by James Cox
“Fuck!” Alexander slapped at the trickle of flames on his shirt until only a charred hole remained.
I wanted to check on Aneen, but we were already shoving to our feet in clumps of mixed species. Back to back, weapons out, we waited in the deepening darkness of night. Loud footsteps pounded down the road and I looked up to see a huge troll stomping toward us.
Alexander surged toward him with his bloody fangs bared.
“Damn them!” Aneen was facing Alexander. “I can’t get a clean path to the troll.”
Alexander and the troll were engaged in a bloody battle. There was no way to untangle them so Aneen could hit the creature with her powers without endangering our vampire.
“He can handle a single troll,” I said, “There should still be one vampire left.” Or more. If Dusk’s intelligence was correct, then only one more of those blood-sucking murderers was about.
“Stefen!” The warm, manly voice made me flinch.
“Father?” I whispered, confused and all at once terrified. It couldn’t be him. He was a farmer on the outskirts of town. There was no way he’d make it through the battle just to help me.
“Stefen!”
I stared around, searching, straining to confirm what my ears were hearing. The banshees were locked in a battle with the guards that swelled from a dark street. Dusk and Thorn were in the air, both dropping flaming objects where they would ignite the most enemies. “Aneen, do you hear…”
“Stefen.” The door before us opened. For a moment the bright light within blinded me, but soon the figure took shape. My father. He was standing there, the same dark hair, the same blue eyes. He wore an old pair of pants torn at both knees with the very bottoms stained brown from so much time in the fields.
I didn’t know what to say or do. The best I could come up with was, “Run. Hide.” Clashing swords were getting closer. The banshees were outnumbered.
He took a shaky breath and it looked like his eyes were glassy with … with tears. I’d only seen my father cry once in my entire life and that had been the day my mother died. “Don’t follow.” He spoke as loud as he could, but his words didn’t make sense. Not at first. Then the darkness behind him moved and he was heaved backward.
“Father!” I shouted, stepping forward as the vampire smiled and slammed the door shut. Thoughts left me. Fear clouded everything. My motions were jerky and clumsy. I ran to the door, slamming it once and surprised when it burst open. The interior was dull now. A single lantern was lit on an old stone table. I gripped the sword hilt tighter. Where was he? There was no other way out. The darkened corner shifted. “Unhand him.” My voice was raw with emotion.
He stepped from the shadows, a pale hand wrapped around his neck.
The vampire’s face and hand were all I could see. It was smiling, fangs dark with blood and its nails were as sharp as my blade. “Humans.” There was a hiss to its words. “So. Predictable.”
“Unhand him. Now.” I don’t know what in Dullahan’s name I planned to do if he complied. Even if I could heal faster than an average human, I was exactly zero match for a full blooded vampire.
“Why would I do that?” It asked, squeezing my father’s neck tighter.
He winced but made no sound.
“Trade.” I whispered the word. “My neck under your claws if he goes free.” It was the only thing I could think of. Maybe I’d heal. Maybe Alexander would kill the troll and get to me in time. Maybe Aneen would … Aneen. Dullahan’s dick, this was a distraction! I spun around to see if she was still standing there and physically sighed when I saw her. Her hands were up, she was shooting light from her fingertips at a hideous troll. The banshees were already running toward her. “You lose.” I turned around.
The vampire hissed. “No, human. You do.” He dug his claws into my father’s throat and pulled.
The sound. That horrible gurgle sound followed by the splatter would haunt my nightmares forever. It was so loud in the small room despite the battle outside. Blood ran down my father’s chest like a rushing river. His skin was peeled apart showing things inside his throat that I’d never forget. His wide eyes were filled with tears as he fell to his knees. I had no idea how I got to his side, but I was there. I was pulling him into my arms as the vampire let out a cackle that turned my rage so potent I screamed. I screamed and I screamed until my throat was raw. There was no life in his eyes as they stared up at me. Warmth faded from his skin as I held him tightly. So tightly. I never said goodbye. I never got to thank him for sending me to train with the guards, even though I fought his decision with every breath I had. I never said I loved him. A terrible pain squeezed around my heart. Tears slid down my face as I held him. “Father?” But he was already gone.
A darkness fell over us. Hands grabbed my father, pulling him away.
“Stop!” I grabbed my sword and stared up to see a blurry Alexander.
He was carrying my father to the table, nearly knocking the lantern over as he placed him down. Alexander bit into his wrist, tearing the skin violently and then shoving the bleeding wounds over his parted lips.
I surged to my feet. Staring, hoping, shaking so bad I could hardly hold onto my sword.
Alexander pulled his wrist away, staring at my father motionless on the table. “I-I’m … sorry.” He croaked the words out.
I was consumed by the fire within, rage and despair grabbed hold of me. A surge of screams came out of my mouth, but I didn’t remember opening my lips. Alexander was suddenly there. He wrapped his arms around me, but nothing could tame this fury.
“You cannot win.” The queen’s voice was delicate. I hadn’t heard it in so long that it took me a moment to realize it was her. She stood in the stone archway that led to another room. Beside her was the pale creature that had killed my father.
“You bitch.” Aneen stood in the front door, framed by the moons’ light.
“So many have already died. More will continue to lose their life if you do not stop this.” She wore a long white gown. It looked ridiculous in the middle of this bloody battle. She opened her hand and revealed the vial. “This is the only way to stop the dying.”
“Your death will stop this madness, too.” Aneen had this controlled anger about her expression that sent chills down my spine. Her hands were already out, but the vampire seemed to be ready for her. It bent slightly, baring its fangs in her direction. “You know, I was going to ask you to surrender. Now, I’m not sure if I want you to.”
“Because you’re a fighter.” The queen smiled. “You’re my daughter. Half god, half human, heir to the throne. You belong by my side.”
“No.” Aneen shouted the word. “I’m conflicted because my heart says to spare you, but my mind says to fry you in your skin until you are nothing but an ash heap.”
The vampire hissed.
Alexander answered him with a vicious growl.
They met in the middle of the room. Fangs, claws, bloody limbs. It was all a blur. They both used vampire speed so all I could see was fast moving figures. Then a body went flying toward the wall, hitting it so hard the stone cracked. The vampire was in a bloody heap. Its pale face slack, eyes closed. Alexander let out a roar, both victorious and angry. He turned toward the queen with the most feral expression I’d ever seen.
Apparently, the queen hadn’t expected that outcome. “Trolls are waiting outside. Guards. You’ll never win. I am the queen of Otherworld. My army is bigger and more violent than yours.”
Aneen took a deep, shaky breath and let it out slowly. She lowered her hands. “Surrender, mother.”
“Or what?” The queen scoffed. “You’ll kill me?”
“No!” I shouted, nearly shaking with rage. “But we will.” I lifted my sword.
Alexander growled and bared his bloody fangs.
The queen’s eyes widened slightly. Before I could blink she threw something at us. Dullahan’s dick, the vial. The green powder inside scattered in the container as it flew end over end. I flinched, there was not time
to do much else. If it hit any of us our memories would be gone, erased, forgotten.
Aneen threw up her hands, light flashed. It was bright and quick. The brightness made the green powder look almost glowing and then the vial was flung backward, away from us.
The queen had time to gasp, but nothing else. The vial struck her chest. She flung herself backward, but her shoes were caught on her long, ridiculous gown. Her eyes widened as she fell on her butt. The vial tumbled down her body, bouncing on the white material and then hitting the floor. It shattered. The sounded seemed louder. The subtle cracking giving away to a full-out splintering. The green powder met air. It exploded in a plume of smoke. Queen Aralynn shoved herself onto her back, but the smoke was already upon her. Her eyelids flickered and her head fell back, smashing into the stone floor. “No.” The word was a single whisper from the queen’s lips and then silence. Blood seeped into her blonde hair as she sat up. “W-Where am I?” She glanced down at herself, taking in the white gown and the splashes of blood. “What’s going on?”
The battle still raged outside.
My father still lay dead beside us.
But the evil queen Aralynn of Otherworld was no more.
Chapter Ten
The dead numbered more than we could count. Bodies littered the city, both enemies and friends. The fires had been extinguished, but the smoke had gathered in the air. The smell was acrid and disturbing. The stars and the moons shone through the chaos. Their light bathed the broken city. Cries and tears reigned this night. Blood puddled in the streets, guards surrendered and the wounded were tended. The night felt hopeless, heartbreaking—but the sun rose. Light returned and bathed the city in warmth. Sadness lingered, not just for me, but for many. I’d be foolish to think I was the only one who lost kin in the battle. Many banshees died. Aos Si were missing, presumed dead.
Whoever said war was worth winning, lied.
Even with all that despair, there was something else in the air. Hope. Aneen was not in a golden castle, counting her coins and rejoicing with food. She was beside Alexander and me. We were in the city with the survivors, cleaning up from the battle. Bodies were placed delicately in the Durnin River so they could ride the current to Death Falls and their souls could rise to the sky. Aneen had announced both enemies and friends would know this fate.
As the day passed, clouds rolled in and rain fell from the sky like so many tears. But this water cleansed the city of blood and cooled the sweat off our skin. There were whispers that it was a sigh, an omen of good things to come. I don’t know if I believed in that, but I did believe in her. Our Aneen.
The rain was relentless so those who wished for a warm meal gathered in the great castle. All were welcome. Well, most. The trolls who survived had slunk back to their caves. Some guards remained in the dungeon, but most had simply been following their queen’s orders. It irked Alexander that the assassin Darrow had not been found. He had been wounded at their last encounter, but the bed he laid in during the battle was empty. Aralynn, former queen of Otherworld, was a confused ball of fear. She’d been spit on, had rotten food thrown at her and was nearly shot with an arrow. The woman didn’t know why everyone hated her as we whisked her into the castle as fast as we could.
Now, we stood in the great hall with a massive amount of people. Rich, poor, humans, banshees, and Aos Si. There was our half vampire, the new, non-human queen of Otherworld, and whatever I was with the strange blood coursing through my veins. Music played, soft but not sad. Drink flowed. Food was devoured. Life continued.
“My queen?” A soft, feminine voice addressed Aneen.
Both Alexander and I spun around. I think protecting each other had become a habit, one that would be hard to break.
Aneen smiled at the woman. Her hair was bunched at her neck, flowing down her bare back. The dress she wore was a soft, subtle yellow. It hugged her breasts salaciously and curved over her hips, then draped over her gorgeous legs. The gown didn’t match the dark belt around her waist or the two daggers sheathed there. “Moraccina.” Aneen gathered the woman in her arms. “I feared for you when I did not see you.”
The woman nodded and hugged Aneen just as tightly. “My skills with a pen are mightier than my skills with a sword.” She released Aneen. “It’s time.”
Aneen smile faltered.
“Time for what?” Alexander stepped beside our princess. No, our queen.
Moraccina grinned softly, “To claim your throne, child. To announce our king. To help Otherworld stand once more.” She took something from a servant behind her and handed it to Aneen.
Aneen walked away from us, taking her steps slowly, but with growing determination. Everyone moved out of her way, but I don’t know if that was from fear or respect. She climbed the four stairs that led to the throne. It was solid gold, gleaming in the light from the dying sun through the windows. Aneen turned to face the quiet crowd and revealed the crown in her hands. It was shining, golden, swirls were frozen along the rim with red gems imbedded in the tips.
“Queen Aneen.” Moraccina shouted, her chin raising slightly before she lowered to one knee. “Long may she reign.”
The crowded repeated her, their timing off so the words seemed to echo along the walls, over and over again. Everyone began to lower, dropping to one knee. Some bowing their heads. Only Alexander and I stood among the bowed. I wasn’t quite sure what to do and I don’t think he was either. There was some part of me that had thought we wouldn’t win. I’m glad I hadn’t embraced that doubt.
“And I, Queen Aneen of Otherworld, present my kings.” She stared at us, the soft smile accompanied by a blush. “King Alexander of the vampires and King Stefen of the humans.”
Well, not quite, but I wasn’t about to say that aloud.
Alexander had to go and ruin the poignant moment, “I’m a fucking king!”
I rolled my eyes, took his hand and together we walked toward our queen. I stood to her left and Alexander to her right. I could only imagine how insane we looked. Human, vampire, goddess on a golden throne with the smell of the burnt city still lingering in the air. I looked at Aneen, her red eyes soft in this light and whispered, “Long may our Queen reign.”
The Queen’s Kingdom: Orgies and Assassins
By Lovart
I write this narration as I sit behind the thick bars of a cage in the queen’s dungeon. Although I am not alone. All manner of creatures wither away in the rooms beside mine. The damp smell of death and decay fills my nostrils. Darkness is overwhelming when night approaches, but the worst, the worst are the screams. My readers. My friends. If I should never make it out of this vile place, remember me fondly. Water rises this night, rolling over the stone floor and hitting the walls that keep us locked in here.
Water puddles at my feet, growing, expanding, filling the cage that I cannot escape.
I am writing this using rare magic ink so that even if I should die and my book is lost to the ocean, the words will remain. I give you my look into the queen’s kingdom. A fearful land full of darkness, orgies, and assassins.
May this not be my last story,
Lovart
****
It begins on a cloudy day. Ten gold coins to the right guard gets me a servant uniform and quick fingers get me a bundle of flowers. Those beautiful-smelling bunches keep my face partially hidden as I blend with the crowd readying for a party. It is the queen’s annual celebration. The queen is turning thirty-five. I don’t think anybody outside the castle is really celebrating—drinking yes, but not so much having parties. I heard the stories of how cruel she can be. It takes less than an hour for me to sneak inside and replace the servant clothes for fancy rags that let me mingle with the crowd. I’ve never been in the castle before. It is not what I expect. Lavish paintings on the walls, the flowers are on every table and a huge set of people are playing instruments. The music is upbeat and cheery. So, this is what it is like to be royal. Dancing among a sea of flowers with enough food to feed an entire kingdom, I gra
b several small tarts and stuff them in my mouth. Delicious, too!
But as I try to blend in, no queen catches my attention. The humongous, extravagant, golden throne is empty. Perhaps that’s why all these beings are celebrating so hardy—the queen is gone.
I think for sure this book will be a bust. No queen. No story. Then my gaze catches something, or rather someone. Princess Aneen. She is stunningly beautiful with her long blonde hair and a beige dress that hugs her curves. I have to glance away quickly to keep from drooling. I slide among the dancing and the drunk to get closer. The bodyguard known simply as The Wall is beside her. The two can be accused of being attached at the hip. His unsmiling face glares at anyone that comes close. He’ll be hard to get around. I think perhaps I might be able to turn this story into something about the princess. I slip through the throng of folks letting loose and follow her toward the main arched door. She disappears underneath it, followed only a moment later by her bodyguard.
Time to use a bit of skill. I grab a glass of ale, dribble some on the front of my fancy new shirt and give my walk a drunken hitch. I stumble through the opening only to see them climbing up a set of stairs. With speed that belies the drink in my hand, I climb the stairs and pause at the top. The princess and her bodyguard are already walking down the hall. She is chattering away about something, no, she is reading from the book in her hands. The bodyguard clasps her shoulders and shifts her so she doesn’t bang into another person walking toward them.
Dullahan’s dick, that person is Darrow.