The following day, after Christian has received the message from Carlos, Venice arrives at the gates of Silver City with a legion of Stellars in her midst. Will this misunderstanding be resolved, or will it escalate?
Silver City, Paeda
We stood silently on the cold gray ground. A faint shout could be heard beyond the gate. A couple of minutes later, the gates began to shift inward. A man in silver apparel floated down to us through the entrance.
"Greetings, Queen of the Stellars", he began. "Cut the act, where is he?", I demanded impatiently. His expression didn't falter, he simply turned around and flew off. As he took off, a woman approached us. "Follow me", she commanded, guiding us up the main street to the palace.
It was a long way up. The winding road seemed to be endless as it waved through the buildings, elevating ever so slightly. The city was crowded with people traveling in every direction. The loud bustle of the street was beginning to irritate me. Luckily, we were finally approaching the palace.
The palace doors slid open in an outward motion. A tall man with glowing silver hair came into view as the doors opened. I presumed he was Christian Sadean. I lifted myself up, gliding over to him.
"It is a pleasure to meet you in person, Mr. Sadean", I wasn't lying when I said I was pleased to meet him. I've never met him in the flesh, so this occasion was much anticipated.
"Ms. Aralea, welcome to Silver City", he stretched out his arms dramatically. I think he noticed I wasn't too enthusiastic about it cause he retreated his arms to his side almost instantly.
"Shall we?", I suggested, gesturing with my arm in his direction. He nodded politely, leading us in.
I was wondering to myself how all of my soldiers would fit in here but Kent, my commander, took care of that. "You follow me and guard the queen, the rest of you, spread out accordingly", he ordered with an authoritative tone I've always admired.
"This way", Christian made a sudden turn, pulling me out of my thoughts. "In here", he said, entering a doorless room with an incredibly high ceiling.
"What an impressive house you have", I complimented half-heartedly. "Palace, but yes", he arrogantly corrected me. I didn't think someone could get on my nerves that easily, but he managed to do it.
I took a seat at the long, fancy gray table before us along with Kent and a few others. There was a momentary silence after everyone was seated.
"So, what did you want to discuss?", I broke the silence. He turned his attention over to me replying, "Let's make this quick and simple for both of us. Did you execute any Crescents recently for any reason at all?". Kent and I exchanged confused glances. "I'm sorry, what?", was all I could think to answer. "Do Not insult me by lying!", he raised his voice indignantly. "Watch your tone! As a queen you must show me respect. I have no idea what you are talking about and I am not lying when I state that", I responded sternly. "I apologize…", he calmed down, continuing, "Do you have a messenger by the name Nonny?".
It didn't take much thought for me to know that I don't recognize that name. "No", I said with surety. "Are you sure?", he interrogated. "Yes I am sure", my expression grew indignant.
He took in a deep breath, exhaling sharply. "Then that settles it. This man made a false statement, spoke in your name untruthfully, and attempted to start a war between us", he concluded out loud. "Wow, that escalated quickly. Let's call it a day then, shall we?", I suggested calmly. "No, we must find that man and punish him for this heinous crime", he decided. "Okay Judge Judy", I mocked. He lifted his head up to me with furrowed brows and an infuriated expression. "Do you understand what he has done?", he questioned me. "I'm not a fool, of course I understand. I think you want a war, considering how intently you are disrespecting me", I boldly accuse. He lifts his eyebrows and leans back as if bewildered. Like I said, if I could cause some drama today, you best believe I was going to.
"If a war is what you want, then a war is what you will get", he stated with such a cliche. Normally a queen is supposed to be extremely formal and concise, but I talk like a blabbermouth and say the first words that come to mind. I never really enjoyed speaking in a sophisticated fashion.
I remained silent, caught up in my thoughts. I must not have noticed, but he had gotten out of his chair while I was thinking. "Please leave so as to prevent further quarrel", he said with a stupidly serious face. I don't understand how someone can talk so posh and not feel like a dork doing so.
"Very well, I will be on my way", I attempted to match his style of speech. He remained indignant, crossing his arms like a child. I wasn't going to wait around any longer with this fool so I stood up and strolled out, leaving Kent and my guards behind. I heard a loud crash down the hallway after I had made some progress to the palace entrance. The sound came from behind me. Fearing Kent had done something, I bolted down the halls with immense speed and vigor. I came to an abrupt halt when I reached the doorless room. "What is going on!?", I complained.
Shooting my gaze from one person to the next, I finally made it to Christian and Kent. Kent was lying on the floor against the wall with ruffled hair and a large tear in his suit. Christian however, looked as if not a finger was laid on him.
"Apologize at once! Both of you!", I yelled angrily, fighting back the urge to knock both of them upside the head.
"I apologize for my jeery remark", Kent went first. "I sincerely apologize for hurting your feelings", Christian said sarcastically, putting a dramatic stretch on sincerely. "My feelings!? You made an insolent comment about my queen!", Kent felt injurious.
I immediately dashed my eyes over to Christian, looking at him as if to say, 'Would you like to tell me or should I ask?'. Believe me, when I say I hate asking someone to explain themselves, I mean I loathe it. One should be able to explain themselves, although ashamed, without having to be told.
I waited for him to speak, which seemed to take ages. All the while, Kent was making a smug expression like he caught Christian in his act.
Finally making eye contact with me, Christian boldly spoke, "I simply dont believe you are fit to be a queen. Let alone any position of authority". "Well, don't you have such a strong opinion. It seems as though you think your opinion matters. I for one, dont think a manchild like yourself should be king of anything, let alone an elite race", I said calmly, with a mocking tone.
"Well, that's your opinion", he stated. "And I'm the queen", I said snarkily, with a dashing smile might I add. "You've caused enough trouble for one day, you should leave while I'm still willing to show you grace", he announced, glancing at everyone in the room.
"I must be mistaken, did you say you were being graceful? I just couldn't hear you over your mountainous ego", I jeered. I needed to, okay maybe I didn't need to, but I certainly wasn't going to let him get away with that.
"To think I was going to let you be on your way without a fight. You must love getting on peoples' bad side, darling", he continued on his high horse. Whether I started this or not, he crossed the line when he said that.
Rage coursed through my veins as that word slithered out of his mouth. The heat in my body was raising rapidly. I could tell because the objects around me were starting to disintegrate like dust floating in the air.
"Now, now miss hothead. Take it easy", he abased me. Kent's voice became barely audible as he approached me with hus hands out in a pacifying manner, attempting to calm me down. My body rising into the air as the heat in my face radiated. And in an instant, all my rationality flew out the window. I lost it in that moment, nothing holding me back. Every voice blurred out and the only thing in my line of sight was him.
I dont remember much, but the last thing I can vividly recall, was Christian and I launching head on toward each other and a deafening boom as we flew in opposite directions out the palace. My body was numb, flying across the sky like an early morning star. I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer because of the raging energy I was uncontrollably releasing out of my body. As they shut, I saw a faint image of a figure coming towards me. And then, black.