The Burning Queen by Aziza Sphinx

Author:Aziza Sphinx [Sphinx, Aziza]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Paranormal Romance, romantic suspense, fantasy, African American fantasy, speculative fiction, Black Speculative Fiction
Publisher: Penned In Blue, LLC
Published: 2021-09-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Secrets in Stone

My guardian led me silently to the great hall, a wide-open space decorated with tapestries. A giant table ran the length of the room. It appeared hand carved from a petrified tree, the rings of age still apparent as the focal point on the top. Mix matched stone chairs lined the table on either side. Interestingly enough, only the chair at the head of the table sat covered with cloth like it hadn’t been used in a long time and its revelation made other users of the room uncomfortable.

My heart sank when I only found Eldon there. I really had messed things up with Jesar. I just hoped I’d be able to redeem myself.

My guardian closed the door behind us, apparently approving of Eldon which meant she clearly disapproved of Sedna. She took up a position close to the door but far enough away to not sustain much damage should someone barge in, carelessly flinging the door open without regard to a body standing behind it.

She held two objects, a glowing orb balanced on her pointy nails and a staff in the other hand. Like in the tunnel, an air of stillness surrounded her making her appear more of a statue than a living, breathing entity.

“Where is...”

“Stop Valdis. Jesar is of no concern to me. And right now, he is of no concern to you.”

“And where is Sedna.”

His eyes narrowed, “Handling her own business. Something of which you need to focus on.”

I crossed the room, taking in the images plastered over the wall. Some of the tapestries were old, the colors fading and bleeding in places. Frayed edges barely touched the floor, the stitching losing after years of moving from one place to another. Presumably without too much thought, a rush job to get them to their newest destination under short or no notice.

They showed times of war on the top side, the prosperity of our world growing with the diminishing of the mortals. The unlucky became part of our ranks, the real witches and killers of their world strengthening ours. The demented became a source of energy for us, the screams from their never-ending torture powering our world, save for my kingdom and the inner circle of Hell.

In times of vast – but never absolute- peace our population waned. Those born here falling to waste until they returned from where they came or moved further out of the borders to never be seen again. I knew many came to my kingdom during those times, pilgrims seeking purpose. They found it in my mines, tending to the rivers of souls. I kept my population balanced, enforcing strict rules to keep the realm sustainable.

For those who saw my rules as overbearing or even archaic or otherwise refused to see my world my way, they were ‘persuaded’ to remove themselves from my realm and not allowed to return. A few examples of those cases and even the visitors to my kingdom took heed and adhered to my whims. The

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