leave then paused. “It is not our way to accept donations,” he said, “especially from demons, though perhaps on this occasion, the Treasurer may prefer that to investing Impærielas funds. The prince has, after all, done a great deal to ensure your safety.”

  Eve smiled at him with a mixture of joy that she would get her library after all and relief that she had finally won some degree of empathy from the steely advisor.

  Calab had sent a lot of books. Eve guessed around five hundred volumes, and most were leather-bound antique works of classic literature although there were many contemporary titles. There were many poetical works. Eve wondered why demons, who were generally unfeeling, had such regard for poetry.

  Asmodeus Prince Calab of the First Order,

  Thank you for your generous offer and your generous donation of books. I am beyond grateful for your kindness. Work has already begun on my library, and I hope to be able to enjoy it very soon. Thank you again.

  Warmest regards

  Queen Genevieve of Impærielas, Crown of Arkazatinia

  HM Queen Genevieve of Impærielas, Crown of Arkazatinia,

  You are, of course, very welcome. I must confess that it is not an unselfish gesture. It brings me happiness to offer you kindness, and I make the gesture in an attempt to remedy the hurt caused by my cruelty. I should never have treated you as I did. I did not mean what I said and only said what I did to deter you from having such thoughts of me. I am afraid I am not able to offer you more than my friendship. I do offer you my friendship, and I hope you will accept.

  Ex Animo

  Calab

  Eve smiled to herself, after almost a year they were finally friends. She could not imagine why he had suddenly changed his mind but felt as though she would never truly understand Asmodeus Prince Calab.

  Dear Calab,

  I will not pretend that I understand your motives though I will accept your friendship. I have forgiven you for what you said. Despite my anger with you, I knew in my heart that the words were not spoken from yours. I can accept that my feelings are unrequited, and I respect your feelings as they are. There is no need to go to such lengths to prevent my advances.

  Warmest regards

  Queen Genevieve

  March 2013

  The scouts had scoured Baltica and had found nothing of interest. They had seen no further evidence of any order visiting there, and the Elion had not returned. The alliance suspected this may be due to the adverse winter weather in Baltica and agreed they would continue to keep a close watch. They had kept eyes on Laurasia, and the Elion had not seemed to behave in a way that would cause suspicion. Monitoring of the witches had revealed nothing. The Berith prince had men keeping a watch on known dark alchemists in Laurasia. Otherwise, everything appeared to be peaceful.

  Eve focussed her efforts on her reformation of the Crown and with the help of Lord Tharazan, she had drafted her reforms and was planning for the papers to be looked over by the alliance before they could be finalised. Eve felt that the process of involving everybody meant that changing the simplest rule took much longer than it had when she changed the role of the Crown in the defence. The alliance would drop everything at a moment’s notice to attend to matters of security, but for everything else, they dragged their heels and wanted lots of time to read over everything and think everything through. Eve thought she should probably take note of that method as she generally made decisions on the hoof without considering anything.

  Regardless of how long it took, Eve was happy with the changes and was looking forward to presenting the plans for representatives to the guardians and Arkazatine citizens. She was less excited about giving her intentions for an Impærielas representative to the Impærielas. Eve had briefly discussed the role with Shanna, her secretary, who said that she was not sure how it would be received. She thought there would be many who would not like the change, but she thought there would be others who may like the opportunity. It was not an outright ‘they’ll hate it’, still, the thought of suggesting it to the Impærielas made her nervous. She was yet to work up the nerve to ask for electricity in her room and expected to be still using her rechargeable DVD player for many years to come.

  “We should have everything finalised in the next month or so, Your Majesty,” said Tharazan. “Then you can start presenting the proposals in the summer and hopefully have a full quorum by autumn.”

  Eve smiled. “Is there anyone else who has been missed out?”

  “The dark alchemists and the witches,” he said, “and perhaps the beasts of Baltica, otherwise I think we’re covered.”

  “Do you think we should approach the witches, Lord Tharazan?” asked Eve curiously.

  “One day perhaps,” he said. “We should probably take things one step at a time, or we’ll give everyone a heart attack.”

  Eve laughed. “Maybe you’re right.” She enjoyed working with Tharazan, he was easy to talk to, smart, funny and devastatingly handsome, and he was single. She wished that she could feel something for him or someone like him the way she felt about Calab.

  It would be so easy and so uncomplicated, but she could not bring herself to think about anyone else. Every cell and every neuron were tuned to Calab. He occupied her every thought, her every desire and it was all for nothing because he did not want her. At least, that was what he said. Sometimes she felt as though he wanted her, most of the time she felt he hated her. Everything about him confused her.

  Despite his offer of friendship, they had spent no time together or spoken to each other outside of Crown matters since she received the letter from him in January. It was not out of the ordinary for Calab to go weeks or months without speaking to her though she still craved his attention and every time she saw him, she willed him to invite her to supper. She could have asked him, of course, but the awkwardness she imagined would follow asking him convinced her that it was not a good idea. Tharazan looked up from his papers and gave her a dazzling smile.

  Why can I not just like him instead?

  April arrived and with it, springtime. Eve took advantage of the warmer weather and took Aethon out onto the planes. She allowed him his head as he lengthened his stride and increased his speed. She clung to the reins, her breath escaping her and her cloak billowing behind her.

  Damn, he is fast!

  Aethon brought himself to a trot and then to a walk a few miles from the guild. She walked him slowly to a stream to allow him to recover, his coat was steaming with sweat and his muscles heaved. The horse was a powerhouse, and despite the intensity and distance he had run, he still had more to give.

  She removed his saddle and bridle and gave him a rub down while he drank from the stream. When he had drunk his fill, she tethered him close by using a length of rope and a stake she carried in her saddlebag. The horse began to graze while Eve propped herself against some rocks and ate the picnic she had packed. She had started to doze and was woken with a start by one of her guards shaking her.

  “Wake up, Your Majesty,” he said urgently. “We must leave here im
mediately. Something is not right.”

  “What is it, Raum?” Eve asked the Berith demon.

  “There’s something not right, Cassiell and I both sense it,” said Raum, indicating to the angel guard. “We need to go now. We’ll fly you back.”

  “What about Aethon?” exclaimed Eve.

  “You’re going to have to leave him,” said Cassiell. “Turn him loose. Hopefully, he will find his way home.”

  “I’m not leaving him,” said Eve. “I’ll ride him back.”

  “No, Your Majesty,” said Raum sternly. “I will take you by force if I have to, we are leaving now.”

  She looked up at the demon’s face and saw it bristled with concern. “Okay,” she said, holding up her hands in defeat. Cassiell quickly untethered Aethon and turned him towards the guild. “Go home, Aethon,” she told the horse without hope that he would or that she would see him again. Raum snatched her into his arms, and they flew blindingly fast. Eve started to feel anxious about what had spooked the guards. She could see or feel nothing. They flew past the Guild of Impærielas. “Where are we going?”

  “The Guild of Asmodeus,” replied Raum. “We cannot protect you well from your guild.”

  “What did you sense, Raum?”

  “I’m not sure, Your Majesty,” he said. “We have our suspicions, but we can’t be certain. It is not our place to say, only to keep you safe.”

  “Thank you,” she said. She felt relieved they were taking her to safety though she could not help feeling worried for Aethon. She hoped he would make it back to the stables and whatever had spooked the guards did not catch him first.

  Raum and Cassiell landed in the courtyard of the Guild of Asmodeus and ran towards the entrance. They were met by Nakhiel, and Raum said, “A team of guards for the queen, immediately. We need to meet the prince at once.”

  They entered the guild and Eve was suddenly surrounded by demons. She felt terrified and nauseous.

  What is going on?

  “The prince is on decree,” said Nakhiel.

  “Summon him and the alliance,” said Raum.

  “I will do it at once,” Nakhiel replied, retrieving his vox from his pocket.

  Eve was soon seated in the kitchen with Raum and Cassiell and surrounded by Asmodeus demons. Charon had placed a tea tray in front of her which she accepted gratefully. Calab arrived twenty minutes later.

  “What’s happened?” he asked, striding into the kitchen. Raum and Cassiell both left and motioned for Calab to follow them, leaving Eve behind feeling utterly confused. Calab returned within a few minutes. “Your Majesty,” he said, “please follow me to my office—bring your tea. I want four guards—everyone else stay alert. Is anyone monitoring the perimeter?”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” said Nakhiel, “I have four out there now. It is clear so far.”

  “Good,” said Calab. “Let me know immediately if anything changes.” Nakhiel nodded.

  Calab escorted Eve to his office followed by Raum and Cassiell and by Turel and Barakel who, not on duty today, were without their midnight blue uniforms. Eve sat opposite Calab in his office, and the guards took their positions by the wall. Eve was nervous now, the guards always kept their posts in the corridor.

  “What is happening?” she asked.

  “Your guards sensed the presence of vexed souls.”

  “What are vexed souls?”

  “Do you remember I told you that there were once powerful dark alchemists who could manipulate the souls of others and they sold them to the witches?”

  “Yes,” said Eve, “you said they could not go to Heaven or Hell and spent an eternity feeling nothing, but trying to find the light.”

  “It should be an eternity,” said Calab, “I have never known any to be released, but your guards have sensed them.”

  “What does that mean?” asked Eve. “Are they dangerous?”

  “It is difficult to say,” said Calab. “I have never known them to be released before, without knowing why they have been released, and if they are being controlled by someone, we can’t know. I don’t know what they’re capable of.”

  “This must be the work of the dark alchemists, right? Who else could know how to release them?”

  “Most likely,” he said. “Whoever it is, you are likely to be the target.”

  “Could they hurt my horse?”

  “I don’t know. Though I am surprised you agreed to leave him behind.”

  “I didn’t have much choice.” Eve smirked towards Raum and Cassiell. “I was told I would be taken by force if I did not leave.”

  Calab grinned. “It sounds like your guards have earned a pay rise; ensuring the queen’s safety and unlocking the secret to getting her to do as she is told in the same day.”

  Eve laughed. “I hope Aethon is okay, though. I’ve grown very fond of him.”

  “Animals have good senses, and they usually know when to flee from danger. He will most likely run onto someone’s land. They may keep him or sell him as he is a valuable stallion, but at least, he would be safe.”

  She could not think any more about Aethon. “Will any of the alliance know anything more about the vexed souls?”

  “I really cannot tell you anything more,” he said. “The others should start arriving soon, we will just sit tight for now and decide when they get here.”

  Thalia was the first to arrive accompanied by Mikæl. Tharazan was in Eurasia on business and arrived shortly after.

  “Causing problems again, Your Majesty? I’ve not known a moment’s peace since you arrived here.”

  “I like to make my presence felt, Lord Tharazan.” Eve smiled.

  Over the next few hours, the alliance began to arrive with the Laurasian and Laurentian rulers using their aerial vectors to travel quickly. They all assembled in Calab’s library with Charon keeping them supplied with tea and coffee. So far, only Jacob had any information.

  “I have never known them to be released, but I have heard that it is possible,” he said. “There are some old tales of wraiths roaming the earth trying to bargain to find peace.”

  “Bargain what?” asked Calab.

  “It may just be a story,” continued Jacob, “but they can bargain with the one who took their souls, the dark alchemists, for example, they may offer them a deal in exchange for their services.”

  “What sort of deal?”

  “They need to die a true death to find either Heaven or Hell?”

  “You mean they could offer to kill them?” asked Calab, looking puzzled.

  “Or offer to release them from the limbo as long as they agreed to fight for them, and they would be killed in action and their souls released to Heaven or Hell.”

  “Those alchemists were killed.”

  “Perhaps the same power in another alchemist can release them.”

  “What are they capable of?” asked Calab. “And how would we kill them?”

  “I don’t know.” Jacob sighed. “I don’t even know if we are even talking of the same wretches.” Jacob glanced around the library. “Do you have anything here?”

  “I don’t think so. It’s mostly literature from Lycea; there are some more ancient texts there.” He pointed to a block of shelves at the far side of the library. “If there is anything it will likely be there.”

  Calab walked with Jacob to show him the section he meant.

  “How long have you had feelings for Her Majesty?” Jacob whispered.

  Calab glared at him and glanced around the room to check no one had heard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

  “Calab,” Jacob said gently, “we are brothers. You cannot speak with me?”

  Calab groaned. “Nothing can come of it. I am trying to ignore it.”

  “Why? You had your feelings removed. If you have them back, then it is a gift.”

  “It doesn’t feel like a gift,” grumbled Calab. “It torments me.”

  “She ha
s feelings for you also. I have suspected that she has for a while, you have been more careful I think.”

  “I know she has. I have told her that I want only her friendship. She does not know I have feelings for her.”

  “Calab, don’t you understand how special this is?” Jacob whispered. “You have learned to love and have earned love in return. That’s wonderful for anyone, but for a demon even more so.”

  “You don’t understand how painful it is, Jacob.” Jacob frowned at him, and Calab looked at the floor.

  Of course he knew, we had all known.

  “I do, brother,” Jacob said, “but you can act on your feelings now, you don’t have to deny them anymore. It is a gift, Calab—cherish it.” Calab stood silently and bit his lip. “Think about it. And don’t worry; I will keep your confidence.” Calab brought a hand to Jacob’s shoulder and gave him a weak smile before looking through the books.

  Eve watched Calab and Jacob talk in the corner of the library. The fierce demon and the beautiful angel. Every book she had read and every film she had watched that featured angels and demons pictured them as enemies waging an eternal war against each other. Yet, they were at peace. They were confidants, allies, friends and brothers. She could see Calab looked uncomfortable with whatever they were talking about, deeper than that, however, she could see they shared a bond. She had seen it before in her guard. A demon was always paired with an angel; they joined in a common shared goal. They were a symbol of perfect unity, of perfect polarity. A true allegiance of dark and light, of Heaven and Hell. What was their allegiance for? What was their common goal? What made them work so well together? She had puzzled over this many times since she realised that angels and demons did actually get along with each other. Calab might have had an answer, but it felt like prying to ask him.