In My Possession

Chapter 26-Someone Made A Deal with The Devil

I stared at Howard in shock. At first I thought he was tricking me but Howard didn't make jokes. 

"I'm....dying?" I asked, falling back into my chair. Howard stared at me his eyes full of old grief.

"It seems so. I'm going to need to the Queen to double check you though, just in case I misread." He sounded doubtful that he was mistaken but I grasped onto that hope.

"Well, when can she check?" I askedd, frustrated. He raised his hands in front of him.

"I  will call immidiantely." And he picked up the phone and dialed a number. 

"Daniel?...... Yes, I need to speak to the Queen, it's urgent.....What?" Whatever color was left in his face disappeared and he looked horrorstruck. His tone was hushed now.

"That's impossible.....No, she's with me.......Has it been located.....This is grave news.....Yes, I will be there in a moment." He put down the phone.

"What was that? Do they need me or something?" My mind whirled, what else could have gone wrong?

"It seems fate has turned on us. The Snake had broken out, killing four of it's gaurds. The rest were able escape." He said solemnly. 

"I went to see it today." I said softly. "Could have taken my magic and used it to break free?" An overwhemlming amount of guilt washed over me. I had been stupid, naive. But Howard was shaking his head.

"It's possible but I think not. It's true the Snake does possess a power that is only understood by the Queen but it couldn't have used it to escape." He explained, standing up and gesturing for me to follow him.

"So where are we going, are we going to shoot it down? Why do they need me?" I asked as we nearly ran down the halls.

"You don't understand. The snake cannot be killed by mortal weapons."

"Mortal weapons, what?" It dawned at me and I felt an icy feeling in my gut.

"The Sword, I should have killed it when I had the chance." I had to go and be noble, above everybody by not killing it, I thought I had tamed it but it had used my arrogance to it's advantage.

"Nobody knew the consequences." He said, but is assurances felt empty.

"But the Queen knew right? You said she alone fully knew thepowers of the snake. She was angry when I didn't kill it..." I thought back. I had thought she was just being wierd or was angry because  I wasn't following tradition

"We will consult her on this." He said in a firm tone.

"Is this why they want me there? I'm a going to be put on trial?" Was it possible for your life to fall apsrt in one day?

"No...It might be that you are the only one able to kill it." Of course, that's why it was part of the test, because only the Queen could kill it.

"Is it possible I'm not the queen? I mean, I didn't kill it?" Was it possible this was all jsut one big mistake meant for somme other unfortuante girl? A feeling of amazement filled me. But Howard crushed them.

"No, because you have inherited Emily's magic." He stopped us outside of The double doors that I assumed led to the council room.

"But most likely you will have to be the one to kill it." He stared into my eyes with despair and the realization fianlly sank in.

"And I"m dying." I whispered, my legs felt numb and I swayed. 

"Yes." He confirmed "The queen may yet have a way to reverse this though." We swept into the room, where the king and Queen watched over the quarelling councilors.