AMIERA's POV:
"What are you saying?" I asked, my voice laced with surprise and confusion.
"What? That is impossible. How could it be? When Madelyn died, the baby was not born," the other woman, Mika, said. The same woman who had wanted to kill us. "I-I think she must have been mistaken. Dristan is the only heir, Tartleon's only heir."
"Stop it, Mika. Cyria can never lie. Don't forget she is a dragon witch, she can see the future!" She walked towards the witch, my heart pounding with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. "I am glad you are back. Tell me, what do you mean by the lost princess?"
We remained held captive by the giant, forced to bow down to the ground, while swords hung threateningly at our necks, ready to sever our lives in an instant.
"Empress, I am sorry I couldn't come before. When we visited Earth, I was captivated by the Charm caster. However, I saw everything before I lost my ability to see. The prophecy was still there. I have seen a war coming, and if they..." She paused, her gaze sweeping over us, the intensity of her words echoing in my mind. "Don't unite together, nobody can save the universe!"
"B-But how can this happen? We all saw Madelyn die!" the evil lady interjected, her voice filled with surprise and disbelief. Madelyn... a name that held a mysterious connection, and I couldn't help but wonder about my own relationship with her. Why had they captured me in the first place? My mother's warnings echoed in my mind, telling me that I shouldn't have used my powers, that I shouldn't have come here in the first place.
"I have no idea, Empress. But all that I know is that the heir to Maximus' throne is here," Cyria said, her gaze confused among us. Her words held an enigmatic quality, leaving me to ponder their meaning. Was this another trick to keep me here? A burning fire of defiance burned brightly within me. They underestimated me. I was no mere pet to be captured and contained. If they dared to try and keep me here, I would unleash a torrent of power that would consume them all.
But before I could do anything, the empress turned towards us with a smile on her face.
"Oh, my dear," the empress exclaimed with guilt, looking at us. "Release them now!" She ordered, and the soldiers walked away. Grateful, I felt compelled to express my thanks to her.
"But who is the lost princess among them?" she asked the witch, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Uh..." She looked a little uncomfortable before saying, "All of them!" the witch replied, and this time, I was just as shocked as the other girls. I looked at them, and we shared a collective expression of surprise and confusion.
"Can anyone tell me what is going on here?" I asked, feeling completely bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
"That is what I am trying to figure out, dear," the Empress replied, her tone laced with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. I noticed the other woman's gaze fixed on me, a look of animosity in her eyes. The queen, on the other hand, appeared unfazed by the revelation. However, it was the king's expression that caught my attention. His stare held a mixture of surprise and shock, leaving me to wonder if he held a deep connection with me. Could it mean that he is my real father?
"Here, this might help!" the witch interjected, handing a letter to the empress. Its appearance resembled the one I received a few days ago. "Queen Lucy died three days ago, and she sent me a letter. It holds the truth."
"What? Queen Lucy is dead? But how?" the empress asked, again showing surprise which looked a little overreaction.
"She was brutally slaughtered in her chamber. The king is still trying to track down the killer. The only thing we got was this knife." With a wave of her hand, the witch displayed a knife hanging in the air, held by her magic. "It bore the markings of Assyr." She pointed at the queen and the other woman.
The queen however looked displeased with the information. But she pulled herself together before everyone showing concern on her face.
"What? How could this be possible? If someone has killed Queen Lucy, and the murderer belongs to Assyr, I promise we will find the culprit and bring them to justice," the woman declared. Her demeanour exuded authority, but I couldn't determine her true identity based on her appearance alone.
The empress opened the letter and read its contents. She did not disclose the details to anyone. Walking towards us, she stopped at a respectful distance. "I am sorry, my dear, I have failed to recognize you. Thank you for coming back." Her words held a mix of regret and gratitude, leaving me with more questions than answers.
The influx of information was overwhelming, leaving me feeling dilated and anxious. My mind raced with countless questions, but everything unfolded too quickly for me to process. I yearned for a moment of respite, a chance to gather my thoughts, but the whirlwind of events showed no signs of slowing down.
Before I could voice my mounting concerns, the empress made a grand announcement. "The lost princesses are here! Bow down to your future Empress!" Her proclamation reverberated through the room, and I watched in awe as the people bowed before us, their gazes filled with a mix of reverence and curiosity.
"But how can it be? The Thorne is one, and the heir is eight! How can you justify that?" the woman who seemed angered by our presence demanded. Her words cut through the air, challenging the newfound revelation that we were the lost princesses, a truth that I still struggled to accept.
"Eight?" the empress echoed, her brow furrowed with confusion.
"Yes, Dristan is also Tartelon's son and has an equal right to the throne! However, if you consider, it was Tartelon's offspring who was announced as the heir!" the woman argued vehemently.
The empress' confusion lingered, and she turned to Cyria, ordering her to provide clarification. "Cyria, please shed some light on this matter."
"I am sorry, my queen," Cyria replied, her voice tinged with remorse. "I forgot to inform you that I have lost my powers. When I returned to my true form this morning, I realized my abilities had been temporarily seized. The charm caster attempted to manipulate my mind. However, I do recall mentioning that the rightful heir was supposed to be Madelyn and Tartelon's offspring. On Earth, I witnessed them during the war, but the one who ultimately vanquished the Achlys was none of them. The aura was so radiant that I couldn't discern the face. Therefore, I believe Mika has a valid point."
The empress contemplated the revelation, her expression thoughtful. "Fair enough then. There shall be a final contest where they must prove their worthiness. Only then shall the true heir claim the throne," she replied, her decision marked by a tone of authority.
At that moment, conflicting emotions surged within me. The instinct to flee overwhelmed me, urging me to escape the weight of destiny and the responsibilities that lay ahead. Yet, a flicker of hope ignited within my soul, a yearning to uncover the truth about my real parents and my rightful place in this world.
**************
We were allocated a chamber in the sprawling palace, a space we would now share as newfound sisters. As I settled onto my bed, a tinge of discomfort lingered within me, knowing that I would be sharing a room with strangers.
"So, we are sisters?" Helen posed the question, breaking the silence that enveloped the room.
"I suppose so," Sofia responded. "Do any of you knew, perhaps, that you were adopted?"
Cathrine's expression shifted, her eyes clouded with a mixture of sadness and resignation. "Somewhat yes," she replied, her voice laced with a hint of vulnerability. "I have always carried the weight of being abandoned. They never let me forget that I was adopted."
Curiosity sparked within Helen, and she pressed further. "When did you discover your powers?"
As the room filled with their shared stories and the exchange of childhood memories, my mind drifted to the enigmatic woman who had looked upon us with undeniable intensity, as if harbouring ill intentions. A gnawing unease settled on me. The realization dawned upon me that she was our grandmother. It became evident that she held no fondness for our presence. Questions flooded my thoughts, demanding answers. What about our father? Why did he appear so pained upon learning of our existence? Why didn't his heart brim with joy? The mystery of our family history deepened, and with every passing moment, my longing to unravel the truth intensified.
FLASHBACK
"You can all stay here until the final battle. But I don't want to see you all with silly questions or Assyrian affairs. You must stay in your rooms until you are called," King Tartelon declared before making his exit. Queen Lily followed him, her gaze filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. However, Prince Dristan remained behind, his presence offering a glimmer of reassurance.
As he spoke, his voice resonated with a sense of familiarity and warmth. "Don't worry, sisters. Father has always been like that. Welcome back to the family," he reassured us, extending a hand of kinship.
A mixture of emotions washed over me - relief, confusion, and a faint glimmer of hope. The notion of being welcomed into a family I never knew existed was both bewildering and comforting. Yet, my heart remained guarded, aware that there were still countless mysteries to unravel, and that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges.
In this moment of reunion, I couldn't help but wonder about the true nature of my place within this family and the destiny that awaited us. Little did I know that our bond as sisters would be tested and that the final battle would not only determine the fate of the kingdom but also shape the course of our own lives.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Why do you think like that?" Catherine asked. Her voice startled me.
"What?" I stammered, caught off guard by her sudden question.
"Why do you think our father was in pain?" she repeated, her words piercing through the air.
"H-How...?" I began, my thoughts racing. How did she know what was on my mind?
"I can read minds, you know," Catherine revealed, a sense of liberation in her voice. "Thankfully, before coming here, the band of Vertis fell off, and I am free again!"
"Stop reading my mind!" I retorted, my frustration mounting.
"Or what?" Catherine challenged, her voice laced with defiance.
Her challenge ignited a spark of anger within me. Did she have a death wish? In a moment of heated confrontation, I tapped into my powers, seeking to overpower her with my mental strength. I believed I was stronger, but the consequences of our clash were far more severe than I anticipated. Power surged within us, causing both of us to suffer. The pain reverberated through our bodies, amplified by the glowing birthmarks that marked our connection.
"STOP!" Sofia roared, her voice cutting through the chaos. "I understand that we are all overwhelmed with the truth right now. But we are sisters. We cannot fight among ourselves."
"Well, she started it. I just asked," Catherine retorted, a smirk playing on her lips.
Sofia's words resonated with me, reminding me of the importance of unity in the face of adversity. However, my emotions spiralled out of control, and I found myself unable to contain my anguish any longer.
"You know what? I don't want to do this. I want to go home. I want to be with my mother, who loves me like a daughter. If that stupid letter hadn't convinced me to seek the truth, I would never have ended up here! This is all pointless. Nobody wants us here!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with a mix of frustration and despair.
Isadora, her voice filled with confusion, asked, "What are you talking about?"
"Don't you get it?" I cried, tears streaming down my face. "Our parents abandoned us when we were born. And when we returned, I didn't see anyone truly happy to see us. Nobody wants us!" The weight of my words hung heavy in the air, the pain of rejection tearing at my heart. Overwhelmed by it all, I made a desperate decision. "I want to go back," I declared. My voice choked with emotion. "Back to my mother, who has loved me the most. I need to leave. So I ran. As fast as I could, I ran away from this place."
At that moment, my heart was torn between longing for acceptance and the ache of feeling unwanted. I fled, seeking solace and escape from the overwhelming truth that had unravelled my world.
*******
"Mother! Mother! I am back! Where are you?" I yelled as I burst into the house. The silence that greeted me was unnerving. My heart sank, realizing that something was terribly wrong. Perhaps my mother had gone out searching for me. "I am sorry I didn't tell you I was leaving. But look..." My voice trailed off as I caught sight of her lifeless form.
But this was not the reunion I had envisioned. My mother lay motionless, her body drained of life, the dried blood staining her lifeless corpse.
"Mother... Mother, what happened to you?" I cried, my voice quivering in disbelief and grief. The realization that the one person who had loved me unconditionally was gone hit me with a force that threatened to shatter my soul. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I clung to her lifeless form, desperately wishing for her to come back.
"Amiera! Stop!" Someone called out from behind me. It was my sister. They had arrived. "Amiera, get up. Gather your strength," Sofia urged me gently.
"How can I?" I sobbed, my voice filled with heartbreak. "She's gone. She left me too."
"No, Amiera, she was killed," Catherine stated solemnly. I watched as she used her powers to witness the final memories of our mother. "She loved you deeply, Amiera."
"Who? Who killed her?" I demanded, my anger mingling with the anguish that consumed me.
"Someone wielding the same knife that killed Queen Lucy," Catherine revealed, her words piercing through the haze of my grief.
At that moment, a surge of determination coursed through me. They had come for me. My sisters, who were once strangers, now stood by my side, offering support and a shared mission. I vowed to seek justice for my mother, to uncover the truth behind her untimely demise, no matter what it took.
"For that, we need to stick together," Catherine declared, her words echoing in my mind. Despite my reservations about her abilities, I had to admit that I was grateful for their presence. United in our purpose, we would uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice. No matter the challenges we faced, we would persevere, driven by a shared bond and a burning desire for the truth.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
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