"You must hide. I’m afraid you are both trapped here forever.”
Ayesha shook her head. “No. No this can’t be. There must be something we can do.”
Her mother grabbed her shoulders and gritted her teeth. “You must not let her out Ayesha. She will kill everyone in her path starting with you.”
“And you.” Ayesha whispered.
“I don’t care about my life. I only want you to be safe.” Her mother opened the door. “I will leave you both here and arm you with a cloaking spell. No one will ever find you. I’ll return when it’s safe.”
Ayesha watched her mother walk away from her. She placed a hand on the door. At least she tried to. Her hand bounced back and she hissed as if she’d been given an electric shock.
“We have to get out of here!” Ayesha kicked a chair near her and turned to Eddie still half laid on the floor. “Are you okay?”
“Never better.” Despite the sarcasm, they both shared a small smile. “How are we going to get out if she has spelled the place?“
Ayesha stood and tried to press her palm against the door again, fighting against the spell trying to repel her. “She is my mother; I must have some of her DNA in me. I should be able to break through it.” She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, reaching out a hand again, this time imagining burning a hole through it in her mind. Her eyes tightened as she focused on the image in her head. “Come on!” She gritted her teeth and suddenly pulled away as the force edged her backwards. “Argh!”
“Maybe we should just wait for your mother to return.”
Ayesha turned to Eddie. “How will that help?” She sunk to the floor and attempted to lean back against the door, suddenly being shunted forward. “Stupid fucking door.” She rested her chin in her hands.
“Well, unless you can break through that spell, we aren’t going anywhere.” Eddie managed to sit up and faced Ayesha properly. “Do you even believe you can break it?”
“What?”
“You said you should be able to; not that you could.” Eddie moved forward and took Ayesha’s handin his. “If you want to break through that door, you need to believe that you have the power to do so.”
“Do you believe I can do it?”
Eddie smiled. “Of course! Plus, it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to happen today.”
Ayesha let out a little laugh and turned to face the door. “Okay, let’s do this.” She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes again.I am Ayesha Costa del Paia (apparently not Collins) and I believe. This is my kingdom and I have the power to save it, but I need out of here. Let my power rise and break open this door!
Ayesha raised her hand as the thoughts flowed through her and she pushed against the force trying to resist, determined she would get through. As she felt the resistance loosen, she pushed more and eventually felt her hand slip through a gap. A loud bang caused her to open her eyes and the door swung back, revealing the open land to them.
“Finally!” Ayesha stood and ran out the door. “Come on, Eddie, we have to go.” She went back and pulled him out of the door. “Which way did we come from?”
Eddie smiled. “This way.” He led them up back up the path, hoping they would make it out before they got caught.
They had barely made a start when Eddie was pulled back, held tightly in place by a guard and Ayesha was surrounding by four others.
“You will come with us. You must release our Queen!”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because she must be free.” A guard grabbed her arm. “And if you want to leave this place, you must do as we say.” His face was so close to hers she tried to lean back for space. “Replacing the cup of Arancia, will not only release Queen Adriana from her sleep, but it will also return our kingdom to the surface and then you will be free to leave.”
Ayesha looked back at Eddie. He shook his head. ‘Don’t’. He mouthed, but she ignored him. It was her fault they were both here. They needed to get out and if the only way to do that was to replace some cup then she would. Even if meant releasing some queen. Her sister. Her sister she didn’t remember. She didn’t remember a lot about this place. Maybe returning everything to its former glory would bring back her memories.
“Okay.” Ayesha agreed. “But you will release my friend and let him walk of his own free will.”
The leader gave the nod and Eddie stood on his own two feet. “Follow me.” He turned abruptly and led them back towards the palace. Before they reached the entrance, they made a turn and stopped outside what appeared to be a marble barn. “Your family crypt.” He opened the door and nodded for Ayesha to go ahead.
Ayesha stepped inside, more marble surrounding her. A coffin lay ahead of her, sealed shut. As she moved closer, she noticed there was no engraving on it to suggest who was inside. Yet, she had a feeling she already knew.
“You will replace the cup.” A guard appeared at her side.
When she took it, she realised it was the same one she had seen in the water; the one Eddie only saw once she touched it. She twirled it around in her hands, wondering where it was supposed to go, when she noticed the groove at the base of the coffin. Ayesha took a breath in, knowing what she was about to do; who she was about to release.
As the cup slotted into place, the jewels started to glow. Beams of light surrounding the coffin bouncedoff the walls illuminating the jewels hidden within the crypt.
“Wow!” Ayesha whispered to herself. She stepped back and bumped into Eddie.
A loud clickstole their attention and as the lid of the coffin started to slide open, Ayesha and Eddie were promptly pushed out of the crypt and the door shut them out.
“I guess I did my bit.”
“What happens now?” Eddie asked, trying to listen through the door.
“Now, we are all going to die.”
Ayesha turned to find her mother stood behind her. "What have you done Ayesha?” She walked to the crypt and pulled the door open without even touching it. The three of them walked inside to an empty chamber and an empty coffin. “We must get back to the palace. Now!” She took Ayesha’s hand and set off back up the path, Eddie soon following behind.
“Ayesha look.” Eddie called out as they neared the gates and pointed just across the coastline. “The island has risen from the water."
Ayesha looked across the edge as they walked and spotted something still floating in the water. “And there’s our boat.” She let out a small laugh.
“Yes, it’s great that our kingdom is now back in its original place, but you also awoke something far too dangerous to be let out.” Her mother topped and faced her. “How could you? After everything I said? Yes, we were trapped underwater but at least we were alive without dangering our people. Now, we will be lucky if we survive this.”
“Isn’t that a little dramatic?” Eddie asked.
“You try being forced to sleep for a hundred years and then see how you feel when you wake up.” Her mother looked at him. “This isn’t a joke. Adriana will do anything to rule this kingdom, no matter who gets hurt or dies along the way. She can’t control her powers. She is driven by fear, anger and death. If she kills, she will get stronger and we will never be able to fight her.” She looked to Ayesha. “This is where I look to you and tell you that you must fix this.”
“What?”
“You let her out; you share the same blood. Only you can end this.”
“Are you asking me to kill my own sister? A person I don’t even know?"
“You do know her; you just can’t remember. When you unlock the powers within you, those memories will come back.”
“I don’t think so!”
Ayesha recognised the voice immediately. She turned to see Adriana stood on the rock nearest the gates to the palace, her red eyes gleaming and blond hair flowing behind her. She looked every bit a goddess as she stood there. An evil one, but a goddess all the same.
“You see her eyes, that’s the power taking over and burning up who she used to be.” Her mother whispered by her side.
“I am awakened and I will resume my place as your Queen.”
“You will not!” Their mother stepped forward and held out her hands as if to send some kind of spell at Adriana, but nothing seemed to happen.
“SILENCE MOTHER!” Adriana shot her hands out and blasted her backwards along the ground.
“No!” Ayesha ran to her side and helped her sit up.
“Ah, my little sister. We meet again. What’s it been, a thousand years?” Adriana seemed to glide off the rock and over to them. “Thank you for letting me out. I may have reason to spare you life after all.”
‘What do you want?” Ayesha found some strength to stand. “How could you kill our own father? Just because you couldn’t have the throne?”
“Killing our dear father was because I could. I have the power to destroy all and take all. Everything here is now mine! I own all the land, all the jewels and most importantly all the people. Anyone who dares defy me, will cease to live.” She smiled and let out a high pitched laugh that echoed around them. “That includes you and your friend here.”
“Adriana, please stop this. Let us help you.” Their mother had struggled to do so, but managed to stand again. “We can all rule this land together.”
“NO!” She shouted, her rage blazing in her eyes. “The throne is mine and if you or my little sister dare to get in my way, I will kill you both now where you stand!”
“If you had wanted to kill them, you would have done that already.” Eddie dared to speak catching her attention.
“This one is clever. Seize him. He shall be my servant for as long as I rule this land.” Two guards pulled Eddie with them, as they followed Adriana back to the palace.
“Eddie!” Ayesha started to move, her hand outstretched but her mother stopped her. “I have to save him. It’s my fault he is here.”
“Stop, child. He will be quite safe. For now, we must figure out a way for you to defeat her and stop this.”
Ayesha pulled back. “How am I supposed to do that? I don’t have any powers like you.”
“Yes, you do. You just need to believe.”
Ayesha was reminded of Eddie telling her the same when she needed to unlock the door. She had to save him and she would keep his words with her until she did.“Okay. What’s the plan?”
***
Ayesha entered the throne room, hoping that this plan would work. She had been over it several times with her mother but now that she actually had to go through with it, she wasn’t sure she would remember every step.
“Ah, Ayesha you have come to join us, I see.” Adriana sat upon the throne.
When Ayesha saw Eddie sat on the floor beside her, she felt herself fill with rage. “Let him go.”
Adriana smiled. “No.”
“I said…” Ayesha moved closer, her voice getting stronger. “Let him go!”
“And I said, no.” Adriana smiled again and stepped down from her throne. “You know, if you want to be threatening and scare me you’re going to have to try harder than that.”
Ayesha moved closer. “Let him go, or I will be forced to make you.”
“Ooh, that’s really scary.” Adriana laughed and turned to back to her throne, but she couldn’t move. “What are you doing? You don’t have powers. You can’t have, if you’ve lived away from here for a thousand years.”
“Oh, but I do. I just didn’t know it until a few hours ago.” Ayesha circled her. “They have been buried deep, but it seems with a little motivation and belief, I was able to find them.” She twisted her hand and forced Adriana around on the spot to face her, the throne gleaming behind them. “I can’t let you take over the throne Adriana. You can’t just kill people when you don’t get your way, life doesn’t work like that. You didn’t prove to our parents why you should have got the throne; you only showed them why you shouldn’t have it even more.” She drew both hands down in front of Adriana and a silvery veil surrounded her.
Adriana pushed her hand against it, but it forced her back. “No, no! You can’t do this! How dare you trap your Queen! Guards!”
“You’ll find your guards are temporarily incapacitated at the moment. It’s just me and you sis.” She reached for her pocket for a bottle. “Well, and this.”
Adriana’s face fell at the sight of the purple liquid in her hand. Her red eyes started to dull. “No, please. I need my powers. Without my powers I am nothing.” She shook her head as Ayesha came closer. “No!” She tried to move back. “NO!” She screamed and shattered the veil holding her in. “Did you really think I was scared of you?” Adriana squared up to Ayesha. “I am the ruler of this world and you will follow my command. You can not defeat me!” She raised her hand and tried to force Ayesha back but she didn’t move.
“Give it up, Adriana!” Ayesha moved forward and held her sister in place without touching her. “You will never rule this land as long as I am alive.” She shoved the bottle into her mouth and Adriana slowly fell to the floor, her eyes closed.
Ayesha turned and released Eddie. “You okay?”
“I think so.” He nodded.
“You should go."
“What about you?”
Ayesha looked back at her sister. “I have to stay here. I need to find out more about my family and what happened to me. I belong here.” She smiled. “But, you know where to find me.”
Eddie smiled back. “That’s true.” He hugged her tight, their teacher student relationship a thing of the past. As he pulled back, he looked at her. “Take care of this kingdom.”
Ayesha nodded. “I will.” She helped him to stand. “And don’t be a stranger.”
“I won’t.”
Ayesha watched him walk away, wondering if she would ever see him again.
but for now, the once lost, not awakened, Kindgom of Arancia was where she needed to be.
Thank you for reading!
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