A Queen's Redemption

Chapter 14- A Revelation

*Slightly mature*

Mayhem. Absolute mayhem.

I was grabbed and placed behind Amir while the rest of them stood in front.

“You got a lot of nerve! You disappear for however long, then come back and do this. What do you want Diamanda?”” Amir asked growling.

She rolled her eyes. “Please I’m just here to cut all pretenses. You guys aren’t stupid I know you found out about my handiwork.” she said, smiling proudly.

“Why?” Sebille asked. “Why are you doing this? Who are you working for?”

Diamanda grinned evilly. “I don’t think I need to answer that. Besides,” she said, turning to me. “I have ultimatum for her. And if she doesn’t conform,” she turned to Amir. “You guys’ll be finding out who sure enough.”

I narrowed my eyes, stood straighter and moved till I was beside Amir.

“What do you want?”

Her grin widened. “All you have to do…is leave. Leave the Senate. Don’t come back. No one else gets hurt.” she concluded.

There was a resounding ‘no” followed by threats at Diamanda coming from around me but my eyes stayed on Diamanda. She looked a bit too gleeful. She wasn’t finished. I felt my breathing pick up.

“Is that so?” she said smiling ear to ear. “Serene. Rethink it.”

I felt my palms itch. “Why?”

“Serene!” the ones behind me shouted. I raised my hand to shush them.

“What’s in it for you Diamanda?”

“Oh nothing.” she smiled maliciously. “I just think Lyon would be very happy to know that you’re alive and well.”

My stomach sank, and I staggered back. “H..how do you…?”

Her smile grew. “Oh come now. Do you really not recognise me?”

I froze as her facial features started to change. Gasps were heard all around me. I felt my knees grow weak and I collapsed onto the floor, as the memories started flooding back. Memories that I had forgotten, in the happiness I had found in the last few weeks. I stared at the face…a woman…who was no longer Diamanda. A woman…who was part of the reason…the cause of my pain.

“Aurelie.”

“What the hell…” Qasim asked.

“The fuck…” Issa said breathlessly.

Amir’s arms around me tighten. “Who are you?!” he growled out. I could tell Jahid was awake by the sharpness of his nails. She kept quiet.

“She…” they turned to me. “She’s Aurelie Vindharah. Sister of Lyon Vindharah…King of Mayuda.” I said weakly, unable to stop the tears from falling. I vaguely saw them bristle at the name.

“Oh my. You’re not looking too good there Rene Rene. Did I bring up some old memories?” she mocked. My hands clenched at the nickname as I felt myself fill with fury.

The itch came back.

“Well, I’m not surprised. You were always such a sensitive thing.” she said wistfully.

I heard a scream and then a line of lightning was hurtling towards her before I realised both came from me. She dodged it and began cackling.

“That’s fine Serene. Seems you’ve made your choice. Enjoy your time.”

My rage blinded me as I threw another one and another at her. It was only until Amir started restraining me that I realised she had disappeared. In my blurred vision, I saw them gathered around me asking questions, trying to get answers on what just happened. But I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t speak…or move. I knew exactly what was happening. Because it happened before. I felt myself shutting down. I was being shaken and told to stay awake but I defied them. I defied them as my eyes closed…and I welcomed the darkness that consumed me.

~~~~~~

*Amir’s POV*

A week. One week. That was the last time anyone’s seen her. She stayed cooped up in her room, not seeing or talking to anyone. Her mother said she had completely shut down. We talked a lot about that day and wondered what exactly had happened to her. Her mother would just smile sadly and say it wasn’t her story to tell so we were left in the dark.

I was starting to go insane from not seeing her. I clenched my hands tightly as the urge to slaughter everyone who had done anything to her and the ones who made her this way was huge. I could tell that feeling was mutual among everyone else.

Qasim was anxiously pacing up and down as Issa was violently playing darts in the next room. They had come to view her as a little sister so their feelings were understandable.

My sister…was a different matter. We’d realised it was best to avoid her whenever she was in the room as she tended to snap at everyone more than usual. I shuddered remembering that mistake I made a couple days ago. She was scary when angry.

I looked up as I heard the door open and immediately stood when I saw Serene come through it. My heart ached at the sight of her. She was skinnier, the shine was gone from her eyes and she looked like a scared child who’d rather be anywhere but here.

I cautiously walked towards her and slowly opened my arms. Letting her know what I was up to while also giving her the option. She hesitated then stepped into my arms. I slowly wrapped them around and felt her melt into me taking a deep breath in.

“Thank you.” I heard her whisper. If my hearing wasn't so great I wouldn't have heard it.

She pulled away and turned to the rest of them. “Hi.” she said softly. They came towards her and gathered her in a hug. She sighed then pulled away. “I guess I owe you guys an explanation huh?” she said walking to the sofa.

I exchanged glances with the three of them then moved to take a seat around her.

“This…this is gonna be hard to get out so just…bare with me okay guys?” she all but pleaded.

“Of course Serene.”

She took a deep breath then started,

“When I moved to Mayuda..it was with the dream to become textile designer. I had believed that Mayuda was the perfect place for that dream. I was wrong. It was for a time. I had heard rumors about their king being known as the Tyrant King…but I didn’t care about that. I was happy.

I was there for a few years when I met this guy. He identified himself as Rayan Yarza. We met in the market and I thought he was just a normal villager. He didn’t say or do anything to show me otherwise so I was none the wiser, but then again I never told him I was a witch or a feeder so I guess it was half and half.

We spent time together and got closer till eventually we started dating. He was good to me then I met his sister somewhere along the line and for some reason she instantly didn’t like me. I met her once and that was the last time for a while that I saw her. Then one day she popped back up and handed him a document. I didn’t know what was in it until his face turned. He stared at me with such malice and rage I instantly got scared.”

She took a breath and I could tell this next part was gonna be extremely hard for her.

“Things changed after that. He became…violent…towards me. There was one day in particular…he beat me so badly…I passed out. When I woke up…I wasn’t in my home anymore. I woke up in a cell…chained hands and feet to the wall, unable to move.”

She started shaking and her mother moved to sit next to her. She leaned into her and she calmed down a bit.

“I looked and saw a table in front of me, filled with…what could only be classified as torture devices. Then a guy walked in, putting on hand gloves, with a crown on his hand. He walked towards me…and then I saw his face. I remembered saying his name but he just grinned creepily at me then told me his real name was Lyon Vindharah. The King of Mayuda.

He laughed at the shocked look on my face then picked up one of the knives and walked towards me. My real hell had begun.”