Tale of the Prophet Bearer: The Dark Queen's Reign

Chapter 38: The Dark Queen's Fall

My pulse pounds in my ears and despite the loud noise I hear a voice shouting in aggravation, "I told you she needs no more healing thrice and her condition has not changed since!"

Another voice answers, but I try to block it out. Why are they screaming at each other? They're so loud! "Quit yelling!" I moan, trying to pry my eyelids up.

"Christina!" Cody shouts. "Are you okay?!"

"Quit yelling!" I snap through gritted teeth. I force my eyes open and see Cody hovering over me with eyes wide. My lungs feel crushed and my hands tingle like they did when I used to lose control of my powers. I blink slowly and croak out, my voice hoarse, "What happened?"

Cody frowns and presses the back of his hand on my forehead to check for a fever. "You don't remember?" He seems to be whispering, but his voice is still loud. Maybe my hearing is out of whack.

"Remember what?" I twitch my aching hand, trying to get my body to respond.

"I'm gonna take that as a 'no'," Tucker says. He stands several feet way with Cameron, ducked behind Sargon. The king has his sword trapped in a death-grip and looks ready to attack. Naris is leaning against a wall, looking sick. They're terrified.

Feeling tingles up my arms and into the rest of my body. I press my palms against the ground and push myself up, but my head splits into the horrible headache I had in the Dark Dimension. "Ow!" I gasp, collapsing to the ground. The pain throbs to the point of screaming and I hold it back, pressing my hands against my temple so it might ease even just a little. It doesn't.

"Careful!" Cody shouts quickly. He huffs in aggravation and looks at Naris. "I thought you healed her."

Naris gives him a 'really?' look, still bleeding and gasping from previous injuries. "Excuse me if I missed a small injury."

Her voice booms in my ear. "Stop yelling!" I shout, gripping my hair. The pain throbs harder and harder, their voices growing as quickly. "You're all so loud!"

Naris lets out a startled shout, flinching behind Sargon. The king raises his sword to an attack that's ready to hit me, pushing Cameron and Tucker back behind him. Fear floods their faces again—Cody seems to be the only person who isn't terrified. Of me.

My face flushes with heat from the embarrassment of my outburst and I swallow hard. "What is it?"

Cody glances at the others, then back at me. "It's... a long story."

My eyes rest behind the others at the scorched walls and crumbling pillars. Shreds of red banners are still on fire. A wave of panic rolls over me as I realize where we are. The castle. We're at the castle. "Reil!" I gasp and sit up, only to have the crippling pain push me down. "Where's Reil?!"

"Whoa, whoa," Cody holds his hands up quickly. "Relax. She's gone—we won."

I look at his eyes for signs of lying, unsure if I can believe it.

She's... gone?

I force my head up a little so I can see. No more fire, no more chains. The room is still. My eyes stop on a crumpled figure in the corner. I wouldn't know who it is if it wasn't for the red and gray armor that remained. Reil's sword lays lifeless by her lifeless hand, not seeming as threatening as it had when it was filled with life. A pink, blistered burn spreads up her arm, disappearing in her sleeves and continues up her neck. Her face has gotten distorted beyond recognition and there only seem to be a few wisps of her hair left on her burnt head.

My eyes widen and my stomach twists. "You guys did that?" I breathe, my voice a whisper. "Is she..."

Cody shakes his head. "Not yet... They're going to see if somebody can heal her," he refers to Sargon and Naris. "Even if she does, she'll die for her crimes."

Sargon snaps out of the fear I entrapped him in. He strides to Reil and scoops the former queen up, her head lolling backward, limp. Her eyes are open and the glazed over irises tell me she's as good as gone, or close to it. There's no more anger, no more insanity—just emptiness.

Naris stumbles after him, glancing back at me with a nervous edge. After Cody waves them off, the two boys follow, more than happy to leave. I watch , unable to tear my eyes away from Reil's dead figure. She stares back at me in return. Hallow. Dead. Even after they disappear around the corner, I can see the empty loneliness lingering behind her eyes.

"So," Cody breaks the silence. "You don't remember anything that happened?"

I move my gaze back to him and give my head a gentle shake. Even that split pain down my head. I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for it to ease before answering, "I don't. I remember Reil about to stab you and... everything went black." It wasn't a lie, I tell myself. Things did go black. I doubt telling Cody about whatever happened would be better saved for another time when things calm down and we can talk it without the past days of exhaustion and stress messing with our minds.

Cody looks like he has more to say, but only gives a quiet, "Okay."

I rub my head and move at the pace of a turtle into a sitting position. "What happened?" I ask. "We could barely fight her when all of us were on our feet, and you were the only person up. Do you have some secret power I don't know about?" I add at a failed attempt to lighten the mood.

A surprised look flicks on his face before he hides it. I never thought he had another power or is hiding one, but that look makes me think otherwise. How did Reil get those burns? I'm the only one with fire abilities and I was unconscious the whole time—there was no way I did it! "Cody?"

He sighs and shakes his head, running his fingers through his messy hair. "Look, Christina, it's... complicated."

"Complicated?" I raise my eyebrow. "How is it complicated?"

"It just is."

"It's not that hard to answer."

"Actually it kinda is."

"I hope you don't expect to answer how you nearly killed somebody we all have fought and almost died several times with "it's complicated" and not have any follow up questions. I deserve to know, don't I?"

Another look of hesitation makes me raise my other eyebrow.

"It's a burr!" He blurts out. "It was chaotic and crazy and hard to explain and once I know how to put it into words, I'll explain!"

"Fine, forget it! You don't have to tell me!" In a fit of anger I force myself up. The room spins and my stomach lurches to my throat. The next thing I know, I'm on all fours, heaving up what little food I have in my stomach. Cody jumps forward and pulls my hair back, murmuring under his breath. I give a few last coughs and collapse, wiping my eyes free of tears and swallowing down the nasty taste in my mouth.

My life sucks.

"Come on," Cody sighs, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. Despite how mad I am at him, I melt into his touch and into tears, my shoulders shaking and choking on sobs. "Let's go to the McAlister and find food. We can sleep if we can't find any."

I press my palms against my eyes and try to stop crying, shivering from the sudden coldness that falls on the room. "I want you to know," I croak out. "That I hate you."

He gives the slightest hint of a smile and helps me to my feet, moving slowly, so I wouldn't get sick again. He leads me towards the quickest exit, supporting me. "Yeah, I hate you too."

~

*Aggressively bounces in hot pink swivel chair* GUYS I SWEAR I'M GOING TO GET ALL OF THIS PUT UP SOON. I'M GOING TO PUT UP THE LAST CHAPTER TONIGHT AND-- wait the last chapter?

Whoa... I'm actually almost done with this train wreck.

There will of course be an epilogue after the chapter, but still....

*Sips hot chocolate thoughtfully*