The Rise of the Fallen Queen

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

Cub Creek Territory...

The piano played a soft mournful song as Aurora's nimble fingers struck the ivory keys. The sunlight streamed in through the French doors bathing the ballroom in natural light.

"We really need to set up a music room." Her mother's voice came to her as she finished playing the last cord.

"I like coming in here." Aurora said with a small smile. Her Aunt Carla, the former Luna, taught her how to play in this room. It was a special time just for them and Aurora looked back on it fondly. Carla had given her the gift of music as a way to let out all her emotions and find peace. Today, however, fell slightly short of the goal.

"So, what's wrong?" Tracy asked.

"What makes you think something's wrong?"

"Carla always played what she felt and she unconsciously taught you to do the same."

Aurora sighed and looked down in shame. "I think I'm a pervert." She said quietly.

Tracy cocked her head to the side and raised a brow. "Say what now?"

"Do you remember the vampire from funerals that I asked you about?"

"Gideon Blood?"

"Yes. I can't stop thinking about him. He saved me when we left the cave."

Tracy's lips pursed slightly whenever she remembered the danger that the children had been in but she didn't interrupt.

"I keep dreaming about him even when I try not to." Aurora continued. "He's so much older than me but he's all I think about. I heard Jessie tell Asya that when someone gives another person unwanted attention that they're a pervert. He was mad because I left the cave. He'll never be interested me." She finished sadly.

Tracy hid a smile as she looked at the small half circular birthmark at the base of her daughter's neck. "You're not a pervert for having a crush on someone. Sometimes people come into our lives for reason we can't imagine. Some are soon forgotten while others make a lasting impression. Put your worries about him aside for now. You're still very young. If Gideon was meant to be in your life, then he'll be there when you're ready. Right now, you need to focus on your school work and training. Everything else will fall into place when the time is right."

"What if he finds someone?" Aurora asked sadly. She didn't know why heart felt as though it were breaking at the thought of him being in a relationship.

Tracy refrained from assuring her that he wouldn't. Perhaps they should reconsider hiding the truth from Aurora. She felt that both Jonathan and Gideon would veto that opinion.

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Sprite Kingdom...

Shula had returned to Cub Creek after the attack was over. She and Asya spent a lot of time together and had been helping Jessie with the kids. Jessie was determined to carry on Gamma duties in her mate's absence and her friends had been taking on pack work to take the strain off the worn-out momma. When her father called, Shula told Jessie and Asya immediately. Jessie couldn't leave her kids behind and Asya happily volunteered to go with them.

Carrie did as much as she could but seeing to the duties of Luna took most of her time. It was Ms. Nadine who immediately stepped in and was having the time of her life hauling the kids to school for Jessie, then running the perimeter, and terrorizing the poor patrol groups who guarded the boarders. The Alphas didn't bother calling her into their office after the 5th time. They simply texted the rogue, who had saved their mate's life, to behave. She always responded with a, "NEVER!" and a bunch of emojis. 

Asya and Shula showed up at Sprite's palace right as Firelight and Reilly were coming out. King Athens greeted his daughter giving her a letter to deliver to an old friend, whom Shula remembered well. The queen gave them a small specialize group of soldiers to accompany them.

Saying their farewells, the troop headed to the mountains where a hidden portal would take them to Sahra' Aljini.

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Reilly was sort of scared to find his friend. Asya had been best friends with Jessie for years and was being very quiet in regards to discussions on finding Landon. He, like most men, have the survival instincts to know that a silent woman was a hell about to be unleased on Earth.

Firelight had to deal with his own personal hell in seeing his Other Half so close but not being able to talk to her for fear of his curse. He began writing notes instead. The first started with a simple, "Hello. How are you?"

In the course of the two days, it took them to reach the mountain pass, Firelight and Shula had used up every scrap of paper. He tried to speak to her but he felt the cruelty began to bleed out. At first, Shula ignored him after he hurtfully insulted her but with the pleas passed to her by Reilly. Shula forgave him and they would either speak through Reilly and Asya or they would write on the ground when they took breaks or camped.

Reilly and Asya patiently passed along the messages even though the exchanges were rather annoying. The soldiers found their interactions entertaining but didn't mock the pair instead they encourage the budding romance and quietly rooted for them. They also helped keep things in check whenever Firelight's curse flared up. Usually, it was whenever the couple got too close either emotionally or physically.

Finally, after six days of travel, they finally reached Sahra' Aljini, The Desert of the Jinn.

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Sahra' Aljini (Desert of the Jinn)...

The Master relaxed in the heated mineral waters of the natural hot springs. The quiet evening was disturbed as one of his servants bowed before him.

"Pardon the interruption, Master. But there are a group of strangers that have entered your lands and they appear to be heading in this direction."

"What sort of strangers are they?" the Master asked lazily. Whenever strangers came the Jinn usually took care of them. He had commanded that the Jinn not cause permanent harm but as long as he wasn't bothered by it, he didn't care.

"A Sprite Royal, soldiers baring the Sprite Queen's emblem, a werewolf, and a dark fairy who appears to be a Necromancer. The Jinn refuse to engage with the group." The servant replied.

The Master's brows furrowed. Standing, he grabbing the robe from the nearby rock bench and put it on. "How far are they from here?"

"Twenty minutes, Master."

"Summon my sister, I need to have a word with her about the new pet she brought home. It might already have had an owner."
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A reader sent me a meme...

For some reason, I was treating this like an adventure that we were all on... I didn't realize I was supposed to be BS-ing the whole thing. Like, "Yes, that was 'supposed' to happen."