The Necromancers

Chapter Four

"I am stuck. I don't know what to do."

"If you want to live with them you should." Aunt Morana suggested.

"But living under the same roof as them, disgusts me." I cringed.

"Why? They are your king and queen Astoria. Respect them." Aunt said with a strange emotion passing through her eyes.

"I can't bring myself to. I hate them aunt Morana. They wronged me and my ma."

"What did they ever do?"

"You don't even live here to know half of the shit that goes around here-"

"Astoria what did they do?"

"And you'll return back to your boyfriend from the continent. I'd be-"

"What did the king and queen of Angus do to you?"

"They gave the order to kill my ma. And their son executed the plan!" I roared. Her constant cutting me off had me angry. And the reason for her own sister's death was unclear to her which had my blood boiling.

There was silence in the living room. I stared at her, scanning her own face to know anything about what she might be thinking. But her eyes were stone cold. No emotion could be detected in her eyes or her face. Her body language gave nothing away.

And if I used any spell to know what she was feeling, she would be angered by that because that's my aunt and I trust her. She was more of a mother to me than ma because ma was always busy with something or the other. Aunt Morana took care of me.

"They killed her?" She asked quietly. Now scanning my face.

"Yes they did." Please dont ask me how I know please dont. I won't have an answer to that.

"How... I mean, how do you know for sure?"

Coming up with lies was easy for me, so the lie rolled off smoothly on my tongue, "I found a royal seal in the house before I left." I had found no such seal there. The house was clear of any indication of the murderer. Even the spells could not help me.

But ma's letter did. And telling aunt about the letter would mean that I'll have to show her the letter. I cannot betray ma for that, she had written specifically in the letter to not tell anyone, anyone, about the letter.

She had some work for me and she had known that the king and the queen had given the order to their son for her assassination. That was why ma had sent me out. That was the only reason why ma ever let me stray so far from home.

The Royal family were my mother's murderers. And no matter what the reason was, murder of my ma was inexcusable. I don't care what reasons they would have to offer. They could have taken her a prisoner but no, they killed her. Murdered her.

Aunt narrowed her eyes, as if she knew I was lying but didn't say anything for several minutes. "If they are the murderers then they will be punished. I will serve justice to my sister Astoria."

"How will you do that? By going back to the continent?!" A low blow on my part but I was upset and scared of being all on my own in this kingdom.

"Perhaps you should live with them-"

"This is preposterous! You know what they did and you-"

"Break them on the inside. Do something to ruin their family first. They killed my sister and your ma Astoria. And now they are giving you a chance to attack. Do it. Take that chance and strike where you know it'll hurt them." A few tears escaped her eyes making me sigh.

If I had lost my mother then she has lost her sister too. And maybe she was right. But was it too good to be true? Was I walking myself into a trap if I go and live with them? How are things so easy? How does my future look so clear now than what it was when I was living with ma?

Aunt Morana's behaviour was starting to concern me. She acted strangely and with that weird glint passing through her eyes it made me feel all the more conscious about what it was.

"I'll think about it." I mumbled and moved into one of the bedrooms provided by the hotel.

Everything was happening too fast. I didn't know what to do and what not to. Things were spiralling out of control and like a storm everything was hitting me at once.

Ma died. I had to find that bracelet soon enough. The letter from the Shallows. The Royal encounter. Then me almost killing Drystan. And then them offering me to live with them. Aunt Morana not understanding my struggles and then finally her suggesting that I live with them.

And let's not forget the instructions ma made for me.

Life is a mess. It's in shambles right now. Without the one constant in my life everything feels to have fallen apart and I dont know what to do.

I sure have an aim, a goal, but to reach that I need a lot of patience and time. I'm confused and scared.

All my life ma kept me sheltered. She kept me safe, but now that she isn't here I don't know what to do. My life was clear before she was murdered. I knew that I had to be a healer and learn as many spells as I could. But now that she isn't here, I don't even know what to do. I was too dependent on her. She was my rock that supported me throughout.

"Astoria?" Aunt called from my door with a small knock.

"Yes?" She stepped in and regarded me with a smile. It was so kind and reassuring I couldn't focus on anything else. Nothing else mattered because I saw that motherly love in her eyes and that was what I needed the most.

"You up for a talk?"

"Sure." I'm not.

"I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean to sound so...inconsiderate. I know it's hard for you, but try to understand my love, this is an opportunity for you. You should grasp it and do what you wish to do. Avenge your ma. And if you don't wish to go to the palace then I'll happily take you in. I'll stay here with you and we can built a life here." She said softly from the door.

It wasn't fair of me to be so angry with her. She wasn't at fault either. She just suggested me something that I know for a fact I would have suggested myself too.

I need to avenge my ma. I need to hurt those who hurt her. Because I saw what they did to her. I saw what he did to her, and I cannot forgive.

Perhaps living with the royals won't be so bad after all. I could use their resources to the best of my abilities and better them. Although it is highly unlikely but I can certainly try. I just don't want to sit around and wait for something to happen. I don't want to wait for anyone else to rule my life for me. I don't want to depend on anyone else for sailing me through life.

"You're right. I'll go to the palace tomorrow. The king and the queen will know for certain that I am willing to live with them." I smiled at her in reassurance.

"The prince will be here to collect you tomorrow. He told me that before leaving." She told me and I frowned but then it was my own fault because I didn't stay around to listen to him. Or my aunt. I just went to the bedroom and slammed the door as hard as I could.

"Okay. Maybe it's for the better. He can take me to his parents and I will let them know." We both stayed quiet for some beats but then I looked at her and said softly, "I'm scared."

She looked at me worriedly before hurriedly saying, "they won't hurt you."

I nodded. I know they will not hurt me. For some reason it was quite clear that they wanted to hurt ma and not me. They had plenty of opportunities to hurt me but they did not. So it is quite clear that they have nothing to do with me. And I guess the only reason they are ready to keep me with themselves is because they are guilty of taking my only parent away from me.

"Astoria, I know this might seem impossible and scary, and I know you're too young for all of this but you just say the word my love and I'll take you away from this all."

"No. I'll do it. And if it gets hard then I'll let you know."