The Darkness Within

49 - Coronation

She stood before a huge crowd filled with beings of different kinds, divided into groups based on species. Those at the front, the largest group gathered, were the vampires whose new king would be crowned on this day. The entire crowd had grown silent when her symbols had begun to glow and the pressure of powerful magic filled the air.

In her hands was a new crown, crafted specifically for the new king, that was bold in design—sharp edges on gentle curves with subtle decorative gemstones placed throughout refracting the bright light of her glow. The previous ruler's crown had been buried with them, as had the crowns of all the former vampire monarchs, and a new one had been formed to match the personality of this new king.

The crowd watched with anticipation for the appearance of the prince who would be king. There was no music to announce his arrival, no whispers through the crowd, no sound of guards traveling with him. She didn't move from her position, standing stiffly and observing the crowd before her, as the prince entered the view of the crowd.

Silently, the crowd holding their breath, he came to kneel before her. She looked down upon him, judging his fitness to be king. He was clothed in a heavy cloak covered in fine embroidery of flowers, thriving fields, and an abundance of goods, the bottom edge depicting people of all kinds—farmers, warriors, philosophers, artists, shopkeepers. Below that, his body was adorned in a simply cut shirt of the finest cloth, his pants matching, both beautiful in their simplicity. His feet were bare, his long hair braided through with ribbons of every color, visible skin decorated with painted vines and ripe fruit.

His appearance was a depiction of how his people felt they would be affected by his reign: simply peaceful life, flourishing land with no hunger, peace and security for all those under his rule, connection to the earth beneath them. His appearance had been provided by the people he would soon rule, and had they not approved of him, he would have been presented before her bare—a promise of nothing for the people—or adorned with painful attire—a personification of the suffering of the people.

She smiled at him, although his head was lowered and he could not see it, and the crowd shifted a bit in excitement. She held the crown high in the air, the multicolored gems reflecting the light of the sun and her glowing symbols over the surroundings, her magic gathering between her hands. After a moment, she lowered the crown to the prince's head, the fit perfect as the heavy metal was placed on his head, her magic sinking into the crown and into him. Then, she released the crown, taking a step back, the glowing of her symbols disappearing and the presence of magic in the air lessening.

He lifted his head, a wide smile spreading across his face, and then he rose. A king turned towards his people, and there was finally sound beyond silence, excited cheering and proclamations of love and loyalty filling the air. He addressed the gathered crowd as well, his first proclamation as king, voice gentle as he—

Ciara sucked in a breath as she woke, the image of a past king beloved by his people flashing in her memory before fading. It took a moment to separate her mind from memory that was not her own and into the present. Usually, there was a warm body holding hers, a mate of her own, and she felt around the bed to find her. The space beside her was warm, but Lucienne was nowhere to be found.

Ciara reached out across their bond as she sat up, pressing into Lucienne's mind and seeing through her eyes, finding that the other goddess had gone to bring them early breakfast. Her vision showed the inside of the castle walls and people moving around in a rush, last-minute preparations falling into place. The war camp and castle had been repaired enough to provide security, wounds had been healed, training had resumed, and the last of the witches would be arriving around mid-morning. Outright war was sure to begin soon, and before that, a new set of queens would be crowned.