QUEEN CHRISELDA
"Idiots, that's what you are!" I sparked at the guards who stood before me.
They had their heads lowered before me.
"The next time you all will make me call out to you without getting any response, I'll have your heads chopped off!"
"We're sorry, Queen Chriselda." they apologized, but I wasn't done talking.
"If you see that wolf and cat running around without their owners and causing disaster in my home, then I want you to capture and lock them up! Is that clear?!"
"Yes, my Queen," they all chorused.
"What's going on here?" Allen questioned while stepping into my almost crowded room.
I sent the guards out and began complaining to my son about the attack made on me by those rodents.
"They almost sent me to the ground!" I groaned, turning over to look at myself in the mirror and see if that dirty cat make any scratches on me.
"Oh Mom, you know they are just animals? They don't have good reasoning like us," my son defended those creatures.
I know why he's doing this, but he's joking if he thinks I'll allow him to end up with that Omega of a… "Hold on," I uttered, gazing at my reflection in shock.
"What is it now?" Allen grunted out, drawing closer to me.
Where I stood staring at my reflection, I saw… "My pendant!" I screamed out, pointing at my bare neck!
"Goddess! When did it come off?! Where is it?!" I panicked, thinking about the dust stored in it and my only chance I have in looking for the spirit wolf!
Where is it?!
"Mom, calm down. I'm sure it's around here somewhere," Allen believed, trying to calm my mind. But I knocked his hand off my shoulders after hearing his words.
I don't need that nonsense encouragement! I want my pendant!
"Do you know how important it is to me?!" I roared at Allen, stunning him.
"I had it around my neck! It was on me when…" I paused, remembering.
"That Cat… It came right on my face!" I gasped, flashing to the incident at the staircase.
This pendant has never left me before nor has anyone made the mistake of taking it off. But those animals suddenly went rampage and now it's gone?
"Mom, what are you thinking about?" Allen asked on seeing how silent I went in an instant.
I didn't answer him but had my brain engine running and thinking about everything!
"Why is she here if she already has a lover?" Fiona's questions rang in my head, causing me to view that Omega from a different angle entirely!
"That pendant means a lot to me. It's the only thing that can help link me to the spirit wolf! If that girl is here for it, does that mean… No, Thelma tested her that day. She's not the one! Unless… unless she knows what it contains! But how?!"
"Mother, what are you mumbling to yourself?" my son asked, following my movement around the room.
I didn't care if I was jumping into conclusions or making a big mistake, all I know is that my pendant is missing and its those animals that caused it!
"That means she has it!" I concluded, storming for the door with my mind set on those brats!
"Who are you talking about? Mom? MOM!" Allen called out to me, already having a hint on my target. I left him behind, hurrying to the staircase.
Luckily, a few guards were close by. I signaled them over, ordering them to follow me.
I finally have something to use against that girl. Now the people of Wolf Fall would know who she really is.
Getting downstairs, I called out her name in rage, "EVOLET!"
My voice attracted the other damsels who came rushing out to know what was happening. When that wolfless Omega showed up with her friend and those rodents, I snapped my finger at the guards and ordered, "Take these thieves and lock them up!"
"What?!" they gasped out in shock, staring right at me.
All the maidens were surprised. They wondered what was going on.
"Mother, what are you doing?!" Allen came rushing in, grabbing me from the shoulder!
I shoved his hand off and ordered him to stay back. "I said take them away! What are you waiting for?!" I sparked at the guards, who immediately rushed up to grab the girls.
Before they could lay their hands, that annoying Wolf stood in their way, almost attacking the guards!
My men stood back, showing their fear in this mere puppy!
"Are you all stupid? Pin that dog down and arrest them!"
"We are going nowhere!" Evolet stood her ground, narrowing her brows at me.
"You can't just yell out my name and order the guards to take us for an invisible crime you think we committed! What's your prove? And what did we steal?!" she questioned loudly, glaring straight into my eyes.
Her sudden stance left the others looking at me. She's trying to act like a hero, so they'll think I'm the bad one here.
Well not in my mansion. I rule this land!
Scoffing at her, I accused, "My pendant. Where is it, you thief?"
"Your pendant? That black rock you always carry around you?" she lifted her brow in amusement and almost chuckled out, asking, "Why will my friend and I want to steal that? Have you ever seen us with that kind of jewelry?" She spoke in mockery, laughing.
"Even the one your son once sent to me looked more beautiful than that stone you hung around your neck. If I had no interest in his jewelries, why will I be interested in your pebble?" She frowned, hovering her eyes at me.
That was a good point which gave Evolet an upper hand against me, but still, I don't trust her. She knows something about that pendant!
"You dare call me a liar, you wretch?!"
"Um, I'm sure everyone here knows I didn't use that term Liar. You are the one who called yourself that."
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK BACK TO ME?!" I roared, raged at her boldness!
The others were afraid of my outburst. They had to draw away, watching this fight.
Evolet scoffed and said, crossing her arms, "You don't expect me to stay quiet when my image is being questioned, your majesty. You accused me of stealing and I am saying you are wrong. Or is this the reason why you brought me and my friend back to the mansion? Did you stage all this just to humiliate me?"
What she said left her fellow maidens murmuring. They didn't know that their Queen went over to her house to beg her.
Now they're going to have the wrong impression of their Queen.
This girl wants to ruin me!
"That's true," Her friend supported, gazing at me. "Her sudden visit and the way she was pleading… I knew we should have said no," she said, increasing the heat.
These two were making things hard. The confidence they showed made me wonder if I was in the wrong here.
"Mother, stop this nonsense! You are making a mistake," Allen said, pulling my arm.
But I won't allow this Omega to outsmart me. She's a thief!
Looking at the cat, I pointed at the creature in her friend's arms and exposed the tricks they used on me. "Your rodent attacked and stole my jewelry. You sent it to me!"
"My Kitty? No way!" Her friend defended, cuddling the animal close. "My cat will do no such thing! He never steals."
"Don't get on my nerves!" I shouted, unable to continue with this back and forth drama they were pulling here.
In anger, I commanded the guards to take them. "I don't care about the dog, just grab them! I'm going to use you two as an example and let the people of Wolf Fall know you're thieves. SEIZE THEM!"
The guards made their move, but they came falling back when both Wolf and Cat attacked, biting and scratching them!
Evolet shielded her friend while standing behind the animals.
The damsels fled back in fear. They didn't want to get caught up in this mess.
And just when I thought things wouldn't get any messier for me, "Alpha!" a maid called, rushing up to Allen and I.
She stared at me in fright and said to my son, pulling her hand from behind, "I picked this on the stairs where the Luna dropped it."
She opened her palm to reveal my pendant in her hold!
When I saw this, I felt a heavy load of shame falling on my head!
How come?!
"I wanted to bring it to her, but she sent me out of her room. So, I decided to give it to you," the maid shared, dropping the necklace in my son's hand.
Allen lifted it to my face and asked in anger, "What did I tell you?"
I couldn't utter a word.
I turned over to the others and found them all looking at me, angrily!
The sight of the pendant left everyone grumbling, mostly my injured guards.
The next thing I heard was a clap from Evolet. She swayed her head at this and queried, "How much do you hate me, Luna?"
"As far as I remember, I have never done anything bad to offend you. You have been attacking me from day one till now. Why?"
I was engulfed with heat!
I can't speak back even if I wanted to!
The tables have been turned. I'm now the enemy here!
"Why waste our time? Why don't you just say the truth? You only brought us here to look good in everyone's eyes, but in reality, you never wanted us in the game," she pointed , taking hold of her friend's hand.
"I think it's best if we leave, Derby. The more we stay here, the more we'll only be treated like trash, and I refuse to be seen as one."
"I knew listening to her was a big mistake," Derby backed.
Just as they were about leaving, "Please don't go, girls," I heard a familiar voice from behind, which forced me to turn around and look.
"Thelma?" I was stunned on seeing my sorceress. She was looking fresh unlike before!
She walked up to the girls and pleaded on my behalf, claiming I wasn't thinking straight due to a problem we were facing.
"The Alpha and Queen has been keeping this to themselves, but it's best if you all know," she said, looking at everyone.
Thelma lied to them that we were chasing the vampires and the stress was affecting me.
"She's struggling to protect the pack and make sure everything is in order. I've been inside working on something to help finalize this problem, so please…" she joined both hands at Evolet, smiling at her. "Please forgive her."
I couldn't stand this. My sorceress is making me look helpless in front of this Omega.
Allen, who knows this is a lie, stared at me in disgust. Nowadays, he no longer sees me as the mother he looks up to but a cruel ruler who wants to stand in his way.
I am doing all these things for him. I don't want him to make a mistake!
With all what Thelma had said, Evolet hummed and took a look at me. She stared for some minute and said, "I've heard you, Sorceress. I wish the Queen a quick recovery from her stress."
"Thank you for understanding," Thelma appreciated.
Evolet and Derby left with their pets. The damsels also did the same, along with my guards.
Allen didn't wait but bounced off after dumping my pendant in my hand.
It felt like the world was against me.
"Come with me, Luna," Thelma said, leading the way.
I followed from behind, staring at the pendant in my hold. But what stole my attention was Thelma's new look.
She's different.
Arriving at her chamber, Thelma sweetly placed me on her bed and told me to explain what had led to the big fight with Evolet. "You made yourself a complete fool in everyone's eyes."
"I thought that brat stole my pendant! How was I supposed to know that I made a mistake?" I fumed, tightening my fist around the necklace.
Thelma hummed and advised me to stay calm. "Mistakes do happen, my Queen. But as a ruler, it's important for you to maintain your image in the eyes of your people, no matter who you're facing. Didn't you see the way they all stared at you? Goodness," she sighed, walking up to her table to grab a chair.
Just then, I felt a crack in my palm. I was confused at first, until I opened my hand and found my pendant broken into pieces!
"Oh no!" I panicked, gazing at this in fear.
I overused my strength in ruining the only thing that… Wait a minute. Where's the dust?
I ran my finger on this pieces and realized instantly. "A fake?" I gasped out, rising to my feet!
Thelma, who was pulling her chair close, saw my sudden reaction.
"My Queen, what is it?" she asked.
I lifted my eyes at Thelma and showed her the ruined pendant. "It's a fake! Someone replaced the real one with a fake!" I roared out, tossing the garbage out of my hand.
I was really mad! The only person that came to mind was Evolet!
"She stole it. That girl is indeed a thief!"
"Where are you going to?!" Thelma questioned.
I was set to head back out there and make that girl pay for this, but Thelma stopped me. She turned me over and told me not to make another scene. "You have no prove that she did it. You will only make everyone see you as a bad Luna!"
"I don't care, Thelma! This is the pendant we're talking about! And… and why aren't you freaking out? Have you forgotten how important that necklace is?" I asked, noticing how calm my sorceress was.
And when it finally hit me… "You stole it, didn't you?" I glared at her, pushing her off.
Thelma didn't feel remorseful. She just smirked and said, "You left me with no other choice, Chriselda. Your stubbornness blinded you from seeing what is going on around you, that's why I took the dust to help myself."
She flaunted her powers in my face, smiling out joyfully.
"I feel so much better now. My pains are gone."
"You TRAITOR!" I sparked, swooshing a slap at her face. But Thelma made my hand freeze midair.
She shook her head and said, "Oh Chriselda, how can you mistake me for a traitor? Did you think I stole the power from you for my own selfishness needs? No!" She flashed her eyes, surprising me further with her behavior.
"I did this for your own good. You were just too blind!"
"Oh really? So, protecting the pendant to help us in finding the spirit wolf, means I have no eyes?"
"No, you were blind to see that the spirit wolf was close to you in your own land!"
"What?" I became stunned.
That's how Thelma revealed what she witnessed at the arena when the vampires attacked.
She said my pendant had glowed while she was shielding Allen and I, but I failed to notice because it was brief!
"The bearer was present. I picked her scent before it vanished," Thelma said, bringing my hand down.
"I made my research and discovered that someone had saved the people who were captured by the vampires. No one saw the face, but heard his voice."
Seeing how she lifted her brow, I quickly grabbed who she was talking about. "Cadell?"
"The dark blood is here in Wolf Fall with the spirit wolf. And I'm sure they came for the pendant," she chuckled.
This became overwhelming for me. I felt scared and at the same time, excited.
"Pull yourself together. We will get what belongs to you, my Queen. Be strong," Thelma said, cupping my face.
I had no choice but to overlook the fact that she stole the pendant from me.
I forgave her.
She was able to point out something I couldn't. Indeed I was blind.
I swallowed my anger and nodded at Thelma, accepting her words.
"I'll be strong," I promised.