25

"Where is the other Overlander," Stellovet asked.

"She was not in her quarters," a soldier answered. What was going on? "We have soldiers searching for her while the palace is being secured."

"And Nerissa?"

"She has also not been found. We are also searching for her." Gregor looked around. Howard's siblings were standing about 30 feet to their right, and Chim was crying. Gregor saw Nike and Aurora were restrained to their left. Janor, Roth, and Rodrith were working with the soldiers. Luxa finally had enough of being ignored.

"Explain yourself, Stellovet!" she yelled. Stellovet looked amused, and smiled sweetly.

"Oh, cousin," she said, removing Luxa's crown. "This is a coup. I am going to kill you, then take over as ruler of the humans."

"Why?" Howard asked weakly.

"Why? Well, because Regalia is currently lead by a silly girl," Stellovet said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You see. No one, not humans or gnawers or fliers, is happy living together peacefully like we are all friends, so we have formed an alliance to overthrow those currently in power." Gregor still did not understand, but if he knew anything about Stellovet, it was that she liked to gloat.

"That makes no sense," Gregor said. "And there is no way you could have planned this." Stellovet turned and glared at him.

"It makes perfect sense, Overlander. Once we seize power, we will return to living separately. Or go to war. Whatever suits us." It was a little creepy how sweet she sounded. "Also, I have been planning a coup for some time."

"Oh, if you plan to kill us, then just do it," Luxa said. "I do not wish to hear you gloat in your victory." Gregor was pretty sure Luxa was trying to get her to talk too.

"Dearest cousin, I cannot kill you yet. You must have a public execution, and we cannot do that until the palace is secured." Then she added, "And you will hear me gloat in my victory, because I want you to know just how very stupid and weak you really are."

"You see, I was planning to murder you, then frame my brother here. It would eliminate two people keeping me from the throne. However, when I heard you wanted to go on an expedition, I saw my chance. I had your council members approve of the mission, and I had the gnawers and fliers provide assassins."

Several gnawers pulled Hector's dead body into view, and a large gnawer tossed Whiptail's dead form in front of him.

"This one," the large gnawer said referring to Whiptail, "was supposed to make an 'accident' for the queen. But she failed, so we'll have her family killed. And the flier. Well he actually wanted to help, but he failed as well. We had to kill him too."

"It was no accident you were thrown from the boats twice, cousin," Stellovet continued. "And just in case the expedition continued after the first attempt, I hired buzzers to ambush my brother and eliminate him." Gregor could not believe what he was hearing. Stellovet tried to kill her own brother. He did not want to hear her talk anymore.

"No!" Chim yelled. "Where is mother and father?!"

"In the dungeon," Stellovet said plainly. "I know they will not follow me, so they will be publically executed in the Fount. You are my family, so I will allow you to live if you fight with me." Stellovet turned her attention to one of the gnawers present. The gnawers demanded he have Ripred and Lapblood, and Stellovet promised to hand them over as soon as they were captured. Gregor was disgusted by how she casually handled killing those who were supposed to be close to her.

"You would kill me?" Howard asked in disbelief. It caught his sister's attention. "You are my sister, Stellovet. How could you believe I would choose Luxa over you?" Luxa looked at her cousin, and fear showed in her eyes. Gregor knew she was thinking of Henry's betrayal.

"Howard, don't do this," Gregor said under his breath.

"You would support the coup as well as my seizing power?" Stellovet asked, ignoring Gregor.

"Of course, sister," Howard stood up tentatively with Stellovet's approval. "Do you truly believe I enjoy treating rats in the hospital? That I wish to fight alongside crawlers? I never truly wanted to share the new land, I just did not know there was an alternative." Gregor's head spun.

"You cannot have power," Stellovet said. "The throne would be mine."

"You will never have the throne!" Luxa yelled. "You are a vile human being, and no true Regalian would ever support you!" Stellovet slapped Luxa across the face, then pulled her up and held a dagger to her throat. Gregor tried to leap for her, but the soldier behind him forced him back to his knees.

"Let go of her!" Gregor yelled. "Help her, Howard!" They ignored him.

"You will address me with respect now, Luxa," Stellovet hissed in the queen's ear. "I am queen now."

"Stellovet," Howard said.

"Traitor!" Luxa screamed at him. "You are all traitors!" Stellovet pressed the dagger to her throat, and blood started to flow. Howard ignored her.

"Sister, I am so proud of you. You have swayed even Regalian soldiers to your side. Though mother and father will surely not support you, know that we will," he said gesturing to his siblings. Chim cried and shook her head. Stellovet loosened her grip on Luxa, and the queen tried to pull herself to the ground.

"Will you truly stay with me, brother?" Stellovet asked.

"Of course. You are my sister, and I will always love you." Howard put his hand to his heart. No his shoulder. Gregor thought it was an odd gesture, when suddenly an arrow pierced Stellovet's left shoulder, right where Luxa's head had been a moment ago.