AURORA

Chapter 10: October 26th 1733

             My creatures and I have walked for hours through the Dead forest. We walked through the darkness of the trees. The edge of the forest is in sight. I slowly stop and prepare myself to speak. "My creatures, you will see me very soon. You will protect these forests. And me. No one comes into the Dead forest. If they do, kill them. Soon every piece of land and kingdom will be mine. You will leave this forest and join my side. As for now. Goodbye mortals of the night." Agnar begins to speak. "I lay down my life to you. I'm am yours to summon as well as the other dark creatures that roam the dead forest. Goodbye, my queen."

             I make my way out of the forest and I take in the view of Dubar. The trees engulfing the interior of the forest and erasing any view of its contents. Its dark walls calling me in. I effortlessly sing the gates open without using my hands; only my mind. "It's the evil queen!" Every man, woman and child left in Dubar kneel to me. This pleases me heavily but I can notice the foolery of the soldier's outfits. This will not do. They need to match my very soul. My caliber. And my reign. I wave my hands and suit their armor to a cold, hard metallic black, their shoulders spiking up towards the sky. Their helmets look ornamental and tough. Now, they truly look like soldiers worth fighting for an immoral queen.

           Two soldiers approach me. "My queen, how might we be of service?" "And what are your names?" The guy who asked the question answers, "My name is Mecius my queen." And I am Troy your highness." "Well, Mecius and Troy, place a handful of guards at the entrance of the dungeons. Now get out of my way." "Right away your majesty." I hurriedly walk to the inside of the castle and make my way down its long corridors. I can't help but to feel so much power. Power that only I have. I want every kingdom in this world. And I will have it. Vengeance isn't what I want anymore. Juts power. A never ending supply of power.

            I reach the last staircase that will take me to my destination. I slowly walk down, allowing the ends of my long dress slide through the entrance. The hollowness of the prison fills my pores. I breathe in very deeply. I exhale very deeply. I do this once more before processing. My head chillingly turns towards the only filled prison cell. Cara's prison cell. I stride over to her with a large conniving grin. Her hands and feet are shackled up. Her skin is dry and flaking. Her feet cracking from the constant scratching against the pavement. She lifts her head and the sight of me makes her squeal and act frantic. "You want to kill me don't you? Pity." "Mecius, open the gates." He takes out a bronze set of keys and cautiously puts them in the key hole. I can hear the turning and unlocking clearly in my ear.

          I go in with a sense of pleasure. Her pain entertains me. "Close the gate and leave us." "Certainly my queen." Mecius looks frightened. He doesn't know what I'm gearing up to do, but he knows just what I'm capable of. I waltz over to the only source of light in the cell and lay my hands crossed over my thighs. A stone opening in the wall, adjacent to wear Cara sits. I stare overlooking my kingdom and begin to address her. "Humph. Your jolts of energy are useless. You will not get what you want. Not today. Not ever. But I do have a proposition for you. I need you to search for a woman named Amoura.

            I have no clue of her whereabouts, but she has to reside in one of these kingdoms. If you choose to accept, I will grant you your freedom. If you deny, I will kill you. As you serve no purpose to me." I turn around and walk up to her, breathing her air. "You will do this for me. You have no choice. Such delight to only have to think of something and make it happen. I easily remove her rusted cuffs. "You want to kill me? Go ahead. Give me your best effort. Make it count." She looks primitive and unaware of how the world has changed around her. Her hands come slowly from behind her back. She holds a shiv carved from a rock. She lunges forward with every bit of energy she has. I quickly grab her by the neck, crushing her trachea. I slide her weightless body up the wall. I begin speaking in a very deep, obscure manner.

           "You cannot harm me. My very skin is that of metal. I'm nor alive nor dead. I was once alive, but that girl died long ago. How weak. How desperate. How foolish." I release her from my death grip. She falls to her knees and lets out a loud, struggling breath. She begins to cough vigorously. "If you will not speak, I will leave and your death will be on you." I walk slowly forward, heading out the gate. She gains balance and lands to her feet. She gathers life and begins to speak in a broken voice. "A...A...Alright. I'll do it. Not for you. But for me to get out of this horror. So I can leave this wretched place you call a kingdom."

                I look over my shoulders and say, "Very well. Mecius, you and Troy will train her. You will be given two days to train. Nothing more than that. You will learn to fight. Or you will accept death. You will face true horrors on this hunt. You will either return with Amoura or don't return at all. You will either be killed out there or suffer a fate worse than death at my hands." "Mecius, give her a room. Not the finest. Let her bathe every other day. Outside in the clothing barrels. Give her enough food and water to suffice for a week. Keep her under constant supervision day and night. Do not let her out of your sight." "I understand my queen. Your wish is my duty." "Now I shall go to my chambers. Do not disturb me for anything." "Yes, your highness." I walk off into the distance, heading up the spiral stair case and disappearing.

          "Well step forward. I shall take you to your room." I walk forward with extreme caution." I couldn't help but to think about what just conspired. How evil Aurora has become. It's no longer because of heartbreak. She has truly slipped into a world of darkness. The look in her eyes, was the look of a mad woman. Her glistening red eyes staring down my soul; wanting to see the life leave from my eyes. She has no room for care or passion. All she sees is who she will kill next or what kingdom she will take. She's become way too powerful. No one person should have that amount of power.

        She locked me up without hesitation. I had no clue that Daniel was with anyone, let alone the queen. But she didn't care. She kept me sheltered away in the dungeons for months. I was barely eating and drinking enough water to stay alive. My skin is so dry, it's cracked at just about everywhere there's skin. My hands have blisters in between each finger. It hurts to walk. My feet ail me. Regardless of my pain, I don't limp or struggle. I can't show weakness. If I was going to do this mission, I had to play the part. The light that hits my eyes as we walk the cold halls pains my eyes. I don't even remember what light feels like.

             My mouth is severely dry. I was only fed bread crumpets, pales of water, plates of grapes and leftover chicken legs. The chicken legs barely had enough meat on them for a rat to enjoy. I begin cracking my neck in a side to side motion. If she wants me to find this Amoura woman, I will do this. All I want, is to get as far away from here as possible. In the middle of my thoughts, I see a giant stone door. No doubt Aurora made this especially for me. I couldn't move it even if I wanted to. "Alright, this is your room for the next couple of days. Your training will start at daybreak. You will bathe before then. Now go in." I look at him and proceed to walk ahead. The large stone door closes. Barricading me in here until they wish to let me out.

           I didn't care about how I smelled or how I looked. I would be able to lay my head down on a bed. It wasn't the best bed but it beat having to lay on a stone floor. As my back met the bed, I felt nothing but relief. I could do nothing but lay there. I began to laugh. It was a laugh of surprise, not joy. I'm actually comfortable under the reign of an evil queen. This won't be for long. As soon as daybreak comes, I'll be fighting nonstop. I have to be mentally prepared tomorrow or I might as well give her the pleasure of taking my beating heart. I take a whiff of the cold, empty air and exhale. I close my eyes and wander away.