~Serana⚜️

How many maps can there be of one city?! I groaned internally as I flipped over yet another page in the atlas I was handed trying to locate that stupid tavern. It was sort of pointless considering the guards would find it eventually, but I think I had gotten on Mira's nerves after the thirtieth time I grumbled about not knowing my own family so she shoved this monstrosity into my hands.

"It's an atlas not a serpent." She comments from her desk.

Shooting her a withering glare from my spot on the divan, I aggressively turn the page in her general direction before returning my eyes back to the book. "Getting bitten would be less painful." I shoot back.

I heard a soft huff and what sounded like her setting down the scrolls that had been in her hands. "You realize a great majority of Skyris' serpents are highly venomous don't you?" There was a distinct teasing tone to her voice.

Oh that's how it's gonna be? Looking back up with narrowed eyes I catch sight of a rather heart stopping image. The issue was, she wasn't even doing anything. She was just sitting there chin in her hand with an ever so slight tilt, the bare hints of a smile playing at the corners of her lips, and dark hooded eyes giving me an amused look of fondness.

I physically felt my heart lurch and stop for a moment. I swallowed thickly trying valiantly to get my heart to start beating properly again without beating out of my chest.

There was a soft low chuckle that hummed from Mira's sealed lips. The edges of her eyes crinkled just a touch in amusement at my hormone driven dilemma.

I couldn't even find the will to at least act mad at her. In a desperate attempt to ease the tension, before I did something I definitely wouldn't regret but probably shouldn't do, I set the atlas aside and motioned to the forgotten scrolls on Mira's desk. "What are those?" I asked.

The smile that had been edging at Mira's features dropped as she sat back with a heavy sigh. "These are every corespondents on record that I or anyone in the castle has received from the Kox family. Dating all the way back to when my Zazi began her rein." She answers with a dejected look.

My brows furrowed with a frown as I looked at the scrolls and letters littering the desk. "There's no more than thirty letters there." I observed. "Wasn't Queen Arialsta in active rein for three centuries?" My knowledge on history wasn't the most accurate, but that much I did remember.

With a heavy sigh Mira bobs her head in a dejected nod. "She was Skyris' shortest reining ruler to date." She confirms. "The animosity between our families goes back at least a few millennia judging by these letters." She halfheartedly picked one up and tossed it to the corner of her desk. "There isn't one of these letters that isn't either insulting or demeaning in some way." She sighs, dropping her head to the side to rest on the tips of her fingers.

The pose made her look exhausted, prompting me to stand up and make my way around to stand behind her. Placing my hands on her shoulders I slide them down to the base' of her wings and gently knead the still tender and sensitive flesh.

She hisses and bunches her shoulder and wingblades up to ward off the touch.

"Shh." I eased her back into a relaxed state. "All this tension isn't good for your wing. It's going to hurt when I try to relieve some of it, but it'll feel better later." I promise, running my thumb in smooth arcs across the tiny feathers at the base of her wings.

Sighing she leans into my touch with a languid nod.

Resuming my light kneading I start talking to draw her attention away from the slight pain and discomfort I was no doubt giving her. "Speaking of my long lost relatives, what else can you tell me? Besides that they're all bat shit crazy." I questioned, leaning over her shoulder just enough to look at the scroll sitting open on her desk.

My eyes caught on random lines of text that made my brows shoot up in shock before Mira drew my attention back to her. "I have learned that they in no way wish to communicate with me, seeing as not one of these letters was sent to me. They despise the throne for reasons I haven't figured out aside from the general, 'the royals are all just horrible people'." She quotes with a definite note of sarcasm in her tone. "Oh and here's my favorite," She reaches out and grabs a stray letter. Opening it she reads a line from the rather new looking parchment. "If we wanted a mentally challenged babbo to rule over us, we'd be living with the lycans." She quotes with no small amount of derision in her voice.

Wow. I stared at the parchment, and sure enough I found the line of text right above Mira's thumb. "Rude." Is the only thing I can find to say as I turn my attention back to rubbing the knots out of Mira's joints.

My response earns a full blown laugh from the woman sitting in front of me as her entire body quakes from the force. The laugh was louder than I had expected, making me startle and stop my hand movements. I watched her laugh for a moment, a smile steadily creeping onto my face the longer I watched. Her mirth was infectious and it wasn't long before I was laughing with her. The sound of pure amusement filling the room for those few moments before she reined herself back in with a hand to her mouth. The sound of laughter had been cut off but Mira's body was still wracked by silent shutters as she continued to laugh into her hand.

I honestly didn't think what I had said was that funny, but the stress of the last few months must have made it to where she couldn't stop and let go of this one spot of wholehearted genuine amusement. I watched for a few more short moments as she calmed herself down and settled back into her seat, tossing the offensive letter back into the pile.

Leaning down I wrap my arms loosely around her neck, allowing my triceps to lightly press against her inner wing, and rest my chin on her shoulder. I shut my eyes briefly to appreciate the weight and feel of her head leaning against mine.

I felt as much as heard her take a deep breath in preparation to speak. "I know you weren't really raised around them, thank the skies, but if this is any indication of what your Vavi was like then I have to wonder..." She trailed off moving away from my touch to lean on the desk.

Pulling back until my forearms we're lightly draped over her shoulders and wings, I frown at the back of her head. I knew where she was headed and I wasn't up for talking about what my Vavi did or why. It didn't help that I wasn't entirely sure of either situation. "Mira don't." I warned before she could pick her train of thought back up.

I felt her back heave with a forceful sigh before she half turned in her seat to face me. "You can't just ignore what someone's done because it doesn't suit your image of them." Her tone wasn't mean or uncaring, but it did hold a note of anger and frustration.

Scowling I pulled away from her completely to walk back to my spot on the divan. "I don't want to talk about it." I state firmly. I didn't make it past the desk before I felt her hand snag my fingers to get me to stop. I threw a glare in her direction but stopped nonetheless.

She matched my glare with one of her own, fueled by a spark of stubbornness that lit up her eyes. "Well I do. I've tried being kind about the situation and ignore it because I thought that it was best to let you talk on your own terms. But you clearly aren't going to broach the topic, even when it's entirely reasonable and warranted considering the current situation, so I'm trying to bring it up now." She didn't raise her voice and yell at me, but she wasn't very calm or kind in her manner of speaking.

Snatching my hand away from hers I gave her another warning look. "Mirandiona, don't. It's in the past where it should stay. What my vavi did has nothing to do with us." I tried to get her to drop the subject before one of use really got upset.

I could see the exact moment when my words had struck a nerve, a very deep nerve. Mira's eyes widened in shock for a split second before narrowing into hard slits. Her brows were slightly pinched and her mouth pulled into a hard line. I felt my heart stutter at the icy expression she was giving me. "What he did has everything to do with us." My heart nearly stopped dead at the stoney tone she used. I had seen Mira get mad plenty of times, she was almost constantly annoyed by anyone who wasn't a child or an animal, but never before had I heard her take this cold of a tone with someone, especially me.

My brows shot up as I took an involuntary step back from the shock.

My reaction didn't stop the other woman for even a moment. "Whether you like it or not, your vavi was there when my parents were murdered. And all evidence points at him being on the rebel's side. That lavaliere around your neck being rather damning evidence in itself." She pointed at the red keystone hanging around my neck.

I glance down at the stone resting against my sternum before turning a heated glare back on Mira. "What he did or didn't do shouldn't matter when it comes to us. I'm not him!" My voice rose in volume at the end but I couldn't be bothered to help it at the moment. "If there hadn't been so much turmoil that a literal war was starting, then they'd still be alive! It's no one's fault but your parents that a rebellion formed to cause this war in the first place!" I wasn't exactly yelling at Mira but my voice was definitely raised.

Mira's jaw dropped as if she couldn't believe the words that had just come out of my mouth.

Before she could regain her bearings enough to respond, I spun around and marched for the balcony. She didn't even try to stop me as I jumped off the railing into the frigid air where she couldn't follow.

Rising up between the buildings I circle around and head for the shooting range to let off some steam.

Before I knew it my feet were hitting the cold stone outside the barracks with a hard thump. I silently thanked the castle staff for keeping the castle yard mostly free of snow so I didn't have to land in it.

Trotting inside I make my way to the archery range. A snarl was resting just beneath my skin and all the guards could see it. As I marched through the halls I noticed guards deviating their paths away from mine or completely turning around and heading the opposite direction.

Ignoring them I continue on my way until I reach the archery range where a few other guards were being trained. I didn't pay them any mind as I made my way to the straight lanes where I proceed to annihilate three targets by the shear number of times I shot the now tattered canvasses.

Each time I pulled back and released an arrow another minute of my argument with Mira played through my head. Each time my arrows struck with a loud thunk to punctuate the pain twisting in my chest and the nausea roiling in my gut.

My chest was heaving as I pulled my arrows from the target, or what was left of it. The guards and trainees had disappeared at some point leaving me alone to think. The quiet had left too much room for each minute of my argument with Mira to replay a dozen times over again in my head.

Growling I swung my wing into the wooden frame of the target. The frame raddled but was otherwise unharmed, the same couldn't be said for my wing. Hissing I bunch my wing up in pain, hopping around and flapping my wing as if that was actually going to relieve the pain throbbing through it. "Skies alight that hurt!" I growled throwing a hateful glare at the wooden frame of the ruined target.

My anger quickly lost its fuel, deflating like a tent that's lost its struts. My shoulders and wings dropped along with my head. Groaning I tilt my head all the way back and look up at the high ceiling, giving up on the energy to keep my wings off the ground I let them drop to limply lay against the floor. "I need to apologize don't I?" I asked myself aloud. It wasn't like there was anyone around to hear me.

Drawing a deep breath I stand there for a long moment before finding the energy to move. Pulling my wings back up I spin on my heel and head for the door, folding my bow and clipping it to my waist as I went.

Once I'm outside I get a running start at one of the platforms and take off for the east tower. Moonlight glinted off the snow covered rooftops of the castle with a red tint being cast over them by the dancing light of the Drace's fire.

Circling around the tower I swoop down and land heavily on the platform. I was slow to step down onto the garden floor, anxious for what was going to come next. I wasn't sure how upset Mira was with me or what her reaction would be when I walked into the room.

Take a deep breath, I let it out slowly to calm my nerves. With hesitant steps I approached the doors leading into the bedroom and gently pulled one of them open.

I peaked into the dark room to find that it was void of all light, and there wasn't a soul in sight. Not even Ovah or Etria were in the room which meant Mira wasn't either.

Frowning I step up into the room and head for the washroom to make sure she wasn't in there. Popping my head around the door, I waited a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness and confirm that there wasn't anyone in there either.

Stepping back I look around the room for any signs as to where Mira might have gone. Not knowing what else to do, I walk over to the door to ask the guards.

As soon as the door swings open I'm temporarily blinded by the flickering lights of candles and lanterns that lit the hallway. One of the guards glances to see who was behind her before turning her gaze back to the hall.

Leaning out of he doorway to address them, I cough lightly to gain their attention. "Have either of you seen the queen?" I asked, hoping one of them might know where she had gone.

They both turn to look at me then with matching looks of surprise. "I'm afraid not, Ms. Vynox. She hasn't returned to her chamber since we've taken watch at mid evening." One of the women answered with a note of concern in her voice.

Sighing, I felt my shoulders and wings sag with disappointment. "Thank you anyways. You wouldn't happen to know where I might be able to find her would you?" I asked next.

The guards shook their heads. "You'd know better than we would." The other guard says in leeway of answering.

Furrowing my brow I slip back into the room and head for the garden platform. Leaping over the rail I head for Mira's study where I last saw her.

Diving between the building walls I give a few hard flaps before hitting the balcony railing with a jarring thunk and landing on the cold stone. The balcony door was still standing open, letting the frigid winter air chill the room. The faint dying candlelight illuminated the empty room. I carefully push the door open further and step inside to see the contents of Mira's desk neatly stacked in piles, all orderly and organized. It was a stark contrast to the messy disaster that had been on her desk the last time I'd seen it.

Swallowing thickly I close the balcony door and head for the one leading to the interior of the castle. Stepping into the hallway I look around for a guard.

The sound of armored footsteps draws my attention to the left end of the hall. I half trotted to get down to the end where I ran into two guards on patrol.

They both quickly salute and move to either side of the corridor to let me pass.

Ignoring the gesture I turn to look at the man first. "Have either of you seen the queen?" I questioned turning my gaze to the woman.

"Aye." The man nods drawing my attention back to him. "She was headed towards the center of the castle about mid evening. Her majesty didn't seem in the mood for company so you may want to try the library or garden if you're looking for her." He suggest.

My heart started hammering against my sternum at the prospect of actually finding Mira and facing her. I give him a quick jerky nod with a clipped, "Thank you." Before I start down the hall at a brisk pace, heading to the centre of the castle.

I would pass the central garden first so that's where I was headed.

Rounding the final corner I slowed my pace as I neared the ornate doors and archways that lead into the garden. Normally there would be two to four guards posted outside each door, but this one was abandoned.

A sense of anxious unease began to crawl under my skin and twist in my gut. Swallowing my nerves I forced my legs to keep moving.

Cautiously stepping into the garden I slowly make my way down the moonlit path.

The light inside the garden was far more silvery than red giving it a calm and lulling atmosphere. The cool stones underfoot were smooth and worn from generations of queens walking across them. The trees and flowers still green and thriving under the protection of the glass roof.

As I got closer to the central pool I heard a haunting tone in the air. Pausing on the pathway I focused my hearing until the tone turned into a low lilting voice that sent chills down my spine. Walking forward the words became clearer and more enrapturing.

"Aaahh, ahh, this world of green, now turns gray/ Cities of stone are ruble in the ashes of this war we wage/ Is it right to fight, is it wrong to die/ Can we still survive as we're set alight, in the fire's rage.

My body grows weak in this holy place, this forsaken state/ Through the fires I face.

Ooohhh, hhhooo/ ooohhhhooo, aaaaaahhhoo."

I quietly snuck up behind a pillar to the archway that straddled the path where it met the center ring around the pool.

Sitting on the pools edge with one foot in the water and the other bent upwards with her foot on the ledge and her head resting atop her knee, was Mirandiona. Her arms were wrapped loosely around her bent leg and her wings were sprawled out around her, glittering in the moonlight like a halo, her sling tossed a few feet behind her.

Ovah was laying just far enough way that he wasn't on her wing, and I spotted Etria on the other side of the pool chasing droc.

"The fire in the streets, is a flooding heat/ Dancing across the rising tide, gleaming in the light./ The smoke in our lungs is our breath of life/ The blood in our veins our right to fight.

Our state of grace is in this broken place/ Found through the fires I face."

The deep and haunting voice was coming from Mira. I could feel each hard thump of my heart as I stood in awe while she quietly sang to the water being kicked in gentle waves by her foot.

"The weight of the world is pushing me down/ But I will rise, from the ground./ Your chains can't hold me until I drown/ Your sea of armies will watch in fright, as I strip away this mask of blinding light/ I will not be made into a masquerade/ I will die in light of this false charade./ this candid game of mistaken fate.

My vision has fractured and my sight has cleared/ Cleared away through the fires I face.

The world I knew, is broken now/ Where my home once stood, now lie coals of my childhood/ The skies once blue, are choked with black/ While the whole world turns to fire and ash

Death comes near, as the air grows thick/ My body burns, as my spirits lift./ I've gon-"

Mira's voice cut off when Ovah's Head perked up and turned in my direction. The gryph made a clicky growling noise as he stood up, ready to pounce at a moments notice.