"You really think I have any chance of killing Verago?" Altheus asked.
"Not as you are. But once I'm through training you, and with the help of a little dagger, I'm sure you'll defeat him."
"A dagger?"
"A special one. Black-and-white striped handle," Agalia explained. "Don't worry, I know where we can find it. We have plenty of time. But then, I send you to the Depths to take care of business."
"And why would you rather I accept the curse?"
"The curse means I don't have to use my tail. And, on the off chance you fail, I would prefer to not be standing right next to you."
"Fine." The prince's tone was flat. "Let's get this over with."
Agalia was filled with cautious optimism. After listening to Erynion drone on for hours with his list of demands, she was startled by Altheus's sudden submission.
The prince rattled his chains. "I think you have to take these off of me first."
Agalia waved her hand, and the metal links slithered away. "Even though time moves much faster within my mind, I'm pleased you don't wish to stand around and engage in idle chatter. Now, stand up."
Altheus complied. Once on his feet, he straightened his back and held his head high.
"Good. Don't get too comfortable standing, though." Agalia knew his energy was nothing compared to hers. She moved in closer and smiled deviously. "Unless you want to try something."
"What could I possibly do to you in here?"
Her hand shot out and grasped his throat.
Altheus clutched her wrist. Struggling to breathe, he was barely able to speak. "What…are you…doing?"
Agalia silently studied his face as the prince dropped to his knees. She wanted to see the fear in his eyes. She wanted to see the same panic she felt when Erynion squeezed the life out of her. But it wasn't there. She grunted and released the prince.
Altheus coughed.
"Pathetic," Agalia said. "Get on your feet."
The prince reached out and took hold of her wrist.
"What's the meaning of this?" Agalia tried to jerk her arm away, but he only held on tighter.
"Your reign ends tonight." Altheus grabbed her forearm with his other hand. "Now!"
"What are you doing?" Agalia pointed her glaive at his chest but paused when she sensed something out of place. All around her, the energy aligned with Ezmirelda started to move. Hundreds of people, the minds of her victims she had trapped, flowed out of the buildings. But, it was all wrong. These minds were supposed to be powerless, husks of their souls, but this wasn't the case. Each one carried a sliver of Ezmirelda's energy. This was a trap!
Escaping would be easy enough. She simply needed to leave her mindscape, but the prince was still holding her. Agalia yanked her arm backward. "Let me go!"
Altheus flopped forward onto the ground, and his nails dug into her skin.
The Seductress plunged her blade into his back. The prince roared, but his grip only tightened. As the crowd descended on her in from all sides, Agalia repeatedly stabbed Altheus until he finally released her. But it was too late. The first of her victims jumped on her, clinging to any exposed part of her body. How had this happened? How did she miss the signs? Unfortunately, there were more pressing matters, and she wasn't able to dwell on those questions.
Agalia swung her arm and threw one of her assailants back into the crowd. But, before she could free her other arm, another one of her victims latched on to her. She felt pinpricks all over her body, as if she were being stabbed by a dozen needles. Afraid she would be unable to overcome her attackers, she began to panic, but her rage quickly pushed it aside. She would not be made to look like a fool again. Fueled further by the pain of the needles, anger rushed into her thoughts.
How dare they? How dare Altheus trespass in my mind? How dare he trick me? How dare Ezmirelda betray me like this? How dare all of these souls, whom I have given shelter for centuries, conspire against me?
Who were they anyway? No one of consequence. They were still weak, just as they were in life. A little energy from Ezmirelda would never change that. The queen's power paled in comparison to Agalia's. And she was not about to let an army of ants nibble her to death.
"No," the Seductress said between clenched teeth. "NO!"
The demon whirled around, wildly swinging her blade. She roared as she sliced through anyone foolish enough to get close. She used her weapon's hook to pry her assailants loose. Her focus was singular. Get free and kill the girl. Her desire to make Altheus suffer through the greatest pain a parent could experience motivated her to fight harder. She didn't care if the Denhauli ripped her apart. Those wolves were the furthest thing from her thoughts.
However, nothing seemed to stem the flow of attackers. Though they were being mercilessly slaughtered, they continued to throw themselves at Agalia. Since the fight began, she had easily dispensed with dozens of souls. But her victim list was so much longer, and she knew they would just keep coming. The pain from the needle pricks was compounding, and blood was pouring from tiny wounds all over her body. The last thing she needed was a drawn-out battle. She had to end this quickly before she became overwhelmed by the constant assault. Only one solution came to mind. It would be inefficient, but she had enough energy to release a shock wave from her being. The spell would be strong enough to free her from any grasps and also blast the entire crowd backward. For a moment, her power would be drained, but luckily, she had some reserves thanks to Maligus and Sonojj. With her attackers stunned, she could draw on that energy and escape.
So as not to waste another moment, Agalia launched her glaive into the crowd and clapped her hands together as hard as she could. The boom was deafening as the shock wave radiated outward. Bodies flew through the air. Some collided with walls while others landed on rooftops. In the center of the square, Agalia stared at her hands as she tried to compose herself. Little rivers of blood flowed down her arms and pooled in her palms. The pain was a nuisance, but her injuries weren't severe. Once she tapped into the energy from Maligus and Sonojj, the bleeding would stop.
Agalia's eyes drifted up as she scanned the scene. Any lingering panic vanished and her anger steadily subsided as she was clearly back in control. No one was holding on to her. No one was even near her. The Seductress smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. The trap had nearly worked, but her shrewd intellect had pulled her through. As her victims slowly rose to their feet, Agalia spotted Ezmirelda stooping beside the prince's body. The sight of the pair reignited her rage.
"I must give credit where it's due," the Seductress said. "That was a clever plan, but futile. The needles were a nice touch. I assume you chose such tiny weapons because of your energy limitations, but the irony isn't lost on me either. And now, if you'll excuse me, there's a little girl who must suffer the consequences of your treachery."
"No, stop!" Ezmirelda shouted. "If you kill Sereyna, it's over for you. The wolves will tear you apart…tear us apart. Or do you really think you can escape the Depths twice?"
Agalia reached for the sky to acquire the energy she desperately needed. "I seriously doubt that. Once the girl is dead, I'll force Altheus to do my bidding with the Curse of Submission. I'm thinking a purge will do nicely to wipe out those mongrels."
But something was off. Instead of being infused with the energy she had taken from Maligus and Sonojj, there was nothing. Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked up into the sky and waved her hands about.
"Something wrong?" Ezmirelda asked.
Agalia glared at the queen, who now wore a devious smirk. Panic took hold of her at the sensation of metal wrapping around her ankles. The shackles squeezed tightly against her skin.
"No, that's impossible." The Seductress pulled at one leg in an attempt to break free, but her foot wouldn't budge. Her breathing quickened as she locked eyes with the queen once more. "How? How did you do this? Where is my energy?"
Ezmirelda ignored her and helped Altheus to his knees. "You're seriously injured. You need to return to y
our body immediately."
Hunched over, the prince gasped for air. "I need…to see."
"There's no sense in accidentally getting stuck here. There's nothing more you can do. Go back to your own body so you'll heal quicker. I will take care of the rest. You have my word."
Altheus nodded. "Make sure…Sereyna…"
"Yes, I'll find your girl and send her back. Now, go."
The prince faded away, and Ezmirelda set her sights on the Seductress.
"What do you think you've accomplished?" Agalia asked with disdain. "I may be stuck here for now, but I'm still in control of our body. Which means, no one is going anywhere, including Sereyna."
"Well, you're right about that." The queen strolled toward the Seductress as the crowd of Agalia's victims formed a ring around them. "You are in control, but with no energy, you're not going anywhere either."
"I'll get it back. I just have to wait."
"Oh? Your arms tell a different story."
Agalia examined her skin to find the blood had nearly stopped flowing. Her smug attitude fell to the wayside and her lip quivered as the queen's meaning dawned on her. Any energy she naturally recovered would be automatically diverted to heal her wounds. As long as she remained injured, she would never recoup the energy needed to break free.
For only the second time in centuries, the Seductress felt helpless. The thought of eternal pain terrified her. Agalia clasped her hands together to keep them from trembling. "So, you're just going to keep hurting me forever?"
"Not me. I wouldn't have the endurance." The queen gestured to the crowd. "But the hundreds of people you trapped here. The people whose lives you cut short. The people you stole from their loved ones. I think they can keep you injured for a long, long time."
"So, that's it then? We're going to be trapped here forever while my victims torture me? I suppose you think that's a just punishment. I stabbed them with my tail, and now they get to stab me back."
"I don't believe there is any punishment severe enough for all the atrocities you've committed, but I suppose this will be a good start."
"You'll feel it too," the Seductress warned.
Ezmirelda motioned for the crowd to move in. "What was it you said? 'The pain I'll experience will pale in comparison to what you'll go through.' A willing sacrifice."
There had to be another way. Agalia's mind raced to figure out an escape, but without energy, it was hopeless. The first set of her past victims took hold and began jamming their needles into her arms. One person threatening her with such an insignificant weapon would have been laughable, but dozens of pricks over and over made it exceedingly difficult to concentrate. There was no way she could discover a solution like this.
"Wait!" Agalia shouted. "Wait, please."
She was granted a reprieve from the attack. The queen gently pushed aside the crowd and appeared before the Seductress. Despite having the upper hand, Ezmirelda was frowning. "If you have something to say, best to say it quickly."
"Why so sad? Does it hurt you so much?"
"It's not the pain," the queen explained. "I don't take any pleasure in this, but unfortunately, it's a necessity."
Agalia took a couple of breaths to cope with her fresh wounds. "What do you want?"
"We both know what I want, and that eventually I'll get it. The question is how long will you endure this torture before you give me the crown? In one minute, I'm going to go to Moultia Palace and leave you here with all these souls. And I won't be back for some time. So, I need an answer."
Agalia faced an impossible choice, but at least if she relinquished control, she would have time and clarity to think. She would be able to plot her revenge in peace while Ezmirelda traipsed around with Altheus.
"Fine. You win." The Seductress reached up and removed the crown from her head. "Just tell me one thing. How did you do it? How did you and Altheus destroy the barrier and still have energy to set this trap?"
"We never destroyed the barrier. We used it to block the energy you took from Maligus and Sonojj."
Agalia snorted. "You moved it, and I couldn't sense what you'd done because it was Verago's barrier. That's brilliant. We really are two pieces of the same mind. So, what caused the damage to my city? My statue?"
"All superficial. Residual energy was placed to give the illusion that the barrier had exploded as well as mask the energy I distributed among your victims. The statue?" Ezmirelda glanced at the fallen sculpture. "Well, most of them were more than pleased to help me push it over. It was the least I could do after what you did to my statues in the real Alova."
"That was ages ago. You sure know how to hold a grudge."
"I suppose that's something else we share, isn't it?" The queen held out her hand to accept her prize. "Now, if you don't mind. The crown."
Chapter 40
A soft touch on his hand brought Aksilacarn out of his dreamless sleep and into a dimly lit room. Panic momentarily seized him as the ambience reminded him of his prison for the last few days, but he soon relaxed. He vaguely remembered the rescue attempt and the watchers carrying him to the station infirmary. But once his head hit the pillow, he had passed out.
Aksil intended to wipe the sleep from his eyes but was disturbed to find both his wrists bound. The fear came rushing back as he tugged at his restraints.
"Shh. Calm down," the hushed voice said.
There was minimal slack in the rope, but enough for Aksil to rest on his elbows. The single lantern in the room barely lit the familiar face of his visitor. "Layola?"
Layola smiled. "So, you remember me."
"I know. It's been so long. It only seems like yesterday you left me for dead in Hable's basement. Have you come to finally apologize?"
Layola placed her hand on top of Aksil's. The smile dwindled. "I'm sorry."
Aksil raised an eyebrow. The apology was unexpected and sounded sincere. "Really? How about you cut me loose and we can call it even?"
"You don't really want me to do that."
"Why not?"
"If I help you escape now, the watchers will assume it was your Death God friends. The relationship between Alovajj and the kingdom hangs by a thread, and that thread only exists because of Prima Mashira."
Aksil scrunched his eyebrows together. "Last time I checked, you're with the Brotherhood. Wouldn't you want to destroy that thread?"
"I'm not sure." Layola sighed. "I'm not sure what I want. A week ago, I was just a spy. I didn't know the Brotherhood beyond my cell in Light's Haven. And then, I became a thief, a kidnapper. A torturer?"
"You didn't torture me."
"But I sat back and let it happen. Isn't that just as bad? Seeing Hable's cell and his use of deathroot made me wonder if what we're trying to accomplish justifies what we're doing. I still believe Verago deserves to be put back on that wall in the center of this city, but I don't agree with these methods."
"But this is the way it's been for generations," Aksil said matter-of-factly. "A little torture? Far worse has happened to others than what happened to me. Nothing's changed."
"That may be true. But it's changed for me. When I said goodbye to you the other night, I was struggling with much of this, but I pushed it aside. Hable's plan allowed me to resume my post, and Candelux would be none the wiser. Only you knew about my true allegiance, but I wasn't concerned."
"Why?"
"Because Hable"—Layola briefly broke eye contact with Aksil—"revealed himself to you."
"And here I thought it was because you liked me. You thought he was going to kill me."
"No, no. I thought he was going to use deathroot on you. Which is better, but not by much." Layola was quiet for a moment. "Do you believe in second chances?"
Aksil could see the sorrow in her eyes, and part of him wanted to comfort her. "It's never too late to do the right thing. What do you think?"
"I've given it a lot of thought, and I agree. That's why I have to leave."
"Leave? So, this is goodbye? Again?"
Layola nodded. "I can't escape the repercussions from last night. The Death Gods obviously know too much. In a couple of hours, the sun will rise, and Don Millan and Archdon Navi will arrive to have you all released. And then, Candelux will know everything as well. They'll know about Hable, about Don Pike. They'll know about me."
"Where will you go?"
"Somewhere. Anywhere but here."
"Will you go back to Light's Haven?" asked the thief.
"And risk being recognized? Probably not. When I'm done here, I'm going to change out of this robe and disappear. I need to figure out what the right path is on my own."
"That's good. Nothing wrong with a little help too. Maybe I could help you."
"Oh?" Layola said. "Thank you, but no. I need to do this on my own."
"I understand. I hope you find what you're looking for."
"Thank you. Me too."
"So, do you think you'll start looking east first?"
Layola tittered. "You don't give up, do you?"
"If I did, do you think I would've survived in that basement?"
"Fair enough. But even if I knew where I was headed, what makes you think I'd tell you?"
Aksil's heart pounded. He could only guess what her feelings were for him, but perhaps if he put it out in the open, she might admit it. "Because, deep down, you want me to follow you."
"Why would you think that?"
"You're here, aren't you? You already said goodbye to me once. You didn't have to come here and risk being seen by the watchers. But you did, because you wanted to."
"That's true. I did want to see you one last time. But not so you could follow me. I wanted to see you because I suspect I won't ever see you again."
"You won't?"
Layola shook her head.
"That's funny because I'm pretty sure you will." Aksil smirked at Layola's bewildered expression. He knew this feeling in his heart wouldn't allow him to rest until he found her again. "What? I thought you believed in second chances."
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The Forgotten Queen Page 39