Page 72 of Her Royal Blood

As Halo, Lex, and I made our way upstairs to the workshop my heart froze for a moment as we passed the landing where our bedroom stood. Polonius had confiscated the room for his own use and the last time I was in there he ended Gabrielle's life.

“If she’s still in there, we have to move her,” I said, fearing that we’d come upon Gabrielle’s long dead body.

“You’re right. We owe her at least that much respect,” Halo said with a deep sadness.

“I’ll go in first,” Lex offered, but I took his hand.

“We’ll go in together,” I said as I went with him into our bedroom to find that Gabrielle’s body was gone, and only a blood stain was left on the floor where she used to be. “Someonemoved her? Where did they take her?” Suddenly I worried that Polonius had done something hideous with Gabrielle’s remains.

“There,” Halo said, looking out the window. “In the garden.”

Lex and I moved to the tall windows of our bedroom to look down upon a freshly made grave with Gabrielle’s dress laid upon it as a marker. Whoever laid her to rest must have known how to properly prepare a body for their eternal slumber.

“Who did it?” I wondered, still thinking Polonius incapable of such mercy.

“I don’t know.” Sadness had overtaken Halo who had grown very fond of Gabrielle during our time together in Onyx Rah and I’m sure while they were both in Polonius’ captivity.

I walked over to Halo and took her hand. Lex followed with me and the three of us encircled one another in an embrace.

“We should say a few words,” I said. “We will have a proper memorial and burial for her, but between the three of us.”

Tears dripped down Halo’s face. “That would be nice.”

“She always thought she was just a servant and would never be worth more to anyone, and yet she was always so cheerful, so ready to give you a smile. She’d been hurt by love and still came here and was willing to do whatever she could for our kingdom. Her life ended in sacrifice. I always wanted to help her find someone who would treat her like a princess, but instead, she died at the hands of a tyrant. Her life will not be lost in vain,” I promise that she will be remembered from now until the end of eternity as the hero who played her part as a queen to save our kingdom.”

“Yes,” Lex agreed.

“Yes,” Halo answered. “We will make you immortal Gabrielle, no one will ever forget your sacrifice. Your name will be known and your story told.”

At that moment there was a warm breeze that swirled around our faces and our interlocked hands. Just as Harlance's ghost appeared in the tombs, Gabrielle's appeared to us.

Well none of us could say for sure a ghost was among us. All three of us believed we saw her.

I am at peace in a place more beautiful, more melodious, and more loving than any I have ever known. Love abounds here. The light is brilliant. There is no pain, no suffering, no servitude, only love and peace. I’m happy and I’m watching over you, to keep you safe and our kingdom prosperous. I know you’ll never forget me, and I promise I will always be with you.

And then the presence of the ghost was gone, however, Lex, Halo, and I felt lighter, more hopeful, and excited for our future. It did feel like Gabrielle was watching over us as if her spirit would always be intertwined with ours. We went to the workshop, and luckily since Polonius was no longer in our palace, there were no Crypt Claw soldiers in the hall. Remnants of Polonius’ stay remained, such as his clothes, papers, and shoes, but there wasn’t much else to show that he had been there. He’d left in such haste when he captured Onyx Rah it meant that he hadn’t brought over much to begin with.

Halo and I put all of Polonius’ things aside for Lex to go through to see if any of it was in regard to his battle plans so that we might understand his next moves. Halo and I went through her father’s Grimoire and his journals looking for the protection spell he had initially cast on Onyx Rah, the one Polonius and Sire had broken. We had precious little time to find it. I scanned page after page of his journal, but didn’t find anything, however, Halo stopped looking and sat for a moment as if in deep meditation.

“Halo?” I asked, coming closer as Lex also looked over at her.

“I know where it is,” she said, with a bright smile on her face. “We have to go to the Genesis Pit.”

We made our way to the Genesis Pit, always on the lookout for Crypt Claw. As soon as we arrived at the stuffy underground lava pit, the smell of steam and sulfur brought back memories of my transformation. We rushed to the bubbling well of molten lava to where Halo guided us.

“His spell is written in the stone.” She touched the walls of the tunnel. “Behind one of these walls is a crevice that has the,” her hand touched the wall and where it touched, there was a light at her fingertips that guided her forward.

She followed this light until it led her to a crack in the stone wall. Her fingers caressed this crack and it swung upon revealing a chamber inside that had a spell etched on all sides.

“You found it,” I squealed. “But how?”

“My father, he’s talking to me, in my mind. He says we need to alter the spell so that it will keep Polonius out.

There is a sound above ground and Lex moves to the mouth of the tunnels. “I’ll cover you both, but work quickly.”

I touched the sword at my back and noted that it would be prudent after casting the protection spell that we change into battle ready clothes.

“It says ‘only those with the blood of Midnight Moon Pack wolves may enter here, over the blood of our bodies’ but we already know that won’t work,” Halo sighed.

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