Failure ripped through his belly, forming new knots and twists. Now, it was worse. He cared about the woman he loved and failed. Triena. That cut deeper than anything else.
~
The door swung open and a young Priestess entered the room. Triena bolted upright from the bed, eyes heavy with sleep, but she hadn’t been sleeping.
The Priestess placed a tray with a plate of cheese, nuts, and bread on the table and turned to leave.
“Wait!” Triena struggled to get her mind working after allowing herself to hover between worlds.
The Priestess paused, her hands clutched tight, she glanced back nervously.
“Light a fire.”
The Priestess shook her head and turned to leave.
“Stop.” Triena rose from the bed and rushed towards the girl and grabbed her arm. The Priestess struggled trying to get out of her grip but Triena held her fast, pulled her in close, and grabbed the girl’s dark head. She pulled it back so she could look into the younger woman’s eyes.
“This isn’t how you treat a Queen,” said Triena.
The girl’s green eyes contracted, her pupils small with fear.
Triena kept her grip tight, struggling with Arkina’s energy demanding to be treated better than this. That wasn’t going to happen. Triena knew it, but she wanted to influence the bigger picture. She glared down at the girl, who quivered.
“Please,” started the girl. “Please don’t …”
Triena pulled her hair back, stopping the girl from speaking.
“You tell them,” started Triena, her voice icy cold from Arkina’s essence. “You tell them that they’re to give me a trial. That’s the least those bitches can do.”
The girl’s eyes watered, her lips trembled.
“You got that? Tell them I expect a trial.”
“Yes,” the Priestess whispered.
“Hey, is everything, all right in there?” yelled a man outside the door.
“You’d better remember. I’d hate to see your life end too early.” Triena released the girl, and she scurried away. The door closed behind her, the bolt slamming shut.
The sound echoed inside Triena’s mind. She shivered and took the tray back to the bed, wrapping herself in the blanket, the cold had settled deep into her bones, causing them to ache constantly. The movement of holding the girl had left her shaken. She didn’t like being violent like that to another person.
Her stomach was too tense to want food, but she forced herself to eat. The bread was stale and hard, so she left it. The cheese was dry, but edible, and so were the nuts. It was just enough.
Triena ate, allowing her mind to slip back to the comfort of the space between the physical and Energy Field. It was warmer here, just, or at least she couldn’t feel the coldness sucking away at her life.
No … we can’t … trial … no … kill … she betrayed us …
Snatches of angry whispers filtered out from the Energy Field. Triena moved her awareness closer to the border of the worlds.
She doesn’t deserve … don’t give her a trial … we’re no better …
Triena took some comfort from what she heard. The Queens had received the message and now they were arguing over whether or not to give her a trial. They are turning on each other. She was pleased that her small request caused so much discord.
~
“Did you get him? Did you remove the Energy Trader?” A Queen glared at the two Peacekeepers. The rabbit shifted uneasily in the pack. He’d wanted to get into the castle but not like this. He watched the guards talking to the Queen through the Energy.
“Yes ma’am.” They answered in unison.
She narrowed her gaze on them.
The rabbit froze. She’s seen me. He kept still and withdrew from the Energy Field. Careless, he berated himself. The two guards were stupid and while they’d marked him for the pot, the rabbit thought he would be able to escape. All he had to do was bide his time until the opportunity arose. But that wasn’t going to happen if the Queens found him. They’d know his skill and keep him under watch.
“You’ve got something,” said the Queen.
“No, no, we haven’t, ma’am,” said the man holding tight to the pack.
“Yes, you do. Show me.”
“Respectfully, we have nothing that would interest you,” said the man.
Idiot, thought the rabbit. The man’s voice was thick with nerves.
“Give it to me,” said the Queen. “Or you will be part of a reading.”
The man took off the pack. The rabbit tumbled inside from the movement. It was abruptly unzipped. It opened and he looked up at a woman. He jumped. But she was quick. She grabbed him and held him firm. “Oh, I’ve been looking for you.”
The rabbit released his bladder, but she didn’t even flinch.
“I’ve been working with animals for a long time. That isn’t going to stop me.” She bundled him back into the pack. “I know exactly what to do with you.”
The rabbit trembled. He knew what she was going to do.
“The others are going to like this.” The Queen closed the pack, leaving the rabbit in darkness once more. “We’re going to have a very special reading.”
The pack moved as the queen swung it over her shoulder. “Right now.”
Chapter 18
Triena replaced the last dried flower in the pockets inside the sleeves of the robe. The hours waiting hadn’t been wasted. Each flower had been carefully unwrapped and placed in its own pocket.
The energy of the buds warmed her, filling her with hope and with a plan. It might not work, but it was something, an anchor for her. The sweet smell of the flowers wafted out and calmed her mind. Not long now. They will be here soon. With the help of the Energy, she felt them coming toward her.
She closed her eyes and went through the plan once more. A flutter in her lower abdomen caught her attention, distracted her. She placed her hand on her belly and reached down with her awareness. Triena gasped, a mix of joy and shock swirled around in her aura at the discovering.
It’s not possible. She wouldn’t have thought this could happen, not with all the stress she’d been under. Besides, she’d always used the Energy for birth control. But did I remember? Things had always been different with Braklen. So quick, so hot, so passionate. Her cheeks warmed.
Protection against pregnancy had been the last thing on her mind when she’d been with Braklen. Being away from each other made the passion stronger, so when they were alone on the Petal they hadn’t held back, re-familiarizing themselves with each other’s flesh, taste, and pleasure.
Triena checked again. There wasn’t any doubt. A small seed of potential life lay in her womb. The reality hit her. I can’t … I don’t … She needed to focus on one thing. She needed all her resources and strength and she wasn’t sure how that was going to affect the baby. A flutter stirred strongly inside of her. She sighed. Think you can look after yourself, do you?
A wave of excitement rippled out from her belly. I have to do this. I have to stand up to the Queens and I can’t hold back to protect you. She wanted to, but everything she’d been doing recently had been leading to this point, and after getting this far, there was no turning back.
Not when there’s a chance I can inflict some damage on them all. They are already breaking apart. She had heard angry whispers filtering through to her while she waited. She couldn’t reach them, she’d been firmly locked out of the group. But, she’d gained a glimpse of what they were doing. Fighting among themselves was what she wanted. It will give me the chance of gaining the upper hand.
Triena rested her hand on her belly. She wound a protective cocoon of energy around the seed in her womb. This is the best I can do. This rest is up to you.
Footsteps outside her room alerted her and she stood up, crossing her hands, until they rested in the opposite sleeve. The dried buds at her fingertips, their energy ready to be used, throbbed with excitement, as if letting her know that they were on
her side and were ready for one hell of a battle. The flutter in her abdomen settled.
Triena took off the necklace. The feminine shape cooled in her hand. She felt naked without it around her neck, without the stone nestled between her breasts. The stone had provided her with an anchor more than she had realized over the last few months and her heart ached.
It was too risky to wear the stone or even bring it with her. They’d know who she was if they saw the pendant. Taking on Arkina’s identity had served her well so far. She didn’t want them to know who she really was just yet. Triena hid the necklace in the room.
Nerves mixed with determination buzzed around her. I’m ready. She lifted the hood over her head as the door opened. She brought Arkina’s essence around her to hide her true identity. The Queen’s energy trembled with anger at the unfair treatment. She’s ready for a fight too.
A Peacekeeper walked into the room, boots heavy on the stone floor. “Best if you come peacefully.”
Triena nodded her head, keeping the hood low over her face. He motioned for her to step forward. She took a deep breath, and did what she was told, stepping into a guard of Peacekeepers.
They began walking, their shoulders pressed close to hers, forcing her down the hallway. They changed formation when they came to the spiral stairs. There were two in front, two behind her and they kept close even in this suffocating space.
They escorted her down into the catacombs. Pressure constricted around her chest as they walked along the narrow passageway. Aware of everything around her, she was on high alert. Her senses sharpened.
The sound of the boots was much slower than the beating of her heart. And she lost her rhythm, her anchor to keeping calm and reserved. The sound thudded in her head and she forced herself to breathe. What was I thinking that I could pull this off? They will know me for who I really am as soon as they see me.
Torches on the wall lit the way. Their shadows danced on the walls. Flames spat and flicked as she went past. Her stomach tightened the closer she got to them. Triena sensed the Queens, waiting for her, their anger rising.
The guards led her out into the cavernous opening where the Queens met. They were already there, waiting in their white robes, veils over their heads concealing their individuality.
I don’t get to see your faces, thought Triena, but it doesn’t matter.
She had the Energy on her side, plus the insights from Arkina and even Pernally’s essence assisted her. Triena held both Queens’ energies inside her, wrapped around her, providing added strength and insight to how the trial was going to unfold.
The guards stopped when Triena was in the center of the semi-circle that the Queens formed. She looked at each one defiantly. I’ve finally made it back here. The thought was bittersweet in her mind.
The guards left her standing alone in the center. Her skin prickled as the Queens stared at her. Each extended her own energy to Triena. She was flooded with pricks from thorns, bolts or lightning as the women let her know they weren’t happy with Arkina.
I guess the glamour holds, thought Triena. She winced from the pricks and pain that shot through her body. Arkina’s essence despised the treatment from her colleagues, prickling in protest, but she didn’t lash out, held back by Triena.
The Queen wearing the gold headband stepped forward. “Don’t even considering escaping.” To make her point abundantly clear, she sent a bolt of lightning energy at Triena hitting her square in the chest.
Triena gasped and bent over from the pain that shot through her body. The air squeezed from her lungs as her abdomen muscles contracted from the electricity that coursed through her body, running down her legs and out of her body, allowing her to recover. She hoped the potential life growing inside of her was all right.
Triena forced herself to stand. “I’m not guilty. I won’t be going anywhere until this is sorted out.”
“Glad we agree on that one,” answered the Queen, her voice tight.
“This isn’t part of the conditions of a trial,” said Triena drawing on Arkina’s knowledge.
“You’re a traitor. You get what you deserve, and this is already more than what you should be getting.” The Queen waved the Peacekeepers away. They bowed, turned and marched out, except one.
The High Commander remained. “Are you sure …?”
“Go!” yelled the Queen. “This is our business, not yours.”
The man’s face paled, he saluted, turned on his heel and marched quickly out of the chamber.
Triena squared her shoulders, braced some of her energy so if attacked again she’d be spared part of the pain.
“Now, you,” spat the Queen turning to Triena. “Arkina, you are henceforth stripped of your title of Queen.”
“Some trial.” Triena kept her voice clear and strong. She wasn’t going to let this go easily. Neither was Arkina’s essence which rallied around her, smoking hot with fury.
“Silence,” said the Queen. “You are no longer fit to be a Queen.”
“Says who?” Triena glared towards the dark shadow where her eyes would be through the veil. It unnerved her not to be able to see the Queen clearly, although Arkina apparently recognized her, whispering the woman’s name, That’s Syaine and she’s vicious.
The Queen was quick. She stepped forward and slapped her open palm across Triena’s cheek. “Me. And you will do well to remember that.”
Triena held her cheek as she stood upright. “I will have a trial, Syaine.”
The Queen smiled. “That you will.” She raised her hand, and the Priestesses in training came forth with a reading table, knife, and a bundle wrapped in dark cloth.
Triena’s stomach contracted. She swallowed a mouthful of bile.
“You need to come to terms with this new situation of yours.”
Triena watched the Priestesses arrange the table, barely able to hear the Queen talk. This wasn’t what I had in mind. Arkina’s essence wrapped tighter around her trying to give her the strength to do this. You don’t understand. I can’t.
“You are no longer a Queen, and never can be again.” The Queen’s voice filtered into Triena’s cloudy mind. Dizziness threatened to overtake her, even though no blood had been spilt.
“That’s fine with me,” answered Triena. That part was at least true. She didn’t want to be a Queen again. She looked wide-eyed at the bundle placed on the table.
“Yet, here you are,” said the Queen, the spokeswoman of them all. The gold headband reflected orange from the candle light. “This is the only way to prove to us that you still stand on our side. That you are with us.” She held out a shiny clean sickle.
“I haven’t done anything …” Sweat slid down her back.
“You went alone,” answered the Queen.
“With everyone’s blessing here,” said Triena. Arkina’s energy boiled with anger.
The bundle moved. It’s alive. Triena swallowed hard. This was one sure way to let herself be discovered.
“Take it then. Show us who you really are.” The Queen pushed the sickle towards Triena.
She knows? Triena shivered. She wasn’t sure that she was up to proving that she was Arkina by doing a reading on an animal. She only held knives when peeling vegetables. This was getting out of hand. I could slit Syaine’s throat. But she already knew that she wouldn’t be quick enough.
Arkina’s essence was too distracting. Triena struggled to keep it under control. Something happened. The balance within her changed. Suddenly, Triena’s awareness was pushed back and Arkina’s essence took over.
No! Triena scrambled to regain dominance, but Arkina pushed her back. Pernally’s and Priest Junqi’s energy came forward, wrapping around her like a boa constrictor. Triena was trapped and could only watch as Arkina took over her body.
The Queen smiled. “Not up for it?”
“Of course I am,” said Arkina, speaking through Triena.
No, yelled Triena. Stop. The energy slipped around her mouth, encased her
mind and she lost her voice and watched as her hand reached out and took the sickle.
“I just don’t like this treatment or poor excuse for a trial,” said Arkina. “I thought I’d already proven myself.”
“So, where is she then?” asked the Queen.
“You lost her?” Arkina pretended to be shocked. “Now, that’s not my fault. She was in the cells waiting to be collected. Maybe, you should have that High Commander back down here or the captain of the ship.” She held up the sickle and looked at her reflection.
Triena reeled back from the image she saw. She even looked like Arkina. Pernally and Priest Junqi held her tight, stopping her from resisting.
It has to be done, they thought in unison.
Triena wanted to ask what exactly had to be done. She looked at the table. The Queen pulled away the cloth. The rabbit sat on the table. He was weak, his body bruised. Her world shattered, Triena wept at the sight of him.
“I’m sure this little ball of fluff will let us know where she is,” said the Queen smugly.
Triena wanted to tell them to stop, but she was a prisoner in her own body. The more she struggled to get free, the more they held her tighter and tighter, preventing her from speaking. She couldn’t stand much more pressure.
She watched as her own hand reached out to the rabbit.
He lay down willingly.
It has to be this way, thought the rabbit. They know who I am. What I am to you. It’s been written this way. Good will come of this.
Triena sobbed as she watched herself slide the sickle over his throat. She wanted to say goodbye. She wanted to stop this, but the essences she’d absorbed wouldn’t let her. There wasn’t any way that good could come of this. Yet, it happened. His blood flowed across the table. His essence unwrapped from his physical form and snaked towards the Energy Field.
Watch, thought the rabbit as he faded. This is what you need to do, Triena. Watch. Read the patterns, it’s important. They will help you. Trust …
She forced herself to watch. Red blood dripped over the edge of the table. She looked at the rabbit. Her one true friend. She couldn’t reach him. She yelled to Arkina that she needed to reach him, but the Queen wouldn’t let her.
Flower Queen (Flower Readings Book 3) Page 18
