- 52 minutes ago
The Revenge of the Siren Twin Queens
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00:01That pearl is inside her! Split her open and take it!
00:08Here, deliver this to the queen and be done with it.
00:11Look! There's still one that got away!
00:14I watched my own sister be killed right before my eyes.
00:19Since you can't bear to leave, then stay forever!
00:23Arrows, shoot her down! Wipe out every last trace!
00:27A sky-blotting volley of arrows tore through the air.
00:31I plunged into the water, swimming for my life.
00:33I hid beneath a dark reef.
00:36Blood stung my eyes as my tears hardened into Siren's grief pearls,
00:41each one deep red with blood.
00:43Nerissa's last words echoed in my head.
00:46Live, Serena. Whatever it takes, live.
00:51Legend has it that deep in the abyss of light live the Sirens,
00:55and within their queen resides a flawless Tide Pearl.
01:00Whoever possessed it would gain eternal beauty and youth.
01:04Isolde grew obsessed.
01:06To please him, King Aldrich sent his men and wizards to cut open Nerissa's body and take her Tidal Pearl.
01:14That day, the sea ran red.
01:17My people floated everywhere, their bellies split open.
01:22They knew the Siren Queen carried a legendary Tide Pearl.
01:25They had no idea there were two of us.
01:28Twin-born queens.
01:30The other queen was born with the Siren's allure.
01:33Her blood could sustain a thousand shadow familiars.
01:36That queen was me.
01:38I dragged myself onto the shore.
01:41The pain ate at my bones.
01:44I gritted my teeth and sang the old Siren curse.
01:47My tail turned into two human legs with a sickening crunch.
01:51I sliced my wrists open.
01:53Let the writhing shadows drink.
02:01I mastered blood sorcery in three months.
02:04A magic most humans never master in a lifetime.
02:08I clawed my way to the capital, Aurelia.
02:11I slipped into the ivory palace disguised as a court dancer.
02:15I handed a greedy servant a bag of my Siren's grief pearls.
02:21Soon, I had eyes on King Aldrich's every move.
02:30At night, the moonlight spread across the shore as I danced over the waters of Mirror Lake.
02:37You dance like no one I've ever seen.
02:41Who are you?
02:43It's a dance from my homeland.
02:46If you ever get to see it.
02:56The queen loves to dance too.
02:58The midsummer court is coming up.
03:00Perhaps you shall dance for her at the feast.
03:02Your majesty.
03:04I didn't realize who you were.
03:06Please forgive me.
03:08No need to apologize, my lady.
03:10Just don't disappoint me.
03:12Or the queen.
03:13I accepted.
03:14As Aldrich turned his back, I stirred my fingers.
03:19A tiny shadow familiar burrowed silently into his skin.
03:24By noon the next day, all of Ivory Palace was talking about the king meeting a beautiful dancer by the
03:30lake.
03:31By sunset, even the stable boys had their own version of the story.
03:36A sharp knock came at my door.
03:39It was Queen Isolde's mistress of the household.
03:42They marched me right to Queen Isolde.
03:44That was her.
03:46The woman who slaughtered my people and killed Nerissa.
03:49All for a single tide pearl.
03:52This is what my husband sends me?
03:54A scarred little creature from the gutter?
03:57Before stepping inside, I used a glamour weaver to hide my face under a grotesque mask of fake whip scars
04:04and pockmarks.
04:06Isolde was deadly jealous.
04:08If she saw my real face, I'd never survive the night.
04:16Rest assured your grace.
04:19I shall wear a veil.
04:20You won't have to endure my face for long.
04:22Very well.
04:24Looking like that, you couldn't cause a ripple in a bathtub.
04:27I'll accept Aldrich's gift.
04:29Isolde waved her hand.
04:31The mistress of the household dragged me out.
04:33Right outside the doors, I ran straight into Aldrich.
04:37He took one look at me.
04:38This scarred, ruined face looked nothing like the girl from the lake.
04:44But my scent gave me away.
04:46He instantly knew I was fighting for my life.
04:48If Isolde had seen the real me, there'd be a corpse on the floor right now.
04:53What did it matter if she held all the king's favor now?
04:57The higher they rise, the harder they fall.
05:01Back in my room, I shed the glamour weaver.
05:04The face in the mirror was flawless, luminous as moonlight.
05:10Isolde, didn't you want the siren's allure?
05:14Didn't you crave eternal youth?
05:16Hmm.
05:18I was going to make sure everything you ever wanted slipped through your fingers.
05:30Soon, Narita. Soon.
05:33She will be the first I send screaming into the dark.
05:36To answer for what she's done to you.
05:39The Midsummer Court.
05:40Three days of feasts, fights, and dancing.
05:43And no sleep.
05:45White water lilies covered Mirror Lake overnight.
05:48The Lords whispered.
05:49Some called it a blessing from the stars.
05:52Others, a dark omen.
05:54And no pain.
05:55Where is the gift you promised, Your Majesty?
06:00Ooooo.
06:06Ooooo.
06:08Ooooo.
06:09Oooo.
06:09Ooooo.
06:09Ooooo.
06:11Ooooo.
06:11Ooooo.
06:11Ooooo.
06:11Ooooo.
06:13Ooooo.
06:17Ooooo.
06:18for her grace's honor. May the king and his queen know joy unending. May the kingdom of
06:23Valton prosper in glory. Rise. You were extraordinary. How delightful. You like it? Good. The whispering
06:35hex was working. The shadow familiar was already inside his mind, tugging at his thoughts. I didn't
06:41want to push it too far. I flicked a finger, ready to call the shadow back. Give her to me,
06:47King Aldrich. In return, my father's armies will never cross your borders. Who speaks?
06:55Sire is Norberg's crown prince. King Aldrich, I'm Norheim's crown prince Kasvar. A hundred years
07:06of peace for one woman. I'd say you're getting the better deal. A century of peace. Trading a mere
07:14dancer to stop a war? Not a single lord here would say no to that deal. A crown prince offers
07:20a crown for a dancer. Any woman in this kingdom would weep with gratitude. The council of lords
07:27traded looks. Politically, it was the perfect bargain. Aldrich went dead silent. He knew
07:35exactly what he should say. So why did his chest suddenly tighten? I looked up. I stared right at him.
07:48You come too late, prince Kasvar. She belongs to the crown.
07:53Your majesty?
07:56Kasvar stared Aldrich down. A slow smirk spread across his face. Then he turned and vanished into the crowd.
08:04Cold sweat drenched my back. Thankfully, I hadn't called the whispering hex back yet.
08:10Without that shadow in his mind, Aldrich would never have claimed me aloud.
08:15A century of peace without drawing a single sword? No king turns that down.
08:22Aldrich claimed me in broad daylight.
08:26By nightfall, a royal decree awaited me. A sealed writ. I was officially named the Crown's Grace,
08:35moved to Dawnlight Hall, and placed under the king's personal protection.
08:40As I left the dancers' quarters, I stopped at the end of the hall and stared out into the dark.
08:45Narissa, are you watching?
08:50I was going to make them pay a thousandfold for what they did to you.
08:55When I got to Moonveil Tower, Isolde was already waiting.
08:59She stared at my bare face in the moonlight. The veil was gone.
09:04You lied to me.
09:09Had I shown you this face that day, I wouldn't have lived long enough to bore you with it.
09:14You read me well, but guess what? Parade around as the king's new favorite all you want.
09:20Crown's Grace or not, I will kill you just the same.
09:22So you've already decided how I die. Is that so?
09:25A tragic palace fire. The lovely Crown's Grace, Soraya, reduced to ash.
09:31Aldric and I were wed before he wore the crown. My father and brother bleed for his kingdom.
09:37Do you truly think he'll mourn a dancer?
09:41Her guards grabbed me. They bound my hands and feet and threw me to the stone floor.
09:49They doused the room in whale oil. A spark dropped. Flames erupted.
09:56Aldric is insensible with drink tonight. No one is coming to save me.
10:02I watched her disappear through the tower door. I didn't even flinch.
10:07As the fire roared, the guards at the door suddenly grabbed their throats.
10:12Blood poured out of their eyes and mouths. They dropped dead.
10:17One by one. I walked through the flames with Nyx. A shadow spinner spider scuttled across the floor,
10:26leading the way. I sprinted after it. Suddenly, I slammed into a solid chest.
10:32I jerked my head up, wide-eyed. Tears pooled in my eyes, but I bit my lip hard to hold
10:39them back.
10:40Who dared set fire inside my palace? Find them! Now!
10:45I pressed my face into his chest. I didn't say a word. He knew exactly who did it. That was
10:51pure
10:51theater for the court. He and Isolde had a history that went back to their childhood. Those roots ran
10:56deep. Moreover, she had House Ashford and half the Council of Lords backing her. He wasn't going to lay a
11:02finger on his queen for a dancer he barely knew. Aldrich, I'm frightened.
11:08He was definitely drunk. His face was flushed, and his breath reeked of heavy wine. The sweet scent
11:15of my allure coiled around him. Deep inside him, my shadow-familiar tongue was darkest desires.
11:21His eyes quickly clouded over. They burned dangerously hot.
11:25He scooped me up in his arms and carried me straight to the King's chamber.
11:30Word would reach Isolde fast. She wasn't going to take this lying down.
11:36Sure enough, I hadn't been in the chamber long before a guard called out from the door.
11:41Your Majesty, the Queen is unwell. She requests your presence at once.
11:47Shall I release you to your queen? I would hate to keep you from your duties.
11:53When you're beside me, I forget there is anyone else in this castle.
11:57I let out a soft laugh. We were the only two left in the chamber. He leaned in close,
12:02his hot breath brushing my neck. Then he went limp. A fleshy pink dream spinner burrowed slowly into his
12:10forehead. I shoved him back onto the four-poster bed and pulled the covers up.
12:17I wove you a beautiful dream. Enjoy it.
12:21I bit my lip until blood welled up, then leaned over as if to kiss him. Instead, I let exactly
12:29three
12:29drops of cursed blood fall past his parted lips. He swallowed it in his sleep. Three drops tonight,
12:37three tomorrow, three the night after. Soon, the poison would seep into his bones so deeply that no
12:46healer could purge it. No one except me. I wiped the blood off my mouth with the back of my
12:53hand.
12:54I stared at the dark red smear on my skin. This is what your mercy left you with, King Aldrich.
13:01A monster in your bed. A tiny scratching sound came from the windowsill. A shadow spinner spider no
13:09bigger than a fingernail. One of my many eyes inside the palace. Isolde was coming. Isolde was standing
13:18right outside the chamber doors. She was backed by her ladies-in-waiting, two sworn guards, and her
13:25personal healer. This wasn't just a jealous wife complaining. It was a siege. I stood at the top of
13:33the stairs. I purposely swept my hair to the side. I let the moonlight hit the fresh red mark on
13:39my neck.
13:40The king is asleep, your grace. Perhaps come back tomorrow. You gutter-born nobody, I will kill you!
13:48Careful, your grace. All that fury, it'll age you faster than time. And from what I hear, time has not
13:57been kind to your efforts. That one sentence froze her in her tracks. Five years of marriage, still no heir.
14:07The council of lords was whispering. Her father's letters were getting shorter. Even the servants looked
14:13at her differently now. She had begged every street healer in the kingdom. Still no heir. Rumor had it,
14:21she was cursed. Guards, seize her! I want her flogged until there's nothing left to flog!
14:29I had just struck at the rawest wound she had, right in front of her entire retinue. I calmly shook
14:37off the
14:37guards reaching hands. Then I spoke the words that shocked the hallway into dead silence.
14:44If I'm harmed, your grace, say goodbye to the child growing in your belly.
14:51Well, am I with child or not? Your grace, there is a life force. You are undoubtedly carrying a child.
15:04Truly? Even someone that arrogant could break down like this. Then she looked at me. Remembering my
15:10threat, she snapped at the healers. The child, is it stable? Your grace,
15:15the life force is strong and steady. Everything is perfect. Isolde smiled. When she turned back to me,
15:21the pure murderous hate returned to her eyes. I finally have an heir. We should be celebrating.
15:31But you are a stain on this room. The very sight of you makes me sick. Isolde gave a flick
15:39of her eyes.
15:40Her guards lunged forward, digging their fingers into my arms to drag me out. I just twitched my finger.
15:47A split second later, Isolde grabbed her belly and let out a blood-curdling scream.
15:53The healers rushed in with a diagnostic scan.
15:58Forgive us, your grace. The child's strength is failing. The pregnancy cannot be saved.
16:06Panic swallowed Isolde whole. She had waited five years for a child, only to lose it seconds after
16:14finding out. Pale as a corpse, she locked eyes with me. She hissed through her teeth.
16:21You. Fix it.
16:26If I lose this child, I will burn everything you love to Ash. Every person. Every place. Every single memory.
16:35I looked down at her vicious, desperate face. Burn everything I loved to Ash? She had no idea.
16:42My people were already wiped out. I was the only one left. I crawled out of the deep sea hell
16:49for one
16:50reason only. To collect what she owed. I stepped forward and pulled out a silver ritual blade. I sliced
16:57shallow cuts into Isolde's wrists and her belly. Then, I let my own blood drip right into the open wounds.
17:04As the cuts healed, one by one, color slowly returned to Isolde's face. The healers rushed back
17:10for a scan. The gold light was steady again. The truth was, I knew nothing of healing magic.
17:16And there was no child in Isolde's womb. The night she tried to burn me alive in Moonvale Tower,
17:22I quietly planted a phantom womb hex inside her. The shadow perfectly mimicked every sign of being with
17:30child. The morning nausea, the swelling womb, and later, even the illusion of a child stirring within.
17:37But day and night, it would be eating the mother from the inside out, draining her life force to feed
17:44itself. The shadow obeyed my will. If I wished it, she'd be dead in an instant. But taking Isolde's life
17:52wasn't going to satisfy me. The men who butchered my entire people were Isolde's father and brother.
17:59I still remember her brother, Sir Victor Ashford, his thick, greasy hands tearing the scales from
18:06Nerissa's tail fin. Nerissa had been drenched in cold sweat from the agony. But she clenched her jaw
18:13and never made a sound. She died in unimaginable pain. I looked at Isolde's relieved, joyful face.
18:22A dark smile crept onto my lips. Are you watching, Nerissa? For every ounce of pain they put you
18:29through, I'll make them pay a thousandfold. When I slipped back into the king's chamber,
18:34Aldrich was still fast asleep. I dropped my robe and slid into bed beside him. I couldn't wait to see
18:40the look on his face when he woke up and heard the news. His wife was pregnant. After all,
18:46he was the one paying the crown alchemist to slip a barrenness draft into her daily tea. She was never
18:52going to have a child. House Ashford already held half the seats in the Council of Lords. They
18:57commanded the entire Southern March army. If Isolde actually bore an heir, her family would use the
19:04child to turn Aldrich into a puppet king. Sure, Aldrich might have loved her once, but love is a cheap
19:10joke next to a crown. Aldrich woke up and stared at me. The days of the dream spinner still lingered
19:17in his eyes. It looked like he enjoyed the fantasy I spun for him. Your Majesty, word has just arrived
19:26from the queen's attendance. Her grace is with child. Did the news get out? Sire has already sent a rider
19:33to
19:33Lord General Ashfield. The air in the room snapped tight. I knew when to take my leave. You had a
19:41shock
19:41last night. Stay here and rest. I'll find you a better place to stay. Queen Isolde was pregnant. House
19:49Ashford was smelling blood in the water. Aldrich was fighting a war on two fronts. He had to crush the
19:56plotting in the Council of Lords and he had to find a way to kill the thing growing inside his
20:02wife.
20:03Right now, no one was looking twice at a nameless crown's grace. It was the perfect blind spot for my
20:09revenge. Kasvar, Crown Prince of Norheim from the Midsummer Court, would be my blade. I didn't just
20:16want a few dead royals. They butchered my people. I was going to burn their kingdom to the ground.
20:24I rolled up a coded note and shoved it into Nyx's mouth. The little snake tracked Kasvar down,
20:31following the invisible scent of our soul tether. I settled into Dawnlight Hall and waited.
20:38A few days later, someone pounded on my door.
20:43My lady, the queen is in agony. Please, you have to come. Aldrich had made his move. He must have
20:51ordered the crown alchemist to strengthen the dose. Too bad there was no child to lose. The deadly
20:57potion was just eating Isolde alive for nothing. No one had leaked a word about me saving her
21:02pregnancy the other night. Aldrich was completely in the dark. I stood over Isolde's bed, watching her
21:08face twist in pure miserable agony. Slowly, I drew my silver ritual blade. The shadow from the phantom
21:16womb Hex remained untouched, thriving and multiplying inside Isolde. My child! Can you save it? I can,
21:24but it's going to hurt. Saraya, if you dare deceive me, my father and brother will not let you walk
21:31away
21:32alive. I took out my silver ritual blade and cut fresh slashes into her wrists and belly. Then,
21:38I let my own blood drip in. One cut, then another, until there were ten. She just lay there, shooting
21:45pure venom at me through bloodshot eyes. I actually wondered how exactly her father and brother were
21:51planning to deal with me. I had handed Kasvar a few of my shadow familiars. I told him to slip
21:57them
21:57right into the Ashford's food. The father and son commanded the entire Southern March army. Without
22:03them, the moment a general falls, the army breaks. House Ashford's massive military threat would vanish
22:09overnight. Once the tenth cut sealed, I drew back. Isolde was completely drained. I waved a hand toward
22:16the heavy chamber doors. Send for the healers. Let them check. But the healers didn't arrive alone.
22:22Aldric entered right behind them. I didn't know you had this particular talent. Just an old remedy from the
22:31deep waters. Older than your kingdom. I had just ruined his perfect assassination plot. He wasn't going to
22:39let this go. The queen's child is safe, sire. Miss Alade, you've suffered. For you and our child,
22:53it was no suffering at all. I stood in the corner, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from
22:58laughing
22:59out loud. Did the king look remotely happy to her? He looked like he couldn't even stomach the sight of
23:05her. We owe Lady Soraya our thanks. Do you know what you've done?
23:17I understand my error. I acted recklessly. I am no trained healer. If anything had happened to the
23:24queen, the consequences would have been unthinkable. Reckless is an understatement. You are confined to
23:30your quarters for three months. You do not set one foot outside Dawn White Hall. Aldric, please.
23:36I begged her to do it. Don't punish her. She wasn't trying to help me. She was just terrified. Your
23:42Grace, I overstepped. I accept my punishment. This is our first child, Iselide. We cannot be too careful.
23:50Do not plead for her. Isolde opened her mouth, then swallowed her words. Deep down,
23:55she was thrilled I was getting locked away. I was escorted back to Dawn Light Hall. That very night,
24:01Aldric showed up at my door. He sat by candlelight, his thumb tracing soft circles over my hand. The
24:07flame danced in his pupils. There was something buried in his eyes I couldn't quite read. I hadn't
24:13fed him a shadow familiar tonight. Soraya, give me a child. I almost laughed in his face.
24:20We had shared a bed before. A shadow could mimic touch for a while, but not forever. Keep it up
24:27long
24:28enough and he would notice. Besides, sirens are creatures built for addiction. Aldric couldn't get
24:35enough. He spent night after night in my chambers. Isolde really thought Aldric put me under house arrest
24:42because he was sick of me. She figured she could deal with me the second she popped out her air,
24:47instead of watching me rot in exile. She was met with very different news. I was pregnant too.
24:54When Aldric heard Isolde was pregnant, he panicked. But when he heard the news about me, the joy on his
25:01face was real. He had sat on the throne for years without a single heir. Since Isolde couldn't bear one,
25:09she quietly paid off the alchemists to spike the tea of every other mistress in the castle.
25:15I stared into his eyes. They were soft with tenderness. Did he actually love me? A siren's body is built
25:23for
25:23survival. Bearing young is practically effortless compared to humans. If I wanted a child, it was easy.
25:30The tragedy was, this child was never meant to be born. Every drop of blood in my body fed my
25:37shadow
25:37familiars. Siren magic is born of the living sea. Blood sorcery feeds on death. Those two forces ripped
25:45at each other inside my veins, leaving too little life in me to carry a child. I swear I felt
25:51it move.
25:52You're imagining things. It's barely two months. How could it move? I felt it. I'm sure of it.
25:58I'm probably just hungry. We both burst into laughter, tangled up together in bed. That was the
26:05exact scene Isolde walked in on. Isolde was finally showing, but the rest of her body was wasting away.
26:13Hollow cheeks, dark bruised circles under her eyes. Her skin looked as thin as stretched parchment. Not even
26:21three layers of heavy powder could hide the decay. The shadow from the phantom womb hex was relentlessly
26:28feeding on her vitality. The second I saw Isolde, I went to pull away, but Aldric just wrapped his arms
26:37around me tighter. Why are you here? I heard the wonderful news about Sirea. I came to offer my
26:47congratulations. I just didn't expect to find you here. Aldric hadn't stepped foot inside Golden
26:54Rose Hall in weeks. He made every excuse in the book. He just refused to see her. Desperate, she had
27:02written to her father and brother. Still no reply. Today, upon hearing that Dawnlight Hall was expecting a
27:09child, she could endure it no longer. Thank you. How have you been feeling, Your Grace? Isolde didn't
27:19even look at me. Her eyes were fixed on Aldric. Have you grown tired of me, Aldric? They shared a
27:26bond
27:26forged since childhood. For a fleeting moment, Aldric's grip on me loosened. Honestly, if Isolde's
27:34pregnancy wasn't stressing him out of his mind, I probably wouldn't have kept him in my bed this
27:40easily. Don't overthink it. I'll come see you later tonight. Your Majesty, urgent dispatch from the
27:47Southern March. The Council of Lords is already waiting in the council chamber.
27:57Was there anything else, my queen? I wished to rest. I underestimated you. But in this palace,
28:04carrying the king's heir means absolute nothing if you don't survive the birth. I could say the same,
28:09though I suspect you already know. You conizing little wretch! Don't push your luck! I still have my
28:14bloodline! I have my father and my brother! You're just a dancer! You are nothing beside me!
28:20Is that so? If I had to guess, that urgent dispatch was all about the Ashford men. I had
28:26learned of it days ago. My splinter familiar was shadowing Kasvar. The tiny shadow carried the news
28:33straight into my mind through our soul tether. It reached me a full month before the king's fastest
28:39riders could. House Ashford had always hungered for war. They had long been eager to march on Norheim.
28:45But the royal vault was bleeding dry, and Aldrich had zero interest in starting a war. So the eldest son,
28:53Sir Victor, crossed the border and provoked them again and again. I had thought he could fight,
29:00but it only took a few clashes for Kasvar to knock him off his horse and shatter his leg.
29:07Kasvar didn't want a full-blown war, so he let the fool live.
29:12But the very next day, Lord General Ashford marched his army south. He swore to wash away the insult
29:21and avenge the humiliation of his son. The southern march was miles away. Even the fastest horse took a
29:28month to reach the capital. Aldrich had no idea the old general had already been crushed and captured.
29:39My lady, his majesty is in the middle of a council. Let her in. I've had these headaches for days
29:45now.
29:46But when you're near me, they ease. I don't know why.
29:49Thank you very much.
29:49I'm sure no.'
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