“Frendall,” Klara said coldly as her old friend approached her and the Demons lowered their weapons. “Klara,” Frendall replied. The realization hit Klara in the gut, the three scars on Frendall’s left cheek meant he was now a King’s Commander. He was also taller than the Lesser Demons with their slouched posture and beady eyes.
“Quiet,” Frendall ordered, and the Hounds ceased growling. Klara caught his smug wink as she looked him over.
“Nice scars,” Klara held his gaze, reminding him of her superiority. “I had to do something while you were off hiding in Malum.”
Klara resisted the urge to laugh. She wasn’t going to fight with him with so many eyes watching them.
“It’s a travesty, hiding in my hovel while you rise in the ranks. We both know how much Father loves those with ambition,” Klara said. In fact, there was nothing the King hated more than ambition. Frendall’s young face had grown stern and handsome in the years they had been apart.
“Come,” Frendall called the Hounds to his side. Klara looked at her furry friends as they joined the opposing team, Frendall was their Commander now. He could end the Hounds’ existence in a split second, even if the boy she had once known had loved the Hounds more than anything on this God-forsaken plane. However, there was a new coldness in Frendall’s eyes she didn’t trust.
“Delighted to see the Mutt has gotten good at following orders,” Klara said glaring at the Demon who went to take her axe. The Demon grunted as the blade burnt its hand. “The Hounds do as I command, perks of the job,” Frendall said puffing out his chest.
“I wasn’t walking about the Hounds,” Klara smirked, and the Demons hissed as she insulted the Commander. “We weren’t expecting you.”
“Does the Heir of Hell have to announce her visits?” Klara asked, hating that she talked of herself in the third person, but reminding Frendall of his place was much too gratifying.
“I suppose not,” Frendall said. Klara glared at the Demons around her, and they promptly took a step back as she reminded them who holds the higher rank.
“Then, I see no reason why your Demons continue blocking my path.” Klara studied their shadowed shapes and sour yellow eyes, their bargained souls now the protectors of their tormentor.
Klara’s hands ached as her magic sensed a threat was close. The Demons lingered in a dark swirling mist as they awaited their orders. “Back to your posts,” Frendall barked, and his tone made Klara jump.
“Easily frightened?” Frendall said his eyes narrowing on her. “I’m not used to you barking orders at Demons.”
“Get used to it.”
Is he against me now? Klara wondered, thinking of how they had held each other as children when Father decided to send her away.
“Can we get a move on? I don’t want to sweat to death out here,” Klara said motioning past Frendall. Her friend was gone, she didn’t know what horrid crimes he had committed to gain those three scars, and she didn’t want to either. Her new home in Kalos waited for her, and one day this would all be a bad memory.
“Your Father will want to see you immediately.”
Klara glared at Frendall’s back as her Hounds followed him up the long hedgerows to the stone steps that led to her Father’s Manor. One of the many things Klara desperately didn’t miss about Hell was the one hundred step climb to the Manor.
When they reached the top, Klara’s chest heaved, and her legs felt numb.
“I see Lilith’s training didn’t increase your stamina,” Frendall strolled past her, unfazed by the thin air and monstrous climb. “I’d like to see you attempt the Fall and then run up those steps,” Klara barked knowing that if she still had a heart, it would have been an easy climb.
Frendall approached the colossal Manor doors embedded with the skulls of Lucifer’s enemies. Frendall placed his hand on the blood seal, and the skulls rearranged themselves to allow Klara and Frendall access.
“What are you smiling about?” Frendall watched her force a smile. “Just so happy to be home.”
Klara looked out to the Maze below, noticing that both the Queens and Lucifer lived high in the clouds.
“The King will be so pleased to hear it,” Frendall said, standing behind her as Klara wondered if the Rulers were trying to reach the Heavens that had rejected them.
◆◆◆
In silence, Klara studied his perfect posture and wondered if her Father had overseen his training. “Did you miss me?” Klara asked, circling him. Frendall was the orphan son of a Demon and Human. “About as much as you missed me,” Frendall snapped as they stepped inside the Manor. Everyday Klara had missed him, but he didn’t need to know that. Lucifer found and executed the Human swiftly; however, the King never spoke of the Demon who birthed Frendall. Only that the boy had been left on his doorstep as an offering for their crime. From the child’s’ scent, it was hardly a task for the Hounds to capture the Demon responsible. Lucifer could forgive the fraternizing, but the abandonment of a child was unforgivable. Klara put it down to her Father’s daddy issues. As children, Frendall and Klara had grown close in order to survive her Father’s moods.
“The Manor hasn’t changed since I left.” Klara stared at the gothic Manor forged by Lucifer himself. Frendall’s gaze drifted from the winding mahogany staircase to the chandelier hanging from the ceiling and shrugged, “Guess not, you know the King. He doesn’t like change.”
The Manor had remained in the gothic style since the Human Victorian era, Father despised Humans but would never admit to enjoying the architecture of different centuries. The heat stifled Klara as Frendall pressed his hand against the door to seal it. “What?” Klara asked as Frendall studied her hair changing from one colour to the next.
“The King isn’t going to like it,” Frendall frowned, and Klara realized he had never seen her with real hair.
“I’m sure he won’t, let’s hope he doesn’t notice for both our sakes,” Klara said breathing in the rich smell of cinnamon and wood. The smell of home. On her last visit, Klara had left a wig in her wardrobe, and she wondered if it would still be there as her courage waned.
Klara went to the base of the staircase and contemplated a quick dash to her room but hesitated on the bottom step. The King probably gutted my room after my last visit. “Looking for something?” Frendall asked, so deep into the hallway she could barely see him.
“The chandelier is new,” Klara said, not wanting him to see her hesitation. “Since when does Father prefer electricity to fire?” Klara said gazing at the beauty of the shining chandelier in the centre of the foyer. Jewels and gems glittered from the golden arms.
“The King thought it was time for an upgrade,” Frendall shrugged though candles still burnt brightly on every surface.
“Are you coming?” Frendall asked as he continued down the hallway.
“Right behind you.”
Klara had never noticed the suffocating heat when she had a heart, but without one, each torch on the wall they passed seemed to breathe on her. It was a sharp comparison to the chilled Forest, even in the summer, the shadows kept Malum cool. Whereas the heat in the Manor evaporated her sweat before it had a chance to develop on her skin. Klara pulled at her jumper, allowing her skin to breathe. The hallways seemed to narrow, as she focused her attention on the murals decorating the hallway, each brought to life Father’s most significant battles and creations.
“What brings you home?” Frendall asked, cutting through the silence of the Manor. “Not like you to visit.”
“The Fall works both ways,” Klara countered. She wasn’t the enemy, why was he treating her as such.
“The King never said you couldn’t visit, and regardless of what happened at the last ceremony, he never sealed the Fall.”
“I thought it best that the King and I have some distance.”
“And you couldn’t reach out,” Frendall said, and Klara refused to meet his eye.
“When I returned to Malum, I was on lockdown. The King didn’t appreciate my qu
ick departure from the ceremony.”
“And before that?” Frendall pushed, and Klara didn’t know what answer to give.
“The Queens aren’t all that easy to slip,” she said, not able to read his expression.
They reached the throne room in mere moments, and Frendall halted listening intently, but Klara couldn’t hear anything.
“You’ll want to duck,” Frendall said, motioning at the Doomed at either side of the doors. Klara heard the whistle as a dagger flew through the air, and she darted aside. The dagger barely missed her cheek. The exhaustion was slowing her reflexes. That was close, Klara exhaled hearing the weapon clatter to the ground.
“One of his moods?” Klara asked, and Frendall winked. “Picked a great day to visit,” she muttered to herself as Frendall stretched out his arm, motioning for her to step inside.
“Do these look like Jordan almonds?” King Lucifer said, sitting on his throne. The King swung a small packet back and forth on his finger before throwing it to the ground at the Lesser Demon on his knees.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. The Human assured me...” the Lesser Demon stammered.
“Should a King expect nothing from his servants?” Lucifer roared as the Lesser Demon scampered to pick up the scattered almonds from the torn packet. Klara scanned the room away from her Father’s scolding, she knew better than to interrupt, and so did Frendall. The throne room was devoid of any furniture, and the metallic ebony decor created the ominous atmosphere her Father loved to inflict. The impressive fireplace breathing hot air at the other end of the room drained Klara further.
The Lesser Demon shook and struggled to speak. With a simple click of the King’s fingers, the Demon disintegrated into a small pile of ash. Lucifer rested an elbow on the arm of his throne and sighed, “so hard to find good Demons these days.”
“Another disappointment Father?” Klara said, walking through the darkened room. The dimmed chandelier high above them provided little light.
“My daughter!” The room shook as he stood in his black tailored suit outstretching his arms.
“Missing a call didn’t warrant a visit.”
“It’s been too long Father,” Klara said and Frendall stepped aside, allowing the King a better look at his Heir.
“You have brought me such a gift,” Lucifer smiled at Frendall, exposing his white teeth.
“I can’t accept your praise, I merely found her wandering the grounds.” Lucifer slapped his loyal Commander on the back, “ever so modest.” The strike of Lucifer’s hand threw Frendall a little off balance.
“I didn’t come here just for a visit…I need...” Klara started knowing she was about to push his mood even further down the rabbit hole.
“Nonsense, there need be no reason to visit your home,” The King wrapped his lean arms around her, and Klara knew he would sense her waning power. Her chin smacked his shoulder as he crushed her and Frendall stifled a smile as their eyes met over the King’s shoulder.
“Is it your wings? Have they come in?” Her Father beamed.
“No, but Lilith assures me that they will appear when needed,” Klara lied, and his face dropped in disappointment. “No matter, they will manifest in due time.” The King pulled her into his embrace once again, hesitating a moment too long.
“You’re injured,” Lucifer said, gripping her shoulders tightly and Klara felt the spider’s web tearing from her shoulder. Clench any harder and you’ll have an armless and heartless daughter, Klara thought as she looked into her Father’s tormented eyes.
“How bad is it?”
“A little more than a scratch,” Klara said pulling down the front of her t-shirt just above her breasts to reveal the bandage.
“I can’t fix it if I don’t know the damage.” Lucifer waited as she peeled off the bandage and Frendall promptly looked away, and Klara rolled her eyes, relax! Not like you are seeing any of the good parts. Klara clenched the bloodied bandage in her hand, and her Father stared at the hole in her chest.
“Holy Hell,” Lucifer expressed, covering his mouth with his hand. Klara released her t-shirt, and the wound was covered again.
“I need another heart,” Klara asked as her breathing grew laboured. Lucifer began to pace, which was never a good sign.
“Did your scouts not hear of an attempt on my daughter’s life?” Lucifer roared in Frendall’s unflinching face. “No, Your Majesty, we had no reports of malicious activity in Malum.”
“It was not an attempt,” Klara said wondering if there had been attempts, she had never known about.
“I got tangled up with a family of Ghouls.”
The King backed away since he couldn’t place the blame on his Commander.
“You took out a family of Ghouls without a heart?”
The pride in her Father’s voice made Klara wish she’d turned into a Ghoul and continued to work in the horrid Beanstalk for the rest of eternity. “Well I am your daughter. It wasn’t too hard to take them out.”
“My Queens trained you well,” Lucifer clapped his hands in delight. Klara refrained from rolling her eyes. The High Queen was merely an overseer and she had her Crimson Guard to watch Klara’s every movement.
“How are your studies coming along since I see that Lilith has provided all the necessary physical training?”
“Eve is quite dedicated,” Klara lied. Eve preferred to work on her floral perfumes and potions. She only bothered to educate Klara when her flowers failed to bloom.
“Why should I bother when you have all the necessary books to read?” Eve had said and tossed a book at Klara when she had first arrived in Malum. Lilith was the only Queen who enjoyed causing her to suffer through endless drills and combat trials.
“Glad to hear Eve has taken to the role. For the mind is just as important as strength.”
“There will be plenty of time to catch up, but can we get back to the matter at hand?” Klara pressed.
“Ah yes, I’m sure you are most uncomfortable.”
The King didn’t care if Klara suffered. He was a firm believer in dealing with the consequences of one’s actions.
“Why were you in the company of Ghouls?”
Klara could have told him she was assessing the River border for weakness, but Lucifer grew nervous whenever she got to close to the River Styx. Even if it was only the first of two borders, once you cross the River, you still had to cross the Neutral Lands before you reached the Kalion border.
“I was hunting.”
“Hunting is not the job of my daughter, let the Lesser Demons handle such business.” Father gripped his hands behind his back, his red eyes glowing as he contained his rage.
“Ghouls are such nasty Creatures,” Lucifer continued, “least I can’t be blamed for their sort.”
“Frendall, do you know how one becomes a Ghoul?” Klara asked, sure Lucifer’s Commander would know the answer, but Frendall shook his head to appease the King. The King answered in Klara’s place.
“They are created by Humans who die having eaten the flesh of other Humans. They are the maggots of the magical world.”
It was never the King’s fault even if it was his Demon’s possessing the Humans that coerced them to consume Human flesh.
“I know I should have allowed the Queens to intervene, but the Ghouls were feeding Creatures their own kind. Smuggling Humans through the Port for meat…”
Lucifer’s eyes burnt red, “and my Queens did nothing about this?”
Klara hesitated to speak, she couldn’t reveal the whole truth. Nor could she blame the Queens for fear of Abadan’s retaliation against her.
“They did, and they wanted to send Demons to handle it, but I wanted to show them that I was ready for greater responsibilities.”
Frendall glared at Klara, and she knew he could see through her lies. Even when they were little, he could always tell when she was fibbing.
“Yes, well, they should have consulted me first before sending me a heartless daughter.”
�
�I thought it would be best coming from me,” Klara said. The Queens owe me big time, Klara kept the thought to herself.
“Stubborn like your old man,” Lucifer said, impressed by Klara’s show of strength. She could have offered the Queens up on a plate and killed three birds with one stone, but she needed someone to rule over Malum if she were to escape. The Queen’s demise would only accelerate her succession.
“They will answer for this. You should have had back up.” Lucifer clenched his jaw.
“Whatever you feel is necessary, but can I have that heart? Kind of dying over here.” Klara dropped to one knee as Lucifer and Frendall’s faces blurred together.
The King reached out to take Klara’s hand, but as he touched her skin, she couldn’t control her strength. Her Father’s Human appearance evaporated, and his scaled skin and black leathered wings appeared. He snatched his hand away as though she had burnt him.
“I’m sorry, I had no control,” Klara panted, knowing how he loathed his true form. Lucifer straightened his tie as he returned to his glamoured appearance. Business professional he liked to call it. Only the King’s red eyes and black fingernails gave away what lurked beneath the surface.
“Help her,” Lucifer ordered, and Frendall didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around her waist. “Up you get,” he teased, lifting Klara back onto her feet, and she didn’t have the strength to remove his arm. Klara expected some scales to appear on him. Most Commanders had scales grafted to their skin for added protection, but there were none. Klara searched his face for any markers of his corrupted soul, but there was nothing, Frendall remained the same.
“My office,” the King said, leading the way as the Doomed opened the doors for them. “I send you away for your protection, and you return in such a state,” Lucifer preached to himself.
The hallways narrowed and widened as the serpent-like leviathans snapped at Klara from the murals.
“Is it the painting or are you just that happy to see me?” Frendall asked Klara as she pushed herself closer to him. “Why hasn’t my touch revealed anything?” Klara’s delirium caused her to think aloud. Frendall ignored her and continued his long strides, and she struggled to keep up as the King took the staircase two steps at a time.
Crowned A Traitor: A Hellish Fairytale Page 5