Wings of Fire: Overcast

Chapter Sixteen

"He died," Foeslayer choked out, "and no one thought to tell me?"

"Why would we?" Diamond asked. "You don't love him, NightWing; you've only ever wanted his power. And didn't you hear me? I'm going to make you pay."

"My poor daughter," Foeslayer whispered. "She lost her mother, and her father was murdered by her brother... What has happened to Darkstalker, anyway?"

"No one knows. Rumors are Clearsight stopped him somehow," Diamond said indifferently.

Foeslayer hummed softly. "Poor Clearsight... I know she loved him so much, but she must've felt it was necessary..."

"We are discussing your PUNISHMENT, not your CHILDREN!" Queen Diamond barked furiously, sweeping her wings in an outward circle. One of her wings hit Eclipse, and while it should have swept her off her feet, Diamond's wing stopped like it had hit a rock-hard wall.

Oops. Her enchantments had exposed her. Again.

Diamond's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

"Nobody! Aurora! What? Why?" 

Before Queen Diamond could respond, Eclipse ran over to Foeslayer, grabbed her arm and activated her teleportation bracelet.

They appeared in Eclipse's bedroom in the Night Kingdom, and Eclipse removed the bracelet that made her look like an IceWing. She gasped softly as her scales darkened completely to black, but left white stars on he outsides of her wings and silvery-white scales on the inner side of her wings.

Foeslayer frowned. "Whiteout?" she asked, confused. "How did you speak so..."

"I'm Whiteout's daughter, Eclipse," Eclipse explained.

"You're an animus," Foeslayer said in wonder.

"Yes. I freed Darkstalker - a mistake, I suppose - but with you back, I'm sure he can learn to control his magic. I've imprisoned him in an ice prison much like your own. What are the specifics, anyway?"

"No time passes while I'm frozen," Foeslayer mumbled.

"Good. Enchant this pebble so that when I tap Foeslayer with it, she will be instantly released from any spells Queen Diamond has put on her," Eclipse said, and was about to tap Foeslayer when Foeslayer cried, "Stop!"

"I'll have starved to death if not for Diamond's magic! You need to make it a little more... Um..."

Eclipse further enchanted it until she was sure it was foolproof before she tapped Foeslayer.

Foeslayer was instantly released from the spell. She sighed like she'd just had a breath of fresh air. "Thank you." She smiled. "Eclipse."

"Um... Grandmother," Eclipse addressed her.

Foeslayer frowned. "Oh... Wow. That is true, isn't it? I'm a grandmother. Um..."

"Yeah, you are," Eclipse mumbled.

Foeslayer smiled. "I always thought my first granddragonets would be the children of Darkstalker and Clearsight. Guess I thought wrong, huh?  Who's your father?"

"Thoughtful. Qu... Queen Vigilance's son."

"Oh." Foeslayer's eyes sparked with interest. "And Darkstalker... Approved of that?"

"Yes, but he didn't know Thoughtful was her son."

Foeslayer frowned. "That's just... Strange. My entire family hates Queen Vigilance. Did Whiteout know?"

"No. But Thoughtful isn't like Vigilance, so it's fine."

"You're calling her plain Vigilance." Foeslayer's eyes sparkled.

"I'm an animus. She could die by my claws or mouth any time I wanted."

Foeslayer shivered. "You sound like Darkstalker."

"It's true. Doesn't mean I want to do it, but it's true."

"Well." Foeslayer shook her wings, still looking disturbed. "I suppose I should go reunite with my family, then."