The Rise of the Underworld

by Meg Xuemei X

My overprotective mates didn’t trust anyone.

  I took in the surroundings. Even the rounded stones under our feet were worn out. Some of the granite columns supporting the temple were chipped. Black and red murals on the walls told a long history of the natives’ ancestors, of how they built the Underworld.

  They’d been holing up under the ground ever since the Sváva invaded their world and drove them out of their homes. The ones who hadn’t had time to escape to Nightingale had been enslaved, their sons working for the emperor in mines, construction sites, and other hard places. Their daughters were sent to the whorehouses.

  I took in a deep breath to get my emotions in check.

  Our footsteps echoed in the hall, as it was vast and empty, except for five figures— four males and one female—lounging on five of the seven thrones on the dais.

  The males were aged between their late thirties and mid-forties. The haughty-looking female was well into her sixties. She had dull skin and a narrow face. Her grayish hair was pinned into a tight bun.

  All the Protectors wore gray and red robes. They were the best-dressed bunch so far. The fabric of their robes was of good quality, though it couldn’t compare to what the emperor and his nobles wore.

  They stared at me like hawks on a single foreign egg. Only one middle-aged Protector had a welcoming smile on his hard face. He had short brownish hair, hazel eyes, and a square jaw. From his pose, he seemed to have some military training, unlike the others, who evidently led pampered desk lives and carried an air of self-importance.

  “So, you’re the Calamity?” the old lady asked accusingly, her thin lips pursing into one line.

  I heard the judgment in her tone, which didn’t please me, especially since I was exhausted. My mates and I had gone through a long journey, several battles, and bitter disappointments and betrayal; we didn’t need this shit just when we finally arrived to Nightingale.

  These so-called Protectors didn’t show us any courtesy, such as offering refreshments or arranging a resting place. Instead, they demanded my presence right away as if I worked for them.

  I held the female Protector’s rapacious stare and sharp anger brewed in me.

  These leaders hid here, enjoying the best the city could provide, while others suffered. I’d seen enough walking here. They hadn’t done much for their people.

  They sat on their thrones like entitled old farts, waiting for some promised savior to come, to bleed and fight for them, to hand the Underworld back to them, so they could continue to live their pampered lives as the elite class.

  “I’m Calamity, not the Calamity,” I said, containing my temper, yet my voice carried a cold edge. With a blank mask in place, I gestured toward my mates. “These are my mates, Max and Ash.”

  “So, you claim yourself the prophesied queen?” the youngest male on the second throne demanded with a sneer.

  From his stance by the wall, Guy growled a warning. He and his second had taken up guard duty and stood on either side of the dais. His men were positioned outside the door.

  Ash and Max remained silent and expressionless, not caring that the Protectors didn’t acknowledge them. I appreciated that they mostly let me handle everything except for my security detail. They’d treated me as an equal ever since they joined me in the arena, though they couldn’t help being overprotective sometimes.

  I arched an eyebrow, letting the younger Protector realize I thought it was ridiculous to even answer such a stupid question.

  “She is not our queen, Protector Travis!” the woman Protector answered him, her lips thinning to one line again. “We won’t accept just anyone who claims to be queen. That isn’t how our tradition works.” Her bony fist pounded the arm of her throne, though not hard enough. “We can have only seven Protectors, according to our law.”

  I could tell that two other Protectors agreed with her. Tension charged the air the moment I walked into the hall. The Protectors were afraid of losing their power and status, and they’d do anything to hold onto it.

  If they had a strong queen, they’d have to bow to her. They’d be second to her power unless they had a weak queen they could control and use as a figurehead.

  They were going to test me and see what kind of material I was made of.

  Not offering us even a glass of water and having us stand on the lower ground while they were sitting on their thrones on the dais was also a power play.

  “Your prophet might have put the title on me,” I said. “Some of our people also called me queen and pledged their fealty, but I didn’t come here to claim to be your queen.”

  “When you claim people that aren’t yours, you’re claiming the title of queen,” the younger Protector contested.

  “I don’t have time for this,” I said. “But for educational purposes, you should know that anyone who opposes the emperor and his demons is my sister and my brother. And they’re my people, as I’m theirs. If you want to play power games while the demons are seeking every chance to eradicate you, while people everywhere are suffering and fighting for survival, then play amongst yourselves. Being a Protector doesn’t mean you rule. It means you protect. Don’t disgrace the title if you want to keep it. And one more thing: you can’t hide here forever.”

  The old woman narrowed her eyes. “So you brought the emperor and his army down on us?”

  “Protector Halia,” Guy cut in, clenching his teeth. “Do not make false accusations! And show respect to Queen Calamity, please. She’s the only one fighting for us. She’s our only hope if we want a future.”

  “Tell your insolent brat to be silent, Protector Jonathan,” Halia snapped, turning to stare at the middle-aged male who had smiled at me.

  Jonathan didn’t spare Halia a glance. He was the only Protector who looked more like a soldier than a politician.

  “My son can say whatever he wants,” Jonathan said. “It’s time to end the old, useless system and carry out our roles as true Protectors, as Queen Calamity chided us. It’s time we do something good for the Underworld.”

  The Protectors started bickering among themselves, leaving my mates and me standing in the audience hall.

  A new wave of exhaustion beat down on me as the final trace of adrenaline exited my system. Ash and Max retained their regal, formidable looks and stayed on high alert, even though blood covered their tattered outfits. They were always solid as rocks, but through our mating bond, I could feel that they were even more exhausted than me, considering the strain of fighting Elijah in the last battle and continually worrying over my safety.

  We might not be in enemy territory now, but it was no less stressful and frustrating facing a bunch of power-hungry fools. This wasn’t the sheltered city of freedom that Willow, the head of the emperor’s courtesans, had described.

  Never trust “highly recommended” comments.

  I gave the vast hall another quick once-over. It felt so chilly here.

  I had to plan to leave soon and find a base for my mates, my brother, and my women if they also decided to follow me instead of staying in this underground hole.

  “This woman is bringing death to our door.” Halia decided, pointing at me, which was unnecessary. “The demons now know we have a city under theirs. They’ll never stop hunting us unless we hand her over to them. She’s their true target.”

  “Touch my mate and see how long your coward head stays on your neck, crone,” Ash said flatly, breathing out a trace of icy steam.

  “I don’t take threats well,” Halia hissed. “And who are you, young man?”

  “Watch your tone and what you say, mortal,” Max said, his massive obsidian wings arching above his shoulders, his eyes glinting with a golden light of death. “When we roamed the universe, your ancestors were but cavemen and you were an unborn worm.”

  As menacing power rippled off Max and Ash, all the Protectors shrank back into their thrones, except for Jonathan.

  “He’s an archdemon!” Halia shrieked, moving her pointed finger from me to Max. She had
n’t noticed his magnificent, terrifying wings before, as she had focused all her venom on me. “She brought a demon into our sanctuary! Guards, seize him!”

  Ash chuckled. “He’s more of a vampire, if you know his origin. Not many people who know that still live, though. And if you don’t know what a vampire is, I don’t mind enlightening you, ugly mortal crone. Max’s main diet is human blood, and he likes it fresh and hot. If you think a demon is bad, my bonded brother Max is much worse. And he hasn’t had blood for days.” He jerked a thumb at Max. “That vampire is very thirsty now and testy. He’ll even take your veins if you volunteer. I bet he isn’t very picky at the moment.”

  Max and I both rolled our eyes at the Winter Prince. Ash gave me a lazy grin and slowly drew his angelblade from behind his back.

  We expected a fight to break out any time now.

  “For Ayanna’s sake, we won’t draw the first blood,” Max said. “And shut your big mouth, fae. I mean it.”

  “Well, it doesn’t matter if I have a big mouth or a small one,” Ash said. “This bunch is a joke. We’re better off leaving them here to rot. Or I could just kill them all and take this hole for ourselves, but then, our mate has such a soft spot for the weak and the defenseless. The thing is, many evils hide behind the faces of the weak, and many victims can turn out to be monsters in the blink of an eye, if you give them the opening.”

  “Just shut up,” Max said. “You grate on my nerves. I’m tired. The last thing I want now is to be annoyed.”

  “Then your nerves are too thin, brother,” Ash said. “You need to practice more to grow stronger nerves.”

  “Are we going to take their insults and threats like that? Take them!” Halia ordered again. I knew the Protectors and most people here were out of touch with the outside world. But was she so stupid as to think she could have her guards take us down?

  I sighed. But then none of the Protectors had seen how my mates slew the demons.

  I sent a sideways glance toward Guy.

  He and his men remained exactly where they were, unmoving.

  “Seize them?” Guy asked with a shrug. “Do it yourself, Protector. My men and I aren’t that stupid. We like where our heads are.”

  “You dare to disobey my order?” Halia said. “I’m a Protector. I can—”

  “Enough, Halia. You’re wearing everyone out,” Jonathan said harshly. “This isn’t a hearing. It shouldn’t have been like this.”

  “Let’s get the fuck out of here,” Max said. “We’ll find our own way out.”

  “We shouldn’t have wasted time coming to this dump in the first place,” Ash complained.

  We turned and strode toward the entrance of the hall, not bothering to spare the Protectors a second glance. Max’s wings hardened to steel like they were in a battle and covered my back. There was no need for that, since no one in this realm, or probably in any realm, could get past my mates with a sneaky attack.

  “I need to collect my brother and the women first,” I said.

  “You’ve seen our city,” Travis barked as he stood from his throne. “You aren’t allowed to leave without—”

  “I know you’re dumb, Travis,” Jonathan cut in with a roaring voice. “But being as vicious as Halia will only get you killed.” He rose from his throne too. “Queen Calamity, please wait—”

  Ash had turned to the Protectors, laughing. “I was hoping the clowns would issue a challenge. Who’s going to stop us, bitches?”

  His ice magic lashed out. Even though it was greatly weakened due to his fatigue, ice crystals still coated the stone walls, and a gust of wind tossed all of the Protectors, except for Jonathan, out of their thrones. The Protectors didn’t look that dignified as they sprawled on the ground in awkward positions. Travis lay atop Halia like she was his cushion, and she tried to throw him off her.

  “If it weren’t for my mate’s sake, I’d have cut you down just for being wastes of space,” Ash derided them.

  Guy and his men didn’t move an inch. Guy had his arms folded across his chest.

  “Ash,” I warned. “Most of them have never left this place since they were born. They’ve been living in their own little reality their entire lives. This world is all they know. We can’t blame them completely.”

  “I don’t give a fuck about their pathetic excuses,” Ash said. “Let’s go, Blossom.”

  We continued heading toward the door, a hint of sadness lingering on my face despite my anger.

  “You no longer need to carry this burden if they don’t want to be your people, Ayanna,” Max said, squeezing my hand. “It works best this way. They’ll only slow us down. We’ll still find a way to get you back to your kingdom. I promise.”

  My tiger chose this moment to growl, baring his fangs. I heard a few fearful gasps from the dais.

  “Killian,” I said, pushing my command into his head. “Stop it. They aren’t your food.”

  Rushing footsteps followed us.

  “Where you go, we go, Queen Calamity,” Guy said behind us. “I’ll gather all the volunteers and we’ll be your army. We’ll train every day and won’t slow you down.”

  His men murmured their agreement.

  “Queen Calamity, please wait,” Jonathan called, hurrying toward us.

  The heavy wooden door burst open, and a crowd filed in. Two women took the lead. One of them was Willow. The beautiful, mature woman was dressed in fighting gear instead of the fine silky gown I’d seen her in last time.

  Another woman her age strolled beside her. Judging from how their fingers entwined, I’d say they were probably lovers.

  Her companion also wore a travel outfit—a light blouse and pants, with a scarf covering the lower half of her face. Her forehead was broad. Her light blue eyes sparked with intelligence, sharpness, and warmth. The blue color seemed rare amid the natives. From what I’d seen, most of them had dark brown eyes.

  A curtain of jet-black hair cascaded down to her slender waist. The whole package made her stunning instead of just pretty.

  “Lady Raven,” Guy murmured under his breath, reverence in his voice.

  Protector Jonathan also reached us, as he was sprinting. He nodded at the two women, his tight expression softening.

  “Who said we don’t want to be her people?” Willow asked in a rich, firm voice. It used to sound sexual when she talked to Elijah and tried to get me away from him. And I’d been self-conscious of my harsh, smoky voice. “You haven’t met Queen Calamity’s real people yet, Consort Max and Consort Ash.”

  Word traveled fast, and Willow had already gotten my mates’ names.

  Max and Ash remained stone-faced at their royal titles.

  “Willow,” Halia sneered from the dais. “Finally returning from the emperor?”

  Willow’s eyes burned like coal. “How dare you, Halia! I’ve been doing all the dirty work so you can sit here enjoying your fucking tea and living like a leech.”

  I’d noticed a mug of tea on a small table beside Halia’s throne.

  “You were extremely rude to Queen Calamity because you’re afraid of what it will mean for you to have a queen above you,” Willow said. “The truth is that you don’t deserve to hold the power. You’ve done nothing for our people and don’t deserve to rule over them.”

  “Our power and positions were passed down from our ancestors and granted by the gods above,” Halia hissed. “No one can take away our birthrights.”

  “Change has come,” Willow said coldly. “Let’s see how long the corrupted power lasts.”

  “That newcomer can’t be our queen,” Halia said, scurrying toward the center of the hall and addressing the audience that had gathered behind Willow and Raven. “We had peace in this realm for centuries until she came to stir up trouble.”

  “War will be upon you eventually, regardless of my presence,” I said. “Check yourself, Halia.”

  “Queen Calamity liberated us when no one else could or would!” Amber shouted, pushing through the crowd. “She’s our uncontes
ted queen! And we have many witnesses to her heroic actions.”

  Relief and joy washed over me as I spotted the women from the Desert Belle mingled in the crowd. My back was no longer stiff. They were at least safe now in the sheltered city with Willow.

  When I left, I’d only taken my brother, Octavia, and a few willing warriors. I’d planned to come back for the others when I was certain I could protect them better.

  The other women also came forward and advocated for me.

  “Long live Queen Calamity!” Octavia shouted and knelt.

  Then the entire crowd dropped to their knees. Guy and his soldiers also knelt.

  “Our swords are yours, our queen!” they swore.

  My heart was uplifted and warmed. These were the people I fought for.

  Raven clapped her hands, and the chanting ceased.

  “See,” Raven said with a mischievous smile. “We don’t even need to vote. The people have chosen and spoken.”

  “We’re aware of the prophecy,” said a Protector who hadn’t said a word while Halia dominated the forum. “But we can’t just put blind faith in someone.” His brown eyes trained on me. Every Protector was here now, in front of the crowd. “If you’re truly what Lady Raven prophesized as the Queen of the Flame, you’ll show us the mark she said you would bear to prove it, and then we’ll consider establishing you as the prophesized queen.”

  Willow and Raven smiled at me expectantly and encouragingly for this easy solution. All I needed to do was to pull my shirt up and show the mark of the blue flame inside five white petals on top of my left breast.

  And then all would accept me.

  Anger boiled in me, the same anger as when I was placed in the emperor’s arena.

  “I don’t give a fuck if you accept that I’m the queen or not,” I said. “I’m not some freak show. I won’t show you a damn thing. I didn’t come here to be your fucking queen. The only ones who are allowed to see my skin beneath my clothes are my mates. Try me and you’ll regret it.”

  I drew my Dreamkiss, crimson runes hissing on the blade, ready to defend my honor. Though I knew it wouldn’t come to that. My mates wouldn’t allow anyone to touch me.