Crowned A Traitor: A Hellish Fairytale

by Kate Callaghan

  Klara wiped the sweat from her forehead and hoped their ravenous appetite would distract them from her altered state. "Stop. Right. There." Abadan ordered, and Klara froze. Most of the time, they preferred to act like she didn't exist, that was until it was time for training and lessons, and then every little thing she did was held under a microscope. Lucifer had entrusted them with her education, and he doesn't take failure well.

  "Answer the question," Abadan smiled, exposing her sharp teeth. "Where have you been skulking?"

  She leant over the table, her sharp features lit by the candlelight while Lilith and Eve continued to dine. She could reveal their pure form, Eve an old crone, twisted by magic. Abadan, a Demonic beast. Only Lilith would appear the same, as the First Woman she held an absolute divinity, but Klara granted them some mercy. Klara examined the high arched ceiling and dark steel beams that held the ancient stone roof in place. Starlight broke through the large holes where the ceiling had fallen through. How could such a beautiful place home such evil?

  "Around," Klara said, glancing at the foreboding portrait of her Father hanging above the arched doorway. "We aren't finished this conversation," Abadan snarled, and two Ogres appeared in the doorway blocking Klara's path.

  "Come and join our table, let us be civilized," Abadan said. Klara's eyes drifted to the food at the table, and her mind filtered back to the Beanstalk. The dismembered Humans, the blood clot sauce, and the thought was enough to make her gag.

  "I already ate," Klara said, trying to wave the Ogres away. Although the Ogre's beige overalls were clean and their batons polished daily, the rancid smell of the damp southern swamps still wafted from them. Without precise instruction, the Ogres wouldn't dare lay a finger on her, so Klara ducked under the crossed batons. Not a good move, she winced as she felt beads of blood drip down her abdomen.

  "Thank you for your service," Klara said, recovering before anyone noticed her hesitation. The towering Ogre fixed his eyes on her with sharps fangs protruding from his lower lip. I need to get out of here, she thought scolding herself. Just get to the kitchen.

  The Ogre opened his thick green lips to speak, but Klara placed a hand on his arm, showing him his family safe and secure in the southern swamplands. It was an idle threat, but the Ogre didn't know that. The Ogre huffed, and Klara winked at his silence.

  "Enjoy your meal, my Queens," Klara bowed her head looking back at them, and Abadan returned the sharp nod. Klara watched Eve's mouth fall open at Abadan's lenience.

  The kitchen wasn't too far down the narrow corridor and least it was away from the Queens' prying eyes. Klara looked over her shoulder, and the Ogres remained fixed to their post by the moss-covered archway. The Queens weren't fond of doors in the Castle because they made it harder for Klara to lock them out of her life. Hopefully, they would be too frustrated by Klara's insolence to notice the smell of blood lingering after her.

  The smell of the food guided her path to the expansive white marble kitchen, one of her favourite places to lurk when Eve failed to show up to teach, or Lilith released her from her training. The Queens never dared to venture anywhere the Doomed frequented. Kind of ironic since the Queens' Doomed souls also live in servitude to her Father. But instead of mopping the floors of the dungeon or running Hell's Maze for eternity, they were forced to care for his Heir.

  "Just the person I was looking for to try my new recipe." Arthur, the elderly chef strode out from the pantry with his arms full of containers and spices.

  "The Queens are furious," Klara said, taking a seat at the marble island in the middle of the kitchen every inch of the counters was laden with desserts. Arthur whistled softly, and the objects disappeared from his arms and appeared by the iron stove. Being a High Warlock had some advantages even if he no longer had full use of his powers.

  ◆◆◆

  "Sneaking out on a full moon? Careless. You don't worry about your security as you should, the Queens have every right to be angry with you," Arthur scolded pulling at his thick white beard. “I wouldn’t have to sneak out if they agreed to let me out more often.”

  Arthur placed a silver spoon of mousse between her lips before she could argue further. "Caramel?" Klara said, licking the remaining sauce from her lips. "Anything else?" Arthur frowned, looking into the large pot of steaming caramel.

  "Needs salt," Klara wiped her lips, and his eyes widened in alarm. "Knew I forgot something, this is why it helps to have a set of living taste buds around."

  "Happy to be of service," Klara said, taking a bite out of a dark chocolate-dipped strawberry. They were grown in the Human lands and exceptionally expensive to transport through the Port of Malum, but the Queens spared no expense for their feverish appetites.

  "Not for you," Arthur said, wiping his veined hands on his black chef's jacket as Klara reached for another. "Abadan loves to count her desserts," he said quietly. " To make sure the Port Hands aren't getting greedy."

  "God forbid they feed the starving," Klara said a little too loud and noticed the wince in Arthur's shoulders as he feared the High Queen Abadan's wrath.

  "So how did your adventure go or are you too busy planning your next escape attempt?" Arthur chuckled, and Klara placed her hand on his arm. "Let's say it was eventful. I'm not planning anything for a while. Need to get back on their good side before they set the Hounds on me."

  Klara coughed into her palm, noticing the specks of blood as Arthur went back to his steaming pot of caramel. "Well, it appears you have seen some sense," Arthur said, and Klara wiped her hand on her already filthy dungarees. Klara needed Arthur to leave before she could get to the pantry.

  "Attend your lessons as an Heir to two planes should and they won't have much to be angry about," Arthur raised his eyebrows. Serving the Queens was ageing him, and that said a lot considering he was already dead. His fall from the council came after one of his spells cost the lives of an entire village on Earth. What's a greater Hell than being forced to live for eternity with guilt and regret?

  "Get some sleep, the Queens have had enough for one evening," Klara said, and she could see the clouds of grey in his eyes. The dead don't sleep, but he deserved a rest. "Abadan will be displeased."

  "Abadan is always displeased, I'll have one of the Doomed bring them their courses."

  Arthur hesitated, placing a lid on the pot.

  "Go on, before I make you cook me more of whatever smelt so delicious in there," Klara joked and Arthur kissed her forehead before untying his dirty white apron from his waist.

  "You have too kind a heart," Arthur said, and she heard the fear in his voice. "But why isn't it beating Klara?" He wiped his brow as Klara put down the dessert she was about to devour.

  "I may have lost it…" Klara unzipped the top of her jacket and exposed the hole in the centre of her chest.

  Arthur stared at the gaping wound and shook his head, "A heart is near impossible to come by."

  "The Queens could report you to your Father," the redness in his cheeks told her of his concern.

  "They would be too worried about their own skin to report me. Imagine what the King would do to them if he knew this happened on their watch."

  "Was this something to do with the job you snuck off to?"

  Klara felt her stomach drop, "How did you know?"

  Arthur scoffed, "the Queens aren't the only ones with spies. I was once the High Warlock." Klara gripped her sore shoulder.

  "Stop whatever it is you are up to. Get back to Hell and restore your heart before you start to weaken. Your Father might even be happy to see you."

  "Is there a way to get in undetected?" Klara leant across the counter, afraid of being overheard. Arthur twisted his beard, "Into the Manor? Maybe a portrait in Abadan's private chamber but with that wound you don't have the strength."

  Klara slumped on the stool, "so I will have to see him."

  "Time to face the music kid," Arthur placed a hand on her good shoulder. Klara coughed again, and he handed her a handkerchief from his chef's
coat.

  "You will be the death of me," Arthur let out a sigh and looked to the pantry.

  "Take what you need but not enough to be noticed by the other Doomed," Arthur said, leaving the kitchen for the staircase to the Doomed quarters. Klara watched his slumped shoulders, hoping one day she could free him. "Goodnight," Klara called out as his shadow disappeared. She felt caged in the Queens' Castle, but for her, there was hope of freedom. Klara couldn't fathom how Arthur felt after his centuries of grueling servitude.

  Klara snacked on the plate of stir-fried vegetables and noodles Arthur had left for her. After hearty mouthfuls, she pushed the plate away. Footsteps approached, and Klara checked the staircase for Arthur, but there was no sign of him when the shrill voice startled her.

  "Where's the dessert?" Lilith said. Lilith's favourite part of the day was dessert as if she would ever let Klara have any. Treats and training didn't create a warrior. Klara knew she was in for a roasting as the Queens marched into the kitchen.

  From their disappointed expressions, they were expecting to see Arthur slaving away and not Klara at the island. "Where's Arthur?" Abadan asked, folding her arms with Lilith and Eve behind her. "I sent him to rest."

  "The dead don't need rest," Lilith said, picking at her nails with a sharp blade.

  "The Doomed serve as the King commands."

  The Queens stood before Klara. Eve, Adam's wife who'd been tempted from the Garden. Abadan, the Mother of Demons and the King's greatest rival and ally. Last but not least, Lilith the First Woman and first wife of Adam only to be shunned for her strength and intelligence. Lilith had quickly become the King's greatest warrior and confidant in the early days of Creation. Each Queen was powerful and evil in their own right, but Lucifer was their King, and if they wanted the protection of his Kingdom and his generosity, they did his bidding.

  "You never said what you were doing in the Forest?" Abadan said grating a nail along the marble countertop. The high-pitched squeal made Klara shiver.

  "Patrolling, as the future ruler, can I not see my lands?" Klara said calmly moving away from them. She searched the impressive pantry for pickled carrots and Lilith grabbed the jar before Klara could reach it. Lilith popped a carrot between her lips before placing it back on the shelf. "We have Lesser Demons for that, no need to endanger yourself," Eve said in dismay and Lilith threw one of the daggers strapped to her thigh at Klara. As the Master-at-Arms, every moment was a challenge, and Klara caught the blade between her fingers with ease before she flung it back at her mentor, “I don’t trust the Lesser Demons.”

  Lilith caught the dagger midair. “Why not? They are your subjects.” Klara would never find Lilith in finery unless the situation demanded it. She wore her shirt and trousers tight to her skin, with her hair braided away from her face. Always battle ready at a moment’s notice.

  "Demons at all levels can be bribed." That's precisely what Klara was relying on to sell her story. The Beanstalk was the last step in her escape plan. To ease her passage through the Forest, Klara had given two gold coins to Argon and Avila whom she'd caught bargaining with Creatures trying to flee Malum for Kalos while on River duty. If anyone came after her, the Demons would lead them astray.

  Smuggling was one of the Malum's greatest issues. Struggling Creatures sold their souls or whatever they could to get into Kalos, despite Kalos being free from Dark Creatures and dark magic. The Creatures and Fae of Kalos weren't all squeaky clean. Klara had heard rumours of the Kalions' greed. Demons often reported deals made for land or riches to enhance a Fae's status. It only cost the Fae their Light, and once a deal was struck, their magic was corrupted. Dark.

  Dealing across the lands violated the treaty, but when Light or a soul was on offer, what was a treaty to a Demon. When payment is due, it doesn't matter to which land the Creature belongs, if they didn't pay, Hell's Hounds would drag the poor Dark Creature to Hell's Maze and the Dark Fae to Malum.

  "We have talked about your little adventures before," Eve said. "Your Father called, and you were nowhere to be found. How do you think that makes us look?"

  "I can see you were deeply concerned for my safety."

  "I'd be more concerned about the Demons you were harassing," Eve chimed in pushing back a strand of hair. Eve always had flowers in her hair and the brightest of gowns.

  "Ha-ha. Well as you can see, I'm perfectly all right," Klara shuffled away before Abadan the High Queen caught the scent of her wound. If caught, Lilith would torture her. Eve would plead and fret with Lucifer. She was the best at playing the fake mother in front of the King. Abadan, however, would lock Klara in the dungeon for weeks and laugh as her stench grew and starvation drove her to madness. By the time, Eve's pleas for forgiveness on Klara’s behalf reached the King, he would have already backed the High Queen’s decision. Abadan's ability to spawn a legion of Demons gave her an advantage over Lilith and Eve.

  "I smell a liar," Abadan rose her perfectly manicured eyebrows.

  Klara cringed as Abadan towered over her with her long crimson robe draping over her corseted body. The High Queen was both feminine and lethal. The Queens were outrageously different, but together they created a force no one could stand against.

  "Open," Abadan said, dragging her diamond-encrusted nail down Klara's jacket zip and unclipped one side of her ruined dungarees. Klara opened her mouth to protest, but Abadan pressed a finger to Klara's lips while her eyes drifted to Klara's hand covering the centre of her chest. Eve sniffed coming closer as the air filled with the scent of blood. Klara saw the shame in Lilith's eyes.

  "I can explain…" Klara stammered and Eve knocked trays of food off the counter while Lilith pulled on Klara's t-shirt revealing Klara's oozing wound and savaged shoulder.

  "Sweet Judas, what happened?" Lilith recoiled in horror while Abadan's eyes fell on Eve. They are already assessing my punishment, Klara thought.

  "Wait until your Father hears of this!" Eve threatened, and Klara pulled away from them.

  "Losing my heart is not a big deal. I slip into Hell, grab a heart from one of dad's collections, and I'll be back in no time."

  "You think we would let you deceive your Father?" Eve ranted, always Fathers most loyal pet. "At seventeen, I expect you to stop acting like such a child. All these ventures are harming your proper education!"

  "Do you want him to find out you let his Heir roam free and get her heart ripped out, do you think the King would deem that a proper education?"

  "Why we never..." Eve starts, but Abadan holds her hand high commanding Eve's silence.

  "Who’s to say what happened? Maybe you three rose against me?" Klara caught Abadan's wrist before Abadan's palm came into contact with her cheek. "Seems you trained me too well, Lilith."

  Klara released Abadan's wrist. Abadan had never struck her before. A queen need not lift a finger because there would always be someone willing to raise a hand for them.

  Abadan clenched her fist while Eve gripped her skirts in frustration.

  "You cannot treat us this way!" Abadan glared at Eve's outburst. Eve bowed her head in submission. Klara released a sigh, a break from Eve's high pitch squeak was a mercy to the ears.

  "Since you are determined to undermine us, I have no choice," the High Queen spoke. "I'll send for the Hounds, and they will escort you to your Father, I don't trust you not to deceive us," Abadan's voice was calm, and calculating. “I would never dream of doing such a thing, you all know how much I love you.” Abadan gripped Klara's arm painfully and dragged her out from the kitchen and into the narrow corridor. The portraits framed in gold, watched in silence as the scene unfolded.

  Abadan's eyes rolled back in her head as she summoned the Hounds of Hell. Klara felt a small victory, but she dared not show it. Together, they waited for the scrapping of nails and howls to travel through the Castle's corridors. Klara hadn't seen her pups in so long she couldn't wait to embrace them. Fear crept through Klara, maybe they will have forgotten me after all this time.

  Abadan's smi
le beamed as she chanted quietly in Latin. As soon as the chanting ceased, all eyes drifted to the double doors at the end of the corridor. The dark wood warped and stretched as the enchantment caused the door to come alive and swing open. The blackened portal glimmered as the invisible Hounds entered the Castle. "Let's see how smug you are now," Abadan smirked as the sound of claws rattled off the walls. The eyes of the portraits searched for the threat as the Hounds could be heard and not seen.

  The Hounds reached Abadan's side and awaited orders panting softly. "Maybe we should talk about this?" Eve stepped towards Abadan only to receive a growl in response Eve quickly retreated to Lilith.

  "Anything you wish to say to your Guardians before you leave?" Abadan asked, expecting Klara to grovel but her pleas would only satisfy their egos and increase her suffering.

  "I'll bring you back something special Eve. I know how long it's been since Lucifer called on you for company," Klara said, and Lilith stepped between them.

  "How dare you!" Eve lunged at her, but Lilith held her back. Klara could just about see the smirk Lilith was concealing.

  "She only wishes to provoke you. Our Lord cares for you deeply," Abadan hissed like the serpent she was, and Lilith rose her nose high in the air.

  "Take the Heir to her Father and don't bring her back until she is presentable!" Abadan commanded to the growling air beside her.

  Only those whom Lucifer granted sight could see the Hounds. Abadan as the High Queen received such a gift as did Klara due to her born ability, but only once she touched them. Most who gazed upon the horrid beasts were collected souls who had failed to pay their debts.

  The snarls and slow scrape of nails told Klara they were getting closer. "I can't stand the sight of you, maybe you will learn how to respect your elders before you return." Abadan's hair swished with her Crimson cloak as she stormed off. Lilith and Eve followed after her down the corridor as they moved towards Abadan’s wing of the Castle

  Once they were gone, Klara leant against the cold stone wall as the Hounds' claws marked the marble floor. "Good Hounds, remember me?" Klara said anxiously, opening her jacket, hoping the smell of her blood would surely remind them. She reached out her hand and brushed their fur. Her touch removed the invisibility glamour, and the growling subsided.