BORDER

Chapter Twenty Five

NERISSA

    Silence.

    Just pure and utter silence as we walk away from the cart and to the castle doors. We are stopped by guards, again, before we explain we are challengers of the gods.

    They are shocked.

    "You made it this far?"

    "Obviously." Anakin snaps.

I am a tad concerned as to the face that they are not in touch with their emotions of shock because they do not know how to function with it. Instead of asking more questions the guards just let us right through. Considering Anakin just killed a man and yet we are walking through her front doors, is indication enough that Evangeline needs to up her protection detail.

We step into the castle with our chins held high and straightened posture. A part of us knows that after Kano, nothing is impossible, we will make it out alive one way or another. We never even thought we'd get this far. Well, I did, but there was a moment of great pause.

    The throne room spills out before us in high color. It is so bright that I feel like my eyes can't focus on one thing. Then I find the dais at the top of the throne room, four other thrones beside her, all absent of people.

And there she is. A woman that can not be described as beautiful because it is far too simple of a word. She is exquisite, perfection in its first and final form. There is nothing that can come close to her. Evangeline's magnificent blonde hair curls around her perfect face. It is pristine just like her golden skin and my gods, her eyes. They are every shade of green that has the capability of being. It is like a kaleidoscope of colors, a cosmos being born, it is almost horrible to see. Horrible because if you look away, you know you will never see eyes like hers. She is the only beholder of her eyes in the entire universe. They watch me, now, as she sits tall in her throne, her golden scepter laid over her lap.

    She is not alone in the throne room, though the thrones are empty, she is not lonely. No, a male is standing behind her like he has been carved out of stone to be there, forever. His strong jawline cuts through the air, he truly does look like he is made of stone. There are no blemishes on his olive skin, a tad darker than mine, his hair pulled back in a half bun while the rest of his coal-black coils brush his lower shoulder blades, and his eyes are like mine, deep teal.

    I do not know this man. I have heard stories here and there about Evangeline and her warrior but I did not think they would look like this. There is a familiarity between them that radiates off of them, they seem to be husband and wife. My assumption is only concluded when I glance at their hands, they both wear a ring of similar cut.

    He is barely taller than Anakin and she is significantly taller than me. It is is kind alarming to be the shortest person in the room. Evangeline stands before stepping down the dais. Her dress looks as if it is crafted from the sea itself. A long train falls behind her as she meets me at the bottom of the steps.

    I know my eyes resemble that of an owl.

    She stood and came down. Her dress is crossed at her neck and a long trail fell behind her.

    "Your majesty," I curtsy while Anakin just stands there. He is utterly disrespectful. Her head remains tall and dignified. She truly is the queen of gods, it is plainly obvious.

    "Why are you here, child?"

"We're here for our challenge...and we mean no harm." I start as I try to conjure up words in my mind.

    "Is that so? Then why am I receiving word that your acquaintance, who is present next to you, slit one of my store keepers' throats?"

    He just smirks and I want so badly to grip him by his ear to make him bow. "He touched her."