The Queen of the Dead

9)The Final Resting Place For All

Annalise started checking on all the unconscious kids. She gasped quietly. None of them had a pulse. Marilynn would not be thrilled about that. Not after she had gone through the trouble of getting them to the orphanage. Annalise fell to the ground at the same time-although she didn't notice-Emma had run into the burning orphanage. That was when Annalise felt the first raindrop. She lifted her head towards the sky as it started to downpour. Annalise dropped her head into her hands as the building exploded. And as the flames climbed higher into the sky, the smell of burning flesh and sulfur made its way towards her. Annalise broke down. Ignoring it all.

2.

Marilynn made her way towards her possessed friend. She gripped her dagger tighter.

"Annabelle get out of Lilyanne," Marilynn coughed. She blinked ash out of her eyes as Lilyanne-Annabelle technically-started to laugh.

"Annabelle get out of Lilyanne," the demon mocked. "Well I'm sorry I can't." Annabelle laughed again. This time followed by a coughing fit. The smoke was getting to both of them. Marilynn glanced behind her, noticing Emma fall, most likely from smoke inhalation. She didn't listen, and now the eleven year old was most likely dead. Marilynn tightened her grip on her dagger.

"Why can't you?" Marilynn screamed. Her throat felt raw.

"Because I am Lilyanne," Annabelle stated. "We are one on the same." Annabelle then lunged at Marilynn who threw her dagger at the demon. In a burst of luck the dagger struck Annabelle's heart. The demon gasped and fell, dead before she hit the ground. Once she fell a burst of fire racked her body, instantly causing an explosion. Which hit Marilynn, knocking her out, and burning her to a body to a crisp.

4.

"Mari!" a mixture of voices screamed. A few stuck out the most. That of a girl stuck of eleven, and a girl stuck in the age of fourteen. Marilynn blinked her eyes open slowly. She felt different. Light headed. Almost as if she were floating. Marilynn blinked again and saw her mother, her father, her sister, her cat, and eleven year old Emma. Helene was standing off to the side slightly.

"W-what happened?" Marilynn asked as she took in her surroundings. They were in the ghost realm.

"You died. Everyone at the orphanage did. Er, well everyone except Annalise," Andrea whispered.

"You defeated Annabelle. You are the new queen of the dead," Helene stated coming forward.

"But I'm not going to be a good queen. I'm not even of age!" Marilynn protested. Helene rolled her eyes in response.

"You will be," her mother comforted while her father nodded.

Emma giggled, "You're a queen! You get to wear pretty dresses, and sparkly tiaras, and-"

"Did Emma go insane?" Marilynn asked. Everyone present, besides said eleven year old, nodded. "Could my family at least live in the castle with me?" The silver eyed girl asked. Three pairs of ghostly eyes glowed brighter at that, one bronze, one gold, and one topaz.

"Of course you can my queen. Your cornation is in two days," Helene smiled.

"Coronation? Do I have to have one?" Marilynn asked. Silver eyes big and pleading.

Helene chuckled, "It's more like you're just formally accepting the role of queen."

4.

A knock on the door broke Marilynn's gaze away from the mirror.

"Come in," she called, straighten out her dress. The dress was single layered, with golden fabric and silver sequins. Andrea entered, and held out her hand.

"I figured you would want this," Andrea said holding out a dagger. Her dagger. The silver glowing as brightly as her eyes, and the skull shining as brightly as a star. Marilynn grinned and took it, sheathing it at her hip. Andrea smoothed out her dress, silver fabric with golden sequins, before speaking again. "You should probably contact Annalise somehow. She's pretty worried." Marilynn winced.

"I'll contact her after the ceremony thingy. It's not really a ceremony is it?"

5

"Marilynn Hendri do you accept the crown of the queen?" Helene asked holding out a headband type crown made out of pearls.

"I do," Marilynn responded, voice filled with confidence. Helene put the crown on her head, and Marilynn grinned and waved.

"Andrea Hendri, do you accept the tiara, and the reponsiblities of princess of the dead?" Helene asked this time holding a small tiara made of diamonds.

"I do," Andrea responded. The ghost with golden eyes bowed once the tiara was put on her head.

"Penelope Hendri, do you accept the position of royal advisor to the queen and princess?" Helene was grinning. The new queen was finally getting the life she deserves. Well afterlife technically.

"I do" Penelope stated. "I promise to protect my girls through wisdom until my spirt is destroyed." Penelope promised. The ghost twins blushed ever so slightly.

"Arnold Hendri, do you accept the postion as commander of the ghost army?" Helene asked holding a sword.

"I do, forever and always will I protect the ghosts, and my girls," Arnold responded. Helene handed him the sword with a bow.

"Yay! My friends are pretty pretty princesses!" Emma shouted, causing a few chuckles from some ghosts in the crowd.

"First order of business, find Emma some mental help," Marilynn stated. With that the crowd burst out laughing. Once everyone calmed down, Helene turned to Marilynn, with a look on her face that made it clear that the two would have to talk later.

*

The next day, Marilynn awoke to a knock on the door.

"Come in," Marilynn yawned. Helene entered.

"Marilynn please don't hate me, but Emma will not regain her sanity until she completes a task no ghost has yet to complete."