The Cursed Queen

A Renewed Venagence

My father ruffled my hair and patted my shoulder. Before guiding me to the stairs of the castle. We glided up the marble black steps. The screeching of the silver chandeliers echoed throughout the castle. I never noticed how quiet it was. The black and silver halls and the eerie sounds put me off.

We stilled in front of a large, golden door. The precious metal shined brightly even in the dimly lit corridor.

"I had this room made for you. Your room has been waiting here for a while." My father says playing with his hand.

His whole stance was guarded, I could tell he was nervous. It was a room, as long as I had somewhere to sleep it wasn't a big deal.

I forced a smile to my lips and pushed open the door. The room was drenched in pink and orange hues. It was unsettling, the room had pictures of my mother and him by the window.

The adjoining bathroom had continued the bedroom's theme. The only redeeming thing was the different types of hair supplies. It was almost identical to the products my mother had given me back at her palace.

"We could have it changed, Yemisi," He adds, running his hands through his hair." You don't pretend very well"

I quirk a brow,

"Who said I was pretending? "

My father nods and heads toward the door. He turns towards me and stares at me intently

"Themis left to visit her brother, dinner is at 7, and your dress fitting for the ball is at 8 in the morning"

I bobbed my head and closed the door after him. Today was a long enough day. I plopped on my bed and stared at the cream ceiling.

It seemed the ball was my father's top priority at the moment. It didn't make sense to broadcast me to the entire kingdom if I wasn't supposed to exist. The event had to be exclusive, my father wasn't completely senseless.

A soft rasp came at my door and I stood abruptly.

"Come in" I called scratching my head

A small mousy woman enters the room wearing a white gown.

"Your highness, I am to escort you"

I nodded in thanks and followed slowly behind her. Our awkward steps resonated through the halls and our shadows were plastered on the walls.

When we reached the dining room I raised my chin as I stared at Zayn's nose being wrapped in bandages and Varlene's neck being covered. I had left a clear message from them but by the glare they gave me, It seemed they might need another one.

"Yemisi," my father smiled.

Someone pulled up a chair to his right and I sat there. Zayn narrowed his eyes at me and I quirked my lips to form a grin.

"Don't get too comfortable, scum" he hissed

I let my face fall blank before turning to face my father.

"Scum.... Really? " I mutter

My father immediately glares at Zayn

"Stop fighting your sister, she is your elder whether you like it or not,"

Zayn rolls his eyes and pins a nasty glare at me.

"The older sister that knocked me unconscious, right?"

I frown and squeeze the fork in my hand until my palms become red.

"Because her brother tried killing her and her friends."

"I barely touched you " he scoffs

"You used your powers to choke us !" I grit out

Varlene hisses at me and bangs her hand on the table. My father frowns in her direction, I remained quiet until they brought dinner. The mundane clattering of the plates and cutlery echoed in the large room.

"It'd be a shame if our pretty princess ended up poisoned" Varlene chuckled, her eyes narrowing with a murderous glint.

I smiled at her, then I too began to chuckle, I would love to see her try. I would wring her skinny little neck.

"Please go ahead, give me an excuse to end your miserable life"

"Yemisi," My father chides," Play Nice"

"Zev, you'll really let her speak to me like that" She sobs

My father barely bats an eye as the tears aimlessly spill down her pale skin.

"Yes," He answers staring her down.

"Father we are your family how can you just-" Zayn starts

My father stands to his full height, dark magic expelling off of him in ropes. I watched as Varlenes eyes turned black- he was inside her head. Her breathing picked up instantly she began to shiver as shadows began entering her ears.

"Know your place Varlene, we have tolerated your disrespect for long enough. You kept the daughter of darkness from her intended position. At our side .. for that alone, you should die" a dark voice seethes

The air chills and summons more spirits of the night, they howl and whoop. They fly across the room some with two legs standing upright while others had mismatched limbs. My head swiveled to watch them, but they were fast. They ignored Zayn and I but swiped and clawed at Varlene. Red tears flowed from her still-black eyes, a female shadow had appeared and its figure resembled Varlene. Another shadow whom I assumed was my father appeared with a sword and swung with great force. The female shadow fell her hands reaching upwards only to feel nothing. The other shadows had stopped to watch and cheered when her head had rolled.

"Father... please," Zayn says shuffling closer toward him.

Father was no longer there in his place was the King everyone had grown to fear. His breathing was uneven -ragged even. His eyes held endless darkness, there was someone-something in control and it wasn't the timid man who showed me my room. He let out a deep earthy chuckle, sending chills down my spine, Varlene was still shaking and her tears had left red stains on her face.

Zayn scoots toward his mother, shaking her until he burns his skin. He yelps and and returns to his father. I sighed while it was amusing at first to watch father serve his family a piece of humble pie, I couldn't let him torture them for much longer, I had yet to enact my own revenge.

"Dad stop please, " I whisper.

His head immediately snaps to mine. His eyes narrow before seconds later they soften, the shadows grin at me and ruffle my hair before they disappear to wherever they came from. Father now out of his trance softly smiles at me before turning on his heels and retreating into the halls of the castle.

Varlene lurches forward and her son catches her while whispering reassurances to her. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face told a story- one of dread. She shook her head muttering softly.

"He can't know, he shouldn't , he loves me she'll be gone. I swear, I swore it"

Zayn grits his teeth before slowly lifting her up, and wrapping her arm around his neck.

"This means nothing you dirty Celestian scum, I swear father will come to his senses and kill you where you stand. I WILL watch as you die a slow gruesome death" He spits

I feel myself grinning a challenge, they'll both soon learn I never lost one or backed down from one

"I'll be ready and this time, I'll really slit your mother's throat."