"How did you lose it?" Cedrick asked. He looked worried. "The king will be furious."
"I'll get her back ," Kira said, her voice steady. "She's here. I know it."
The two moved quietly through the dark hallways. They spoke in whispers, planning their next move. They were heading to King Reagan's room.
"I saw them bring her in," Cedrick whispered. "She matches the seer's description. But how do we free her?"
Kira's eyes narrowed. "We'll figure it out, even if we have to fight every soldier in Konica."
They stopped in front of Reagan's door. Kira turned to Cedrick. "Wait here."
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped inside. She closed it softly behind her. King Reagan sat in a large chair, staring at the fire. His face was hidden behind a mask as usual.
"Your Majesty," Kira said, her voice shaking. She hesitated, but she knew there was no turning back.
Reagan didn't look at her. "Where is the girl?"
Kira swallowed hard. "They took her," she said. Her voice was small, filled with regret.
The room was silent. The king kept his eyes on the fire. After a long pause, he stood. His tall figure cast a shadow across the room.
"You failed me," he said, his voice cold and emotionless.
Kira lowered her head. "Forgive me, my king. I'll fix this. I'll—"
"No," Reagan interrupted. His voice was sharp. "You have done enough. I'll take care of this now."
Kira felt her stomach drop. She knew the king's involvement would only make things worse for everyone.
---
Jamari lay on the cold floor of a prison cell. Her body was weak, poisoned by venom. The air was filled with dust. A flickering light barely lit the room. Outside the cell, a guard stood, looking tired.
Marcella, Jamari's godmother, arrived with the antidote. She faced the guard. "I need to see her. Let me in."
"It's dangerous," the guard warned. He looked nervous.
"If she attacks, I'll handle it," Marcella said firmly. "Step aside."
The guard hesitated, then moved. Marcella walked into the cell and saw Jamari lying on the floor. Tears filled her eyes as she knelt beside her.
She lifted her head and poured the antidote into her mouth. "You should have listened to me," she whispered. "I told you to stay safe."
Jamari started coughing. Purple liquid spilled from her mouth, and the dark veins on her skin began to fade. She collapsed into Marcella's arms, gasping for air.
Marcella held her close, relief washing over her. "Jamari," she said softly, "can you hear me?"
Jamari's eyes opened slightly. "Where am I?" She whispered.
Marcella stroked her hair gently. "Don't worry. I'll get you out of here," she promised. "I won't let anything else happen to you."
-——————
A crowd of angry villagers surrounded Jamari. They shouted hateful words, their voices loud and cruel. "Kill the witch! She's a monster!"
Jamari was held tightly by guards as they led her through the mob. The villagers threw things at her, their rage clear.
It had been four days since Jamari was imprisoned. This was the first time she had seen sunlight again. Corvus, watching from nearby, kept an eye on everything. He had been quietly helping her to see her surroundings as usual .
The guards led Jamari to a raised platform. There stood the king of Konica and his advisors, their faces serious. Jamari felt the intensity of their stares as the villagers continued to shout for her death.
Jamari stood on the platform, her eyes scanning the crowd. She felt nothing but sadness as she searched for a familiar face but found none. The mob was a sea of strangers, their anger directed squarely at her. Her godmother wasn't there, and the absence of her comforting presence made Jamari feel even more alone.
She turned her attention to King Herad, the man she had learned was her father just days ago while locked in the palace prison. The truth had shaken her, but the hatred he has for her overshadowed everything else. He knew she was his daughter, yet instead of love or protection, he gave her only hatred.
Jamari clenched her fists and bit her lip to keep her emotions in check. She was very afraid at that moment, but she refused to show it. The crowd kept shouting, their insults sharp and cruel.
She stood before them in torn, filthy clothes, her hands tied tightly in front of her. Her white hair, once bright and clean, was streaked with blood that dripped from a small cut on her forehead.
King Herad's voice boomed over the noise of the crowd. "Today, we are here to do what must be done." His words silenced the mob, their attention fixed on him.
"This witch came into our kingdom to curse us and destroy our children!" he shouted. "She is a danger to us all!"
Jamari's felt pain in her chest as his words struck her like blows. How could he say such things? He was her father!
"I swore to protect my people," Herad continued. "And I will keep that promise. Today, I end her evil once and for all!"
Tears stung Jamari's eyes, but she forced herself to stay strong. Her heart ached at the thought that her father, the man she had longed to know, wanted her dead.
In the crowd, she finally caught a glimpse of her godmother. The older woman nodded, her face calm as she smiled at jamari, a smile that told her everything was going to be alright. The small gesture gave Jamari a spark of hope.
Herad raised his hand, silencing the crowd again. "Prepare the execution!"
Next to Jamari, a stack of jagged rocks stood. Beside it, the executioner gripped a shining silver axe. Its blade gleamed in the sunlight, sharp and ready.
The guards grabbed Jamari roughly, dragging her forward. She stumbled but didn't fight back. They forced her to her knees on the hard ground, her head pressed onto the cold stones.
The world seemed to slow down. Jamari closed her eyes, her body trembling as she prepared for the end.
Herad sat back in his throne, his face cold and unreadable. He gave the final order. "Off with her head!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, their bloodlust filling the air. Jamari felt their hatred pressing down on her like a heavy weight.
The executioner raised the axe high. The blade caught the sunlight, blinding Jamari for a moment. She clenched her jaw, her heart pounding so hard it hurt.
Just as the axe was about to fall, a deafening screech cut through the air. It was so loud and sudden that it froze everyone in place. The cheers stopped, replaced by gasps of shock and fear.
Jamari's eyes snapped open. The sound was otherworldly, echoing in the silence that followed. Something was coming, and it had interrupted her execution.
All eyes turned to the sky as a screech echoed louder and louder. A gigantic shadow moved fast in the distance, shocking everyone present. "Dragon!" someone shouted immediately they spotted the creature . Gasps of fear swept through the crowd as the massive creature came closer, its wings cutting through the air with terrifying power.
The crowd panicked. People screamed and pushed, running in every direction to escape. The dragon landed with a ground-shaking thud, its roar piercing through the chaos. Dust and debris flew everywhere, and its sharp claws dug into the earth.
The creature was huge, with shimmering scales that gleamed under the sun. Its fiery eyes scanned the crowd, and its long tail swayed like a warning. The sight was both terrifying and mesmerizing. Even with fear gripping her heart, Jamari couldn't look away.
King Herad stumbled forward, his face pale with fear. "What is this?" he muttered, his voice shaky.
The guards tried to charge at the dragon, but it was useless. The creature roared and unleashed a blast of fire, sending them scattering. Some were burned, others crushed under its massive claws. The dragon showed no mercy, and the crowd watched in horror.
The altar, where Jamari knelt moments ago, was now in ruins. King Herad stood frozen, his officials nowhere to be seen. He was alone, staring at the monster before him.
Then, out of the chaos, two figures appeared. It was Kira and Marcella. Jamari's eyes widened. Her heart leapt with shock and a glimmer of hope.
"It doesn't have to end like this," Kira called out, her voice firm and steady. She looked directly at the king, her words sharp but calm.
King Herad stumbled back, trembling. "Why is this happening? What does the Dragon King want? Grand general Kira, stop this creature! Please!"
Kira sighed and shook her head. "Necrodaxis, the dragon, is only following orders. And the Dragon King is far away. If you harm his queen, no one can stop this beast."
Herad blinked, confused. "Queen? What are you talking about?"
Marcella stepped forward, her voice steady and clear. "The dragon is here under one command: to retrieve its queen. If you stand in its way, it will destroy the kingdom."
The words hit King Herad like a blow. "The queen? What do you mean?" he stammered, his face pale.
Kira turned to Jamari, her expression soft but serious. She knelt before her, bowing low. "Your Majesty," she said with respect.
Jamari froze, her breath catching in her throat. "What? Why are you calling me that?"
Kira met her gaze, her tone filled with certainty. "The Dragon King has marked you with his blood. That mark on your forehead means you are his queen, the rightful ruler of Drakonia."
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The last part of this chapter is confusing, I agree but when you read the next chapter
you will understand it fully.
the next chapter is going to contain flashbacks of what happened within the four days she was in the prison, and how she mysteriously became the dragon king's wife so just stay tuned for the next chapters and find out, for now like and comment.