Page 77 of Crowned A Traitor
“What would you do if the rest of your family remained in Malum?” Klara asked, meeting his eyes and his mouth opened and closed with no answer.
“Travel south and keep your heads down,” Klara said, and her eyes changed and stayed white. There was no point in hiding anymore. She picked up her axe and secured it to her back.
“Please don’t go,” Lottie pleaded, and Wolfgang rested a hand on Lottie’s shoulder trying to pull her away from Klara. “Bad things happen when you leave us,” Lottie wrapped her thin arms around Klara’s waist.
“Once everything calms down, I will find you,” Klara gently pushed Lottie away, noticing the blood that had transferred from her wound to Lottie’s clothes.
“Who’s left to rule over Malum once you’re finished?” Wolfgang asked. “The chaos ensured from no Queen is better than Abadan.”
Klara gave Lottie one last squeeze and Wolfgang clutched his sobbing sister.
“Stay south,” Klara repeated as the heat of the sun bore down on them with no trees to shield them for as far as the eye could see. Klara marched through the field to the wall. She couldn’t bring herself to look back, to see Lottie’s tear-stained cheeks. Klara held a hand up to the stone wall when a small hand grasped hers.
“Please come back,” Lottie asked choking on her sobs. Klara’s heart tensed. Pain soared through her as she knelt to give Lottie a tight squeeze.
“Look after your brother now, make sure he doesn’t turn into a big bad wolf,” Klara said, and Wolfgang stood watching them.
Lottie wiped the tears from her puffy cheeks, “but you’ll come back?”
“Nothing could stop me,” Klara gave her another squeeze and sent her back to her brother. “There are border towns in the south. You should be safe enough.”
Klara took the small leather purse containing what was left of her coin. She tossed it to Wolfgang who caught it in one hand with ease. “Make sure he spends it wisely.”
Lottie nodded going back to Wolfgang as the portal opened. “Don’t stay here, the portal opening will alert the patrol,” Klara warned as the slick skin of the portal wrapped around her.
The smell of blood forced her to wince. The storm had passed, but the rain had failed to remove the stench of battle. Bodies of fallen Creatures and two Giants surrounded her. The once crisp green grass was now stained and trodden with the fallen. Klara’s supporters and enemies lay side by side and would soon disappear into the mud together. Klara stepped over the fallen, their souls already with Kharon or roaming the Maze dazed and confused.
Klara saw him, pale and still. Klara landed on her knees. Her chest heaved as she placed a hand on his plated chest. “I’m so sorry,” Klara cried, pushing his hair from his eyes. They were still open, looking at her and she shut them. Praying that he had found peace, he didn’t deserve to roam Hell’s Maze.
A glimmer in the corner of her eye caught her attention, but before Klara could reach for her axe, her hands were shackled with iron chains. A piercing light disorientated her while hands gripped her paralyzed limbs as another flash of light rendered her unconscious.
???
The stream of white light forced Klara to keep her eyes down on the white and grey marble floor. Klara lifted her head ever so slightly allowing her eyes to adjust. Five steps made of mirrors sat in front of Klara, and all sense escaped her. She was in the last place she expected.
Klara followed tall pillars of white marble wrapped in gold and green ivy vines to the glass ceiling where light poured in from a perfect pale blue sky. The steps reflected Klara’s image at her.What a muddied and bloodied mess I am.Her hair was stubbled, her cheek sliced, and her arm had a hole throw the centre, while her clothes had been torn in the fight. The iron in Mila’s weapons had slowed her healing abilities.
Klara tried to stand, unaware of the Guards behind her.
“Easy!” Klara barked as they shoved her to the hard-cold floor. They scoffed and forced her head forward as Klara tried to see their faces.
At the top of the mirrored steps, she heard the rush of water, and she sat back on her heels to get a better look. A waterfall poured from the rock wall into a small pool that surrounded a floral throne. Klara’s heart quickened as she realized whose clutches she had fallen into.
“Don’t you think we can talk about this? How about a bribe?” Klara said, peering over her shoulder. Before the pair forced her forward once again, Klara saw the light reflecting on their clear wings. Veins of colour ran through them, and the silver thread in their pale uniforms gleamed in the light. A hard slap greeted her, and Klara spat blood onto the marble floor. “Remind me to thank you for that later,” Klara said, wiping her split lip.
Klara bowed her head, knowing that struggling was futile, she pictured Frendall’s limp body lying on the grass.I’ll see you soon.
A burst of golden light shone at the top of the steps. Klara kept her eyes down as footsteps clicked down each step. Klara bowed her head deeper, preparing for the final blow. There was a deep sigh as Klara’s captor took in her battle-worn appearance.
“Josephine? My child, what has Lucifer done to you?” A hand lifted Klara’s chin. A soft wave of pure energy vibrated around them, and the Guards backed off. Klara’s captor helped her rise, and Klara saw a white silk suit with a deep V at the chest exposing deep brown skin. Klara kept her eyes down as she saw the throne of flowers and vines woven into a wooden throne. It was similar to Eve’s, but these flowers were grown not created. There was a vibrant purity about them that held Klara’s attention.
“Don’t be afraid to look at me,” a soft chuckle echoed from the Fae, and Klara looked up as Queen Aemella covered her mouth with a delicate hand.
“My name is Klara,” she politely corrected as Aemella’s unblemished hand grazed her cheek. The outline of Aemella’s translucent wings was clear behind her.
“Yes, both truths,” Aemella said, and Klara stared at the Queen’s pale blue eyes and long black lashes. They both studied each other in silence.
Welcome to Kalos,” Queen Aemella extended her arms, and the shackles disappeared from Klara’s wrists. Without the iron, Klara felt the ease of her magic trying to heal her.
