After All

Chapter 10: Wedding

Bellona angrily paced the throne room floor, awaiting her daughter's return. She didn't trust Quillian nor his wives to do anything useful given their tendency to drink, gamble and party. However, she knew that they would be eager to impress her no matter what menial task she assigned them. Before she had a chance to fret over all of Quillian's unsavoury character traits, the distant sound of muffled screams caught her attention. Lilith and Ravinia burst into the throne room, dragging Artemisia behind them. Her attempts to struggle and break free were feeble at best due to her exhaustion from being awake all night.

"We found her!" Lilith and Ravinia proudly reported.

"Good. Leave her here. I want to talk to her alone." Bellona coldly remarked, glaring down at Artemisia with enough burning rage to set her on fire.

"Yes, your highness." Ravinia and Lilith replied, removing Artemisia's gag and throwing her to the floor. The twins bowed before exiting the room, ready to brag to Quillian all about their latest acts of cruelty.

"Stand up," Bellona ordered. Artemisia groaned as she slowly rose to her feet.

"What the hell is going on?" Artemisia half asked, half demanded.

"I could ask you the same thing! I know all about your little love affair with an Elanan." Bellona hissed.

"It's not what you think." Artemisia insisted, hoping she would be able to convince her mother that not all Elanans were evil.

"Ha! You insolent girl! Have I taught you nothing? The Elanans have been massacring our people long before you were born! And now you want to be friends with them?!" Bellona shouted.

"Zane isn't like that!" Artemisia protested, quickly realizing she was getting nowhere.

"Tell me Artemisia, does your precious Zane know you are one of us?" Bellona remarked, circling Artemisia like a beast stalking its prey.

"No..." Artemisia softly admitted, averting her gaze to the floor as she was unable to withstand looking at her mother anymore.

"Of course not! If he did, he would have slaughtered you in an instant! Those Elanans don't care who they hurt! They would rather murder your entire family right before your eyes!" Bellona screeched, infuriated by her daughter and her actions.

"You're wrong!" Artemisia shouted. When she realized what she had said and done, Artemisia covered her mouth in shock. Bellona slowly turned towards Artemisia, a murderous look in her eyes. Without another word, Bellona reached out and grabbed Artemisia by the throat, digging her nails in deeper and deeper as Artemisia tried to pry off her mother's hand.

"Never speak to me in that tone again." Bellona threatened before tossing Artemisia to the ground. Artemisia gagged and wheezed as she tried to catch her breath. Bellona quickly regained her composure and let her temper die down before addressing Artemisia once more.

"Fortunately for you, your father isn't here to see this. If he was, he would be most ashamed of you." Bellona snapped, turning her back to Artemisia.

"Since I am feeling kind today, I won't tell him about your little transgressions. However, as your mother, I cannot let you go unpunished." Bellona remarked, signalling the guards to grab Artemisia with a wave of her hand.

"Where are you sending me?" Artemisia bitterly asked as the guards grabbed her by the arms and pulled her to her feet.

"Your room. You will be kept under twenty-four-hour surveillance until your wedding." Bellona nonchalantly replied.

"I will never marry a man I don't love!" Artemisia snapped as the guards began dragging her away.

"Oh, and if your little cousins ever come back, they will be executed. Traitors will not be tolerated. Consider this your first and last warning. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a wedding to plan." Bellona added, glaring at Artemisia over her shoulder. Once Artemisia has left the room, Bellona summoned another guard.