Idalia remained frozen. She had kept herself and her daughter hidden from that place for 20 years and now she had sent her daughter there, away from her. Audra was a part of her. She had never left her alone. Never separated her from herself. And now she was left here alone. She was scared, worried, panicked; not sure how her daughter would survive without her, even how would she survive. As tears came, she couldn't stop herself from sobbing.
Each inch of her body protested in pain as she got up. She was done crying. She had work to do. She had to clean her place. It was a mess. She looked around and all the events from few hours ago replayed in her mind.
With swollen eyes and tear stained face Idalia was woken up with a crick in her neck from last night's sleep on the couch by the deafening doorbell going off continuously seven in the morning. Without even checking she pulled open the door with force, annoyance laced her every movement.
"Are you perhaps Princess Idalia Victor Harrison?" If she wasn't awake yet, that voice was more than enough to wake her up. She hadn't heard this name this title for years. Startled she looked up at the three guards standing in armor as If asking for trick or treat on Halloween in costumes. One look of them was enough to alert her brain. She slammed the door at them and blackened. Her thumb gracing the ring on her finger, confirming its presence.
The door shattered into pieces like a glass hitting a wall. The three man entered ice crystals lacing two of their palms. A scream escaped her lips and she found herself retreating further inside the living room. She knew they couldn't harm her yet she wanted to run but she had to stop them before they reached audra. She didn't know if she was still in her room or not but she won't take chances. Her daughter was the first priority.
"Why are you here?" She took her stance her palms felt hot. Energy bubbled inside every inch of her.
"Your reaction tells me, my guess about your identity was correct." The one in the middle spoke taking one more step closer towards her.
"Get lost or you would regret your every action" Her glare was enough to shoot lasers through them.
Ooohh so feisty" he mocked her. "Listen princess, we are here to take you back to where you belong, it would do us both a great favor if you would just cooperate with us"
"Then you should go tell your queen that I shall not return" her words were firm and final.
"I was given orders to not touch you but you are making things very hard for me right now. A green vie shot towards Idalia from his palm but before it could even lay a finger on her the vine caught fire burning into nothing but ashes.
The man stood stunned, realization hitting him, his powers were nothing in front of her. He had forgotten a seal protected Idalia.
"I warned you." With single threatening look she shot a glowing red ball of fire towards him but he was quick on his reflexes to dodge it.
"It's not fair when I can't use my powers and you use yours" He picked up a vase flinging it towards her but it to crumbled into pieces before it could reach her. The man laughed but his voice was nowhere near happy.
"Get out of my house" She thundered, her eyes flaring with red swirling in them. If they thought, she was angry they were under estimating her.
"Get her" he commanded his men who yet stood by the door not moving until they were given the orders. But one command and they were already lunging towards her.
She ducked sliding from between them as one of them smashed into the dining table and the other caught her leg; her victory already short lived. The man tried dragging her moving backwards towards the staircase. She caught hold of the nearby chair and smashed it in the man's head with all force she had. She could feel her energy draining and had no choice but to resort to physical. The man fell backwards hitting the railing and falling unconscious over it.
A clap echoed in the room and she swirled around to see the first man standing there looking at her impressed. "Good to know the princess can fight. Then how about a duel" he threw aside his sword gaining his stance. "Ladies first" a mocking smirk appeared on his face riling her up.
Wiping the blood off her lips she stood in front of the man ready to tear him to shreds. Assessing his figure and weak points she hurled a punch towards his face ready to wipe it off. He bent backwards easily dodging and in that moment she kicked his knee making him disable but before he could touch the ground he regained composure instead pushing her backwards with force. Her back hitting the table counter. Sharp pain jolted in her back but she showed no signs of weakness and launched herself towards him with a mug in her hand.
Before he could process the mug being aimed at him the mug made contact with his had smashing into pieces and falling from his face with red liquid covering the side of his face.
"You really shouldn't have done that. He leaped towards her catching hold of her neck, blocking her airways. She clawed at his hand as he pushed her into the cabinet one corner of it slicing her left arm.
She could feel her consciousness slipping away. She forced her concentration on her power, she needed to stay alive. A sharp jolt of fire escaped her palm hitting the man straight in the shoulder and he jumped away in pain his shoulder badly injured.
"Get out of my house before I finish you off. And go tell your queen to stay away" She hissed at the man.
"I will come again for you and your daughter." He threatened before vanishing.
"You won't find her again" Idalia found herself cursing at him, even though he was now gone and so was Audra.
"conversus in cinerem" (burn to ashes) she whispered and the two bodies lying in her house caught fire until they were nothing but ashes on the carpeted floor.
Her eyes burned. She couldn't breathe. Water entered through her nose, her mouth. She thrashed against the water like a dying fish. An arm appeared around her shoulders and she was pulled up. The sunlight blinded her and a coughing fit attacked her. The water escaping her system burning her lungs. She batted her eye lashes trying to see where she was.
"keep your eyes closed or they will burn" a deep voice advised her. She took in a deep breath keeping her eyes closed. It took her a moment before she returned to normal. She slowly opened her eyes. Blinking hard to remove the blurriness.
As the view cleared in front of her she moved back shocked unaware of the fact that she was still being supported she found herself sinking again and she was hoisted up once again.
"Who told you to move" the owner of the deep voice the guy beside her who was holding her by her shoulders scolded her. Three other guys looked at her amused. She could only see their faces and shoulders as they remain immersed in the…. pool?
She looked around the unfamiliar place. It was a huge stream of warm water. The pool borders were made of polished black poles that had intricate golden patterns. Outside the pool were refreshments, candles towels placed. She couldn't see anything much other than that.
"Who are you? What is this place?" She questioned the four boys around her. As much as she wanted to get away, she made a note to herself to not to move reminding herself of her earlier accident. She didn't want to fall back into this water. She cursed herself for not taking swimming classes before.
"Shouldn't we be questioning you that" One of them in front of her spoke.
"Were you spying on the princes?" the other one questioned joining in the interrogation.
"Princes what cosplay is this?" She asked annoyed unable to wrap her head around this.
"How did you get here?" The last one asked his tone dead serious.
Her mother's words repeated in her head.
"Find my father, find the king. Don't tell anyone who you are" She looked up at her finger. Her mother's ring sitting atop her index finger. It was all true after all.
"I want to see the king" She declared.
"You can't just see the king if you wish to"
"The king doesn't meet with anyone"
The first two who started the interrogation said in unison, they seemed like a team.
"Brothers! Brothers, let the lady speak first. So tell us who are you beautiful?" the one who was supporting her asked, His eyes boring holes into her.