A KINGDOM OF DEAD HEARTS [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 42: DUEL

Leidra was there. In all her frozen beauty. By herself.

"I come to take Lyanna. She will be my apprentice. My dark successor. Her childhood ends today," the evil queen spoke in almost a hiss, her mouth opened in a disgusting smile.

"You sneak around the back to take away someone's child! To avoid the sword of Zeus! To take Lyanna and then to use her as a leverage to demand the sword of Zeus! Despicable!" Airin was scared, but she was more furious than scared now.

"Who are you exactly?" Leidra's eyes now trained solely on Airin. Her expression was awkward, she cocked her head to one side in a stiff movement like she was a robot.

"I am ... I am a teacher. Lyanna is my student. You will not touch her."

"Oh? Are you challenging me, dear stupid, weak, human teacher? A teacher? What kind of sorcery do you have? Or you will throw books at me? Hmm? I do not see any book here though ..." Leidra snickered, her ugly smile grew wider, and she walked, step by step, closer to Airin. Her neck was stiff, and her head still cocked to one side.

Airin struggled to breathe normally. She instinctively stepped back, almost bumping Elisthia behind her. What have I done? But Lyanna, those children ... should never be in harm's way! But seriously, what could I possibly use to fight Leidra? Airin fought with herself.

"I love ... Lyanna ... my students," she stuttered. "I do not know how, but I will ... will fight you ... bitch ..."

"Love? Love?! I hate stupid emotion like that! You will die for it!" an obvious change in Leidra's demeanour. A change clear enough for Airin to remember something. Leidra's words to Rovan that morning in the dining room: My sorcery will not work for the deep matter of the heart, Rovan. No matter how strong my sorcery is, I cannot make her say I love you if it does not come from her heart! I cannot stand the deep matter of a human's heart.

"Elisthia?" she whispered.

"Airin, we are in deep trouble, aren't we? My sorcery is not strong enough to fight Leidra ..." Elisthia stepped closer as she whispered back at her.

"Let's try something," Airin nodded her head. "I need your telepathy sorcery ... to bring my emotion to Leidra," she lowered her voice even more, keeping her gaze at Leidra.

"Are you sure?"

"Please trust me on this, Elisthia."

Elisthia sighed, then she whispered back,"I know you can be trusted since that day you held my cold frozen hand in the garden. You have a good heart, Airin."

Leidra walked closer. The dark queen looked like a bloodthirsty monster ready to pounce her prey. Her face was still expressionless, awkward, frozen. She was beautiful in the same way a candlewax statue in the museum was beautiful, or a mannequin at the storefront beautiful. Lifeless and stiff.

"Whatever plans you have, it will only end in a terrible death," Leidra stopped walking.

"Take my hand, Airin," Elisthia walked to stand right next to her now, extended her right hand, and Airin took it. Elisthia's hand felt soggy from cold sweats. "When I say now, you start ... doing whatever ... emotion thing ..." Elisthia was not whispering anymore. "We may die trying, but let's ... let's do this," Airin nodded and her words came out quite firm considering the fear she was engulfed in.

"Die you both!" Leidra screamed, lifted her arms up, and red smoke flew out from the tips of her fingers.

"Now!" Elisthia shouted, pressed her right hand tighter against Airin, and Airin felt like there were a lot of tiny needles poking her. It was not painful, but it awakened her, warmed her. Elisthia lifted her left hand to the direction of Leidra. The battle between the two young women and the evil sorceress was about to begin.