And a tale came to us, about two women who mirrored each other in appearance even though of different worlds. They call it the tale of the forbidden twin flower.
But the prophecy of old says— only one of them can survive.
**Savage Daughters—Alexia Evellyn**
Syria nodded to the command. But just as the stern handmaiden opened the door of the hollow temple to welcome in the Knight and the young girl in his company, she gasped, backing away like she had just seen a ghost.
The rest of the handmaidens who had a direct line of sight to what could have scared Syria beheld an impossible face that rattled them to the core—a girl that bore the identity of their just deceased princess.
The youngest of them, Nada, fell to her knees, eyes shut and her body shivering like she was stricken with a sudden illness.
"Princess," she muttered in a shaky voice, "even now you still do not want to leave us. But living is far too painful for you, so please depart with a peace of mind… please."
The rest of the handmaidens mirrored the same words, their hands clasped together as they began praying feverishly for what they were sure was the dead princesses' vengeful spirit in the room.
They all thought the same thing, which was that the princess was finally there to do the thing she could never have done when she was alive. Which was to exert vengeance on the ones that poisoned her before she could utter a word.
Serpentine, who was adjusting the white cloth over her dead daughter turned to the commotion with narrowed eyes.
"What nonsense," she snapped at them, "one would think I didn't teach the lot of you better on how to receive a guest. Such nonsensical commotion…."
And that was when she saw them… or rather her. And the words froze on the tips of her tongue.
Serpentine blinked once… then twice as if that would clear the fog from her sight. Then she turned to Asborne who stood stoically by the side as if wanting to confirm that she was still in the real world.
Her most trusted knight was still there of course, and his face bore that same impossible expression of dread as he grappled with the logic of what they were seeing.
Was this the reason behind the fear she had earlier glimpsed in his eyes?
Surely this was some sort of dream. That night had been filled with so much ridiculousness. But watching the very picture of the healthy version of her daughter standing before her was an impossible sight for her sore eyes.
Healer Zak shared the same dread at the two visitors that greeted them in the room. And without actually being aware of it, Serpentine's feet took her to them. And her steps, even though silent, seemed to drum against her hearing….
One.
Two.
Three….
She walked until she was standing numbly before the duo, although her eyes remained on her, who was the girl that looked just like her deceased daughter. Like an observer, Serpentine took note of every one of her features in great detail….
Red hair like tongue licking flames.
Almond shaped eyes slightly upturned at the corners and a striking gray color much like ash.
A small yet sharply defined nose. The bridge, slim yet strong giving way into a refined tip.
Broad forehead, high cheekbones tapering to a small defined chin all the very picture of a heart shaped face.
Five feet high. Perhaps four feet eleven.
Everything… just like her daughters.
Not even a single detail was missing.
The knight whose face was completely hooded bent a knee, oblivious to the dilemma that rooted all of them in the room. Or perhaps the man simply didn't care for what was obviously not his business.
"Apologies for the intrusion, your highness, Crown Princess Serpentine Andal Thorne. But High Priestess Valata AshFall calls on her debt."
"You say she's her daughter?" Serpentine asked in a dreary voice, eyes still glued on the girl who had not said even one word.
"Indeed. I've confirmed the blood relations."
The girl's hair color was certainly evidence of that much, together with the fact that the Knight of Debts were too nitpicky to have gotten something like that wrong.
But it begged the question why Valata kept her daughter from the world and even Serpentine herself.
For that reason, a sense of dread and doubt filled Serpentine.
"What is her name?" She asked in a stoic voice. Needing, no, wanting to confirm.
"Ember AshFall whose name was never registered in the ancestry gentry."
Her hand flew over her mouth in surprise as an errant memory of her last encounter with Valata before her marriage filled her.
'I shall name my first daughter Ember for glowing embers represent the fire that once burned bright before it died.' Valata had said to her so cheerfully before Serpentine had been forced into a marriage, and her strange benefactor had left to rule her coven.
She never forgot those words.
Ember.
"How shall I repay this high debt?" She asked, gripping the sides of her cloth as she stood rooted in disbelief.
Why was her daughter and Valata's daughter like identical twins? If anything, her connection to the High Priestess of the Azure Witches could be described as fleeting at best—they were never certainly close enough to warrant such bizarre coincidence.
Not like any closeness in the world was justification enough to explain why their daughters resembled.
The events that had brought Serpentine and Valata together from more than ten years ago when Serpentine herself had just been a teenager was not something she wished to relieve herself.
And it was that same event that led to the creation of the debt. An event Serpentine would rather make sure it remained forgotten forever.
"Ensuring her daughter lives out the rest of her life amongst humans until she is of age." The knight answered although it only confused Serpentine.
A witch had no business living amongst humans, but that was not something she wanted to argue with the knight. She needed to speak with the girl… Ember, in private.
"I Serpentine solemnly vow to repay this debt to the fullest. I shall ensure the welfare of Ember AshFall, whether she lives amongst the Humans or not." She hurriedly vowed, her words conveying impatience.
The Knight tilted his head towards her, "The Debt Collectors shall hold you to your vow, Crown Princess." He said simply, then rose to his feet, bowed, and then left.
That was when Serpentine collapsed to her knee, staring crazily at Ember who had not yet uttered a single word.
Asborne made to help her to her feet, but before he could reach her, she screamed.
"Everyone out! Out!"
Ember flinched, staring at her strangely like she had grown two heads, but otherwise everyone in the room scrambled out. Asborne being the last ensured that the door was locked, giving them privacy.
Serpentine swallowed, gripping Ember by the arm but noticing that she flinched at her touch like she was wounded.
"Tell me girl, who exactly are you?!" She questioned her harshly because it was about time she clarified what was reality, and what was not.
And the reason why Serpentine touched Ember's arms was to confirm that she was indeed real. Hoping maybe she would dissipate into air only to realize that this was a trickery. Perhaps, a puppet show.
But no such thing happened. Ember remained ever real.