What is with me? I leave this story dead for over a year... and now I'm suddenly back into it again! Well, at least it will finally get finished. Not in this chapter, but relatively soon. I've got some nice stuff going on now that I actually know what I want to do with it. lol
Disclaimer: I don't own Treasure Planet or any of the characters. Gale and Renee belong to Solaris Prime. I have all other OCs.
The nine of us were led through the halls of the large, extravagant palace in which the queen of Merkitan resided. Jim and I were at the head of the group, followed immediately by Gale and Renee. Behind them were Ebony, Ari, Nyssa, Willow and Tobias. Guards flanked us on either side and I found myself eyeing them as cautiously as they were watching us. I didn't trust them, not with the knowledge that their queen had likely stolen my daughter from me. A large pair of doors opened for us and we were escorted into what appeared to be their queen's throne room.
The woman seated before us was beautiful, without a doubt. She was tall and slender, with skin as pale as ivory. She didn't appear to have the muscle I'd toned in my line of work, but something told me she never really had to fight. Her long, golden hair was braided gracefully and, from what I could see, her eyes were the deepest blue I'd seen in years. But I didn't care about her appearance, or even the maroon gown she wore. My gaze was focused solely what she was holding: my daughter. My gaze darkened as my hands clenched into fists at my side.
"Am I to assume you are the ones I have been waiting on?" the queen asked, her voice smooth as silk. I resisted the urge to scowl at her complacency.
"We're here to take back Siren," Jim answered firmly. The woman's features altered slightly and she appeared both surprised and pleased.
"Is that this child's name?"
Siren squirmed in the queen's arms, reaching out towards Jim and me with pleading eyes. It broke my heart to be forced to stand where I was. Every fiber in my body wanted to leap across the room, steal my daughter back and kill the woman who had taken her from me. But I knew her guards would be on me before I could do such a thing.
"Momma!" Siren cried and my jaw clenched as my heart broke a little more.
"Give me my daughter back," I growled. "Hand over Siren and we'll give you the Stone of Knowledge."
"I'm afraid it isn't that simple, my queen," a male voice said and my eyes widened as I glanced around frantically for the speaker. No… it wasn't possible. He should have been dead. I felt an earth shattering fear strike through me when the Lupine-Canid stepped out from around the corner nearest the queen's throne. It was Pathos.
"Son of a…" Gale growled under his breath. I could feel the rage coming off him in waves. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I was a bit surprised I could feel his emotions again. It meant my gift was no longer being blocked by grief. An inquisitive expression crossed the queen's features as she looked to Pathos.
"What are you speaking of, Pathos?" she asked.
"You see, my queen, the Stone of Knowledge cannot grant eternal youth without the proper ritual. We must offer that which lives in death," he answered. My jaw clenched again as I recognized that phrase. It was the same thing I'd heard back on Desetra. But just what was meant to be offered to the stone? I still didn't know the answer. "And, frankly, the younger it is the better your results." At this, even the queen seemed surprised. What did she know that we didn't?
"You failed to tell me of this detail before." Her tone was now disapproving. Pathos smiled in a placating manner.
"Merely because I wanted to ensure you had the stone first. All our efforts would have been in vain if Ember hadn't brought the artifact."
"You know this woman personally?"
His wicked grin gave me a chill down my spine. "We go back."
"I'll kill you!" I screamed and lunged forward, only to be held back by Jim. I was shocked and angry at my husband, but he held firm despite my harsh glares. "Let go, Jim! I'm going to make him pay for what he's done!" In the corner of my vision, I could see Tobias and Renee holding back Gale as he seethed. He looked ready to rip the wolf-like man apart with his bare hands if need be.
"Such barbaric nature. As you can see, my queen, the child is much better off without such kin raising her." My head snapped back in his direction. Pathos' eyes narrowed at me and he nodded at the guards, who quickly moved in. "Restrain them." Jim's hand finally left my arm, symbolically unleashing a mother bear on anything standing between her and her cub. I supposed that analogy was fitting, considering my father's were Ursids.
I struck the nearest guard first, pulling out the gun at my hip and shooting him without hesitation. I wasn't sure if he would die from the wound, but I didn't particularly care at the moment. My only thought was on getting my daughter back, and away from that monster. As my feet pounded across the marble floor if the throne room, I could hear more gunfire, as well as the crackling of a fire. My gaze remained on Siren as she cried out for Jim and me. I lifted my gun and aimed it at the queen's head.
"Let her go, or I'll shoot!" My focus was so much on the queen and my daughter that I'd missed Pathos' disappearance from their side. He came into view only seconds later, pouncing on me and pinning my arms above my head. The gun fell from my hands and I heard it skid across the marble. Pathos stared down at me and I could feel the fear rising up in me again.
"Ember!" Gale and Jim yelled in unison, but I didn't dare glance away from the Lupine-Canid over me.
"Make another move, and I'll ensure you shall never see your child again," Pathos growled. I don't think I took a breath.
"You won't lay a damned finger on her," I hissed. Pathos glanced away from me for a second and a hand from one of the guards came into my field of vision. It took the Stone of Knowledge from around my neck and I watched my captor's wicked grin widen. I struggled against his grip, but his weight held me down.
"You don't know what the stone requires, do you? It demands that we off that which lives in death. We must offer it a soul. That is the key to eternal youth."
"And just who do you plan to offer?" The low chuckle that came from the back of his throat frightened me. What was he planning? I could tell this was about revenge for what had happened on Ementia. What more could he possibly do to me?
"You darling little daughter."
I could have sworn my heart stopped in that moment.
I couldn't resist. I mean, that's really the worst thing Pathos could possibly to do hurt Ember, and he knows it. Please R&R.
