The First Queen

8 - An Ominous Vision

I collapsed to the floor, my voice hiccuping with sobs. The kiss may have been fleeting but Gods, did it feel right! Our lips fit perfectly together and moved in an unimaginable synchronisation.

My heart ached. It felt so good and it's undeniable that Athena felt the same but of course, she has to put her knighthood before her wants and desires. Gods, I'm so stupid!

Why couldn't I have fallen for someone else!? Anyone else!? Godsdamn Dallin would be better than the dutiful knight who puts her work before anything else! Why couldn't I be different? Maybe if I was still a smalltown bar wench I could be with Athena...

I was lifted to my feet by a group of hands and when I looked up, my eyes met Xanthe's dark, knowing seers.

"It's alright, Lady Elia. My Eyes saw everything." She informed me and I sobbed into her chest.

"Why did this happen?!" I managed to choke out as Xanthe's many hands began rubbing my back.

"I'm afraid my Eyes and Ears can't provide that information at this time..." Xanthe sighed, "In fact, I don't have much to offer except for the advice of not telling Aliana or Dallin about this... They're sure to mix up court intrigue and I don't believe you want your captain to be out of a job."

I shook my head and Xanthe pursed her lips in thought.

"The Captain cares about you, Elia. Don't let her get away." She told me as she peeled my head from her chest.

She took my hands in hers and had begun escorting me back to my chambers, all the while I was cleaning up my countenance.

"Sleep well, Your Regency." Xanthe declared and in a flurry of dark magic, she disappeared in thin air, leaving me alone with myself.

. . .

In the morning, I felt the slightest bit better but the ache of putting myself out there and getting rejected hasn't yet left me-- Kind of like an old scar that won't heal.

There was a knock on the door and somewhere deep in my heart, I longed for it to be Athena but alas... It wasn't.

It was Aliana.

"Your Regency! Are you aware of the High Priestess of the Dark Arcane?" She wondered and I shook my head, hoping that my red, puffy eyes don't show but even if they did, Aliana didn't mention anything about them, "Well, she's a priestess who was blessed slash cursed by the Old Gods, blah blah blah... Anyway! She's now one of the strongest magicians or mages, whatever you say, and she resides in Coria but she's astral projecting in the throne room as we speak and she requests the presence of you immediately! No time to waste! Get ready and come!"

And then she slammed the door in my face.

I sighed. Am I going to be getting random visitations from all of these famous, highly-renowned celebrities all the time? Probably.

I dressed into the most regal dress that the stewards provided for me in my quarters before heading down into the throne room where I was met with a frantic Julius, a concerned yet distant Athena and a giddy Aliana.

I looked around before finding a very tall and dark-haired woman dressed in an all-black dress and a sinister-looking gauntlet on her right arm who was chatting with Xanthe in the shadows of the columns to the left.

The woman's head slowly turned and I met her bright, piercing gaze and was unable to move as if I was enthralled by her very look.

She approached me with long, powerful strides, her dark coat tailing behind her as if it was in a strong gust of wind but she stopped in the middle of the room and started to beckon me.