Phantom's Queen (Book Three of the Phantom Series)

A Risen Queen

Harumi's POV-
I found myself pinned to the ground by Sayan Kairoqui, tendrils of her raven-black hair touching my cheek.

"Sa-Sayan..." I whispered.

Sayan climbed off of me, then glanced to the podium.

I looked up to see a smoking hole, the size of a coin, in the wall.

I was pulled up and fussed over by unknown faces.

I couldn't comprehend what had happened. Somehow, the thought that I could have died never entered my mind.

I couldn't think until the day after, when I went with Jitaku to meet Nya again at Rogue Coffee.

Jyn frowned at me when I walked into the cafe. "You're the senator who made the news. Harumi Kogo."

I nodded faintly and pulled my hood over my face.

Jyn gestured to a table in the back of the shop, where two people were sitting.

Nya and Skylor.

I sat down in front of Nya. "Hey, Nya." I said. She smiled and greeted me back, before asking if it was ok that Skylor was here.

I nodded, the gestured to Jita, who had been discussing cinnamon with Jyn.

Jita walked over to the table and took a seat beside me.

"This is my assistant, Jitaku." I said to Nya and Skylor. Nya nodded.

"I love your hair, Jitaku." Nya complimented.

Jita blushes, her blue Apithian markings lighting up. "T-thanks." She stuttered.

Nya sat up straight. "Wait... she's Apithian?"

I rearranged my hood. "Yes, She is."

Nya smiled again. "Cool."

As Skylor introduced herself to Jita, I talked to Nya. "What are we going to do?"

Nya pressed a finger to her lip. "Hmmm...." She said. "Maybe you should get a double or something like that. Like.... that one lady from Star Wars.... what was her name, Sky?"

Skylor turned to Nya as soon as her name was callled. "Who?"

Nya slumped over the table. "That one senator lady from Star Wars. The one with the double."

Skylor seemed dazed for a few seconds, then lit up (quite literally). "Padmé! Padmé Amidala."

Nya smiles and laughed. "Yeah, her. Man, when I first saw that movie... she was totally my first crush."

Skylor laughed, "Well, you're mine now." and placed her ghostly hand on Nya's.

I smiled, then turned back to Nya. "Who would be my double?"

Nya looked at Jita.

"No no no no no" I said frantically. "I mean, Jita doesn't even look like me... plus she's Apithian... and...."

I could feel my cheeks heating up. If I didn't calm down, the markings in my skin would show.

Nya looked at Jita, then back at me. "We can bleach her hair white, and you two have a similar skin tone."