Author's Note: Guess whose back! Mysti Queen or Mystical V, as most know me. I'm so sorry it took me so long but my clumsy cousin busted up my old computer. Therefore, I had no means of finishing the story, which now I have to pick up from scratch. I had all my ideas ready to go, and now I have to try and remember all of them. What a pain? First she broke my computer and just a few days ago tore my favorite belt apart. She's not a toddler or anything; she's ten and its fun hanging out with her until she's cracks one of my things. Anyway, I'm back and ready for action. Unfortunately, now I have to use school computers since mine isn't hooked up to the internet yet. Anyway, thanks to everyone for once again picking this story up after so long. That means so much to me! Love ya! Don't forget to leave a beautiful review for me! Thanx!

Chapter 10: Mariasha's Wrath

I ran down to the palace throne room and stopped at the doorway. I didn't want Jericho to leave…not after it seemed that we were finally starting to connect. When I was with him, I felt like I had nothing to worry about (except Father, of course) and that nothing else mattered in the world but what I felt and my views. I had never felt that before…I had never felt so free. That was Jericho's gift to me and I couldn't just let my dear prize drift away do to the duties the gods have cursed me with.

Father and Mother stood together before their thrones. Mother had her head bowed and her eyes caught my presence. It was a gaze of mixed pity and apology. Mother…I knew she didn't want to do this…but a piece of me was angry at her, too. She wasn't doing anything to help me, or so I thought. After all, she claimed for so long her desire to see her children happy, and here she was hesitantly snatching my love away from me. It wasn't right. It didn't feel right.

"Your Majesties," Mariasha bowed before my parents. Jericho followed behind her, dragging a semi-long distance away. My heart thumped at his presence. Could he see me from here? I'd do anything to have him stare at me once again with those sea foaming blue eyes. I want to drown into him, but my thoughts were snapped by Mariasha's continued talk. "You've summoned me and I have come. What is it you would like me to do?"

Mother looked up at Father with her big, brown eyes as he stepped forward, the fiery determination and attitude that he usually carried with him was apparent. It was a mistake to defy him, I can admit that now, but I did what I had to do. I stood up for myself…but I can't say I don't completely regret my actions.

Fire was burning ablaze like hell itself deep within my chest as well and I was ready to act, and that passion would be my sword and shield in this battle.

Father continued with his business. "Mariasha…appreciate what you have done to keep the palace in order, but I am afraid that I won't need your services much longer."

Mariasha's expression almost instantly transformed from insincere nobility to honest rage. I wasn't surprised…from what Jericho had told me about his aunt, I'd say it was expected. Her stout fists balled up tightly at her sides as she took in Father's words. "And why not, may I be allowed to ask, my Pharaoh?"

"There are certain things that have come to my attention, not just from your nephew, but from your character as well. Therefore, you're released from this job."

Mariasha growled and lowered her head. "Isn't that too bad? Well, it's also too bad seeing how I won't leave…"

Mother growled in return and shook her head. "Who do you think you are? You march in here one day begging and pleading for a job and you snoop around without permission. Your time is up and if you don't leave, we'll make you leave, am I clear?"

Mariasha chuckled and lifted her head. "I like your attitude, Queenie… It's rough when it has to be…but it's a pity how foolish you are…." Mariasha smirked sinisterly. "You can't get rid of me so easily, I'm afraid."

I glared at the woman as well for insulting my mother, but I gasped when I felt someone grasp onto my waist. "Es! You're here!"

I looked down and saw Kitty with her arms wrapped around my thin frame. "Kitty? It's good to see you again."

"You, too," she said brightly. "I was so bored and lonely in my room…" Kitty hushed up when she her eyes gazed straight forward. "What's going on here?"

I turned around and gasped at what I saw. Mariasha was using some kind of dark magic to make the guards fall asleep and hit the ground roughly with their own distinct thuds. I shook my head. "There's something wrong with her."

"Mariasha! What are you doing?" Father demanded, very much steamed at this point.

"I won't go without a fight!" she challenged. "You'll have to fight me if you want to send me away. And I don't mean fist fight or sword fight…I want a good, old fashioned Shadow Game!"

"Shadow Game?" Mother repeated low to herself. "Love, you can't accept. This country has been in peace without that dreaded thing for so long. You're not just going to bring it up for this rat, are you?"

Father shook his head. "Don't worry, Demitria." He focused on the growingly evil woman in front of him. "I can't accept your offer. I won't allow the misfortunes of the past to repeat themselves again."

"Repeating the past is inevitable," Mariasha sneered defiantly. "It'll occur for every generation and for all of your decedents that will follow you tomorrow and long, long after that."

"What are you trying to prove?" Mother asked angrily. Concern was welled in her eyes and she tried to hide it but failed without question.

"You have two choices, either you fight me or you fight me," Mariasha created another dark spell and chanted the mantra under her breath. Before anyone could wonder what its effect would be, Mother began wobbling unsteadily. Father turned to her.

"Demitria? Demitria?"

Kitty gasped and was nearly in tears. "Mama!" Before I could stop her, Kitty dashed over to our mother ironically with the agility of a cat.

"Katra!" I screamed at her. I feared what would happen to her if that evil woman saw her. "Come back!"

"Mama!" Kitty ran beside Mother as we watched in horror when she fell into Father's arms. "Ma!" Kitty stared up at Mother as tears began to pour out of her eternally innocent gleaming eyes.

Kitty's thin fingers brushed back the sweat soaked strands of Mother's black bangs. "Mama, are you okay? Please wake up or nod or do something! Don't scare me!"

Father gently placed Mother on the ground. Kitty kneeled down and held Mother's hand tightly. "Papa…what happened?"

"She's just asleep," he said, trying to keep the worry out of his voice. "She's fine, Katra…don't cry."

"It's worse than that," Mariasha scorned cruelly. "This is only the beginning, but soon you'll see."

Kitty looked up at Mariasha and gasped. Suddenly, she collapsed beside Mother. That's when I gasped, too, and now I was really beginning to panic. "Kitty! Don't fool around this isn't funny!"

I ran over to my family and crouched beside both my mother and my little sister. "Father…they're both asleep! What's going to happen to them?"

"This was all apart of my plan all along," Mariasha grinned. "You'll be nothing without those you care for. The both of you are alone now. The only real rays of light that shone in your life were these two…and now they're gone. The both of you are not only connected as father and daughter, but because your spirits are closely connected to the Shadow Realm. You think alike and you act alike…forever stubborn and resistant…until today…I'll break the both of you and send you into the Shadow Realm where you belong. And then you're family will soon follow!"

I gazed over at Jericho. He was trying to keep a solemn face, not wearing any emotions on his face. He was empty and barren…what happened to the eyes of the boy I once knew? Or was he just a boy I thought I knew? I felt betrayed…why didn't he stop her? Why didn't he tell me more so I could prevent this from happening? Father was right…but now wasn't the time for me to reveal my weakness…my only true weakness…

"I think I'll just enjoy taking you down one by one," Mariasha bantered. "But just so that they don't somehow get away and so you don't forget what's at stake here…" Mariasha lifted her hands and Mother and Kitty suddenly began floating in large circles of dark magic. I stepped away and shook my head.

"No! Stop this!" I shouted. "Please, let them go!" I wasn't paying attention to anything else right then and I gasped suddenly when I found my own dark circle enveloping me.

"No!" Father screamed as my head hung wearily. I struggled to hold it up and for a while, everything seemed to get blurry and dark, as if I were departing into a deep sleep.

"Jericho…" As seconds passed and faded out, I would see him, his face, or his memories flash before my eyes and as my lips emitted his name, calling out for his help, but I feared it would never come. It felt so painfully true…he betrayed me and he never loved me…I can't believe he left me behind…how could he? How could he…?

Five seconds hadn't even passed by when I was weakly brought back by the desperate sound of his voice. "PRINCESS!"

I struggled to lift my somnolent head up, or at least my dropping eyes. Jericho dashed past his cruel aunt and darted over to my darkness. He lifted his arms and smashed through the darkness after crying out a counter spell. Darkness shattered around me and I feel into his arms. "…What are you doing…here?" I asked in a hushed whisper.

"I can't let this happen to you, Princess," he said warmly. "You've treated me better than anyone, even if at times you were cold. You still had patience…and you make me feel like magic. Please…trust in me and I won't let you down. I won't allow that woman to harm your family."

I smiled at him weakly. "…I trust you…" I didn't know where that trust came from, but it was revived in me.

"Jericho? What do you think you're doing you fool?" Mariasha blared at him.

I slowly let myself sit on the ground as Jericho turned around to face her. "I won't let you do this!" he defied. "You not going to harm Princess Esther or anyone else and I'll make sure of it!"

"Do you forget where you come from? I took you with me and let you get yourself a job and this is how you thank me?"

"I have nothing to thank you for," he growled. "All my life, you've only brought me pain. When you brought me here…now personally that's the only thing I should be grateful for. If I never came here, I would have never met this intelligent, powerful, and beautiful woman. I would have never found where my true happiness lies…and I won't let you take that from me! Of all the rewards in life you snatched, this one is too precious for you to dispose at your whim!"

I was moved and Father stood there silently for a moment. He snapped out of the compassion growing within him and roared. "What did you come here for?"

"Simple," Mariasha explained. "I have many memories of my past and the past with you and your foolish wife, Pharaoh. I know a lot about you and that woman. I know where she came from and her methods of conquering your heart. She married you and you tossed every other concubine out your door. And there was one that really desired to be with you…and as of that day you abandoned her after showing so much affection, her fondness has soured into rancor."

Father stepped back a bit. "…Who are you? Tell me!"

"I think I should stop playing this game already," Mariasha chuckled. She used her dark magic and her body was enveloped by the darkness. When it emerged, she looked much younger and her body went from being the size of a pyramid to a curvy womanly figure. Her eyes were clear blue and beautiful, yet withholding deep, fiery, sinister anger. Her face was smooth and free of wrinkles and blemishes, and her hair went from nappy to soft and shiny. Who was she? I stood up slowly as my strength slowly began to return to me. I was shocked.

Father gasped and Mariasha's laughter grew colder.

"Is the original version of myself too much to take?" she bantered. She spun around showing off her body. "I am such a beauty like this. It's a shame what twenty years can do to a woman like me. Do you recognize who I am? Honestly, you mustn't have forgotten me. I made sure of it."

Father growled at her conceit and playfully insulting words. "You…cursed woman…Latifah…"

"Latifah?" I repeated. The stench of unfathomable hatred was rafting around the throne room. Who's that? I wonder. The inferno flaming in Father's eyes was one like I've never seen before. It was frightening to say the least. Who was she?

"You…I told you never to show your face around her again!" Father was really on fire, his words sharp and harsh and his tone taking suddenly uncompassionate. He really seemed to hate this woman.

"Princess," Latifah began to say turning to me. I guess she must have read the perplexed expression on my face. "I can see you really have no clue who I am. If your mother knew about me, she'd probably have a drastic raise in her blood pressure. But just so you know who I am, I'll just say it."

My eyes were fearful. I had a feeling something was about to hurt me. There was something coming that was going to rip through me like a monstrous wave. And then she let me have it.

"Jade…Princess Jade…I remember her…" Latifah chuckled as she twirled a strand of dark brown hair around her finger. "…She was a happy little girl. She was beautiful and full of so much life…and when it there's so much life in there…that just makes it all the more exciting to take it away…"

I gasped and shook my head angrily. "What do you mean? Why are you talking about my sister?"

"She's not here," Latifah continued. "She's not here with you because I didn't want her to be. The Pharaoh's pride and the Queen's heart…Jade would eventually become the Queen of Egypt…unfortunately that's not the way it worked. That little serpent in the garden was very obedient…it took her out of this world in less than five minutes with it's sweetly lethal venom. Poor Jade…all she wanted was to protect her little sister…"

My fists shook at my sides and rage consumed me, but painful sorrow stung just as badly. "You! You're the reason I was a trapped rat in this world! I don't belong here as the Queen! That was Jade's original job and if it weren't for what you did, I wouldn't be stuck with this horrible fate and I would still have my best friend! You took her from me!" The hate that I had seen in Father's eyes and in Mother's eyes as well, though it was well hidden, erupted with in me.

It was true what I said…If Jade were here I wouldn't be a caged mouse or forced to marry someone. I wouldn't have to worry about what next year will bring and I'd happily run off and around my unshackled life with hope in my heart and a joyful song to sing, never carrying the worry of having to decide the fate of this country or any country as if it were a cuff around my wrist.

I hated her…I hated her more than Mother or Father could…she took a lot more from me…yes, they did lose their first daughter…but I lost my friend, my sister, my freedom, and my true happiness. Latifah wasn't going to get away with this…I'd make sure of it myself.

I think this version of the chapter was better than the original I had in my old computer. I have a lot to write about, and by the way, the third and final part to 'Diary of a Queen' will be coming shortly after this one, so stick around 'cuz it will be very interesting, indeed! Ha-ha! …um…please be courteous enough to leave a sweet review, much luv ya guys!