"Iona is the only card we are left with now. Return her to Adrianna and demand Anastasia," said Etaya.
"But Adrianna would never take her back," Seraph hissed. "Now she knows that Iona works with you. After the failed mission, don't you think the queen must have already understood our plans?"
Etaya snapped, "Then we will attack her. That is the only option left. Back in Vilinski, people are getting impatient. They want to see Anastasia. They want to see their ruler. Aed Ruad is hardly able to control them because he is not over with his grief for Maple. And I am doing most of it. Yion is getting suspicious with each day. He told me that there are rebels growing in the capital, and that is not a good sign. We have to quash it. We need Anastasia!"
Iona leaned against a wall, as she tried to stay away from the fog that was spreading out of the door, which was in its own way alert and trying to sense presence. She knew everything about her Master. She had learnt his behavior all these years. From her vantage point, she peeked inside.
The fog accumulated in Etaya's feet as Seraph stood behind her. It was as if he was hugging her, caressing her.
"I want to meet Sedora and be assured that she will help me back with my body," he said, feeling restless.
"Seraph," Etaya said. "Sedora would never be able to back out from the promise she made to Lore. All I am interested in is making the most of our plan. You gave up your life for this mission. You helped me in removing my brother and his wife only so that our son gets the throne of Vilinski, only so that by the end of it we are able to rule the Lore. With Anastasia in our hands, things are going to be the way we want them. Aed Ruad will ascend to the throne of the fae kingdom, you are going to get back in your body and rule next to me. We have got the most terrifying power in our hand—Iona. Why do you think I got her abducted? And why do you think that I killed you? Because only your spirit could get inside Draoidh, only your spirit form could convene dark forces, because only Iona had the powers to use those dark forces. And it was important that we kidnapped her so young to train her."
"Shh!" Seraph said and spread his fog around to sense if Iona was nearby.
Immediately Iona backed away as quietly as possible. The fog retreated after feeling that there was no one.
"You said that you have put a watch on her movements. Why are you so anxious now? Etaya asked in a low voice. "Do you think that she is awake now?"
"I don't think so. I have been giving her sleeping drafts in the lavish food that you send for her every day. She only sleeps and lazes around."
Etaya started laughing. "You cunning old man!"
"Why don't I come back to my body, Etaya? I have stayed too far away from you. I want to be with my kids," Seraph lamented.
"My love," Etaya said as the fog came right over her knees and waist. "We are so close to our goal. Can you imagine how well our strategy worked so far? We have used Adrianna's daughter against her. Iona is the best weapon we have in our hands. And the main reason is that as her parents, they would never attack Iona, even if they don't like her ways. No parent would go against their child, unless that child is like Maple." She scoffed. "We have trained Iona right from the beginning to hate Adrianna, and our training is bringing its colors forth. Imagine how things would look like when you rule Draoidh, and the best part—" she smiled. "The best part would be that it will be her daughter who would dethrone Adrianna. The Lore would blame Iona, and not you. No one knows about you. Once we defeat Adrianna, we will kill Dmitri, we are going to drag Anastasia back to Vilinski, and keep Ileus as our prisoner forever. We will put up a fake marriage of Aed Ruad and Anastasia for the people of the fae kingdom to see that things are just normal."
After a moment of silence, he said, "It all sounds like a dream… one that we have weaved…"
"Yes, my darling. And one that is near completion. As soon as we kill Adrianna and Dmitri, I will declare you the king of Draoidh. We are going to rule the Lore then!" she said in a crazed voice. Then she calmed herself and said, "Why are you getting restless now? You volunteered to help me in this task. Because your elder brother wasn't giving you a share in the throne, we came up with this plan. And your brother was happy to hear this proposal. That's why he supported us."
"That bastard!" Seraph said feeling agitated.
"Seraph, Kar'dan supported us because even he wanted to see demons ruling the fae kingdom. He was the one who brought Sedora to help with your smooth transition. He will make sure that you are back in your body in a similar way. Don't you know that after Dawn went after Sedora in the kingdom of Ixoviya, Sedora is in Zor'gan? Kar'dan was the only man who gave her sanctuary. She will do exactly what we are going to ask her to do. So please don't worry about it."
The fog stilled. It appeared to breathe as it rippled like water slowly. "So what do you propose, my dear?" he asked.
"I am sending a letter to Adrianna that they hand us over Anastasia, else we will wage a war over them. Anastasia is the legal heir of Vilinski and she is keeping her in Draoidh against her will. The fae kingdom is demanding their heir. If the queen of Draoidh refuses to hand over Anastasia to us, which in all probability she would… we attack!"
Iona closed her eyes. She wanted to cry. Etaya's visit was so… unexpected. She chuckled and then she walked towards the lake. Taking off all her clothes, she dived right inside it. The cool water made her feel… better. She swam in it for a long time. When she came back to the cabin, she found Seraph waiting for her. Etaya was gone.
Wrapped in a towel, in her human form, Iona looked like just any other eighteen-year-old. "Master," she bowed to him.
"How are you feeling, Iona?" He asked in his usual cold voice. The fog around him seemed to spread towards her. She could feel its tentacles slithering on her skin, trying to feel her mood, her power, her health.
"I am feeling fine," she replied.
"Good. Then hurry up. We will soon be attacking Draoidh."
"Yes, Master," she replied.
"This time you have to be very careful. You have to take in every dark force that is around you and prepare for it. Since necromancer magic is banned in Draoidh, we will find a way to get you in the kingdom. Once you are inside, you can kill the king and queen. It is time you take your revenge, Iona!"
With her golden yellow eyes, she stared at him and after a moment of silence said, "Yes Master."
