Disclaimer- I don't own the myth this story is loosely based off on; the myth of Persephone and Hades. The rest i own. Please R&R!
Oh, how he hated having feelings.
Emperor Zeeke pulled the sword out of his dying opponent. He wiped the blade on the grass; re sheathed it, and made his way to his horse.
The war had been hell. Thousands of men had been mortally wounded. He already saw the children and women in his minds eye as they lined up to take home their brother, father, or lover, who would be in agony for the rest of eternity with death never coming to spare them.
But this war needed to be fought. Just like humans needed to reproduce, the evil had to be used to keep the numbers in check.
For you see, Emperor Zeeke was the high ruler of the Kaky, the land born from the devil's favorite lover's womb. Not in a literal sense, that was just how evil it was.
Anyone who lived there was stuck there for eternity. There was no death, just wars, disease, destruction, that sort of thing.
Amazingly, he himself wasn't evil. Maybe cold hearted, a nasty temper, and no compassion, but he wasn't evil. And having no feelings himself helped him wound men on the battlefield.
That would all change one day, in the form of a rather plain, smart mouthed woman named Lily.
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He met her the day he'd actually gone on a visit to see an old friend of his. Some high and mighty king who was just as cold hearted as he was, and had somehow escaped from the clutches of his world to the world of man.
The king was holding an orgy party in his palace, inviting anyone who wanted to come and "have some fun." Of course many babies were born nine months later because of the party, but half of them would die from a new disease, so in the king's eyes it made no difference.
Lily's mother was the one who actually attended the party. She was a ripe young widow, with her best friend Rose, and they were basically up for anything. They'd gotten there a little early, and were starting on getting drunk. Both had brought their own babies, to leave with the nanny who would be in charge of the children while the adults "had fun."
It wasn't even ten minutes into the party before nearly everyone in the house was naked, and trading partners. Everyone except Emperor Zeeke and the nanny. He'd found these parties to be stupid and pointless, and his business with his ally was already done. He was just about to leave the door when one of the babies let out a wail of terror.
He found one of the drunken men eyeing the poor little girl hungrily, and automatically pushed him away from the children, where he fell into the lap of a woman who was very glad to distract him.
He then turned back to the infant, who had ceased crying the moment her dark green eyes had saw him. She began cooing, and held lifted her arms up, asking permission to be held.
The nurse was already caring for two babies, and didn't notice his leather clad form near the little girl.
He decided it was the drug rich air that day that made him pick up the cooing infant, who in turn nestled her tiny head on his shoulder, and fell fast asleep.
And then, the last time he'd seen her…
She was an eight-year-old girl, running around with her only friend Cede, a raven-haired child with sapphire eyes. Laughing heartily, both girls raced back up to the top of the hill, and slid down the mudslide they'd created.
Coated in thick layers of mud, they ran back inside when Cede's mother had called them. Lily's mother had died a year after the party, supposedly from a disease she'd picked up from having too many lovers. After her death, Rose had been much more careful and kept a very sharp eye on her daughter and adoptive daughter.
Which meant to do anything they had to slip outside when she was taking her afternoon nap, and then get back in and wash up before Rose saw them.
Only, that didn't happen today. They'd been caught. And Zeeke had watched her; cherry hair caked in mud and puppy dog eyes walk in the house, where both girls knew they'd get punished.
She was such a fiery spirit too, if you provoked her. The village boys would laugh at Cede's lame right leg, and she'd chase the boys and throw things at them for saying such terrible things about her friend.
Today was the first time he'd seen her in ten years.
After this last war, it seemed that peace would finally come to his underground kingdom. For a little bit anyway, long enough for his people to reproduce and create more drama. He'd come up to the surface during the night just to see her.
A party was going on in the village he'd last seen her at. Using magic to listen in, he learned the party was celebrating the birth of the heir prince, and how the new queen was really making her old town look good. They carried banners praising the monarchy. But only a couple done of one of the princesses caught his eye. They were paintings of her. It was the bright green eyes that gave her away. And that stubborn chin, and soft, perfect lips.
He used his powers to transport himself to the castle. Using his magic, he strolled in through the front gate. He knew whose castle she'd come to live in now.
And he sure as hell wasn't going to let her stay there, not if he had any say in it.
He slipped his way to the ballroom, where he finally got his first glimpse of her. She'd gotten taller, but was still short compared to the average height of her kind. Her hair now cascaded to her hips, and she wore a little makeup.
Sneaking his way down to the dancers, he waited for his chance. The boys were already lining up for a dance with her, so many in fact that they were wrapped around the room.
But he didn't care.
During a stall in the dance, he swept her away. He knew she'd show no fear or intimidation. She allowed him to guide her, twirling her lithe body and causing her long hair to sweep out in an arc.
Just the feel of her in his arms was euphoria. He ended the dance before his emotions could take control of him.
And like a poof of smoke, he was gone, leaving a stunned princess in his wake.