The night air outside the dungeon gates was cold and heavy.
Queen Omuro stepped through the shadows, her thoughts racing after the conversation she had just had with the girl in chains. She moved quickly, determination in every step.
Then a voice stopped her.
"Well, this is unexpected." Princess Arasinta stood near the gate.
Mother and daughter stared at one another in silence.
"What are you doing here?" the princess asked with a scoff.
Omuro's eyes narrowed. "I could ask you the same thing."
Arasinta folded her arms. She knew why her mother was there and who she had met. They both needed to speak to Khari, but their intentions aimed in different directions. One was there to save her. But one was there to get answers which would enable her to sleep peacefully that night, and many nights after.
"Mother… you mustn't interfere." Arasinta spoke, making it sound almost like a warning.
Omuro stiffened, "I don't know what you mean."
"You do," Arasinta replied calmly, "She must die."
Omuro grabbed her daughter's arm and pulled her aside into the shadows.
"What did you hear, Sinta?"
Arasinta's eyes flickered, "She's royal blood."
Omuro's heart skipped.
"And where exactly did you hear that?" she demanded. "Only three people knew that secret," she continued quietly, "one of them is dead."
Arasinta shrugged. "It doesn't matter."
Omuro stared at her daughter. "You went to see Tarula, didn't you?"
Arasinta hesitated.
Omuro's voice sharpened.
"You did." Her expression hardened. "What did you do to him?"
"I didn't kill him, if that's what you're asking." Arasinta said quickly.
"Then what happened?"
"I seduced him."
Omuro blinked in disbelief.
"I threatened to break his sacred vow of chastity," the princess said. "That's all."
Omuro huffed. She had prayed for her daughter to be better. That statement alone made her realize that her prayer had yet reached the feet of their gods.
"Oh, wonderful. I feel so much better now." Queen Omuro said sarcastically.
Arasinta was offended, "You wound me, mother."
"You have wounded me for years." Omuro's patience snapped. Her voice trembled with anger, "You hurt people. You enjoy their pain. You fantasize about violence. You are my greatest failure."
Arasinta's eyes burned, "I didn't kill Tarula."
"Then why are you here?"
"I wanted to question the girl myself," Arasinta said, "when no one else was listening."
"Why?"
"Because she didn't do it."
Omuro stared at her.
"Tarula's death was a message," Arasinta continued, "And whoever killed him won't stop there. If we fail to expose them… the royal family is doomed."
Omuro took a breath. "I am going to tell the king the truth about Kharivanpa."
Arasinta's eyes widened, "You must not."
"He is about to execute his own daughter."
"You'll start a war," Arasinta replied sharply, "Noro is the crown prince. If it becomes known she is Father's firstborn…" Her voice lowered, "He will lose his claim. The royal assembly will split. The palace will fall into chaos."
Omuro's expression hardened.
"She is not a stranger. She is my sister's child." Her voice softened, "When I meet my sister in the afterlife… I want to tell her I tried."
She stepped past her daughter.
"Stay out of my way."
Arasinta remained frozen in the darkness.
...
The Dungeon
Kharivanpa lay on the cold stone floor, barely breathing.
Through the barred window above her, a strip of night sky shimmered faintly.
Her eyes fought sleep. But the exhaustion finally claimed her.
...
The Dream
She stood at the edge of a cliff. Below her, the ocean stretched endlessly beneath a sky filled with brilliant stars.
"What a strange turn of events."
Khari turned.
A woman stood behind her. She was breathtaking—tall, radiant, adorned with jewels that shimmered in the starlight.
Khari's eyebrows curved in realization, "I know this place."
The woman smiled. "You should. You chose to forget it when you were reborn."
Khari was confused, "I don't understand."
"This is the land of the priestesses," the woman explained, "The most powerful guardians who ever lived. In your previous life, you were murdered. Betrayed by those you served."
Khari's breath caught.
"This life is your second chance. To destroy the evil that grows within the palace."
"So, my grandmother was right?" Khari asked.
"Always."
The woman opened her palm. Inside lay a ruby necklace.
"The sun is rising," she said gently. "You must choose. Duty… or death."
Khari stared at the necklace.
"They sacrificed innocent women" she whispered, "My family betrayed me. And now I'm dying because of lies."
She lifted her chin.
"I'm ready."
...
Khari's eyes snapped open.
She was still in the dungeon. But something glittered beside her.
The ruby necklace.
"I thought it was a dream…"
Her hands trembled as she picked it up. Finally, she placed it around her neck.
The moment she did pain exploded through her body instantly. Accepting the necklace, choosing that path, called for her to be reborn. And the process wasn't a pretty one.
Khari screamed.
Bones cracked inside her limbs. Her hair lengthened wildly. The torn flesh on her back sealed itself. Blood poured from her mouth as her body convulsed.
Then it became silent.
Minutes later, Khari opened her eyes again. Her pupils glowed with golden light.
She tapped the ruby. And vanished!
The guards burst into the dungeon, but when they arrived the cell was empty. There were no broken locks, no footprints. Nothing.
And Khari was long gone.
***