45 Years Ago

  The air smelled of burnt wood and death. The year was 301 and Arla was in ruin. The Hallow War was ravaging the lands, luring Incarnates and soldiers to their deaths. Kingdoms had been destroyed, treaties were broken, and new alliances were formed. Godly power had been unleashed in the skies and on the mainland.

  It was in the wee hours of a morning, near the end of war, when Queen Shioban decided to put on the armor like the ones who came before and enter the war herself.

  As the Isle Queen and Incarnate of the Goddess Skyra, she knew there was no better way to make her presence known than riding the serpent sea beast Scoro into war. Skyra’s first born. The beast breathed and expelled light.

  Shioban was standing at the edge of the Thalassia Sea where Scoro rested, in the finest armor crafted from the finest steel, when she was joined by her brother Prince Fero.

  The young prince was panting, clearly out of breath from running down the sandhill.

  “Shioban.” He gasped, crouching over. “We cannot win this war. You need to rethink this.”

  Earlier that day, Fero objected to his sister’s decision to enter in front of the council but was quickly overruled by the queen. The youngest of five, he worshiped his sister.

  “Shioban, do you hear me? You cannot do this.”

  Shioban’s gaze remained fixed on the land that sat on the other side of the sea. The vast land was shrouded in smoke and silence.

  “Cinna just reduced the entire West to ashes.” He continued, furiously. “They say her mind and body are no longer hers, as if she is possessed. The war has been lost, my sister.”

  Cinna was the Incarnate of the God Fyr, the God of Fire, and last queen of the Kingdom of Flames and Inferno.

  “Cinna is not my enemy.” Shioban responded flatly. “She is at war with Stefan, not I.”

  Fero stepped in front of Shioban. “We don’t know who Cinna’s enemies are. For all we know, she could know about the Crown.”

  “That’s why I must go.” Shioban shouted, waving her arms in the air. “Find the missing pieces before someone else.”

  Just like her ancestors, Shioban was told the legends of the mystical Crown of Judgement once worn by the desert queen Andelusia.

  Fero turned his head to the side. “And what if it’s all a lie?”

  Shioban grabbed her brother’s chin and roughly turned it towards her.

  Her heavy rings gifted by their mother glimmered in the darkness. “What are you saying?”

  Fero shrugged his shoulders “What if Andelusia destroyed it before she died? What if this has been for nothing? The war has already gotten out of hand.”

  Shioban dropped his chin and rolled her eyes.

  “I’m serious, Shioban.”

  “What do you want me to do?” Shioban asked loudly. “Pull our people out and betray the desert.”

  Shioban shook her head aggressively.

  “It’s too late for that, brother.”

  “What about your daughter?”

  Shioban’s body froze. “I’m doing this for her.”

  Fero waved her off. “You’re doing this for your ego.”

  Shioban pushed her brother to the side and stepped into the clear waters.

  “You cannot do this to your family.” Fero cried loudly, eyes welling. “The Mountain King is dead. What if you’re next?”

  Shioban stopped moving and looked over her shoulder.

  There was no joy nor pride in her face, only sadness. “May the life I’ve lived and love grant me into Gardenia then.”

  Then she dived into the deep sea.

  Six minutes passed before Shioban re-emerged on the back of the sea beast Scoro, whose eyes were glowing a soft yellow.

  “My soldiers need me.” She said softly, while gripping Scoro’s huge blue scales. “He needs me.”

  “Prest?” The Desert King.

  “I made a promise.” She continued. “Prest and I will win this war. We’ll find the remaining pieces of the crown together.”

  A small, shy smile then tugged at the corners of her lips.

  “My love is out there and I miss him, Fero.”

  Fero let out a huge sigh. “There is no stopping you, is there?”

  “I’m afraid not.” She answered softly. “I love you, Fero.”

  Suddenly, a pain shot through Shioban’s chest. It was as if her heart was actually tearing into two as her ribs contorted.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  The queen let out a wailing cry, causing Scoro to shake.

  “Sister!” Fero shouted.

  “My Dryna, er est part.” She murmured. My love, he is gone.

  Suddenly a burst of light erupted from the center of her chest, lighting the entire night sky.

  ***

  Present Day

  “Did you miss me, Stefan?” Shioban asked, still holding a knife to Cara’s throat.

  Stefan couldn’t move. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

  With a snap of his fingers, torches mounted on the walls suddenly blazed and light filled the room.

  “Impossible.” He gasped, shaking his head. “A spirit, are you?”

  Shioban grinned wide, showing a mouth full of pearly white teeth. “In the flesh, actually.”

  Stefan sat his sister Yolana in the corner before turning his attention back towards Shioban.

  “You stt—ill….” He stuttered.

  “Look the same, I know.”

  Shioban’s face was strangely free of wrinkles for a person who was born over seventy years ago. The once Isle queen was wearing a long blue skirt adorned with white flowers at the hem and a white tunic. Her hair was piled atop her head in a bun, just how she wore it when she was just an Isle Princess.

  “What are you?” Stefan asked again, frowning. “You cannot be real.”

  A thread of magic was suddenly at his fingertips, swirling his fingers.

  Shioban noticed immediately. “Put away the magic, Stefan.”

  Instead, Stefan snapped his fingers.

  But nothing happened, leaving him stunned. The king stumbled backwards.

  Cara’s eyes widened.

  “Your magic is futile here, I’m afraid.” Shioban said, chuckling to herself.

  Stefan composed himself and began walking towards the two women.

  Shioban flicked her free wrist in his direction, throwing him against the wall. “Sit!”

  “Stef.” Cara choked, teary eyed.

  Shioban tightened her grip on the knife held against Cara’s throat.

  “I’ve been watching you both from the skies..” She began, gesturing between the two with her fingers. “but I’m still not sold on whatever this is. So tell me Stefan, do you love her?”

  Stefan, sitting in the corner, didn’t respond. Instead, he snapped his fingers again.

  Nothing happened again.

  He tried again.

  Nothing happened.

  Visibly stunned, Stefan slowly raised himself off the floor. “What is this?”

  There was a shakiness in his tone.

  “Answer the question.” Shioban shouted instead. “Do you love her?”

  Stefan nodded slowly. “Let her go, Shioban. This is between us.”

  “Do you love her like you loved Rosar? Princess Jolial?” Then Shioban laughed. “Love her like my sister?”

  Cara’s breath hitched.

  “Let her go, Shioban.” Stefan said again, fists clenched by his side.

  “I’ll think about it.” She answered, smirking. “Do you not want to ask me questions?”

  Stefan took a small step forward.

  “Where have you been, Shioban? I thought you were dead.” She continued in a mocking tone, gazed fixed onto Stefan. “I liked what you’ve done with the palace. It’s much better than the last time I was here.”

  Stefan took another forward. “We can talk after you let Cara go.”

  Shioban stepped backwards, forcing Cara with her. “We are going to talk whenever I want to talk.”

  “Let. Her. Go.”

  “Or what?” Shioban laughed, before her face turned serious. “I’m going to kill her, Stefan.”

  A tear escaped Cara’s left eye. Her heart was beating as hard as a heart could.

  “I’m going to skin her alive…” She said coldly. “and you are going to watch.”

  Cara let out a whimper.

  “But not today.” She admitted. “You took my Dryna so I’m going to take someone you love.”

  Stefan pressed his lips together. “I’m not the one who sent your husband to war.”

  Shioban tightened her grip on the knife against Cara’s throat, drawing a bit of blood this time.

  Cara began to feel lightheaded.

  “You want to say that again, Stefan.”

  “Just let her go.” Stefan sighed.

  Shioban tilted her head to the side. “You smell of desperation. That’s not the Stefan I knew long ago.”

  “Drop the knife, Shioban!” Stefan shouted, causing the entire room to shake.

  Several paintings quickly fell to the floor.

  “Fine.” Shioban snapped, then dropped her knife. “Since you don’t want to play, how about I try something else?

  Shioban grabbed Cara by the throat and lifted her into the air.

  Stefan started to run towards them but Shioban flung him against the wall again.

  “Stef!” Cara cried.

  Shioban squeezed Cara’s throat harder.

  “When I kill her, I’m going to make sure you’re there watching.”

  “Enough!” Stefan spat. With a flick of his wrist, Stefan summoned the magic within his chest and hurled a knife into Shioban’s midsection.

  “That tickled.” Shioban laughed.

  “What has become of you?” Stefan gasped, clearly distraught. “You are not the Shioban I knew.”

  Suddenly, the door swung open and the three were joined by Prince Mel. The ladies were only a few steps behind.

  Everyone was rendered speechless seeing Shioban in the flesh.

  Olara and Dara, the last two to walk in, let out a loud gasp. “It can’t be.”

  Shioban whipped her head in their direction, still holding Cara by the throat.

  When she recognized them, she began to grin. “You two!”

  Before she could say anything else, Stefan hurled another knife in Shioban’s direction.

  To his surprise, that knife disintegrated into white dust.

  “What are you?” He gasped, shaking his head.

  “Azeri.” Cara choked, arms flailing by her sides.

  Dara and Olara glanced at each other.

  Is it you, Azeri?” Stefan asked.

  Shioban frowned. “I’m not Azeri. I have no idea who that is.”

  “Out!” Stefan shouted suddenly. “Everyone out!”

  “No, I’ll go.” Shioban said quickly, then aggressively dropped Cara to the floor. “While this was fun, I have to get back. My granddaughter is not going to be happy with me.”

  “Sharra knows you’re alive?” Stefan asked, eyes narrowed.

  Shioban nodded.

  “Does she know you’re here?”

  “Of course not.” Shioban answered. “I’ve been a prisoner in my own palace for days but she did tell me everything I needed to know.”

  Stefan didn’t entirely believe her.

  “The secrets, the lies.” Shioban added, before turning on her heels. “You should probably tell your son the truth about his mother.”

  Prince Mel whipped his head in the direction of his father. “What?”

  Stefan gave his head a quick shake.

  When Shioban reached the main door, she looked over her shoulder where Cara, Stefan, and Prince Mel were standing.

  “I did miss you, old friend.” She said softly, before turning her gaze on Cara. “See you soon, dear.”