Anya was ushered into her mother's private sitting room, the door closing firmly behind her. The air was heavy, and the dim lighting cast flickering shadows along the walls. The Queen stood by the window, her silhouette framed by the moonlight. She didn't turn immediately, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
Anya swallowed hard, steeling herself. "You wanted to see me?"
The Queen turned slowly, her face weary but resolute. "I did," she said softly. "Because it's time you knew the truth."
Anya's breath caught. "The truth?"
The Queen gestured for her to sit, but Anya shook her head. "No. I've spent the whole night being told to stay quiet, to wait, to not ask questions. If you have something to say, Mother, just say it."
For a moment, her mother simply looked at her, a flicker of pride in her expression. Then she nodded. "Very well." She sank into a chair, motioning for Anya to sit across from her. This time, Anya obliged.
"The shadow," the Queen began, her voice low, "is real. It is not merely a metaphor or a symbol. It is an ancient entity tied to this kingdom, a force older than the crown itself."
Anya felt a chill run down her spine. "What does it want? And why is it tied to us?"
The Queen hesitated, her fingers tightening around the armrests of her chair. "Many generations ago, when our kingdom was on the brink of destruction, your ancestor, Queen Liora, made a pact. She summoned the shadow, a being of immense power, and offered it a bargain. In exchange for protecting the kingdom and granting it prosperity, she promised the shadow a 'price.'"
"What price?" Anya whispered, dreading the answer.
The Queen's gaze was piercing. "A life. Each generation must offer one royal soul to the shadow. A prince or princess. If the price is not paid, the shadow's wrath will descend upon the kingdom, bringing ruin."
Anya felt the blood drain from her face. "A royal soul? You mean... one of us?"
Her mother nodded solemnly. "It is a terrible secret, one passed down from monarch to monarch. Your father and I have spent years trying to find another way, to break the pact without endangering the kingdom. But the shadow grows restless. It has waited too long."
Anya's hands trembled. "Who decides who is chosen?"
The Queen's voice faltered. "The shadow does. It marks its chosen. We've seen the signs... and we believe it has chosen Celia."
The room spun. Anya's heart pounded. "Celia?"
"Yes," the Queen said, her voice breaking. "The nightmares she's been having, the way she's withdrawn—they're all signs. The shadow has begun its claim on her."
Anya shot to her feet, her chair scraping against the floor. "No! There has to be another way. You can't just let this happen to her!"
"We're not," the Queen said firmly, standing as well. "That's why I've been working on a solution. There is a way to end the pact. To banish the shadow forever."
Anya's hope flickered. "How?"
The Queen's expression was grave. "The shadow can be banished, but it requires a great sacrifice. A life willingly given in place of the one it has claimed. A royal soul must step forward and offer themselves."
Anya froze, her mind reeling. "You're saying... someone else has to die in Celia's place?"
The Queen nodded slowly. "Yes. But it must be a willing sacrifice. The shadow will not accept anything less."
The weight of her words pressed down on Anya. The thought of her sister—brave, stoic Celia—being consumed by this ancient force was unbearable. But the idea of offering herself, of stepping into the shadow's grasp, was equally terrifying.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Anya demanded, her voice cracking.
"Because I didn't want you to bear this burden," the Queen said softly. "You've always been so strong, Anya, but this... this is beyond anything I could have asked of you."
Anya's mind raced. The shadow. The pact. The impossible choice looming before her family.
"I need time to think," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
The Queen stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I understand. But time is running out, my darling. We must make a decision soon."
Anya nodded, though her thoughts were a whirlwind. As she left the room, her mother's words echoed in her mind. "A life willingly given."