Queen Of Thorns

"My Queen..."

Crimson-fire wings swayed by the railing to the right of the throne, two golden orbs stared deeply at the Queen, who smirked almost cunningly, raising her arm ever so gracefully, the staff below her feet glancing up. “Come, Dragana.”

Hooked claws rested on the arm of the Queen, the gentle clings of metallics meeting gently, filling the silent room as the phoenix bowed its head to her ear. Whispering half-truths and secrets that seemed endless, the voice was as gentle as a burning feather. A low growl at the feet of the throne emitted loudly as a hand with metallic-like claws reached down and eased the spiked fur, its amber pelt glowing in the light that peeked through the castle.

“Hush, my pet, it seems as though an interesting development has arisen.”

The Queen glanced at her maids beneath her while raising her hand to rest under her chin, each of the girls feeling the power that radiated from her; it was as if at any moment the Queen would have the excuse to dismiss them all. Her hand weaved through the air as both the phoenix and wild cat morphed into a human form, kneeling before their Queen.

“Mother.”

“Your Majesty.”

Both began to rise with the previously phoenix leaning against the arm of the throne, the cherry feathers ablaze yet unburned tucked behind her ear, while the leopard, now human, crossed her arms. “I still don’t know why I’m stuck as a spotty feline while chicken on fire over there gets to be a majestic firebird.”

The Queen’s eyebrow twitched as they locked gazes, the leopard’s eyes narrowing as she swallowed, realising she probably shouldn’t have complained about her conditions. Yet, the Queen barely flickered an eyelash. Dragana glided her nails around the belt resting above her thighs, sliding her hand into the cylinder compartment and pulling out a rather well-preserved parchment, gaining the attention of her Queen.

“Mother, the strategies for the counter-attacks by the Kings.”

“Well, well. Good work, my little Firebird.”

The Leopard girl started tapping her foot as she raised her arms,

“Why does she always get the praise!? I always stand by your side, my Queen and you hardly ever say anything to me for wha-”

Faster than a wink of an eye, the atmosphere changed around them as the Queen spoke without a hint of resentment, yet chills still slithered down every member of the audience’s spines. “My Poor Kittyosis...Are you jealous? Fear not, my little pet. Dragana may be my daughter, but you? Are my security, my special spotted knight.”

Kittyosis felt a boiling flush flood her cheeks as she leaned down to the Queen, not caring if the emotion in her eyes was fake or not; Kittyosis felt pride in knowing that she was valued, that she was a hero, at least in her mind. The space between them closed as the Queen grazed her fingers through the distressed kitten’s hair, the metallic claws encasing her hand almost scraping in the result.

“Who do you serve?”

“My Queen Thorn.”

A ghost of a smirk appeared across Thorn’s face before she raised her hand to every other maid, dismissing them, wanting only for her two accessories to be alongside her. When alone, she twisted her hand, the sounds of branches crackling like bones being crunched beneath stomping boots, not even Dragana or Kittyosis could resist the instinct to react. Queen Thorn, however, stared as a table weaved itself with lifeless branches to create a table in front of the three. The plans of the rival kingdoms are being spread across it, exposing plots of poisoning, assassinating and having a spy infiltrate the empire.

Chuckling quickly turning to a cackle emitted throughout the room rooted from the Queen, her face lifting slightly as the emotionless eyes seemed to spark with amusement. The aroma of earthy roots started to fade as the branches began to unwind, leaving the paper parchment to fall into Thorn’s hand, only to crunch it into a ball and throw it into a fireplace.

“Let them try their ultimately useless plans; they will dance in flames before they can even realise who the Devil is.”

Hours had dwindled by as the Queen had declared to allow the kings of the Five Empires to carry their scheme through, even though Dragana trusted the Queen with every fibre of her being, she still tread carefully towards her.

“Mother...I mean no offence, but I am confused. Why are you allowing the kings to enter our sanctuary?”

The Queen waved her hand, the fire that had gently flickered and given a soft glow was now raging, almost reaching out to dance with their gowns. The softness that had shone on the Queen was now a bright blaze that illuminated the crown upon her head, her eyes narrowing into the fire.

“You think I, and to an extension, my power is immortal, for nor do I know of the fate that will befall me.”

Dragana felt as if the skin of a snake brushed against her skin all over at the thought of the Queen perishing; every soul would be condemned to the hands of death. The words nibbled at the back of her mind, the sounds of clinking metal breaking the silence as the Queen’s hand tucked back the strands of starless-sky hair behind Dragana’s ear.

“Let them come into their belief of Hell, you will stoke the fire to feast on their flesh should they lay a fingerprint upon any within.”

Not a second flew by as Dragana bowed her head and left the hall, the women behind the door all stepping back and began to relax. The only one left behind in the hall by the Queen was the silent advisor, her eyes staring into Queen Thorn’s back. “Do you think me a fool?”

“Of course not, your majesty, I believe this is the best course of action. Remove the kings from their strongholds and weaken their command while in your domain...Though I do feel obligated to mention how the ladies will react to the kings and I worry for their mental states...”

A hand raised, silencing the advisor as the Queen turned to her side, a sharp iciness within her eyes, but it wasn’t anger nor resentment.

“Do not fret, Amelie, for as I told Dragana, no harm shall befall any under my rule. They are protected even now, unaware.” Waves of fatigue washed over the Queen’s face as she stood back from the fire, yet her beauty did not waver. “Assemble a minor group of women, while the kings enter my empire and I keep them here to let them carry out their plans, you and those under your little command will free as many of the rest of the women in those ‘Empires’ as you can. Bring them Sanctuary.”

The Silent Advisor had seconds of shock pass over her face before nodding, not only had she been allowed to take her training to the frontlines as a commander for her Queen, but realised just another example of the Queen’s intuitions. Once the advisor had rushed out the door after bowing in gratitude, the Queen allowed herself a moment of solitude.

Flashes of scarlet blood scattered around everywhere she looked tormented her mind, the smell of decaying flesh burning the back of her nose. A sense of dread filled the Queen’s chest that, after a minute, she managed to push down, her eyes stinging. The Queen’s eyes drifted back to the throne, a feeling starting to rise within the depths of her chest that swirled in an uncontrollable storm.

Each step felt powerful, the air stirring with power that breathed through her skin.

The clinking of the metal claws on her hand echoed as she reached for the concealed right shoulder, pulling a claw deep across it. Not even a sound left her lips as little droplets of blood floated from the wound, there were nine and one by one they flew by;

One landed by her feet onto a cracked skull.

One danced to the bright flames.

One dropped onto the coolness of the soil.

One shot up into the sky, followed closely.

One rushed to a thunder cloud nearby.

One glided to the water of the fountain.

One rose to the sun above.

One slinked into the shadows.

One slid out the door and landed on Dragana.

The Queen’s face relaxed as soon as the last droplet of warm blood touched Dragana; in an instant, she felt rejuvenated. A tingle like pins and needles radiated from the wound that stitched itself back together, a light scar being left in its place permanently.

Knocking filled the room. One of the maids entered and bowed. “The kings have departed, your highness. Shall I inform the kitchen to prepare a feast?”

For a moment, there was a silence before a sly grin covered the Queen’s face, her eyes gleaming.

“Yes. Prepare a feast, then summon an assembly of everyone within the kingdom, let us revel in the king’s disdain of our culture.”

“As you wish, your majesty.”