Something about the way the King smiled struck her as strange. The Queen, upon studying her husband more critically, felt his gaze chill her very blood. Suddenly she was incapable of speaking, her throat going dry as she focused on him, her small hands trembling ever so slightly. After swallowing roughly, she managed to choke out, “Who is it, dearest?”

He stopped before her as she finished her question, his smile unwavering as he placed his hands gently on her upper arms. "Why, it is none other than our dearest granddaughter, Airianna," he stated, watching her closely while his smile remained the same.

His hands felt warm against her skin, but inside she felt herself grow cold as fear began to spread. As she gazed up at him, she did her best to form a response to his stunning claim. "Are you sure of this?" she asked breathlessly, attempting to hide her reaction to this sudden information.

A hand moved up to cup her cheek, his thumb moving along her smooth skin as his other hand moved down to her waist. "I am completely sure of my calculations. Do you doubt me, my love?"

The Queen, gripped by an unnamed fear, gazed wide-eyed up at her husband, unable to bring herself to speak. She swallowed roughly a few times, but still no words came forth, almost as if her body were paralyzed. Finding herself incapable of speaking, she resorted to slowly shaking her head to his question. This was enough of an answer for her beloved, as his grin softened into a loving and gentle smile, a finger slowly twirling a strand of her long chocolate locks. “Of course it wasn’t easy narrowing down the list of prospects.” He gave a soft, thoughtful sigh. “But, it’ll make it much more satisfying once I’ve stripped her of her powers and made them my own.”

His words seemed to jolt her out of her reverie, and her expression shifted from fearful to one of anger. “But, stripping her of her powers is the equivalence of a death sentence!” She exclaimed, tears springing to her eyes at the prospect of losing her only granddaughter.

The King’s expression had grown blank as she had cried out, and remained that way for several seconds afterwards. However, it twisted and grew dark, an evil grin decorating his once gentle features. “That’s the point.” Not caring how his words affected the Queen, he continued in the same cruel manner. “Even more so since she’ll be a hindrance to what I have planned for this world.”

“You cannot be serious…” She spoke softly, taking a single step back as she glared fiercely at him, her body trembling with unbridled rage and disbelief.

“As serious as when I took the throne, my dear.” The King spoke coldly, his hand dropping to his side as he turned from her and moved before the fireplace. Outstretching a hand, he plucked a tiny ember from the blazing logs, allowing the flickering playful light to dance along his knuckles. With the tiny flame, he turned to his wife, his focus still on his hand. “Her life is similar to this ember; small, pitiful and insignificant.” he continued distantly, his gaze following the cinder. Opening his hand, the ember twirled its way to the center of his palm, dancing to its own music, before tightly clenching his fist, the joyful speck easily being snuffed out. “Like this flame, I shall destroy her before she has a chance to truly awaken.”

All possible fear was replaced by intense fury upon hearing his words. Her body had soared upon seeing the happy little flame, and was instantly crushed upon its ominous death. It felt as if that were only the beginning, and that there would soon be more if she didn’t do anything. With purposeful strides, she hardened her heart and with every fiber of anger, fear and dedication she had in her body, she slapped her husband. The sound reverberated strongly throughout the room, leaving the King stunned, and the Queen breathless.

With tears clinging to her lashes, she glared savagely up at him. “I will never allow you to do such a thing to our granddaughter!” Her body quivered from the sudden rage that she had released and still clung to, it being the only thing keeping her mind clear of all of this madness. “Never!!”

Before he had a chance to recover, the Queen turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, leaving him to his thoughts. As the imprint of her hand began to swell and shine a bright crimson, he turned slowly to face the large family portrait hung just over the fireplace, his attention immediately being drawn to his young granddaughter. The imprint of her hand increasingly burned the longer he stared at the painting. Gently rubbing his bruised cheek, an amused smirk decorated his features as he realized just how exciting things were about to become.