Crowned A Traitor: A Hellish Fairytale

by Kate Callaghan

  “How dare you disobey your Queen, your King?” Abadan’s high-pitched scream tore through the air.

  “We stand with our Queen,” the Captain of the Crimson Guard roared back.

  Klara knew who he was, but she couldn’t figure out why the Captain would side with her. That was until he knelt before her. Klara placed a hand on his shoulder, and his armour slipped away, revealing Lokey’s mischievous grin. Lokey rose in his purple waistcoat with a sword in hand.

  “Couldn’t let you have all the fun,” Lokey said, kissing Klara’s cheek. Klara saw the sheer rage in Abadan’s ruby eyes as Lokey sided with Klara.

  “You certainly know how to make an entrance,” Klara said, keeping her eyes on Abadan. “What about your wife?”

  “With Humans. The old Warlock isn’t with you?” “Arthur’s gone,” Klara said, like pulling out a heart. Quick and Painful. “I’m sorry, such a talented Warlock is a great loss to us.”

  “Regina Una, Unus Terras.”

  Klara’s chanting army interrupted him, One Queen, One Land. The words of the old rebellion roared through her new allies. They were those who sought to unify Malum and Hell under one ruler. It was blasphemy, but they saw her rebellion as a sign of strength.

  “It seems you aren’t as beloved as you think,” Klara addressed Abadan.

  Abadan whispered something to the Higher Demon beside her.

  The clashing of metal and cheers from Klara’s side of the battlefield stopped as those who remained with Abadan moved into battle positions, and Klara’s followed suit behind her.

  “Traitors all of you! I will line my Castle with your heads,” Abadan laughed, holding her corseted waist as Klara’s eyes went to Frendall, hoping she wouldn’t take his life in a fit of rage; instead, the High Queen planted a thigh-high boot into his back sending him into the grass.

  “Why sacrifice more life? This is between you and me,” Klara said.

  “It was your choice to abandon your family and cost my dear Lilith her life. I will take your head as I will from every single one of your followers.”

  Mila stepped forward, “the Giants’ bones will bring in great sums of gold from the Port Market.” Klara heard the cracking of the Giants’ knuckles as they readied themselves for a fight.

  “Let’s settle this, sister.”

  “You’re not my sister,” Klara said standing firm and Mila eyes flared a deep red, and Klara knew her Father’s blood ran through her.

  “Abadan, your son is the key to power. I granted him my inheritance with my soul,” Klara said, and murmurs of confusion rippled through both armies.

  “With all your talk of loyalty then you will follow him,” Klara addressed her army, and they yelled for their leaders—all respecting their shackled Commander and rebellious Queen.

  “With Lucifer’s absence. I inherit, and I abdicate to Commander Frendall, is that not what you want Abadan? If you want to see a rightful Heir than surely you advocate for your son now.”

  “Bonding my son’s soul to your traitorous soul does not make him a ruler. You will still have to answer for your treason.”

  “If I hand myself over will you end the bloodshed?” Klara raised an eyebrow.

  A sickening grin spread across her features, “those who have stood with you will have to answer for their crimes against me.”

  There is no stopping her, no right answer. The field would be coated in blood no matter what Klara did. “If you die today, you die protecting something,” Klara turned to her soldiers, and they bowed to her orders. “You will protect and serve your Commander. Abadan is not your Queen,” Klara pointed her axe at Abadan.

  “Seize her,” Abadan ordered, and Abadan’s Demons came hard and fast as the two armies clashed at the centre of the field. The sound of bones shattering and Hounds ripping apart Hounds broke the silence of the Neutral Lands.

  The grass turned to mud as the fields were coated with blood. Klara cut down those who stood in her way, while the Giants protected her left and right. With one swing of their arms, Demons and Hounds were sent flying. Mila stood her ground as Klara went to her. The Giants at Klara’s side were swept away into the fight. Klara’s eyes darted around looking for the High Queen, glad to see Abadan was distracted by Lokey, her scythes against his sword.

  “Can we settle this without weapons?” Klara asked her half-sister, keeping plenty of distance between them.

  “How else am I to make you bleed?” Mila hissed, throwing a star that pierced Klara’s shoulder. Klara barely felt the star and pulled it out with ease. Klara threw it back, and Mila recoiled as the sharp edges sliced her cheek.

  Mila pulled her bow from her back, and an arrow flew. Klara grunted as the iron arrow cut through her upper arm. Klara pulled it out, gritting her teeth as she dropped it. Her new heart raced, as her magic pulsed through her. The wound sealed itself, and Mila’s sudden wide grin made her uneasy. Klara felt a great pulse of energy at her back.

  The portal was open, Klara looked over the battlefield, to see that Wolfgang in Lycaon form had joined the fight. Lottie? Klara searched, but there was no sign of her. He must have left her in Kalos alone.

  Distracted by the Demons circling Wolfgang, Mila shot an arrow at Klara’s chest piercing above her heart. It would have stopped her heart had the iron arrow struck. Breathing heavily, Klara flung her axe at Mila and pulled the arrow from her chest.

  Two of Klara’s Demons charged Mila, but Mila dropped them in seconds with the edges of her razor-sharp bow. Klara tried to get closer, but Mila darted to the Demons guarding Frendall. Klara raced to catch up, making it as Mila gripped the back of Frendall’s neck.

  “I never thought my own sister would be so utterly pathetic. Weakness forced you to hand your birthright to Him!”

  Klara stepped towards her sister, who kissed Frendall’s cheek. “Weakness is settling for a life based on what others want of you and from you,” Klara said shoving Frendall out of the way just as Mila was about to strike.

  “Hurt him, and Abadan will take your life and your mothers.”

  Klara tried to get Mila to see reason, but her eyes blazed there was nothing in Mila’s soul but rage and jealousy. “Abadan needs Frendall to guard Malum. She has no intention of killing him and do you think she will allow you as a Daughter of Lucifer to get close to a throne?”

  This was the first time Klara had noticed that Eve was not on the field.

  “Abadan merely stands in my way. My mother has been overlooked for too long. I will take anyone’s head that tries to stop me from taking what’s mine by right,” Mila spat as they circled each other.

  The sisters fought axe against bow, fist for fist until they were both bloodied and exhausted. Mila drew another arrow and Klara wasn’t fast enough to move from its path. Before she could think, Klara’s wings cocooned her, and her white eyes flashed. The arrow ricocheted off, and Mila stepped back in horror as the skies crackled with thunder and lightning.

  “You can’t be,” Mila whined. “Why not? Because you aren’t? I was created from Lucifer’s bone and blood.” Klara grabbed Mila and flew high in the sky, the storm raging around them as Klara soared above the battlefield, “I’m sorry,” Klara said and dropped her sister from a great height.

  The battlefield went silent as Mila landed in the middle of the battle. The Demons that stood against Klara bowed at her feet as she descended.

  Abadan’s cheeks flamed red as Klara’s white wings stood proud at her back. Klara walked across the battlefield to stand before her Guardian. The closer Klara got, the tighter Abadan’s grip grew on Frendall. Klara couldn’t believe she had once feared someone who would use their son as a shield.

  “This isn’t over,” Mila coughed and struggled in the mud as she tried to crawl from the hole her fall had created. Klara’s fist connected with Mila’s jaw and her sister collapsed in the filth.

  Klara gripped the back of Mila’s neck and looked into her sister’s roaring red eyes, “I wouldn’t hesitate,” Mila spat blood i
n Klara’s face. “I think you ought to know that the rats in Malum are well fed, there was plenty of meat on Lilith’s bones.”

  Klara was ready to deliver the final blow when a shock wave ripped through the battlefield. Demons recoiled while others vanished. Klara released her grasp on Mila to see Lucifer standing with Abadan, “Father?” Klara shouted in disbelief.

  The hate in her Father’s eyes told Klara what he saw, her white feathered wings. While his sat black and leathered high on his back. The King’s eyes went black, and she knew what he was about to do. Klara remembered how she had lied about her wings and here she was with her hand at her sister’s throat. The King saw it as the most profound betrayal.

  “Seize my daughter,” the King said while Abadan ordered Lokey to be shackled. Her Father not sparing a second thought for his oldest friend. No Demon Higher or Lesser stood on the field, no one dared stand against him. A wicked smile bloomed in the High Queen’s eyes.

  “Where have you been?” Klara’s heart broke he stood with the Mother of Demons.

  “I do not need to answer to someone who has betrayed me.” Her Father’s words cut, and Klara knew it was the King that stood before her. Klara saw Wolfgang from the corner of her eye. He was only a few feet away from them. Lokey was taken away and disappeared into a crowd of the King’s Guard that stood behind her Father.

  Demons surrounded Klara and Wolfgang charged to her. Mila’s iron blade pierced Klara’s side, and Mila twisted the knife deeper until Klara landed beside a crumpled Frendall.

  “I’m sorry,” Frendall panted, and Wolfgang shoved Mila and the Demons away. Wolfgang’s shaggy frame stood over her body as her blood seeped into the mud.

  “Bring her through, protect our Queen,” Frendall whispered to Wolfgang.

  “Stop the Lycaon” Abadan ordered, as the King rose Demons from the mud.

  Wolfgang bared his teeth as his instincts told him what Frendall was.

  “I can help you,” Klara said, and Frendall smiled sadly, “You need to get out of here.”

  Wolfgang flipped Klara onto his back, and she gripped his fur. Before Klara could reach for Frendall, he ripped himself free from his shackles and shoved Wolfgang away. Wolfgang ran through the appearing Demons until they reached the stone wall.

  “I can help him,” Klara said as she bled onto his fur. Klara threw herself from Wolfgang’s back and rolled onto the grass, ducking and diving over those trying to kill her. Klara was taken aback to see some of the rising Demons were fighting each other. Her allies hadn’t abandoned her just yet.

  The portal door opened behind them as Klara saw Wolfgang fight off the Demons. Klara tried to get back to her family, stopping too far away to help as Mila stood over Frendall. The King and Abadan stood at Mila’s side. The twisted family she had never belonged to stood before her.

  Lucifer bowed his head in disappointment. He should have protected her. Instead, he was corrupted by his jealousy and paranoia.

  “A traitor’s death,” said the King.

  “No, Father, please.”

  His eyes left her as he said something to Mila, her posture poised as she took the King’s sword from his hands. Mila’s eyes glimmered.

  “Dad, whatever they have told you, convinced you of. They want nothing but power,” Klara’s calm words fell on deaf ears. It’s too late, their web of deceit has twisted his mind. Maybe he had been caged in Abadan’s dungeon this whole time and this was the only way to free himself? Klara tried to justify his actions.

  Lucifer’s hand went to Frendall’s shoulder while Abadan did nothing to protect her child.

  “Father!” Klara pleaded as Mila stepped forward. Klara watched in horror as Mila sank her Father’s blade into Frendall’s spine. Frendall went still for a moment before collapsing into the mud. His eyes never leaving hers as the tears flooded Klara’s cheeks.

  Wolfgang threw his body in front of hers before she could go to him. She wanted to save Frendall, try to heal him. Klara couldn’t take her eyes from the blood trickling from his mouth and the colour draining from his face.

  It’s too late. No amount of Spiders’ Web or potion would bring him back.

  “I will kill you!” Klara’s lungs burnt and Mila blew her a kiss while Klara’s army of Demons crowded around her and Wolfgang, protecting them. Klara was too far away for her axe to do any damage.

  “Videtur,” Klara whispered, feeling the weight of the thin chain appear around her neck, a small crystal sat on her chest. She ripped the crystal from her neck, feeling her blood bubble as the chain tore her skin. She launched the crystal into the air, clutching her waist as her wound tore. Confusion clouded Mila’s eyes as the crystal transformed into the same spear that ended the Ghouls. The spear plunged through Mila’s cold heart.

  Mila froze, coughing up blood. Everything moved in slow motion as Mila collapsed into Lucifer’s arms. The spear disappeared as Mila lay limp in the mud. Abadan’s roar shook the ground they stood on as Klara watched Lucifer lean over Mila’s body.

  “We need to move,” Wolfgang said shifting back into Human form. Klara fought against him, needing to know Mila, Abadan’s puppet Heir was dead. Klara watched her Father move aside, and Mila rose to her feet. Wolfgang stopped Klara from charging at her demented family.

  Mila wiped the blood from her mouth, and Klara saw her Father’s ring on Mila’s hand. The Immortal Ring, he was officially announcing his Heir. “I will kill you!” Klara roared, and Wolfgang dragged her away as more Demons appeared at Mila’s side.

  “Go! Regain your strength.”

  Klara’s supporters pleaded around her as Demons moved towards them. Klara’s meagre force kept them back. “Stop fighting me!” Wolfgang restrained Klara’s arms and tossed her through the portal as the rocks began to seal the portal. Klara stopped struggling as a field of golden wheat replaced her enemies.

  ~18~

  Wolfgang released Klara as Lottie came running and wrapped her arms around Wolfgang. “You should have left me there,” Klara sat on her knees as her Father’s blade in Frendall’s back replayed over and over in her mind. She dropped her axe, unaware that she was still holding it.

  “There is nothing you could or can do for him,” Wolfgang said, standing over her.

  “I’m going back, my Father will listen to me, or I’ll cage him myself,” Klara said.

  “You go back, and they’ll kill you or your wounds will.”

  Klara didn’t care. They had killed Lilith, Frendall and Arthur. She would destroy the Castle that had held her captive for so long, and when Mila thought she was safe, Klara would cook her sister alive. Wolfgang crouched beside her as she shook.

  “We need to find you a Healer before the Fae Guard finds us here.” Klara pushed him away as he tried to comfort her. “Without me, you wouldn’t be standing in Kalos. I owe you nothing. Save yourself and your sister.”

  “Go ahead, take your anger out on us, but you’re free, it’s over,” Wolfgang said, and little Lottie began to cry not understanding that their world was collapsing around them. “Don’t you understand what just happened? With the King under Abadan’s thumb, there will be no Kalos or Malum just a battleground. Abadan won’t stop expanding. This isn’t how it was supposed to be.”

  “How was it supposed it be?”

  Klara scrapped her nails against her scalp. “Frendall was to take my place in Malum. Lucifer would have had to stay in Hell just long enough to see Abadan’s lust for power.”

  “The world doesn’t exist to fit into your plans,” Wolfgang snapped.

  “You think I don’t know that, that I didn’t cause all this?” Klara had thought that she could leave Hell and Malum to destroy themselves, but she couldn’t. There needs to be a balance, Klara wished she had listened to Frendall and Lilith. Wished she had stayed in Hell and fought to rid Malum of Abadan.

  “Then fix it, heal and gather your allies. Act like a leader and not an upset child.”

  “There isn’t time.”

  “Then g
o to Queen Aemella, if she hears war is coming, she might help you. She sent Giants to protect you. Aemella needs the treaty to keep the Creatures of Malum out.”

  “I’m not risking negotiating with another Queen,” Klara rose to her feet, holding her side. A part of her wondered how Wolfgang knew so much about the Fae, but once she crossed back into the Neutral Lands, she would probably never see him or Lottie again. Wolfgang stepped towards her and Klara moved back.

  “What would you do if the rest of your family remained in Malum?” Klara asked, meeting his eyes and his mouth opened and closed with no answer.

  “Travel south and keep your heads down,” Klara said, and her eyes changed and stayed white. There was no point in hiding anymore. She picked up her axe and secured it to her back.

  “Please don’t go,” Lottie pleaded, and Wolfgang rested a hand on Lottie’s shoulder trying to pull her away from Klara. “Bad things happen when you leave us,” Lottie wrapped her thin arms around Klara’s waist.

  “Once everything calms down, I will find you,” Klara gently pushed Lottie away, noticing the blood that had transferred from her wound to Lottie’s clothes.

  “Who’s left to rule over Malum once you’re finished?” Wolfgang asked. “The chaos ensured from no Queen is better than Abadan.”

  Klara gave Lottie one last squeeze and Wolfgang clutched his sobbing sister.

  “Stay south,” Klara repeated as the heat of the sun bore down on them with no trees to shield them for as far as the eye could see. Klara marched through the field to the wall. She couldn’t bring herself to look back, to see Lottie’s tear-stained cheeks. Klara held a hand up to the stone wall when a small hand grasped hers.

  “Please come back,” Lottie asked choking on her sobs. Klara’s heart tensed. Pain soared through her as she knelt to give Lottie a tight squeeze.

  “Look after your brother now, make sure he doesn’t turn into a big bad wolf,” Klara said, and Wolfgang stood watching them.