Call the soldiers

The main hall of the Docrem Royal Castle was full of people from the elders' council. Speeches and loud voices filled the salon and were giving the Queen a headache.

"Your Majesty, we should track that woman and imprison her, she could be dangerous for the people and the Duke."

"Yes, Your Majesty please reconsider."

A group of high standing nobles had sought an audience with the Queen early that morning, and they were now inside the main hall on the palace with several others wanting Lucia to be prosecuted. However, they looked completely different from how the Queen remembered.

Their faces appeared much older than before and were extremely pale with dark circles beneath their eyes. How could it be that in just a few days, a whole bunch of council members from the Great Docrem Kingdom started looking haggard, with illnesses, some others even died.

The Queen let the King and the Wizard Council investigate the matter in secret. 'Just what is going on?'

"I won't take any action if you don't have evidence. After all, she is already the fiancée of my brother."

"Please Your Majesty reconsider, we must stop her. Master Kilian said she…"

"Master Kilian committed treason for daring to hurt my brother and afterward he injured my King. That alone is punished with death. Are you asking to listen to a criminal?"

"No, your Majesty this concerns the peace and wellbeing of our country. That woman may be dangerous for the citizens of Docrem."

More murmurs and comments to capture Lucia were raised in the hall. It seemed that they really would take severe actions if they were not listened to. The nobles with the worn-out appearance were riling up the others with their remarks and soon the whole council arrived at an agreement.

"We should just take her into house arrest for the time being to avoid severe repercussions if she is found guilty."

Miriam couldn't believe what was going on right in front of her. These noble ladies and gentlemen were always trustful and rational people so she named them as members of the council to help her rule the country, but now they were being easily swayed by their fears and the accusations without evidence of Master Kilian.

The Queen sighed. She can only stale for time for the result of the investigations.

'What is going on with these people? They are clearly under an enchantment, but I cannot disclose this too early as to not cause panic within the citizens and startle the snake who is behind all this.'

Suddenly the painful screams of one of the old men attracted the attention of the whole room.

"Ahhh!"

"Minister Dume, what is going on? Someone, check on him quickly." Miriam looked concerned and ordered.

"Don't come closer!" The man screamed. His face was distorted as if fighting against something within him. His eyes were red and his face was without color, filled with sweat. He kneeled on the ground breathing hard, holding his head with his hands almost crushing it.

All of a sudden, his shadow, which was reflecting on the floor, changed its form completely. It became taller and darker, making that part of the room freeze giving out a creepy and frightening feeling. The nobles near him took several steps away.

"Stay away from me, don't come!"

The man was screaming but his eyes didn't focus on anyone. He was looking around as if trying to find something, something he could only hear.

"Get away from me. Don't come closer you demon!"

His face showed too much fear. But his eyes had the resolution to continue fighting. After all, he was the retired general that followed the Duke of Rein many years ago. His military record was extensive and the things he had seen made his mind strong and fearless of death. However, right this moment he was screaming and sweating like a novice in the battle camp.

"Minister Dume! Someone, get the head wizards here now!"

Miriam was stunned by what was happening. She had met the man long ago and couldn't believe that the old cold general could behave like that.

Then the palace walls began to grow ice little by little, the windows creaked, and the doors were blocked by solid frost.

Miriam could feel the extreme ice freezing the room. It was hard to breathe and most of the people inside were trembling, maybe from the cold or maybe from the terrifying feeling.

"Ahh!"

The old man let out a powerful scream and the shadows around him increased. The lights inside the hall shut down and the sky became clouded with thunders. He was breathing weakly and was about to collapse when a young noble stood beside him wanting to help but a shadow materialized right there and pushed him hard against the nearby wall.

"Don't come close!"

The old man again shouted and turned to look at Miriam abruptly. "Your Majesty, you have to protect the people… he is coming… he wants to eat… his shadows want to eat… he is hungry." His voice was almost a whisper.

His words caused panic among the nobles and they tried to get out of the hall, but they couldn't open the doors. More darkness spread inside the room sending shivers to everyone.

Miriam kept her calm and was about to use her power to light the room when a voice, an evil voice echoed in her mind as if whispering beside her ear.

'Woman, the time will come… I will eat your soul… I will eat all your people's souls…'

The feeling made her panic for a moment, but something else helped her regain her calm. The blue ring appeared in her hand in that instant and after closing and opening her eyes for a second the intense light from it reached every corner of the room.

The shadows gave an intense cry and left. The peace and warm feeling from the light gave everyone reassurance. However, Miriam was left with an ominous feeling, a terrible and scary premonition. Her instinct said that that thing will come again and something horrifying will reach the kingdom in no time.

She recalled the voice of the little child and his warning words. 'My parents told me before ascending that they were warriors against an ancient and powerful evil that was sealed long ago. And if it manages to escape…It would be terrible… we will need to prepare for a long battle.'

The door from the main entrance cracked open and many knights and the King entered. Maurice's eyes were with anxiousness as he reached Miriam extremely fast. He felt the same creeping feeling from his battle with Master Killian, he knew that thing was inside the main hall so he called for his knights quickly and tried to break in but something was preventing them from getting inside.

"Miriam! Love are you alright?" He took her in his warm arms. She was freezing.

"… yes…" Her hands and body were shivering.

"What happened?"

"Th… the thing…"

"Calm down, my love."

She laid in his arms for a couple of seconds before steading her feet. She took his hand and turned to look at the people below. Even if she was afraid of what's to come, she should be prepared and not let her people suffer.

Her eyes landed on the leader of the Palace Knights and the Generals of the army.

"Knight Leader of Docram, esteemed Generals of the army. We are facing an enemy that wants to destroy our peace. Call the soldiers and announce it to the people. We cannot delay this matter."

** **

"Master Killian we should find that woman… she is the one at fault for everything. She is the one manipulating the Queen and the Duke!"

"Yes… we should go but the others won't follow us. The Queen expelled the shadows… we need more."

The old man's eyes were no longer focused. His sight was glassed as if nothing could be reflected anymore.

They were at the border of the country, on an old town near the southern frontier. Some little towns were stationed nearby where the people were merrily enjoying the summer, not knowing the danger that was coming.

"Yes Master, we need more, and I had already prepared some of them, don't worry."

She looked at the poor villages not far from them and narrowed her eyes. An eerie feeling emanated from her smile. If someone saw her, they would be stunned and wouldn't recognize the sweet Princess Rebecca from before.

"The Queen will certainly call for reinforcements from the tribes and other Kingdoms, she is a smart one. She will take action right away and summon a meeting with the other kings and leaders of all the allied countries."

"Yes Master, we need to stop her, she is controlled by that wicked woman. She is going to cause damage to the whole country and the people, the Duke included."

Her eyes showed infatuation at the mention of the Duke. She can clearly remember his handsome face and masculine body. His eyes and dimples when he smiled, but that smile never was directed at her. He was always looking at the pale woman.

Her master from the shadows told her that he was meant to be hers, that if not for the interference of Lucia, she would be the one beside him. That made her full of rage and jealousy, she needed to free the Duke and led him to the right path, her path. Then she made a pact with her Master; he was to give her the power to take away the Duke and she will help him get Lucia.

"Everything should return to the right path."

She stood up and walked to the door.

"Rebecca?"

"Master, I would call for some… reinforcements. I will come back a bit late." She didn't stop to look back and went outside.