“Daniel!” Triska sobbed, lunging forward and clinging to her mate as she felt her heart breaking from the news. In her mind Kitten was doing her best to hold her frustrated grimace, the sounds of the girls screaming in agony along with the sight of her master in pain from their loss being almost too much for her to bear.
“No!” Triska cried out. “Please don’t tell me she’s gone! Don’t tell me! Please, Daniel! Squeak can’t be dead, she can’t be!”
Daniel held his mate in his arms while hearing his family breaking down into misery unlike ever before, the sounds of his girls crying and screaming tearing into his heart just as the memory of Squeak’s final moments did. He wiped the tears away from his eyes and held Triska close as the girl cried into his chest, his remorseful gaze watching his mate sobbing in despair against him before moving up to see Ragnarok floating in the air while watching him curiously.
“At least you avenged your beloved mate, yes?” she mused with a shrug. “Surely that will bring you some comfort tonight.”
Daniel slowly shook his head while speaking not a word back, the devastated look in his eyes conveying the victory he obtained didn’t make the pain he felt now any less worse. He held Triska close and lowered his head as sorrow consumed him, holding his mate near while feeling his heart having taken a powerful blow that would not soon heal. As he and his family endured the painful loss of Squeak’s passing, Ragnarok showed a bitter grimace at the sight before sighing and looking away with a dull gaze.
“Trapped inside a human man with no magic to feed from,” she muttered crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. “Descendant or not, I fear this may be a tiring period for me. Oh, I do wonder what my original handler is doing right now. If only I were in her hands still…”
Looking up, an almost longing gaze would have been seen on Ragnarok’s face if anyone around could have actually seen her to begin with. She tilted her head in wonder while her hair flowed freely behind in the air, the manifestation of the fabled sword now bound to Daniel’s very spirit having curiosity in her eyes as she thought about one and only one person at that moment.
“Where are you, Seraph?”
*****
The moonlight shined in from the open balconies on either side of the grand court, marble pillars surrounding it baring softly lit lamps that provided illumination along with several large chandeliers that hung over the exquisite hall. A long velvet carpet was laid out from the elegant double doors at the end of the hall, all the way across the spacious court, up small steps towards a throne that sat atop the elevation at the head of the chamber. Under several golden and blue curtains that were strung up overhead and in front of the largest column in the room with sculptures of female knights carved into the mighty pillar was a chair crafted out of stylish wood, embellished with golden and silver gilding along the arms and legs, set with a soft velvet cushion and violet padding on the tall back, and that cradled the rear of a woman who proudly sat upon the revered seat.
Her black heels twinkled in the light as she sat with her legs casually crossed before her, a long black cape reaching down behind her from the waist where a dark belt with three blue crystal orbs set in the front was worn. She had a short violet and blue laced edging skirt that reached just down below her thighs, exquisitely matching her low-cut purple top that was lined with beautiful golden embroidery and cradled her large bust while offering a rather tempting view with how open it was kept. Her black short sleeves were puffy with white frilled trimmings, while around her neck was a gold necklace with a clean-cut lavender diamond set in the middle, the gemstone resting perfectly snug between her cleavage as if to further draw the eye towards her chest. Her long blonde hair was curled and reached down past her shoulders while atop her head rested a gold rhinestone crown decorated with purple and sapphire diamonds. Her warm blue eyes were often hard to catch a glimpse of as she always had a pleasant, carefree smile on her face with her eyes almost seeming to be closed, yet they were opened just enough to see their lovely color as she watched two others humbly kneeling before her throne.
“Well?” she kindly asked while slowly twirling a finger through her hair. “I trust my faithful maidens have approached me with only good news to share as they often have. Does this still hold true?”
“Yes,” Kryelle dearly agreed, her loving smile aimed at the woman being the exact same adorning the face of her partner who was also bowing in respect with her demonic wings lowered behind her in similar fashion.
“We have very good news for you, my queen,” Arixis promised.
“Oh?” the crowned woman cooed. “Do tell. Do tell.”
“A new deposit of luststone has been discovered in the east,” Kryelle announced. “A vast motherlode of the rare ore was found below the city of Forsquench. The mine underneath the human settlement recently dug into the hidden chamber of luststone, and I’m happy to report it’s much bigger than the previous one we excavated.”
“Forsquench?” the woman wondered with an innocent face. “Hmm… that’s awfully far away.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Arixis chuckled. “Kryelle hexed the entire city to do our bidding. She raped all the women and turned them into our slaves.”
“And the men?”
“I raped them to death,” Arixis answered with a dark grin. “Broke every bone in their bodies. It was really fun.”
“The city has been brought under our control,” Kryelle reported with a fanciful wave of the hand. “Every woman there is currently digging out the luststone down to the last precious lump, all of which will be packed and shipped directly here with heavy escort courtesy of every fighter they have within their walls.”
“That is very pleasant to hear,” the woman chuckled, her benevolent smile never faltering while the aura she exuded was anything but. Standing up from her throne she giggled softly as she began walking towards the succubi, her shadow on the floor slowly creeping outward and blanketing the entire hall as her mere aura was not only chilling and dark but also visibly shadowing against the ground and surrounding walls. From her back large demonic wings began forming out of a blurry haze, revealing themselves to the naked eye of those nearby as she displayed her true form. The wings were not bony or leathery at all, but instead were monstrous appendages of sheer darkness while baring giant, bloodshot eyes with narrow irises in their centers. The eyes quickly snapped around to look in different directions with ghastly growls, the two then focusing on the succubi before the woman as they only continued to smile adoringly at their queen.
“I’m sure my fellow beelzebubs in Eden would absolutely love to have faithful, competent, and lovely minions such as yourselves.”
“You flatter us, my queen,” Kryelle timidly said, lowering her head and partially hiding herself with her wing.
“We only want to do good for you,” Arixis declared. “We love you, my queen.”
“Aw, you’re so sweet,” the beelzebub cooed. She gently patted the demon on the head and then did the same to Kryelle, the two succubi lowering their heads with bashful expressions as their demon lord praised them.
“But,” the woman mentioned, with Kryelle and Arixis quickly looking to her with concern as the beelzebub held up a finger and gently wagged it. “I need that luststone now, not later. I need every ounce of that stuff to fuel my charming spell; it does need quite a lot of luststone to keep its effects reaching far and wide across this side of Eden. I’m afraid waiting too long just won’t be possible, the spell is burning through what little luststone we have left.”
“We understand,” Kryelle replied with a nod. “We’ll see if we can persuade their neighboring settlements to assist with the mining. Bringing every scrap of that luststone to you will be their one and only priority, and we’ll make sure they work day and night until it’s done.”
“We’ll get you that luststone in no time,” Arixis promised. “You can count on us.”
“Good,” the beelzebub agreed. “I knew I could rely on you girls. And, the o
ther errand I sent you out for? How is that proceeding?”
“Taken care of,” Kryelle replied with a sharp grin. “We’ve arranged for every monster hunter this land has to offer to be sent out into glorious battle all in the name of their queen. Of course, we’ve made sure to spread them so thin and send them towards such overwhelming odds that they’re all being wiped out as we speak while the populace is none the wiser.”
“Those poor monster hunters,” the beelzebub pouted. “It sounds like they weren’t properly informed of the danger they were tasked with slaying.”
“Nope,” Arixis chuckled. “Those idiots are marching themselves right into their graves.”
“My condolences for their families,” the beelzebub giggled. “Monster hunting truly is a dangerous profession, especially for mere humans to be tasked with.”
“Aside from the kingdom knights there soon won’t be anyone else to help defend Rockhelm,” Kryelle assured. “The humans remain blissfully unaware that their precious kingdom is about to fall.”
“Good,” the beelzebub agreed with a nod. “Keep it that way. I want not a word of what’s coming to reach their ears. As far as the kingdom is concerned there is nothing out of the ordinary happening out there. Make sure they remain happy and productive inside their precious walls. The moment it all comes crashing down atop them… when they realize how completely doomed they all are… the amount of suffering and anguish that will fill the air… oh, I simply cannot wait to feast upon their despair.”
“It will be a slaughter that all of Eden shall remember,” Kryelle promised.
“All those stinking humans are going to die,” Arixis eagerly said. “They won’t stand a chance.”
“Yes,” the beelzebub cooed as she began walking back towards her throne. “I’m already feeling such wondrous amounts of suffering and death creeping closer to this place. It’s so tantalizing, knowing that this delicious misery is only the beginning of my feast. Oh, how the former queen would simply die all over again should she know just how bad things are going to become for her beloved subjects.”
“There will be plenty more agony and gloom to feed you very soon, my queen,” Kryelle vowed.
“Indeed,” the queen mused as she turned and gently sat down on her throne, her winged eyes moving around erratically as if they were separate entities from the monster while she retained her pleasant smile that never left her face.
“And even this scrumptious smorgasbord is just the start,” she said while casually examining her fingernails. “Our grand sovereign herself will be quite pleased with our efforts. A new, albeit slightly bloodstained, kingdom for her to use as her first conquered territory in the world. An army comprised of every monster suitable of serving her already waiting to be enslaved when she arrives. And me, her most loyal emissary who eagerly awaits to stand with her and live off of the eternal torment she will spread across Eden. I believe she will be quite pleased indeed.”
“Will she be coming here soon?” Kryelle wondered.
“I would love to bow to my queen’s queen,” Arixis said. “Please say I can do it soon.”
“It will be soon,” the beelzebub cryptically answered. “At long last the time for her release is nearly at hand. Seraph the Tyrant will once again walk across Eden as the one true queen of this world. However we must focus on preparing everything before she arrives. Bring me that luststone at once, keep the people quiet and blissfully unaware of their imminent demise, and make sure every monster that hears my delightful charms has the easiest time finding their way here. When our grand sovereign arrives I want this kingdom cleaned out and those hordes of dimwitted brutes standing ready to serve their new ruler.”
“It will be done,” Arixis promised with a bow. She took off with a mighty flap of her wings, soaring out of the chamber while Kryelle remained down on one knee before her queen.
“Is there anything else?” the beelzebub asked.
“I have but one humble request to give,” Kryelle politely stated. “I recently came across someone who… interests me. She isn’t affected by your charm, she still flies free. I was hoping that… if you could find it in your merciful heart to grant me one wish…”
“My dear Kryelle,” the beelzebub cooed. “You’re blushing. Have you found someone you fancy that much?”
“Yes, I want her to be mine,” Kryelle declared, the succubus quickly jumping a bit then lowering her head in shame. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to speak so impudently in your presence. I know I have no right to ask anything of you, I only wished to speak honestly in my hopes that you would listen to my plea.”
“You want her to be spared from the impending onslaught?” the queen wondered. Kryelle nodded at her with pleading eyes, the beelzebub murmuring curiously at seeing her minion so hopeful before she giggled and nodded at the succubus.
“I see no problem with you taking one personal slave to play with,” she reasoned with a wave of the hand. “Our grand sovereign will have entire legions of monsters to command upon her arrival, having one less won’t make a difference. You have my blessing to do what you wish with her.”
“Thank you, my queen!” Kryelle happily cheered as she bowed to the woman. “Thank you! I shall not squander this gift, I promise to play with her to the fullest until she breaks completely!”
“Whatever makes you happy, my dear. Now go, you have work to do. You have never failed once in the tasks I have given you, I trust you will not start anytime soon.”
“No, I will never fail you,” Kryelle promised shaking her head, the succubus then looking up to the beelzebub with a loving gaze as she internally praised her luck with having been blessed by her one true master.
“I am forever at your service, Queen Leanna.”
Artwork
Chronicles of Eden Act XII Cover
Sheal - Salamander Woman
Shadow - Elf
Ragnarok
Diago - Ant Girl
Leanna - Beelzebub
Daniel Sorres - Act XII
Daemon Warrick - Act XII
Tora - Act XII
Author's Thank You
Thank you for reading my book, I spent a lot of time slaving over a hot keyboard so you could enjoy (hopefully) a nice story today. If you like what you've read here then I hope you continue to check out the books I've published and find more entertainment, mystery, and excitement to experience. And if you’re so inclined, a book review always helps sell more books, if you could spare a moment for one of course.
For more information for all my literary works, additional illustrations and character art, and updates on upcoming releases and events, please visit my website at AGordonPublishing.com.
Thank you for your support and I hope to see you again.
Alexander Gordon
Chronicles of Eden - Act XII Page 50