The Queen || ✔

Chapter 6: A Determined Queen

Claudia

I knew that my baby girl was a genius, but not to this extent. Her plan was fool-proof, and the catch was, Charles was nowhere in the plan. Meaning that I could do anything I wanted with him. I loved this.

That bastard deserved to die. He found me, as innocent as ever, and now I was what I was because of him. I made a promise to him that one day, he would pay dearly. Even after I died, the Bryans would be avenged.

"So Ma, what do you think?" She asked me with big eyes and a naïve smile.

How such an innocent lamb came up with such a perfect plan, I had no idea. I made no effort in hiding my truth from my kids, I knew that they would see me no differently. But to know that my life would influence them in such a way was breath-taking and scary.

I looked at Hera and said to her, "I love it."

She smiled as widely as ever and wheeled out speaking about a lot of things and I wasn't focusing at all until I heard her saying, "Thank you so much Ma. I love you."

She said it exactly the same way every time. But every time it sounded so different, more special than the last time she said it. I loved the sound of it.

Hera was definitely my pride and joy. She reminded me so much of myself, when I was once such a young and innocent lamb myself. But not anymore. That was now in my past, thrown into an abyss, never to be visited again.

Back to business, the plan needed to be executed. The sooner the better. I had to hurry, Hilary could have been trying to leave now, I needed to speak to her. Keep her here, for TsiTsi's sake.

I walked out of my office and went down a level to the first floor of my house into the same room I had just left. I knocked because I needed to let her know that I came in peace.

With each knock, I felt my mind starting to relax. Just moments ago, I was almost mentally unstable, but now I was back to being the Queen that I was. In control and ready for action. If Hilary tried anything funny, Hera wouldn't be there to save her like last night.

She opened the door and she stiffened immediately. She held on to the door and breathed slowly. I enjoyed knowing that she respected me.

"Can I come in?" I asked her nicely. She kept her hand on the door and she seemed to weaken within every second of my presence. "Hilary, I spoke with Hera. Now I want to speak with you." She realised the insincerity and dominance in my voice and moved immediately. I walked in and noticed two things.

An empty box of tissues and tissues all over my floor and in front of the bed.

A small black bag.

I looked at her and she moved her eyes away in a haste, avoiding eye contact.

"You were leaving?" I asked. It took her a while, but she slowly nodded her head. And then a tear dropped down her right cheek.

"Sit down." I instructed. She sat on her bed and I sat next to her, just to tease a little.

"Look, I have a proposal for you... but before I tell you anything, I need you to understand something. You are very lucky to be alive. Very lucky. I'm not one to hesitate, and I was ready to pull the trigger last night. Even with Charles in my way. Your son, Mason, is actually a pawn on my chessboard. I am the Queen and to get to the King, I have to get rid of all the obstacles in my way. One of which would be your son. My daughter has taken an unexpected liking to him, hell, she even named him, and now she seems willing to fight for him. Basically, your son is making her turn her back on my feelings in order to protect him. You, Ms. Hilary, are a very lucky girl. Bear in mind that I can and will kill you if you try anything out of the ordinary, don't try to outsmart me. I'll catch you, then I'll kill you. Clear?"

She nodded her head and inhaled deeply, keeping her sobs from coming out and embarrassing herself in front of me.

"I want you to leave everything behind and come with me. Bring your son along, you pack everything you need, leave the useless things. I'll get rid of those. I will send you somewhere far from here, yet safer. I don't want to kill or hurt Mason and I also don't want to take you away from him. That would be cruel of me. I'll take care of you two, send you whatever you need, get you new identities and you will go as far away from here. For your own good. But... Charles must never find out."

"How will he not find out if he has a whole army behind him? Not to mention the security he has set up for me and Mason." She asked interestingly.

"And that's why you have me. I'll take care of all the loopholes. But I have my conditions. Only three of them."

She nodded her head, giving me her full co-operation.

"First, I will send you with a bodyguard that will be your son's father. Mason must never find out about his real father. Second, you will drop all contacts with everyone here. And third, Charles must never find out, ever."

"But Clau-"

"Don't try to double-cross me. I won't be lenient on that. I will tear you limb from limb and make you drink your own blood." I said in finality.

I didn't have time to argue with her. She had to understand that I wasn't giving her choice. If she denied, she'd still be a threat and by then Charles wouldn't have the time to protect her.

I was her only option, though I was her biggest danger. I was her silver lining, but also her heavy storm. It was official, she was stuck with me.

"I understand. For Mason's sake, I will." Hilary said as she extended her hand.

"For TsiTsi's sake." I shook it.