The Syren Queen | The Oceane Series

Fourteen

I stood above the map of the kingdoms, my hands resting against the table as I bit my lip, a habit I didn’t know I had until now. Avisa would attack in three days and I wasn’t sure if I was ready. Between our two kingdoms we had the same numbers of men and our brothers didn’t want any part of our quarrel. I hoped she would have accepted my truce but she didn’t and now we would be at war. If I could just get to her before the fighting started, talk some sense into her, but I knew it would be to no avail.
Sighing, I turned away, knowing that I didn’t want anymore bloodshed and I just wanted peace. Without another word, I left the war room and went to visit my mother-in-law knowing that if Ronan decided to go with me after he found out my plan, I wanted our son safe in case something happens to either of us.
*
I knocked twice on the large front door of the Viscof estate when I arrived. Ronan had wanted to go with me but I didn’t want our son alone with just Mrs. Berkeley even though I knew the Syrens wouldn’t hurt him, I was still skeptical. Lyanna answered the door, her face filled with surprise as she wasn’t expecting  me especially not at this hour.
“Sedna? What’s wrong?”
“I need to speak with you.” I said, “It’s about Ronnie.”
“Has something happened? Please come in I'll get us some tea.”
“No it’s alright.” I replied waving her off as she ushered me into one of the sitting rooms.
Taking a seat I sighed, contemplating my next words carefully. “Lyanna, I'm afraid that I may not come out of this war alive. Ronan is planning to go with me and if something happens to both of us, I want you both to care for Ronan and prepare him to be king. He should ascend the throne when he is ready and with any luck, I will be able to get rid of the Syrens.
“We would be honored to help raise Ronan but, what are you going to do if you cannot undo your curse?” She asked, her emerald eyes staring back at me.
I shook my head and stood, “I got us into this mess and I will finish it." Before making my way out of the estate, determined finish this once and for all.
“Sedna!” I heard Lyanna call behind me, “Where are you going?”
“To see my sister.” I whispered before I went up in smoke transporting my being right inside the castle my sister had lived in for years.
“Ah, Sedna. How have you been?” Avisa asked as she sat in her crystal throne, her golden eyes staring back at mine while her teal blue hair floated around her.
“Avisa.” I acknowledged her, “I have been good but I say, dear sister you look a little tired. Are you well?”
“I am fine.” She replied, a glint in her eyes, “What are you doing here? Have you come to forfeit?”
“Of course not. I have come to tell you I forgive you. And that I do not want this war to break out.”
“You forgive me.” She laughed, “You’re the one whose evil. You should be happy I haven’t alerted my guards yet.”
I could hear them coming, almost silent throughout the water. I knew the guards were coming for me despite the fact my sister was letting me on that they weren’t.
“And why haven’t you? Are you afraid I might have brought my army of Syrens? You know as well as I do that our numbers are tied and no-one will win. The only answer is a truce.”
“Fine, if you want a truce, then turn your people back.” Avisa smiled, a knowing look across her face, “But you and I both know you haven’t the slightest idea how you will do that.”
“You know nothing about me, little sister.” I replied, before I went up in smoke, wishing myself home before the guards, who had in that moment managed to burst through the throne room doors, could stab me.
It was more clear than ever before: she would never accept a truce, she wanted me dead no matter if she destroyed both of our kingdoms and our people in the process. At dawn, we would be at war.
*
I couldn’t sleep. I tried not to move, for fear I would disturb Ronan who was fast asleep beside me, every once in a while he would have a snoring fit. With a huff, I silently crawled out of bed and swam toward the nursery to check on little Ronnie. Thankfully he was sleeping peacefully in his crib. The sight making my heart swell of pride and love as I watched him sleep before I leaned down and kissed his small forehead.
“I love you my beautiful boy. I hope after this morning you will not know the horrid creatures I have created and your life will be one of peace.” I whispered, standing straighter before I turned back around making my way to the throne room.
Taking a deep breath, I stood letting my magic come forward as it spread itself around me, the dark tendrils flowing around me beckoning me to use it. I focused on what I wanted, using every thread of my being as every last bit of magic escaped me knowing that I wanted to turn my people back into who they truly were. Knowing that I needed to face the consequences of my actions. I knew within the core of my being that I had reversed my curse as my skin burned and the last of my power left me, leaving me absolutely powerless to stay standing.
“My queen! The Syrens they've changed!” Mrs. Berkeley called, rushing into the throne room.
“That – that’s great, Mrs. Berkeley.” I replied, my voice hoarse and barely recognizable.
“Are you alright, Sedna?”
I tried to shake my head, but I couldn’t move and before I knew it my vision went black while I lost consciousness, falling from pure exhaustion.
*
When I finally awoke, I wasn’t sure what time it was or where I was taken but the sight of Ronan at the foot if our bed told me I was safe. My head throbbed and my entire body felt like I had just been through the worst tropical storm of my life. I tried to sit up but fell back in bed groaning as I watched Ronan walk toward me, a worried look on his face.
“Sedna, be careful. You'll hurt yourself.” Ronan pleaded, helping to prop my body up against the pillows and the headboard.
“What happened?” I asked, grimacing at the pain my body was in.
“You turned all of the Syrens back into who they were before. Doing that must have taken all of your magic and it physically hurt uou.” He replied, just as Ronan Junior began to scream, “I- I'll be right back okay?”
“Okay.” I sighed, closing my eyes as I tried not to think about the pain or the sound of my son screaming for help.
I was in no condition to fight in a war.
“Well, if it isn’t the Syren Queen.”
Immediately my eyes flew open, hearing my sisters voice echo throughout the room. And there I saw her, floating almost angelic like near the doorway, a magnificent grin on her face as she stared back at me.
“Avisa.” I croaked, knowing I needed to get up but was unable to move even a finger.
“I never thought you could do it, turn your people back into what they were, that is. And yet, there they are, alive and well and no memory of what transpired.” She said twirling a blade made of gold and steel as she came confidently toward me, “Well, I suppose now there is the matter of a truce between our kingdoms. I will agree to a truce but on one condition.”
“What is your condition?” I asked, entirely weary of the blade she was holding and knew that if I didn’t do anything she would kill me or worse, go after Ronan and our son.
Clenching my jaw, I watched as she lunged digging the blade somewhere deep in my torso as I swung at the vase on the bedside table, an object if we were on land would have quickly shattered into a million pieces but now only floated against the current.
“Ronan!” I screamed, just as Avista vanished.
“What? What is it?” He called, swimming toward me only to see the horrible scene of my mangled body surrounded in a pool of my silver blood.
“I love you.” I whispered, gasping against the pain as yanked the blade out,, and pressed against the wound, his eyes pleading for me not to leave him.
“No, no! Sedna!” he exclaimed, worry and panic lacing his tone, “Stay with me. You can’t leave me, you can’t!”
But it was too late, I was gone. The pain I had felt only moments before disappeared, replaced with a peace, I hadn’t felt in years. In an instant, I was whisked away to a land between the sea and life: the birthplace of my mother and her brother. I was finally home in Achera. I knew would wait for Ronan and I hoped, he would know how much I love him.
I was no longer the Syren Queen, no, I was so much more that that. I was a wife, a mother, and the first queen of Arcania.