A Hymn of Snakes

TWENTY

There would have been a better time to bring my idea for the witches across to the Queen had it not been for the Keepers finding and slaughtering a coven on Vampire territory in Bucharest, now we all stood in the throne room and awaited for the eruption of debates to begin. Vampires stood on one side and Keepers guarded the other, Theron Santrill and Master Nicholson watched the room. I read the room as Holstien and I stood by the Queen's side- Alex was no where to be found and for that I was thankful.

My palms were sweaty as Holstein looked at me through the corner of his eye, "What you're about to do is insane Delia, but if that's what you want. I know I can't stop you." He said with a sigh, I had told him the account of my dreams and the idea that itched in my head. My body drew tense as I rested my hand on my blade, the Queen turned her head to look at me. "I told the Queen and she thinks you should do as you please but remain safe." Then with that his lips sealed with a quiet secret.

Master Nicholson started first, "The Vampiric court must attest for every witch they have kept a secret, they are dangerous and wild creatures and if they even have a glimpse of freedom they will destory us all." The Keepers whispered between themselves as my heart hammer deep within my chest, my bones rattling as all eyes fell on me.

The great Ambassador Teodescru took a step forward and proclaimed his opinion just as he always did, Holstein rolled his eyes and cursed under the break of his breath. "We should eradicate them all." Some agreed while others argued against it.

"This will be the first time we agree Ambassador Teodescru." Both played justice and executioner, which made me sick to my stomach. The bile rising up until I was forced to pretend he didn't get to me. I swallowed me pride and waited for the right moment. I didn't even know if this was the right thing to do. Grandmother gave me the idea last night and for the last twenty four hours I've tried to figure out how it could be possible. I brought it up to Holstien and Jean- we all knew what I needed to do but still fear settled in every vessel of my body. "Your majesty, these witches are the very basis of evil." Evil. Nicholson said, but he clearly hadn't met Ithe or Natalia Amilcar.

A smile carved on my mouth as the Queen rose to her feet, her eyes dead set against the crowd of people. Her intense pheromones commanded the room, pulling and pushing the eyes as they all moved to the Queen's voice. Vampires bowed to their monarch as they held onto their hearts, "I have heard all of your words, but ultimately the decision is not mine." She said, turning to look at me. I swallowed as she gave me a soft but yet so kind of a smile, Holstien must have told the Queen everything. "It is yours decision to make, I will support you however you choose." She told me, my heart leaping in my chest.

I nodded, taking a step forward and collecting my nerves. "The witches have been bound to the False Queen, they are enslaved and used as weapons. They must become one of our priorities of protection." My statement caused uproar to erupt out of the room.

A Master in the Keepers yelled but it wasn't Nicholson, "Nonsense."

I was afraid but I couldn't be, I didn't have the time or the lives to act as if their words have power over me. Ithe ate away all my fear and traded it in for fury, my body warmed as the magic around my fingers conducted. The light in the room flickering as my patience began to ran low. "If we do not protect the witches then Natalia Amilcar will gain the power she needs to burn us all to the ground." Ithe and I's voices melted into one sound and it was strength.

She cut their judgements down by her blade as Nicholson's voice echoed through the room, I noticed the door to the throne room opened as Alex peaked his head through. Standing against the wall as his stone cold face snapped, "Witches have been marked by death since the dawn of time." Then he stormed up to the throne, the two Vampiric guards became the wall between the Queen and I. We were a united front, and standing beside such a powerful woman truly set my body on fire."If anyone will lead us to death it will be you traitor!" Master Nicholson's decree started a vindictive chant. Death to the traitor! Some started, only the Keepers yelled though- and Theron Santrill remained silent. Death to the witches! They finished.