Armageddon
Chapter 12.3

Tiana glared at the wooden door before her, a large stack of books in her hands. She bit her bottom lip, wondering how to go about getting through the door without dropping everything in her grasp.

Over the past several months she had learned so much about the world and even took a trip to survey the wildlife in the nearby regions. That alone had taken at least a month. She knew she couldn’t stay much longer and looking at the door before her reminded her of the door she’d be closing permanently when she returned to the Palace. She would be Queen and be unable to go out into the world as she could now. There was still so much she wanted to do, to carry out.

Carefully she lifted her foot, balancing all the weight on the other so that she could unlatch the door. At the moment it unlatched, and a startled blonde stood on the other side. An awkward moment of silence fell between the two.

“You’re ridiculous,” Chloe observed.

Tiana gave a stubborn smile as she lowered her foot. “When did you get back here? I thought Prince Diaval decided to offer you his residence to further your studies.”

The girl’s face darkened, and she quickly grabbed a few books off the top before turning and heading back into the room. “That man is insufferable,”

Tiana hesitated before following. “Well… yes… I did tell you what he did to me, right?”

She dropped the books loudly on a red oak table and turned on Tiana in a huff. “He hovers. He kept asking me questions. And no matter how much I tried to get him to leave me alone, he wouldn’t. He criticized the way I eat!”

Tiana slowly put down the books. “Well… he is royalty…?”

“Don’t make excuses for that lowlife,” an unexpected voice cut through their conversation. Both girls jumped and turned to see Vladimir leaning in the doorway. He lightly lowered his head, as if to acknowledge Chloe before his burning gaze fell onto Tiana.

“And then there’s his ridiculous rivalry with this guy,” Chloe added, looking him up and down before sighing sadly. “Well, I can take a hint. Later,” she gave Tiana a genuine smile before slipping out the door. Vlad watched her briefly before stepping into the room and shutting the door behind him.

“Vladimir,” Tiana said, her mouth dry. Suddenly she realized just how long it had been since she had seen him, and why she was avoiding him. His long strides brought him before her in an instant. He lifted his hand, taking one of her curls between her fingers. She curled her toes in her shoes and held her breath as her heart slammed against her chest.

“Were you ever planning on returning?” His voice was dark, full of jealousy and possession. She pulled herself out from his grasp and quickly started putting the books back into their proper places. Her pulse hammering.

“Of course I was, I don’t know why you have to be in such a hurry over it.” Vladimir was next to her suddenly, taking a book out of her hand. She instantly pulled away, recovering by continuing to reorganize the bookshelf.

“You’re lying,”

“I am not, and you will stop putting words in my mouth. What I am, is in no hurry to become a bird with clipped wings caged in a tower again,” she glared at him, watching as her words visibly slapped him.

“Tiana―,” he gasped when the next moment several small lights of vibrant colors danced around her. What pain had reflected in his expression was gone in an instant. Tiana found herself floating, caught by surprise by the small fairies greeting her. Just as quickly as they had appeared ―they were gone, the book that had once been in her hand falling to the ground. Pages sprayed across the polished ivory. The air in the room grew dark in an instant and a bolt of lightning cracked the floor. Vladimir’s eyes flashed red and he vanished into the darkness.

Tiana shielded her eyes as she appeared in a white room with an overwhelming amount of light. Her body seemed tighter and heavier, and when she looked down at herself, she froze. The white folds of fabric hanging off her body were covered in pearls and diamonds, the fabric itself the smoothest, softest thing she had ever touched. She looked up in fright just as a familiar attendant came to make some adjustments to her hair.

“Rose?”

The larger fairy smiled; her dark eyes wet. “You’ve been hiding in the mountains for too long, your majesty.” She bowed, two other fairies nearby doing the same.

“Tiana!” An enthusiastic shriek cut off any further conversation. Tia jumped and turned just as a Humanoid mermaid came jumping up to her. Svetlana’s sky-like eyes scanned her from head to toe, her blonde curls coming in and bouncing around her face. A thin, silky fabric, similar in color to the scales on her jawline, covered her thin frame. “Do you like the dress I made for you? I’ve been working on it by hand for these last few months. I don’t think it’s done yet, but Alexander approached me last minute and said things are going to be jump-started.”

“Y-you made this?” Tiana gasped, looking back down at the dress. The thicker fabric around her breasts cupped them tightly and continued along her curves to expose the entirety of her back, swooping down low at the curve just above her bottom.

“Yup!” She grinned so big her eyes were forced closed.

The Human girl froze as she gazed down at the gown. After a moment of hesitation, she looked up and meet the blissful gaze of the younger female. “What do you mean, jump start? Is this… this gown…?”

“It’s your wedding dress, of course!” She laughed. “You’re getting married,”

Her voice failed her.

A knock sounded at the door and without waiting to be called in Alexander appeared in the doorway. He hesitated, making sure to shield his eyes. Within a moment he had recovered and entered the room. Tia watched as he approached her. He greeted her with a wide, low bow before coming up and taking her hand in his own. He placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles before stepping back and looking her over with a calculating expression.

“This is all you,” she realized.

He grinned, making his stone-like expression seem almost Human. “That it is, Milady. I do realize you have heightened senses now; I am sorry for any discomfort the light brought you. I’m trying to catch a shifty lowlife,”

“What?”

Several small fairies lit up around them suddenly, their colors flashing an almost red. Rose watched them for a moment before her eyes widened in shock. She turned toward Alex and put her hands on her hips. With a disapproving, mother-like expression she scowled at the now startled Gargoyle. “You do not speak about our King that way, regardless of your relationship.”

He frowned and turned his full attention on her. “I can address him based on how he acts, he has agreed!”

Their argument continued and, watching the exchange, Tiana realized how much she missed it here. She surveyed them for as long as she could before she couldn’t take it and busted out laughing.

Everyone stopped moving in the room as her laugh enchanted them. With tears in her eyes, she managed to pull herself together. Smiling brightly, she bowed to them, a bow much lower than her status was supposed to offer, shocking them. She stood up straight, then, and clasped her gloved hands together. “I have missed you all. It’s good to be back. I think I’m ready for this little conspiracy you have going on,” she winked at Alex, who’s grin turned feline.

Slightly starstruck Vladimir stumbled through the hallways. He was able to find one room not lit up like a Yule tree, but the light turned on almost the minute he entered. He jumped from room to room as the lights above him turned on and off. Part of him knew he was being herded into a trap, but he was too stunned to think clearly and find a route of escape. The light fixtures were enchanted for maximum brightness. The irritating kind that blinded him and left him weak. He would just have to spring the ambush and deal with the mastermind behind it.

He stumbled into a dark room and prepared for the light to turn on, but it never came. As his tension released, if only slightly, he felt a wave of magic dance across his body. The fabric on him changed and a pleasant scent filled his lungs. A soft glow across the ceiling slowly came to life. As the room lit up, just enough to let him adjust as it did, he looked down on an audience cheering silently. The lights came on to full force just as his hearing was restored.

He stood up straight, making a mental scan of himself. He was fit for a royal event, but there was none planned. Everyone raised a toast to him, thousands of faces smiling brightly. Some very Human, some Humanoid, and others completely different. The chamber was decorated in flowers and streamers, gossamer curtains hanging in the many stone arches leading into the gardens beyond.

“Long live the King, long live the King!” Everyone chanted, the magic in the air was almost tangible. Prince Diaval came up next to him, offering him a drink. They toasted with the crowd.

Vlad raised the glass to his lips, speaking just loudly enough for his cousin to hear. “What the fuck is going on?”

Diaval seemed a little too entertained. “Why, you’re getting married.” He said matter-of-factly just as the music queued. The King’s expression seemed to reward the Prince with exactly what he was hoping for, as he busted out laughing. The crowd parted, all eyes turning down to the end of the hallway.

Vlad swallowed as he raised his eyes to follow everyone else’s. Svetlana was the first to skip down the aisle, several fairies around her, and glittering flower petals began to fall from the ceiling - a ceiling that opened up and revealed the endless sky far above, much like a blooming flower overhead.

Just then Alexander appeared at the end of the room, with Tiana on his arm. Vladimir’s eyes traveled over her from head to toe, noting her tight grip on Alex’s arm and the shaking of each step. Her makeup was flawless, her attire alluring. But as a wolf, he saw through it. There was a glistening to her forehead, her body seemed to tremble. She wasn’t ready, it was very clear his retainer had been correct. She had gotten cold feet.

Diaval noticed Vladimir frowning, his hands folded before him and his knuckles turning white. Diaval took a slight step in his direction and cleared his throat. “She’s not being threatened; this is of her own will,” he muttered.

“How am I supposed to believe you?” Vlad growled with a low voice. He knew his cousin had seen the same signs he had; a wolf always sought out everyone’s weaknesses.

As Vlad’s gaze shifted toward Diaval’s, Tiana realized he had come to a misunderstanding. Her racing heart had betrayed her. She frowned just before taking a deep breath. As they approached the altar, she released Alex a bit too soon and quickly approached Vladimir, who now regarded her sadly. He touched a white-gloved hand to her face and leaned in, kissing her brow.

“I’ll end this quickly,” he whispered as he pulled away. She grabbed his hands, keeping him from turning. Standing on her tiptoes, as well as forcibly pulling him down, she kissed his brow in the same manner. The King remained frozen as she lowered herself to give him a challenging and fiery grin.

“What’s the matter? Getting cold feet? I understand if you can’t handle all this,” he stood up straight, meeting her triumphant and confidant demeanor with one of his own.

A devilish grin came across his face and his eyes brightened. “There’s no going back,”

“We can only move forward,”

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