The Kingdom of Rodia...

A thin man with red eyes and sunken cheeks walked briskly down a long corridor. His sunken red eyes darted from left to right like a predator. Although he looked relaxed like there was nothing that could harm him, the truth was that he was frightened. For the sake of simplicity, his name was Damon.

Damon stood in front of Her Majesty's large wooden door. Her Majesty was the Supreme Leader of the Province of Rodia chosen by the goddess Xenan when the old king died in his chambers a few decades ago.

She was the most powerful and ruthless ruler the kingdom had ever seen. She ruled over the province with an iron fist. There was none who could stand in her way whenever she wanted something. If she desired a man's head, then it was hers.

Many feared her more than death itself. Although it was uncommon for rulers to be gentle, Her Majesty was an entirely different case.

Though she was a great Necromancer with powers unlike anything anyone had seen before, she was also completely insane. Her desire to be the best and most powerful had driven her for years until most of her humanity had gotten leached out. She no longer referred to herself by her birth name because it was no longer who she was. Very few would have recognized her as the seventh daughter of a very poor farmer. No one would have been able to tell she had once been kind, meek and gentle.

Her Majesty had performed spells many were afraid to try. She had acquired magic that was both addictive and dangerous. Such power often carries with a huge price. She was paying hers.

Damon inhaled twice as he looked at her large door. Her Majesty had been in confinement for over three days but still wasn't available for visitors.

Her Majesty didn't like people seeing her when she was weighed down by her curse. The curse which had been birthed from hatred, pain and her power lust. She had attempted to deceive one who was more experienced. Her curse was severe and for the meantime, incurable.

No one-not even Damon-knew the full nature of her curse. They didn't know what happened to her within the three days she spent in confinement.

After the third day, the curse slowly lifted but she could only see her closest advisors during that time. She was usually very vulnerable during the first few days after the curse lifted. There were many who would end her life if they discovered that truth.

For this reason, her curse was kept a secret from her subjects. Only few knew about it. Only those who were deemed worthy knew her curse was connected to the ancient Prophecy of the Black Day.

Damon would never have willingly ventured into her presence especially since he had failed to bring what his lover had asked him to. Her Majesty didn't forgive failure easily and he had failed her twice.

He was not a brave man despite how much illicit power he had. He too had acquired power that had taken away most of his humanity but he was no where near as powerful as his lover, Her Majesty. He was weak and fearful.

The only reason he stood in front of Her Majesty's door was because she had sent for him. He could not disobey a direct order without her knowing he had failed her. He'd hoped she wouldn't find out soon.

He couldn't believe his plan had failed. The little brat had once again escaped death. Somehow, she had even succeeded in killing some of the best Hunters. The few who survived were delirious and badly wounded. They couldn't explain what had happened or why they had failed.

Her Majesty wouldn't be pleased. It took long for Hunters to heal and he had sent some of her loyal subjects to their graves. Damon shivered wondering if he could possibly talk his way out of being killed.

He sighed sadly. He couldn't keep stalling. He had to face the music.

Damon lifted his bony wrist and knocked firmly on the wooden door. He shifted uncomfortably until he heard some movements.

"Come in, Damon." Her Majesty's childlike voice managed to sound strong and frail at the same time.

Damon pushed open the door of her inner chamber in time to see her cover her diseased-looking charcoal black right hand with a glove. It looked like a terrible burn but Damon knew it was worse than that. She was wearing a black veil to conceal her face as usual. Damon knew her face was as diseased looking as her hand.

Black and scarred.

"How are you, my love?" Her Majesty's childlike voice asked. She sounded genuinely pleased to see him.

"I should be asking you that. It's been three days but your hand..." he stopped because he didn't want to sound rude.

"It has begun to fade. You look well." Her Majesty said softly.

"How was the pain during that time, my queen? Is it still as terrible as before?" Damon asked still standing by the door. He was afraid to come closer in case she eviscerated him.

"I survived, didn't I?" Her Majesty chuckled.

"We could have done some blood magic to ease the pain. We have enough at our beck and call. There are many slave children in the dungeon birthed and ready for you...." Damon started to say hotly.

"I'd rather not use up my reserve of blood magic. There might come a time when I'll need it more than I do now. Come closer, Damon. Why are you standing so far? I'm not contagious, you know." Her Majesty said.

Damon moved towards her feeling like he was in a trance. He always wondered if Her Majesty had Silver Tongue when she said his name. How he loved her with all his heart!

He knelt by her bed and looked up at her masked face. He could barely remember how she had once looked before she began to dabble into the extraordinary. However, he knew that she had once been an exotic beauty-too beautiful for her to have remained the poor daughter of a lowly farmer.

"I know you aren't, my Queen." He said in a sober tone.

"How are the affairs of the State? And the slaves? How is our import and export?" Her Majesty asked.

"The affair of Rodia are being handled properly by the Council of Seven. Our Economy has gotten much better under your administration. Even the magic of the land seems to be improving under your domination. The slaves are working hard in the plantation and our trade has never been better." Damon said eagerly.

Her Majesty didn't speak at once. Damon sensed that she had a smile on her face. He could tell she was pleased.

"I am a good leader, aren't I?" Her Majesty asked subtly.

"The best, my Queen. The people are singing your praises." Damon said.

"Damon?" Her Majesty said.

"Yes, Her Majesty?" He said.

"You are a fucking liar." Her Majesty said cheerfully.

"What?! I wouldn't dare..." He spluttered.

"Our economy and everything else you mentioned is true but the people aren't singing my praises. They see me as an unstable tyrant and murderer. Just last week, I beheaded fifteen Magis for treason." Her Majesty said.

"That was just a handful of people who spoke ill of the Queen. Their death was justified. I assure you..." Damon started saying with his head bowed. His cheeks were flushed.

"You don't need to assure me. I was chosen by the goddess herself. I will spill blood if it suits me without any regrets. It doesn't matter to me whether they're adults or children. I must always be the most powerful and I'm willing to pay any price to get the power I need. I already have death on my fingertips. You know that, don't you, my love?" Her Majesty tilted his chin up look at her masked face.

Damon shivered but didn't reply. He wasn't sure he could even reply when Her Majesty spoke to him like that. He was once again reminded that she was insane and sick. He was once again reminded that he was part the reason she had lost what was left of her sanity.

"Sometimes I wonder why the goddess chose me as the leader. It must be some sort of tasteless joke but she chose me. She had to know that I do not value human lives. Then again, Xenan turned a blind eye when I began acquiring my power. Bless her heart. I'm a Necromancer after all. I love death. I revel in death. Humans are so fickle and insignificant." Her Majesty chuckled.

"There is power in death." Damon said weakly.

"Yes, there is. A pity many Necromancers would look down upon me for the way I obtained my power. Isn't it hilarious how hypocritical people can be? Considering the circumstances?" Her Majesty chuckled darkly.

"They are foolish and fearful. Why run away from such great power?" Damon asked.

"Great power comes with great sacrifice, my darling. Hush. Anyone who sees me right now wouldn't think I'm powerful, would they? When are you going to tell me about your failure?" Her Majesty asked.

Damon shook visibly. He couldn't believe she already knew what he didn't want her to find out. He should have known she would figure it out soon.

"You are shocked that I know? I see and know all, Damon. Well, maybe not all. I'm not immortal yet. Despite all what I told you before I left, you were unable to acquire the child. I'm very...displeased, to say the least." Her Majesty said tightening her grip on his face.

Although her long black nails were covered by her gloves, she still managed to drawn blood from his cheek which fell on her black carpet. Damon felt a burning sensation on his face yet he knew she was holding back. He knew he was barely feeling a fraction of her true power. It was amazing how strong she was despite her curse.

"I'm sorry. We would have succeeded but the girl..." Damon started to say.

"It doesn't matter what happened. You didn't acquire the girl, a dozen of my Hunters were killed and the rest were incapacitated. You failed me, Damon. You have failed me again." Her Majesty said.

Her snake and Spirit Animal, Sweetheart hissed loudly in its cage. It glared at Damon viciously like it couldn't wait to devour him. The damned snake had always hated him.

"Give me a chance to redeem myself, my Queen." Damon stuttered.

"How do you plan to do that? The girl has disappeared from the Camp and as at now, we have no idea where she is or who is helping her." Her Majesty said with disbelief.

"I will find her. We still have the vessel. The girl doesn't even know about our vessel. We can find her! I can find her! Give me a chance!" Damon said.

"What are your plans when you find the girl? How many more of my Hunters do you plan to sacrifice?" Her Majesty said scornfully.

"None. I shall go myself to retrieve the girl." Damon said.

Her Majesty didn't speak at once. She observed his earnest face thoughtfully. Since she was veiled, Damon couldn't tell if she was pleased or disgusted. He held his breath waiting to see if he would be executed.

"I cannot risk you, Damon. Though you are a fool and completely useless in many areas, you are my right hand man. Your loyalty is rare. Send the Demis instead. They are disposable. Do not send more than an elite army. At most, 50. That should be enough to bring the child." Her Majesty said.

"But my Queen..."

"I would have overseen this retrieval myself but I am still too weak to act. The longer we allow the girl to remain with her protectors, the more information she requires. Information is power, Damon. I'd rather she remains ignorant." Her Majesty said.

"Yes, Her Majesty." Damon said meekly.

"You must act today or all hope is lost. Attack when they least expect it. Do not fail me again. Otherwise, I might not be so lenient." Her Majesty said coldly.

"I won't. I'll personally oversee the retrieval. What are your orders, my Queen?" Damon said.

"I don't care what happens to anyone else. I only want the girl. Kill whoever stands in your way. I do not care if blood is spilled but leave the girl to me. She is mine." Her Majesty said.

Damon left her presence shortly after that. He went in search of the Demis who had separate quarters in the palace. He turned around sharply and didn't see an old woman with silver hair step away from the green wall.

The old woman shivered in fear and disappeared at once. Trouble was brewing

#M.M💀🖤