"My sisters?" Maria implored with a shocked face as a cold sentiment crammed the room. Slowly, she diverted to Filippo who had the same shocked expression on his face, his mouth not able to proceed out words. Immediately, a wind began to blow drastically shoving the royal curtail in a whirlwind form. Quickly, Nevada walked towards the window and shut it with her eyes fixed out. A few meters away from the window, a tree nearby began to swing its branches into different directions, its leaves scattered around the air. Nevada's eyes widened in fear, this was a sign, she knows that and she could feel it deep inside her that something strong and evil is approaching.
Instantly, she turned to them with flickering eyes which were written with fear. She sauntered towards a wooden box, brought out a key from the edge of her bed, and unlock the box, in her hand was a book with a brown cover, it looked pale and had dust all over it.
Without closing the box, she turned to them with love and fear in her eyes but her expression was firm and brave.
"You have to leave now!" she announced with a serious tone, authority written in her voice.
Maria quickly got down from the bed, she was strong enough to walk now, she turned to the window and back at her mother, something was odd and she could feel the presence of something evil approaching.
"Here, take this" Nevada handed the book to Maria, her eyes held so much passion, "In this book are things you need to know, things that will help you win this war after you kill your sisters" Nevada glanced at the book and back at Maria, "The devil will try his best to take this from you but you have to guide it with all your strength, nothing else can save you but this" She instructed and turned to Filippo who nodded at her words.
"But mother" Maria spoke out drawing Nevada's attention. "We can't leave you here, you have to come along with us" she requested with hopes written on her face. Gently Nevada placed a hand on Maria's face, a sad smile appeared on her face which made her blue eyes sparkle in anguish, "No, I can't, A queen cannot abandon her people. I need to stay here and keep my kingdom safe, after all, this is your battle Maria, win this and save the world. No one else can get to your father but you. Kill your sisters first and your God will guide you with the rest" Tears welled up in Nevada's eyes, tenderly, she placed a soft kiss on Maria's forehead, her lips stretched in a sad smile, "Go now, time isn't on your side anymore".
Nevada turned to Filippo, " You are a brave man, you choose to risk your life for the sake of humanity" she said softly, closed her eyes, and sigh deeply, "Fate indeed never lies, you were destined for this and I know that your fate won't fail you" her eyes fell on the sword in his hand and back to his face. Not saying a word, she turned to Maria, gently removing the blue circle pendant around her neck, with a sad smile, she wore it around Maria's neck, "I want you to have this, this pendant will protect you and see it as a gift from me. Sadly, I have to spend little time with you, but I am engraved with joy that I can see you even if it is for the last time", She let out sadly.
"No mother," Maria cut in with sadness piercing deep into her heart, she nodded her head in disagreement as she tried to hold the tears threatening to roll down her eyes, "Don't say that mother, I will win this battle and come back for you, we will make up for the years we lost together and we will be happy, nothing will ever separate us again, I promise you that" a tear rolled down her eyes, her gaze not leaving her mother.
Nevada didn't say a word, filled with love, she wiped the tears off Maria's face and wrapped her in a farewell hug, "I will be waiting for you, my daughter but now, you need to be concerned about your safety and act fast" Nevada asserted.
Hastily, she walked towards the room door, "Call Theophilus this instant!" She ordered a soldier standing outside with a sword in his hand.
"Yes, my queen" the young man quickly replied and walked fast down the hallway.
A few minutes later, a small tap was heard on the door.
"Come in" Nevada ordered and watched Theophilus walk into the lavish chamber.
"My Queen" Theophilus bowed with full loyalty.
"Theophilus" Nevada called out in a strict tone, "I need you to guide them out of the kingdom, give them enough water and fruits to accompany them on their journey, and do it at once" She commanded.
"Mother" Maria called out touching her hand, "Fruits won't be necessary but water will be fine," she said.
Nevada nod and immediately, Theophilus walked out of the chamber. A few minutes later, he came back with two steel bottles of water in a brown old bag and handed it to Filippo who placed the bag over his shoulders.
"We need to leave now," Filippo said to Maria who nodded in agreement and they walked out of the chamber along with Nevada. They got out of the palace, Nevada stopped, turned to them with an assuring look on her face, "This is where I have to stop, Theophilus will lead you both out of this kingdom and your instincts will guide you through the right path. Remember, immediately you leave this kingdom, go straight to each of your sisters and kill them, there isn't more time because humanity is at a loss" she reminds them.
Nodding, Maria hugged her tight, "I promise to come back for you mother, I will" she assured her.
Nevada smiled, "I know you will, now go!" She ordered.
Maria turned to Filippo, and together with Theophilus, they departed out of the kingdom. The villagers stood staring at them as they walked behind the hefty soldier. After leaving the kingdom, they got to the place Maria and Filippo were captured by the soldiers.
"This is where I have to stop," Theophilus said, "Here" he pointed to a rough path covered with thorns, "Follow this path, it will lead you through" he ensured them. Not saying another word, he turned away and walked back towards the kingdom.
Filippo sighed with his eyes fixed on the rough path, "I guess this will be the final part of our journey" he said affirmatively.
Maria didn't say a word but nodded, she has to win this battle against her father and be with her mother, but how will she be able to kill her sisters without having any powers? Her sisters are demons with powers and they are quick to detect any danger approaching them. Also, they are immortals, how will she accomplish this impossible task?.
Filippo lead the way and they began to walk towards the rough path, carefully, they strolled in and tried their best to avoid the thorns springing out of the flowers on the ground and branches on the trees. Silently, they walked on, their eyes scanning through the woods which suddenly became dark but they were sure that it was still daytime.
Hours passed by, they walked past the bushy path into a road filled with nothing but red sand. The night began to draw near and Filippo decided that it's time to take a rest and continue by sunrise. They found a safe soft and retired there, Filippo fingers wrapped around his sword tightly, his eyes and ears were wide open in case of any danger lurking nearby.
He turned to Maria who lay quietly, her face filled with a mixed expression. "I understand how you feel, departing from your mother must be so hard but you will get to be with her soon, she trusts you to win this battle Maria'" Filippo said in a soft tone.
Maria lay still not looking at him, she exhaled loudly, "But how Filippo?" She implored confused, "Killing my sisters might be difficult due to their immortality, how can we accomplish that?" She implored with sad eyes.
Filippo sighed as his eyes scanned around, "Faith Maria, Faith!. I believe that we will find a way soon, trust your instincts and trust God too, he still exists" he assured her calmly.
Maria didn't say a word, slowly, her hands touched the pendant around her neck, her mother is right, there isn't any time left, it is now or never and she hopes to achieve this once and for all.
******************************
A cold breeze overwhelmed the atmosphere as a little wind filled the room shoving the candlelight off. Nevada quickly got up, her eyes flickering around the darkness with a wandering heart. She sat up and pulled the blanket away from her sleeping gown, placed a hand on a table beside her bed, and found a matches box next to the candle stand. Quickly, she lit the candle as the dim light replaced the darkness that overwhelmed her. Her eyes turned to the windows in the vast room but to her surprise, they were tightly closed.
Nevada twisted her forehead with a confused expression, she scanned around the room wondering where the wind came from. The night was long gone and it is midnight already, she could hear the chirping sound of night insects and the howling sound of an owl nearby. Shoving her worried thought away, she placed her blanket over her and held the edge tightly. Slowly, she began to feel sleepy, her eyes began to close.
Immediately, she felt the presence of someone around her, Nevada's eyes flung open as she sat up in fright, her scared eyes glittering around. The candlelight beside her began to quickly burn down rapidly, its wax rolling down the perfectly made table. Nevada's eyes widened in terror because something like this has never happened before. She fixed her gaze to the candle which burned rapidly without stopping, almost reaching its limit spot. The cold sensation she felt before filled the room again and shivers ran through her spine.
Immediately, the windows in the room flung open by themselves and a terrible wind from the outside found its way into the chamber, her hair swinging in its delight.
Nevada's face was covered in fear, behind her, she felt the presence of someone, goosebumps suddenly filled her body as her heart race increased with speed. She turned back with eyes filled with terror but saw no one, the smell of burning coal mixed with dried grass filled the room, and at that instant, Nevada knew that someone extraordinary was in the room watching her with fiery eyes.
"Who are you?!" She shouted in a brave voice but deep inside her, she was burning in great fear.
She got no reply and the wind became intense, her body shivering in fright. Suddenly, the candlelight went off, deep darkness filled the room making Nevada not see a thing, the great air filled her nose. Replenished with fear, Nevada screamed with panic, her eyes flickering around the heavily dark room.
"Easy queen, you don't have to make a huge fuss about this having dwindled and lived with the devil himself," an evil voice said, her words filled the room as they echoed in Nevada's ears. Immediately, the candlelight came on by itself, and facing her was a face of a demonic woman, her hair and lips, black as night, eyes, red as fire, her skin, white as snow. She had an evil smirk on her lips which made her so terrifying to look at.
"Finally, we get to see" her smirk deepened as an assuring and confident look overtook her, "Nice to meet you Nevada, or can I say, Stepmother!" Ammit let out, her eyes glittered with raging red burning fire.