The Kingdoms of Eden

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Interview with a Shadow

Saturn sat upon his throne with entitled, regal poise. Although there was only Elizabeth and himself in the room, and he was in the process of trying to win her over, he simply couldn't help but assume a pose of authority. Elizabeth had taken an instant dislike to Saturn's arrogant mannerisms and she got up from her seat and she stood defiantly some distance from the god king. His gentle command for her to sit once again on the throne next to him went unheeded. She fixed him with a steely gaze that dared him to issue the command again. He was wise enough not to make that mistake.

Somewhere behind her, along the long corridor that led to the throne room, footsteps could be heard. Elizabeth did not turn around as the footsteps grew louder as the unseen company approached. Saturn stood up. He walked towards Elizabeth. He spoke quietly as he passed her.

"I will leave you to talk," said Saturn.

She turned as Saturn passed. A guard waited for Saturn by the doorway. As Saturn and the guard left the room the large doors closed. As the echo from the closing door reverberated around the throne room, Elizabeth was suddenly struck by a chill that reached her bones. The icy sensation thawed as quickly as it had formed. Elizabeth smiled widely as she rushed to greet the other Amy. The shadow girl was as real to her as the Amy back in her home city. If anything, the shadow Amy was even more real to her. She had known the shadow girl much longer than the other Amy, and it was thoughts of the shadow and her fate that had disturbed her sleep for many years. The queen engulfed the girl in a warm embrace. Amy almost lost her footing as Elizabeth squeezed her hard.

"My dear girl," said Elizabeth. "I cannot begin to apologise enough. What I did to you was simply unforgiveable. I have been the cause of much sorrow in this world, but the sorrow I have caused you is the only transgression that I truly regret."

She released Amy and then she took a few steps back to view the girl properly. What the queen saw pleased her enormously. She had expected Amy to be in a poor condition after years at the mercy of the demon. It was not so, and if anything, the shadow Amy looked much healthier and much stronger than the other Amy. It was a relief, but it was a relief that she couldn't quite accept as truth. The smile on the queen's face was wide and warm, but it was mere construct. Elizabeth's eyes scanned the girl's body for any signs of mistreatment, and then sheepishly she turned her gaze towards Amy's face in an effort to discern her state of mind. Amy did not appear angry. She did not appear happy. She just appeared to be the same Amy that she had always known—distant and thoughtful. It had been many lifetimes since Elizabeth had taken the child Amy from her father in a London museum. Many lifetimes for the demon to twist and corrupt the innocent child into a powerful weapon at his command. Many lifetimes since the demon bit into the teenage girl's neck and forced her to drink of its foul blood. Immortality as a poisoned gift from the demon was Elizabeth's choice and burden to bear; immortality for this Amy was a twisted punishment for the unwitting crimes and destiny of her other self.

"There is no need for you to apologise," said Amy. "I have been treated well. I have been introduced to a world that would have otherwise remained hidden to me. I have had a good life. In fact, I have had an amazing life."

"You are a dear girl to say so, but I robbed you of the life that you should have lived. The joys that you should have experienced. Your family, your friends. You never got the chance to grow into your own woman; to fall in love, to have your heart broken. I took that from you, and for that, I am truly sorry."

Amy smiled sympathetically.

"I have seen that other life. There have been times when I have lived that other life. I have lived as her. I can assure you; I have not missed out on anything. My existence has been glorious, and I would not change a single thing, even if it was within my power to do so. As for falling in love? I have done so many times, yet my heart was never broken. Please, think not of sorrow when you think of me, for you have given me a gift without equal, and for that I am eternally grateful."