The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

The Skinwalker pulled the blindfold away, breaking free of the runic cage faster than Noble could get out a warning. 

The others had been discussing the best way to dispose of the abomination, unaware that the power of the runes was slowly being drained by the monster inside of it. 

The moment that he broke the plane of his confinement, things moved almost too fast for Noble's mind to comprehend. 

Beastmaster was the first to react, using the club in her hand to crash against the Skinwalker's chest. He went flying back toward the useless prison, and the world went dark as Noble heard a deafening crash. 

Someone grabbed Noble's arm.

"Get out of here!" Seishan ordered her, shoving her toward the exit.

Part of Noble wanted to stay and fight. But with four Saints in the room against a single monster, she felt more like a liability than an asset– especially if that thing tried to look her in the eye and take over her body. 

The only logical thing to do was run, and so Noble did. Using her second sight, she located the door while monitoring the situation behind her.

Beastmaster had already knocked Ginnar into the wall, likely sending cracks along the ancient wall.

But if the Skinwalker felt any pain, it didn't show it. The monster rebounded from the hit with frightening speed. If not for Revel dousing the lights, the corrupted abomination would have been on top of Beastmaster in less than a breath.

But while the creature's vision was good, it must not have had experience in the impenetrable darkness. It missed the statuesque Saint by a hair's breadth and slid into the table. Splinters rained down.

Already Revel was on him, transforming into something with wings as she attacked. Noble didn't take the time to let the image form clearly in her mind. She already felt like she had wasted too much time.

None of the Saints had released their true power, and Noble didn't want to be around when they did.

A dim flash penetrated the dark hall, but the floating Master did not look to see what power had been able to overcome the void.

Noble felt movement coming toward her. She tensed and gripped her Zenith. For a moment she feared that the Skinwalker might also be heading for the exit-either to escape or pursue her. Neither was an appealing proposition.

However, the hand that grabbed her was cold as ice, yet surprisingly gentle.

It was one of the Pilgrims. Unaware that she could see in the darkness, the dead were now escorting her out of the room. It was oddly thoughtful.

Either that or the Queen believed she was enough of a liability that her servants needed to remove her from the scene.

Noble didn't care about the reason. She was just glad the Skinwalker was not the one taking hold of her.

Checking quickly, Noble noted with relief that the monster was almost as far away from her in the chamber as possible. 

Was the Skinwalker being contained by the Saints, or did it want to be there?

If the creature wanted to take over Ravenheart, the fastest way would be to inhabit the Saints of Song. With Princesses under the Skinwalker's control, the rest of the Clan would be reluctant to fight their former leaders. Only Queen Ki Song would have a chance to squash it. Noble hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Reaching the door, Noble felt for the handle at the same moment as the pilgrim. The icy fingers startled her and she pulled back.

Behind her came another crash and the sound of something else breaking—hopefully not any of Clan Song.

Noble pushed through the door as an object came hurtling at her at great speed.

She leaned against the outside wall as the light of the hall washed over her. A heartbeat later a body came flying out of the darkness and slammed into the wall across from her.

A second pilgrim had been thrown from the room, deep gashes marring his face and his clothing to reveal a hole in his chest.

The first pilgrim ignored the second. She calmly shut the door and stood in front of it.

Glancing at the dead man on the ground, Noble wondered if it had been any help in the battle or if it was just collateral damage. While she was staring, its mangled body lurched, and it rose to its feet. 

Noble's eyes grew wide. Of course, it could still move, even on broken bones. It wasn't alive to begin with. 

But it was strange to watch the wounded figure rise like nothing had happened. Noble hid her discomfort and ignored the Pilgrim until he motioned for her to follow him.

Where did he want her to go? Did he want her to leave the palace?

"I cannot leave until I know none of them are taken by the Skinwalker. My Ability allows me to detect it. Please don't make me go." Noble might not have chosen to fight, but she was still useful. 

She might actually be more helpful in this regard since no one else seemed to be able to sense the difference except perhaps Seishan's flower.

The pilgrim stopped waving and lowered his arm. The Queen would allow her to remain.

That brought a second thought to Noble's mind. If the Sovereign was watching through the pilgrims' eyes as the professor suspected, why hadn't she intervened and dealt with the intruder herself?

Was she unwilling, unable, or simply unavailable?

Maybe all three. Noble would have to contemplate the prospect later.

Within the chamber, sounds of the clash continued. Noble didn't need to feel the emotions of the fighters to know the altercation was intensifying.

'I wish I knew what was happening!'

As soon as the door shut, Noble had lost the ability to use her second sight. She was completely cut off from the others.

Suddenly, Noble felt like a coward for retreating, especially when Seishan, who was also a Master, had stayed.

But the grey-skinned woman knew far more about the monster, and the professor understood the value of knowledge in a fight. She was too ill-prepared to battle something so wicked that it terrified Saints. 

Wishing the best for those inside the room, Noble tried to extend her Kingdom Keeper attribute.

Nothing seemed to happen. No pull or change in how her essence flowed.

Was it because she really only cared about the creature's destruction? Was that not enough to grant those fighting it some protection?

It seemed not.

Her heart raced with anticipation. She desperately needed to know what was happening.

A scream. But whose?

'Wait, weren't there four pilgrims in the room?'

Noble looked at the woman guarding the door. Her gaze was as empty as ever as she stared forward, unfocused.

If the Queen was controlling both of these, then she must also know what was going on inside.

Noble swallowed and addressed her dead companions. "Do you know what is happening in there? Is everyone alright?"

The female pilgrim said nothing. She didn't even turn her head in Noble's direction.

She did, however, move out of the doorway—right as it exploded.