The Return of The Queen: Part One

Aliyah opened her eyes slowly and looked around. She saw Elgin and Vexana lying near her and saw them in huge plasters and nurses treating them. Aliyah tried to rise up, but Maester Jovelinus stopped her and said, "Lie down, my child. Your wounds aren't properly healed." Aliyah looked at him and asked, "Am I in Mount Tysogame?" Jovelinus smiled, "Yes. After the dreaded incident in Namaria, we took you three and brought you here. Alice is still unconscious, but she is showing signs of recovery. Trisha is also in her room, trying to adjust with her new powers. I told her about Elena's sacrifice and she was initially very sad and cried a lot but now she respects her deceased friend." Aliyah asked, "What about Licha and Vera?" Jovelinus said grimly, "They died as you already know and now Namaria is under emergency situation. There were huge riots, but Daina managed to control the situation with her army. Namarian people are now starting to believe Daina as an able person." Aliyah asked shocked, "These many things happened? How long have we been unconscious?" Trisha came towards her and said, "Probably eleven or twelve days. The Elf Kingdom suffered a huge blow, but fortunately they were able to withstand eleven days without any loss of lives. Safi and Phantom killed many men and saved many lives. I think they can take care of the Elf Kingdom, when we return to the mortal world." Elgin woke up and looked at Trisha, "Where is Diego?" Trisha asked, "How would I know?" Elgin said grimly, "I just had a nightmare where Halidesus and Raya kidnapped Diego and ran away." Aliyah said grimly, "That's possible. But, they don't know where Diego is, so I won't worry about that much." Jovelinus smiled, "Herbs and some rest will make you healthy in a few days. Rest and don't think so much." He walked away. Trisha looked at Vexana and asked, "What was the need for doing such a dangerous stunt?" Vexana said grimly, "It was not intended to go the way it went. But, still it worked. Licha and Vera are crafty, so having an extra plan was always necessary. But, Aliyah took the plan to the next level and made it dangerous for all of us. Anyway, talking about that won't change anything." Aliyah lied on the bed and sighed, "What about our enemies, Trisha?" Trisha said grimly, "The Elf Kingdom is still surrounded by enemies. Kavana and Kystion went back to Ogre City to talk with some Bacca. Apparently, Xao Chang sent some warriors for the war and Bacca is leading them. Nakamura and Assayah managed to conquer the north side of the palace and now have the treasury on their side. Kenchi raided the local villages and burned many brothels and taverns. Kayuba and Bayu destroyed the whole Ganzi City and are fighting in the palace." Vexana asked, "Did they raise the chances of winning?" Trisha said grimly, 'Not at all. In fact, some reckless decisions killed many men unnecessarily." Aliyah said grimly, "We cannot lie here quietly while those devious bastards are tormenting our folk. We have to go." Elgin said grimly, "Going in this state is not good. Vexana is badly burned, my arm still needs a week to completely heal and don't forget that you are also heavily wounded." Aliyah said grimly, "It doesn't matter how hurt I am. I have fought wars with far more injuries than this. Once Bacca reaches the Elf Kingdom, stopping them will be near impossible." Jovelinus walked inside with a tray full of green liquids. He poured half a litre in each one's mouth and said, "You are a warrior, Aliyah. Protecting innocence from evil is your utmost responsibility. But, an incapable body is like a rusted sword, Aliyah. If you go now, you will not be able to defend anyone, but if you go there when you are fully healthy, you can save many." Aliyah said grimly, "Time is running out, Maester Jovelinus. We may wait, but the bad guys won't. If we don't go now, they will defeat everything we stood for." Jovelinus smiled, "Alice is showing signs of Mother Manaca, Aliyah. Her body is uniting with the Blood Spear slowly. After the Blood ritual is completed, she will become the Blood Queen. But, like everything, it will take time." Aliyah said grimly, "Alice getting united with the Blood Spear is a good thing, but that also means that Xao Chang will also come here soon. He will never let Alice complete the Blood ritual as it will seal the power in her forever. Therefore, delay is not a good option." Jovelinus smiled, "If you want, you can go away. I won't stop you, Aliyah. You were always impatient like your mother. But, your presence there won't mean anything if you could do nothing. An ordinary being like Vera captured you and put you inside a cell. Without Alice's power, you are half of your strength." Aliyah said grimly, "I am aware of that fact, Maester Jovelinus. But, look at the current scenario." Elgin intervened and said, "We will go the day after tomorrow if that pleases you, Aliyah. We all could take some rest after the huge blast. You killed my two sisters. I think they were worth three days of bloodlust." Aliyah smiled, "Not even one day. But, I can wait for three more days." Maester Jovelinus smiled and walked outside. Aliyah lied on her bed and closed her eyes to sleep.

Kavana and Kystion were riding along with Bacca inside their chariot. Kavana asked, "So, what are you planning to do now?" Bacca said grimly, "Xao Chang is not going to stay in the Monastery for a long time. If that girl becomes the Blood Queen, we are doomed. Xao Chang has sent three of his best men with me, so that we don't lose the war. Assayah and Kenchi were always the rotten apples amongst us, but I never expected Kayuba to be such a bastard. After all I gave him, he chose to betray me and break my trust. I really want to strangle him with my own hands." Kystion looked at three guys sitting there quietly. They were quiet from the start of the journey and didn't even say a word to anyone. Kystion asked, "Why don't they talk?" Bacca smiled, "They don't speak, because they can't speak. In fact, they are called the "Silent Killers" for that reason. They once worked for Xao Chang when he was in the initial days of his youth. Times were hard and most people liked slaves to do their work, so Xao Chang hired a team of three men to do their work for them. They were cheap and were silent as a bonus. Xao Chang and these three men formed the Monastery and after the war, they went with him to the center of the Earth." Kavana asked, "What about the legends from the previous war?" Bacca said grimly, "They died. History doesn't show much, but we suffered casualties too. Many of our men were ambushed and killed by people. Xao Chang cannot resurrect people who died by Blood magic and that is the reason, he invested so much time in mediation. He doesn't trust Kenchi, Kayuba and Assayah. He says that they are just seeds compared to the men he once led behind him." Kystion asked, "Will they be able to defeat them?" Bacca smiled, "Xao Chang will never joke in such dire situations. If he has sent them, they must be perfectly fine." Kavana and Kystion smiled.

Aliyah slowly walked towards the room where Alice was sleeping. She looked at her and smiled. Elgin came from behind and said grimly, "Poor girl. She doesn't even know what sacrifices her friends made for her. I just pray to Mother Manaca that she gives her the strength to endure such immense pain and suffering." Aliyah looked at her and smiled, "Tough times make tough people, Elgin. Now, she is finally uniting with the body of the Blood Spear and I only hope she soon gains consciousness and we can finish the Blood ritual before time." Elgin said grimly, "The Blood ritual won't change anything if she doesn't pass the purification. I heard rumours from Kayuba that Phantom is Alice's dad." Aliyah said grimly, "I know that. The moment I entered her body, I could sense a strange energy inside her. A huge conflict between her soul and that dark energy. But, after she started to regain her soul and the dark energy decreased. But, now things are even more unpredictable." Elgin said grimly, "Things will be better someday. I just hope that day comes soon." Aliyah sat near Alice and touched her forehead, "She is going to win the war happening inside her and then she will win the war happening outside too. But, she will need to be strong. Elena is gone and Trisha is good, but no match against the demons. Only Alice has the potential to end the evil of Xao Chang." Vexana came running inside with a box and said, "Look here, Elgin. Someone sent a box for you." Elgin opened the box and saw a little finger inside it. Elgin screamed, "Diego!!!!! My son." He fell on the ground crying. Aliyah looked at finger and said grimly, "Raya and Halidesus have stooped so low to use a baby in the war." Elgin asked grimly, "What am I going to do?" Aliyah picked up a letter which was red with blood. She read it, "Dear, Elgin, Aliyah and Vexana. We hope that you received our letter without any misplace or trouble. We sincerely thought you guys died with Licha and Vera, but apparently you stayed alive to endanger our lives. But, fortunately for us, we have a little, soft and cute immunity. Yes, we are talking about your little boy, Diego. We have him and we are sending a piece of his hand to verify our claim. But, if you want to see more of his hand, we would happily give that to you too. But, if you don't want that to happen, please kindly don't pursue us or even try to negotiate with us. Days of negotiation have long gone and we are currently keeping your boy. Don't worry, we won't harm him. A boy with your blood is a very valuable person and we surely will get a lot of value from him. Goodbye for now, your friends Raya and Halidesus." Aliyah crushed the paper and said angrily, "We have to kill those bastards. They are not going to escape after humiliating us so badly." Elgin said grimly, "Don't do anything. Please. I don't want my boy to die like his mother." Elgin slowly rose and walked outside. Aliyah and Vexana looked at him and sighed.

Aliyah and Vexana looked at Alice, who was slowly smiling. Aliyah smiled, "She is experiencing good memories in her dream. She is slowly connecting with her inner strength and soon will awake." Vexana asked, "What are we going to do about Diego?" Aliyah smiled, "Diego is safe. I replaced him with a dummy child. Raya and Halidesus kidnapped a dummy child." Vexana asked, "But, what about the finger? It looks real." Aliyah said grimly, "Of course, it will look real. My dummy child is a real child who looks like Diego. In fact, all babies look the same in this age." Vexana said grimly, "You are a monster, Aliyah." Aliyah smiled, "I saved a child, Vexana. Monsters don't do that." She smiled and walked outside. Vexana was about to leave too when Alice caught her hand and slowly opened her eyes. Alice looked at her and smiled, "Mother? You have come. Embrace me and save me from the monsters." Vexana embraced her and said, "Don't worry, child. I am here. No one is going to hurt you." Alice fell asleep again. Vexana turned and saw Aliyah standing there with her arms crossed. She smiled, "Good. Next time she wakes up, feed her some porridge and tug her in a blanket." Vexana said grimly, "She needs to rest." Aliyah grunted, "Why the hell does everyone here want to rest? Isn't the problem already big enough to be concerned, that you are making it much bigger?" Vexana said grimly, "She will rest and that's final. I cannot risk lives for your mad passion." She stormed away angrily. Aliyah looked at her going and rolled her eyes and walked outside the room. Alice opened her eyes and a little weak frown appeared on her face....