Chapter 220: Greater Importance
Just then, a shadow guard knocked on the door and entered the hut. Upon entering, he quickly came to Alistair’s side and began whispering in his ear. He widened his eyes in shock and glared at the shadow guard in disbelief.
"Are you sure this is true? Can this source be trusted?" Alistair asked as he furrowed his eyebrows.
The shadow guard dropped down to his knees, "It is the truth, Your Majesty. I swear on my own life."
Alistair quickly relayed the information to Vy and Dygo. Agnes had not only captured Sierra, but she wanted to execute her in public on false charges of kidnapping and murdering Alistair. She was going to use this to overthrow him and take the throne for herself.
"Has this woman gone mad?" Vy shook her head.
"I should never have agreed to keep her in the castle. If not for the alliances," Alistair rubbed his temples.
"Now is not the time to blame yourself, Your Majesty. We need to get Sierra out of there."
"You’re right. Will you assist me?" Alistair asked Vy and Dygo.
"Of course. Anything you need. Ask away."
Together, they devised a plan and once they were satisfied with it, they leaped into action at once. Alistair was still a little weak on his feet. He had been inhaling the incense for a long time before the shadow guards were able to move him.
It was during Cassandra’s escape from Vargos Castle that gave them enough time to do so. His shadow guards advised against him joining the rescue effort. All of them knelt before him, pleading with him to stay and rest.
They were his most loyal warriors and assassins. Alistair trained them personally even before he became King. For them, his orders were absolute.
"Please Your Majesty, your health and safety is far more important-"
Alistair gritted his teeth as he snapped back at them.
"Far more important than the wellbeing of my beloved? I will not stand down and let someone else save her, not while I still live and breathe. If anything happens to her because you’ve wasted my time with this unnecessary appeal for my safety, I will have all of your heads in a row! Did I make myself clear?"
None of the shadow guards dared to protest any further. They lowered their heads and replied to their king in unison.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
~
When Sierra came to, she felt searing pain coursing through her body. Before she could make sense of what was happening, another jolt of pain surged through her lower abdomen. Remembering the wound she suffered, Sierra looked down, only to find her hands and feet chained.
The armor she has worn had been stripped, leaving her only in her cotton blouse. She hated how vulnerable she was, but there was no time to worry about that.
"Looks like our Queen is awake," Agnes mused as she walked up to Sierra.
The stale odor of blood, sweat, and festering wounds weighed heavily in the air.
"You’re making a big mistake, Agnes," Sierra said slowly.
She felt as if her lungs were crushed as she spoke. Realizing she could not feel Opal in her wrist, Sierra swiped her head around to check. True enough, her little snake was nowhere to be found.
"What have you done to Opal? Where is Opal?!" Sierra wanted to claw at Agnes, but she couldn’t do much with the restraints on her.
The clinging of chains echoed through the dungeon, adding mockery to the situation. An anger unlike anything she’s felt before was brewing within her. Remembering what Vy had taught her on harnessing the powers of the Celestial Patron Dravin, Sierra could feel its power at her fingertips.
"That pesky little worm of yours?" Agnes’ face twisted in disgust, "I crushed it with my bare hands."
"What did you say?"
Sierra could barely believe her ears. She tried calling out to Opal. No response.
"No... no...," tears blurred her vision as an ache formed in her heart.
Was it possible that Opal was dead?
"No, impossible! You’re lying!" Sierra yelled at the top of her lungs, her voice was filled with raw emotion.
Annoyed by her, Agnes clenched her jaw as she slapped Sierra across the face. The sound of the slap echoed through the dungeon for all to hear. She even managed to draw blood.
When Agnes saw what she was able to do, she let out a maniacal laugh. For so long she had been jealous of the power and strength Sierra wielded. She wanted to become like her.
When she first awakened her connection with her Crystal Tiger Patron, she gave in to all of its power. She devoted her time to mastering everything, perfecting her abilities. But little did she know it was eating away at her too. She could hear whispers in her mind, asking her to give in a little more each time.
For a time, she tried to resist it, wanting to retain what humanity she had left. But over time, her frustration got the better of her. She gave in to the power she never knew she had.
"I used to think highly of you, you know? I envied the power you had," Agnes mused as she walked circles around Sierra, "I was jealous of how you were able to win his heart without lifting a finger! You weren’t even a Princess for crying out loud. And yet he chose you anyway."
She seethed in anger as memories of Sierra’s doings in the past resurfaced in her mind, "At every turn, even when the odds were against you, you still managed to pull through! You even managed to turn Cassandra to your side? Unbelievable!"
Agnes’ form was changing. Sierra watched on in shock as fur began to grow in her skin. Her pupils began to glow as her nails grew long and sharp. Sierra knew she was in danger.
She needed to defend herself.
Seeing Sierra struggling with the chains made Agnes laugh. The person she once feared and envied was now under her control. She could do anything she wanted to her, no one was going to come and save her now.
"Agnes, you don’t know what you’re doing," Sierra warned, trying to buy herself some time.
"I don’t know what I’m doing?" Agnes sniggered, "Oh trust me I know exactly what I’m doing!"
