The guard threw Aurora inside the dungeon, and the rumblings of the chains were heard as the door closed.
Aurora sprang up to her feet, and moved forward, she held the chain used to cover the dungeon, and peeped outside, hoping her sister will come for her.
Tears gathered in her eyes, wanting to come out, but she fought them back.
“I can’t cry, ’cause of those chicks,” she encouraged herself and sneezed repeatedly.
She was still peeping when she felt a movement on her leg, without bothering to look at her legs, she knew what was moving on her leg.
“Ouch,” she groaned as the insect moving on her leg bite her. She bent down instantly and took the insect.
“You shouldn’t hurt me again, remember we are now friends,” she said to the insect, as she held it, she directed the sight of the insect to her gaze.
Without bothering to kill the insect, she released the insect and it flew away.
She retired back to the same spot, she always stayed, when she was still imprisoned.
*******
Nneka was in the room smiling. Since she has been in the palace, she has always felt sad because she hasn’t achieved any of her aims, every effort she made failed, but today she achieved one after many tryouts, and it brightens her mood,
“Your highness, one of the maids is here to see you,” her maid’s voice came out from the outside.
“Let her in,” she said happily.
In a jiffy, the door clicked, and the maid called Mira walled in.
“Good day my Queen,” she paid her obeisance, with her head facing downward as she greeted.
“Raise your head,” The queen said in a good mood. The normal Nneka will make her remain in the position until she discharges, but is otherwise today.
The maid shuddered, then she raised her head. Every of the maid knows her as Mrs. nonsense queen. She doesn’t treat the maids respectfully, she treats them as trash.
Nneka walked towards a small purse on her bed, she unzipped it and brought out some coins, and handed it over to Mira.
“Have this, you performed beyond my expectations,”. Nneka said, she opened Mira’s hands and dropped the coins on her palm.
Mira looked at her face stylishly and looked away. She held a doubting expression, she didn’t expect to see Queen Nneka, being as kind as this.
“Is it small, ?,” Nneka said, seeing the expression her face held.
”No, my queen, I didn’t expect you to treat me nicely like the way,” Mira replied hastily.
“Ohhhhhh, is okay. But I’m eagerly awaiting more of this, I want something worse, something that will make the king kill her him hurriedly,”
“I will do more than you expect my queen, every of my fiber hated Aurora, and I won’t stop until she dies just as you want to my queen,” Mira said confidently.
“That’s the spirit. I think we will be good partners then,” Nneka was still saying when a bang rested on the door.
“Who is that!?” Broke out of her lips angrily, that minutes the expression on her face darkened.
“The king guards my queen,” Her maid answered from outside.
“Let him in,” Nneka replied.
Evans walled in, he greeted the queen slightly, then he looked over at her side, and he shared a gaze with Mira.
Mira looked at him disdainfully and hissed under her breath, then she bowed and exited the queen’s chamber.
“I will send for you later,” The queen uttered as Mira placed her hand on the door handle before she exited.
“Why did you bang on my door like a fool?,” Nneka flared up.
“I’m sorry my queen, your maid didn’t allow me in, and the king requested Aurora’s audience immediately, and I was notified she is here with you” Evans explained.
“Is that the reason you displayed stupidly in front of my chamber? Anyway, Aurora is receiving punishment right now,”
“My queen, the king commanded that she must follow me back to his chamber,” Evans interrupted her.
“Why his chamber?” Nneka asked out of curiosity, her face holding a questioning look.
“I don’t know my queen, but the king likes to torture her, he might want to torture her again,” Evans replied.
As soon as the word brushed out of Evan’s lips, Nneka’s expression lits up.
“Okay let go, she is in the dungeon,” Nneka said and both exited the room.
“Give him the lamp,” Nneka ordered her maid.
Evans collected the lamp and led the way to the dungeon, an idea struck Nneka’s mind as they got closer to the dungeon.
“Wait for me here,” she said curtly, leaving no room for Evans to oppose, she grabbed the lamp from his hand, and walked towards the dungeon all alone.
She was fearless of the beast inside the dungeon, she believed no prisoner would hurt her, in as much Aurora is there.
She is a beast, whenever it comes to her family and the community’s protection, she fought as a beast in war.
Sounds of chains…, and then Nneka pushed the door open, she bent down as she entered, the prison was built with short length.
She felt relieved, as she sighted her sister because Aurora’s mood lits you, she has thought Nneka will hate her the more, but it seemed she believed her over the maids.
She knows Nneka doesn’t come close to her enemies unless she has forgiven them.
Nothing will make her come here, except she has forgiven her.
“I didn’t say that, Nneka believe me, you are my family, I don’t have any reason to support outsiders against you,” Aurora said, her expression was so soft, that made Nneka wonder why she was so dumb when it comes to a family issue.
She has the eyes of an eagle when it comes to war, she predicted lurking war for their father back in the Gigal community, but she couldn’t see the enemies that surrounded hers. Including their father, whom she trusted most.
Her father would sacrifice any of his daughters, just to remain in his power, even Nneka knows this, but Aurora, the smartest among their father’s children, was blind to this truth.
“Is there something on my face?” She asked Nneka, her gaze fixed on her.
“Nooooo,” Nneka replied, as it aroused her consciousness.
“I believed you, even then, Aurora, but I have to blame you in their presence so that they won’t be suspicious of us. I’m sorry I threw you into the dungeon,” Nneka said, and she hugged Aurora tightly”
“Thank you Nneka for having my back, for coming back for me,” Aurora said
After a few seconds of remaining in a spot
“The king seeks an audience,” b announced in a disdained tone, as they hugged.
“Why?” Aurora asked, she didn’t like to hear the king, nothing awaits moreover than suffering.
She disengaged the hugs.
“I don’t know, but I heard he used to torture you, whenever he calls for you,” Nneka asked more in a taunting tone.
“Yes”
“I’m sorry that I wouldn’t be able to help you tonight, I would have manipulated him, but he didn’t have affection for me. I would have helped, though, that is why I asked you to find his weakness so that I can help you out of this suffering,” Nneka said and held her hands.
“Tomorrow, I will come to your chamber, with the ones I have gathered,” Aurora let out.
“Thank you,” Nneka said and hugged her once again.
Hurriedly, they disengaged as they heard approaching footsteps.
“Are you okay, my Queen?” Came out.