Coronation…
Your lawful duties…
Back straight, eyes up…
Someday when you are queen, you will understand…
You're distracted, stay focused…
You need to uphold the family's reputation…
It is hard enough for us as it is…
What did I tell you? You're holding the sword wrong…
Not many can tell you how to rule, but…
You have a reputation to uphold.
Quilliene awoke from the nightmare of rushing words with alarm. She couldn't hear anything when she was whisked away into a memory as such, only the echoing voices. She was still in the cage above the pit, while it felt like her very essence was being drained via a straw.
Then a cry filled the air - like a hawk, or some other bird, but monstrous. A dark shadow flew into the warehouse, black mist billowing from its dark feathers and glowing red eyes set on Quilliene. It shot towards her as a bird, but she knew better as it slammed against her cage and transformed into a laughing masked man.
"He's coming," He said, almost singing the two words.
Quilliene knew immediately who he meant. "There are things that Christopher can do that not even the gods know of. He's going to get me out of this cell, and once I am free… I am going to kill you."
"Oh, my darling queen," He said in a partially sweet, partially mocking tone. "He may be coming, but will he make it, is the question? And if he does, how do you suppose he'll free you from your unfortunate situation? He's not your saviour, not your hero, not your knight in shining armour. He is your doom."
She paused, then grinned. "You don't mean Christopher," She said slowly. "You mean Neo." When he froze, she cackled. "I knew it. You didn't kill him. Neo is too strong to die from a second story fall! Really, don't make me laugh - Neo isn't that kind of man. He's going to make it and this scenario you have cooked up in your head will be a failure."
The man hissed. "You will watch as I tear him apart!"
"No, you putrid insect," Quilliene seethed, leaning forward. "I will watch as he rips you to pieces."