Unmarked

Chapter 41

Lavina woke up in her bed the next morning, gasping as she sat up.

"Wait, my head doesn't hurt."

"Oh, you're awake!" Anghi said, walking in with a mug in his hand.

"What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

"I remember getting hit?"

"Oh, yeah, I suppose you would. Well, you and Ophelia had a joust and she hit you over the head, claimed it was self-defense."

"Yeah right, self-defense. I bet you she did that on purpose."

"Well, you are really good at fencing."

She groaned, "I know." He handed her the mug. She blew on it and then drank the tea. "Wow, you really are good at making stuff, hm?"

Anghi laughed, "If you say so."

"Wait, so why doesn't my head hurt?"

"It was only a minor hit. Nothing too major. So Camilia was able to perform some magic on your head. She said it shouldn't hurt at all, to be honest."

"And where's dad?"

"He went out to the store. He wanted to get some food and medicine and stuff like that. He won't be back for a little bit yet."

"Oh."

"Yes, well, I'm going to go back in my room." He pointed. "Holler if you need anything."

"Alright, I will." He shut her door behind him as he left. Lavina put the cup down on the dresser beside her bed and then threw the covers off. She walked down the stairs.

"Lavina, you're awake!"

"Ma- mom! What are you doing here?"

"We're watching a movie!" Unora popped her head out from the other side of her.

"You want to watch with us?"

"Ugh!" She screamed. "How can you not see this!?" She pointed at Unora. "You hit me on the head, on purpose! That's clearly Unora, not Ophelia!"

Amilia laughed, "And I'm clearly Nsefen." She pointed at herself. Unora stood up and brushed off her clothes.

"Oh no, you stay back!"

"Who said anything about coming near you, sweetheart? Amilia?" Unora opened the sliding glass door and walked out into the yard. Amilia stood up and walked over to Lavina.

"Come now, Lavina. That's no way to talk to her. I want you to go out there and apologize, you understand me?"

"What?! Apologize? She as soon wacks me across the head again."

"You're going to apologize." Amilia grabbed her by the arm and started walking.

"What the- let go! Let go of me!" She grabbed at her mothers hand. Amilia pushed Lavina in front of her and then glared at her. Lavina looked back at her and stood still.

"Oh forget it, Amilia. She's not going to give in." Unora turned around. "You are a smart little girl, you know that? You're kind of like your grandmother, portrayed as normal, but is a smart ass in the end. Tell me, why don't you act smart if you are smart?"

"What?"

"Oh don't toy with me, now." She glared at Lavina. "I don't play nice with my toys, dear." Lavina looked to the ground.

"Because it stops jerks like you from figuring out my plans."

Unora laughed, "I'm not dumb either darling, now, tell me the truth, before I get mad." Lavina uncrossed her arms.

"Because- because, it scares people."

"Now, was that so hard?" Unora hit her staff on the ground and in a burst of light, she became her older self. Next she snapped her fingers and something happened to her mother, she became a teenager once more.

"You're not seriously going back to this ridiculous idea, are you? It didn't work the first time and it won't work now." Unora looked to Amilia and nodded her head.

"You are correct, Lavina. It didn't work, but I took a hostile approach last time. And you see, I just so happen to remember a brainwashing spell, a spell so powerful that the whole Underground can be put under it. So it'd be like I was always the queen, no harm, no foul."

"You can't just uproot people's lives like that!" Lavina balled her hands.

"And who's going to stop me? You? Honey, I hate to break it to you, but you're no killing machine."

"There's others."

Unora laughed again, "Yes, but that's the thing isn't it. You're too smart to pass up, and this occasion sure makes a great way to make you mine. My own two girls." Lavina backed up, right into her mother. "Grab her." Lavina felt Amilia grab onto her arms. Lavina struggled to break free from her grib, but couldn't. "Hold her out in front of you, child." Amilia tried, but that led her grip to slip. But Unora quickly adjusted and within seconds Lavina was stuck on a glowing circle on the ground. Seconds later, engulfed in a bright color. Once it disappeared she was in different clothing, standing motionless in the grass. "What do you think now, Lavina?" Lavina turned and knelt down to her, one hand on the ground.

"Whatever you wish, my queen."