Sirene's Chamber
Night had settled heavily over the palace.
Inside the consort's chambers, every candle had been carefully arranged, every curtain smoothed, every object placed precisely where it belonged. Sirene had inspected the room three times already, her anxious eyes searching for anything that might appear improper.
Her hands trembled slightly.
When the door opened and Queen Omuro stepped inside, Sirene rose immediately from her seat. Her heart pounded so loudly she was certain the queen could hear it.
Queen Omuro did not greet her. Instead, she walked calmly across the chamber and sat down first.
Sirene remained standing, uncertain.
"Aren't you going to sit?" the queen asked coolly.
"I—I am." Sirene quickly lowered herself into the chair across from her.
For a moment the queen simply studied her.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"I'm alright, Your Grace."
The queen tilted her head slightly, "You are? Are you certain?"
"Yes."
A faint shadow crossed Queen Omuro's expression.
"But your sister has been sentenced to death," she said quietly. "How can you be alright?"
Sirene swallowed, "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do."
The queen leaned forward slightly.
"When Kharivanpa came to see you, what did she tell you?"
Sirene blinked, "Pardon?"
"I hear she was against you marrying the prince," Queen Omuro continued. "Why is that? Did you ask her?"
Sirene hesitated. "She gave me a reason," she said carefully. "But it was absurd."
The queen's gaze sharpened, "What did she say?"
"Your Grace—"
"What was her reason?" the queen demanded sharply.
Sirene flinched, "My sister told me… that I'm here to be sacrificed."
The words felt heavy even as she spoke them.
"She said there would be no happily ever after. That my family and I are doomed." Sirene's voice trembled, "She urged me to leave the palace."
Queen Omuro's lips curled slightly. "And yet you stubbornly chose to stay."
"Well… yes," Sirene said defensively. "Because she made it all up."
The queen's eyes darkened. "Why would she?"
Sirene gloomed.
"Your sister loves you very much," the queen continued quietly. "Why would she purposely try to hurt you?"
Sirene wavered, "My mother said she's jealous. Our customs required her to marry first, but instead I was chosen."
The queen nodded slowly, "As a sacrifice."
"No," Sirene said quickly. "There is no ritual. No sacrifice. Khari invented it because she envies me."
Her voice grew more confident as she spoke.
"She's been the subject of every conversation in the palace. Have you heard? She was seen embracing the king by the pond."
Queen Omuro watched her carefully.
"What would you have done," she asked slowly, "if you were in her position?"
Sirene flickered again, "Pardon?"
"The king asks to embrace you," the queen continued. "What would you say? Would you refuse a request from the father of the nation?"
Sirene faltered, "That's not—"
"Kharivanpa simply embraced her father," Queen Omuro interrupted calmly.
Sirene stared at her, "Her… father?"
Queen Omuro's voice dropped slightly. "I will be the only member of the royal family to tell you this, child. Your sister never lied." She finally announced.
Sirene felt the air leave her lungs. The room seemed to grow colder.
"You are indeed trapped here."
Sirene's hands trembled in her lap.
"And if you continue ignoring the truth," the queen said quietly, "your entire family will perish."
Sirene shook her head weakly, "No…"
"There is a ritual," Queen Omuro continued mercilessly, "You are the lamb."
Sirene's vision blurred with tears.
"There will be no joyful wedding night for you," the queen said coldly. "You will be slaughtered like a fat, juicy duck."
Sirene fought back a sob.
Queen Omuro stood.
"Take whatever valuable items you can find in this room," she said quickly. "Meet your parents and leave the palace tonight."
Sirene stared at her in shock.
"Everyone is distracted by Kharivanpa's sentence," the queen continued. "No one will notice your escape."
Sirene slowly shook her head.
"Your Grace… maybe you've grown fond of my sister." Her voice trembled with emotion, "But I deserve happiness too."
Queen Omuro's patience snapped.
"That's exactly what I'm trying to give you!" she shouted, "Leave this place or die!"
Sirene recoiled.
"You are selfish and pathetic," the queen continued angrily. "I stand before you as the queen, yet you haven't begged me to save your sister. You think life inside these palace walls is paradise?" She laughed bitterly, "It isn't. This place is a prison."
Sirene's tears fell freely now.
"Inside these walls," Queen Omuro said, "you bury your desires, your truth, and your soul. Because the moment you let them breathe… you die."
She pointed toward the door.
"Leave tonight." Her voice lowered into a deadly whisper. "When the morning bell rings, you had better be gone. This is mercy," she said coldly, "This is your second chance."
Sirene suddenly fell to her knees.
"Please!" she cried through her tears, "Your Grace, we have no life outside these walls! My family and I have finally found comfort here. Please don't force us out."
Queen Omuro's face hardened like stone.
"If you don't leave," she said quietly, "I will make you."
She turned toward the door.
"Remember my words." She paused, "If you are still here when the morning bell rings… your hell will begin."
Sirene's breath caught.
"Your soul will dangle before death itself," the queen said darkly. "And when the grim reaper reaches for it… you will never know peace again."
Without another word, Queen Omuro left the chamber.
The door closed behind her.
Sirene collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, caught between the promise of a royal life and the terrifying possibility that the nightmare her sister warned her about was real.
...
Dawn — The Mountains
Kharivanpa appeared suddenly outside a familiar small cottage.
She looked down at her hands in disbelief.
"I'm alive."
She ran inside.
"Grandmother! I'm back!"
Then she stopped.
The old woman lay peacefully in bed, dressed in her priestess robes. Dead.
Khari approached slowly.
"Why didn't you wait for me?" She held her grandmother's hand. "I'll finish what you started."
Suddenly her body froze.
A vision seized her.
The moon shattering beneath a massive black serpent.
A golden scorpion striking the snake.
The serpent dying.
A throne standing empty.
A white lion facing the scorpion.
Khari gasped as the vision ended.
"Was that… a prophecy?"
She exhaled slowly.
"Your will shall be done."
***