#Chapter200Return of the dead-03Althea Zoella Castellanos Silvermoon“Zoe, there must be something really going on back home. We cannot contact anyone. And the ones, outside of the kingdom, we managed to contact so far doesn’t know anything either.”“What about the preparation on our return?” My heart thumps, slow and loud, already knowing the answers to all my questions. “Unfortunately, all the aircrafts have been shut off by the kingdom. Including route via the sea.”“It sounded like a war cry.” I exhale a shaky breath, as my eyes stares at the vacant space ahead of me, brewing thoughts of hopelessness in my head. “I need to return home, Alex. No matter what.” My decision firm as we all sit in silence. But what now? There really was no way back home. What was I going to do? But what could I do anyways? What power did I hold?“A portal.”I look at Circe who looks at me with this glimmer in her eyes. “A portal?” Did I hear her correct? Was that even possible? “But no t
#Chapter201Return of the dead-04Althea Zoella Castellanos SilvermoonHe comes forth from his group who stands frozen on their steps, different sets of eyes still on me. But I look past their gaze and to the man that now walks towards us, only difficulty was that the more I look at him, the more I couldn’t get past the feeling that I knew him from somewhere, like we met before. And I was going crazy. First this place and now him. What else, Zoe? Get a hold of yourself. I pull myself together, climbing out of my crazy thoughts and once again put a smile on my face as I greet them. “Hi. I’m-” But I don’t get to introduce myself as everyone seems to have already known me here. “Althea?”I turn to Aries and squint my eyes at him, who only smiles back at me. He probably had already told them about me, right? “Right.” Turning around, I nod my head in acknowledgement but that only seems to surprise them further. “But please call me Zoe.” I manage to breath out given their reaction.
#Chapter202The Queen-01Althea Zoella Castellanos Silvermoon“She’s clearly talking about someone else. Eve you seem to be tired lately, come, I’ll take you to your room.” Natalie proceeds to take a very distressed Evelyn away from the crowd, but I just couldn’t let her walk away now. No, I needed a reassure before the day passes. I needed hope to hold her here. Because time, I did not have. “Evelyn.”Thankfully, she turns around at my hopeful request. “Evelyn is it? I came here with big hopes. I need a massive favour from you. I need your help Evelyn.”The harshness in her eyes gives me an answer before her equally harsh words do as she stands there, staring at me, reading every part of my face, my body, but I guess she does not find what she had been searching for. I put my fists on either side of me, defeated already. “Sorry but I don’t help strangers, I only help a friend.”And I had nothing more to say to that. Disheartened, I seal my lips tight, nodding my head, disa
#Chapter203The Queen-02Althea Zoella Castellanos SilvermoonAnd just like that the morning sun greets me, reminding me of the hours that had passed, that I had so far wasted. A day had gone by and we had nothing on our hand. No answers on my side.The sound of vehicles approaching in the distance makes me sigh in exhaustion, but regardless of my weary self, I prepare myself to greet them and possibly leave now. And I put a small smile on my face when Aries comes into the room and holds my hand, no words needed between us to understand, as a harsh reality leaves us all very much awaken. Hand in hand, we head for the front porch where the rest were already waiting for them and for us, our cars too lined up, ready to depart on command. I give them a tight smile, nothing more to say than the silence of the unknown and stand in front of the group with Aries on one and Alex on the other side. I hear the opening of the door behind me as the wolves too comes out to greet the rest an
#Chapter204The Queen-03Althea Zoella Castellanos SilvermoonBut he still dares to speak. Still, he defies me. “I’m afraid I cannot do so.” And I start to shake in fury, my eerie set of eyes, staked on his bare neck as his head remains attached to the ground. My heaving lungs audibly loud as an unknown anger starts to form within my soul which was turning as dark as the smoke flaming out of me. “Take…me…”But even through all this rage, this fire, this hate, I still feel it.I feel him. The soft touch against my back, delicate and tender, as if scared to break me. “…home…” Even through this darkness hovering over my body, I feel the small spark upon the lightest of his touch. And I halt. I halt as my conscious once again starts to return and I remember who I was and where I stand. When I don’t push him away, he bravely moves his hand over to my shoulder and across my chest, pulling me flush to the front of a very hard but a very warm body.Aries. My mate.Closing my
#Chapter205Daughter’s plea-01Althea Zoella Castellanos SilvermoonWe stay like that for a minute. I give myself some time to stay in his embrace, to feel his love. To be just another girl.With one last breath, I open my eyes determined again. This doesn’t change anything. The plan remains the same. We leave now. I realise even more, of the time that we didn’t have.Slowly leaning away from him, I look into his encouraging eyes and nod my head. Once again holding onto his hand tightly, I stand facing the crowd, to my people that remained holding their position, all heads still glued to the ground. “The plan remains the same.” Then I look down at Alastair. “To those of you that just joined us, we depart at once to the land closest to home then look for a way in.”“Understood.” They all reply and with a sigh I dismiss them. “You may all rise.” And they do so immediately. But out of fear. Of me.“I’m sorry.”As guilt prods my heart, the word just comes out of my mouth, mak
#Chapter206Daughter’s plea-02Althea Zoella Castellanos Silvermoon“Evelyn is fine, Mya. This way.” Evelyn smiles back at Mya as she steps to the side, but not before looking my way and giving me a nod in reassurance that she will make it happen.I watch their back until they were no more in sight and exhale a deep breath. Now that a way home was secured, I still had one more thing to do. Mother had asked me to look for a particular somebody and relay a message.But the question was where do I even start. The world outside the kingdom was vast, many lands untouched. Even if I search the lands, the entirety of the sea, how long before I finally find her. Shaking my head, I squeeze tightly onto Aries’ hand and stand with lips sealed tight. Regardless I had to do something. Even if it will take me a millennium, I had to try. Determined, I look blankly at the space before me, onto their eyes, shied away, but the tense aura coming off me ends up gaining everyone’ attention. “I sti
#Chapter207Daughter’s plea-03Althea Zoella Castellanos SilvermoonTightening my fists, I look forward, nothing slipping out of my face, I remain stoic. I will never force anyone to go to a war, to follow me to death, I tell myself. “I stand before you not as your Queen but as one of you. Disregard the title, the power in my name, it is up to you if you want to stand beside me as a friend.”The field sits in silence, giving me their answers. I never expected much from anyone though. And now that I was back to my cursed self, I had no expectation at all. I feel Aries move closer behind me and take a strand of my hair on his hold, reminding me of his alliance with my soul. He was more than enough. He was all I needed.“My pledge with the goddess remains, so I cannot disregard your title, nor the power in your name, my Queen.” Alastair goes on his knees again, hand across his chest, fisted on top of his heart.“Nor can I, my Queen.” Alvin too goes on his knee. And honestly, I