The Basilisk Empress

by Rozie Marshall

  The men and women nearest me ran, and Rilag dodged to the side as a Giant rushed towards me. A sharp whistle drew its attention away from me and towards the Northern Mountains. The ground began to shake, and I held tight to Rilag as a deep rumbling began in the North. The Giant closest to me yelled to the others and they turned back towards the coast, leaving the fighting as if they really didn’t care who won or lost.

  They began running as the ground shook and the sound of an explosion split the air. Fire, unlike any I had seen, began to rain down from the sky. Shrill piercing cries accompanied the fire. While I watched, the fire began to divide the two sides, creating walls of flames between people. A lone figure began to ride towards me, and I knew instinctively that it was my father.

  Rilag surged forward as he neared, and the ground cracked in two before us, separating me from Vago by a large lava river. Turning at the last moment, we tried to race around the crack in the earth, but a large hand surged up from the river and I felt the ground I was standing on shake as we were lifted into the air. Two more massive hands swept out of the ground as more magma spewed through the cracks in the ground.

  “Your Imperial Majesty.” A tiny flame floated off to my side as the enormous creature held me aloft. Flames surrounded the small chunk of land Rilag and I were standing on. “Would you kindly get off your hellhound. She is in no danger from our flames,” the tiny voice called again, and Rilag lowered calmly to the ground so I could dismount.

  The large flaming hand scooped Rilag up and placed her back on the ground but I didn’t see if she had run off or not. I hoped she was getting help, but something told me she was waiting for me.

  “I am Halisa, Queen of the Fire Nymphs, the four men in their true forms, are my husbands. This is Pleidone, and we have come to help you,” the tiny flame spoke, as Pleidone kept me aloft on the large land plate he was holding.

  “How did you even know we needed the help?” I asked, while trying to see if I could still spot my father, the need to finish this greater than ever.

  “If you are looking for the man they call Vago, my other husbands have him securely contained. As for how we knew you needed help, there are two reasons. The first is Amethelia, she arrived at the volcano to inform us of your need. The other reason is that we are always watching your kind through the fires,” while she spoke, she let her flame die, and she transformed into a human size woman, naked, of course, just as all the other Nymphs.

  She held out her hand for me to shake and my first thought was how hot she was, not in a sexual way, but in a she was covered in fire way. “From what I understand you were extinct or in hiding, why would you then expose yourself to help us?”

  “We left this land when the wars began. Before that, we lived in peace with the basilisks. Five thousand years have passed, and when you were born, we knew there was a chance for peace again. Vago’s actions on the day you were laid gave us insight into your life, and so we helped your mother plan her escape,” she smiled softly at the memory she was recounting. “Once you and she were safe, we kept watch more vigilantly. The Northern army is mostly people who want to get out of Vago’s influence and run, as we speak. Those who fight willingly for him are few, and those who are paid have fled with our arrival.” She turned toward the looming face beside us and made several crackling sounds, as if she was a roaring fire.

  The man holding us aloft popped a few times while crackling back and she smiled. “He speaks of your mates, how their devotion has proven you to be an honorable person. I am not saying perfect, but you do want peace.” She listened to her husband for a moment more and then continued, “He agrees that if peace is achieved, we will return to the volcano, and happily become a part of the world once more. However, if peace cannot be achieved, we will happily destroy all of Lasina.”

  I could tell my face paled at her words, and I had to sit down before I fell. Why would she threaten to destroy all of Lasina? “Why would you destroy the country, if Vago remains alive then his is the only land not inclined for peace. I want peace, for all the people to stop fighting and be able to live in harmony. Vago wants to dominate all of Lasina,” my words were soft but firm, in my conviction that if Vago were gone then there would be peace.

  “Vago has broken the ancient laws governing magic. If you do not end him now, then he will destroy all of Cazzith. If we must destroy all of Lasina to prevent that, then so be it,” she spoke, as she helped me stand once more.

  “What laws has he broken?” What could make him have the power to destroy all of Cazzith?

  “Even the Western Kingdom respects the laws in their studies, only three people have been given the right to use blood magic. Yaga, Yoxe, and your mate Sicrin, all other people are forbidden. Vago has ignored that law and been using blood magic to make himself more powerful,” Halisa explained, and I began to glimpse why Viper and Cobra were so powerful. Sic on the other hand, shocked me, because I didn’t think he would use it, if it was dangerous, he surely wouldn’t use it.

  “We need to end this war. Too many people have already suffered, and more lives have been lost in his attempt to gain power over all.” Looking at both Nymphs, the one standing before me and the one holding me aloft, I replied, “Please put me back down so I can end this.”

  Halisa bowed and crackled toward her mate, and we began to lower to the ground. Once back on a level surface, I looked around at the chaos of the battlefield and the people penned in by fire. Rilag barked and jumped back over the small river of lava to be by my side. “We shall help keep things contained until you end this, once and for all.” I nodded and mounted Rilag, intent to put a stop to this war.

  The volcano erupted as the Giants began to run back towards their ships, hopefully. I scanned the ground below me and saw Maisie racing across the battlefield, towards the front line. Diving low, I tried to reach her when I heard a piercing scream. The ground began to break apart, sending sparks up through the air, forcing me to land.

  Shifting back to human form, I found Zugo and Kai, both trying to get to Jeca’s prone form. Jeca was laid on the ground with another figure bent over him, a second body still had a knife protruding from its chest. “If Viper is here, so is Cobra, go find her.” Kai pushed me and I started. “Hurry.” Shifting back, I flew towards the back of our army and found Cobra standing outside the main tent.

  “He’s dying, isn’t he?” I landed beside her and she climbed onto my back without another word. As we flew back toward Jeca and Viper, I watched four Fire Nymphs in true form rise up out of the ground picking Maisie up in the process. I raced back, intent to rescue Maisie once I dropped Cobra off.

  She slid off my back as soon as we landed and raced to Jeca’s side, trying to help Viper save him. For a moment I watched them strip off his chest piece, readying to leave when Kai and Zugo stopped me. “She must do this on her own,” Kai spoke softly, and I desperately wanted it not to be true, but deep down I knew.

  “Fine, I’ll get Sic.” I flew off to the last place I had seen him, and found him alone in a ring of fire talking to several Nymphs. “We need your help.” Without waiting, I interrupted his words, “Jeca’ssss injured.”

  Sic excused himself and climbed on my back, and I took off once more. I swung around so I could see Maisie, and breathed a sigh when I saw she was safe-ish. Sic tapped me and we headed back to Jeca’s side. He jumped off much like Cobra had, and raced to help. Shifting back, I watched as the three frantically worked to save Jeca.

  Kai stood by my side, just watching. Knowing him as I did, he was freaking out inside, while trying to remain out of the way, so they could work. Jeca coughed softly, coming to slowly as Cobra gave him potions. “Stop love.” He grasped her hand and Viper’s. Cobra began to cry openly, while Sic rose and walked to my side.

  “He has been poisoned, but not by venom. His wound is full of Asphyx,” Sic paused, and looked at Cobra and Viper. “There is only one way to cure him and we don’t have the antidote.” Viper mumbled something and Cobra joined
in. I couldn’t understand their words, but Cobra dripped blood from her hand onto Jeca’s forehead while they chanted.

  “What are they doing?” Zugo asked softly from Kai’s other side, as Kai was still stoically standing there.

  “They are enchanting him, so he is frozen in time, so to speak. He is neither alive nor dead, but suspended, until they can heal him. It requires a blood sacrifice and will only work if done out of love,” Sic whispered, and I heard Jeca sigh at their actions.

  “I love you both, please, it’s okay, you can let me go,” Jeca coughed, and Viper turned to look at him.

  I could see the tears that wet her cheeks as she pressed her lips to his. “Never,” she whispered as she drew back, and Cobra bent forward.

  “I love you, Jeca, you can’t leave us, your child needs you.” She placed his hand on her abdomen as she bent to kiss him. “Be still, and we shall return to save you,” her final words caused Jeca to freeze motionless and Cobra stood. “Would you please watch over him until we return?”

  Out of the fire wall, that surrounded us, a woman stepped closer, and Viper placed a blade to her throat. “Yixe, Yoxe, it is good to see you again.” The woman waited and Viper put the blade away. “My name is Halisa.” She bowed to us as two more Nymphs, one Water one Fire, joined her. “Please encase him.”

  “No, you can’t, he isn’t dead,” Cobra cried out, as the Nymphs began using their powers together. Jeca’s body was slowly encased in clear black Obsidian. The layer thin enough to see through, but still there to protect him.

  “We do this so that he may remain safe in our layer until you return. Your journey will not be easy, as you already know,” Halisa spoke to Cobra and Viper directly, before smiling. “Salzo is waiting in the cave for you both. We shall care for Jeca, our debt repaid once you return.” More Fire Nymphs came and carried Jeca’s body off.

  Cobra and Viper stood watching as Halisa followed them and left the six of us alone once more. “Who is Halisa?” Kai asked softly, and Cobra turned his way.

  “She is the Fire Nymph Queen, the way Maisie is yours. Those four brutes you see waist deep in lava, and still the size of a mountain, those are her husbands,” Viper dismissively answered his question. “Are you ready Yoxe? We need to go.”

  Cobra looked at Kai and smiled. “Please take care of Maisie, we will return, eventually.” Viper grabbed her hand and they began to merge. Their voices blending to one. “We shall notify you when your sister is born,” they spoke as they began to fade out, then they were gone.

  “I knew they had magic and a way to travel fast, but I didn’t expect it to be like that,” Sic whispered, and Kai fell to his knees.

  “He’s gone. Really gone,” he mumbled, and I knelt by his side. Hugging him close, I felt a rogue tear drop onto my neck, finding its way through my armor, as only water can.

  “If Cobra and Viper can find a cure, he will be back,” I reminded him, and he pulled back to look me in the eye.

  “How can you be sure that they will come back?” he asked, as our eyes remained locked. I could see his inner turmoil in as I pulled him closer.

  Pressing my lips softly to his, I whispered, “Becaussse the only way that ssspell would work isss if they both loved him truly. And they both love him.” Kai wiped his face and shook himself out of his vulnerable state.

  “I’m good. Let’s go get our girl, before she gets hurt.” Sic pulled us both up as Kai’s bravado returned, hiding the hurt I knew he was still feeling.

  “Let’sss go sssave Maisssie,” I called, as I shifted so I could scout where she was.

  Once the large Fire Nymph placed Rilag and me on the ground, he sunk back into the ground and Halisa disappeared. I looked around, only to realized I was surrounded by fire. Rilag sniffed and took off, jumping the flames until we stood in front of a group of frightened people, most were women and children, and they cowered closer when they saw Rilag.

  I slid off Rilag’s back before she lowered and approached the group. “My name is Margaret Day. If you promise to embrace peace, you may go back to your homes. Women and children should never be forced to fight, unless they choose to.” One older woman stepped forward and smiled.

  “You are the new Empress, yes?” she asked, her voice gruff.

  “Yes, I am,” the moment I replied, she dropped to her knees and kissed the ground at my feet.

  “Bless you, Your Imperial Majesty, we have waited for your arrival for so long. We shall gladly embrace peace if you rid of us Vago and his cruelty.” Another woman helped her rise and the flames all around the battlefield lowered until I could see all the different groups gathered together.

  Raising my voice, I yelled to those around us, “If you wish for peace, leave now!” The crowd mumbled and then I watched as, first one, and then another, turned to leave. Before long, the bulk of Vago’s army left the battlefield. Men found wives and children, and I saw families rejoice at being together again. The older woman came forward and grasped my hand.

  “You look just like your mother. I hope my son has not damaged your future happiness, and I am truly sorry you must fight him for this peace.” She squeezed my hand softly and smiled. “I shall leave, but if you ever need to find me, I will be here for you anytime.”

  She turned and began to walk away heading North. “Wait, Vago is your son?” I called, and she turned. “Then that makes you my grandmother.” She nodded her head and smiled.

  “Yes, Vago is my son, his father was just as cruel as he is, and I do not regret the choices I’ve made in life, but one. I should have killed him sooner, so our only son would have been a different man, a better man.” She bowed once more and then paused. “My name is Hesikat.” She turned and walked away as I mulled over her words.

  She was my grandmother, and admitted to killing her mate. The fires slowly died down leaving only a few rivers of lava where the Fire Nymphs remained. Rilag huffed and then I heard Emot’s yell from above.

  “What the hell were you thinking?” he called out, as he landed pulling me in for a tight hug. “Why?”

  “I needed to face him one on one, I still do. This war has already claimed more lives than necessary, and we need peace, Emot.” He hugged me tighter, still, and I could feel his slight tremble. “Is everything alright?”

  “Who wasss that?” he asked, at the same time as I asked my own question.

  Deciding to answer his first, I replied. “That is Hesikat, Vago’s mother.”

  He pulled back and his face was shocked. “Ssshe wasss rumored to be dead. Ssshe killed her husssband and wasss sssentenced to death for it. How isss that possssible?” he asked, and I shrugged.

  “I don’t know. Now tell me what’s wrong,” I spoke firmly, changing the subject.

  “Jeca was injured and couldn’t be sssaved, ssso Cobra and Viper put him in a sssuspended ssstate, and the Fire Nymphsss took hisss body and encasssed it in Obsssidian. Viper and Cobra left, we don’t know if they will come back, or when,” he spoke softly, and Rilag sent up a howl. The returning sound was mournful as the other hellhounds joined with her call. “They mourn their lossss. Jeca ssspoiled the houndsss, and Viper and Cobra alwaysss made sure they were well cared for, even though Hicca hasss never done them wrong.”

  “We will all miss their presence. How is Kai?” I asked, prepared to go back and be with him, if needed.

  “You can comfort him later. You need to finisssh this war, once and for all.” Emot kissed me swiftly before helping me remount Rilag. When she turned to go, he stood watching me, before shifting back and flying off.

  Rilag and I raced towards the four large Fire Nymphs that were standing so they made a cage. I suspected that they had Vago locked within, so I sped Rilag on faster. The sounds of people running grew louder as I found myself deeper in the Northern army’s camp. Children cried as fathers or mothers reached them, and families wailed when someone didn’t return.

  Rilag slowed as we neared the Fire Nymphs. They were the size of mountains, and I wondere
d how I was going to get past them. Rilag barked several times and one of them looked down at us. The sound of fire crackling grew louder as two more noticed us. The one from earlier held a hand down and Rilag stepped onto the flaming palm. My anxiety rose and fast as we did, then we were placed inside of the four massive men.

  When I dismounted, I saw Vago pacing furiously along the far end of the enclosed space. A small wall of fire rose up, capturing his attention, then he saw me standing there, the flames dividing us. “So, the royal whore has arrived,” he called out, sending chills up my spine. “You should have died, instead of joining four men’s beds. Your mother was just as much of a slut as you are.” He walked towards the flames as he taunted me.

  “You’re nothing more than a pussy for real royal cocks,” he hissed, as I walked closer. “Your mother was nothing more than a royal whore, my mother was nothing more than a royal whore,” he sneered, and stepped closer. “You look so much like her,” he spoke softly for a moment, and then his sneer returned.

  “Why would you say that about your own mother, your wife, and your own daughter?” I asked, prompting him to throw his head back and laugh.

  “My mother knew she was nothing more that, a breeding machine for a true royal. You are nothing more than that, as well. Your mother was different, at first. We had plans to rule this land together. Our son would have ruled all of Lasina. All that changed when I found her in bed with two other men, the queen of quim, writhing in pleasure as two men fucked her. Once I killed them, she took your egg and ran. Protecting the bastard child that you are,” his words were bitter, and yet under it, all I could sense the hurt.

  “How could you not see what is right before your own eyes?” a new voice called, as Hesikat stepped up beside me. “Your own daughter bears your very own mark Vago. Marked before she was even born, just as you were.” My confusion must have been evident as she walked closer to the flames.