The Sacred Flame

To Bow Before a Queen Part Four

Chapter 12

Van barely made it to the empty parking lot of an old industrial building, where he had arranged to meet Guto, before the change abandoned him. It took a moment to regain his balance once his tail and wings had receded, their absence keenly felt like an amputee missing a limb. As he did every morning, Van indulged in a bit of self-pity, longing for the return of night and the power of his true form. Now he needed an extra moment, for the image of Lisbeth in her true form haunted him with sweet temptation.

Everything was finally clear. Now he knew the cause of his desire to be near her.

She's a queen.

He had seen the way she had cringed at the sight of her horns curving softly away from her face, seeing only the deformity her human-self wanted to deny. Van saw something more. He saw her crown, as magnificent as anything made of gold or silver, and he could feel her power, still dormant somewhere inside her soul. Van wanted to be near her again so badly he almost started walking in the direction of her house right then. When he saw Guto's car pull up, he waved excitedly.

"Guto you won't believe it but--" Van froze mid-sentence when he saw his friend's face. Purple bruises, already healing to an ugly brownish-yellow around the edges, were the only warning the small man could offer before two burly men stepped out of the back seat.

"Your mother wants to see you Master," Guto spoke haltingly. His jaw was not moving properly. Van's blood boiled when he imagined how badly they must have beaten Guto for the healing process to take so long.

"And she felt the need to send an escort?"

"She just wanted to make sure we didn't make any stops on the way," Guto explained meaningfully. "You know how you like to spend time with friends on the weekend."

She knows! Van felt a wave of nausea threaten to turn his knees to jelly.

"Yeah ok," Van glared at the men before climbing meekly into the back seat. One of them circled around so when Guto started driving, there was a guard on either side of Van. "Unreal," he growled to himself.

The ride home was otherwise silent. Van sat and brewed, his anger and apprehension battling for supremacy in his mind. What would his mother do if she knew how powerful Lisbeth was? She's more than just a changeling!

By the time they were riding the elevator up to their apartments, apprehension was winning out. Van was escorted to his room and left there to pace warily. Guto was allowed to stay with him; Van was glad to see the bruises had finally vanished from his white skin.

"What did they do to you?" Van asked as soon as they were alone. He began rifling through his dresser for fresh clothes to keep anxious hands occupied.

"Twas nothing Master."

"Guto..."

"No," Guto held up a hand. "No use going down that road. It's done. I kept your lady to myself and they found you anyway." There was an edge of anger in his voice. "It wasn't always this way. Your aunt is not so cruel. She listens to her council, to her Clan. I'm sorry to say this master, but I fear your mother's wrath more than I fear the Darkness rising in the world."

Before Van could respond, the queen in question swept into the room, still wearing the traditional robes of violet silk she donned for formal audiences with the council. As always, Amon was at her side. His dark, hairless skin reflected the light as if, even in his human form, black scales covered his body. His yellow eyes were nothing like any human Van had ever met, and he half expected to see a forked tongue flick out when Amon leaned in to speak in his queen's ear.