"So she went into the enchanted forest, towering with black trees and silver leaves, seeking counsel from the hartstone-the place of magic that had transformed her body into an ageless immortal. She wandered in and out of the woods for a century, begging the hartstone to show itself. Until finally, one day, the hartstone did. Though the stone of making only revealed itself to those it chose, it was drawn to beings infused with magic of their own. And the dark queen was filled with potent sorcery.
"The queen confessed her evil desire for eternal dominion over a dark world and asked if her deepest wish was possible. In response, the hartstone revealed a vision on its mirrored surface. It blurred, depicting a faceless queen on her throne and four sons at her side. The scene blurred into another, the view from behind of a dark-haired son and fair-haired bride at their candle-lit wedding. The scene faded into another of the fair-haired bride, drenched in sweat and blood as she gave birth to a healthy son. The scene faded one last time, where the father handed his child to the queen."
Sienna turned from the window, her green eyes glittering unnaturally bright, her voice shaking as she finished the tale. "There, with her newborn grandson in hand, by the light of the full moon, she sank her fangs into his small throat and drank his lifeblood until the child's screams echoed off the stone walls no more." A tear slipped down Sienna's cheek.
"As the hartstone went cold and black, the queen knew her course and the path she must walk. For she felt the message clear to the marrow of her bones. That in the hour when she would steal her royal grandson's innocent soul on the night of his birth, she would relinquish the last shred of her humanity to the beast within, and darkness would fall over the land, holding dominion over all mankind and immortals. For eternity."
Nikolai rose and rounded the desk, gripping her by the shoulders and pulling her close. For a moment, none of them said a word for there was an energy in the air, sparking the room with the scent of magic. None of them could deny the fact that this was no tale.
"This is a prophecy," said Friedrich, voicing what was on their minds.
Nikolai urged her to take a seat again, handing her a handkerchief. "A possible prophecy. Nothing is ever set in stone."
"True," said Freidrich, leaning forward. "My uncle only has one daughter, Lucille. Queen Lana has had two stillborn sons prior to her. But she is pregnant again and nearing her day of delivery."
"I've never met Queen Lana," said Nikolai. "Is she blonde?"
Friedrich nodded. But Sienna sat forward, tightening the handkerchief in her fist.
"No. I don't believe it's her. Last night, in the dream, I think I recognized the mother giving birth." She closed her eyes as if remembering, then opened them with a look of pain. "I believe it was Mina."
Nikolai blanched. His voice was a cold whip. "Did the queen honestly believe Marius would've handed over his newborn son for her to murder?"
"But Marius didn't marry Mina," offered Sienna. "She's safe from the queen now."
"Unless it was Queen Lana in the premonition and she gives birth to a healthy son."
Friedrich opened his mouth to say something, but the door opened. Grant stepped in carrying a silver tray with a bone-white teapot and a plate of biscuits, fruit, and cheese.
"Ah. Thank you, Grant."
Grant set the tray on the table next to the blue chaise where Nikolai laid Sienna last night. He didn't wear the livery of a servant, but the casual clothes of a field hand. He eyed the group with an intelligent gaze, nodded to Friedrich, then sauntered out.
When he'd left the room, the duke sauntered to the tray, poured a cup of tea, and delivered it to Sienna. The delivery of tea somehow broke through the ominous veil spun by her tale. She had wiped her eyes and breathed easier now, seeming to have come out of the oppressive cloud of her dream. And yet, they couldn't ignore the fact that the queen's ultimate goal was to reign in a world much darker than it was now.
"He doesn't behave like normal servants," Nikolai remarked offhandedly.
"No," he admitted. "He's not. But don't worry, friend. Grant keeps my secrets. No one will know that you are here."
Nikolai thought to ask more, but it was obvious Friedrich had secrets of his own he wasn't willing to share. And if the duke trusted the man, then so would he.
Sienna turned her attention to him as he poured another cup of tea and handed it to Nikolai. "But won't your cook wonder where he's taking tea and breakfast?"