Selene laughed for five whole minutes after Her Majesty made her ludicrous proposition. As she laughed, she studied the woman, wondering if she hadn't underestimated the extent of her insanity. She couldn't possibly be serious, could she?

"You must be out of your damn mind! Why on earth would I do something as stupid as that?" Selene asked.

"Why do you insist on being mean to me? We're friends, aren't we? Friends do nice things for each other." Her Majesty sighed.

"Friends don't hunt each other down. Friends don't murder each other's parents."

"Oh, details, details. Those are just victims of war. So you're not my friend?" Her Majesty asked.

"You're an insane bitch who killed my mother and caused me to flee my homeland. I'd rather be friends with the devil." Selene said.

Her Majesty sighed sadly. She shook her head at Selene's angry words.

"I really considered you to be my friend. Quite unfortunate it's not the case. I do hate unpleasantness. So you really won't give your life willingly to me? You really despise me?" She asked.

Selene stared at her in disbelief. She wondered how the woman managed to ask the question while sounding both innocent and hopeful. If the circumstances had been a bit different, she would have thought Her Majesty was a really lonely woman in dire need of companionship.

Since she was wise enough to know that wasn't the case, she narrowed her eyes at the woman.

"If this is your proposition, my answer is no. If that's all you have to say, I'd like to return to my body now." Selene said coldly.

"Children these days! Always in such a hurry! I said this was a negotiation, didn't I? Forgive me if I'm wrong but you're not meant to end negotiations after hearing the first pitch! You wait to hear the other packages available! Geez! And I thought I was brutal." Her Majesty scolded.

Selene folded her arms across her chest.
"There's nothing you can offer me, woman. This is pointless and you know it." She said.

"On the contrary, it isn't."

"Make your proposition. My answer will still be a big fat no."

"Never say never, child. You'd be surprised what you can do when your hand is forced."

"You talk too much. Get to the point." Selene rolled her eyes.

"Touché. Why tell, when I can show." Her Majesty chuckled.

"What's that supposed to..." Selene started to say but got no further. 

For a split second, the badly lit room she stood with Her Majesty vanished. An image flashed through her mind quickly. Though it was gone almost as soon as it appeared, Selene saw every detail before the image was taken away.

It was Tianna. Though the woman's face was barely recognizable after the physical and mental abuse she'd been forced to endure, Selene knew it was her aunt.

Tianna Feather's hands were each bound to the ceiling, suspending her body several inches away from the ground. Her feet were bound together to prevent her from kicking her captors. She was also gagged so she wouldn't be able to cry out as loudly as she wanted.

She was stark naked with horrid greenish bruises disfiguring her ordinarily beautiful body. Blood dripped down from her chest down the floor. Her left eye, though swollen shut, managed to produce a tear or two. She was being flogged mercilessly by three men who were amused by her pain.

The image was so inhuman and horrifying that Selene gasped and took a step back. She shook her head violently but it was too late. The image was burned into her mind.

"That's a mirage. It's not real." Selene said shakily.

It couldn't be real. It had to be a lie. It had to be a facade. What she had seen couldn't possibly be her aunt Tianna. It couldn't possibly be the woman who had taken her in when no one else would.

The veiled woman gently peeled off some of the covers on her eyes. Though her skin had become charcoal black and her body had aged over time, Selene still recognized the look of insanity in the woman's eyes. She was no doubt looking at Debbie, the girl who had tried to trap King and had gotten cursed instead.

"I'm a lot of things, child but I am not a liar. Look into my tears and tell me what I just showed you was a mirage." Her Majesty's voice was ice cold. Selene knew the woman was capable of what she had had just seen.

"Why? How can you do something so...inhuman?" Selene shivered with fear.

"I'm not human, child. I gave up my humanity a long time ago. What is she other than a pawn? Such sights do not revolt me, child. Not anymore. Unfortunately, you're not the same. You care deeply." Her Majesty said.

It took all of Selene's power not to hurl. She tried to ignore the image but it kept flashing through her mind.

"My men initially wanted to kill her but I asked them to bring her back as a prisoner of war." Her Majesty said.

"Why? What did she ever do to you?" Selene could barely stand.

"She is an enemy of the state. She harboured the Child of Black Day for years. She committed treason, to say the least. Her punishment is barely sufficient for her crime." Her Majesty said.

"She was naked. She had bruises on her chest and genitals. Did they...did they rape her?" Selene asked.

For a moment, Her Majesty seemed completely taken back. Selene was shaken but she still noticed the shiver of revulsion that passed through the woman.

"I can come up with all sorts of vulgar tortures, some of which would make you vomit the lining of your belly. However, that is an activity I find distasteful. I might be evil, but I still have standards." Her Majesty snarled.

That barely managed to soothe Selene's unease.

"Now for my second proposition. I believe you'll be more susceptible to my offer." Her Majesty said.

"Let me guess. My life for hers."

"You're smart. I'm pleased I don't have to spell it out. I can understand if you wouldn't think it's a fair trade. I mean who exchanges a Telepather for a Senser. Bad business I tell you! That's why I have another trick up my sleeves." Her Majesty said.

Selene felt cold.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked.

"In case you haven't figured it out yet, I had someone follow you while you were in that camp. She stole your pen, clothes, and everything. She even made it possible for me to capture your aunt by telling me where you were." Her Majesty said.

"Didi!" Selene gasped out the first name in her head.

"Huh? Is that her name? I've always been really bad with names so it's feasible. Humans are so fickle-minded. She was so driven by jealousy, it was easy to manipulate her. I also have her. If you think what I've done to Tianna is bad, wait till you see what I've done to her." Her Majesty chuckled.

"Why? They never did anything to you." Selene said. She was starting to feel like a broken record.

"They didn't. They're just collateral damage. What I'm using to ensure you cooperate. Like I said, I hate unpleasantness. If you agree to my terms, I'll give you an opportunity to save them from certain death." Her Majesty said.

"What are your terms?" Selene asked.

Her Majesty cackled.
"Black Day is three days from now. In three days, I need your blood to end my curse. Come to my castle before dawn and I'll free your aunt and friend." She said.

"And if I refuse? You're the one who'll suffer and have to wait until the next Black Day." Selene said.

"My oh my! Isn't it pretty obvious? Sure I'll have to suffer for a few decades. I've been suffering for years so it really isn't anything new. I can easily wait till the next Black Day but you can't. If you don't show up by dawn, I'll kill them. Trust me when I say I'll make sure I do it in the most brutal way possible. I'm very creative in such areas." Her Majesty giggled.

"So it's my life or theirs."

"Certainly. You already have your mother's death on your conscience. You could easily claim you were barely at the age of accountability. This time, however, you have the ability to save them. It all depends on you. I'm fine with whatever choice you make. Sadly you don't have the same luxury." Her Majesty said.

She inclined her head like she had heard something and wanted to make out the words.

"Looks like our time's up. Don't forget, Selene. Three days from today. Dawn. It was a pleasure making your acquaintance." Her Majesty said.

Selene's body felt hot all over again. Her spirit slowly evaporated and began to seek her physical being. During that time, she heard several voices. She struggled to make them out as her spirit lingered, not sure of which voice to obey.

She distinctly heard a woman's voice in her head. Her words were urgent and desperate but for some reason, she could barely hear her.

"Child...please...listen...no...harm. I...help...you...need...it. I have the answers you seek...the memories that can help...don't shut me out...." the woman said.

As she struggled to make out the woman's words, she distinctly heard Benjamin's voice.

"Come back to us, Selene. Come back to me." He said sweetly.

His voice was so melodic, Selene couldn't help but oblige. She heard the woman beg her to stay but she was tired. She wanted the safety and comfort Benjamin's presence came with. She wasn't sure she could stand seeing anything grotesque after meeting Her Majesty.

As her spirit slowly condensed into her physical body, she heard Herbert's distinct, clipped tone.

"That's it. Good job, Magi. Don't touch her. You'll affect the transition. She'll be with us soon. Though I fear, she won't be the same." Herbert said.

Once the transition was complete, Selene found herself lying in the same position she had been in before she'd left. The only difference was that she was visibly shaken. She was sweating profusely, her big brown eyes were plagued with feverish fear and her body was fiery hot.

Since he was sure the transition was complete, Benjamin tried to place a cold rag on her head to cool her down.

"Don't touch me!" Selene shoved him hard. If Benjamin didn't have a strong balance, he'd have fallen. Luckily, he only staggered back slightly.

Stunned by her sudden outburst, Benjamin and Edith stared at her. They'd never heard her raise her voice before.

"Don't. She's still in shock." Herbert warned when Edith took a step towards her. He signaled to them to back away from Selene who was shivering with fever.

He took a step forward. Selene flinched at once.

"I won't hurt you, child. Relax. You've been through a tremendous ordeal." His voice was quiet, soothing. Selene eyed him like a cornered beast. She looked around the room, hoping for a means to escape.

"Don't do that, Selene." Herbert's voice was heavily infused with magic. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the young Necromancer sway even though she wasn't his intended target. He kept his grey eyes locked to Selene's sweet brown eyes.

"Do what?" Selene asked. Her mind tried to resist his probing. Subconsciously, she'd put up a mental block. Though she was still weak, the block was almost as strong as the one she'd placed when she was 8 so she wouldn't remember how her mother had died.

"Don't resist. Show me what happened." He pushed harder. The block collapsed. Several images flooded Herbert's mind. If he hadn't been experienced in magic, they would have gravely wounded him. Since he had years of practice, he only had a mild headache as he tried to screen and select the information he needed.

It took all his power not to flinch when he saw the image the Queen of Rodia had shown Selene. He kept his eyes placid and emotionless though his heart was racing fiercely.

When he was done, he withdrew without touching any of the other images in her head. By then, Selene was weeping. She hugged her knees to her chest and rocked her chest back and forth.

"I see. Your distress is completely understandable," Herbert said.

"Are you satisfied now? Does it make you happy invading my thoughts like that?" Selene wept.

"On the contrary, it doesn't. If it hadn't been necessary, I wouldn't have done it. I value privacy." Herbert said.

He was so engrossed with his conversation that he barely noticed Benjamin move forward to comfort his synergy. He was stunned when Selene blindly attacked him. Her mind was so traumatized by her ordeal that she didn't even know who she'd scratched him.

"Make him leave! Make them leave! Tell them to leave me alone! Everyone who gets close to me ends up like that. Make them leave, please." Selene sobbed.

It was a truly ugly sight. It distressed Herbert a lot more than it should have. He'd never seen a Telepather act so wild and feral. He couldn't imagine the horror the poor child had been forced to face.

"Very well, child," Herbert said. He knew she'd be mortified when she realized how she'd lost control in front of her companions. Though they wouldn't hold it against her, she'd still be embarrassed.

He watched Benjamin and Edith exit the room after throwing one last worried glance at Selene. She barely noticed them leave. She was hyperventilating. He was worried about her fever. At that rate, she'd pass out and end up in a coma.

"Sleep, Selene." He ordered.

At once, her eyelids began to drop. She slumped in bed and fell into deep slumber. He arranged her body so she'd be more comfortable. As he placed a wet rag on her hot head like a dotting father watching over his child, he tried to block the images he'd seen in Selene's head. After watching her for a few minutes, he walked to the door.

"May your dreams be peaceful, Child of Black Day." He said to her before he left.

#M.M