THE DEAD QUEEN

Property of:

Rapid Fire Enterprises

Created By:

David Tyrel Little

Chapter 11: Love Lost

The barren landscape stretched endlessly before her, cracked and broken like the remnants of her old life. The sun hung high in the sky, its heat beating down mercilessly, but Enixia felt nothing. She walked barefoot across the rugged terrain, her makeshift armor clinking faintly with each step. Her blackened veins pulsed faintly beneath her pale skin, a constant reminder of what she had become.

Her thoughts churned like a storm. The slaughter of the bandits, her newfound powers, the memories she had absorbed from her unwilling puppets—it all weighed on her like a leaden cloak.

What am I now? she wondered, her fingers brushing against the black veins on her arm. Is this what he wanted? Did he know what would happen to me?

The faces of the bandits she had controlled flashed through her mind. She had seen their lives, their struggles, their choices. Some had been cruel, some desperate. She hadn't cared. In that moment, they had been tools, nothing more. The thought made her stomach twist.

Yet the power... the power was undeniable. Terrifying, but intoxicating. She didn't fully understand it, but she couldn't deny its usefulness. She needed to master it, to understand its limits, if she had any hope of surviving what lay ahead.

Her gaze shifted upward, toward the distant horizon. The floating city of the Temeri was far beyond her reach, its spires hidden by the clouds. But she knew the stories—of the dragons that roamed the mountain ranges below the cities. Majestic, fierce, and untamed, they were the only creatures capable of bridging the gap between the world below and the heavens above.

She clenched her fists, her jaw tightening. I need a dragon, she thought. If I could ride one...

The mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks shrouded in mist. It would be a long and perilous journey, but she didn't have a choice. She adjusted the straps of her armor and began walking, her resolve hardening with every step.

But before she could take more than a few paces, a strange sensation prickled at the edge of her consciousness. It was like a faint hum, a vibration that resonated in her very core. She froze, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at her side.

The hum grew stronger, and she felt a presence—familiar, yet foreign. Her heart raced as she looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun. At first, she saw nothing, just the blinding light of the sky. But then, a shadow emerged, descending slowly.

Looking up, she squinted against the sunlight. A figure descended from the sky, their silhouette framed by radiant silver wings of energy. Her heart skipped. A Temeri—one of her kind. As the figure landed, the wings folded behind him, dissolving into shimmering sparks.

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Her breath hitched as she recognized the face. "Hennar?"

His green eyes searched hers, filled with relief and something deeper. He stepped forward, his voice trembling. "Enixia... I found you. Im so glad i found you..."

Her emotions surged at the sight of him. Relief. Guilt. Hope. And something darker—fear of what she might do to him. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice sharp despite the knot forming in her chest.

"I came looking for you," he said simply. "When I heard what happened, I had to. I couldn't let you...."

She stepped back, her hands clenching at her sides. "You don't understand, Hennar. You shouldn't be here. I'm... dangerous."

His brows furrowed, and he took another step toward her. "I know what they did to you. I know what your father did. But you're alive, Enixia. You're still—"

He tried to move towards her.

"Stop!" she snapped, holding up a hand. "You don't know what I've done. What I've become."He froze, his expression pained but resolute. "I don't care," he said softly. "You're still the person I care about. The person I—"

He lept towards her and embraced her, his hands around her neck, touching her skin."Hennar!" Enixia cried. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and the moment they touched, the memories began flooding into her like a tidal wave.

Memories [https://img.wattpad.com/19c12aead8899f29bbcab166aee49fcbe67c10e1/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5770414e49326f626b38627650513d3d2d313530343338353731302e313831333461636566353930323534353733363139383639343239372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Memories.

The world around her dissolved, replaced by a cascade of images and sensations. She saw him as a boy, his hands covered in flour as he kneaded dough alongside his family. She felt his pride as he learned to bake, his quiet joy in creating something from nothing.

She saw herself through his eyes—the first time they met, her laughter bright and unguarded. She felt his heart swell every time she came to his bakery, his nervousness as he handed her pastries, the way he carefully picked the best ones for her without saying a word.

He loves me. The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, leaving her breathless. She saw it in every glance, every gesture, every unspoken word. He had always loved her, silently and selflessly.

But the memories didn't stop. She saw his panic when he heard of her disappearance, his desperate search for her, the way he had begged for a chance to come after her, even knowing the risks.

Then came the final memory: his resolve as he spread his silver wings, determined to find her no matter the cost.

The memories ended as suddenly as they began, and Enixia was thrust back into her body. She gasped, her chest heaving, her hands still gripping Hennar's shoulders. But something was wrong.

"Hennar?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

He didn't respond. His body was still, his eyes blank and unseeing. His face, once filled with warmth and life, was now a hollow mask. He stood there before her like a statue, awaiting her command.

"No," she breathed, shaking her head. "No, no, no. Hennar, wake up!"

She shook him, but his head lolled limply to one side. He didn't resist. He didn't speak. He was hers now—completely and irrevocably. A puppet, stripped of will and soul.

Her heart shattered. "What have I done?" she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Hennar... I didn't mean to..."

But there was no undoing it. Her powers had stolen him, just as they had stolen the bandits. She had touched him, and now he was part of her. His body, his memories, his very essence—they were hers to command.

Her sobs wracked her body as she cradled his lifeless form. "I'm sorry," she choked. "I'm so sorry."

But her grief quickly turned to anger. At her father. At herself. At the powers she hadn't asked for and couldn't control. She wiped her tears, her jaw tightening. She couldn't stay here. She couldn't let Hennar's sacrifice be in vain.

"I'll fix this," she said, her voice steely. "I don't know how, but I will. And I'll make him pay for what he's done to me... to you."

She rose to her feet, letting go of the connection she had over hennar. His mindless body went limp as whatever life was left faded away. She hated herself.

With her resolve hardened, she turned toward the mountains. The dragons were her only hope now. If she could catch and ride one, she could return to the city. She could face her father. And maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to undo what had been done. But deep down, a darker truth lingered: this power was hers, and it was growing. If she couldn't control it, it wouldn't just destroy her enemies. It would destroy everything she loved.

image [https://img.wattpad.com/3bc182c00761cf614ff2b3db0e799931f0c5664b/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f30506248696f735f687176574f513d3d2d313530343338353731302e313831333461643634396531383863363134363735393539313936302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]