The Rise of the Fallen Queen

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

The Cradle of Life...

Tu watched as the young witch approached his stand. Upon entering the settlement outside of the Hunter's training grounds, he was given the task of farming. Every Tuesday and Friday he was sent to the market to selling the produce. It was there that he met his Other Half, a young witch, Ebanee. She was beautiful and he suddenly had a reason to live.

"Good morning. Can I have a bag of apples?" She greeted before discreetly looking. Leaning forward as if she were looking at some of the other fruits, Ebanee whispered. "My boss is leaving an hour early tonight."

Grabbing the bag, she thanked him and left quickly. Tu took a deep breath and became excited at the prospect of seeing her later. It was forbidden for species to mix even if they were soulmates, joined together by the Creator Himself. No one, not even Ebanee's family, could know that they had found each other. Tu was reeling from shock as he saw the oppression and fear that people lived in.

Once you entered, the Hunter's Council controlled every facet of your life and you couldn't leave. They were too far from civilization to run. The heat of the day and the chill of night were equally deadly. All vehicles were locked and patrols would always be on the lookout for spies, vagabonds, and runaways. There was no happiness, just existence.

The farmer, a garden nymph, told him that it hadn't always been that way. Ever since the ambitious Matthew Brush had taken power of the Hunter's Council, he started to enforce many rules and regulations. At one time, the Hunters were their friends and everyone lived in integrated harmony.

While there was a small assortment of fairy folk, Tu the only Sprite in the settlement. The uncomfortable stares and inquiries were unsettling. It was a strange experience for Tu. If it weren't for Ebanee, he would have turned and left after the first week. Skylar had abandoned him and now he was stuck because his Other Half refused to leave without her family.

The day was mostly done. He packed up the cart and took the money to the tellers before heading to the library. The curfew was set for 8:30 in the evening so he only had two and a half hours to spend with his Other Half. He never thought he would actually meet her. He had been a guardian for centuries and had been content. But now even if he could go back to the Site of the Sacred Lands, he wouldn't.

His life was now with a beautiful ebony witch. She was his heart, his home, and the future he had been ready to give up on.

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Zuri opened the door at the sound of a knock.

"Mama?" she whispered in shock.

"Ni mimi, mtoto wangu." ["It's me, my baby."] Lucy replied engulfing the woman she had raised alone in her arms.

Zuri grabbed her hands and lead her in.

"Zara? Zara! Come quickly!" Zuri called for her sister excitedly.

Zara ran out to the front room.

"MAMA!" she shrieked and hugged her mother tightly.

Lucy's eyes filled with tears. She had missed her daughters.

"What are you doing here?" Zara asked before lowering her voice to a whisper. "This is not a good place."

"We have come to take you away." Lucy replied.

"We?" Zuri asked.

"Your biological father. He had been possessed not long before he met your mother. The demon, Razdor, made a deal with your father in order to save my life. Part of the condition was that he could never tell me and that he could be in control part of the time. Razdor used your father's body while he slept to have sex with other women. Your mother was one of many."