35. Tiana

Chapter thirty-five

Tiana

A s we paraded past ranks of robed figures, hundreds muttered, almost hissed, "Mistress," then fell to their knees in cascading wave of masks and men.

I paused long enough to stare into the eyes of one figure before they fell to their knees. I searching for some sign of humanity, any shred of empathy or hope—but nothing peered through those irises, no shred of the individual who once was.

Only hunger and lust returned my gaze.

My head was already cloudy from the draught they'd forced me to drink, but those monstrous eyes sent a new wave of dizziness through me, and, before the eagle could catch me, my legs gave way. I fell face-first onto the lifeless stone. Horror filled my escort's eyes as they pulled me to my feet. We resumed our endless march.

We made it halfway through the chamber before I saw a figure in crimson partly behind a throne. My eyes darted from the kneeling row on my left to the one on my right, then up to the faceless cardinal on their perch. My breathing quickened, and fear grew into panic. My heart raced as the eagle's hand found my arm again, forcing me forward.

The drumbeats quickened with my heart.

The humming grew frantic.

Three hundred paces felt like a million leagues.

When I stood before the throne, my eyes widened in awe at the magnificent statue reigning over the chamber. The woman's robes flowed in lifelike brilliance while the set of her jaw and depth of her eyes exuded strength and power. My view traveled up the woman's form to pause on her face. Her expression was strong and proud.

The crimson orb in the woman's hand flared, and I sucked in a breath with recognition.

Its bloody light throbbed in time with the drums—and my racing heart.

My gaze dropped from the statue to the throne. The eagle stood to my left and the wolf to my right. On a plush cushion on the throne's seat rested a crown, a replica of the one on the statue's brow. Set in its golden band were seven thumb-sized diamonds. Five pulsed a bloody beat with the orb.

I startled when the eagle climbed the steps. He raised the crown, then stepped to the side and lofted it for all to see.

The humming swelled so loudly I wanted to cover my ears.

The wolf nudged me forward and motioned for me to sit.

I scanned the crowd, their bodies swaying in their silky robes and hateful masks.

Their drug raged in my veins.

Their humming and drumbeats pulsed through me in dizzying waves.

My vision danced.

My body swayed.

As hard as I tried, I couldn't wrest control from the potion as the world spun and blurred.

The scarlet-robed figure stepped from behind the throne and clapped once.

The humming ceased.

The figures stilled.

I tried to follow the movement around me, but my mind was adrift on a sea of sensation.

My head lolled as I scanned the masked figures, unable to fix on any single one.

They moved from their rows to form an arc facing the dais.

Every blank gaze fell upon me.

The scarlet-robed figure clapped again, and the humming became wails and cries.

The drums again bellowed, faster and louder.

The orb flared and pulsed .

The scarlet-robed figure chanted a staccato verse, ancient words I could never comprehend.

Invocation complete, they seized the crown from Eagle's outstretched hands, raised it high, and placed it on my head.

The flock fell to their knees.

Their song grew urgent and pleading.

The drums became cannon.

They swayed as one.

They cried as one.

The crimson-robed figure drew a golden dagger from their cloak and plunged it into my chest.

I screamed.

I stared down in bleary disbelief, and my eyes began to glaze over.

The horrors of the chamber faded.

Suddenly, my gaze snapped up, and I was confused to find my father's face. He cupped my cheek, and I pressed into his palm. His touch was the first comfort I'd felt that day.

"My Tiana, I've missed you so."

Tears flowed at the sound of his voice.

My vision faltered again.

I reached for my father, but only darkness stared back.

The last thing I heard before drifting away was a familiar voice. It wrapped me in comfort, though I couldn't remember why .

Far above, Keelan cried out, "TIANA! NOOOO!"

Hundreds of heads snapped upward as the crimson-robed figure wrenched the crown from my head and slammed it onto their own. My spirit fled, and the sixth diamond on the crown's base flared to bloody life.

In a murderous rage, the crimson-robed figure pointed to the balcony and bellowed, "Kill them!"