Book 2 - Chapter 47

Book 2 - Chapter 47
Chapter 47 – The Queen’s Warning Bells



The first thing Solene noticed when she regained consciousness was someone's breathing. The calm rise and fall of this person's chest was so comfortable she didn't want to interrupt it, but she had to. She was already awake and her body begged to move.

Shifting her head up, she was greeted with this person's smile then.

"Henri..." she muttered and smiled back. She found herself sitting on his lap and cradled securely by his arms. They were still inside the maze's plaza, roofed with bright stars and shined by the light of the moon.

"Happy birthday, love. How are you feeling?" he asked and would have wanted to touch her cheek if not for Solene's sudden movement.

She jerked back and shouted, "Oh, god, did I just mess up my birthday? The blessing?!"

Henri found this comical, but kept his laugh inside. He shook his head in haste then and answered, "No, not at all, love. It was successful. You fainted, but it was an expected reaction with your powers now in full effect."

"And the party?" she twisted her lips and brows in worry.

"Is still in full swing. Look." Henri gestured beyond their table and Solene hastily turned her body sideways to see.

He was right. The party was in full swing and everyone was in merriment including her family who were just a few distance away from their table. AC was enjoying his parfait while her grandmother Riza and grandfather Gerard were animatedly talking to Lady Ursula and two other distant relatives of the Rantzen Family.

"Oh..." Solene sighed and sank back into Henri's embrace. "I am officially twenty-one now, huh?"

"Yes, you are," he gently nodded.

"You didn't tell me you celebrate birthdays like that, Henri," she pointed out, remembering her experience earlier and the surge of power she felt buzzing inside her now. She was altogether the same and different from before the clock stroke twelve. She was stronger, more attuned with her body and her surroundings and more knowledgeable about her grimoire and the different spells it housed. She felt a sharper connection with her familiar too, sensing its heartbeat and heavy breathing even though she was on Earth.

"That ritual is only reserved for the Rantzen Family, Solene, but Lady Ursula thought to enhance the blessing because you are a conjurer and my queen."

"And the water in the fountain? It came from Sattus, right?" Solene asked while she fixed him a curious gaze.

Henri confirmed with a nod. "Yes, this is the only place on Earth that holds the holy waters of the River Enyd. This is the holy grail many humans have been searching for since time began. Like the triskelion that holds it,"—he pointed to the fountain ahead of them and Solene moved to look at it—"the holy waters mean life, death, rebirth, and destruction. It can create life, it can take away life, and it can also destroy life."

"I see now why you submerged me in the water that time." She understood his words and wanted to know more about Sattus and its power, but then, her attention returned to her family's table.

"Wait, dad!" she cried out and jumped out of Henri's lap and into her feet. "My father! Has he arrived yet?"

Henri stood up too and flashed her a pleased smile. "He just did. He is with your mother now. Do you want to see?"

Solene's face brightened with his words. "I just want to take a peek, is that alright?"

He brought his hand up in between them and said, "Of course, love. Come."

Once Solene accepted his hand, Henri guided her to a different side of the maze. It looked like a mini plaza with a four-foot-sized angel fountain in the middle. Next to it were her father and mother embracing each other. Meridith was in tears, but Solene was certain these were happy tears. She didn't look sad. She looked content and at peace.

"Dad...mom..." Solene mumbled to herself as she watched them under the shadows of the hedge. Behind her was Henri, simply putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Their parents withdrew and to Solene's surprise, they both turned their heads in her direction.

"Come here, our little cupcake," Jacob invited with his hand spread in the air.

With Henri's encouraging push, Solene stepped into the light and ran to embrace them.

"Mom! Dad!" She was sandwiched in between them then, just like she always was when she was a child. The feeling of a complete family—that was what she craved for since her father died, and that was what she was feeling now. "This is the best birthday gift I could ever receive!"

Tears collected in her eyes too, and she didn't stop them when they fell fast down her cheek.

Meridith chuckled just as she wiped her daughter's tears dry.

"You have an odd way to give me a surprise, sweety, but thank you."

"I know how much you wanted to see dad, mom," she exclaimed and buried her face further onto their chests. She relished this moment, and she knew she will relish this moment forever, and it was all thanks to her generous grim reaper husband.

"I do, sweety. I really do, but you said you already met him before. How?" Meridith then asked, catching her words earlier.

Jacob softly chuckled and kissed his wife's forehead. "It's a long story, honey, but Solene can tell you all about it."

The one addressed stepped back and enthusiastically bobbed her head. "I would love to, dad."

"You go ahead to the family table. I'll catch up. I need to speak with Lord Henri first," he stated while subtlety shifting his eyes to him.

Henri remained covered in the darkness, but Jacob knew he was looking at him too.

Solene and Meridith walked back to the center plaza while he neared Henri. He executed a low bow first before saying, "Your Majesty, a word?"

"Report, Jacob," Henri urged with his eyes glowing red under the shadow.

"Caym's army has breached Sattus. They are causing chaos in Nirvana and in other sections of the kingdom. I advise you to return as soon as possible."

Jacob didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, especially during his daughter's birthday, but he just had to. The kingdom of Sattus and the balance of the realms were at stake.

Henri released a heavy breath and clenched his jaw. "Just as I expected. After seeing Caym's training grounds in that castle, I knew for certain he had an army in Gehenna waiting for this day to come."

He stepped into the light and changed into his long dark blue hair and grim reaper robe. "He will get his war, but I can't let Solene get involved, Jacob."

"She doesn't have to," Jacob answered with confidence. "I told Meridith to distract her while you leave."

'What a sly man,' Henri thought. But this was good. This was convenient. By the time he ends the war in Sattus, then he can return to Solene's side and she won't know a thing about this ongoing chaos.

"Good. Then let's go," he stated, just as they were both enveloped in light.

Meanwhile, Solene and Meridith claimed the vacant seats in their table. Her grandparents were still busy talking with the other guests while AC was seen nearby happily playing with Master Lloyd and Lady Charlie.

Solene began her storytelling on the day she died. This doubled the wrinkles on her mother's forehead, but she continued, explaining that her death was only temporary. She added her experience in Gehenna, her fights, and the spells she used in order to win. She also told her about Henri posing as a woman to help and eventually save her until she reached to the part where she met her father.

Meridith was so engrossed with her daughter's story; however, this didn't let her forget about her husband's instruction.

'Keep our daughter distracted. Lord Henri needs to return to Sattus because of an ongoing war there. I know this realm is part of Solene's life now as queen, but as it is currently, we can't have her return there.'

Meridith agreed, but she was worried for her husband too. However, Jacob assured her. Victory was reserved for them with the King of Sattus on their side.

"And that's it, mom. That's how I met father," Solene stated right after she drank a cranberry juice offered by Patricia.

Meridith blinked her thoughts away and smiled. "That's great to hear, sweety. I didn't expect you would experience such hardships, but I am glad you came through. I am so proud of you."

They embraced once more, and Solene was happy to feel her mother's warmth again.

However, just as she cast a random look at the theta fountain, her body chilled. Lloyd and Charlie were playing with the water while AC was standing stiffly away from it and facing her. It was only ephemeral, but she was certain she saw the Demon of Avarice inside her adopted brother's body. His eyes were glowing red and his mouth was tipped upward to give her an evil smile.