W.I.T.C.H.: The Bloody Throne

Part 22

Where the outside weather of Ero was freezing despite the lack of snow and plentiful sunshine, the inside of the castle was warm and inviting, with large tapestries covering the walls, thick carpets on the floor, and a warm fire blazing in every fireplace they came across. They didn't have much time to observe the intricately woven tapestries or the fine carvings on the furniture they came across, as Seras giddily rushed them to the throne room where Isabella awaited them. However, undenounced to them, the group was being watched by Ratun from behind one of the thick tapestries. Hungerly, he observed the guests, his pale eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets as they racked over the women in the group. His eyes immediately fell onto Will; with her chest that seemed flatter than a plate, short red hair, and common features she appeared more like a farmer's daughter dressed as a Queen than anything else. She wasn't beautiful; he didn't even consider her attractive enough to be a rose maiden, however, there was a scent on her that intrigued him. She smelled of wild iris and that other world; the smell of the other world stung his sensitive nose and churned his stomach. There was something filthy about the smell of that world made him wish he would never have to see it for himself. Still, even if she wasn't pretty and reeked of that other world, he wouldn't have denied a taste of her had she been an untouched virgin. Sadly, she wasn't Ratun could smell the scent of her husband all over her; it was a smell that reminded the boy, who had grown up in the perfume sector of Ero, or roses and cedarwood.

Princess Elyon, however, was more to his liking. Though she too reeked of that strange world, she was still untouched, and her looks were soothing to the eyes. Though he desired Princess Myra the most, he wouldn't mind having Elyon as one of his rose maidens, if she survived tomorrow's events. From where he hid, she smelled of honeysuckles, fresh rain, and a warm summer breeze. Next, his sights fell onto the other woman in their group. She was prettier than Will, but not as radiant as the princess. For a moment, Ratun thought she was one of the King's concubines, but dropped tat thought when he didn't detect a single hint of the King on her. She was pretty enough that he considered her another concubine for himself, but the smell that clung to her was enough to turn him off her good looks; she smelled of cats, which were creatures Ratun despised more than anything else in the world. Soon, the royals were gone from his view and Ratun was left alone again. Part of him pitied the group since they'd have less than twenty-four hours left to live, but he didn't let that sway his loyalty to Armana.

The throne room, unlike Meridian's, was a large, circular room with a domed ceiling and windows reaching from floor to ceiling all around the flooded the room with light. In the center of the room, holding their little girl, stood the current King and Queen of Ero. Isabella was even more beautiful than Will remembered; with the silk-like dress that hugged every curve of her form and crystal crown on her head that reflected the light in a scattering array of colors, the Ero Queen appeared more like a goddess than a human. Isabella, once she saw their guests, handed her daughter over to her husband, and quickly ran and embraced first Phobos and then Will.

"It had been too long since I've seen you." Isabella's voice was as sweet as honeysuckles and Will couldn't help but feel envious when she hugged Phobos. She couldn't tell why, but something inside her, told her that Isabella was more worthy of Phobos's attention than she was and Will hated that feeling. However, she swallowed the sensation and smiled at Isabella as warm as she could.

"I agree, it has been too long." Replied Phobos as Isabella moved to embrace Will with a similar strength to Queen Seras. "Had you written, as you promised, then it wouldn't have felt as long."

"Myra and I did write, but we never received a letter from you, so after a while, I gave up. Myra and mother continued for a while, but we all stopped after a year of no replies." Responded Isabella before turning their attention to the man holding the toddler. "Now, if I may, this is my husband Victor and my daughter Elizabeth."