Book 2 - Chapter 52

Book 2 - Chapter 52
Chapter 52 – The Queen’s Support



Indeed, the crack in Gehenna’s barrier was large, so large that it allowed many monsters and armies of demons out. Solene expected this from Henri, though. He was a powerful man, after all. There was no denying he could destroy this section of Sattus if he really wanted to, angry or not.

Partly, she felt guilty that this happened, but what else was new? She had always been the reason for the misfortunes of many people who became collateral damage or the unsuspected victim. Case in point, Cassandra, Mrs. Ingrid, Tessa, Lady Ursula, the people at the coffee shop and at the supermarket, and AC, her innocent little brother. But to feel depressive about it wasn’t the solution now. She already rose and conquered this heavy burden in her heart, and she was so ready to end this once and for all.

As she neared her destination, she spotted one soul near it, trying to fix the crack with his powers. When he moved and she was able to see his face, she was surprised to find out it was her father. Underneath him was the sealing symbol, and from his hands, a beam of light emerged. It was directed to the crack, making a web-looking patch on top of it.

Solene floated slowly to his side and exchanged glances with him. “Dad.”

“Solene! You’re here!” Jacob exclaimed. His mouth hung low just as his eyes flitted to her overall garb and double-bladed scythe. His daughter looked badass just as he envisioned her to be, and he couldn’t be happier.

“You’re so sneaky, dad. Why didn’t you tell me about this?” she stated. She felt a small pang of betrayal from him, but it was easily forgiven when he gave her a soft smile.

“I apologize, sweety. King Hein and I thought it was best for you to stay on Earth while we fix this problem.” He returned his attention back to the light beams and added more energy into it.

“Well, I’m here and I already fixed one problem for you,” she said with a proud smile.

“You are the Queen of Sattus, Solene. Nothing is impossible for you,” Jacob exclaimed, the feeling of satisfaction blooming in his chest.

“Except for this, dad,” Solene gazed at the crack again and clenched her jaw. The demons on the other side were doubling by the minute, trying to crowd their way into the little spot where the glowing patch didn’t cover. Solene saw too much damage in this part of Sattus already. She realized if they would escape, then it would be hell once again. “Tell me, what is the plan, dad?” she asked while she readied into a fighting stance.

“Seal it temporarily until King Hein finds a solution,” he answered. This made Solene cock a brow.

“That’s it?” she said. “Are you saying we don’t have a solution for this?”

Jacob shook his head and sighed. “This is the first time Gehenna’s barrier is broken, sweety.”

“But Henri can fix it himself, right? He is the king of this kingdom, after all.” Solene’s forehead creased even more.

“I thought the same too, but it is not as easy as that, sweety,” he answered, his eyes still trained on the crack. Truly, it baffled him why Henri declared he couldn’t fix it all by himself. But knowing him, he might already have a plan in his mind. A plan that possibly needed Solene’s help.

Realizing this, he glanced at his daughter who was in deep thought. She curled her left hand into a ball and tightly held the scythe on the other.

“This is the first time Sattus gets a queen too,” she muttered as she stared with ferocity at the demons past the barrier. They were crowding too much, clawing and growling against Jacob’s sealing light. “Dad, this is the first time Sattus has a queen!” she cried out with conviction.

Suddenly, a booming sound was heard nearby. Solene and Jacob rerouted their attention to the lower part of the barrier near the sand dunes and found the once-hairline segment of the crack had progressed into a big opening. A spider-like monster with lobster claws and a scorpion-like tail emerged from it, followed by three gargoyle-looking monsters.

“Solene, I know what you’re thinking!” Jacob quickly shouted just as he expanded the seal to include the new crack. “Go ahead. I’ll support you!”

Solene nodded at him. She shifted her eyes onto the barrier again and muttered to herself,  “I can do this. I can seal this off!”

The grimoire appeared in front of her and flipped itself into a page where it showed the same sealing spell her father used. She chanted it and made invisible markings in the air with her fingers.

“Sune ata anisum, sune ata karun, patika, esola est!” (”Seal thy danger. Seal thy evil! Darkness! Be gone!”)

Five glowing circles appeared before her. It had the same letters and symbols like her father’s but hers looked sharper. They combined to form one giant web of light and it covered the crack as well as her father’s seal.

The escaped monsters stretched their claws and attacked Solene where she hovered. Seeing this, Jacob withdrew and fought the gargoyles instead. He had a new duty now, and it was to protect his daughter and curb any interruptions for her.

Solene briefly glanced at her father. Her heart lurched as she saw him fight these behemoths and clearly outnumbered. She wanted to help, but she had a fight of her own to focus.

“You can’t escape to Sattus anymore! I won’t allow it!” she cried out in response to their howls and growls.

She positioned her scythe in her front and chanted the seal spell again. This time, it glowed bright blue. The light from it shot through the barrier and fortified it times ten. However, with almost all evil souls in Gehenna collecting in this one spot, she was slowly overpowered. She winced and stepped back to try to stabilize her footing better.

‘Everything I learned... Everything I experienced...’ she cried out in her mind. ‘Everything has prepared me for this moment... I am the Queen of Sattus. I can’t fail my kingdom!’

Large hands materialized around her wrists then, and she felt someone’s presence behind her. She wasn’t alarmed with this though, for she knew...she knew it was her husband.

“Take it easy, love, and remember, I am here to support you,” Henri softly whispered in her ear.

In reflex, Solene’s lids flitted to a close. She savored the smoothness of his voice and the surge of comfort she felt at that moment.

“Henri...” she bit back a sob and shifted her face to the side to meet his eyes.

They exchanged smiles, but Henri, unable to hold back, kissed her forehead. It was a short, intimate bubble for both of them, and they would have wanted to extend it if it wasn’t for the current situation they were in. With the swell of demons, time now was of the essence.

“Now, focus, Solene,” he said while withdrawing. He covered her hands with his and supported her fingers as she held the scythe. With his added energy, the internal flames of Sattus surrounding the blade quadrupled; the pure white energy of Solene, the blue glow of the staff, and the ruby red flames all combined into one giant cyclone. It stretched into the seal and made it indestructible. Those demons that came in contact with the flames instantly decomposed. The others flew back and growled in displeasure.

“Focus our combined energy into the crack,” Henri added.

Solene did as he instructed, closing her eyes and clearing her mind, leaving only the existence of the seal and nothing more. 

“That’s it, my queen!” Henri said again when the cyclone became brighter and thicker. “Focus! I’ll support you!”

The ground between Gehenna and Tartarus shook. The barrier that demarcated the two lands cracked on all sides, but Henri wasn’t concerned. From Solene’s seal, he saw the beginnings of a better prison for these evil souls. What’s more, she had rule over them and jurisdiction over what he now calls as the New Gehenna.

“Ahhh!” Solene bellowed as she felt her body zap three times, each cycle stronger than the first. The staff slightly dented due to the force of her grip, while Henri had to erect an invisible wall behind him to support his balance. If he didn’t, he would have been sent flying back like an origami.

 At the fourth zap, the seal enlarged. It stretched all the way to the South of Gehenna and consequently encasing everything in its path. The demons, monsters, and souls inside retreated to land with their mouths gaping. Outside Gehenna, the souls in Tartarus, Nirvana, and the rest of the sections of Sattus were the same. They witnessed their queen’s power. They witnessed their king’s supportive side. They witnessed their rulers in their best and strongest form, and they were in awe.

Standing on top of the dead spider-like monster, Jacob watched his daughter and felt a sense of pride within him. He never doubted her for one second. He always believed she was meant for something greater, and this was to be by Henri’s side. 

When the seal fully transformed into a new barrier, Solene stopped the cyclone and took a deep breath.

“There, there,” Henri was quick to hold her up when her balance swayed. He cocooned her in his embrace and pressed her head against his chest. “You’ve done it, Solene. Gehenna’s barrier is sealed again, and even better, it is renewed.”

“I wouldn’t have done it without your support, Henri,” Solene muttered weakly. She felt so drained, but his presence near her allowed her body to regenerate faster. “You...you finally show yourself.” She looked up and gave her a weak, pointed glare.

Henri briefly dipped his head. “I apologize for my tardiness, my queen. I got held up fighting Caym.”

“And did you give that damn demon some thorough lashing?” she asked.

He nodded and awarded her a cocky smile. “Yes, I did, and more. Hope will be pleased.”

Solene hummed a pleased tune and buried her face in the crook of his neck. “Let’s return to the castle, please,” she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “I need to take a rest.”

“Ah, about that...”—he muttered as he hid a guilty expression from her— “the castle is not livable as of the moment, Solene. My fight with Caym damaged most of the walls, ceilings and floor.”

Solene scoffed and rolled her eyes heavenward. “Why am I not surprised?”

Then she was awarded by Henri’s mischievous grin. “How about two or three days in the Fair Silver Estate? How does that sound?”

She twisted her lips and considered his words for a moment.

“Well, if you promise we go horseback riding again into that secret river near that willow tree, then it’s a yes,” she stated with her eyes twinkling with excitement.

Henri brushed a few rogue strands out of her face and nodded. “Yes, I promise.”