The Legend Of Cheshire

Chapter 20(Queen Novo): Vendetta

Claws like silver knives were drawn. With a gentle flick of my wrist, I threw them.

They all flew to its target, never missing. With a grunt, I summoned them back into my paws.

Slowly, I dipped it into a bowl of pitch-black liquid, the colour of death.

My claws glittered dangerously in the light as I practiced again, this time with a straw dummy.

"My queen-"

I whipped around, and the claws were flung off balance. I summoned them back just in time, before it impaled Nyssa in the face.

"Am I disturbing you?" She asked, her fearful gaze flickering towards my claws. "Your majesty?"

"Well. I was practicing." I turned back to my target point again, eyes squinting-

"It's about Princess Cerise."

I paused. I nodded towards Sevince, who was standing there, clearly trying to eavesdrop.

She left the room hurriedly, her modest brown skirts swishing.

I sat on the throne as Nyssa drew tentatively closer.

"What about her?" I slurped thirstily from the wine glass set aside by Sevince.

"I have both good news and bad news, which would you like to hear first?" She said.

"Oh cut to the chase, Nyssa." I gulped back another sip of wine,"This is good wine."

"The good news is that we were able to pick up Cerise in the mortal realm with the spying device."

"Excellent! The bad news?"

"I think you should take a look at this." My gaze flickered towards the shining crystal in her paws. I took it, as Nyssa turned around to give me privacy.

I watched the content saved in the crystal. I assumed we were in a box as it only showed black but there was talking in the background, loud enough for us to hear it as a whisper which was a little muffled. But fortunately clear enough to understand.

My heart dropped into my stomach.

No, no, no.

"I am a Cheshire Cat," Cerise whispered, "I was sent from my homeland to destroy you, because believe it or not- you are Merlin's last descendent. But I don't want to kill you. Because I like you, a lot."

I gripped my seat tighter, as my eyes narrowed to slits. No.

"I killed them because they saw what I could do. If word got out, I will die. My Mother will be disappointed, I will have let down my people. I am on the mission to prove that I'm queen. I have to kill you, eventually. The tail you saw wasn't a figment of your imagination. It is all too real."

"Cerise, you fool..." I hissed.

Nyssa turned around, gazing at my face worriedly.

"My queen?"

I put the crystal aside. All those years spent filling Cerise's mind with secrets sacred to the kingdom were...wasted.

All gone.

I thought she could be trusted. But she threw everything away for something as immature as a school girl crush.

My fists had turned white from being clenched.

"You said your soldiers were ready?" I addressed Nyssa.

"Yes." Nyssa hurried on," Weapons are handed out, soldiers are briefed..."