Queen Ascending (Ace of Queens #2)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Gemma had lost all track of time in the vail. Days and nights seemed to collide into one as she roamed the halls of Lafayette's estate, studying the pictures on the wall and the books in the library.

In the beginning sleep was her only escape. Being awake was a nightmare...the pain was too much to bare. The pain of betrayal.

Exton was the only boy Gemma had begun to open her heart to. But he tossed her aside like a used tissue.

She should have known better. He was manipulative and cunning. Expecting goodness from him was like asking for rain in the desert ...never enough, always disappointing.

But her naive heart had hoped he would be like one of the heroes in her many books...boy had she been wrong. She daydreamed about him sneaking peeks at her when she wasn't looking or about him lying awake at night thinking about her.

Gemma wanted to think she was passed those days. But the truth was, she often found herself daydreaming about Exton coming to find her and begging on his knees for her.

But that was all they were, daydreams.

Exton wasn't coming.

Gemma's only triumph over him was the knowledge that his plan had backfired on him. Exton had threatened Gemma with Lafayette thinking he wanted to kill her, but he couldn't have been more wrong. Lafayette had spent countless years and resources to find her...because to him, she was priceless. She was limitless.

"Your grace," a middle aged woman startled Gemma as she wandered the halls deep in thought.

"My apologizes, your grace," the lady quickly said as she watched Gemma jump. "The king has asked you to meet him at the main hall."

"Thank you," Gemma uttered as she began to hurry down to the hall.

Once Gemma reached the main hall, she was greeted by many men in silver robes. All of them were bald with tattooed heads and faces.

Gemma gawked at them as she entered.

"They are the called the Mutes. Ancient beings who have traded their abilities to speak for great knowledge and power." Lafayette said hunched over a large map on the table.

"Why can't they speak?" Gemma asked looking around. All the man did their own work. Some read scrolls, some crushed herbs, some brushed up magic beads.

Lafayette stood up slowly and inhaled, "When you know most of the secrets of the universe, it is best if you are not able to share them."

"Couldn't they write it?" Gemma asked.

"Giving a Mute a pen or pencil will be like signing your own death...they are trained killers. They can use anything as a weapon."

Gemma gluped.

"Don't worry," Lafayette smiled, "They won't hurt you."

"Why are they all here?"

"Tobias sent them," Lafayette said turning back to the map. "The war is here."

"What war?" Gemma walked up to the map.

It was a map of the modern world, but Roopcian markings and writings were inscribed everywhere.

"It's time I tell you about Azazel," Lafayette lamented as he placed a hand on Gemma's back and moved her to a corner of the room away from all the men in robes.

"Who's Azazel?" Gemma inquired.

"Over the centuries people have called her by many names...mythology calls her the goddess of death. While Tobias may rule over the underworld and its souls, Azazel is death itself. The gods had forced her to remain in darkness, people of earth feared her...but in that darkness, Azazel had a growing hunger. She wanted to rule over all of mankind. She wanted to kill every living thing on land and hurt the living world into the underworld."