13: Gift of Cold

I tried to open the box like Zairo said but no use until I noticed something on the lock. It isn't the normal lock; it needs a corresponding key to each figure.

I opened the metal box and all that is there is a small badge.

'Zatrice'

It is what the engraving on the metal box is. Behind the badge was a set of keys.

I opened the frame and I found two pictures of me. One with my father and a solo picture

'My dear Clymene,

If you're reading this, it is either you found it or your mother gave this frame to you as a remembrance of me. My dear child, don't hate Ezra at any form. She is still Katrina's daughter. Her father died when your mother, Katrina was only pregnant with her. Don't hate your mother either; she is only protecting you from the fire that will melt you. When you meet the guy you will love make sure you know him and he can be trusted, I won't be there to avenge the pain he would inflict in case. I love you my princess.

Father.'

I cried because of what I've read. Father endured too much pain for long. That's why he never complained if mother always go, because he knew that Mother was going to Ezra, her child.

I looked at the other picture, which is my picture.

'Pam,

If your reading this you must've read your father's letter. I found those in Ezra's room. I think your mother gave it to her. That's not the issue here. There is a conspiracy in your kingdom. Rumors about you are spreading; someone wants you out of the throne. Be careful, Princess. Meet me at home tomorrow after you read this. Patrice Avery Mae, be safe and use the pathway I made. The key to the box, if you found it, is inside the metal box.'

I used the keys to open a box and inside that was a pair of gloves, a crown... The Queen's Crown and the King's seal.

I read the letter with it.

'-I found this in the palace attic. It is with your things when you were a kid. Pam, wear the gloves and the ring at all times starting when you found it and especially after I left. Patrice, go to the palace library, search for the history section, find the book entitled; Diamonds of the Palace.

-Caution: do not get caught. Second to the last page.

-Every guard in the library, are your mother's followers. Third and fourth paragraph.

PS. 1rst 2nd and 3rd is the password to the first code.'

I followed Zairo's instruction and did what he told me to. I hid the box and everything else under my bed then I pushed one brick on my wall. It revealed a passageway going down. I followed it until I reached a door. I peeked at it and it was my mother's chambers.

It is already 9 pm why isn't Mother asleep yet?

I walked further and peeked to the other hole I saw. It's Ezra's room. I peeked and I saw Mother combing Ezra's hair.

"Mother, do you think Avery will find out you aren't her mother?" Ezra said

What? Then who is?

"I hope not. We will lose our ace in that case." My known Mother said

"But we still have one. She doesn't know how to control her curse and only you and I know how." Ezra said

"It is better that we have more than one." she said and kissed Ezra on the head

"Good night, Mother." Ezra said

"Good night, Trinity." Queen Katrina said and left her room.

"I will be the Queen, Avery. Not you or anyone." She said and laughed

I shook my head and walked pass it until I found a silent place.

I opened the door and I found out that I am in the Library.

I slowly walked to the History section and looked for it but sadly, the lights are off in this area.

I looked for the book even if it is hard then I pulled it.

'Diamonds in the Palace.'

I opened it from the back and I found it.

Third paragraph?

I counted the paragraph and read it.

'The King's second Alpha and Beta. There are more of me if you see catastrophic court. Found twice in the Evening.

Questions are answered by the first. Having supremacy in a specified realm by the third and second last. Monarchy on the third.'

I flipped the page hoping to get an answer but I only found a crest necklace on the cover. I noticed that the shelves have carving when I touched them. I traced it. Arrows.

I followed the arrows while holding the book

*CHIME

The book almost fell when I almost jumped upon hearing the bells chime. Is it midnight already?

I continued following the arrow until I ended to the wall and I saw a marking. It was as big as the crest.

I placed the crest and it matched. I placed the crest and pushed it then the wall moved and I saw a code. There are many possible answers.

I reread the third and fourth paragraph.

'The King's second Alpha and Beta. There are more of me if you see catastrophic court. Found twice in the evening.

Questions are answered by the first. Having supremacy in a specified realm by the third and second last. Monarchy on the third.'

The King's second Alpha and Beta?

Alpha and Beta?

Alphabet?

If that's the case, it would be:

The King's second alphabet…

I? 'I' is the second letter in the word 'king'.

There are more of me if you see catastrophic court. C? There are three Cs in the two words and there are more consonants than vowel.

Good thing I brought paper and pen when Zai said I would decode.

I C

Found twice in the evening? If I will base on the word evening, there are two N's and E's. Adding N at the end doesn't make sense so it means I need to use E

I C E

Ice?

Q is the first letter.

Third and second last?

Having supremacy in a specified realm. If 'a' wouldn't be included it would be the word specified. Third and second last?

E?

Monarchy on the third would be N

I C E Q U E E N?

I entered that and the door opened. I returned the book and wore the crest on my neck. I entered the door and it closed. The place is beautiful.

Cold and crystalized.

I found a book in the Middle of the room.

"Gift of Cold"

Ice.

I started reading it.

'A wonderful gift was passed down from generation to generation but sometimes it skips especially if it does not find any descendant worthy of it magnificence. It was the gift of the Cold Queen, Astranaiah, the offspring of a goddess and a mortal king. Direct descendants of Queen Astranaiah had been given the gift of Ice. They possess the power of Ice that can be used to either good or bad.'

Queen Astranaiah? I have never heard her name.

I placed the book down and roamed to the tablet looking tiles on the wall. These are tablets, ones where people would write the deceased names and hanged on the wall as remembrance of their existence, I've seen it on the Holy Grave before.

Astranaiah

Pristina

Oresteia

Thiel

I read each name until my eyes spotted familiar names.

Thalasseri

Zephyrus

Aristotle

Patrice

I reread all the names until I noticed something

Astranaiah

Pristina

Oresteia

Thiel

Arras

Orfanos

Euro

Acherons

Aeolus

Ariadne

Circe

Boreas

Cymene

Aura

Jillianne

Bryon

Arthur

Harmonica

Thalasseri

Zephyrus

Aristotle

Patrice

It was our ancestor's name and it seemed that my father had the gift and I would have it too.

I went back and read the book whenever I see something unusual I would try it. I tried every trick I found and I realized that I can't do everything, the small tricks look so easy but it takes up a lot of my stamina for unknown reason.

I don't know anything about magic and I've never taken any classes regarding to it for some unknown reason that doesn't make sense.

I sat on the bed on the side and I looked at picture frame hanging in front and removed the cloth cover.

Who is she? I read the engraving at the lower part of the portrait.

Queen Astranaiah @17

Queen Astranaiah, huh?

She looks like me, a lot like me…

Staring into her eyes made me feel so tired… trying the small tricks had drained me too much that I wanted to succumb to the exhaustion I'm feeling.