The Blood Of Three Kings

Dark light surrounded th creature. Crystalis stepped back and drew her staff up. This thing invaded her forest and not only that it was inside her own palace chambers.

“Who are you and what is your purpose here creature?”

“My master sends you a warning. He will not spare your people if you continue on your chosen path.”

The creature hissed The woman’s voice did not effect him entirely but it did leave a painful ringing in his Anubis like ears. Crystalis looked at the face of this dog like beast. He bore an Egyptian symbol on his fore head. It was the all seeing eye. He stood on two legs but had a dogs tail in the back. She knew this representation almost instantly. He was supposed to be Anubis, Egyptian lord of the dead.

“You tell your master that he holds no power over my self or my people. He is the one that will suffer if he continues on his path. Also I know what he is trying to attempt in sending you. He thinks that if he sends a messenger of death that I will be frightened.” Her staff end jingled. The small bell on the end made it’s delicate song as she pointed it towards him. “I personally guarantee that it is not working for you will find out I do not frighten so easily! Especially when it concerns imposters like you. I know the real lord Anubis and he holds no master.”

“You are too bold.” He brought a clawed hand up and pointed an elongated finger at the woman.”Your castle will suffer for this decision as well as the people in it.”

“Why don’t you cut to the chase and attack me darkling. Your quarrel is with me.”

Crystalis would not back down from this beast. The Anubis creation gave a smirk. His growl that followed made the walls of her room vibrate. Pieces of marble fell from the walls. They crashed to the floor around her. She still did not move.

She whispered again. Crystalis let her mind focus on the creature. The whisper sounded inside his head as a last warning.

“Prepare your self to meet the real lord Anubis.”

The Faux Anubis snarled and leapt forward. His talons extended with a smooth ‘Shing’. Crystalis stepped to the side quickly and let the dog creature fly past her using his momentum against him. Her staff end flew around. The jewel of her staff hit squarely into the passing beasts shoulder blade. It made him stumble forward and land on his all fours.

“Foolish Shi! You will pay for that!”

The Faux Anubis Growled. Crystalis just smirked and let another pass into his mind.

“I advise you to stay on all fours like the cur dog you are.”

The symbol of the all seeing eye glowed upon his forehead as he turned around. Crystalis merely extended her right hand and motioned him forward. This only angered the beast even more. How dare she not fear him! Black wings burst from the battered shoulder blades. They gave a great flap and lifted him into the air. Crystalis smirked at his actions. Anger only made one fight more carelessly.

He shot forward and his claws latched onto her staff as the two clashed against one another. Crystalis dug her feet into the rug and pushed against the staff. Her hands maintained a vice like grip upon the staff. The creature dug his own talons into the carpet and started to push harder against her. They were in grid lock.

“You have one last chance to tuck your tail between your legs and cower back to your master before I unleash my true power.” She quipped mockingly. “Cur Dog.”

Crystalis again let the whisper form in his mind. It pained him like a million needles. The sound resonated and forced his ears to lay back. His muscles bulged even larger. Crystalis met his challenge by pushing harder against the staff to meet this new force. He snapped his great jaws towards her. Her head shifted to the side to avoid the snapping jaws but she was not quite fast enough. Her cheek now had a small cut on it, that dribbled silver blood, from one of his canine teeth.

“You will die Shi!”

The faux Anubis beast eye’s glowed blood red. Crystalis opened her mouth and gave a deafening scream. The shrieks of what could only be described as a Banshee’s scream suddenly filled the room around her and this beast. His ears laid flat back against his head. The dog’s grip broke lose from the staff and he stumbled back. His pawed hands went over his ears as he howled in pain.

‘Now!’

Crystalis thought it to her self. She leapt forward and did a spin into the air. Her leg kicked out and the staff tip plunged down into the chest of the creature. They normally would not kill any animal or creature but this was neither. Her piercing screams ceased as she closed her mouth and landed to her feet. Crystalis twisted the staff end deep into the beasts chest. The staff’s jewel started to glow brightly.

“Be gone!”

She shouted it in a high pitched scream. The sound of the scream penetrated the very body of the faux Anubis and caused this wretched animal to writhe and contort in agonizing pain. She did not give him much time to reconsider his position on this. His body split from the chest cavity down. A spew of blood and internal organs deposited it’s self on the floor around him as the black smoke of his possessed soul left the broken body and floated upwards.

‘You Tell your master he will not win cur dog.’

Crystalis let her thought echo into the air. He would surely deliver this message to his master. Her hand touched the cut on her cheek. Her two fingers wiped away the silver blood that trickled down from it. She looked at the blood for only a moment before letting a gentle, sweet hum escape her throat.

Feathers ruffled in the distance. The form of a small red bird landed on her sill. It had two long tail pin feathers. It’s beak was brilliantly orange. Crystalis smiled and bowed her head to the sweet little bird. The bird fluttered forward and landed on her shoulder. There it let it’s red wing brush up against the cut. The cut was glowing red at first. Then it turned silver and soon all that was left was her pristine smooth skin.

The bird chirped. Crystalis scratched it’s little head lightly before it fluttered out the window. Her door unlocked as if by magic now. Crystalis smiled and the room around her straightened up. Where pieces of marble broke it was fixed. Where walls were cracked, they sealed them selves. Where blood once stained her floor, it was now clean.

“Hello?” Serenity knocked on the door. “Queen Crystalis are you in here? I heard a commotion.”

“Enter.”

The whisper was soft and as sweet as it had ever been. Serenity pushed the door open slowly. Concern filled her eyes. She swore she heard something as she was coming down the hall. Silvan entered behind Serenity. He too looked worried.

“My lady are you alright?” Silvan brushed a hand along Serenity’s shoulder. “We heard something.”

crystalis nodded. She was fine. This matter did not need to be brought up with them. She contained the creature’s attack to her room. None of the castle felt anything but an awkward silence. Serenity looked questioningly at the woman before her. The blue speckles on her cheeks shimmered even more so. Her white hair looked to even have a glittery appeal to it.

“I am fine. It was nothing I could not handle.” It was always a whisper in their minds. “Now you have sought me out for something?”

“O..Oh..umm.” Serenity blinked. “Yes my lady.” She may have been queen of Corinth but even she knew when to respect someone.”We had a question for you.”

“We were wondering if perhaps you could help us.” Silvan stepped forward. “We have been told the staff was taken by the chaos people yet when we questioned The maiden Kaire she knows nothing about it. I have a disturbing feeling that she is telling the truth.”

“So we thought you could maybe See where it is.” Serenity finished the question. “We are lost otherwise.”

“I see.” Crystalis smiled. Her whispers softened in their minds. “What you ask is no easy task. Even for me it will be difficult. I will have to consult my forest. I will however, try and help you. Know this though. Troubles will come. More and more will find you. The dangers are increasing.” She stepped forward. Her staff was once again an arm band. Crystalis laid a hand on each of their shoulders. “You must make new alliances. You will have to put trust in people that you ordinarily would not.”

“You mean Kaire.”

Serenity grunted. She did not like that woman at all! She was too obsessed with her husband. Crystalis nodded and leaned forward. Her lips touched the girls forehead and she placed a soft kiss there. Silvan nodded to the beautiful queen.

“We understand my lady.”

“Thank you.” Crystalis looked up. “I will try and give you both an answer soon.” She pulled away from the two. Her whispers did not leave pain behind as they had done to the Anubis beast. “For now go eat. Your children need their mothers strength.”

“Y..you know?” Serenity looked at the woman in wonder. “That I am pregnant?”

“Yes. I keep your secrete safe inside me.”

She smiled. Her unmoving lips held a beautiful smile. Serenity bit her bottom lip and nodded. Silvan pulled her away from the door and out.

“Thank you My lady Crystalis.” Silvan glanced back. “Your help is appreciated.”

“It is my pleasure.” She watched the two make their way down the hall. “King and Queen Serenity.”

The soft sounds of her voice sang over the castle’s walls like a song. The entire castle knew to treat these two with utmost respect and kindness, for even this lands queen granted them this.