Zoe Thanatos

by Cierlak, Crystal

  She remembered being summoned to the Throne Room as a young woman, the royal title not far away in her future. The Queen sat on the throne as invited residents of Royal City gathered in the room, each dressed in their finest attire. The walls were dark with the view of surrounding galaxies, stars and constellations swirling about the cosmos around them. It was her favorite view of all and one she kept for herself when she became Queen.

  She stood to the right of her mother, her purple dress tight like a corset around her waist and fabric that draped down to the floor where it swished against her jewel-adorned feet. The Queen herself had never looked more radiant. She wore an antique white dress similar to Kyra’s with a long transport that sparkled with hundreds of crystals as she moved.

  The Queen spoke to the congregated residents in the most enigmatic fashion, their faces rapt with attention as she thanked them for their presence and announcing that her daughter, the future Queen of Terra, would marry Owyn. The generous applause camouflaged the dissatisfied gasp that escaped from Kyra’s mouth. She knew better than to let her emotions show on her face, a valuable lesson the Queen instilled in her, but there was little she could do to control the storm of fury that picked up inside her.

  She could hear nothing but her own thoughts as the Queen brought her and Owyn together, each standing at her side. The Queen had never once asked her what she thought about marrying him. There was never so much a question about her willingness to marry him. Like every matter of her life up to that point her fate had been decided for her. Her eyes searched through the crowd and found Evander standing next to his sister, each of them looking bored and uninterested. When his green eyes made contact with hers he smiled kindly and clapped, more for his benefit than hers.

  After the announcement was made and everyone had dispersed back to their residences, the Queen came to Kyra’s room carrying a glass box.

  “I had this made especially for you, Darling,” she declared. She handed the box to Kyra and watched as she opened it, revealing an exquisite tiara made of the finest jewels she had ever seen. Kyra turned it in her hands, watching as it refracted rainbows of light on her hands and throughout the room. She was still stung by the news of her impending marriage to Owyn and trying desperately to show her gratitude instead of her temper.

  “It’s exquisite,” she admired.

  “One day you’ll wear the crown of the Queen, but this one will be just for you. After all you are a princess. Go ahead, try it on,” the Queen encouraged.

  Kyra carefully placed the headpiece at the top of her head and smoothed the loose strands of hair down beneath it. It fit perfectly.

  “There are many more beautiful things awaiting you in your future, Kyra. I want you to remember this day each time you wear this.”

  Kyra caught her brilliant but unsmiling reflection in a nearby mirror. She indeed looked the part of an adored princess, diamonds sparkling like a halo above her head. Despite the generosity and beauty of the gift she still felt bruised about her sudden betrothal.

  “Do I have to marry him?” she asked sullenly. The light of the Queen’s face diminished at the question, a twitch of a forced smile on her lips. Kyra noticed her mother’s glare and cast her eyes down. She did not dare to look at her own reflection, sure that she looked as ugly and petulant as she sounded.

  “Do you object to having these complicated matters handled for you? Some people spend their entire lives searching for someone to spend their time with, and I’ve done all the hard work for you. I’ve found you a worthy partner to be your King, to stand by your side in all matters and to help you produce the next heir to the throne. Is that not enough for you?”

  Kyra flinched at her mother’s words, regret stabbing at her insides. “It is not my intent to come off as ungrateful, Mother. I just wish I could have had a say in the matter. I would have liked to pick someone for myself.”

  The Queen placed her hands on Kyra’s shoulders and stared at her reflection in the mirror. “Darling, I’ve done you a favor. You will marry Owyn and he will be your King.”

  “But I don’t particularly like him!” she cried softly. She saw in her reflection that she looked ugly with tears, her demeanor not worthy of the beauty placed upon her head.

  “Kyra Straton, stop your crying this instant. You are the heir to the throne of Terra; you do not cry!” She twirled her around until they were face-to-face, the Queen’s own fingers brushing away fallen tears from Kyra’s face. “There is never a reason for you to cry, do you understand?”

  Kyra sniffed and nodded her head, willing her eyes to dry before any more tears could fall. “Sorry,” she whispered.

  “Do not apologize, either. Now, without crying, tell me what has you so upset.”

  “I don’t want to marry Owyn. He’s not the boy I like.”

  “So there’s someone else you have in mind?”

  “Yes,” she replied. Her mother raised her eyebrows, silently prompting her to continue. “I like Evander Nero.”

  A small, knowing smile curled the Queen’s lips as she nodded. “Evander Nero is a very handsome young man. He looks very much like his father,” she spoke. Her eyes looked distant for a moment, lost in some thought she didn’t share with her daughter. Finally pulled Kyra close to her and wrapped her arms around her tightly.

  “The great advantage of being Queen is that you can do whatever you want, and with whomever you want,” she whispered into Kyra’s ear. “Just because you’re married to one man doesn’t mean you can’t be with the other.”

  Kyra was confused by her mother’s admission, not knowing the full extent of her meaning. Who would want to be with her if she was already married to someone else? Moreover, who would be brave enough to take on that kind of relationship with her when she was Queen?

  Not long after the announcement was made, plans for her coronation were set with the wedding to follow thereafter. In all the time leading up to the grand festivities the Queen continued to give Kyra lessons in how to perform her job as the Queen. She learned over time that they were relatively mundane and that there would likely never be an occasion to act as commander of the Crown Soldiers. Life in Terra was peaceful after the Stratons took over the Crown, and she was assured it would remain that way.

  Perhaps it was the grave misconception about lasting peace in Terra that made Kyra unsure of how to act. The Crown Soldiers were supposed to be adept at their job, trained to keep the peace so that her interference would not be required. She was neither a commander-in-chief nor a warrior; she was a Queen whose duty was to serve as the leader of Terra. The very system of defense she had come to rely on was cracking under an unprecedented threat.

  The residents from Last City had vanished, as had the Elder woman who was quite possibly the last Thanatos Queen. Of all the possibilities in Terra it was her very own husband, the King, who was their suspected coconspirator and now traitor to the Crown. Everything had unraveled under her rule and her mother was a witness to it all.

  Ordinarily, Owyn would have been detained by the Crown Soldiers and placed in a maximum security detainment room. However, he was the King, and no one wanted to be the one to recommend such a punishing detainment. It was the Queen Mother’s command that he be put into solitary confinement, Kyra merely nodding her head in approval when Alcander looked to her for confirmation.

  Until the Elder’s escape she had placed her faith in the competent hands of her Crown Soldiers, but now she would be forced to take matters into her own hands, a notion she was not comfortable with. She went first to the Government Complex where a contingent of soldiers was being detained after their lapse in job performance led to the escape of the Last City residents. One by one they explained how the King’s presence had distracted them from their duties leading up to the escape, none of them expressing any notion that the King had deliberately deceived them. Despite their expressed regret at their lapse in judgment they were each dishonorably discharged, stripped of their military statuses and deported to the o
utlying cities.

  On the outside she was calm and collected, but internally Kyra was shaking with insecurity. It was at the Queen Mother’s recommendation that sentencing be swift and punishing. She knew it was for the best. The loss of those soldiers would do little to impact the number of Crown Soldiers, but she at once ordered a recruitment of new Soldiers from a pool of qualified candidates. Their training would be more vigorous and thorough, ensuring that no one soldier ever repeated the mistakes of those whom they were replacing.

  By the time she discharged the group she was exhausted, her mind aching with the stress of the events that had taken place. She knew rest would be the only thing and to prepare her for what she knew would come next.

  She and the Queen Mother were escorted back to the royal residence flanked by Crown Soldiers. As they reached the Throne Room she ordered one to enter the city and fetch Julia, her most trusted lady-in-waiting. When they were finally alone in the residence, guards posted outside the door, the Queen Mother turned to Kyra and smiled proudly.

  “You did a fine job today, darling, but it will not get easier.”

  “I know,” Kyra nodded. “I just can’t think about that right now, Mother. I need rest. The King can wait in solitary confinement.”

  “I understand.” She put her hands on Kyra’s shoulders and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “This will be your legacy, Kyra. No one will ever again think to cross a Straton, Queen or otherwise.”

  Kyra could barely feign a smile through her exhaustion. “Let’s just get through this situation before we start writing my name in history books, shall we?”

  Korina smiled, her chin rising up in satisfied pride. “History is either remembered or forgotten, but a legacy is inscribed in time itself.” With that, she bowed her head to Kyra and turned, walking the path to the private room kept in her name and honor.

  Kyra entered her own room and leaned against the closed door. It was only a moment before she realized her arms and legs were shaking, finally releasing the anxiety she had fought to contain. With what little strength she had left she walked to her bed, kicked off her shoes and crawled under the soft bedding, pulling it high over her fully-clothed body.

  In the depth of sleep she dreamed she was back in the Throne Room as a young lady, residents gathered around the magnificent room as her mother, the Queen, announced her betrothal. Only this time it was the young Owyn standing amongst the crowd and Evan standing on the other side of the Queen, his green eyes and rousing smile lifting her spirits considerably. She would not have protested if her mother had chosen Evan as her future husband and King, but would have delighted in the prospect of spending the rest of her life with one she had admired so greatly.

  In her dream Evan looked resplendent with the King’s crown upon his head, the hefty gold halo contrasting beautifully against tufts of chestnut hair. Evadine stood by her side as the Princess Royal, sister to the King, and her most trusted confidante. The blended family of Straton and Nero would create a unified royal family to rule at the throne of Terra for generations to come.

  She dreamed of a female child younger than her own memories could recall. She had curls of dark hair and her own deep, almond shaped eyes that dominated her face. The clearer the image of the girl’s face became the more she realized she was not looking at her own daughter, but a nearly identical version of herself. A second child emerged, her face even more similar to her own with a cascade of dark hair falling wildly at her back. Her mouth was turned into a pout, a tantrum puffing out her delicate features.

  “Why do I have to play with the baby?” whined the second child.

  “She isn’t a baby. I thought you loved playing with her?” The disembodied voice was that of an adult woman, the cadence similar to her own.

  “I want to play with the other big kids!”

  “Well, go on then, but take Zoe with you. I’m sure the others won’t mind.”

  “I mind!” she cried, the tantrum mashing her face into a puffy mess.

  Kyra’s eyes opened, exhaustion dispelled from her head. The light began to brighten, casting a pale golden atmosphere around the room. Her body had sunk into the thick cushioning of the bed, swaddling her tired limbs into relaxation.

  As comfortable as she felt she knew there were important matters with which to attend. With any luck the Crown Soldiers had found the escaped Last City residents and Elder woman and brought them back to the Military Complex under increased security. However ideal the thought was in her mind, she knew better. Their entire operation, from the theft of the book from the Royal Anthology to their escape, had obviously been planned with meticulous forethought and consideration. She would need to be both judicious and swift with their sentencing to ensure their machinations were concluded.

  As for the King, his situation required a more delicate hand. Treason was an exceptional offense, one that would ordinarily conclude with the perpetrator's life. Taking the King’s life was not an option she would consider lightly. His title and standing among the people of Terra meant his punishment would be met with ire, potentially complicating her own standing as Queen. The history of the Crown had once already been blemished with upheaval and she did not want history to repeat itself.

  She rose from bed and quickly stripped out of her formal clothing. She bathed, washing away what remained of her sweat and fear. Before long she was clean and dressed in fresh clothing, her hair pulled back into a simple chignon at the nape of her neck. Outside the confines of her private room she found her lady-in-waiting setting a place at the dining table. Julia bowed her head gracefully as Kyra entered the room, her nose following the scent of freshly prepared food waiting for her on the table.

  “Welcome, Your Highness. It is an honor to be back in your company.”

  “Thank you, Julia. Is my mother up yet?”

  “The Queen Mother awoke shortly after you, Your Highness. I’ve also prepared her a meal. Is there anything else I can get for you?”

  “No, that will be all for now,” Kyra dismissed. Julia bowed her head again before disappearing from her sight. Soft wisps of steam rose up from the plate of food, the scent of seasoned eggs and ripe fruit filling her senses. It wasn’t long after sitting down that her mother appeared, also freshly groomed and neatly dressed. Julia bowed even deeper than she had for Kyra, and arranged a second plate of food opposite her at the table before being dismissed again.

  “Sleep well, darling?” the Queen Mother greeted, a pert smile upon her face.

  “Better than I have in a while. You?”

  “I’ve long been accustomed to the comforts of my own bed, but it was not unsatisfactory.”

  Kyra snapped a bite of green-fleshed fruit and managed not to roll her eyes. It would do her no good to mention the bed was the very one she slept in during her reign as Queen.

  “Has there been any news about the escaped residents?” Korina asked.

  “Julia,” Kyra called, looking up past her mother. “Has there been any word from the Crown Soldiers?”

  “No, Your Highness,” she replied.

  Kyra looked back to her mother and smiled emphatically. “No, there is no news. Thank you, Julia.” With another nod of her head Julia disappeared, leaving Kyra alone with her mother.

  “Have you given any thought to how you’re going to proceed?” Korina asked before taking a tidy bite of food.

  “Right now the only culprit we have in custody is the King, and obviously that isn’t a normal situation.”

  “No, it isn’t. How can the people trust their King when he would conspire against them, against his own family?”

  Kyra sighed. “That’s what I’d like to know.”

  After a long moment Korina relaxed into the chair, the long back supporting her as she steepled her fingers in front of her chest. “You have a unique opportunity in front of you, darling. An opportunity to correct an obvious wrong and change the face of the crown forever.”

  “How so?” Kyra asked between bites of fruit. Sh
e was intrigued by her mother’s solicitous tone, a sign that she had her own machination in mind.

  “Owyn’s parents were never supportive of the Straton crown. It would not be difficult to argue that he shared their alliance and hid it to gain favor from me in an attempt to bring us down from the inside. Obviously his actions speak volumes about his true feelings towards his family.”

  “What exactly are you saying, Mother?”

  “I’m saying we can correct a wrong. I can denounce your marriage and strip him of his royal titles, effectively excommunicating him from the Crown.”

  The shock of her words was like a slap to Kyra’s face. Excommunicating the King? Stripping him of all his titles? The notion was too much, too soon to properly consider. “I don’t want to make any decision without first speaking to him.”

  “What makes you think he won’t try to manipulate or even harm you? Are you willing to take such a risk?”

  “I have to, Mother,” Kyra signed, exasperated. “Regardless of what he’s done he is still technically my husband.”

  “Not if you don’t want him to be,” Korina contested. Her expression was cold and unforgiving, not at Kyra but at the King. “Think about it, darling. You told me long ago it was another boy you’d set your heart on. With my help you can be rid of Owyn and marry the person of your choosing.”

  She felt a crack in her emotional resolve at the implied mention of Evan. For all she knew he had left Terra and was in another world making a life with someone else. There was no guaranteeing he would want to replace Owyn in role and title. Even if there was no one else in the picture, she had no idea whether he’d want a life with her, one where their union was not an affair but a relationship, a partnership. A marriage.

  Julia appeared behind the Queen Mother, her expression that of concern. “Your Highness,” she bowed. “There’s news from the Military Complex. Alcander is requesting your presence at once.”