It was still early in the morning when the four Crowns settled in the meeting room, waiting for the God of the Lands to arrive. A heavy silence occupied the space and Ephemera could feel the weight of the wait weighing on her shoulder.
At the age of forty-eight, the queen thought she could enjoy a peaceful end to her reign before passing the throne to her daughter, but Fate had to decide otherwise.
Yesterday, late at night, a guard came knocking frantically on her door. Her annoyance quickly gave way to surprise, then disbelief, and finally deep general confusion when the soldier explained the reason for his panic.
While he was making his usual rounds, a young man with yellow eyes, a wolf, appeared in front of the palace gate, carrying a sleeping a sleeping young woman on his back.
Without bothering to introduce himself, the young wolf simply announced that the young man was a human, and that, starting now, she would be a member of the Lands. Order of Elyon, he added before disappearing as quickly as he came.
Since then, panic had gripped the palace and the Queen of Angels had immediately contacted the other Crowns, despite the late hour, and had requested - no - demanded that an emergency meeting be organized immediately.
Looking at the other monarchs, she couldn't help but think that this is why they looked so unkempt.
Although, she doesn't seem so different than usual, she thought looking at Lyall with a judgemental look. Or is it just her young age ?
She wondered, remembering that she had just celebrated her twenty-sixth birthday.
The young wolf's queen returned her gaze with an arrogant raise of her eyebrows, clearly far from being embarrassed by her elder. Ephemera raised her chin then turned to King Regent Izok and King Keenan.
She barely looked at the latter, focusing on the first, appreciating despite herself the fact that he obviously made the effort to be presentable. At least someone who takes care of their appearance.
The door opened abruptly, taking her out of her thought. She stood up immediately, as did the other three seated at the table.
Elyon entered hurriedly, His eyebrows furrowed and His gaze cold. His skin as black as the night sky and His vibrant red eyes clashed with the bright blue of His suit. He settled in His chair with a tired sigh and scanned the room.
Although a Crown, Ephemera rarely saw the God who spent all His time locked in his Tower. However, every time she found herself in His presence, the queen could not help but be impressed. He was tall, very tall. However, she was unable to determine His exact size. He is also very muscular, undoubtedly the result of several millennia of physical training, if Ephemera's hypothesis is correct.
"Sit." Elyon ordered.
His hoarse voice echoed through the room, cold, imposing. Without any hesitation, the Crowns obeyed. No one spoke for several seconds and Ephemera caught a glimpse of Lyall tapping the table while fidgeting in her seat.
The wolf looked like a spring, waiting for the signal to pounce. Ephemera shook his hand, holding back a sigh.
"Queen Ephemera, you may speak."
The woman straightened up and quickly ran a hand through her black hair, which is perfectly tied into a high bun. It was finally time to figure out what was going on.
"My very generous God, is it true that the presence of that..." She paused, as if she had a hard time finishing up her sentence. "Human, is due to your will ?"
"A human ? What human ?" Lyall suddenly asked, widening her yellow eyes and at the same time cutting off Elyon who was about to respond.
The young woman is immediately glared at by her elders while the God sighed. Her surprise was understandable of course, Ephemera had even seen Keenan froze and Izok narrowed his eyes. However, they had the decency to control their reaction as much as possible, unlike the youngest.
Lyall frowned and crossed her arms.
"You're not going to make me believe that I'm the only one who didn't know ?"
"That's not the problem, Queen Dawn." Izok sighed. "Our very generous God Elyon was about to speak."
Lyall shifted in her chair, mumbling apologies, narrowing her eyes.
Typical of Wolves, Ephemera thought, no good manners.
Lyall ran a hand through her brown hair and started tapping the table again, which annoyed Ephemera who thought it was just a way to attract attention.
"Coming back to your question, Queen Ephemera. The presence of this young woman is, indeed, the result of a decision I made."
Silence.
Elyon had His eyes closed, His square jaw resting on His fist. Visibly, for Him the situation was far from abnormal. Which is not the case for Ephemera and the other Crowns.
A human.
In the Lands of Elyon.
It just didn't make sense. Humans must stay on Earth where they belong. They have no business being here. Absolutely none.
Ephemera glanced around. Lyall looked confused. Keenan was silent, seemingly deep in thought, his tongue playing dangerously with his fangs. Izok's face was hard to read, his back straight, his red eyed betraying no emotion. Ephemera straightened her shoulders, doing her best to also show nothing.
I am a queen, she repeated to herself, I must be perfect.
She placed her hands on her sublime emerald green dress, waiting for the God to explain.
"How is she ?" He simply asked.
"She was still asleep when I left."
"How did that human even got here by the way ?" Lyall asked.
"Oh please, you should know. It was one of your little... Wolf that brought her to *my* castle."
Lyall blinked, staring at Ephemera like she was crazy.
"What are you talking about ? I'm was at the border all night and no one left the Wolf territory."
You had time to dress correctly then, why can't you dress like a lady ? Ephemera complained mentally.
Elyon cleared His throat and, not even taking the time to explain anything about the aforementioned wolf, said in a definitive tone :
"She will join the Pillars as soon as she wakes up."
This time, even Izok couldn't hold back his surprise. His eyes widen and he suddenly leaned forward, his hands gripping the armrest of his seat. Lyall let out a gasp of astonishment, staring at Elyon like he just grew a second head. Keenan froze and his mouth opening and closing again and again.
Ephemera got up from her chair, completely revolted.
Since the Rebellion, the role of the Pillars has been to keep humans away from the Lands and Clans. And now a human is going to be part of them ?
This is simply scandalous. How to explain it to the people ? How will they react ?
And heavens, someone will have to tell the Succubus !
Ephemera can imagine their reaction from here. Of all the Clans, the Succubus are without doubt who hate those living on Earth the most.
This human won't survive long.
"But my very generous God, you can't be serious !"
"Is this a joke ?" Keenan whispered. "It's a joke, right ?"
"Do I look like I'm joking, King Keenan ?" Elyon growled.
"No, obviously not, my very generous God..." The vampire stammered, flustered.
He sunk back into his seat and stared at the table, biting his lower lip. His fangs pierced the skin but not a drop of blood came out.
"As for you, Queen Ephemera, lower your voice."
It took several seconds for the queen to agree to sit down, her face still contorted with shock. She fanned herself using her hand, her voice shaking when she spoke again :
"Human... A human... Living on the Lands... Pillars... A human..."
"For heaven's sake, Queen Goldbane." Izok hissed. "Stop your charade a little. If anyone here should be offended by this news it's definitely not you."
Ephemera went from shocked to outraged. She knows perfectly well what Regent Izok means. During the Rebellion, Angels were the only ones not to suffer at the hands of humans. On the contrary, they were even revered and loved, which is not the case for the other Clans.
But it's certainly not her fault. They just should have defend themselves. What's more, it was clearly out of compassion for them that she got in such a state. So how dare he call it a charade ?
"I'm just showing a little sympathy ! Is this a crime ?"
"Be careful, Regent Everwoods, a little more and Madam Perfect risks having a heart attack." Lyall sneered.
Ephemera felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She sat up, her eyes flashing with anger, annoyance boiling inside her. Trying to maintain a minimum of calm, she replied that she was not that fragile and that she intended to be alive for her daughter's coronation.
"In that case, I hope the coronation will happen soon, that way you won't have to worry about being around the human, your daughter will take care of it for you." Lyall laughed.
At this idea, Ephemera turned pale. Imagining her daughter in company of a human is simply horrible. What if the intruder tries to brainwash her, luring her with earthy ineptitude and flattery in order to manipulate her ?
The queen waved her hand again to fan herself, her breathing quickening. No, she refuse. She needs to resolve this problem as soon as possible. She must ensure that everything she has worked so hard for is not destroyed by a mere human.
Seeing the queen in a state of panic, Lyall started laughing again, nudging Regent Izok who was already rolling his eyes. Keenan observed the scene with an unreadable look.
"Silence !"
Lyall flinched and immediately shut up. Ephemera froze, letting her hand fall to her thigh.
"I didn't come here to hear you bickering like kids !" Growled the God, His eyes shining with rage.
A silence passed during which Ephemera felt herself shiver with annoyance. Because of Lyall, she provoked Elyon's wrath. She, who always pays attention to her manners in public, but in the presence of the young wolf she feels her blood boiling and has much more difficulty remaining calm.
Is it because of her attitude, the fact that she doesn't seem to pay particular attention to pay particular attention to her appearance, or is it because she act too familiar with the other royals ? Ephemera has no idea.
"Can we at least know why you made this decision, my very generous God ?" Keenan asked.
"No doubt to put an end to the tensions between the Clans and the Humans." Izok calmly guessed.
"Something like that." Elyon muttered.
Ephemera glanced at the Regent. She briefly heard Lyall playfully compliment the demon and barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes.
It's not that she didn't want to like the young woman. Finally, another woman in power ! But she felt like the wolf was only interested in one thing : men. Otherwise, why would she act this way ? Always teasing, laughing or just smiling.
Behavior unworthy of a real woman in her eyes. Men are nothing but a plague, proud and perverse with love for nothing else than power. To the point that, to even have a glimpse of the right to the throne, a woman had to marry into it, or, if she was the only child of the precedent ruler, give her throne to her now husband.
Ephemera was fortune enough to avoid that Fate and became the first princess to inherit the throne after the tragic death of her parents. She would have wanted more power but the other Crowns at the time were not pleased with that.
In any case, she will make her daughter even more successful than her. She will make Lavina an exceptional queen. A happy, perfect woman.
And may the City fall from the sky is she fails.
Ephemera shook her head, shaking those thoughts away. She turned her attention back to the current situation. Elyon explained that Alyssa Williams, the human, will obtain the title of Ambassador when she wakes up, and that she will be a permanent member of the Pillars and the Lands.
Obviously, He demanded that she be treated with the respect she deserves due to her title.
"The Succubus won't like it..." Lyall whispered.
Elyon ignored her and continued, declaring that the human is now under His protection and that, therefore, any harm done to her will be seen as a direct act of rebellion against Him and will be severely punished.
Ephemera bit her tongue, understanding that she will have to play it smart to keep this human in her place.
"Also, she will need a guide and a bodyguard."
All the Crowns started pondering, wondering who would take on these roles. It was very unlikely to be a vampire. They are far too little of them. They didn't even send a representative to the Pillars, wanting to preserve the few members they have.
A wolf then, or a demon. Maybe both.
As Ephemera was pondering, Elyon declared :
"Zeraphiel Goldcrest will be her guide and Wallace Goldcrest will be responsible for protecting her."
Izok raised his eyebrows while Keenan gave Ephemera a sympathetic look. Lyall just smiled smugly, giving her a mocking glance.
The angel was completely shocked.
"Two angels ? And those two ?! But my very generous God..."
Although she wasn't pleased with the idea of two people from her Clan serving a human, the real problem was those who were selected. The nephew of a criminal and a very arrogant angel who think he can whatever he wants, simply because he is in Elyon's good grace.
Ephemera couldn't stand them, the two men being a horrendous stain on the perfect canvas that is the Angel Clan.
"Tell them as soon as you return to to the City, Queen Ephemera. You're all dismissed."
Without another word, Elyon stood up, prompting the other four to do the same, ending the meeting and walked out of the room, not bothering to take one last look at the Crowns.
Ephemera sunk back on her chair, still processing what happened. Keenan walked behind her, giving her a somewhat compassionate glance. Izok remained impassive and left without according her any attention, unlike Lyall.
"I don't understand why you're not happy. It's your chance to prove just how benevolent the angels are ! Plus, it's not the first time you guys made friends with humans. History repeats itself ! Isn't that great ?" She snickered.
Far from being amused, Ephemera muttered under her breath. Making an allusion to the Rebellion was anything but intelligent or funny, and she intended to make her know.
She looked coldly into the young woman's eyes, letting the words escape her lips, deliberately taking a falsely compassionate tone, delighting in seeing the wolf's face when she pronounced :
"I sure hope not ! Wouldn't it be a shame if your Clan get practically wiped out again ? Just when a girl finally become the ruler, it would be quite a tragedy."
Lyall scoffed, her eyebrows raising in defiance and an amused smile on her face.
"Oh, how nice of you to worry. But don't worry, this time, our precious Lands won't go up in smoke."