A Throne of Fire and Blood

Chapter 21

Tianna walked down spiralling stone steps of the passage way, lighting the torches on the wall as she went.
      As she got to the 3 entrances, she took a deep breath and walked down the middle one. Tianna was clueless as to where she would end up.
      After going down another couple hundred steps, Tianna came across another door. She gently pushed it open and walked through. She stood in a large stone room. Tianna stood by the door and scanned the room. At the end of the room, stood 2 large bronze statues. She recognised them instantly. Terence Whitlock and his wife, Rosalie Beaumarchais, the first King and Queen of Alizerin. This was their tomb. Tianna walked towards the statues. She was stunned, her mother had told her stories them, about how they sacrificed themselves to save the continent. Rosalie was her mother's hero.
      Tianna walked over to the table by the side of the wall. There was piles of books, covered cobwebs and dust. She picked up a book from one of the piles and blew off the dust. The title of the book read 'Auctmars'. Tianna put the book back down, but she was going to take it back up to her room when she left. She walked back over to the statues. She studied Rosalie's face in particular. Rosalie's features were very similar to her own mother's, the shape of her nose and lips were almost identical. But Rosalie had long pointed ears, the ears of Fae, the immortals. Tianna suddenly felt sick. She shouldn't have come down here, she shouldn't be trespassing in the home of the dead when she had wronged so much in her life, she was scared something would come after her, haunt her for disturbing their peace.
      Against the far wall, sat piles of jewels and weapons. A sword was hung up in the centre. In the handle of the sword, had a small pattern of jewels, like the jewels on Terence's crown. It was Terence's sword, she had seen pictures of the great blade in books, but she never thought she would see it herself. This blade is what saved the continent over a thousand years ago, being wielded by Terence, it had slain the Dark Lord Sceledrus.
The room suddenly went even colder then it already was, which caused Tianna to start shivering.
"Everything is so beautiful, isn't it? The craftsmen are so talented." A female voice said from behind her. Tianna spun round and saw a spirit floating behind her. She was stunning. Her silver hair was braided and rested on her shoulder, she looked so young, barely older then Tianna was. Her eyes were like diamonds, and her skin was as white as snow and her ears her arched and pointed.
"Who are you?" Tianna breathed. She knew the answer, but she needed to confirm it.
"You know exactly who I am, Tianna Rhodes." Rosalie Beaumarchais said.
"You're Rosalie Beaumarchais." Tianna said slowly, still stunned at what she was seeing, "What are you, how are you even here?"
"I do not live, but I do not haunt this place." Rosalie had began to fade. The look of panic set on her face, "I've risked a lot to come here to you." Tianna warily took a step back.
"Risked?" Tianna asked.
"I can not remain long, nor can you," said the queen. What has been going on?
"The Eight Guardians are distracted for now." She said as she looked at Terence's statue.
"Who?"
"The gargoyles on the clock tower." Tianna knew what tower she meant, she had always avoided it when walking in the gardens, she always felt weak when she went near, it made her worry, "they have them everywhere, on the castle, as you know, but the ones on the tower, there different. They guard the portal between our two worlds. We managed to buy some time and I slipped past..." She reached out and grabbed Tianna's hands and held them tightly, "You have to listen to what I say. Everything has a purpose. You were meant to be here, just like you were meant to be an assassin, you were meant to be a killer, that's how you were meant to survive." Tianna's nausea returned, "Evil lurks in these halls, something wicked enough to make the men in their armour tremble with fear. Something that will crack the worlds." Rosalie went on, "You have to stop it. Forget your debts and oaths, forget your friends, forget the lives you fight for. Destory it, before it destroys everything, before the portal is ripped open so wide that it can never be fixed." Rosalie head whipped around, scanning the room as if someone has just entered, "I need more time, you need more time. Win this competition, become the Champion the continent needs." Tianna was speechless. It was so much to take in. Rosalie reached into her pockets, "They must never catch you here, and if they do, this will all be for nothing. Here, wear this." She handed Tianna an ancient necklace, "It will protect you." She pulled Tianna over to the door. "We were both led her tonight, by someone who wants you to learn; someone wants you to know the knowledge." The Queen's eyes went wide, "they are coming." She whispered.
"I don't understand. I'm not- I can't do this!" Queen Rosalie kissed Tianna's forehead. Tianna had tears rolling down her eyes.
"Courage is rare, let it guide you, and you can achieve everything." Screeching echoed through the halls which made Tianna's blood run cold. "Run!" Get away from here!" Rosalie shouted, shoving Tianna into the hallway.
      Tianna ran, tripping and throwing herself up the stairs. She heard screams and snarls chasing her. She didn't know what was going on.
      Tianna hurled herself through the door and slammed it shut behind her. She heard a faint voice cry out. Tianna walked slowly to her bed, trying to process what happened, but before she was able to get to it, darkness had surrounded her mind.