Tatiana - Imperial Ruler Of Dragon's

Chapter 16

As we approached the castle gates, they opened automatically without us needing to stop for questioning. Moving past the gates I wondered how anyone knew who we were as we approached, especially since we’re cloaked by darkness now that the sun has set.

The glowworms illuminating town is unfavored past the castle gates, instead, what appears to be flaming torches lit up our path. The first thing to come into view is the sight of a large courtyard, surrounded by a beautiful stream flowing round the compound beneath a bridge before disappearing behind the castle looming over us with an overpowering presence.

High turrets are raised up out of the ground with several white flags, all of which has an emblem of a tree with the woman embedded at its roots. Guards patrolled backwards and forwards round the large compound, standing at attention in high positions as they watched everything below with impassive faces.

Most of the guards appeared to be females, similar in looks and height to the female general who tried to capture us by the Seelie Queen's orders. As she pulled the carriage over in front of the castle’s steps, we received a few uninterested glances when everyone started to pile down from the carriage. Their stares don't linger, and we're led past the front doors straight into the castle.

Stepping in, I admired the large foyer, the dull light reflecting in through the windows shed some view of what should have been a large hall portrayed with expensive grandeur. And much to my surprise, across the room stands seven impressive archways with dark passages illuminated by little lightening from torch lamps hanging off the walls.

Materializing a black hooded cloak in one hand, the female guard turned to Troy and said. “Your Highness, it would be best for you to cover yourself before we move forward. The Fae's would be greatly displeased and a commotion might take place if you're spotted in court with...”

She falters and trails off in her statement, but everyone could comprehend her unspoken words loud and clear. Our presence would be viewed with contempt.

Katrina huffed at the indignation and our gaze moved to Troy to see him staring at the cloak with an impassive expression, though his eyes clearly showed how displeased he is with the thought of having to hide. Eventually, he decided to listen to her and grabbed the cloak.

Throwing the thick material over his shoulder, he ties the ropes at the neck to secure it around his shoulders and pulls up the hood. The large material obscuring his entire face from view.

“Can that even work, the fae's will still be able to detect him by his scent in seconds?” Katrina asks, her tone worried but the sneer on her lips spoke loudly of jealousy.

“Have no fear, as an illusionist what I do best is create illusions.” She responds with a blank gaze. “The fae’s will see what I want them to see.”

And with that said, she swiveled and made her way into one of the tunnels.

The inner workings of the tunnels appear to be filled with dark and obscured passages, all leading to various directions and down so many turns I began to feel dizzy and confused. We stopped at the end of a long corridor which leads directly into a side room, surrounding the room are weapons of all shapes and sizes hanging off the walls and a long wooden table is pushed off to the side and around it sat more female guards. Some of them lounging casually as they ate fresh fruits and minded their business, some were hunched over an old-looking map and conversed in low voices, and some did a mixture of the two.

The sterner looking females eyed us with suspicion in their eyes while the laxer ones went back about their business. Not seeing us as a threat once they spotted their comrade. Soon enough we walked out of the room through an exit and was led into another obscured tunnel, with nothing but jutted rocks surrounding us.

Except, our little excursion through this particular tunnel comes to a quick end as we stop before a wooden door. From this side, loud melodious music can be heard. It sounds like a party. The female guard knocks twice before the door is jerked open and we’re given entrance into a huge hall. Thousands of, if not more, jars of glowworms hung from the ceiling and brightened the entire room. Making it appear enchanted, as the little lighting enabled my ability to look around a bit.

Apart from the jars of glowworms, surrounding the entire room are exotic night-blooming flowers that emit a soft glow. All around stood countless amounts of Unseelie Fae’s, both big and small as they conversed among one another in loud tones.

The floor was made purely of dirt and grass, even the walls had moss and vines filling every nook and cranny. Off to one side is a pool of water which seems to have a tunnel built into it, causally lounging in it are what appears to be mermaids with coal-black eyes and green scales and other smaller creatures diving in and out of the pool. And up above is a large opening in the roof which would have been perfect for moonlight to filter in if it weren’t for the fog obscuring the skies.

As the female guard led us forward, and the fae's began to notice our presence by taking in deep breathes of our scents, a path was cleared for us without any cohesion. Staring from side to side at all the menacing-looking creatures glaring at us made me shuffle slightly closer to Candy who walked by my side, she turned to me with a reassuring smile that did nothing for my nerves and grabbed one of my hands with a short squeeze.

The way their noses scrunched up in disgust made me wonder if they could also tell we were mostly witches just like the Barghest from earlier. A movement to my left made me turn and glance down, and with a shrike of alarm, I jump away from the large snake standing beside me on two, tiny humanlike legs. Everyone paused to glance at me before following my terrified gaze.

The snakes head is arrow-shaped and has two red blood eyes that glint like rubies, tilting its head it stared at me with open curiosity as if it has never seen a human before. Each step I took backwards, only made it come closer. And my skittishness made a few Fae’s snickers in amusement as they watched me.

Katrina hurries to my side and kicks away the snake, and it goes flying into the air and lands not to far away in the dirt. Pulling me behind her protectively when the snake turned to us with a vicious hiss, she didn’t flinch but eyed the snake viciously with a snarl. “I dare you to make a move and I swear, I will bury you.”

Slowly stepping forward, it hissed in anger and opened its mouth wide to reveal sharp fangs. “You dare challenge me, you filthy witch!”

It’s thundering question caused several Fae’s to tense as if readying themselves for a threat, their narrowed stares centred on us with intense vigilance.

Shivering, I could do nothing but cower behind Katrina and hope that thing or the others don’t attack. Before Katrina could reply and possibly make things worse, Natasha, the female guard stepped forward. “Take heed Adder Vik, these are the guests of the Queen herself. No harm must come to them.”

Turning to Natasha, it hissed. “And if I refuse, half-bred witch?”

“Then be prepared to takedown.” She threatened.

To let him know her threat is to be taken seriously, Gavin took a step forward and stopped by Katrina’s side. His hands suddenly become enveloped by flames as he stood in a fighting stance with his legs spread apart. Shrinking back a little, the snake seemed to contemplate its chances of winning before giving up with a roll of its eyes.

Turning, it walks away and disappears between the crowd. I kept my gaze on the dirt and grass just to make sure nothing surprises me again as we resumed our trek forward.

“What was that?” I ask Gavin when Katrina shuffles forward behind Natasha and leaves me, again.

“An attorcroppe, they’re malicious creatures of the Unseelie realm. They easily get curious over things or people they find puzzling, but having them find some kind of interest in you isn’t a good thing. It just bodes more danger. If you ever come across another one, ensure to stay away from them.” Gavin warns.

It doesn’t take long to reach the front of the crowd where a large tree is planted right in the middle of the room. The tree looks exactly like the oak tree from my dreams, except this one appears to be a little shorter in height and smaller in size. Craved deep into the bark appears to be a throne and seated casually on it, while slowly sipping from a glass of wine is a gorgeous brunette with the brightest pair of sea-green eyes I have ever seen. She looks exactly like Troy, or at least Troy looks exactly like her.

Only, her features appear more delicate due to her feminine nature rather than sharp like Troy’s. She’s wearing a beautiful, black skirt lightly hanging off her curved hips and narrow waist. Her breasts are covered by a bralette made from the same silk material as the skirt and woven with her dark brown hair into beautiful twists are flowers.

Her nails are claw-like, ears pointed like any other fae, and on her head is a silver crown made with a piece of single jewellery. A black, onyx stone.

She looks quite youthful for someone who has a son, almost as if she’s in her late twenties. Her eyes fall on our entourage as soon as the female guard fell to one knee and bowed her head before her Queen, and cheery lips parted slightly in amusement. “Your majesty, your servant has brought your guests to you.”

“I see that,” The Unseelie Queen nods. “Job well done.”

Her words of praise floated into the air and filled the female guard with delight as a tilted smile graces her lips for only a second. Once she was permitted to rise, the female guard immediately steps forward to stand at attention on one side of the throne protectively.

Eyes moving to take everyone in, they pause slightly on Troy’s hooded figure before resting on Katrina’s hard gaze. “Katrina Star, daughter of the renowned Victoria Star. Member of the Triquetra Coven and Heiress of the Star Crest. What a lovely surprise to see you once again.”

“Can’t say I feel the same, Leigh.”

“Now, now… let’s not be so hostile to one another.” She tuts. “After sll, you used to be betrothed to my nephew.” She smiles, her eyes taking in the clenching of Katrina’s fists. Snorting, she tightens her lips with pure amusement. “Of course, that was before you killed him.”

Surprised, I gaze at my cousin to see if she’s telling the truth and don't see any expression on her face. The others all appear to be looking down with their heads bowed, their faces too low for me to read their expressions.

“I never knew the Unseelie Queen had time to babble, let’s get straight to the point here. Why did you make your guard dog bring us here?”

“Why do you think, I’m meant to stall you until my sister's guards arrive.”

Eyes wide, I tense just like everyone does besides me in disbelief. “So, will you hand over me and my friends to them?”

“I don’t see why not?” She replies, shrugging.

“And what of your heart stone, will you also be handing that over?” Katrina asked.

Intrigued, the Unseelie Queen leans forward and asks. “Where is it, do you have it?”

“For the price of saving our lives, I will tell you where I hid the heart stone,” Katrina replies. “All you have to do is swear on your word as Queen, that you shall set me and my friends free, allow us to pass through your mirror portal and ensure your sister's henchmen won’t come after us.”

“And if I refuse?”

Letting out a huff, Katarina sneers smugly. “Then you can go f**k yourself.”