• 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 • | 𝚀𝚄𝙴𝙴𝙽 𝚁𝙰𝚅𝙴𝙽𝙽𝙰

𝟼

•

The guards drop me on the floor with a hard thud, only then do I remember I have a large nail protruding out of my stomach. I get on my hands and knees, a sliver of adrenaline helping me stand to my feet. Barely at that.

I hold my side panting as the dark knight's leave the room in a hurry. In a formation, they make way for their queen. Ravenna stalks into the room, eye contact never breaking. Her dress leaving a slicing sound with every step.

Once she's in front of me, she gives a small flick of her index finger. Like lightning, the knights leave in a fast motion. The door's may have closed, but the gates of hell are wide open in front of me.

Silence so loud, you could hear a pin drop. I decide to take control. "If you're going to kill me, just do it already." I pant.

The Queen straightens her back with a slight chuckle. Her movements reminding me of a cat playing with a mouse. Power seething from her pores. The menacing point of her crown over shadowing me.

Ravenna takes her palm to my face, cupping it ever so slightly, causing me to flinch. The soft skin enveloping around my red cheek. I can't read her expression. She hovers her thumb over my scar. I hold my eyes shut, preparing for my last breath. I start to tremble, my heroic front cracking under the pressure.

That's until I feel a quick pull at my stomach, as well the ear biting sound of flesh. I open my eyes with a jolt. My stomach twisting as a loud suck coming deep within my throat. Pain becoming familiar again. Ravenna has pulled out the nail from my stomach. She holds it up to her mouth, her eyes locking with mine. The powerful Queen licks the last few droplets of blood to her tongue.

I stare in horror. As if nothing happened, she moves her hand to my wound. A soft tingle beginning to stir. "What are you doi-" I make out as soft tears roll down my cheek.

She removes her hand, allowing me to be able to look down. What once was a deep bloody wound, has turned into nothing but a white line across my abdomen. My pain is no longer.

She turns her back, throwing the nail to the floor with a loud clunk. Whipping her head around to look at me once again, she smiles. "Are you not going to thank me?" She purrs.

I stand at a loss for words.

"Did your parents not raise you better? To speak when you're spoken too. Especially your QUEEN?" Ravenna use of the word Queen raises hair above my neck.

I stay silent. She nods her head smirking with a tut. I feel like a small child being scolded at school.

"Do you like my room?" She whispers putting her head closely beside mine, looking around her dark quarters. Black stone columns line the wall, with a large marble fireplace. An enormous 4 poster bed in the center, with marvelous pillows surrounding it.

I turn my head slightly, our cheeks so close to touching. Making eye contact, I nod slowly, afraid to ignore her again. "It's nice" I mutter, though you could barely hear it.

She stands up straight again, not yet breaking eye contact. I can tell even when I'm not looking at her, she's staring right into my soul.

She's about to speak but she's cut short,

A loud shout from a man is heard outside, my neck snaps to it. Ravenna steps in front of me. Call me crazy but it almost felt as if she did it in a protective manor. I can see from behind her, an elderly man and what looks to be his son are being dragged into the castle. The doors to her room suddenly burst open. A dark knight appears, looking breathless. "Your Majesty, we've captured two men. They tried to ambush us on one of our supply trains."

Ravenna nods her head to him, then faces toward me. "One moment."

As she struts out of her room, I notice two metal contraptions on her index finger. It looks sharp, sharp enough to cut skin.

I'm left to my own devices as she leaves. I wait a minute before rushing to the door. Pulling and prying. No luck. I run to the stained window and try to unlatch it. Still, no luck. I grit my teeth. This place truly has no exit. Maybe she brings all her victims here, just to give them a false hope of escape.

"Astrid....." a voice calls out from behind me. It's faint, but not enough for me to not hear it.

I'm being pulled towards this voice.

"Astrid...." The unknown sound calls out again.

I walk slowly towards a large tapestry. I slowly lift it, uncovering a door. With my hand trembling, I turn the knob and push it forward. It's a large circular room. A fire pit is in the middle, the flames aggressive spewing, but that's not what catches my attention.

A gold mirror.

"Astrid..." It calls out again.

I step around the pit, candles leading its way up to the circular glass. It's incredible, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I walk closer and closer, nearly unable to stop.

I want to touch, feel it. I can't pry myself away. That's when it happens. The gold mirror suddenly starts dropping and making it's way down the steps. The liquid gold starts turning and contorting. I'm mesmerized.

The gleaming yellow figure now stands in front. The statue finally in its fullest form. I smile unwillingly. "You have found me." The golden frame states intimidatingly, in the deepest tone I've ever heard. Its unworldly.

In a trance I move my hand slightly toward it. Wanting to feel all it's glory. I'm inches away.

"NOOOOOO!!!" Ravenna screams from the door, her powerful voice causing vibrations under my skin, yet I don't hear her. I've often heard stories of her powerful voice, but in my trance nothing can break me out. I inch closer, my finger touching the gold faintly, but it's cut short. My whole body zaps, a current seizing my body. The pain immeasurable. Ravenna suddenly grabs me in her arms. She looks to the golden creature.

"You can't have her." She hisses with fury. I start to close my eyes. I feel hands grasp my cheeks in a panic, but at this point, i'm loosing consciousness. Fluttering my eyes, Ravenna is rapidly changing her vision from me to the statue.

"Did you hear ME! NOT HER." She shouts.

"Your wish is my command........my queen." The golden man's voice distorts as his frame begins to melt. He slithers like a snake back into the captivating gold mirror. Ravenna notices my stare is locked on the shiny metal. She hastily brings her hand to cover my eyes. Her chest falling up and down dramatically.

With the vision of the gold man no longer in my eye shot, and a soft hand blocking my view, I go limp. My body drained out of all It's energy.

Entering my dream state, I no longer feel the cold stone on my back, but rather a soft mattress. Visions plague my mind, but soon, everything goes....

Silent.