Chapter 17: New Crown

Upon reaching Uboni I was taken to the basement of the mansion, our equivalent to the Hazel's dungeon. Instead of individual cells with steeled bars, there are all-white rooms that lock from the outside. Although our soldiers keep the rooms clean, they still smell of piss and body odor. There isn't much room to work with either, I feel suffocated by how close the walls are. If I had to guess, the rooms are about six by eight feet in size. Once you enter, all you have is a bed attached to the wall on your left, and a single toilet on the right with a small sink next to it, and a mirror above. These rooms are often used to break down prisoners for interrogation, fitting for what I'm about to step into.

The meeting with the council takes place today and yet again I'm waiting to be summoned to state my case. And just like last time, I'm dreading it. I can't imagine Grandmother will have a warm welcome for me. Especially after hearing that I'm a multi-seal. My siblings and I have never been close with her, she lives in the city and rarely visits. When she does, she's cold and aloof. With me at least. I didn't understand why I was treated so differently from Brianna and Elijah when I was younger. But, now that I know where and whom I come from, I wonder if she's always known.

Luckily I had Ms. Patricia to fill that role in my life, the role of a grandmother, and guardian. Without her, I'd be lost more than I can imagine. It pains me to see that she blames herself for letting me go on the mission. I tried to assure her that I would've done something stupid either way. She visited earlier this morning to check in and tell me how Father is doing. His condition hasn't improved, he's still breathing on his own but hasn't awakened from whatever's happened to him. Whenever I think about him and….that woman, it fills me with guilt. There's also a part of me that believes none of this is my fault.

There's a knock on the wall coming from the next room. "You holding up okay in there?" David's muffled voice echos his room loud enough for me to hear.

"Just peachy," I reply, and my guilt returns with a vengeance. Along with Father, I've dragged David down with me, who's now been stripped of his titles. And I'd rather not even think about the war.

"Chaos amongst the Valentine, hmm?" Helen says and I ignore her, I haven't spoken to her since the incident on the ship.

"Still can hear you, darling."

"Still ignoring you, darling."

"Hearing you say that word brings me a bit of a joy, actually."

"What is it about that word? Why do you use it so much."

"It's the only thing of my Father that I have left."

I have a quick flashback to Helen's memory and her Father's words: "It's a nice day for a walk. What do you think, darling?"

"I'm sorry…I didn't realize," I say.

"Stop apologizing to me, it makes me itch. It's nice that you're talking to me though."

Our conversation is interrupted by the sound of footsteps echoing down the hall. They draw closer and stop at my door. A key enters the lock and turns it over, swinging the door open is Lauriel with Rose by her side.

"It's time," she says.

I leap out of bed and walk out to see Rose handcuffing David and placing a dampener tag on his chest. She activates it by pouring a small amount of her aura into it. Lauriel handcuffs me and does the same.

"I find it hilarious they police magic so heavily yet use dampeners that are based on spell magic," Helen chuckles.

"Is this really necessary?" I ask Lauriel as she activates the tag on my chest.

She assures me in a sarcastic tone as she drags me along through the long halls. We head to the conference room which isn't that far, and after walking for a couple of minutes we reach the hall. The same hall that started this entire thing. Lauriel opens the door and we walk through, it gives me slight deja vu as everyone is seated in the same spots. Council to the right, Brianna, Elijah, and General Thomas to the left. Only this time standing at the podium is Grandmother.

She looks as regal as ever. Long black dreadlocks with grey hairs flowing down her back; Her coffee-toned skin is vibrant and glowing. She's seventy-four, but you couldn't tell from just glancing at her. Lauriel and Rose walk David and me through the long aisle until we're up on the stage with Grandmother, she doesn't even look our way. Her eyes remain forward with a stale, composed face.

After Rose and Lauriel take their seats, Grandmother begins: "Now that we're all here, I'd like to get this over with as quickly as possible. I fail to even see the point in having such a get-together. My son won't wake, my granddaughter is both responsible, and a witch. Also, Helen resides within her. I'd like to forget that part of our history, my son's- it doesn't matter anymore."

Does she know….? But how, if not even General Thomas did?

"She should be sentenced to death," she continues. "Along with this knight who betrayed the crown."

"Death?!" I shout. "Grandmother, you aren't-"

"I am very serious, and you only speak unless spoken to, child."

Elijah stands from her seat. "Grandmother, this is supposed to be a trial. She's here to state her case."

"What case needs to be stated?" She steps down from the podium and over to David and me. "You see what she is, you see where your Father is. There's no need for a trial. What you should turn your focus to is announcing who's taking the crown for the time being, or at all. My son may never wake up, which I find to be a good thing. Brianna told me of this plan of his. I believe he's lost his mind. To now suddenly employ witches and warlocks into the Valentine ranks? It's disgusting, and spits in the face of everything our name was built on."

"You mean hatred? Fear?" I mutter.

She turns to me and sighs with a smirk on her face, "Is that you or Helen talking?"

"I'd love to wipe that smug smile off her face," Helen says.

"Councilwoman Hughes, Queen Mother!" We're interrupted. I recognize her from last time. She's big-boned, with red hair and hazel eyes. "I speak for myself here, but killing your own granddaughter for something we have no explanation for doesn't sit right with me."

Another member of the council stands and turns her way. "You oppose us on everything, sit down and keep your mouth shut!" He says.

"Well, Ms. Hughes," Grandmother interjects. "Luckily you don't make the decisions here. That will be left to the heir that's taking the crown." She turns to Elijah, "you gave up your claim a long time ago, I don't want to hear a peep out of you." She then shifts focus to Brianna. "Besides Councilwoman Hughes, I'm sure everyone would agree that you're our next Queen. You should be announced and take the crown as soon as possible, make quick of this decision with your sister and focus on the Hazel's. Everything lies on your shoulders now."

Brianna looks to the ground for a moment to ponder before standing and walking over to the podium. "Alyssa is still a Valentine at the end of the day," she rumbles in a low tone. "I won't allow my sister to die, both her and Helen have one chance with me. I'll decide what to do with her and If she steps out of line, I promise to kill her myself. As for David, I'm fine with sentencing him."

Grandmother smiles and turns to the council. "Well? Any opposition to Brianna taking the crown?"

Councilwoman Hughes slumps into her seat while the rest of the members stand. "No opposition, Queen Mother."

"Excellent. Hail Queen Brianna."