The Sins Of Our Parents

Genève felt her fingers tremble as she gripped Talon's hand. Fear was a feeling she was unaccustomed to. Yet, it was clearly terror coursing its way through her body.

Even though, the walk up the palace stairs, and down the corridor - took just moments, it felt like an eternity. She couldn't help but think, time was something altogether different, now. It had somehow become the enemy.

With each step, the dred ran colder and more intense. She imagined, if someone reached out and touched her face, their fingers would freeze to her skin.

Talon pulled her closer as-if he could protect her from what was about to take place. He knew they would discover something awful, and wanted so bad to shield her from it. They followed the silent guards into the room where court was held. The air felt thick with grief. Genève, who was usually feisty and always spoke her mind, kept quiet. She didn't know why, but she had a feeling her life was about to change forever.

Queen Chandi was in her normal spot, a beautiful silver throne, in the center of the room. Somber guards, on high alert, were stationed on all sides of her, and throughout the room.

On a normal day the queen had her two top guards by her side. The rest of the crew were stationed throughout the castle and the land. They were neither seen nor heard, but they were constantly watching. This strategy kept everyone safe, and there had not been issues for many years.

Today was different- much, much different. It seemed like every guard, in all of Anwyn, was somewhere in the room. Their presence was painfully obvious. As Geneve paused just a few steps into the room, three things became immediately clear.

First, and foremost - something, no... someone, was missing. The two guards, which should have been standing front and center, at the queen's side, were not there. Neither Genève’s nor Talon's father were where they belonged.

Second, she was shocked to notice tears were falling freely, from the eyes of the queen, who had never been one to show emotion. People often spoke of her level head. Although she suffered many losses, over the years, she'd never cried, in the presence of others.

Third, her eyes locked on three people, on the ground -in chains, bowing before the ruler. She couldn't see them clearly, from where she'd paused.

When she finally gatherered the courage to walk the rest of the way toward the queen, she looked closer at the prisoners, and gasped. These were not strangers. She was looking at the pale and sweaty faces of Talon's parents, and her mother.

Again, she scanned the room, as confusion led way to dred, and then despair. Her father was nowhere to be seen. She looked over at Talon, and watched as the color drained from his face. He looked around the room, and back at Genève with a look that could only be described as desperation.

Before registering what, she was doing, her body automatically dropped her to her knee, and she bowed to the queen. Talon did the same.

Genève’s mother was a narcissist, and Geneve was just like a doll to her. She was for amusement only. She had to make an art form, early on, of being seen and not heard.

Queen Chandi was different. Even as a todler, the queen doted on her. She played with her, taught her things, and was always a shoulder to cry on.

Over the years, she spent more time with the queen than she did anyone else, until she met Talon, of course. Although, she still made time for the woman she often fantasized was her mother.

Her old friend smiled weakly and declared, “Rise my child. I’ve unpleasant news to deliver. Please, come closer.” She drew a breath and reached out for Genève’s long fingers.

Genève stumbled forward and grabbed her hand. “What has happened, My Queen?”

As her lip trembled, the queen answered, “My kingdom has been corrupted by lust and greed, and your father has paid the ultimate price for it. I am sorry to tell you, but your father has fallen. He sacrificed his life to save his queen.”

Genève fell to the ground. For a moment, the world started spinning, and she could not breathe.

All she could feel was despair as the pain settled like a boulder in the pit of her stomach.

Genève shook her head back and forth. "No. You're wrong. Not today. He tried to wake me this morning. I yelled at him to leave me alone. Those were not my last words to him. I don't believe you."

Queen Chandi covered her mouth, with her hand. She took slow deep breaths, as if trying to regain composure.

"I'm sorry my child. I wish, with all my heart, I could be wrong."

Genève pictured her father last night, as he had taken her to the carnival. His grin was so goofy, just like it always had been. The moment was just a regular moment in time, but it would be burned forever in her memory. She had been trying to win a trinket at the target practice booth. She kept getting close, but was a perfectionist, and was becoming increasingly frustrated with herself.

Her father stopped her, and took her hand. "It takes patience, and practice, sweet girl. You can't just be perfect at everything."

He laughed and winked at her. As he held her hand in his, she couldn't help but notice how much rougher his hands were, than hers.

She watched as he stood up, bowing deeply just to show off, and grabbed the bow. After he blew her a kiss, he focused on the task at hand. All three targets became memories in mere seconds. Just like him, she realized.. Now he was just a memory, as well.

She kept her eyes closed and continued to reminisce. She wasn't ready to live in this new reality yet. She longed to go back in time.

She recalled that there had been a glint in her father's eyes when the man behind the booth grumpily handed over the toy. That glint meant more to her than all the treasures in all the worlds. She could not accept that she would never see her father’s smile again.

Barely holding it together, her eyes met the queens. “How could this be, My Queen? The realm has been at peace for many years.”

“That, my dear, was exactly what I asked. The next question was, where was my second in command? If your father had not been guarding me alone, he would still live.”

Talon looked up and asked, “Father, where were you when the queen and the father of my beloved needed you most?”

Anise (Talon's mother), looked up and, between gritted teeth, said, “Yes, where were you? That is the important question, is it not?”

Derik looked up with regret in his eyes. “I will admit my part in this woman, but his death is on your hands.”

The queen stood and shouted, “Enough! I have had enough of this."

The queen looked at Talon, "Your father was too busy with Oleander to bother protecting his queen and his realm.”

Genève gasped, "Mother, you cheated on my father with his best friend?"

The queen walked over to Anise, and without warning, she slapped her so hard the front of her white dress became covered in droplets of Anise's blood.

“Wipe that smirk off your face, bitch. Derik has gotten one thing right–the part you played in this, was far worse than the act of infidelity those idiots committed."

Genève looked at the her friend, her confidant, the woman who ruled the entire land, and begged, “Please tell me, what is happening? Why are they all in chains? An affair is bad, but not the kind of bad that warrants chains. What does their disgusting affair have to do with the death of my father?”

The queen closed her eyes to regain her composure.

“Anise found out that Oleander and Derik had been having an affair for months.” She paced back and forth, trying not to let the despair seep into her voice.

"She watched and waited, until she knew for certain, their meeting would cause him to be late to his duties, which would leave us vulnerable. She had hired a group of thugs to attack our entourage. They were just waiting for her call. This morning, as I made my way to court. They attacked us. One of them shot your father through the heart with a poisoned arrow."

Genève covered her ears, as if learning the truth made it to real. The queen waited patiently, until Geneve was ready to hear more.

" I had guards close enough that the thugs were caught and immediately executed, but it was to late for your father. He now resides with the gods in Platonia."

The Monarch's voice cracked. It was barely audible, but she stopped talking, and wiped away the fresh tears that were beginning to fall. She took a few deep breaths, and began again with a steady voice.

"Fortunately, last week, when the Elders of Beimeni came to pay their respects, they gifted me with the capacity to perceive the truth in any situation. This was a form of magic, that was previously beyond our people's capacity. I told only one person. Sometimes it is best to keep your strengths to yourself."

Genève nodded. She knew who put that idea in the ruler's head. This was something her father had taught her at a young age. Don't ever let them see your whole hand.

"Your father was the only person who knew about my ability to make people tell me their deepest secrets. So, Anise thought I would have Derik killed for breach of duty, and she would go free."

Talon, looked at his mother with disgust, but there was also fear in his eyes. It was very clear to him where this was going. He looked at Genève, and could feel her pain. He turned back to the queen. He knew she would soon be telling themtheir fate.

"Luckily, befor the thugs were executed they were questioned by the guards, about their motive. They were adamant that we needed to ask Anise about motive. So, I did, and she had no choice but to tell me everything."

Genève recognized all too well how these things were handled, so she asked, “My queen, what will happen to all of us?”

Sadness overcame the queen. As much as she tried to stop it, her voice quivered.

“I have wished countless times, I met your father before your mother did. He was the person who was made for me. I treated you as a daughter because you should have been mine. I would do anything to keep you here by my side in Anwyn. I just can't. It would expose a weakness, and the land... and your safety, would always be at risk.. I must kill Anise. That will be my pleasure."

She looked toward Talon's mother with a look of pure disgust. Then she turned back to Genève.

" I will spare your mother and I will let Derik live to take care of the two of you. You are too young to live life on your own, unfortunately. However, you may not stay in Anwyn. Everyone in both clans will be banished to one of the human realms.”

Genève was in shock. “Thank you, My Queen. I must ask, will we not lose our agelessness? Also, what wil happen to our wings?' I am pretty sure humans do not have wings."

A tear slid down the queen's face. Still, she remained in control. “Yes, my dear. After one hundred years, you will begin to age. A human lifetime will pass, and so shall you. I wish I could give you your life, but I can't. I can permit you time that no one else would have for this kind of treason."

The queen ran her fingers over her beautiful iridescent wings. "You are correct, dear, humans don't have wings. There are no creatures in the human realm that have wings, other than animals. Your wings will disappear before you even leave this realm. If you ever come here, or a small handful of other realms, they will return - like they were never gone."

The queen turned her back to Geneve. She spoke so quietly, it was evident, she was speaking to herself.

"Good luck, sweet child. Don't let this harden your heart."

When she was done whispering to herself, it was like a switch flipped. She was a whole different person. She looked at Anise and snickered,

"I hope you've made your peace. Your time here is over."

Genève watched as the ruler raised her sword, reciting the words for the banishment of two clans of fae. That's all they were–pretty, pretty words. The queen had always had a weakness for words..

Genève kept staring as countless memories collided. She had spent so much of her life playing word games. Her father had always let the queen come out ahead–it didn't matter what game.

Genève’s thoughts shifted to how cozy her father’s rough hands felt. It occurred to her that this was goodbye. Genève wished she had been given this luxury with her father.

Her mind wandered as her eyes locked onto her twin flame. He stood helplessly, watching his mother’s execution. Genèves eyes wandered in his Anise's direction. She couldn't seem to look away. She stared as his mother's head hit the ground, watched in awe as it stopped in a crimson puddle. Still, she looked on as the skull emerged.

As she stared at the lake of blood, the room started spinning and she realized they were beginning the descent into into their new life. The room started spinning faster and faster and at the same time, it began to shrink.

Soon she was alone and the room was gone. The walls were replaced with her father's face. Just When she began to fall apart it changed, and she was surrounded by puddles of blood. Then she heard Anwyn's voice.

She wasn't sure but she could have sworn it said, "Stay strong child. You will return home. You must fulfill your Destiny."

She looked around and She was still surrounded by blood. Right before, landing with a thud, in their new home, she had the strangest thought. This was the place she would learn to kill, and she would do it with absolutely no regret in her heart.