Chapter 3 The Rebellion

Quetan raised an army. She was going to cause a rebellion and strike the Vermia Kingdom when its protector , her sister was at her weakest; when she was in labour. The prophecy had stated that a solar eclipse would arise to mark the birth of the Guardian in the prophecies. Queen Melisa was a Guardian of light who was responsible for sustaining the light in Vermia. Since, Elphims were stronger in darkness and weaker during daylight, Quetan would be stronger during the eclipse. Melisa, who would be in labour then feared she might be no match for Quetan by then.

"Push!" Another midwife called out. Melisa, with all the strength she could gather hearkened to the command she heard. " I can see the head" another midwife rejoiced, urging her to keep pushing. She pushed harder until the Child came out. " It's a baby girl!" They rejoiced as one of the maids brought the child to Melisa and lord Levern. Levern, with tears in his eyes, carried the child. " She's beautiful, she looks just like you!" He said to his wife, Melisa who barely had any strength left in her.

Suddenly, A guard entered, sweating and panting. His clothes were stained with blood and he had cuts all over. Lord Levern stood up with urgency, frowned face and he rushed to him. They talked quietly to each other and the other rushed out back. Lord Levern's face became clouded with sadness immediately. He went back to his wife, Melisa, forcing a smile and kissed her forehead

" She's here, isn't she?" Melisa managed to speak. Levern nodded his head immediately. "Take care of the baby, I have to leave now. I promise, I'll be back. I won't let anyone hurt you or our child". He said. Melisa grinned even though she had no faith in what she had heard. Lord Levern gave the child to Vera who was beside the bed and headed for the door. He picked up his dagger, paused for a minute, turned back to look at his wife. "I'll be back" he said and rushed off.

" Where is my child?" Melisa called as she managed to sit up. Vera walked towards Melisa. "She's here, my Queen".

* * * *

Lord Levern and his army had fought off Quetan's army as much as they could. He was wounded and bruised but was not ready to give up. He was going to protect the woman he loved and his child until the very end. Suddenly he got slashed in the back by the sword of one of Quetan's warriors. " No!!!" Quetan shouted in anger as she rushed towards Levern. Levern fell to the ground in pain. His blood had filled the ground surrounding him. The flowers had lost their beautiful colors, neither did they have the sweet pleasant scent they used to have. Levern was on his knees, supported by his sword. Quetan rushed towards him and tried to touch him but Levern pushed her away. In anger, Quetan grabbed the neck of the man who had cut Levern in the back, strangled him until his body became ashes. She turned towards Levern, a tear dropped from her eyes. Levern managed to look up,

"I'm sorry, .." Quetan said....."I can heal you, if you'll let me" she tries to touch him again but Levern pushed her away and whimpered in pain. Quetan knelt down. "Levern, I can save you, I can help you, I can give you everything you have always wanted, all you just have to do is to say yes, just come with me " Quetan asked

. Levern looked up grunting and began to laugh..... "I'd rather die" he said as he spat. Quetan became Angry.

"Well, I won't ever let you die! See, I have always loved and wanted you, and I'll always get what I want" Quetan said frowning.

"You are so pitiful, you've never gotten anything you have wanted but you want to give me all I've ever wanted?." His laughter got louder as he made efforts to stand up. "..let me tell you a little secret Quetan," leaning towards her. "... I'll never love you" he struck his sword into her belly but the sword broke into pieces as he fell back on his knees. Quetan became infuriated and held his hand.

"You will love me Levern", she looked him in the eyes and his pupils dilated. She had used her gift of Compulsion and Levern became compelled to love her. He bowed his head in total submission and his will became lost. "yes, my queen. I will love you". He said and he kissed her hand.

Quetan laughed as she held his shoulder. She cut her self in the palm and poured drops of her blood on his cut. The cut closed up immediately.Levern stood up in total submission to Quetan.

"Now, take me to Melisa and her child". She said.

"Yes, my Queen" he bowed and led her and her army to the secret room where Queen Melisa was.

* * * *

Melisa heard screams outside the door. Everyone in the room trembled. They could see the huge and fierce shadow of the Dark Queen, Quetan, on the soft curtains hanging upon the door. Melisa had managed to get dressed, still not recovered from the childbirth and its pains, she stood up, waiting for the door to open and it did, but the face she had hoped to see was not the one she saw. There he was, her lovely husband, Levern, lost in soul and will, behind him as Quetan walked past him, "Sister, it's me again! Are you happy to see me?" She said, killing every maid that tried to resist her. Melisa kept mute in sadness watching as every servant she had loved was hit against the wall by the strength of her sister's telekinesis.

"How do you do? It has certainly been a while" Quetan said with a smirk.

"It has, sister. I see you have been well" Melisa replied.

"You could say so, but I have not been at rest. Ever since you took all that belonged to me" Quetan said, running her fingers through everything she set her eyes on in the chamber.

"You lost your light, sister"

"you made me to! But I don't regret it." Quetan retorted.

" You are fallen sister, Come, I can fix you, I have enough love and light to share" Melissa requested.

"I would rather you share me the throne, Melisa" Quetan said. Melisa was quiet for a few seconds. " You can't? I knew you wouldn't, which is why I have come to take what is mine"

"Sister!..."

".. you say I'm fallen, I say I am stronger." Quetan retorted

"You have no love or light in you, that's your weakness" Melisa replied.

"You!..." Quetan yelled ".. it was all because of you! Father never loved me! He gave all that belonged to me to you. He pushed me out to the battlefield. I spent 50 years warding off comets and cosmic flares. I fought against chimes everyday, the bed in my room became dusty. I dreamt every night of returning back to the arms of Father and sitting upon the throne but what was my reward? The 6 diamonds of a protector? No! I deserved better" she yelled.

"Every night, Father would tell me stories about the universe and how he was happy to have you. How you were a protector from age eight and how much strength and light you were created with. He loved you Quetan," Melisa said with a weak tone.

"Then why did he give you the throne?"

" He didn't, the Creators chose me to lead Vermia, and you were chosen as a protector of the galaxies. You were made for that purpose, it was your destiny!" Melisa struggled to speak.

"I...." Quetan Cried "..I write my own destiny!"

"You were created with more might, power and light, the powers of a protector, Father would say, you could subdue creations. That power was too much to be a ceremonial Queen. The Celestial stone chose you to protect the World and it chose me to lead its people" Melisa said.

"Why? Because you were created with the Wisdom of the seven seas?" Quetan retorted and Melisa remained silent.

Slowly, Quetan took heavy steps towards her until she was barely a feet away from her.

"Love makes one do the most stupid of things..." She began to walk slowly around Melisa, "... Wise Queen of Vermia, Father gave you the celestial stone of our ancestors, but it's nowhere to be found." She said, running her fingers around her neck until she got behind her. Melisa maintained her stance, conscious of her sister's cunningness.

Quetan subtly pushed her sister's hair to one shoulder and leaned towards her. "I hear you now have a child. Did you give it to her?" She whispered taking out a dagger from her belt, In a bid to stab her at her neck. Swiftly, Melisa had invoked a spell with all the strength she had, expelling Quetan into the air. Quetan's blade fell off her hand as she landed on the ground. She held her chest and began to cough out blood.

Melisa staggered towards a sword of one of the dead guards and picked it up.. pointing it at Quetan's throat

Quetan looked up at Melisa. Her countenance changed and she looked sorrowful. Melisa was perplexed, her eyes rolled in search for the problem until it came across blood on the floor. Quetan's wrist was bleeding too.

"That dagger was made from Rubidium" she frowned. Slowly, Melisa's blade began to lose aim. If the dagger was truly from Rubidium, that cut might never heal, she thought.

" My Queen!" Lord Levern rushed towards Quetan, trying to stop the bleeding.. "... You're dying..." He yelled, pressing against the cut.

Melisa dropped the sword, watching rivulets of sweat pour down her sister's body. She moved towards her and held her shoulders. Her eyes were filled with tears already. She was speechless.