The humid air hung heavy, thick with the scent of salt and the distant roar of the ocean.
— M-Mother...? — my mother, her face a mask of despair, clung to Cassandra, her sobs muffled against her mother's armored chest. She whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion.
Cassandra, usually brutal and aggressive, held her daughter close, her own eyes brimming with unshed tears. She undid the embrace and shouted raising my mother's hand. — AMAZONS, REJOICE!! YOUR PRINCESS IS BACK! — Her reaction was a surprise to everyone.
My mother couldn't stop looking at her without reaction. Expecting a barrage of insults, a withering glare, sarcasm, or something more like Queen Cassandra, was stunned by the unexpected tenderness. A wave of longing, fierce and desperate, washed over her.
I lay in the small boat, unconscious, a terrifying nightmare plaguing my sleep. — Mom! Mommy! — I cried out, my voice a strangled whisper.
Amazon officers, their faces hardened with suspicion, approached the boat, their spears glinting menacingly in the sunlight. They regarded us with the same disdain they would a pack of horrendous animals. — What are your orders, Sovereign? — one of them barked, his voice laced with contempt.
Coming to her senses, the supermother mode activated in Andromeda. Her maternal instincts ignited, sprang to her feet, her eyes blazing with fury, gritted teeth, veins on her face. — Stay away from them! — she roared, her voice echoing across the beach. — Don't you dare touch them!
Cassandra, with her hands on her hips, raised her eyebrow and tilted her head slightly. — Grandchildren? — she mused, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Andromeda, still in combat stance, faced the officers with her back on us, her body rigid with defiance. — I have a eight years old son, and a daughter, nine months old, — she gritted out, her voice tight with anger. — The other... is my steward...
One of the officers, a young woman with eyes that held a cruel glint, faced my mother with a smirk. — Excellent, — she sneered. — We eliminate the males, and keep the girl...
She didn't know what she was provoking.
My mother's eyes narrowed, a chilling calm descending upon her. — Come near my children, — she hissed, — and I will make you regret it!
Cassandra, a mischievous glint in her eyes, began to chuckle. — Now this, — she declared, clapping her hands, — is my daughter.
My mother, her face pale, turned to Cassandra with a pleading voice. — Mom, please. Let us to rest. We've endured a terrible journey... — clasped her hands in front.
Her gaze thoughtful, Cassandra sighed dramatically with her hands on her hips. — Very well, — she conceded. — Take them to the palace. When they are recovered, I expect them in the throne room! — her hand rose to her chin.
— But queen, they... — an officer approached her with a frown, but Cassandra silenced her by raising her hand.
…
The following day, we were led through the towering gates of the amazonian palace's throne room. The place was beautiful, a breathtaking edifice of gold and emerald green with some climbing plants on the exterior walls. As the giant cedar gates with runes opened—the runes seemed to briefly tell the story of the Amazons. We entered and soon, the sunlight reflecting off the polished gold blinded me momentarily. I was hit by a blinding and painful glow. Every corner of the room was either made or plated in gold.
I raised my hand to protect myself when I stumbled forward as an Amazon hit my back with her spear. I walked down the red carpet and stopped next to the stairs of the golden throne, where the queen and all the Amazon princesses were.
Dressed in white pants and a white tunic with gold tips, I looked at everyone in the room annoyed. "Why do they kneel for this woman?" I muttered to myself, my gaze fixed on Cassandra, who sat enthroned upon a mountain of gold. "She's the queen and pretty, I suppose. But why kneel?"
Andromeda, her hand firmly gripping mine, forced me to my knees. I never came across this thing of authorities. I would never kneel before flesh and blood, not for any king or queen. Therefore, at that moment I still didn't know she was my grandmother, and the Amazons didn't know I was a Treadway.
My mother, resplendent in a white gown of shimmering gold designs, knelt beside me. Her hair, intricately braided, cascaded down her back, and a delicate gold jewelry adorned her ears and neck, and a diamond crafted tiara on her head. She looked much... better, regal, more majestic.
They all had their hairs braided, wore white robes, had tanned skin, were tall, with jewelry, athletic and beautiful bodies, the Amazons Island had always been a paradise for Qin-Shi and Persival.
The Queen's vizier on the third step of the throne stairs, her gaze sweeping over the assembled amazons, raised a hand for silence. — Silence! — she commanded, her voice echoing through the vast chamber.
The queen... Sorry, her death still bothers me, she could have lived much longer... I would like to know what she would say if she knew that I gave up being human to fulfill her dream.
The... Queen Cassandra with a golden dress that crawled on the floor and a red cape behind, she sat on the golden throne. — You have returned, my beloved child. And you bring a daughter, that's very good... and a son. — her gaze shifting to me, a hint of disdain in her eyes as she spoke.
The vizier, a woman with the face of a hawk and the eyes of a serpent, scrutinized us with chilling intensity. — An unexpected arrival, indeed. — she remarked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
My mother's head bowed, her voice trembling, spoke. — Mother, I... I understand if you cannot forgive me. But I beg you, do not punish my children for my mistakes. We seek only refuge, a place to heal.
I shuddered, a premonition of impending doom washing over me. That vizier, with her venomous tongue and chilling gaze, exuded an aura of pure malice.
Cassandra had a golden crown of flowers and curly hair that drew my eye to her. She sat on the throne with her legs spread and her hands holding the ends of her throne's arms. — It's good that you're back, but you know that men don't come here... — she glanced at my mother with a slight smile, it was cynicism in her eyes.
On her knees and staring intently at the floor with sweat running down her face, my mother bit her lips. — Q-Queen, what can I do if God has graced me with a wonderful son and a faithful steward...? — she whispered nervously.
The vizier, unfazed, rolled her eyes. — And she brings with her... baggage, — she hissed, her gaze lingering on Windsor and me.
— We didn't come to stay for long, we only came for shelter, because our enemies are chasing us... — my mother continued.
The queen's demented vizier continued. — You've come, then, they'll happily come too, don't you think? — she asked sarcastically.
I did well to kill Brunhilde, I did wrong only to kill for revenge. Revenge or not, she would eventually have to die.
Cassandra's eyes narrowed and looked at Brunhilde out of the corner of her eyes. — Brunilde, be mindful of your words. This is my daughter, the princess. — she addressed the vizier with a warning.
Today, looking back, I realized that Cassandra wasn't angered, it was jealousy. She wanted to be the one to insult others using her normal sarcasm and rudeness.
I remember a wave of anger surging through me. That vizier, with her petty sarcasm and venomous tongue, infuriated me. I clenched my fists, my teeth grinding together. I yearned to strike her down, to silence her venomous words forever.
My mother sighed helpless; I could feel that there was regret in that 'Sigh'. — Don't worry, they are no threat to you.
Cassandra, her gaze fixe on my mother, her expression unreadable, spoke. — We will accept you, Andromeda. And your daughter.
My mother raised her head sharply in the direction of the queen, a flicker of hope igniting in her eyes. — But... what of my son?
Cassandra's voice turning icy, replied. — Men have no place on this island!
My mother, her face pale, place her face on the floor and cried out, — But M-Mother, how can you abandon your own grandson? You know how much the Amazons love their children, and they would die if they stayed away from them for too long. How can you deny him my love, the love of his grandmother?
Tears streamed down her face; my mother's voice choked with despair. — Please, mother, do not reject him... Forgive me for my mistake, it's been ten years, don't reject him because of a mistake I made as a teenager. Don't throw away your grandson... I beg you...
I watched my mother's humiliation out of the corner of my eyes with a growing sense of rage. My fists clenched; my teeth gritted. I was a child but I wanted to lash out, to defend her honor, to make those arrogant amazons pay for making my mother cry. But there were more than fifteen Amazons in the room aside from the guards. They would kill me before I put my hand on the throne.
I was powerless, a caged bird watching its mother being torn apart.