Broken Beginnings

Chapter 14

Chapter 14- The Forgotten Woman

Senas dress was cream, nearly the color of a wedding dress. It flowed effortlessly, over her arms, around her, a gold rope thrown over her shoulders. Her crown sat high atop her white hair, gold and sparkling in the lights of the ballroom. The sun had set and the crown seemed to replace that light. 

It was wicked and beautiful. It was sharp, with edges that could slice skin, vines weaved through the metal and raven wings carved deep into the gold. The room parted for her as if she were the queen. 

The sound of shuffling was uniform, two guards flanking either side of her. She didn't spare me a glance, unlike Violet who appeared beside her and flashed teeth. She had changed into a midnight dress that glittered, her chest on full display. She smirked darkly and a feeling of unease dove deep into me. "Tonight is a special night." Violet said, her voice booming off the golden walls.

"Tonight, we unite kingdoms and species together. Tonight we make history. Tonight we crown a new queen." Voices began to mumble. 

My mouth went dry. I was in big  trouble. Ashered looked to me, pulling me flush against the pillar. "Take the servants stairwell, There is a plane waiting for you on the bottom floors. I'll try to spare you some time." 

My heart pumped violently against my chest. "What about you?" I asked breathlessly. Ashered didn't hide his fraught expression. "The current queen is wanted for treason, she has aided in the death of many of this kingdom, including but not limited to, Fallon Nightgale and even her own mother." Violet continued speaking but I couldn't make out the words as my ears rang. How dare her accuse me of killing my family and friends. 

My vision blurred and I heard a rush of words, Sena pointing to me vindictively. Guards rushed for me and Ashered blocked them, unsheathing a sword of midnight. He shouted a warning but dove his blade into them as they barreled past him. 

I was running. The crowds were screaming, my dress was being toppled over. "Kill her!" Violet roared. The fabric of my dress caught beneath boots and I fell roughly onto the floor. People ran past, their screams echoing. "Kill them all." Sena said. The room truly erupted into a frenzy. Blood painted the marble and fabric. Screams turned into roars. Ashered and Arthur slaughtered their way through the guards, pained expressions on their faces. Sena stood, her hands resting in front of her, watching. Violet indulged herself in the fun. I still sat on the floor in a heap when Violet grabbed my chin, barely missing the strike of Ashereds blade. "How sad that the beloved queen killed her subjects. It was said she couldn't handle the pressure."

I shook with rage. I closed my eyes and prayed to the creator. I prayed for forgiveness. I prayed to my unborn child. I prayed to whomever would listen. 

A gasp broke out through my turmoil and I opened my eyes, attention turning to Sena. The viper held her stomach, the cream slowly bleeding red. And then she dropped. Her head slammed hard enough onto the ground that I knew if that blade hadn't killed her that surely had. 

Behind her stood Maeve. She was raging. The harps eyes were bright with fiery rage. She looked to Violet now. The vampire took a step back. I looked at her, wiping the blood that rushed from my nose. Ashered moved with agility and tugged me to the sidelines as we witnessed the standoff. 

"Oh, now after hundreds of years. You finally have a backbone." Violet taunted. My eyes drifted to Maeve's hands, she beheld Senas heart in her hands. It was not a blade that had ripped through her but her hands, her claws. 

"You did not obey the creator as you were supposed to." Maeve snapped. She took a step forward, her emerald dress dragging a line through Senas blood. Maeve carefully tossed her heart and continued to take steps toward Violet. Finally they stood inches from each other. "You killed her." Violet seethed. Violet flashed her teeth. "Do that again, child and I will not offer you the opportunity to be spared."

Violet snorted. "You think I am afraid of you." Her voice quivering said otherwise. "I have lived hundreds of years more than you." 

Maeve broke into a sinister grin flashing rows of fangs. Her dark hair and beauty seemed to make her all the more terrifying. Wings ripped through her dress. They were nothing like the fallen, nothing like Ashereds or anything I had seen. It was as if her wings were birthed from an eagles. They were long, powerful and hideous. They resembled the charmed birds, expect for the talons on the bottom. It was with that talon that Maeve slit her throat. 

Violet fell to her knees coughing. She brushed her hand over the wound, the flesh knitting itself back together before the rage overcame her. She lunged for Maeve and like a cat playing mouse, Maeve let her play. She let her try and fail to wound her. Finally, as if bored, the harp grabbed her throat and held her there, thrashing. 

"Fire." Maeve said looking at Ashered. On command, the fire swept towards them and Maeve dropped Violet, sending a big gust of wind with her wings. The fire and Violet were swept against the wall. The harp continued to flap her powerful wings, holding the undead in place until, ash met wind. The shrill screams of the undead met their final death.

I could hear all of our heavy breathing, my own heart in my throat. How and why rang through my head. 

"There are laws that are meant to be followed." Maeve said folding her wings against her back. "I have killed Frost and Melvin, their followers as well. This kingdom was gifted from the creator for both of you to rule. Do not make me regret what I did to my sisters today."

Maeve's bright eyes looked between us before she began walking out of the ballroom. A slaughter of bodies stood in our wake as she neared the exit. "Oh and Ashered," Maeve said. 

Ashered looked to her and Maeve smiled softly, as if she were about to tell a child they were no longer sick. "You're wings will return." 

With that, the harp left and a kingdom of ruin sat, awaiting a renewal.