ONE DARK QUEEN ❖ (A Three Dark Crowns Tale)

CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR: PRYNN

The summons to Andrea's office comes in the dead of night and it takes all of Carina's restraint not to strangle the servant who woke her. It wasn't Selene her personal maid. This one is a meek little thing, almost cowering in the doorway.

"My apologies Queen Carina for the late hour but Mistress Arron said it was urgent," the servant girl says, her eyes gleaming with fear at Carina's murderous expression.

Groaning and slipping on a thin robe she waves her hand, dismissing the girl who scurries away bowing hastily. She lights a candle to take down the hall and considers waking up Sheshu who is curled in a green ball on the chair by her dresser, but does not. No point in disturbing her precious viper.

Despite not being human at all Sheshu truly understands her, but then again Carina is a queen and some would argue they are not human at all. She had never wanted to explain the bond between her and the snake particularly when they first found each other when Sheshu was barely a hatchling and Carina was nothing but a small child, but it was always there. Unexplainable even to herself. But now she suspects the Goddess had a hand in their union, calling a familiar for her - perfect for a queen who is both poisoner and naturalist.

Naturalist. It should repulse her, to admit to herself that she carries threads of that gift as well as one of poison but how can she reject it when she is sure it is the reason she has Sheshu. And she has made use of it in secret, blooming all manner of poisonous plants and flowers to brew for her own concoctions that she has been experimenting with for her sisters, careful to keep it from anyone's view. But it has become a habit, an itch to scratch ever since she truly acknowledged it. To bloom things into life that will then aid in taking life. A balanced cycle.

Surprisingly, she enjoys that feeling, it is different from the opulent intoxicating manner of poisoning, that fuels her veins with power, but one that makes her feel grounded to life itself, infusing her with vitality.

Smiling at her thoughts, Carina gives Sheshu one more fond glance before following the light in her hand, satirising down the corridor towards Andrea's office, the sound of her footsteps echoing in her ears. She passes Eliza's chambers, briefly pausing as she touches the door fondly. Being woken by Eliza in the dead of night would've been far more exciting.

But she keeps walking, not daring to daydream about her oracle for any longer. Foolish of her. She cannot allow herself to be distracted. Not by her naturalist gift. Not by her affection for Eliza. Not now. But perhaps. When she is Queen Crowned. Things can be different. Eliza and her perfect full lips can distract her all day. Perhaps in time she could confide in the oracle about her dual gifted nature. A ray of hope after the messy work of the Ascension.

Finally, she makes it to the dark oak door, surprised to see the door already slightly adjar, the gold light from inside creeping into the corridor as if someone had cut into the darkness' tapestry.

Not bothering to knock, she opens the door and is met with Andrea whose eyes snap up to hers immediately, grinning like a fiend as she sits on her chair, a glass of almost drained wine on top the papers on her desk. Along with a smiling Octavia, who stands by her sister, clad in a purple robe with darker purple thorns stitched along the material. Even Amara, Niklaus and Eirene are here, all sat down though the two younger brothers, Adrion and Silas, are absent, likely still terrorising Prynn's streets and taverns.