Second to last chapter, all!

Chapter Twelve: Treachery

Misoka clapped. "Congratulations, you have awoken the princess!" He dragged a dazed Mahiru and Mitsuru away from each other and said, "No time to lose. We must go see the Queen!"

"Hang on, wasn't the Queen the one who poisoned Mahiru?" Mitsuru gasped out before Misoka, using his magic, pulled them toward the Queen's room.

"Precisely," replied Misoka. "That is why we must see her."

He dragged them both to an elaborate room in the west wing. He stood outside an ornately carved door and knocked. Moments later, Shirogane opened the door.

"What do you want?" he asked Misoka, not noticing Mahiru or Mitsuru. "My mother is resting."

"We want to speak to your mother," replied Misoka. "It is urgent. Seeing as we have already trespassed on your mothe's hospitality by letting Mahiru stay the night – against her original wishes – we shall trespass a little more."

"The descendant of the princess? But she's-" Then Shirogane saw Mahiru and was unable to stifle a gasp.

Misoka smirked.

Shirogane glared at him. "Fine," he said, "come in."

Misoka led the other two into the Queen's chambers. Mahiru's eyes grew round, and even Mitsuru looked unsettled. The suite was decked out in riches and splendor. Couches and jewelry and carved low tables were everywhere. Misoka led them into a smaller room. It was just as decked out as the other rooms, but there was a bed in it. A smaller door led to a rich bathroom.

Misoka walked straight past all this glory without a backward glance. He went to the figure on the bed and motioned Mahiru near.

"Wake her," he instructed Mahiru, "and make sure yours is the first face she sees, princess." Then Misoka stood off to the side, waiting.

Mahiru was unsettled, but she did as she was told. The queen woke up after three shakes, and when she saw Mahiru' s blonde hair and blue eyes and clear face, she was startled.

"But you're dead," she protested.

"Dead?" Misoka said from where he stood. "My dear Queen, I assure you, she is very much alive!"

"But…but that's impossible!" the Queen said. "I poisoned her myself! I even brewed the powder myself-" she cut herself off, realizing what she had said.

"Yeah, you did poison her," Mitsuru snarled. His eyes began to swirl in anger. "You wanted to kill Mahiru – the princess! Well, you didn't do it quite right, did you? What're you going to do now?"

"Get out of my sight!" the Queen said. "This is a very delicate stage in the proceedings."

"What proceedings?" asked Mitsuru. Misoka gestured, and Mitsuru, without wanting to or meaning too, grabbed Shirogane by the scruff of his neck.

"What!" Misturu said, but Misoka shot him a look that said, "Be quiet."

"Unhand my son!" the queen of demons said.

"Tell us, my dear Queen, what proceedings?" Misoka asked, and Mitsuru tightened his grip. Tears welled in Shirogane's eyes.

"Fine!" the queen shouted suddenly. "I will tell you. Just leave Shirogane alone!"

Mitsuru would have been quite glad to drop Shirogane; in face, he was loosening his fingers already, but Misoka tightened his mental grip on Mitsuru. Mahiru watched in horror.

"The Dance of the Eclipse is a festival," said the queen, "that has not been performed for a thousand years. Why? Because it was forbidden.

"The festival required the sacrifice of a human being, or royal blood, the night before the festival. Then you had to perform a spell, a summoning, and you would receive all the Teardrops." She looked at them. "All of them. Even the fabled last Teardrop.

"I need the last Teardrop," said the queen. "I need it, because Shirogane is in bad health." She looked at her son. "He gets worse every year. Soon he will not be able to walk. Then what will I do?" She looked pleadingly at everyone assembled in her room. "What was I supposed to do?"

Misoka stepped forward. "You have all heard the confession," he announced like in court. "What would the verdict be?"

"Death for her son," Mitsuru said, although he didn't want to. "Death for Shirogane," Mahiru also said without any control.

That was when Mitsuru and Mahiru realized that even if the Queen was delusional – Misoka was crazy for power!