The Traitor of Inlustris

LI

A haze of gasps filled the air. It seemed they were still getting accustomed to their queen being able to wield dark magic. I didn't care about their feelings. Philip wasn't there to stop me this time. They could say anything to me and I wouldn't bother to care. Mahli deserved to perish. He deserved the worst of punishments.

I stalked forward, sending a ball of fire his way. He dodged it, trying to run for cover. I growled and surged towards him.

He had to pay.

"Come here, my little fiancé. Actions have consequences, dear." I threw another ball of fire at him. He yelped as the flame grazed his arm. He held it close to his body, cradling it with his other arm. The sizzling of his skin brought a smile to my face.

"You wield dark magic," he spluttered.

I smirked, willing my fire to rise all the way to the high ceilings of my palace. The white of the walls glowed a magnificent blue. I almost sighed at the release of tension. It was so satisfying, so effortless, to use my fire.

"And you want to know a little fact about my flame?" I stalked towards him, fire surrounding me like a halo around my body. I stopped to laugh, demanding my flame to grow higher and higher. "Its blue means it's the hottest flame known in the Universe."

I willed my fire to extend through my arms. I swung a line of fire at him, successfully burning a sculpture in the way. My great grandfather's face fell off the statue at Mahli's feet. He yelped, and I smirked.

If he thought he had the upper hand, he was mistaken.

I was Queen Antonella Feulune of Potentia Flamber, light and dark magic wielder. I was unstoppable. Mahli couldn't take me. The other kings had nothing against me. I was powerful, and no one could take that away.

"You didn't even get me the rose," I scoffed, throwing more lines of fire towards him. "You came here as a spy, another soldier brainwashed by King Rasmus. I should have known." The fire didn't graze him, but he was surrounded. My flame was alive all around him, closing in on him, waiting to devour him.

He panicked. I could see it in his eyes. He knew his death was inevitable. Sweat dripped down his face as the heat emanating from my fire fully attacked him. Soon enough he'd feel so much heat, he'd scream for dear life.

Oh, how everything had switched up in my favor.

He tried to say something, but the heat didn't let him. I grinned and willed more fire around him. Tears welled up in his eyes as his skin began to blister.

"I was the fuse to the war?" I spit out. "No, you ignited me, Prince Mahli, and here is your inferno."

"Prince Linus!" He cried.

I willed my flame to find its mark. When the blue flames jumped hungrily towards his body, he disappeared without a trace.

Staring at the place where he used to be, I furrowed my brows at his absence. There weren't any ashes or remains to let me know of his death. Everything was empty.

I turned to see Orpheus' body lying in a heap, close to some stirring Flambers. I crumbled to my knees.

"Your Majesty," Kora's voice reached my ears. I turned to see her and the rest of the Bleeders walking towards me, cautiously.

I scared them.

Tears brimmed my eyes.

"I think you should rest," Kora said, approaching me slowly. I nodded and stood, struggling to keep my balance. My sudden movements made the Bleeders back up, even Marisole.

"Queen Antonella."

I turned to see Philip surveying the scene. He clasped a hand over his mouth at the sight of little Orpheus bleeding out similarly to his mother.

"What happened?"

"Schedule a call with King Rasmus," I mumbled at Philip.

"Your Majesty, my deepest regrets for not coming earlier." My spine tingled as I turned towards the voice so similar to Father's. The general, my uncle, bowed before me. "Our army is fighting. The kingdoms have united creating an enormous enemy. Soon, the kingdom will be infiltrated, and we won't have the resources to fight them back."