The Cursed Queen

Ave Regina

The morning after, I stepped out of my chamber and met my father's gaze. I had just finished getting ready. I had chosen to wear the black gown first to go along with tradition.

He looped his arm along mine as we glided downstairs and outside to the carriage. We rode side by side, neither of us saying a word.

The air was cold, uncomfortable even. I wasn't surprised though, this is what I wanted no more of him trying to crawl inside my head with his words.

When the carriage stopped we were in front of an old building. The building had been painted black like almost everything in Pyran. My door was slowly opened and I stepped out of the carriage and into the shadows, my father grinned taking my hand in his and leading me inside.

As I entered, my whole body felt like it was on full alert. The guest list was small just as he promised but the people reeked of power. I could feel it, it was as if the room was drenched in it. Everyone was dressed in long twilight gowns, with their heads bowed.

In front of me, there was an altar, adorned with gold accessories. Two old women stood proud holding sickle-like blades.

I glided forward the crowd began to croon. While some began to vocalize in harmony. I felt my muscles tense, were they using magic?

Cackles broke out through the room as the shadows in the room began to take shape. my father had nudged me to look at my feet and then I saw it. My own shadow stretched out in front of me and became humanoid. It floated and joined the others as my father and I continued our journey to the altar.

"Come child of darkness" calls their shrill voices.

"Daughter of the Sun and the Moon. Daughter of life and death. Daughter healing and destruction. Our Savior" the shorter woman drones

"Daughter of the highest order of darkness. Keeper of the Soul, Ruler of the Scale, Keeper of the Abyss. There shall be no other." the taller starts

"You were shaped for this honor, and you alone. May all in attendance listen to his proclamation."

"The Daughter of the Sun and Moon shall be my successor. She alone shall rule with our divine might. She commands in my stead I turn every once of darkness to her. For her blood is one of gold." the short woman finishes

She clutches my hand and pulls me forward. She quickly uses her golden scythe and slices my palms and sure enough my blood is gold. The shadows swirl into one entity and my eyes roll back.

A million voices are laughing and hollering in my head. I could hear each and every one of them. Each and every one bloodthirstier than the last. I felt so much power at once that it felt like my veins might explode.

I stumbled forward and my father caught me. My eyes roll back in place as I tried standing upright.

"Ave Regina, salvete salvatorem nostrum, benedic deam nostram" The room chants.

I stare at them as they all bowed continuously.

There was someone in the crowd who stood straight up , almost challenging me. He met my gaze, and smirked,his black hair poked out wildly of his hood.

I blinked and his face disappeared throughout the sea of cloaks.

*************************************

I had entered my room, and Themis helped me enter my red gown for the night. My new power was heavy on my shoulders.

The darkness wasn't foreign but it was strange to be now be soaked in it's presence. Themis ties the strings at the back of my dress tightly and grins.