The Torment • Alternate Reality Book One

Chapter 9- The Boy

Author's Note: I hope you like my story! Feel free to voice your opinion, ask any questions and point out any mistakes I make.

Cora's POV

"Did you hear what Ivy said yesterday?" I ask Amaro in my hidden private study deep in the castle.

"What part of it?" He says. I sneer and answer

"The part about that idiot Donovan." Amaro scowls

"Yes, I did. She needs someone much better than him to be with, to be the Dark Earth King when the time comes for her to be Queen."

"How are you so sure that she will be the one that I choose to be my successor? Maybe I will choose Ivy." I state, wanting to see his reaction. To my satisfaction, he looks at me like I am insane to suggest it.

"Ivy? Seriously? No way. She should become the next Queen of Gato Reino once those fools are murdered. Antonia definitely should be your successor, she has beautiful Darkness in her just waiting to blossom. She is already very powerful. Have you seen the village?"

"I have. I was just teasing you, to see your reaction. Of course Antonia will be my successor. Oh, I forgot! She only tolerates being called Sabrina."

"Oh yes. Aren't you worried about that name? Ivy might be a desperate, idiotic fool but she had a good point. Antonia's new name is very similar to her deceased connection mate's name."

"I'm sure it won't be a problem. If he was alive, I would be more worried, but he's not. Nothing can be done about it anyway, she gets extremely angry and practically loses control!"

"Maybe, if someone that she were to fall in love with suggested that she chooses another name, she would agree." Amaro suggests, a smile on his face. I lift my eyebrow in confusion, willing him to elaborate. "I could fight for her heart, and try to convince her to change her name."

"Good idea, but what if you fall for her?"

"It would never happen. You know I haven't loved anyone since... her."

"Yes, the original Dark Earth Queen, Elizabeth."

"Don't speak her name!" Amaro roars, slamming his hands down on my desk.

"Fine. I'm sorry." He snorts and storms out of my office. This plan will be fun to watch.

Antonia/Sabrina's POV

The sun falls down the sky, changing it to a swirl of many colors. My eyes blink open at the arrival of the night, and I grin as shadows are casted all over the land, plunging it into darkness as the sun disappears, and the moon rises.

The night time always makes me happy and feel energized with all of the Darkness that comes out to play. Someone knocks on my bedroom door, ruining the buzz I feel at the dawn of night. I growl lightly under my breath and stomp forward, flinging my door open to reveal Amaro.

"Hello Sabrina, lovely night we are going into, isn't it?" He greets politely. I can sense that it's fake, and he's here for something.

"What do you want? I know all of this politeness is just a ruse, so just spit it out." I command angrily, staring at him right in the eye. Most people can't do this, since nightmares swim in his eyes. Fear is one of the many emotions I don't feel anymore.

"You're a brave little spitfire - aren't you? Only a small group of people can stare into my eyes for an extended period of time without shaking in fear." He says, grinning. I brush it off and push past him, heading to the village site in this mountain. He walks next to me, keeping stride with me. I reply emotionlessly

"I don't feel fear." His smile widens

"Good." I roll my eyes and speed up, but he stubbornly stays walking next to me.

"You can not ditch me, little spitfire."

"Do you mind not giving me a nickname? Just Sabrina is fine." I ask, showing my irritation in my voice.

"Well I wanted to give you a nickname." He states and grabs my hand tight enough that I can't wiggle out of his grasp "Like how I wanted to do this." He pulls me to a stop and bends down, whispering in my ear "And I always get what - or who - I want, my little spitfire."

"You'd have to catch me first if you want to try and claim me to be yours." I say defiantly, and partially change so I have claws and sink them into his hand. He hisses in pain and immediately lets go of my hand. I waste no time and immediately shift into a cheetah, using Darkness to propel myself to go even faster as I sprint through the halls of the castle.

I turn a corner and see Amaro standing in the middle of the hall, looking annoyed but with a slight hint of a smirk on his face. His arms are crossed and on either side of him is a wall of Darkness.

Does he really think that can stop me?

Instead of going to one of the sides and trying to get through the wall, which would slow me down, I use my powers to push myself to go even faster. I leap up into the air and hit him in the chest with my paws extended. He falls to the floor with a thud and hits his head sharply on the dark wooden floor. I keep up the ridiculous speed that I am going at until I reach the village, where I shift back into my human form.

I get to work immediately on building layers in the mountain, paths, foundations for houses and buildings, and anything else that will be apart of the towns hidden in the mountains. I am working for a couple hours when Amaro finally appears, anger smoldering in his eyes and just barely hiding the amusement and pride shining underneath.

"You've been a bad kitty, little spitfire." He smirks at me. I fake pout

"Aw, do you not like bad kitties? I thought you'd be proud of my cunning, strength and speed." I bat my eyelashes at him, and his smirk twitches as he tries not to actually smile.

"I admit, your use of both of your sets of powers to escape me was impressive, and the fact that you thought to use them in the way that you did is also impressive. But still, you ran from me." He steps forward, getting closer to me like he's going to grab me. I step back, staying out of his reach.

"Oh, by the way, the catch is paused. I'm working on my queenly duties, I don't have the time for games." I state and turn my back on him, focusing on my work.

"Maybe I can help." His words halt my work, causing me to turn around and stare at him in mild surprise.

"You? Really?" I snort in disbelief

"Yes." He says, rolling his eyes "I am more connected to the Darkness, but I still have Earth powers."

"Fine, you can try to help with your wimpy Earth powers." I tease, smiling.

"Wimpy?!" He exclaims in exasperation "I'll show you who's Earth powers are wimpy!"

With a wicked grin, he launches a lot of rocks at me. I fake yawn and hold out my hand, halting them in their path to me. With an evil smile of my own, I throw half of the rocks at him from the front and launch the rest in the ceiling. I lower my hands and control their path with my mind as Amaro stares at me confused, the other rocks deflected.

Suddenly, I rain the rocks down on his head. He grimaces and glares at me while I stare at him with a goofy smile on my face. We both start to laugh for a while, then Amaro calms down enough to say

"Okay, we should get back to work."

"Alright." I agree, and we start working on the village, our laughter still echoing in my ears, bringing a small smile to my face.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Author's Note:
Hey kittens! This chapter is kind of a filler again, so I'm sorry, but I did explain yesterday how I am just leading up to more interesting things. I hope you like it though, and it was intriguing.

Question:
Do you think Amaro's kindness is legit, or an act?

~Cat Queen