Chapter 31

I sit leaning against the wall, head tilted back as I massage my temples, cursing the sounds of the trumpets that reach even the cells of the catacombs. The migraine is torturing me even more than the chilly, damp air. Today is coronation day, and my heart breaks at the thought of not watching as Alekai becomes King, of not standing beside his mother at the bottom of the stage while the Priest places a crown on top of his head. Instead, the two will be facing today alone, all the plans made by Arabess and I now on her shoulders to make sure today goes perfectly while I wait for the plan to start and escape from this cell. Three distinct sounds of footsteps draw near, and I smirk. It's show time.

“Oh, Lyra!” Linnate calls out, slamming something against the metal bars of the cell. I open my eyes, turning to look at the bitch wearing a light pink ball gown, her hair piled high on top of her head, revealing her slender neck and intricate jewelry.

“What do you want, Linnate?” I ask quietly, taking in the third person of the group with her hands tied in front of her. The girl appears to be in her teens, her dress disheveled and dirty and her hair a tangled mess around her scarred and bruised face. A black collar is wrapped around her neck, a lead clipped to it where the line ends in Linnate’s right hand. This must be Alice.

“I want you to do me a favour. Drink this bottle, or this pretty little girl will die. She is, after all, Alekai’s half-sister.” Linnate states, holding out a bottle in front of her as she smiles smugly at me. My eyes widen in mock surprise, already ready for the lies this woman will spew from her mouth thanks to Alister’s information last night.

“How do I know you aren’t lying?” I ask, getting off the cot and pushing myself against the cell bars, reaching out for Linnate who promptly steps back. Alister steps in, standing between the bars and Linnate like we planned and reaches into a bag where he promptly takes out a document for me to read.

“As you can see here, this young lady is indeed King Joseph’s daughter.” He states, winking at me, our cue that the drink is indeed safe for me to consume. I pretend to slump in defeat at the fake document, taking a deep breath.

“What’s in the bottle, Linnate?” I ask, glaring at the bottle in her left hand that she promptly hands to Alister.

“Nothing really, just a nice drink that will eliminate you.”

“So, poison.” She chuckles and tugs on the lead, pulling Alice forward as the poor girl stumbles over.

“So what’s your choice, you and the baby or the Princess beside me?” Linnate asks, and I sigh in defeat, reaching through the bars and accepting the drink from Alistar.

“If I drink this, will you let the girl go?” I ask.

“Of course. I may be heartless, but this girl is my ticket to becoming Queen.” I nod, looking at the girl and giving her a soft smile before uncapping the bottle and drinking the liquid. As promised, the liquid is nothing but water, the cooling liquid making my already cold body much colder. But I continue to drink on until every last drop is done. Then the show begins. My hand clutching the bottle opens as the bottle falls to the ground, shattering. I stagger backwards, falling onto the bed and clutching my throat as I gasp for air. I hear Linnate let out a manic laugh as my body goes limp after my performance of struggling and doing my best to barely breathe so as not to move my body.

“Alister, go in and check to see if this bitch is dead.” The sound of the lock being unlocked and the creak of the cell door opening has my heart beating quickly in anticipation. This is a critical moment, and Alister and I have to be in sync for this part to go right. Footsteps approach me before two fingers press against my neck. After some time, the fingers are moved, and a sigh escapes his lips.

“It’s done, My Lady, the Prince’s Pet is dead,” He confirms.

“Good. As promised, you and your daughter are free to go after you clean up here. Make sure no trace is left.” With that, the click of heels echoes down the hall with Linnate’s departure, and I wait patiently.

“Stay away from me!” I hear a girl scream, and I open my eyes to see Alister walk toward his daughter.

“Alice, it’s not what you-“

“You killed a woman, father!” Alice cuts him off. I sigh, sitting up and stretching, deciding to end my acting so that Alister can clear up this misunderstanding.

“Actually, he is helping me to expose Linnate for the vile bitch she is,” I state, watching Alice whirl towards me in shock as her father quickly unties her hands and removes the collar around her neck.

“You… You are alive?” She asks, and I nod, walking outside the cell and taking a closer look at the poor girl. Alister finishes checking over his daughter, asking what type of treatment she had faced in Linnate’s care, and I wait, allowing the two some time together.

“So you never really killed-” Alice asks her father, and he chuckles, pulling his daughter into a hug.

“No, dear, I could never kill. Besides, Lyra here is pregnant with the Prince’s child.” I hear a gasp after Alister answers his daughter, smiling encouragingly at the shocked girl, who is only a few years younger than myself, before turning to where Linnate always enters and exits from.

“So, how do we exit this place?” I ask.

“Just follow me, Miss Lyra,” Alister answers, taking his daughter’s hand and leading us through the hall. We pass many cells, some filled with skeletons that cause my stomach to churn, some empty and filled with dust and mildew. I can see Alice shivering, from cold or fright, I do not know, but I send the girl a reassuring smile as she turns back to look at me, hoping that everything will be okay. We come to the end of the hall soon enough. A wooden door is closed but thankfully not locked as Alister pulls it open, revealing a dark passageway leading into the unknown.

“I can only show you the way out as close to the Palace as possible. Linnate never allowed me to venture further than the exit and entrance.” Alister explains, and I nod, motioning for the man to take the lead again. We climb a staircase in the dark, all three of us being careful not to trip or fall, especially myself, to protect my baby. None of us says anything so as not to be caught by anyone. Alice screams when something skitters by our feet, causing me to jump and hold onto the poor girl until the familiar chitter of a mouse is heard, and I chuckle.

“It’s just a mouse, hun. They won’t hurt you.” I reassure, holding the girl until her breathing stabilizes. After reassuring her that she will be okay, the three of us continue our trek until a light at the end of the tunnel appears, and we breathe a sigh of relief. The three of us soon emerge outside, the smell of wildflowers sweeping past us, and I recognize where we are instantly.

“The front of the Palace is that way.” Alister points to the right, but I chuckle, turning to the left where the study is, and a flame of hope ignites inside me.

“No, that is too far; I know a shortcut.” With that, I start running in the direction of the one room I know only few have access to, seeing the familiar area I first came out of when I was lost in the secret passageways beforehand. It takes what I assume to be another five minutes, and I hear the yips of two very familiar dogs, and my eyes tear up.

“Nova, Chaos!” I call out, the yips going silent before the rush of paws in the tall grass can be heard, and my pups surround me. I smile, laughing as I hold my wolfdogs, kneeling on the ground as they lick my cheek.

“Nova and Chaos, get back, you naugh-“ A voice calls out, Elisa turning the corner and freezing as soon as she sees me.

“Miss Lyra!” the maid exclaims, rushing to my side and kneeling on the ground beside me, wrapping her arms around me.

“You’re okay. You’re alive!” My friend sobs. I smile, my own tears falling from my eyes.

“I can explain later, but I need to get to the ceremonial hall. I have to warn Alekai about Linnate.” I state to Elisa, instantly getting to my feet only to sway as a rush of dizziness causes me to fall. Arms hold me upright as Alister looks at me with concern in his eyes. Alice joins me on my other side and blocks the pups from jumping on me.

“You need to be careful, Miss Lyra. You are pregnant with the future Heir, after all.” Alister warns. I agree, thanking the man for his concern before standing straight, the dizzy feeling fading away. I can see Elisa's questioning look, but I simply smile. Now is not the time for explanations. Elisa seems to understand, coming to replace Alister by my side, and the two help me finish the journey to the study where we promptly enter the room. A shocked Adam stands and rushes to me, pulling me in for a hug.

“Lyra, I am so happy you are okay!” my guard exclaims, his eyes with dark circles surrounding them, taking in my appearance with relief and guilt.

“I should have-“

“Adam, I need to get to Alekai. This reunion can wait; now move.” I cut my friend off, pulling away and maneuvering around him to exit the room. I hear Elisa scold him as the group of four people and two wolfdogs follow me down the halls of the Palace, taking multiple turns until we come across a set of large double doors gilded with gold and the royal crest. Guards are standing at attention blocking us from entry.

“Let me in!” I state, standing tall and proud as I try to intimidate these me.

“Sorry, but we are under strict order not to let anyone through.” One states, only to have Adam lift him by the collar of his shirt in anger.

“Now, you listen to me. This is Lyra Roselette, the love of our King Alekai’s life who has been missing for the last few days. You can and WILL let us through this instance.” His threatening demeanour works because the moment this guard is released, his partner and him open the intricate doors just in time.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you King Alekai Mathews Gabrielle Nightwood.” The priest calls out, the room erupting into cheers. The doors slam against the walls, the crowd instantly quieting to see who interrupted the ceremony. I slowly stroll in as another wave of dizziness takes over me, and Elisa rushes to support my body.

`”Lyra!”