Astelion
The heavy oak doors clicked shut, the echo of Castel's footsteps finally fading down the corridor. Inside the chamber, the silence was suffocating. I stood perfectly still, my maid's apron feeling tight against my ribs as I looked at the woman on the bed.
Arastella fiery hair swaying like liquid flame. Suddenly, her head snapped toward me, her eyes drilling into my soul. "Who are you?" she demanded.
"You reek of dragon's blood... and of that man."
I let out a long, heavy breath, my shoulders dropping as the exhausting truth finally caught up to me.
"I am Arastella."
"I didn't ask your name," she snapped, stepping off the bed, her heels clicking aggressively against the stone floor.
"Tell me the truth."
"I am your granddaughter. From the future."
Arastella froze. I casually brushed off my apron and smoothed down the front of my skirt, waiting for the explosion.
"Not possible," she whispered, her chest heaving as she shook her head in absolute denial. "I wouldn't create a child with that man."
"Wouldn't, shouldn't... but you did," I countered. "Don't worry. It was loveless."
"I can't believe this," she muttered, pressing her palms against her temples as she began to pace the room like a caged animal.
"I have to get out of here. I need to leave."
"And go where?" I asked, my voice flat.
"There is nowhere to go. The palace is locked down."
She stopped pacing, glaring at me.
"And what is your plan, exactly?"
I looked her dead in the eye, "I am here to change the timeline."
A heavy silence descended upon the room. Arastella stared at me, evaluating the weight of my words. When she spoke again, her voice shifted, dropping into the ancient, fluid cadences of our true tongue with a thick accent.
"Hwi ath esie lagi la? Esie olis nas ritsi," she murmured. (How will you change it? You're just one girl.)
I stepped closer, my presence expanding slightly as the air in the room grew heavy.
"Ota imi toro vryos hwi esie komizo." (I am more powerful than you think.)Arastella let out a faint, skeptical breath.
"Kie esie pek." (If you say so.) She leaned against the bedpost, her defensive posture softening just a fraction.
"Fa imi la hedio, noco?" (What is the plan, little one?) with little faith in her voice.
"Magapo ota ccon esie. Ikcora magapo esie vettoa nui," I replied seamlessly, the Varack syllables rolling off my tongue like a dark vow. (Like I told you. Pretend you love him.)
Arastella's face contorted into a grimace, and she instantly switched back to English, her voice rising in frustration. "You act as though it's easy to pretend that I love that man!"
"I never said it was easy," I shot back.
"But you were just moments away from fucking your kidnapper."
Arastella's cheeks flushed. She threw her hands in the air, her composure completely shattering.
"I can explain that!"
"I am all ears," I said, tilting my head.
"You wouldn't understand," she muttered, turning her back to me.
"Try me."
"Forget it!" Arastella groaned, throwing her hands over her face. She turned back around, her dark caramel skin flushed as she began rambly, defensive explanations.
"Look, okay? The mood was... it was right, alright? Castel is... he's hot. He's tall, he's sexy, he has those tattoos, and he is totally my type! I just... I really wish he would never speak and stop being so incredibly arrogant and, you know, also kidnapping me wasn't a good idea either."
I stared at her, my eyebrow slowly arching.
"And he is an amazing kisser!" she continued frantically, her voice dropping to a loud whisper. "He's the first person I've ever kissed in my human form! But I wouldn't have actually gone through with it. I wouldn't have had sex with him! Because the second things got close, all I could think about was my family starving in the mountains and calling out to me."
She stopped to breathe, her eyes darting to mine. When she saw the deadpan, completely unamused expression on my face, her frustration boiled over.
"Stop looking at me like I'm crazy!"
In a fit of dramatic irritation, Arastella turned to the massive, heavy bed. She bent down, grabbing the solid wooden frame, and tried to lift it with all her might to throw it across the room.
Her muscles strained, her face turning bright red as she groaned, but the bed didn't budge an inch. She was completely struggling, her strength entirely locked away.
I sighed, pointing a finger down at the heavy bracelet secured tightly around her wrist. Arastella stopped pulling, catching her breath as she looked down at the bracelet. Realizing how ridiculous she looked, she let go of the frame and slumped slightly. I couldn't help it, a sudden bubble of amusement burst in my chest.
I turned my head away, pressing my hand firmly over my mouth to muffle the laughter escaping my lips.
"Are you laughing at me?" Arastella demanded, crossing her arms defensively.
"No," I choked out behind my hand, trying desperately to hide my face. I walked over to the bed, bent down, and casually grasped the heavy wooden frame. I lifted the entire massive bed several feet into the air with absolute ease. I turned my head to look at her, my eyes gleaming with a playful smirk.
"What do you want to do with the bed?"
She looked at the bed, then at me, before letting out a defeated sigh.
"Throw it," she whispered, shaking her head. "But don't bother."
I set the bed back down onto the floor without making a single sound. I pressed my hand over my mouth again, my shoulders shaking as I tried to hide another laugh.
"Just be yourself," I said, finally gaining control of my voice.
"But maybe a little less bitchy."
"Excuse me?!" Arastella gasped, her hands flying to her hips as she drew herself up to her full height.
"You do not speak to your grandmother like that, young lady!"
"I am sorry," I said, raising my hands in a mock surrender, a genuine smile softening my face.
"I'm just saying... be yourself, and I will help you with the rest. To be honest, I'm inexperienced and I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing half the time. But we have to work together."
Arastella let out a long sigh, the fight draining out of her. "Say that I actually get him to think I love him. Then what?"
"He will start to trust you," I explained, stepping closer. "He'll loosen your chains. Eventually, we will build that trust up until he willingly opens the void."
"And what do you get from this?" she asked softly.
A cold, shadow passed over my heart, the pain of my own fresh betrayal twisting in my gut. "My mother's peace. And that man dead."
"You mean the man from earlier?" Arastella asked, her brow furrowing.
"No," I whispered, the word tasting like venom. "Cion is not just a man. That man you saw out there was just a shell. I have to find the real one to kill, and Castel knows where he is."
"Is he our enemy?"
"He, and anyone of his bloodline," I said, my voice hardening into stone.
Arastella sighed heavily, rubbing the back of her neck.
"I can't believe this is happening. I should have run. I should have listened."
She walked back over to the mattress and tossed herself onto the bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling.
"Now isn't the time to place blame," I told her softly, walking toward the doors to take up my post as her official shield.
"If you need me, just call for me in your head. I will respond, or I will come to you."
Arastella tilted her head back, looking at me from the mattress. She transitioned back into the ancient tongue, her voice carrying the natural weight of a ruler.
"Hwi ath ota kove esie, kie esie imi veim Rtekter? Esie imi ienez avo ota." (Why would I call for you when you are my protector? You are bound to me.)
I paused, turning back to look at her. A small, knowing smile touched my lips, and I bowed my head with absolute, respect.
"Vaa. Esie imi hwi. Veim Wekgin," I murmured, my voice a solemn vow in the quiet room. "Lasc's vungo tene, vun fossioma?" *(Yes. You are right, my Queen. Let's get along well, shall we?)*