Read The Queen's A King :: Chapter 4

I felt disgusted, but also amazed. The femmine voice was somewhat familiar, but it wasn't my mother's vocie. "Archer... did it say something?" I gave him a confused look. "You can't hear that? Why not?" the voice over head turned on. "Another person was detected. No one is authorized to hear your name or myself unless you consent. Do you consent to them hearing me *DEADNAME*?" I wasn't sure, but I agreed. "Y-Yes, that's fine." there was an overhead whirring sound.

"Settings saved. Artemis, it has been a while."

"That isn't my name."

"I do not understand."

"I... I uh... I'm not the same little girl that used to hide in here. I'm not a girl at all actually. I've changed a lot."

"& are you happy?"

"Um... yeah. Yeah, I am."

"State your full name, o my data can be accurately updated."

"Archer... Archer Snapdragon."

"Very well then, Archer. Is your visitor authoried to be here with you?"

"Uh..."

I suddnely felt a warmth coming from Mytel. "Magic logged. Welcome Mytel Huntsman. Message playing." the lights above us suddenly turned off as a full body image shone brightly inbetween us. It was of a caramel colored woman, with curly, thick brown hair in a ponytail; she had my emerald eyes & freckles covering her face, like a mask. She had on a floor length pink dress with some purple shawl on overtop. She was about 3 inches taller than me & had a warmth about her that just seemed to invite you in. "Hello my little hunter. You've chosen Archer as your name now right? It suits you well." I froze in place as Mytel immediately knelt on the floor, animal ears slicked back, fist resting on his knee. "Your Majesty..." I heard a chuckle. "Well, you've certianly grown too... don't get stuck now." My mom was standing in front of me. "M-Mom... Mom I can't believe this!" I put out a hesitant hand to the image; it was solid. I pulled her into a tight hug, something I've craved for years. She hesitated for a mment, but soon I felt her hands on my back, rubbing it gently. She used to do that all the time when I was sad as a kid. "I-I can't believe it... you have no idea how much I missed y-" "I'm so sorry honey... I'm not really her. I was left behind by your mother, like a peice of her memory." My heart ached as we parted, but I gave a nod; she held both of my hands tightly. Damn it, why does it have to smell like her too? "Y-Yeah... yeah, no, that makes sense... sorry, soory, I-" "It's ok little hunter. You look so handsome." I felt a tear fall as her hand touched my face. "If it were up to me, I would be speaking to you in person... I am so sorry I never got to see the fine young man you've become. Unfortunately, you came into this room for a bad reason." Mytel takes out the arrowhead to which my mother gasps. "T-That's impossible... how are they even-" my mom looks at me intently. "Where did you get this? Oh no, are you hurt?" she was angry but checked me all over. "N-No, I'm ok... do you know what they want?" she nodded. "The same thing they wanted for centuries. The throne. Mytel-" "I'm prepping it as we speak. I'll give you two some time." Mytel left the room as my mom sighed heavily. "Archer listen to me. I am so sorry I couldn't ever properly tell you. But I can do this-" she takes my free hand & its suddenly encased in warmth. "Do you remember the little moon keychain that I gave you on your first day of kindergarten? I told you that it would keep you safe?" I nodded as she tranced her fingers in the palm of both my hands. "Y-Yeah, o-of course. I kept that with me for years..." Where was she going with this? "Remember on the day I died... you were holding it in your hand so tight, that it broke? & you placed it in my hands at the hospital?" She was running her fingers on the tops of my hands now. I could almost feel it in my hands now. It was rhinestoned, with silver, dark blue & purple jems in it. "W-Wait a second, how'd you know-" "It had my power... some of it. I used it to actually keep you safe. & now, I'm giving it back." I felt a slight stinging sensation, like I got a paper cut. There were imprints of crecent moons on my hands now. "W-Woah..." she kissed my hands, & then my forehead. "They'll protect you... they have bits of that old magic in them. When you get to Camelot-" she stopped, biting her lip & trying to hold back a sob. "When you get to Camelot... you'll change. Your apperance will, hopefully, be more true to who you are. You'll grow into yourself soon. & please, whatever you do... don't blame your father. Tell him this-" my mom started speaking in a language I didn't recognise. Mytel & Dad were speaking it in the car... but I didn't know what she was saying. How was I gonna repeat it? She rubbed my cheek, smiling sadly. "Come back to the room sometime ok...? I may not be her but... I feel how much she loved you." I nodded a few times. "Yeah... yeah, I will." I slowly walked to the door & gave her one last look back. "Goodbye Mom... I love you." she put her fist over her heart & hand overtop her fist with a smile. "Goodbye my little hunter. I love you too..."

I walked up to the first floor to see Mytel waiting for me in the kitchen. "You ok?" I wipe away a few stray tears, giving him a couple nods as he gave me a once over. "You're stronger." I shrugged. "I don't feel like it." he chuckled. "Trust me; I can tell these things." Mytel patted my shoulder. "You should go pack... take things that are important to you. Don't worry about clothes or anything like that. I doubt anything you have will fit you once we get there." I gave him an odd look. "A-Alright..." I went upstairs, but hesitated before heading to my room. I went into my parents room first off; Mahalo wasn't there but certian things were missing, like her watch & some jewelry I knew she wore. In Justice's room, nothing was really gone that I couold see, except for a notebook that she took everywhere. Just about every plushie that Yuki owned was gone except for one; a massive doberman that was sitting on the bed. I jumped, wondering how a huge dog like that got into our house. I gave it a hesitant touch; it was fake? "Woah... toys now-a-days..." I messed with it for a few minutes. It was fully poseable & she made it look like it was sleeping. I smiled at it, but got really worried; what was so bad that we needed to leave? I went into my room & looked around. Only the important things huh... I look around, right before my eyes settle on a old locket my mother had. I picked it up gently & opened it; there was a old photo of my mom & I on Halloween. I was dressed as a prince & she was obviously supposed to be a princess or queen of some sort. I chuckled to myself. "Perfect." I murmered to myself. I started grabbing nearly everything in my room that reminded me of my mom & throwing it into an old bag. Was this enough... Mytel said not to worry about clothes. I gave a hesitant glance to one of my notebooks & threw that in the bag as well. I felt pretty satisfied with everything I got, & ran right back down to Mytel, who was muttering to himself. I watch as he places his hand on the basement door & finally notices me. "You ready?" I gave a slow nod. "Yeah... no clothes right...?" he nodded. "Well, c'mon." as we left the house, he does the same thing to our front door like he did to our basement door. "Let's go." he says.

Weirdly enough, we take the car to the back of my subdivision. He parks the car in a grassy area. "H-Hey, we can't just-" "It's fine. See for yourself!" he says, opening my car door. Once it closes, the car seems to vanish, along with any indentation to show where it'd be parked. "We've got some walking to do." Mytel says, heading off into the wooded area. I hesitate, but follow him. I've never been a person who understands why people want to be in nature all the time, but this was admittedly very peaceful. It's like all man made sounds couldn't come through the trees... it was an oddly peaceful feeling. Mytel seemed distracted for a good chunk of the walk, but he looked like he was much more comfortable. I took the chance to walk beside him; his expression was the closest to bliss that I've ever seen on another person. With his ears standing proudly on top of his head, he seemed more mystical-no, etherial now. "Uh... s-so, can we talk about the ears & tail or a moment?" he slowly looks at me with a semi drunken expression. "Huh...? O-Oh, yes. So, my mother is where I get it from; Mother attached to a wolf, I am also a wolf & my sister hasn't decided yet." he says. "With her magic already flowing through me, learning other kinds of magic & putting my own spin on it became easier." I nodded. "I see... I think?" he chuckled. "It can be a bit hard to understand. So basically, anyone & everyone can learn magic. It's about building up your own natural magic. Some people have a higher natural amount or a natural affinity for using it. I just happen to have both." he says as we continue walking. "You'll probably be stronger than me." I let out a snort. "Yeah right..." Mytel gives me a smile, but it fades as he stops walking. "We're almost there." he says, now picking up the pace. I struggle to keep up with him now as he suddenly takes off into a sprint. I struggle to keep up with him, but it was no use; Mytel ran out of my line of sight. I could see a faint gold colored trail floating in the air & it was going the same way Mytel might be headed. After running a while longer, I finally see Mytel again. "N... Never-never again... w-warn me b-before... before you-" Mytel was over looking a decently sized natural pond. Well, the size was more like a small lake. "Can you feel that raw magic...? Let's go in." Mytel says, running off excitedly. "W-Wait up!" I said; we had been up on a hill, but it wasn't anything too large. Somehow, Mytel already has his feet in the water. "Want your own first hand taste of Camelot magic?" I'm hesitant, but nod. "Sure... what should I do?" Mytel laughed. "Take off your shoes & socks & put your hand in." I quickly do what he says & wade into the water beside him. It's maybe up to my knees. "& you want me to just... stick my hand in?" Mytel nodded, now sitting down in the water. "Yeah." I take a nervous breath. "Here goes..." I slowly stick my hand in the water & feel a gentle warmth, like someone is holding my hand. It's warm & encouraging... I see a peice of some sort of plant wrap itself around my wrist. I enjoy the odd sensation of it rubbing against me for a few mintues. But then I feel a gentle pull. Then a tug... & a harder one follows. "M-Mytel... s-should it be pulling me?" my arm hurts, it's like someone is trying to rip it off. Why's Mytel being so quiet-! My face is suddenly forced underwater & I feel my other hand grabbed as well. I can't fight back... I can't make my body move. I'm floating on top of the water & I feel Mytel roll me over. Those bright golden eyes stare at me coldly, as I hear mutterings & feel a gentle poke inbetween my ribcage. With that push, I start to sink & everything slowly goes black & cold.