The First Queen

30 - The Rising Dead

"It's Prince Remiel..." Xanthe stuttered and time seemed to stop at her words.

As the man stepped forward, the crowd parted for him and gaped at him. He does look remarkably like Gabriel but... Isn't Remiel dead? I mean, he certainly does look like he just crawled out of the grave...

Remiel tousled his hair back before ascending up the steps and bowing to all four of us.

"Captain, High Priestess, Mistress of Whispers..." He regarded them before his eyes locked with mine and he shuffled forward. I tried to step backwards but it was like my feet were glued to the floor as Remiel caressed my cheek and observed me, "You must be Elia..."

I couldn't help my nod, "R-Remiel?"

He nodded with a small smile before retracting his hand and instead, lifting my hands so he could look at them, "I have only just heard about you but I can see so much of our father in you regardless..."

"You-You can?" I stammered and he nodded once more.

"I admire you, Elia... You made the right decision but people didn't accept it... Didn't accept you... It's courageous that you lasted this long and I hope that you never let anyone try to stop you from achieving your goal." Remiel smiled down at me and I couldn't help but mimic him.

"You think so?" I smiled faintly and he nodded his head.

"Which is why it pains me to do this to you, but Elia Blackstone... As the rightful heir to the Blackstone name and the eldest sibling... I hereby relegate you to Princess and claim my title of King." Remiel declared and my heart dropped low in my stomach.

What!?

"I see what happened now..." Althea breathed and I glanced at her, "I confused my illusion spell with my necromancy spell."

She what!?

Remiel turned his attention to Althea and gave her a bright smile before addressing the crowd, "people of Azumond! No longer live in fear for I, King Remiel, am here to save you and send House Deneith back to whence they came!"

The Royal Guardsmen and insurgents whooped and hollered their approval as I collapsed into Athena's arms behind me.

Can he do that? Is it legal to do that? Why did he do that!?

"Silence!" Remiel demanded, hushing the crowd with a hand in the air, "The destruction caused in this very room will not go forgotten! You will be prosecuted for murder and assault but is anybody really counting the bodies?"

Excuse me!? He can't just let that happen! What about the grieving families?!

"Remiel..." Athena's voice broke me out of my stupor.

"Yes, Captain?" He asked her and she stared at him for a few moments before continuing.

Athena gulped and shook her head before continuing, "P-Perhaps we should converse beyond prying ears?"

"...Ahh, yes, I agree. After you." Remiel smiled and gestured for Xanthe, Athena and I to walk in front of him.

I blindly followed Xanthe through the winding halls and she kept stealing glances over her shoulder at Remiel.

Xanthe directed us into the council meeting room and Remiel leaned against the long table, facing all three of us.

"So, what happened whilst I was away?" He asked and Xanthe scoffed.

"You were dead!" She hissed and Remiel shrugged.

"Yes, and for how long, exactly?" He wondered.