Chapter 58: A MONSTER

I didn't understand what Siofra said, but from the look on her face, I could tell there was trouble. 

“Wait, it's you. You are the next queen of Álfheimr, and that stupid elf must be related to you." The lady said, marching towards Siofra in anger.

“I don't understand; how was she able to get the black stone? It has been lost for centuries.” Siofra said, ignoring the angry stares she was getting from the blue-eyed lady.

“Well, let me enlighten you. You don't know how it feels to be rejected by the stone of light, and then again, the stone picks its right candidate. But we, the rejected princesses, always find it hard to believe that our hard work of training was thrown away in a blink of an eye.

Your sister is just angry, but she is putting herself in great danger. Combining the power of the black stone and that of the Almaruda is like a ticking time bomb, and it will explode soon.” 

“And how will you know that? Why do you keep talking about the Almaruda like you know so much?” Instead of answering Siofra, she glared at her in anger before storming off.

“Maybe she is telling the truth; why would she lie about being a goddess if she is not?” I said to Siofra, trying to make her see reasons with the lady.

“Almaruda is a goddess of the sea, and she was cursed, which meant she couldn't leave the ocean. Why would she be on land?”

“Because your sister, who now possesses a great power, took her powers from her. If she is really the goddess she claims to be, then keeping her by your side might be the best option.”

“Fine, I will just trust your instinct, but if she is lying, then I won't be so friendly to her.”

“Let's go after her.”

“Excuse me! But where are you going!?” Siofra called after her.

“To find a river, I need to wash this slime off my body,” she replied before we both went after her.

“Fine, let's assume you are Almaruda. What happens now?”

“I'm finding the elf that stole my powers; I am not Almaruda without my powers.”

“Then, how about you come with us? We both need to stop Princess Alma from destroying Álfheimr and every other elf kingdom that comes after it.” I said to her.

“Why would you want to help her? Why would you leave your peaceful world to ours that is filled with nothing but greed and war?” She asked, looking at me with so much curiosity written on her face.

“My world is not peaceful, and neither is it better than here. You don't know the hell I have been through, and you also don't know what she went through for me.

I owe Siofra a lot, and I made a promise I intend to keep.”

“That's quite touching, but you do know you both are practically sharing the same body, and even if she was able to find her body, there is no guarantee that she can go back.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked.

“Yeah, what the heck are you talking about?” Siofra added.

“You both are tied together; that's why that leash is holding you both together. I understand that you might have been in a critical condition when she met you; when I said critical condition, I meant at the point of death, so any day she leaves your body, you die.”

On hearing that, I froze, and so did the time. Ever since I woke up from a coma, all I wanted was to end it all, but hearing her say I would die left me scared. I don't think I want to die; I think I want to live.

“What on earth are you talking about? Why will she die?” Siofra questioned her.

“Because you are the one keeping her moving and going. And being the next to ruler Álfheimr, it's your responsibility to put your kingdom first, which means she comes second despite saving you from disappearing from the space of earth.” She said. She walked away, leaving Siofra and me behind.

“And here I was thinking I had a second chance. I guess the universe is being unfair to me.” I said as I forced a smile on my face.

“You can't possibly believe what she just said; there has to be a mistake somewhere.”

“The truth is always bitter. It always sounds terrible, but it's just the truth. Let's just work on keeping each other's promises.

You promised to help me make the people who ruined my life pay for what they did, and I promised to help you save Álfheimr. Let’s work on that.”

“Alda, why are you sounding like you are about to die? I'm not letting anything happen to you; we started this together, and we will both see the end.” 

“Thank you, Siofra; now let's go find your grandmother.”

Alma's POV

I took a deep breath immediately after my dragon landed. I love the peace and quietness, but it's a shame it won't last for long. Having landed in the middle of the palace, the guards find me a threat, considering the beast behind me.

“Eat anyone that attacks you,” I said to the dragon as it growled in response. I approached the head of the palace guard, who seemed too distracted by the creature in front of him to notice me.

“Princess Alama,” he said, bowing down to me as he paid his respect.

“Take me to my mother, now!”

"Yes, your highness.” I let him take me to my mum, who was seated in her throne room with trouble written boldly on her face.

She stood up immediately when she saw me and approached me.

“Where the heck have you been, young lady? You better have a better explanation or...”

“Or what, Queen Alary? The last time I checked, you are not my mother, and neither are you my queen.”

“What did you just say?” She asked, looking me straight in the eyes.

“I said, You are not my mother." I drew the words out for her to hear clearly. She slapped me hard in the face. 

“How dare you say such a thing to me after all I have been through because of you? Do you know the sacrifices I made just so you would be perfect?”

“I never fucking asked you to be my second mother; I have one mother, and she is dead!”

“Alma, what is wrong with you? Where is my perfect little Alma?” She said, raising her hand to touch me, but I stepped back.

“You are not my mother. I have never accepted you as my mother. From the moment you started coming up to visit my dad, I hated you.

Do you know the reason I decided to accept you a few years into your marriage with my father? It was because you were the only way. I wanted to have those powers that my mum couldn't have.

And guess what? I have more than I even expected. I was able to put up with all your nonsense because I had to be your perfect daughter to get the throne.

But guess what, mother? I have finally found the right power that is meant for me. Who needs that poor excuse of a stone to become queen?” I gave her a satisfying smile when I saw the shocked expression on her face.

“What did you do?”

“It depends on the one you want to know; I have done so many things. You should try listening to your mum in your next life. You should not also treat your daughter like she is a nobody.”

“You little rascal, do you know what I had to go through to raise you up? I don't care what is wrong with you, but you will not come into my throne room and disrespect me.” I laughed, because she was funny.

“I never respected you, so save yourself the stress. Now, I want you to listen to me carefully. If you want to see Siofra again, then I need you to do something for me.”

What did you do, my baby?” She was panicking, but I was satisfied.

“Oh, so now she is your baby. What happened to Siofra, the irresponsible one, or Siofra, the clumsy princess who stinks at her studies?

I should have just killed her that night; if only your stupid mother hadn't appeared from nowhere, I would have ended her life.” She was staring at me in shock while I smiled in satisfaction.

“Mum was right all along about you. You really are a snake in green grass. What did you do to Siofra?

“Nothing much; she should consider herself lucky because I would have finished what I started years ago," I said, pacing around in the room.

“You are a monster; you are not my Alma.” 

Did she just call me a monster? I felt anger consume me as I approached her.