Arnold had finally unearthed the elusive Ashenbloom root a day later, its ethereal glow promising salvation. He brought it to Lucian, the young physician whose deft hands moved with urgency. As Lucian prepared the remedy, a palpable tension hung in the air; they now had to wait a day longer for her to awaken from her slumber, shrouded in an uncertain fate.
King Joxthar, filled with a rare fervor, was eager to hear her voice. He had envisioned it to be soft and gentle, a soothing balm to the turmoil that plagued his heart. His excitement led him to relocate her to a more opulent chamber, one adorned with silken drapes and the fragrance of blooming jasmine.
That night, however, darkness took on a more sinister form. Queen Maelisianne, cloaked in shadows and smoldering resentment, stealthily infiltrated the sanctuary where the girl lay. The room was devoid of life, save for the unconscious figure upon the bed, a vision of fragile beauty and innocence.
Maelisianne approached with measured steps, her gaze fixed upon the girl with a hatred that burned like a wildfire. "The rumors are indeed true," she hissed, her voice a venomous whisper. "My life has been irrevocably shattered in a mere day because of you." She leaned closer, her eyes narrowing with malice. "I wonder if that fool of a king will still desire you when I mar your face beyond recognition."
With a flourish, she brandished a knife, its blade glinting ominously in the dim light. Just as she prepared to unleash her wrath, her eyes were drawn to the gleaming bracelets that adorned the girl's wrists. They sparkled with an otherworldly light, their beauty momentarily disarming the queen.
For a fleeting moment, the bitterness within her wavered as she contemplated the allure of those adornments, the power they could bestow. Yet, the darkness within her surged anew, igniting her fury. "You dare to steal my joy?" she spat, her voice trembling with rage. "I shall ensure your beauty becomes your curse!"
In that charged silence, the air thickened with tension, the knife still poised to strike—an embodiment of the queen's inner turmoil, caught between vengeance and the glimmering temptation of the girl's enchantments.
"What's this?" Queen Maelisianne seethed, her eyes narrowing with a mixture of jealousy and disdain as she beheld the radiant bracelet adorning the girl's wrist. "Did he give you this?" She reached out, her fingers clawing at the delicate ornament, but it clung stubbornly to the girl's skin. Frustration flared within her. "Even going so far as to have it glued to your flesh?"
In a fit of wrath, she raised the knife, its blade gleaming with malevolence, and pressed it against the girl's skin, intent on severing the bracelet from its host. "I might find myself in the dungeon for this, but I care not," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "My life is already over; I will simply wait until death claims me."
As the cold steel pierced the girl's skin, blood began to flow, dripping onto the silken sheets like the remnants of a shattered dream. Just as the queen readied herself to finish her cruel task, an unexpected surge of energy crackled through the air. The formerly unconscious girl, Inara, jolted awake with a fierce intensity, her eyes alight with an otherworldly power.
With a powerful thrust of her will, an unseen force hurled Queen Maelisianne against the wall, the impact leaving her stunned and breathless. Shock and horror flooded her features as she grappled with the reality before her. How could a mere girl possess such formidable strength?
Inara clutched her wounded wrist, a pained groan escaping her lips. "Argh!" she gasped, glancing down at her left wrist, where the bracelet hung precariously, almost severed from her flesh. Confusion clouded her thoughts. Had the alien captured her and was now attempting to wrest away her precious adornment?
Her gaze swept across the unfamiliar chamber, landing fiercely upon the queen. Anger surged through her veins, prompting her to rise from the bed. Yet, as soon as her feet touched the ground, weakness overcame her, and she collapsed, crumpling to the floor like a fallen leaf.
"You!! Are you the alien queen?!" Inara accused, her voice a mixture of indignation and bewilderment. "You don't look like an alien at all!!"
"A—alien queen?" Maelisianne stammered, confusion twisting her features. What on earth was an alien?
"Are you the one who tried to take my bracelet?!" Inara demanded, her determination igniting as she slowly began to crawl toward the queen, her eyes aflame with fury. "How dare you!!"
Queen Maelisianne trembled, a wave of fear washing over her. Was this unknown girl an assassin? How could she be so strong? Thoughts raced through her mind, each one more frantic than the last, as she grappled with the reality of the situation. The girl was not merely a victim; she was a force to be reckoned with, and Maelisianne could feel the ground shifting beneath her feet.
As Inara steadied herself once more, the door burst open with a force that echoed through the room, and King Joxthar stormed in. His gaze fell upon the girl, now awake, and a wave of relief washed over him. Ignoring the presence of his queen, he rushed to her side, his heart swelling with joy. "My love! You have awakened! Oh, I am so happy!" he exclaimed, arms outstretched in a fervent attempt to embrace her.
Inara, fueled by a mixture of confusion and defiance, swiftly grasped the knife that had been discarded by the queen. She pointed it towards the king, its blade glinting ominously in the light. The guards at his side instantly unsheathed their swords, their expressions a blend of shock and readiness.
"M-my love... do you not remember me?" King Joxthar stammered, his voice tinged with desperation. "I am your soon-to-be husband. Just a few days ago, you tripped and struck your head."
Inara raised her eyebrows in disbelief, her voice a sharp dagger cutting through the tension. "Who are you trying to fool? I don't even know you!" she retorted, her spirit unyielding.
"Ah, it seems you have amnesia," he replied, his tone softening in an attempt to charm her. "My love, would you like to hear our love story?"
"No! I do not have amnesia!" Inara thundered, her voice resonating with authority. "I know who I am, and I am not your wife!" She glared at him defiantly. "That one," she pointed accusingly at Queen Maelisianne, "might be your wife, but I am not!!"
King Joxthar bit his lip, frustration mounting as his carefully laid plans unraveled before him.
"Tell me where I am!" Inara demanded, her tone brooking no argument.
Just then, the door flew open again, this time admitting Lucian, his father the royal physician, and Princess Josephine. "She's awake??? She was supposed to awaken tomorrow!" Lucian exclaimed, disbelief etched across his face.
"Something must have happened. Did someone injure her?" Lucian pressed, concern darkening his features as he scanned the room.
At this revelation, Queen Maelisianne trembled, her heart racing with fear at the implications of her actions.
"Her wrist! It's bleeding!" Josephine gasped in shock, her eyes widening as she noticed the bracelet nearly slipping from Inara's skin, blood trickling down her arm.
King Joxthar's gaze snapped to his wife, Queen Maelisianne, whose presence loomed ominously in the background. A seething glare pierced through the tension, his disappointment and accusation clear. The room pulsed with an unspoken dread as the truth of what had transpired began to unravel, leaving everyone on the precipice of chaos.