The Mad Queen

Chapter Ninety-Six: The Castle

Something is coming. Something dark. I can't see it yet. I can sense it though. It is scaring me but I must be strong. I must fight against it. Whatever it is.

I am not sure what else to say. I don't know anything. There is just a feeling of dread filling every fibre of my being. I have been trying to see it, but I can't. It won't let me. Perhaps, when Ray visits again, we can talk about it. Though I doubt she will tell me. She is secretive. She won't give anything away in case it changes her timeline. I don't think she can even if she wanted to. It is frustrating, but understandable. Though I have hope that we can figure something out at least.

~The Diary of Queen Orianna.

"Absolutely not," Shaelyn says, standing up.

"This isn't up for debate Shae," Ray tells her, standing firm.

"No," she replies stubbornly. "It is even more dangerous sending me away."

"Shae," Rayana snaps, putting her hands on her shoulders. "Grandfather said that next time we step out of line, it will be your eye." Shae gulps.

"It's a risk I'll have to take."

"No, it isn't."

"Rayana!" she gasps. "It isn't your decision. Plus, what will grandfather do to you if he finds out I am gone? He'll know you had something to do with it. What do you think he'll do to the city trying to find me?"

"Shaelyn," Rayana sighs and hugs her close. "We can't have you around us anymore. We can't have him use you against us," she gulps. Shae gulps.

"So I am a weakness," she gulps, feeling tears sting her eyes.

"You're our weakness. Not because you yourself are weak. But because we love you," Ray tells her and kisses her forehead.

"He'll just hurt you or Fallon whilst the other watches," she cries.

"Perhaps," Rayana says. "This was the only way I could get Fallon not to slaughter everyone in this castle," Ray says "We need you somewhere safe. We will not allow him to cut you into little pieces. You don't deserve that. Too much has been taken already." Shaelyn lies back down on her bed, curling up into a ball as the tears fall.

"I want to be a part of this," she gulps. "I don't want to be pushed out of my home and away from you. I don't want to leave you to his mercy, knowing he'll hurt you for trying to protect me," she gulps. Ray strokes her hair.

"You won't be useless. We are going to send you to the Knights. They have survived without being found for years and they'll continue to do so. They'll keep you laid low for a while. You will work with them. Spreading secrets about the truth of what's going on here and debunk the lies that will be spreading." Shaelyn nods.

"Okay," she whispers. "But I need to hear from you once a week. All of you," she gulps. "You don't lie to me either. If he's hurt you... you tell me. Promise."

"I promise," she says.

"I'm giving you all the same sort of gift I gave Illyana," Nianzu says as all three girls gather in Fallon's room. "The ability to manipulate your appearance." He takes their hands one at a time and transfers a little part of his ability. Changing their eye colour, skin colour, hair colour and slightly altering their facial shapes. Shae's golden blonde hair is replaced by platinum locks that fall down her back perfectly straight. Her warm brown eyes are now a soft blue and her skin is a little more tanned. Ray gets light ginger hair and paler skin to normal. With sparkling blue eyes to match. Fallon gets short black hair and darker less piercing blue eyes. They look at their reflections in the mirror. Recognising themselves within their new images. But, seeing the strange differences too.