The party that was thrown in honor of Kaya and Xavier being newlywed was loud, busy, and draining. Kaya sat in her seat beside her mother and watched the couples twirl around on the dance floor.
Her father was tapping out the rhythm of the music on the arms of his chair and her mom had left to go tend to her children.
Kaya spotted Xavier standing by the drinks sipping from a cup. She got to her feet and made her way toward him. To busy herself, Kaya grabbed a cup filled with dark liquid and brought it to her lips.
"Have you gotten any word on the well-being of Nico?" Kaya asked.
Xavier raised a brow. "I haven't been able to get any information. I think that King Kojo might have already exiled him."
"Why would he do that without-"
"He's a king." Xavier shrugged, swirling the liquid around in his cup.
"What does that mean?" Kaya hissed. "Not everything my father says or does is right!!"
"I know. Which is why I assume you joined the Revolution." Xavier drained his cup.
"Exiles are made to be public!!"
Xavier frowned slightly. "Alright. Alright. But was this your plan to get Nico out?"
"It was." Kaya sighed, staring down into her drink. "And now I am regretting every second of it, I didn't mean for our relationship to end this way."
"I'm sure Nico will understand!"
Kaya bristled and swallowed back the comment she wanted to spit at him. She put her glass down and turned away. "I'm going to go check on my mother."
Before Xavier could say anything else Kaya walked away and managed to slip out into the hallway without unnecessary questions. She made her way down the hall and went to the nursery where her mother and younger siblings most likely were.
The halls were quiet and cold, sending goosebumps up her arms. She rubbed them to bring back warmth and stopped when she heard two voices ahead.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" hissed a voice she didn't recognize. "We could get caught!"
Kaya summoned air and she slowly rose into the air as two figures came into view. She stifled a gasp when she saw one of the figures' faces. Sabella. Neither of them noticed as she slowly rose into the air.
The other person was wearing a cloak that hid their face in the shadows.
"Trust me. We won't. Now go, you promised me this." Sabella hissed. "Keep your end of the deal."
Without another word, Sabella marched away and the figure stood there for a moment before cocking their head and heading down another hallway, toward the nursery.
Her mother.
She slowly followed the figure and when they reached the doors to the nursery, she thrust her hands out knocking them back against the wall.
A couple of nearby guards looked up startled and Kaya landed on the ground, pointing at the still form. "Get her. She's here to hurt my mother!"
Moving swiftly, the guards descended upon them, only to be flung backward and pinned to the wall with an invisible force. They cried out and then slumped down to the ground.
The figure stood in front of the door blocking Kaya's way. They snarled, "There's no way you're getting past me, girl."
Kaya thrust her hands out, but the figure simply redirected the air in her direction, catching Kaya off guard and sending her flying. She pushed herself to her feet just in time to see them enter the nursery locking the door.
Kaya screamed for help and used her abilities to try and slam the door open but nothing worked.
Inside the room she heard a lot of commotion, her mother was grunting. And the babies were crying. The babies.
With all the possible strength Kaya could muster she thrust her hands again and this time, the door flew off the hinges slamming against the opposite wall over her mother's head.
As she suspected, her mom was struggling to keep a dagger from her throat.
Kaya stumbled into the room and moved toward her mom but she shook her head. "The children! Get the children!" when Kaya didn't move she shouted, "Now!"
Kaya moved and scooped the babies up, rushing out of the room. She raced toward the throne room, screaming at the top of her lungs. Her father raced out, face pale.
"Whatever is the matter, my dear?"
"Mother." Kaya gasped. "Mother...needs help."
King Kojo motioned for the guards to go see what the problem was. He took Kerr and Arya.
But a moment later, Sabella came racing around the corner her clothes stained red. "Your Highness!"
The guards converged, pulling out their swords, but King Kojo held up his hand.
"Your Highness!!" Sabella gasped, she gripped a piece of cloth in her hand. "Queen Ariana!!!"
Kaya's hands shook uncontrollably, and her veins pulsed with anger as she fixed her gaze on the woman before her. The woman's face was a mask of deceit, and Kaya could feel her blood boiling as she struggled to keep her emotions in check.
"GO!" King Kojo boomed. "Tend to my wife!"
The guards took off down the hallway Sabella had just come from. People from inside the throne room began to file out to see what the problem was. Xavier came to stand beside Kaya's father his eyes wide as he took in the scene before him.
"I'm sorry Your Highness! I did everything I could but she...Great mother!" Sabella wailed, holding up the cloth. "I'm sorry!"
Kaya thrust out her hands, pinning her to the wall. Sabella gasped and then began choking. Her face was turning a concerning shade of white. Xavier grabbed her arm and shouted something at her but he sounded far away.
All she wanted to do at the moment was kill her. Drain her of all life.
"KAYA!"
Kaya released her hold on Sabella, and she slumped to the ground, wheezing.
Her father whirled toward her. "Kaya. How-? Why-?"
"It started after my tenth birthday. I found that I could lift things." Kaya hissed, shaking Xavier off. "And don't ask me why I hid it from you at the moment this woman deserves neither pity nor kindness. She planned this."
King Kojo frowned down at Sabella. "Is this true?"
"N-No Your...Your Highness!" Sabella rasped, grabbing at her throat. "I mean you nor the royal family any harm."
"But Kaya claims differently." King Kjo said, voice low and dangerous. "As you should know I don't take well to those who wish my family harm. Kaya."
Locking eyes with the woman Kaya held up her hand and with a flick sent her colliding with the wall again.
"I'll be sure to give your children my condolences."
Kaya faltered. "Kids? You have kids?"
Sabella blinked. "Elijah and Emily." a tear slid down her cheek.
Kaya released her. "I won't kill you. Instead, I'm going to banish you back to Hera. You are not allowed to set foot in this palace or any other town than you're own. And your children are staying here."
"No!" Sabella wailed, bending forward. "I beg you, no! Don't...Please!"
"My daughter has spoken." King Kojo groused. "Guards, take this woman out of my sight."