The Cursed Queen

Chaos With a Hint of Destruction

 I enter Grangely's office and see the king sitting in her seat. His dark eyes follow me as I take a seat in front of the desk.

He smiles eerily and studies my face. I was proud of my large curly hair. My dark skin was littered with scars from all my previous fights. I hadn't even bothered to try to put ointment on them.

" Yemi," The King says slowly. " You're a very skilled fighter."

I stared at him impassively; what was with the sudden praise, it was just the other day when he was threatening me.

His smile drops at my silence.

"You seem to lack other things, though." He chuckles, " Like manners."

I frown. "Some of us don't have time to learn etiquette, Your Highness."

He furrows his brows and squeezes the small porcelain doll on Grangely's desk.

"Seems it will have to be added to the curriculum. "

I scoff. The only thing we learned here was basic self-defense skills, math, combat, and the lucky few of us learned about magic.

" I see you're gifted." He says suddenly

Now it's my turn to be confused. He notices my dazed expression, and the corners of his lips curl up in a twisted smile. I stared back uneasily; his smile was off-putting.

" Magically gifted, Yemisi." He clarifies

While it was true, I could do a few magic "tricks." I wouldn't call myself magically gifted. That was a stretch. I could grow things and make things appear and disappear, but that's about it.

A loud sigh fills the room. His jaw clenches and his eyes turn black. It's just like the description Themis told me. Smoke fills the brown office, leaving me gasping for air.

When the smoke finally dies down, I see his face twisted in anger.

"It seems you won't be having any time to learn manners," he sneers

The room seems to shake as his voice bounces off the walls of the small office. I nod quietly and try to catch my breath.

"Pack up your stuff." He says

I stand up quickly. Why would I have to pack up my stuff? I had no intention of leaving unless it was in my own best interest; and by the looks of things, it seemed like I was going to be sent to work .

I rush out of the office and head to my room. Themis sits there grinning. Her long black hair is up in two space buns as she writes one of her poems. She turns to greet me.

"Yemi, why did you take so long" she scolds.

I try to keep a straight face while I search for what to say. It would crush her, but I had to. I had no choice, no matter how stubborn I was, I knew my limits. I wasn't going to fight a losing battle between me and the king.

" I'm leaving for a while, " I start while twirling my hair around my finger.

She stands quickly, knocking down the chair and her poem with it. She looks at me with her fist clenching. I had seen her upset before, but I never once was on the receiving end of her terror.

" What did I tell you" she whispers

I look at her, unable to say a word

"Yemi, it's not fair! " she screams, throwing a pencil in my direction

We had been friends ever since I had arrived at the facility. She showed me the ropes; she took care of me. She accepted me even when most people didn't. She and Tunji were the only people in my life that I had placed trust in- and they didn't take advantage of it.