Leonetta nodded and adorned the red velvet cape that Ellijah handed her. She took his arm and stepped out into the sun, looking down as she walked to cover her face. The two walked over the hill and into the plains where the elephants stood, long, wooden ladders leading up to brightly colored huts on their backs. They stopped momentarily as the servants of Cyclopian exited the cabin and stood at attention next to the elephant.
Leonetta took one step at a time, making sure to not catch her gown under her feet. She rubbed one hand across the soft skin of her ride before continuing upward. The foul smell of the animal was quickly extinguished as she entered the hut and smiled at the comfort it provided. Large, fluffed pillows covered the area and incense in the fragrance of lavender smoked heavily in the corner. She took a seat next to the fabric-covered window and allowed the small breeze to hit her in the face. She slipped her sandals off and ran her bare feet over the soft silk covering the wooden floor of the hut.
Leonetta watched as Ellijah climbed into the building and took a seat in the opposite corner, situating his sword beside him. For her, this was a comforting place with many amenities she missed from being the princess. However, for Ellijah, she sensed this was more of protection duty than anything else. They sat quietly for only a moment before the loud horns at the lead blared out across the land. The movement of the elephant was a bit frightening, but Leonetta quickly got used to it. She peeked out of the window at the groups of ogres below, marching as well as they could with their sizeable girth.
The troops moved slower than she was used to, but they would reach Athanasia by nightfall. Knowing that she was so close to her home brought her comfort, and she leaned back into the soft, silken threads and closed her eyes. The cool breeze from the window relaxed her muscles, and she napped until midday. As the elephants came to a stop, she aw0ke and looked to Ellijah for instruction.
“We stay put,” he replied as he watched a look of worry come across Leonetta’s face. “It is lunch. They will bring us food while the ogres eat. They are not like shifters or humans, they must eat several times a day to keep the ability to march such long distances.”
Leonetta nodded her head in understanding and pressed her head against the side of the hut. As the breeze blew the cloth open and closed, she could see King Byron sitting in his own cabin just across the fields. He was writing something, and his face held a look of peace and calm. Byron glanced up, feeling the eyes of someone and met with Leonetta. He nodded and smiled, and she returned the gesture before pulling back from the opening.
“Do you always travel upon elephants?” Leonetta asked Ellijah as the servants began to enter into the huts. They carried fruits and cheeses on platters atop their heads while they climbed the tall ladders.
“No,” he replied, his attitude seeming to be more abrupt than their first meeting. “Only to special occasions like the queen’s mark.”
Leonetta smiled at the young servant who handed her a plate of food and a glass of wine. She thought of Ashia and hoped she was faring well with the Wild. She had promised to send shifters out as soon as she arrived to bring her Hand to the freedom of the Vale. Ashia had already asked to stay as her Hand once she reached freedom, and Leonetta was more than happy to oblige. She had known that the Vale was a place where servants were those that chose to live a life in service to the kingdom and hoped that Ashia would stay on as her other half.
After some time, two small bursts of sound came from the trumpets, signaling the impending movement. The servants hustled about, collecting the empty platters and cups. Leonetta watched as they descended the giant, gray beasts and pulled the ladders back with them. The ogres’ servants were all human, which was strange to Leonetta but not unheard of. She assumed that having ogre servants would be a bit of an issue when maneuvering in such tight spaces. Besides, the ogres were a noble creature, and she couldn’t imagine any of them going peacefully into servitude.
The journey continued until late into the evening, and as the trumpets blared, Leonetta looked excitedly out of the window. They had reached the forests that surrounded Athanasia and would walk from here. Ellijah helped the princess onto the ladder and waited to descend until she had reached the ground safely. Leonetta pulled the red hood over her head and followed Ellijah into the group of servants that walked along in a group. They, too, were wearing red capes, their hoods pulled up to hide their status.
The walk through the woods was long, and they reached the gates to Athanasia just before the night had completely taken over. Leonetta looked up at the looming, white marble walls in awe as she passed over the suspension bridge leading to the two massive wooden doors. They were carved to look like trees and vines, and a blue glow came from the edges.
“What is that blue glow?” Leonetta asked Ellijah.
“Only fae can see whatever you see,” he responded. “But I am to assume it is a protective spell against attacks.”
Butterflies filled Leonetta’s stomach as she passed through the glowing gates into her home. Even the visions the king had shown her long ago did not do justice to Athanasia’s splendor. At the front of the brigade, King Byron met with the Avalon commander, but Leonetta could not hear what they conversed about. Either way, Leonetta knew that just hours from then, she would be in her rightful place and once again feel the embrace of her father.
Chapter Eight: The Necklace
Water dripped down the dark walls beneath the city of Athanasia. The smell of mold and decay cursed Asphodul’s senses, and she pulled the edge of her cape over her face as she walked. After all the marks she spent exploring the castle grounds, she had never ventured into the dungeons beneath the castle. With the fae’s ability to expel anyone they wished, the dungeons were not widely used. However, with the appearance of one of Osiris’ men, they had decided it better that he stay within the city walls until Asphodul’s sister had been found.
Asphodul jumped as a large, hairy rat scurried across the stone floors and into the darkness. She held the lantern up close to her, trying to see as far into the hall as she could. As she passed the vacant watch station, she grabbed the keys to the cell off the wall. Her father would not be pleased if he knew she was wandering the halls of the dungeons, but she needed to get to the man they had arrested earlier. She knew he had more knowledge than he was giving up. And even if he refused to omit that information, Asphodul wanted to see the face of the man that was hunting her sister.
She approached the closed cell slowly and sat her lantern on the floor at her feet. She peered inside the dark recesses where the prisoner was kept and found him lying in a corner on the floor. He did not move as she stood there, waiting for him to walk forward.
“Do you not have enough reverence for your captors to show your face?” Asphodul called out. “Face me, fool, so that I may see the man that hunts my kin.”
Still, even as Asphodul taunted him angrily, the man did not move. She sighed and reached for the keys she had placed in the pocket of her dress. Asphodul stood trying each key until she heard the click of the cell door. She did not fear the man inside as he was chained to the wall, the thick cuffs placed tightly around his wrists and ankles.
“Sir,” she said as she slowly walked toward him, looking down at the untouched plate of food on the ground.
His dirty, worn, Avalon clothing showed in the lantern light, and Asphodul reached out to touch the man on the shoulder. As her fingers pulled on his bony body, his head flopped to the side, and his face brightened with the light of the lantern. Asphodul gasped and jumped back as the man’s dead face stared back at her. A foamy, black liquid was pasted to the skin around his eyes and mouth, and his gaze was firm in death. She covered her mouth and hurried back toward the door. She locked the cell back and placed the keys where she had found them.
As the bravery Asphodul had felt initially began to melt away, she started to run through the twisted halls of the dungeon. Tears streaked her face as she sobbed in fear of what she had just seen. Never before had she seen
a dead body, and this one was enough to imprint in her dreams. As she rounded the corner to the staircase into the castle, she ran face-first into Ardontis. Surprised, he put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her back. She stood wiping the tears from her eyes, the hand holding the lantern shaking.
“Your Grace,” Ardontis said, surprised, “what is wrong? What are you doing in such a dreadful place?”
“I came to talk to the man from Avalon,” she said, trying to stop her sobbing. “But he is dead. There is black all over his face, and his life light is gone.”
“Oh, dear,” Ardontis stated as he reached forward and pulled Asphodul into his embrace. “It seems he has poisoned himself.”
“It was dreadful,” she cried.
“Now, now,” Ardontis said leaning back. “I came to find you and found a flower from your dress at the top of the steps. Your father has asked that you come greet the great ogre king, Byron.”
Asphodul took a deep breath and stepped back from the Faith. She had forgotten that guests were arriving as she spoke. She waved her hand over her face to restore it to a healthy shine. However, no matter how much magic she performed on her saddened physical state, it could not erase the vision she had just seen. She nodded at Ardontis who stood holding the lantern and looking at her with pity.
“I am the future queen of the Vale,” Asphodul stated out loud. “I must pull it together.”
The two made their way out of the grim dungeons and back into the well-lit hallways of the castle. Asphodul tugged on her dress and smoothed her hair before turning into the throne room. She smiled sweetly as the ogres moved to the side to allow her to walk forward.
“Ah,” Anthurium said, smiling as Asphodul approached. “My beautiful daughter, meet King Byron of Cyclopian. He has traveled far to bring good tidings to your mother.”
“I am pleased,” Asphodul said as the king bowed and kissed her hand. “We are very grateful for the love your realm shows our kingdom.”
“It is I who am grateful,” Byron stated, nodding his head. “And to show that, I would like to present a gift that just cannot wait for the party.”
“Oh,” Anthurium stated with excitement, “how wonderful.”
Asphodul walked up and took a seat next to her mother. She smiled insincerely, the visions of the dead prisoner still floating around in her mind. Byron nodded to the ogre, and Asphodul watched as one of his men led a woman wearing a long, red cape into the throne room. Byron turned with showmanship and smiled.
“I hear you have been looking for this,” he said, turning toward the woman.
She slowly lifted her arms and pulled the hood of her cape from her head, exposing long, luscious strands of golden hair. She looked up with a gleam in her eye and smiled at Anthurium. Asphodul’s mouth dropped open, and her father stood slowly and walked toward the girl. He clapped his hands together as he approached and pulled her into his chest.
“Leonetta,” he whispered. “Welcome home, my dear.”
“Oh,” Asphodul covered her mouth as tears strained at her eyes. She stood and raced down the steps, jumping into the outstretched arms of her sister. They hugged for what seemed like forever, and Asphodul could feel the broken threads inside her begin to mend. Leonetta looked up and smiled as she kissed Asphodul on the forehead and met the queen’s loving gaze.
“Your Grace,” Leonetta said as she curtsied to the queen. Seville reached out and touched Leonetta’s face.
“I am sorry for the atrocities that have fallen upon you,” she cooed. “You are home, and I am more than proud to call you my daughter if you will have me.”
The ogres began clapping as Seville took Leonetta in her embrace and smoothed her blonde locks. Leonetta looked to the left where Tyriad stood and smiled as he shook his head, laughing. She stood up from her new mother and looked over at Anthurium.
“Your Grace,” she began, “if it isn’t too much to ask, I have left my Hand and the Wild Dragons of Avalon waiting in the forests two days’ hike from here. Would you send a shifter to lead them home?”
“Of course,” Anthurium stated. “And let us prepare for a feast, for our beautiful princess has finally come home. Asphodul, if you could lead her to her new chambers?”
“Yes, father,” she said excitedly as she took Leonetta’s hand and led her out of the throne room and into the hallways. “Ardontis will be up soon. I am sure he will be thrilled to see you.”
“Wonderful,” Leonetta replied as she looked around the gleaming hallways.
“I shall help you ready for dinner as your Hand is indisposed,” Asphodul offered. “We can catch up on so much.”
The two fae princesses entered Leonetta’s chambers and began preparing for the evening. The tailor of the house brought over some dresses for Leonetta to choose, but she had already allowed Asphodul to use her magic to create a beautiful gown. Leonetta stood in front of the golden mirror in her room, laughing at the incredible power of fae magic.
“I am going to run and get dressed,” Asphodul said, looking over at Leonetta. “Then we can talk about what happened in the woods with Tyriad! I am so happy to have you here, Leonetta; it is truly a fae blessing.”
Leonetta smiled excitedly, feeling the same feeling she did long ago rushing through the green fields of Avalon. She looked around her room, the colors bold and bright, and the light keeping shadows from even the corners of the chambers. Her bed looked so comfortable, and she couldn’t wait to test it out tonight. She stepped away from the mirror and walked over to the window. The view from her room gave her a wide picture of the forests beyond the cavern of Athanasia. She turned around and walked to the door as a knock echoed through the chambers.
“Oh,” Leonetta stated as she opened the door to find Ellijah on the other side. He was holding a green, velvet box in his hands.
“Your Grace,” he said bowing, “may I come in?”
“Of course, Ellijah,” she said, stepping to the side and closing the door behind them. “What can I do for you?”
“King Byron has sent a gift,” he replied, holding the box out and bowing his head.
Leonetta took the box and opened it, gasping at the stunning necklace inside. The stones were sparkling, and the colors of the rainbow shimmered across the hard rocks. She set the box down and pulled the necklace from its case, smiling. She turned toward Ellijah excitedly.
“Thank…” she stopped short as she turned, the necklace slipping from her fingertips and hitting the marble floor beneath her feet. She looked confusingly at Ellijah as he thrust a dagger deep into her chest, piercing her beating, magical heart. He stared intently into her eyes.
“For Avalon,” he whispered, before pulling the dagger back, returning it to his sheath, and running from the room.
Leonetta looked down slowly at the tear in her dress as blood began to pour out of her chest. With the flowing, red liquid also came a searing, blue light, and Leonetta realized this was how her mother died. She reached up and pressed her hands against the wound firmly and took small steps toward the open door of her chambers. Down the hall, she pulled her body along, leaving small, bloody footprints down the glimmering, white marble floors. Inch by inch she walked and more of her light began to fade with each moment. She reached the hall where her father and mother waited and turned the corner.
“Ah, there she is,” Byron said, turning to the princess but dropping his arms as she reached out for her father.
“Leonetta,” Anthurium yelled as he sprinted across the floor, catching her as she fell. “What has happened?”
Without thought, the king reached forward and pressed his hands against the wound. His eyes went white, and he began to mutter a fae enchantment. Asphodul appeared in the doorway, clasping her hand over her mouth to muffle her scream. The king’s magic surged throughout his entire body until it erupted from him like an explosion. White light shot from his face and chest and lit the entire room before retracting and speeding through his arm and out of his hands into the wound. Leonetta
’s vision became blurry, and as the darkness took over, she heard her father’s voice.
“I will always be with you,” his voice whispered in her head.
As the wound closed tightly shut, Leonetta gasped a new breath and opened her eyes. She looked up at her father as his hand went limp and he began to fall backward. Seville fell to her knees at the king’s side and touched his arm gently. She muttered something in old fae as a tear escaped her eye and shimmered down her cheek. Anthurium had given his life for his daughter.
Asphodul ran to her father’s body as Leonetta pulled herself to her feet and walked toward Byron angrily. He put his hands up in defense and turned toward the balcony where he ran to the edge and looked out for his escape. However, no escape was there to find him, and he cursed angrily under his breath. Leonetta walked calmly to the balcony high above the cavern and pushed her hand forward. Blue rays of light moved from her hand and wrapped around the ogre king’s throat. She spoke in the old fae as if she had known it her entire life, watching as Byron’s feet left the ground. She stood on the balcony, dangling the traitorous man over the edge of the cavern.
Leonetta was about to release her magic and watch Byron plummet to his death when she felt a calming hand on her shoulder. Seville stepped forward and stood to the right of Leonetta, while Asphodul stood to her left. They both smiled kindly at Leonetta.
“It is not our way,” Seville stated with a calm tone. “Your father saved your life out of love, the most powerful magic there is.”
“You must bring him back,” Asphodul added. “Don’t let your first act as princess of the Vale be out of anger. That anger, when unleashed, will follow you all of your days.”
Leonetta stood for a moment, watching Byron squirm in cowardice. She ran her sister’s notions through her mind before carefully bringing him back over the balcony and dropping him to his knees. Asphodul breathed a deep sigh of relief and turned Leonetta toward her, pulling her into an embrace.
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