To Catch An Element

chapter 4

The soft tip tapping of water droplets against the window were the only things that could be heard in the chamber even though the chamber was full of riches and art no-one dared look at them four women stood in a straight line all were wearing purple robes- all looking directly at their feet desperately trying to go unnoticed

In the middle of the room stood a beautiful woman long wavy silver hair cascading down her back she was wearing a fitted backless dress embroidered with jewls and on her head lay a stunning blood red tiara. She stood in front of a floor length  mirror her cold blue eyes assessing her appearance.

A knock on the door disrupted the eerie silence
"Enter" the Queen bearly raised her voice but her command was still heard a man in black armour entered "he is in the west tower ready for you like you ordered your highness" the man sank into a deep bow after he said those words all the time making sure not to look directly at the Queen the woman still gazing at herself in the mirror turned to face her servents just like the women in purple robes, he too was looking down directly at his feet not daring to move until he was ordered

The queen's lips turned into a cruel smirk a hint of excitement shone in her eyes without another word she walked out of the chamber the man following closely behind, throughout the castle the only thing that could be heard were the heels of her shoes as they hit the marble floor men and women the Queen walked past sunk into low bows never making eye contact some even started to tremble in fear but the Queen didn't spare them a glance as they reached the spiral staircase that lead to the west tower she signalled for her guards to leave her. They did so without hesitation

Every step she took up to the tower seemed to echo until finally she reached a pair of golden double doors. She opened the doors and strode into the room where a man sat chained to an iron chair he had jet black hair his face covered in swet he did not look at the Queen as she entered instead looked determinedly at the wall his jaw clenched

"Do you know why you are hear" again the Queen bearly raised her voice but by the shiver of fear that ran down his spine  there was no doubt the Queen had been heard. The man did not speak. The Queen walked over to the table at the front of the room on it lay a number of tools and weapons. She picked up a small metal cube and turned back to the man "I know you are part of the saoirse and for that alone you deserve death... but I'm going to give you a chance to live" her voice was bearly a whisper but there was no mistaken the cold edge to it, the room had somehow got darker with every word she spoke.

The man still staring at the wall continued to say nothing the Queen opened her hand and  the metal cube floated into the air. It glowed blue and an image started to form infront of the man a young girl with jet black hair no older than fifteen sat chained in a metal chair aswell her face bruised and bloody. For the first time the man removed his gaze from the wall and looked at his daughter what little colour was left in his face disappeared.

The Queen walked behind the chair and put one hand on the man's shoulder and placed her mouth besides his ear "I will torture her until she begs for death" her words held promise and much worse excitement.

"WWhat do you want?" The man's voice broke as he said those words he had not taken his eyes of his daughter the Queen walked back in front of the man there was only loathing in her eyes "I want to know what you saw" she answered quietly. The man licked his lips "if I tell you you'll let my daughter go, you'll let her live" the desperation was clear in his voice the Queen now had a mocking smile on her face "l give you my word" she replied 

The man took a deep breath still looking at his daughter he began to speak "ii saw a girl, from another world, a world without magic." The Queen stood perfectly still and did not say a word she just waited for the man to continue, and he did

"I saw her travel through the gateway, I saw her speaking to spirits, I saw her planning to dethrone you" the man looked nervously to the Queen. Her face was completely blank of all emotions the Queen walked towards the man she gripped his chin in her hands and forced him to look directly into her eyes "the spirits are dead. I made sure of that" she said at last
The man glanced at his daughter before answering "I wouldn't be so sure" the Queen let go of the man suddenly and slapped him across his face. The man fell back into his chair.

She walked back to the table and looked out of the only narrow window in the tower, it was still raining. "Who is this girl?" Her voice was now an eerie calm, like a calm before a storm

"I don't know I never saw her face" the man answered "please this is all I know, please my daughter" the man started to beg but the Queen wasn't listening anymore. If this girl was indeed talking to spirits that was a problem she needed to fix, this was her kingdom after all. She was not going to let everything she worked for be destroyed by some brat.

She walked towards the door and opened it she was about to leave when the man cried out "my daughter what about our deal, you'll let her go." She looked into the man's eyes, he clearly loved his daughter very much with a cruel smile she said right into his eyes

"I lied"

(Don't forget to vote)