"Okay Princess I need you to push." Doctor Leads instructed. "Where is Mul, is he here yet?" Xtabay's breath was labored as she ignored the doctor's instructions. "Not yet princess, I'll tell them to send him right in when he gets here." Kay assured her. "But for now I need you to listen to the doctor." "Where is my mother?" Xtabay asked. "I'm sure she's on her way."

The gates to the palace were unmanned which Mul thought was strange for the late hour that it was. As he approached, the large gates began to grind against the stone pavement as they opened. The doors parted and Xochi stepped through the threshold. "Am I too late?" Mul asked. Xochi waited for the gates to finish closing before answering. "No Oya tonight?" Xochi asked softly. "No she would have slowed me down with all her complaining about how long it takes to get here but it seems I still didn't make it on time, Tabs is going to kill me." "She's still in labor." Xochi corrected. "Then why are you out here, let's go." Mul said, attempting to enter the gates. But Queen Xochi stepped in front of him blocking his way. "I'm out here because I can't look my daughter in the eye while knowing the pain I'm about to cause her." Xochi drew Notus from its sheath hanging from her waist and took stance. "What are you doing?" Mul asked as the mist swirled around in the night air. Flames began to drip from Xochi's blade. "Securing my legacy." Xochi slashed the air sending a burning shockwave towards Mul who rolled out of the way. "I don't understand Queen Xochi, what's wrong?" "Mul it is truly not personal, but you Oya and your child must be eliminated." Mul's expression changed, causing Xochi to tighten her grip. He spoke not another word, only drew his blade.

"That's it Xtabay you're doing great give us another push." Xtabay pushed with all her might until she heard the wail of a tiny new life. Exhausted Xtabay laid back as Doctor Leads handed her her little daughter. As she gazed at her child she felt for the first time the feeling of something or someone that means more to her than she meant to herself and the feeling brought tears to her eyes. A rumble shook the room causing the baby to start crying again. Xtabay's eyes shifted to their snake variants. "What's going on out there?" She asked without looking away from her baby. "I'm not sure your highness, I'll go check." Kay answered before exiting the room. A few moments later Kay returned short on breath with tears streaming down her face. "Princess, it's the Queen." Kay managed to say through her sobbing. Xtabay's expression grew worried as she made her way out of bed, her body already almost fully healed. Xtabay, Kay, and Doctor Leads made their way outside to find the front gate of the palace turned to rubble. A platoon of soldiers had Mul surrounded as he knelt with his head down and Eurus placed on the ground in front of him. A few feet away Queen Xochi laid lifeless on the ground. Xtabay clutched her baby tighter and ran to her mother's side. "What happened?" She asked, her voice shaking. "Mul what happened?" But Mul didn't answer, he just kept his head down. "Mother, Mother!" Xtabay shook her mother with her free hand as Doctor Leads checked for her pulse. Xtabay watched as the doctor shook his head. Xtabay turned to Mul who didn't meet her gaze. "I had to Tabs." He said, still keeping his head down. "What do you want us to do with him, Princess?" One of the soldiers asked. She was about to give the kill order but stopped and looked down at the child in her arms. She gazed at her daughter and thought for a moment. "Lock him away." She ordered turning her back on him. Mul didn't say a word or resist as they escorted him away. She walked back over to her mother's body and handed Kay her child. "Please take her inside where it's warm." "Of course but what will you do?" Kay asked. "I'll take care of her." Xtabay answered before lifting her mother's body and carrying her into the Goserra forest.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

In the center of the forest in front of the fire pit her mother birthed her from, Xtabay stood holding her mother's body where moments earlier her newborn daughter was held. The contrast felt surreal to the new queen as she lit the pyre with a flame from her hand. She lowered her mother into the flames then backed away and watched the fire consume her. Xtabay stayed until there was nothing left but dying embers. She wiped away the tears and began to make her way back to her daughter but stopped when she felt a presence. "It is a shame." Xtabay turned and saw a figure standing just inside the treeline, obscured by the shadows. "But don’t think her debts died with her." Piasa's voice was uncharacteristically serious. But Xtabay wasn't in the mood and ignored her continuing on her way. "Hmm, not much of a talker huh? I'll see you again little Queen and we will have a proper introduction." "You really don't have respect for anything do you?" Thanata appeared above the burnt out pyre. Piasa, who was still hidden in the shadows of the trees chuckled. "Lady Thanata! You're cute here, I wasn't expecting a tiny version of you." Thanata scoffed at Piasa's taunt. "Your names on my list now as well Piasa." Thanata retorted, plunging her hand inside Xochi's remains and pulling free the wisp of her soul to put inside her satchel. Piasa cursed under her breath before vanishing, not even she would be bold enough to insult death to her face. Thanata looked towards the palace and let out a deep sigh. "Busy busy busy." She said before popping away.