CHAPTER SEVENTEEN 'Readily take it'

“This is my right hand man, Cryston.”

Violet glared at the guard that tried to manhandle her when she crossed the borders and he glared back, slightly bowing his head. 

“Cryston will help you rescue your mother and get you a carriage that'll get you and your mother out of Keitan and to Thestryn where your aunt will be patiently waiting.”

Violet nodded, ignoring the tingling feeling in her gut. ”Thank you.” She whispered.

Poison nodded, gesturing her to follow Cryston out of the huge forest.

She crossed her fingers on her back as she walked next to Cryston, trying to mask all signs of nervousness. 

“At the back of Mistress Azarael's mansion, there's a dungeon which is where Lilly Agatha Sinora is held captive.” 

Violet nodded, her body tensing up with every move she made. “Are you good?”

She nodded, barely hearing Cryston's question.

They arrived in front of Azarael's mansion and Cryston stepped out, whispering something along the lines “.. as planned.”

The guards let them in easily and Violet instantly became suspicious.

She was a part of Keitan killer's association, she knew how rigid Azarael preferred to be in terms of security. 

“Cryston,” She said as he walked into the gate head on. “What?” he said in a hushed whisper as they walked past the guards who made no effort to scrutinize them.

“What is going on? Are you sure this is Azarael's mansion? How can we go in as we please?”

“Don't you know my master has his people everywhere in the world? Why can't we get inside Mistress Azarael's mansion, huh?” He snapped.

“Stop being so snappy, it was only a question!” Violet whisper-yelled and followed him through the midst of busy guards, going about their daily routines while Violet and Cryston walked through like they were invisible.

They arrived at a smaller space at the back of the mansion revealing a tiny place with shade and stiff gate made of steel. Violet shuddered and her stomach sunk. What if her mother wasn't inside?

She tightened her hold on her fist as Cryston unlocked the gate to the dungeon.

It was all smooth to be true..

“What are you waiting for? Get in!” Cryston yelled irritably. 

Violet exhaled with her mouth and entered inside the dungeon, she moved to the end of the dark room only to see a wooden bed. Laying on it was a beautiful woman with golden locks and fair skin.

Violet breath hitched in that throat.

“Mother?”

The woman's eyes opened revealing dreamy blue eyes.

Violet felt something in her shift.

The woman eyes widened and she stood on her feet before grabbing Violet by her hands.

“Oh dear..” She whispered, looking into Violet's teary eyes. “It really is you.”

The woman embraced Violet tightly and cried, “I'm sorry I left you all alone, I thought if I found your dad.. you two would reunite and—”

Violet disengaged from the hug and turned away, “I was never curious about my father. You were the one who was curious about the useless ass that got you pregnant and left you!”

Pain crossed the older woman's eyes and she sighed, “I'm sorry. I have no excuses.”

“Apologizing is nothing, we have to go back to Thestryn right now.”

As Violet turned away, Lilly grabbed her left elbow and let out a sigh.

“What happened, Violet? You've changed.”

Violet snatched her hand away, whispering. “I joined Keitan's killer association so you'd be free.”

Lilly gasped and fell onto the ground on her knees, sobbing.

“I—I— I'm sorry, my little one.” Lilly eyes were still widened in horror, “Francis, that fool!”

She was shaking now, “I-i told him he had a daughter and I told him you were Violet, the smart little girl with unique hair. Even after he sent me to Azarael to be tortured, I didn't expect he wouldn't.. look for you. I'M SO FOOLISH, VIOLET, PLEASE FORGIVE ME!”

Violet sighed, memories of her and Baddley crossing her mind.

Lilly was pitiful and it made her angry. 

She once felt like that because of a mortal man. She clenched her fist, “This isn't about you, Mother. Aunt Rhea wants to cross the border to get us back but Azarael sent top assassins to kill her. I know this because I'm among the killers association. I sent a friend to tell Aunt Rhea we're coming home so she doesn't have to cross the border but knowing her, she'll insist on crossing the borders untill she sees us.”

Lilly grabbed Violet's hand and started walking out the door, “We should not waste any more time here then!”

Cryston rolled his eyes and followed them out, leading them out of the pack of guards. As soon as they got outside of the gate, two distinct horses were waiting for them. 

“You two will have to find your way out by yourself, I can't go any further.” Cryston said.

Violet furrowed her eyebrows, “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING? POISION INSTRUCTED YOU TO LEAD US OUT OF HERE!”

Lilly looked at Violet, “Don't worry, Violet. I'll lead us both out of here.” Then she looked at Cryston, “Thank you for your help this time, young sir. We appreciate it.” She tactically slid the sword of the sheath by his waist and controlled the horse to start running in a specific direction.

“Hey!” He yelled.

Violet scoffed and rode in Lilly's direction, quickly catching up with her. 

“Who's your friend, Violet?” Lilly asked as they crossed the border without any issues.

“Why?”

“How could he lead you to rescue me ever so easily? Azarael is cautious. She should know about me being freed by now but.. It just feels too easy, my love.”

Violet felt her stomach tingle.

She clenched her fist on the horse strap, “I trust him.”

“Then I'll trust you. Hopefully, Rhea is safe.”

They took no rest and rode out of Lagsu. When it was midnight, they got close to Thestryn borders.. Home.

Violet felt a sensation in her chest and a tear trickled down her face.

Lilly noticed, 

“Violet? What's wrong?”

Violet shook her head and wiped her face. “I don't know.”

They crossed the borders to Thestryn and Lilly let out a sigh of relief. “Finally, home!”

Half way into the musk of tall trees, Violet and Lilly noticed that the warriors didn't appear. It was unusual.

Their kingdom had always been so cautious..

Lilly immediately touched the crystal on her necklace. “Something must've happened! I'm going to check, you be careful!”

With that, she jumped and landed on a tree.  Then she started jumping onto other trees to make the journey faster. 

Violet chest tightened at the urgency of Lilly's pace. 

She couldn't help her curiosity. Was everything alright? After all, this whole thing was her idea.

She forced her horse to increase its pace and it did.. Leading her past familiar buildings and tombs.

She could smell sage and it was hurting her soul.

The horse pace slowly started to decrease and Violet patience wilt. 

She hopped of the horse and started running towards the manor. It was incredible how there was none of the sisters guarding the forbidden library and tombs. If there weren't there.. Something terrible must have happened and it would be her fault if that were so.

The manor gate was wide open and familiar sisters were standing by the gate, their eyes dim.

“Violet!” They acknowledged as she ran towards them with wide eyes begging for answers. 

“A-aunt Rhea.. I—is she okay?”

One of them sighed and looked away. “S-she is terribly injured.”

Violet ran past them into the gate, S—she could still be saved. T—there was a possibility she could still be saved. She just had to get there early.

She ran passed the sisters on sight and into the right-wing of the major where Aunt Rhea was laying on white sheets with her skin, pale. Her chest barely moved as she laid there with Lilly holding her hand. 

A tear trickled down her face as she entered the wide open door. She knelt by the side of Rhea's bed and placed a finger by her nose.

There was no breath.

A loud cry escaped Violet's throat and she let out a wail of hurt.

Once again, she'd been fooled by a man. He had make her doubt her intuition only take advantage.  

“Enough, Violet!” Lilly snapped.

“I know you are hurt but it is not in our tradition to weep for the dead. It calls for a celebration instead because your Aunt Rhea gets to meet mother gaia.”

Violet held Rhea's hands and flinched at how cold they were. In the past, there were so warm..

“I'm sorry, aunt Rhea.” Violet whispered.

“I heard from the warriors that a man with blonde hair and green eyes killed the queen.”

Violet felt chills erupt on her skin.

“He is popularly known as Poison.”

Violet looked at the distaste in Lilly's eyes and shuddered. “Mother—”

“—Did you call the queen's killer your friend?”

Tears welled up in Violet's face as she realized there was nothing to defend.

She'd caused the queen's death. It was her fault.

“Did you deliberately sacrifice her to save me?!” Lilly snapped. 

“Mother!” Violet yelled back but no words to defend herself came out. 

“I, Lilly Agatha Sinora, the seventh keeper of the Thestryn valley strip you off your rank as Thestryn princess.”

“Lilly don't be rash, let's discuss this as a council first.” Alex said outside the door. She was the six keeper of the valley.

Their job was to make vital decisions for the well-being of the kingdom.

However, Lilly held the most power in the council especially to get Violet off the 'princess' rank. 

The council especially were so much more powerful than any princess was. The title was even on par with a warrior.

“Violet is my daughter and she has sinned. She has to be punished!”

“Even so, you cannot make this decision on  your own. The queen has just passed away, unnecessary tensions will hurt us!”

“Anya!” Lilly yelled out and a strong woman with broad shoulders and brown braids appeared by the side of the door.

“Yes?”

“Take Violet to the cold dungeon until further notice.”

“B-but she's the princess chosen by the queen!”

“Do you dare to disobey me?”

Alex sighed and looked at Anya, whispering, “Just lock up somewhere, its not like she'll stay there forever.”

Anya nodded and escorted a dumbfounded Violet out of the manor and into a tower built in the middle of the ocean. Once they stepped inside, Violet started shaking.

A cage was opened and Violet was forced to crawl inside. Once she did, the cage was shut and she was forced to feel the coldness of the iron steel pressing against her body.

A tear trickled down as the realization hit her soul.

Poison tricked her and her mother suspected her of trading her life for the queen of Thestryn. She didn't blame her mother though, it did seem like that.

It was her fault. She'd ignored her own intuition because she felt less to Poison or Jade who could control energy with ease. 

She sighed. Her mind made up.

There would be no next time.

But for now, she'd take whatever punishment came her way as the consequence for her action.

If this was gaia's cruel way of teaching her hard lessons, she would readily take it.

So she laid there on the cage, awaiting her fate.