The Mad Queen

Chapter Sixty-Three: The Castle

That woman appeared again today. Rayana is her name. It would appear she is from the future and from the scared way she looks at me... Well... I don't think the history of her time remembers me fondly. I do not have time to dwell on that, however. I have to deal with my own problems. My brother continues to be distant with me. He locks himself away in his room and has secret meetings with Fae and some other nobles. It worries me.

So I went to my grandmother for help. She told me I should execute him for treason. She was joking of course. I think. My visions have all but gone. I am seeing nothing and it frustrates me so much. For years I was terrorised by them and now when I can accept them they do not appear. I feel so lost without them.

I am hoping Rayana can help me. I really hope she returns to me soon. There is so much I want to learn from her. How does she have the power to physically walk through time? Not even the Fae can do that. So many mysteries and secrets that need uncovering.

Soon I will know them.

The Diary of Queen Orianna

Fallon stands on the balcony and watches the carriage enter the grounds of the castle. Cordelia appears next to her.
"This is going to be a problem," she sighs. Fallon looks at her and nods her head. The carriage door opens and a woman gets out.
"Fuck," both girls say at the same time. Their Grandfather has brought along their cousin. Amalie Baylon. She is the daughter of their father's brother and she is a nasty bit of work. Sebastian Baylon doesn't love much in this world. Fallon isn't sure he even loves his own sons. But for some reason, Amalie Baylon is his pride and joy. He adores that girl. Fallon believes that is because the bitch is as cruel and nasty as him. She is very pretty. She has skin that is slightly tanned and thick lashes around light blue eyes. Her hair is the colour of dark chocolate and she is tall and curvaceous.

She also had a long-time fling with Kristoff.

Cordelia grits her teeth and glares at her. A twisted smile plays on her lips as she looks at Fallon.
"You can have grandfather," she begins. "But if that bitch starts destroying my hard work, she is all mine." Fallon smiles at her sister.
"I think I could live with that," she chuckles. Amalie notices the girls looking down at her and gives them a cruel, confident smile that sends both the princess blood boiling.
"Actually," Fallon says with a dark chuckle. "I think we are going to have to share." Cordelia laughs and the two walk back into the castle and ready to greet their guests.

Their Grandfather, grandmother and cousin walk confidently into the throne room where the girls and the King wait.
"Why didn't you call for me earlier, boy? You should have got me here as soon as the Trial began. None of this would have happened if I were here." Rayana shakes as she looks at him. The visions of what he had done to his son swirling in her mind. Fallon looks over him.
"That is not how you address the king," she says, her voice calm. Their grandfather glares at her.
"Be silent, you have no right to talk unless I say so." Fallon laughs coldly, the sound echoing off the walls.

Their father doesn't say anything. Rayana isn't surprised. When it comes to their grandfather, their own father seems to sink back to being the scared little boy she has seen in so many visions. She looks up at him now. A sheen of sweat covers his forehead and his face is pale. His jaw is gritted and his hands are clenched on the arms of the throne. He looks at Fallon with a mixture of awe, relief and fear. Rayana frowns. Is he scared for her? Fallon continues to talk as she walks down the steps.
"Out of everyone in this room, you have the least amount of right to speak out of turn," she growls, her cold blue eyes staring right into his. "You are nothing to Vivelle. Nothing but an outside family trying desperately to make their way to the top again and thinking that because your son is successful that means you are. The only person in your family with any power over me or my sisters is my father. Not you. I am the Princess of Vivelle. Speak to me like that again and I'll kill you myself," she says and smiles sweetly. "Now, address your royals properly. All of you," she snarls, her blue eyes looking over every single one of them. They stare right back at her, defiant. She lets out a low, annoyed sigh before looking to Cordelia. Cordelia smiles.
"Guards," she calls. They all move in from around the room.
"Don't touch me," Sebastian says to them. Cordelia grins.
"They don't listen to you," she smiles. She looks at the guards and nods her head. The guards move quickly, kicking out the back of their legs and shoving them to the ground into a kneeling position. Fallon smiles as the smug grin is whipped of Amalie's face and is replaced by burning anger.
"That is how you are supposed to great us. We are above you. We are better than you." She lowers her voice and crouches down to look directly into her grandfather's eyes.  "If you think you are going to be able to bend us to your will, you have another think coming. Lay one hand on any of my sisters and I will kill you and no one will even think of me as a suspect." She stands up and walks back up to her spot beneath the throne. Her father looks at her and she is surprised to see a grateful look cross over his face. He even nods at her in approval. It leaves her wondering what sort of abuse he received under the care of this man. It must have been a lot if he is letting his daughters show their authority and power. Cordelia doesn't let the guards let them up for a good five minutes as the king and sisters all watch. Finally, the King stands.
"I have invited you here to help my daughters learn some boundaries whilst I am busy with my duties. Do not forget, father, that they are your princesses and are to be treated with respect. As Fallon said, I am the King here, not you. It is my place to hand out any punishment I see fit and not yours. If I hear any word of you hurting my girls then I will let Fallon have her fun. Do you understand?" he asks. Fallon feels her heart race in her chest as she looks back at her father. He was actually sticking up for them and protecting them. Her breathing increases as she thinks back to two words. "my girls,". Not the princesses, not daughters but his girls. She gulps. Perhaps he does love them after all.