Shadows of the Stars [Chapter Four]
Title: Shadows of the Stars
Rating: T
Summary: The Kings and Queens would be reminded why they should fear the dark.
Chapter Four
They came from the dark. Emerging from the shadows, they appeared in wisps of dark air. Under the light of the full moon, they prowled the empty city streets. Her army waited for their Captain, a Jaguar by the name of Layla, to give the signal. She sat upon the edge of the fountain in the center of the city, watching as the Beasts and Creatures filed into formation.
She waited until they were ready, her yellow eyes gleaming in the moonlight. Then, with a barely audible growl, she gave them the signal. Her gaze drifted up to the castle as a slow smile touched her face. The Kings and Queens would be reminded why they should fear the dark.
* * *
Peter’s feet flew beneath him as he ran down the corridor leading to Susan and Caspian’s bed chamber. His boots thundered against the hard stone floor until he reached the door and flung it open. The pair had been asleep, but was startled awake at the sound of the door slamming open, its back cracking against the wall.
“What on earth?” Susan cried, shocked to see her brother in the doorway, and dressed in his full armor.
She and Caspian moved in unison, she bringing the blanket around her chest, while he drew his sword.
“The city is under attack!” Peter cried. “Get dressed!”
He turned and ran, hurrying to join the soldiers that were already in the city. Caspian and Susan clamored out of bed and dressed quickly; they gathered their weapons and went to join the fight.
The city was in chaos. People screamed, fires burned, sword clangs echoed through the city. The Kings and Queens fought alongside the soldiers, their enemies unfamiliar. They moved through the city vanishing into the darkness and reappearing in the shadows.
The battle raged through the night until the sun crested on the horizon. Causalities were numerous on both sides, bodies strewn in the streets. As the sun rose higher in the sky, their enemies fell, meeting their end in the presence of light.
With the enemy laid to waste, the Kings and Queens found their ways to each other, meeting in the center of the city. Susan went to her husband and embraced him, relief slamming through her. Equally, Lucy spotted Adamas and ran, throwing her arms around him. They embraced for a moment before they rejoined the family.
In the light, they surveyed the damages. Some homes were burned; wounded men lay in the streets with the dead. Lucy touched her diamond bottle at her waist and gave her family a smile in parting before moving among the men in the streets, giving them the healing cordial. Those she could help got to their feet and moved back among those standing.
Those who didn’t make it were taken to be given a proper and honored burial. Caspian sighed deeply and sought Susan’s hand. They had been waiting for an attack and one was delivered. He found himself wishing there could have been more that he could’ve done to prevent it.
“Who could’ve done this?” Peter asked out loud, speaking the question that was upon everyone’s mind.
“I can’t believe it,” Adamas said softly.
Lucy took his hand and smiled gently up at him.
“What is it, my love?” she asked.
He gestured to one of the houses that had burned. The Kings and Queens shared looks with each other and Adamas. On the remaining wall, in bold, black lettering was written:
Long Live Naeemah
Mistress of Shadows
Empress of Darkness
May you once again fear the dark!
“What does it mean?” Susan asked, confusion openly working its way across her face. “Who is this Naeemah and why does she consider herself so important to be called an empress?” Susan looked to Caspian, but he focused on Adamas, who looked more worried than anyone else.
Lucy noticed this and squeezed his hand. “What’s going on?”
Adamas continued to stare at the charred words. “Something very bad.”
Rating: T
Summary: The Kings and Queens would be reminded why they should fear the dark.
Chapter Four
They came from the dark. Emerging from the shadows, they appeared in wisps of dark air. Under the light of the full moon, they prowled the empty city streets. Her army waited for their Captain, a Jaguar by the name of Layla, to give the signal. She sat upon the edge of the fountain in the center of the city, watching as the Beasts and Creatures filed into formation.
She waited until they were ready, her yellow eyes gleaming in the moonlight. Then, with a barely audible growl, she gave them the signal. Her gaze drifted up to the castle as a slow smile touched her face. The Kings and Queens would be reminded why they should fear the dark.
* * *
Peter’s feet flew beneath him as he ran down the corridor leading to Susan and Caspian’s bed chamber. His boots thundered against the hard stone floor until he reached the door and flung it open. The pair had been asleep, but was startled awake at the sound of the door slamming open, its back cracking against the wall.
“What on earth?” Susan cried, shocked to see her brother in the doorway, and dressed in his full armor.
She and Caspian moved in unison, she bringing the blanket around her chest, while he drew his sword.
“The city is under attack!” Peter cried. “Get dressed!”
He turned and ran, hurrying to join the soldiers that were already in the city. Caspian and Susan clamored out of bed and dressed quickly; they gathered their weapons and went to join the fight.
The city was in chaos. People screamed, fires burned, sword clangs echoed through the city. The Kings and Queens fought alongside the soldiers, their enemies unfamiliar. They moved through the city vanishing into the darkness and reappearing in the shadows.
The battle raged through the night until the sun crested on the horizon. Causalities were numerous on both sides, bodies strewn in the streets. As the sun rose higher in the sky, their enemies fell, meeting their end in the presence of light.
With the enemy laid to waste, the Kings and Queens found their ways to each other, meeting in the center of the city. Susan went to her husband and embraced him, relief slamming through her. Equally, Lucy spotted Adamas and ran, throwing her arms around him. They embraced for a moment before they rejoined the family.
In the light, they surveyed the damages. Some homes were burned; wounded men lay in the streets with the dead. Lucy touched her diamond bottle at her waist and gave her family a smile in parting before moving among the men in the streets, giving them the healing cordial. Those she could help got to their feet and moved back among those standing.
Those who didn’t make it were taken to be given a proper and honored burial. Caspian sighed deeply and sought Susan’s hand. They had been waiting for an attack and one was delivered. He found himself wishing there could have been more that he could’ve done to prevent it.
“Who could’ve done this?” Peter asked out loud, speaking the question that was upon everyone’s mind.
“I can’t believe it,” Adamas said softly.
Lucy took his hand and smiled gently up at him.
“What is it, my love?” she asked.
He gestured to one of the houses that had burned. The Kings and Queens shared looks with each other and Adamas. On the remaining wall, in bold, black lettering was written:
Long Live Naeemah
Mistress of Shadows
Empress of Darkness
May you once again fear the dark!
“What does it mean?” Susan asked, confusion openly working its way across her face. “Who is this Naeemah and why does she consider herself so important to be called an empress?” Susan looked to Caspian, but he focused on Adamas, who looked more worried than anyone else.
Lucy noticed this and squeezed his hand. “What’s going on?”
Adamas continued to stare at the charred words. “Something very bad.”