Power of M

Chapter 5

5. Tattoos? Solved......Escape? Working on it.

"Wow" Ash said tears springing out of her eyes as the guard swore and untied her. "That actually worked and hurt a lot." I tried for a grin. "Now you know how I felt."

The guard snapped at us. "Come now. Queen V awaits you."

Queen V? Did he mean like queen 5 as in like in roman numbers, like the 5th queen of Twilight or something?

"What does the V stand for?" Ash asked the guard and I realized that the V could stand for a name too.

"Violet" the guard said proudly. Who the hell was queen Violet? I knew a Violet but she was no queen. She was filth. A darn betrayer.

Ash stared at me and drew a question mark in the air. I shrugged, stood up and followed the guard with Ash trailing at my heels. The entire place was made of stone and he made us trudge up the flights of stairs and I gotta tell you coming down was a lot easier than having to go back up. Even if it meant freedom.

When we reached the top who do we see? Filth. If I say filth I mean the Violet I know. I choked.

"You're a freaking queen?" In my head I realized that the guard wasn't lying, she was a queen. I remembered the gate security come running to her without asking any questions. So I didn't wait for an answer.

"Bitch" I muttered to myself savagely. I thought my tone was soft. Soft enough for the guard to hear unfortunately. He grabbed my right wrist and twisted it. I kept my mouth shut and he gave a vicious pull and I yelped in pain and hatred.

"You will be polite to the queen." He said letting go of my wrist. I massaged my arm glaring daggers at Violet which she ignored. "Whatever."

He swung his arm and slapped me hard on the cheek. It was unexpected and I fell on my side onto the ground. I stood up gritting my teeth as I felt my cheek reddening. I spat out some unrepeatable comments and the guard advanced me again looking furious.

Yeah I know. I don't need the freaking lectures. It was a bloody stupid thing to do. Hell with it. I was mad. If it wasn't for her I'd be............trying to find another way to get Ash out of the construction site?

He looked out of place up here, or maybe too in place here if that makes any sense. The floor was tiled white so he sort of blended into it and looked like part of the furniture. A small golden whitish chandelier swung on the ceiling. I wished it would fall down and crush him and guess what. Nothing happened.

"Stop" she said when the guard raised his hand. I refuse to use her name; the sound of it makes me sick. "He will receive enough pain during the torture." She smiled wickedly and touched her fingers lightly to her lips in a mocking gesture. "I will make sure of that."

I attempted an eye roll but inside, my heart was trying to judo flip out of my body and run off to hide. Ash, who had been silently watching my reckless rude battle in awe, suddenly spoke up.

"What the hell are we doing here huh? What's the big idea?" The so called queen laughed. "Your smart brother asked me whether I believed in magic."

Ash stared at her blankly. "So?"

"So obviously one of our most dangerous criminals who was my prisoner has escaped from Twilight and confronted him with a bunch of lies. Look at this poor boy." She smiled evilly gesturing to me. "Contaminated with an addictive influence about fairytales and magic."

"Why would she do that?" Ash asked and I marveled at the way she kept her voice leveled and devoid of any major emotion.

"Because she...........has no choice." Violet's voice faded slightly and I realized she was lying. Or she didn't know.

"Who is she?" I asked mainly out of curiosity and maybe slight amusement. That old burger stealing hag was beginning to grow on me.

Violet smiled. "An accomplice of Jennifer and Thomas Slogan, two of the most powerful and dangerous magicians in history whom......" She paused for effect. "I have put an end to."

I zipped my lips mentally and shifted my gaze on Ash with our eyes reflecting each other's pain. So our parents hadn't left us on the nearest door step and run off together. One of the many theories that had nagged at the back of my brain. They actually had been murdered.

Their death was no accident. I stared at the queen, blue flames burning in my eyes. Why was I alone in this world? Because of the real witch and she was standing right in front of me. Ash nudged me and I noticed that her eyes were glinting with tears.

"Take them to the torturing chamber." Queen V suddenly snapped. "I will start the torture procedure." She smiled at me again. "On the boy."

"Boy?" I asked. "Man." I corrected her. If Ash hadn't been so scared she probably would've face palmed. Also I realized that I could actually see the rest of Violet's t shirt. I read the quote and the slight hopefulness I had at the pit of my stomach began to fade away. It read, "Evil has no age.' I didn't like that quote. I didn't like it at all.

"That's great." I said. A brave attempt to sound well umm....brave I guess.

"This city is banned from the usage of magic" she said. A completely unrelated fact to the current goings on. I shrugged.

"Well what do you want from me then huh?"

"I need to know what the witch told you."

"Well you can go kiss my ass." I said rudely. Ash stepped on my foot but I was so mad. The queen only smiled. I'm so sick of that stupid smile.

"I thought you'd be like that. Don't worry I'll get it out of you. No matter what it takes."