Visions. In her nightmares, a battlefield littered with corpses flitted across her desolate mind. In the battlefield, one unrecognizable figure stood triumphant. Venomous violet eyes pierced her own. A mangled and forgotten corpse of a chimera lay in the carnage beneath the victor’s paws. A new queen arises… whispered the strangled wind. The conqueror pushed aside the carcasses and placed a blood spattered wreath of gold upon her head. As soon as she did, the clouds beneath her feet turned crimson… As she faced the champion, she realized this place… was the Ether.
Shadow frolicked in the fresh morning snow, feeling it’s soft and unnaturally freezing texture. Crescent blinked awake. She felt a droplet of water hit her face. She wiped it off, expecting to see clear water, and realized it was blood. She glanced at the sky and saw angry red clouds, rolling in the sky with agitation. Blood seeped from the clouds like their fury had condensed into a vermillion liquid that seethed with hatful yearning. Crescent realized that what she had just witnessed and dismissed as a nightmare, had actually happened just mere seconds ago.
“A new queen arises…” she breathed, wondering who it could be.
“WHAT?” shouted Shadow over the maelstrom of thundering blood-rain. “DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?”
“It’s nothing.” she murmured.
“Do we have to go higher?” whined Shadow.
“Yes,” she said, grimacing. “We have to go now.”
Nyx licked her bloodied talons, clutching a bow with a golden arrow and grinning maliciously. The lone survivors of the monstrous battle glared wearily at the “new” queen. They knew that their real queen’s dying wish to heal the rift between the Ether and the Nether would never be fulfilled.
“Bow to me.” she thundered. No one made any movement.
“Or shall I remind you what happens to subjects who disobey my orders.” she snarled, pulling back the silver string of her bow. Quickly, they bowed obediently.
In three hours time, Nyx and her servants had traveled back to the royal palace. As Nyx stepped into the throneroom, she saw a kneeling cloaked figure at the base of the gilded throne.
“I have been waiting for you.” they whispered.
“Who are you?” Nyx growled.
The figure slowly stood and drew off the cloak with a flourish. Midnight black plumage glistened with icicles. Cold, beady sapphire-blue eyes peered from behind a veil of glittering feathers.
The black phoenix had arrived.
You have a way with words. May the stars bless you and the wind lift you.