Fractured Souls(47)

I look over at the water Faerie nearing us, and then return my attention to Nicholas with a dark look in my eyes. “You know what, I think I’m just going to sit here and let it find you. You deserve it, you know, for messing with my head.”
He scowls at me, but there’s fear in his eyes. “Look at you… you’re starting to sound as cruel as me.”
I shrug. “But only with you.”
“Yeah, but you’re new at this and you’re going to lose,” he says.
“You think so?” I question, pointing over my shoulder. “Because the water Faerie’s right behind us.”
His eyes snap wide and he takes off down the tunnel. Shaking my head, I run after him, leaving the water Faerie in the distance. He continues to run with me chasing at his heels until we reach a dead-end, the tunnel opening up onto a wide room carved out of rock. In the middle of the hollowed out space is a throne made of stone that has a back spiraling up to the ceiling like a slide.
Nicholas keeps running until he trips over his feet and I slow to a stop, I laugh at him.
“Well, that was smooth,” I say, staring down at him with my hands on my hips.
He glares at me, opening his mouth as he gets to his feet, but I hold my finger up as someone walks into the cave.
Her head is hung low, her brown hair tied in a bun on the top of her head, and she’s wearing ratty pants with a t-shirt. She walks up to the throne and starts dusting it off with a white cloth. As she glances up, I catch the sight of her bright blue eyes. It’s my mother.
I gasp. “Oh my God.”
Nicholas brushes the dirt form his jeans as he steps up beside me. “What is it?”
“My mom,” I whisper, inching forward.
Moments later another woman enters the cave. She’s wearing a long, elegant, white dress and her eyes are two sunken holes. Her frosty hair veils down her back and she holds her head high as she crosses the cave floor
My mom bows as she walks by her, and then backs away as the woman sinks into her throne. She has to be the Queen of The Underworld.
“Where are they?” The Queen’s voice echoes out.
“I think Sarabella is bringing them in,” my mom answers quietly with her head still bowed as she stands in front of the throne.
The Queen stares at the arched entryway of the cave. “Does anyone know why they’re here?”
My mother shakes her head. “They haven’t said anything yet.”
Nicholas taps me on the shoulder, and demands for me to take us away, but I disregard him, my eyes are glued to the vision unfolding in front of me. When does this vision take place?
Another scream rings out and then a tall, thin-framed woman with the same frosted hair and pale skin as the Queen, strides into the cave accompanied by a tall, lean guy with messy brown hair and green eyes. On the other side of her is a brown haired, violet eyed me.
“Alex and me…” I gape. “What the hell?”
Alex remains close to me as we follow the woman across the cave and to the throne.
“Thank you, Sarabella,” the Queen says.
Sarabella smiles, her mouth a toothless hole. “You’re welcome my Queen,” she breathes, and then sweeps the tail of her white dress across the floor before she turns around, exiting the cave.
The Queen taps her fingers together, her eyes secured on Alex and me, her mouth set firmly in a line. “So, you two are the humans who dared to enter my world without my permission.” Alex starts to speak, but the Queen holds up her hand. “Silence. I do not want to hear your excuses. All that’s important is that there are going to be consequences for what you’ve done.” She glances us over. “You look familiar,” the Queen remarks to Alex. “Have you been here before?”
Alex shakes his head and intertwines his fingers through mine. “I haven’t.”
“Are you sure?” The Queen’s empty gaze bores into Alex. “There’s something about you that’s so…familiar.”
Alex shakes his head again. “I swear, I’ve never been here before.”
“Tell me then, why you’ve entered my world?” she asks.
My mother steps out from behind the throne and the vision version of me smiles, my violet eyes lighting up with excitement.
“For her,” Alex tells the Queen, giving a nod at my mother.
My mother stares robotically at us. “I have no idea who they are, my Queen.”
“She doesn’t know who you are,” the Queen says with a grin.
“That doesn’t matter.” Alex steps forward, pulling me with him. “We need to take her.”
“That’s impossible,” the Queen roars, hammering her fist on the armrest of the throne. The ceiling shakes from the bellowing sound and pieces of loose rock fall to the ground. “No one ever leaves The Underworld. Ever! Something you probably should have considered before you entered here.”