“To complete the prophecy, we need to travel to Silverstone Tower. Be prepared at 7 o’clock sharp.” I’m

marched to my room where food and new clothing await me. I eat and dress in my new clothes quickly. I

plan to go to the library and try to figure out what King Theron was talking about. How come I was chosen

to be the Ancient queen’s host? There is nothing special about me.

I slip out of my room and head for the library. What even is an ancient? I go through the oaken doors and

enter a majestic library.

“Hello, Queen Cassiopeia.”

A soft, gentle, and whispery voice says. I whirl around in fright. The librarian raises her hands.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m also not going to turn you in. I’m going to assume that you’re looking for a book on the Ancients.”

I nod, taken aback by this gentle girl in a castle full of wolves. She picks up a heavy book and hands it to

me.

“You can take this back to your room to read it, when you leave tomorrow I’ll pick it up.”

I nod and hurry back to my room without incident. I open the book and inspect it’s contents. There’s a

section on ancient deities, maybe I can find the ‘ancient queen’ in there. Luckily she’s the first entry.

“_Queen Chrysanthe is the Ancients powerful ruler. Every year she chooses a new host to reside in. She _

_can do whatever she pleases with her host. Normally, when the queen enters her host it is very painful and _

_some don’t live through it. Every year, someone will be looking for the host because of what they can do _

_with the queen’s power inside them. At the end of the year Queen Chrysanthe will lead her host to _

_Silverstone Tower where she departs from her host with the help of the sovereign. Most hosts do not _

surve this procedure.”

I stare down at those fateful words. Does that mean I’m about to die? Without ever seeing my family and

friends again? I slam the book shut and throw it across the room and start to cry. A few hours later I hear

my door open and soft footsteps towards my bed.

“Cass? You awake?”

“I am now.” I groan, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

“Good. Listen, I need to talk with Queen Chrysanthe.”

Immediately I stiffen and the queen starts to speak.

“Eros, sovereign of the Ancients. What is your plea?”

Eros swallows nervously and says boldly.

“I want you to conduct the Doppelgänger procedure tomorrow.”

I scoff.

“Nonsense. That might kill _me _instead of the girl.”

“I know, but we need to overthrow King Theron and we can only do it if we have Cassiopeia with us.”

I hesitate, mulling this over.

“You drive a hard bargain, Eros; sovereign of the Ancients. I will conduct the doppelgänger procedure _if. _I feel up for it. Now leave us in peace that way I can rest for tomorrow.”

Eros bows and says gratefully.

“Thank you.”

Then he hurries out of the room.

The next morning I awake to violent rays of sunshine, a throbbing headache and loud banging on my door.

This day is starting off wonderfully.

“It’s time to get up! We leave in twenty minutes!”

I groan and scramble out of my bed. New clothes are waiting for me and a small amount of food and water.

Ten minutes later I’m outside waiting impatiently for the rest to show up. They arrive at the same time and

they all seem suprised that I beat them.

“Let’s go!” King Theron grins at me. “Enjoy your last day on Seiren.”

I nod and effortlessly climb onto my horse. Eight hours later we arrive at Silverstone Tower.

“Up we go. We have to get to the very top before sunset.”

It takes another hour to climb up the awful tower. It’s dank, dark, and dingy.

King Theron looks at Eros.

“Your turn.”

Eros looks at me and declares.

“I ask to speak with Queen Chrysanthe.”

Once again, I stiffen and look at him coldly. He swallows and says in a low voice.

“Commence Procedure Doppelgänger.”

I begin to rise into the air. The guards shout in fright as I begin to glow.