Crowned A Traitor: A Hellish Fairytale

by Kate Callaghan

  Lilith stepped out from the shadows and leant her sword on her shoulder. “Leave now and consider this an act of mercy for your treason,” Klara said before Lilith could take action against the shaking crowd. “Go, or you will all answer to the High Queen.” The mere mention of Abadan sent them running, leaving behind what little belongings they had brought with them.

  “What about my daughter?” The Witch clutched Klara’s leg, and Klara shook her off. “You chose to come here and put your faith in Lesser Demons. Live with the consequences, or I can take your head now.” She was being unnecessarily cruel, but Lilith was watching. The Witch pushed herself back through the leaves and fled without a second thought for her child.

  Lilith’s slow clap echoed through the trees as Klara wiped the yellow Demon slime from her axe on a large leaf.

  “Sent to kill but don’t have the stomach,” Lilith strolled up beside Klara.

  “Without the Demons, they cannot get through the portal. Remaining here is a life sentence.” Klara’s words came out like hot lava, and Lilith raised her blade to Klara’s throat.

  “Why?” Klara asked, feeling the blade against her skin. “Because I wouldn’t kill the Witch? I thought I would leave her to you. Since you have the experience.” Lilith’s eye’s flashed black with rage as Klara used Lilith’s past against her. Klara needed to see where her Guardians’ loyalties lay.

  “Kill me,” Klara said, and Lilith pressed the blade deeper into her skin.

  “I could cut you down right where you stand, but it’s because you can’t slaughter them that makes you the rightful Heir.”

  Lilith lowered the blade from Klara’s throat, and she felt the moss-covered tree at her back.

  “Your sister Queens, do they feel the same?” Klara spat knowing the answer. “No, and with that in mind. Let us return before we are missed.”

  Lilith continued a few paces ahead. “Before we return. Never speak of my wife in the Queens’ company, or I’ll have your tongue.” Klara went to speak, but Lilith smiled, “I should have trained you to take a joke.”

  ◆◆◆

  Klara sensed a shift in the air as they approached the grand staircase. “Oh Klara, there you are,” Abadan said appearing behind them. “I sent for you both, but the Ogres said you were seen leaving through the mountain pass?” there was an unnerving sweetness to her voice.

  “Lilith wanted to discuss my plans for the border, and I fancied some air.” Klara was too tired for pleasantries. Lilith stepped to Abadan’s side whose eyes fell to Lilith in question, “nothing we haven’t already discussed.” Lilith confirmed and Klara wondered what she meant. Abadan’s softening expression meant she deemed the answer sufficient.

  “I’ll leave you to rest,” Klara said, turning her back to them. Her magic tingled in her fingertips, telling her something was off.

  “Before you retire, there is someone I want you to meet,” Abadan said.

  Klara hesitated on the staircase, clutching the bannister. “Is it necessary that I make introductions right this moment?” Klara looked over her shoulder, and Abadan waved her hand, “come along.” It wasn’t a request. Klara followed Lilith and Abadan into the throne room. It was smaller than her Fathers, but the air reeked of the same intimidation.

  The high ceiling was glamoured to look like a starry night sky despite the hour of the day and at the head of the room sat side by side were three great thrones.

  On the left, Klara saw the smallest throne of polished handcrafted wood with thriving flowers on which sat Eve. “You found them,” Eve clapped, and the sound resonated off the walls.

  “They were off playing in the muck as usual,” Abadan’s laugh caused Klara’s scalp to prickle as she noticed no stranger waited for them in the throne room. Eve eyed the muddy footprints Lilith and Klara had left behind and clicked her fingers to remove their boots and the mud. “Can’t have you mudding up the place before our guest arrives,” Eve said, and Klara faltered a little as the magic stripped her feet. Lilith remained steady, as though she wasn’t suddenly standing barefoot on the rough stone floor.

  “You won’t be needing that either,” Eve smiled and with a flick of her wrist, Klara’s axe disappeared from her grasp. Lilith claimed her simple throne of small blades. Klara had once dared to ask why Lilith had chosen such an uncomfortable material to which Lilith simply replied, “I don’t sit often.”

  Abadan stood by her glistening throne of gold with embellished skulls at the end of the armrests. As High Queen, her throne was taller and sat at the centre of the three.

  This couldn’t be good, Klara said thinking of the blade strapped to her thigh.

  A weasel weaved through Abadan’s feet as she took her seat. Abadan’s eyes shone as she stroked the coarse weasel’s head and the weasel transformed into the Lesser Demon it was. “A new pet?” Klara asked recognizing the Creature. “The poor thing just fell into my lap.”

  So much for the fluffy bunny I had met in the Forest.

  The hunched figure cowered by Abadan’s throne, with its yellow eyes fixed on Klara. The sound of the doors opening broke their staring match. Ogres lined the walls of the throne room, batons on their shoulders. She looked to the two Crimson guard protecting the door.

  “Bring it in,” Eve ordered, and Klara felt her stomach drop. Dungeon Torturers entered with their faces covered by hoods as they carried another Creature under the arms. “I couldn’t rest because you wished me to watch a sentencing?” Klara watched the prisoner’s bare feet drag along the floor.

  “Patience Klara, you will ruin the surprise,” Abadan smiled. A dirty grey hood shielded both the Creature’s identity and torture wounds, but Klara could smell the Creature’s fear and blood as they passed her. Once they reached the three steps to the throne, the Torturers dumped the prisoner at Abadan’s feet.

  The Torturers bowed to Abadan and passed Klara without a glance as she spotted the sigil on their Crimson robes, a raven spreading its wingspan engraved where a heart should be. Abadan’s private army, Demons for hire. “Nice to see you too,” Klara said, and one of the Torturers growled at her mocking tone. Klara raised an eyebrow and the Torturer stopped to bow.

  “Must be nice to be above ground?” Klara asked wondering if the Torturer had a tongue.

  “Don’t toy with the underlings, it’s beneath you,” Eve scolded, and the Torturers continued on their way. Their robes trailing behind them, she wondered about their true form. What manner of Creature they must be to do such a merciless job?

  Klara’s hands itched to find out. Abadan had replaced Father’s supporters as soon as Malum became her domain. If you asked them whom they supported, they would claim the King. That was if their tongues hadn’t already been cut out.

  “Just trying to make conversation,” Klara shrugged, and Eve rolled her eyes. Klara was stalling, knowing her small blade wouldn’t be enough to make a dent in the number of Guards in the room.

  “Don’t you want to see who it is?” Abadan grew impatient, leaning forward in her throne while Klara looked to see Lilith, her gaze warning her to remain calm. Klara strolled over to the crumpled prisoner and removed the hood. As her hand made contact, Klara saw the Demon in her mind’s eye. There they were making a deal at the crossroads. The only sound in the room was the Demon’s shallow breath. Klara felt the Guards movement. They were only two feet behind her.

  “This is the girl you saw?” asked the weasel Demon on Abadan’s behalf. The Crossroads Demon rose its bloodied features to gaze at Abadan. Klara glanced over the prisoner’s lashed back through the dirty robe it wore. Dipping its head, Abadan banged her fist against her armrest, ordering the prisoner to speak. The Crossroads Demon nodded, a silent yes and Klara laughed.

  “You can hardly believe the word of a Crossroads Demon,” Klara said smugly.

  “She altered your form, knew your name?” Abadan asked, her eyes screaming victory as Klara held her head high.

  The Demon nodded once again.

  “Speak up!” K
lara dared the Demon to speak against her, one-touch and Klara could reveal Edisa’s secrets. Edisa’s head snapped up in an ungodly angle and opened its tongueless mouth as blood oozed out and dripped to the stone floor. Klara saw the bloodied handprints. The Demons fingernails had also been removed. Klara almost smiled, Abadan knew that without a tongue, the Demon could neither lie nor tell the truth. It would agree with whatever Abadan wanted. Abadan smirked, and Klara clasped her hands in front of her, well played.

  “You have grown stronger, threatening a Crossroads Demon,” Eve said, and Klara wanted to sew her mouth shut why Abadan had never removed Eve’s tongue was a mystery. “I ran into a Crossroads Demon on my way back from the Ghouls. I don’t understand all this pageantry. If you wanted every last detail, I would have told you.”

  “You would have?”

  “I have no reason to deceive you.”

  Abadan tossed a small pile of gems onto the floor, scattering them everywhere. A lump grew in her throat, her skin throbbing as danger surrounded her. Least they don’t know about the walkman, the weasel must have watched me threaten the Demon, Klara cursed herself for not banishing the weasel to Hell when she had the chance.

  “Why were you hiding jewels in the Forest?” Abadan asked, tapping her long nail against her chin.

  “Always handy to keep a few gems around, never know what trouble you might come across in the Forest.” Her answer was quick, a little too quick. Abadan twisted and rolled a small ruby between her fingers. “You blackmailed a Crossroads Demon,” Abadan frowned, and the weasel snuggled closer to the High Queen’s throne.

  “Hiding gems is not a crime.” Klara laughed, “A crossroads will say whatever you wish to hear in fear of being sent to the Maze.”

  “Well, we had to torture the information from this one, put up a real fight,” Abadan tossed the ruby aside, “and as you can see, there isn’t much sense left in the poor thing.” Edisa crouched into a ball humming quietly to itself.

  “A Crossroads is under Father’s protection; you have cost him souls, and tortured information is often false. As the Heir, I alone hold the right to question a Crossroads,” Klara said. Abadan had broken the law, and yet a smile remained in her eyes.

  “I bribed a Crossroads to act as my eyes in case the Ghouls I slaughtered had any other kin,” Klara said. “I have committed no crime.”

  “And this?” Abadan motioned for an Ogre to come forward.

  An Ogre by the side of the steps reached into his tattered brown overalls and pulled out her crumbled walkman, cords and plastic were everywhere where they shouldn’t be, and the Ogre dropped it at Klara’s feet. Her heart pained as her only comfort was lost.

  “Human objects are strictly forbidden; we are very disappointed in this betrayal.”

  Klara picked up the pieces. It was hopeless even a reassemble spell wouldn’t fix this mess. There were no words left for her to speak. Abadan had the evidence she needed to feed her Father’s paranoia. “Hypocrite,” Klara muttered, but Abadan’s ears were sharp.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You gorge yourselves on Human food,” before Klara could continue Eve used her magic to project a slap. They were a few feet apart, but Klara still felt the sting. There was nothing left to say.

  Abadan’s hand went to Eve’s shoulder.

  “I have spoken to your Father this morning and from your sudden disappearance and this secrecy he feels we should hold you until we get to the bottom of this,” Abadan said as hands gripped Klara’s arms.

  “Where did you get the Human object?” Abadan asked. “I stole it from the Port market,” Klara said.

  “Why didn’t you hand it over or destroy it?”

  “I didn’t think you cared about such trivial matters,” Klara said expecting another slap.

  “Perhaps there is a simple explanation. When have we ever discouraged our ward from stealing?” Lilith reasoned. Abadan turned towards her fellow Queen, clearly surprised by her carefree attitude.

  “My Father holds Human objects in his possession,” Klara couldn’t stop herself.

  “Are you the King?’ Abadan roared, her complexion darkening. “Until you take your seat, you will abide by the laws, or you are no better than that sniveling Demon.” Abadan pointed to the prisoner.

  “Calm yourself, Abadan, she is only trying to rile you,” Lilith rolled her eyes. My how the tables have turned, Klara thought.

  “The gems, a Human object and all this new interest in our borders,” Abadan eased her grip on the skulls, “until we can be sure of her intentions, we must protect her.”

  Abadan’s eyes drifted from Lilith to Klara, “even if that means protecting her from herself.”

  “I agree with Abadan. Until we know for sure, we should keep her for her protection,” Eve said. Klara couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Eve’s ignorance. Once I’m out of the way, Mila will be the next to die to ensure Frendall’s rule, but Klara kept that bit of information to herself.

  Klara wondered what Abadan had promised Eve for her compliance. Eve would never risk angering Lucifer on frivolous charges.

  “I have nothing to hide from my Guardians. I merely wanted them for myself, and since I do not have a vault of my own, I decided to bury them at the crossroads and gain a spy in case of retaliation.”

  Abadan shifted slightly in her chair.

  “And when my Father, the King gets here I will explain why I’m delayed in my duties.” Klara extended her wrists, waiting for the iron cuffs, but nothing happened.

  “No irons?” Klara asked, and the Guards lowered their heads at the mention of their King. It was a reminder of who she was and the real power she harnessed.

  “I don’t think irons are necessary,” Lilith said, and Abadan nodded in agreement. “I’m sure you will go willingly,” Abadan said, and Klara smiled, “Happy too.”

  One of the Guards pushed her forward, and Klara’s eyes flashed black, “touch me again, and I will take that hand as a souvenir.” And the guard took a step back.

  “Play nice,” Abadan chuckled.

  “A sense of humour in the help is so hard to find these days,” Klara said slapping the Guard’s shoulder.

  ◆◆◆

  “Get a move on,” the Guard said as she stood before the portrait of Edward the Insane. A King who wiped out his Kingdom in fear of an uprising.

  Klara stepped through the paint and varnish to the narrow spiraling stone stairs that led deep into the mountain. There was no railing to hold and only the light of a few flickering candles. Klara swallowed as she stared at the never-ending pit off the edge of the stair. If you fell, the pit would plunge you straight to purgatory. Klara thought about shoving the Guards over and making a run for it, but as soon as she passed back through Edward’s portrait, the Queens would sense her.

  Many who descended this deep into the Queens’ mountain failed to return alive, and those that did weren’t in their senses. Klara thought of her Father hearing of her imprisonment, would he feel rage or contentment?

  The damp smell of rotting iron bars and flesh shook her from her thoughts. The Guards handed her off to the silent dungeon Torturers. Neither Guard nor Torturer seemed to notice the smell. She allowed the trade, knowing a fight would only confirm her guilt to the Queens. She needed to appear compliant but waiting would also mean her death.

  If the King sent Frendall to examine her case, her escape would be over before it began. Least they hadn’t called her bluff on the irons then she would have been truly screwed.

  “Fit for an heir,” the Guard said before leaving, exposing a row of crooked rotten teeth while the Torturer reefed open the rusted iron door. Klara stepped inside the cell, lit by a single candle. The only comforts being the damp stone walls, a metal cot and a bucket she dared not think about.

  “Don’t worry, and I’ll be sure to reward you for your loyalty.” With those parting words, the Torturer struggled to slam the rusted door before securing it with an iron bolt. The iron wouldn’t hurt her, it
only reduced her magic and strength. Klara paced the small cell; thankful she still had the blade at her thigh. A part of her wished she had kept her mouth shut at dinner and just played the dutiful ward. With their secrets exposed, the Queens were backed into a corner. Klara rested her body on the metal cot. “Fit for an Heir,” she chuckled to herself as the rods dug into every part of her body.

  ◆◆◆

  “You need to come with me.” A hand came over Klara’s mouth and the shock stilled her. Klara’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she saw Lilith’s hooded face.

  “What are you doing?” Klara asked but Lilith pulled her to her feet and tossed her some new clothes. Black trousers and a heavy woven green jumper and a grey t-shirt. “They are coming for you,” Lilith said as Klara pulled on the warmer clothes. “My Father?” Klara asked. She worried Frendall had given in to his mother and told Lucifer everything.

  Lilith shook her head. “Word was never sent to your Father.” Klara felt her stomach drop. They are going to kill me.

  “You know about the other Heirs, it’s too late for you now,” Lilith said, pacing back and forth as she strapped her blade to her thigh over the trousers. “Abadan can’t kill me. Father would rip her head from her body.” Klara laced the boots tight around her ankles, knotting them over and over for when she needed to run.

  “Abadan will blame it on the rogue Demons that wish you dead. Those who wish for Lucifer to remain on the throne for all eternity,” Lilith said unwrapping Klara’s axe from a piece of cloth. Lilith couldn’t touch the handle because of the silver it contained. Klara had never been so happy to see it.

  “The Demons that escorted you down here hold no loyalty to the King. Kill them if you get the chance because they won’t hesitate. They don’t care who you are.”