Chapter 52 THE PUPPET AND THE QUEEN

Chapter 52 THE PUPPET AND THE QUEEN
THE PUPPET AND THE QUEEN

KAELIA'S POV

It took only a moment for Estella to vanish into thin air. The moment she did, for some reason, Azrath stopped and turned to look at me.

I refused to show weakness in front of him. That too was part of the act. If I remained too long on the ground, even when he had almost drained the life out of me, he would get suspicious because I wasn't as weak and vulnerable as Seraphine.

While he watched, I got up slowly from the ground and spat blood into a corner. He continued walking with Seraphine by his side like he didn't give a care in the world.

I suppressed the urge to go after them. Pressing my lips tightly together, I wiped the blood off my lips and resumed making my way to my chamber.

I got to the corridor that led to my chamber and noticed that no guards were in sight. This could only be the work of Azrath, he must have ordered all of the guards manning the corridor to leave.

The bloodied side of my face curved into a smile. If he thought he was doing this as punishment, then he really didn't know what he was up against.

I continued my way into the chamber, pushing through the doors.

I froze when I saw Estella snooping around through my things, "Estella!" I barked at her.

She turned around slowly with one of my cloaked daggers in her hands.

"What are you doing, going through my things?!" I made my way inside the room, and towards her, snatching the dagger from her grasp. "Don't you dare go through my things."

"I was only curious." She said in defense, I turned to face her, wagging my index finger in her face.

"Don't go through my things, ever!" I warned her sternly.

"Loosen up, Kaelia, you're too tough." She pointed.

I let out a dry laughter that made the walls in the chamber tremble. "Being tough is the only reason I have gotten this far. Being tough is the only reason why I can stand up to that ordinary wolf, despite knowing that the Void queen is going to use her as a vessel...." I paused for a moment as though I was reflecting on my words. "So don't tell me to loosen up. Words like that hurt my ego."

Estella stood stunned.

"You need to come back to the cave, Kaelia."

"I thought you said you came because you sensed I was in danger..." I asked, putting back the things Estella had taken out.

"Also that. But I trusted you could handle things on your own. Your puppet didn't react, despite the string I used in connecting him to you."

I turned to face her with a confused look on my face, "A string…What string?!"

"I took a string from your blood and connected it to Ezekiel's heart. So he is able to feel your emotions. Every beat your heart makes goes directly into his veins."

I paused. That was the least thing I was expecting her to say.

She then went on to say, "I was with Ezekiel all throughout the day. I sensed you were in danger but he didn't move a muscle. That was when I knew you could handle whatever was going on."

"But you showed up anyway." I said in a quizzical tone.

"Because I was curious to know why Ezekiel was not concerned. If that happens next time when you're in real danger, it means that the ritual might be losing its potency over him, or he must have found a way to loosen his soul."

"But his mind is still tied to me. He wouldn't be able to make that decision of his own. He doesn't even know he's dying slowly." I said.

I had so much confidence in Estella. She had done a lot of rituals for me in the past that still worked till this day. Binding Ezekiel's soul to me was just a piece of cake for her, unless...

No! I shut out the thought immediately.

Ezekiel was going nowhere. His soul belonged to me forever, for me to use to my satisfaction.

"You will redo the ritual." I said, just in case.

"That will be far too dangerous for both of you." Estella warned me.

My neck was throbbing with pain, the marks where Azrath's claws had been were now covered with blood.

I moved closer to Estella, "Do something about this." I said pointing to my neck.

She raised her hand towards my neck, her fingers glowing softly. I felt the hum of power radiating beneath her skin as she poured into me.

She chanted incoherent words softly. I could feel the wounds practically closing as her fingers lingered over my neck. Soon the pain dissipated and I felt better than I've ever felt in a long while.

I turned my neck to each side, searching for the pain. It was totally gone.

"Thank you." I said simply. The words felt odd against my tongue. I ignored the irritable tingling burning against my tongue.

"The first phase has been completed. I have tested the level of Seraphine's power. The void queen has awakened completely." I saw Estella's eyes widen, "The void queen is really...she is really alive."

"You underestimate how powerful the Lycan queen is. What troubles me is why she chose an ordinary wolf like Seraphine as her vessel."

Estella remained mute, pondering over her thoughts.

"Well, that is not a major concern for me. I won't give whatever vessel the Lycan queen wants to use the chance to resurface."

"What are you going to do about Seraphine? Your king doesn't seem like he's going to make it any easier for you to kill her."

I had no intentions of telling Estella my plans earlier on. I thought she would have been able to figure it out by now.

"My next plan is to kill Azrath before Seraphine does."

"He knows she is going to be the end of him and is still keeping her alive and close. The only way I can have my revenge is to kill them both. But Azrath...is first on my list.”