The Red Queen's Daughter: Book One

Chapter 19: Stained Garden

The garden... It's just like my dream. How? Why? I remember. The Red King will be here. All we're missing is him. "This is exactly like your dream, Nicole," Nate says.

"I know. Now all we're missing is- him." I say, repeating my thoughts.

"This isn't good, not good at all. What is that? Snow? Yeah, it's snow. We need to get back inside." Nate says.

"Yeah, let's go."

"We should tell your mother."

"I know, that's where I'm walking."

"come on, we need to-" but Nate's cut off by the creaking sounds of the doorsto the garden opening.

'It's him, I just now it,' I think. I turn around. It is him. I shriek. Nate starts pushing me towards my mother's throne room. I heard she was making a speech there today.

Just as we reach the door, an arrow shoots over my head. It misses my head by an inch. Nate opens the doors and we run in. I lock the doors.

I run down e long white carpet as everyone stares at us.

"Nicole! What's wrong?" mother says with a worried face as I approach her.

"My dream came true! He's out there!" I yell.

"Who?" she asks.

"The Red King!"

"Oh. Well, take this, Nicole. It's the Sword of Queens and the Shield of Kings, as you know. I know you have the power to take down the Red King. It's time his reign of terror ends. I do not like hurting the innocent, neither do you, but you have the intelligence to take him down. He has a great power, Nicole, and you will soon discover it. He is alone, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay, be careful, Nicole, his great power can kill with looks. I want Charlotte and Nate to go out and fight him with you. Please... Be careful." she says, tears in eyes.

Charlotte and Nate follow me out of the room. The Red King isn't outside the room anymore. Strong winds and rain make the snow slushy. I race outside with them following me. The wind stings my cheeks. I look around, then I see him. My mouth drops. He has a horrifying power. I stare at the dragon with black hard scales and blazing red eyes before us.

***

"So, you came to fight me?" the beast that was the Red King speaks. A speaking dragon. Wonderful.

I climb up the small wall that separates the garden from the castle. I climb the large pillars until I'm eye to eye with what I'm going to start calling the Red Dragon.

"I find it a threat that you're staring at me," he says. "I have an even greater power, don't make me use it."

I try to figure out what would be worse than this. A dead Charlotte and Nate. I hold back tears at the thought.

"You're afraid of what I might do, aren't you?" the beast asks.

"I'm not afraid of you!" I yell, slicing the sword across his cheek.

He hisses at me. While I have the chance, I cut off his tongue. Now he can't speak, the way I like it.

He swipes a hand at me, I jump and miss. He stares at the black flowers, turning them to stone. I realize his true power, and I'm horrified of what he might do.

His tongueless mouth smiles at me, now I now he's going to do what my fears are. He instantly stares at both Charlotre and Nate. I scream and jump on his long, scaly neck. He whips his neck back and forth, I almost lose my balance. But then he stops and stares at Nate and Charlotte again. I stab the horrid beast right in the head with the sword, but it's too late. I'm too late. They're already stone by the time he's dead.

***

"No," I whisper, walking down from the Red Dragon's long neck that landed on the ground. I'm horrified at what just happened. I drop the sword and shield and run to what was Charlotte and Nate. I look at their stone, shocked faces that have snow on them. I swear, I swear- I don't even know anymore. I can't think. I can't. I drop to the snowy ground, the last thing I feel is frozen tears on my face.