I had some problems with this chapter, so I had to take it down... Anyway, I'm adding it again. Hope you'll like it.
Be careful. This chapter includes Cora.
You have been warned.
"I hope that you will have a good time here," a hoarse voice reverberated around like an echo, when the small boat reached its destiny. "Because from now on this place will be your home and you will never leave it again."
The young brown-haired man said nothing, because he had no idea what he should say, so he just slightly nodded his head and carefully left the boat as he preferred not to end up into this mysterious and dangerous river. Only the devil knows how many people have drowned here before and he really did not want to become one of them.
When he finally found himself on the shore, the ferryman handed him the torch and before he could do anything, the hooded figure sailed away, leaving him there on his own.
"Great... just great," the man muttered as he looked around. He stood in the middle of... something, that was for sure, but he was not sure where this „something" was. He had never been in such a place before and actually, he did not want to be there any longer. "You could give me some information, you know? Or at least the map, because I have no idea where I am!"
"Fresh meat!" Suddenly he heard a voice behind him, so he turned as soon as possible, keeping his torch as if it was his sword or a wand, but no one was there. A moment later he heard the echo of a loud laughter. "Uuu, I like this one! May I keep him? Please, can I have him?"
"How many times do I have to tell you that human souls are not toys?" A woman's voice said with exasperation. "He must stand before the judges. They will decide what to do with him."
"I'm sorry, but..." he started, but before he had a chance to finish his sentence, another voice joined the conversation.
"You will not judge him." If it was not for the fact that he is already dead, he would have probably died a second time when he heard that cold voice. "He goes with me."
"But I wa..."
"Did you not hear what I said?" The young man could not really see anything, but he could tell that this... something, what wanted to keep him as its toy, was scared. "He goes with me whether you like it or not."
"O-of course. I said nothing. Did I say something?..."
"Shut up, and get out of my sight, all of you, because my patience may end – soon ."
He could not help but raise his lips in a small smile when he heard the first voice squealing and running away – he did not see it, of course, but he heard it breaking something.
"Now, since we are left alone, I suggest going somewhere... more pleasant," said the voice and clapped three times.
The young man felt dizzy and almost fell to the ground as the world began to swirl around him. Fortunately everything stopped as soon as it had started.
"I'm gonna be sick," he muttered putting his free hand on his mouth. He could vomit in any moment.
"Believe me, you'll get used to it."
He slowly raised his head in order to look at his interlocutor, but when he saw who he was talking with, he screamed and jumped back.
A figure in long black robes stood in front of him. It was – probably – a man, who looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Or rather with something that once was an eyebrow, because now his face consisted only of bones.
"Ah, humans. You funny creatures," he heard as it chuckled and crossed its bony arms. "You have no idea how much fun we have here with you."
"I can only imagine," the brown-haired young man muttered to himself and looked around.
The young man tilted his head slightly, wondering what they meant and where he was, and once again looked at his interlocutor who had just polished a grey sphere. When he realized that his guest was staring at him, he just shrugged and returned to his work. He really did not like when his things were dirty – something that actually happened quite often, since that place was full of dust.
"The Dark Hall," the figure in black robes finally said, not stopping its work. "The most restricted part of the Underworld, mostly because there is a lot of easily breakable things and I don't like when someone is touching my possessions."
The young man said nothing, just frowned. If it was the most restricted part of the Underworld – he still could not believe that he was dead. He was alive... like an hour ago. That creepy ferryman told him that as soon as he appeared in that place – why was he there? And why did that... something tell him that?
"I have my reasons to tell you this, and besides, I'm not something," he jumped when he heard the voice, because he was lost in his thoughts. "I'm Death, but you may call me Thanatos. I'm in charge of the Underworld."
"Can you?..."
"Read your mind?" his interlocutor interrupted him, smirking. "Indeed, I can. And I have to admit that your thoughts are pretty interesting, Mr Lucas."
"Wait, how do you know who..." he started, but immediately stopped. It was a very stupid question, especially since he had just introduced himself. "Never mind."
Thanatos just laughed and then suddenly threw the orb, he was polishing just a few moments ago, in the man's direction. He caught it in the last moment.
"Look at the sphere."
Cautiously, he did as he was told, and a moment later his eyes opened widely. He could see his name written with golden letters on the grey ball. Daniel Thomas Lucas.
"Your whole life is enclosed in this," the owner of that place said casually, as if he was talking about something normal. Well, maybe it was normal for him, but Daniel was still shocked. "Each sphere is assigned to a particular individual. When a new life is created, a new orb appears. It is always white in the beginning, as everyone is born good. However, it changes with time."
The man waved his hand and a moment later he was holding a black ball. He put it on the table, behind him. Daniel only raised his eyebrow in question, although he had a feeling that he knew why that was happening.
"You're right," Thanatos nodded shortly and looked at him. "When you're a bad person, a villain, as I believe people call someone who does something really bad, your orb becomes dark. When you're a good person, the ball stays white. And once you're dead, the judges will decide where to place you and your sphere will turn grey."
"Then why am I here?" he asked, clearly confused. "Before, you said, that they won't judge me. I don't understand why."
"Because you were useful, more than you think. And since I am in charge of this place and I am more powerful than they are, I can do whatever I want. And for your merit you don't deserve to be judged like other people," Thanatos waved his hand again and the ball disappeared. "Come. There is something I want to show you."
They marched down the hallway, full of colored balls that a man was touching from time to time chuckling. Some time later they stopped in front of a huge cupboard, which Daniel thought did not fit there at all, but he decided to be quiet. Death put his bony hand on his chest and looked him in the eyes. Well, at least that was what he intended to do since his eyes' sockets were empty.
"Soon, you will see something wonderful. My greatest treasure," he whispeared into his ear. "Something for which I am grateful."
The man opened the locker, pulled out a ball and placed it on a nearby table. Daniel frowned, because that orb was different than the others. While the others had one color, that one was black and white.
"But I thought that it can only have one colour..." he said with a frown and looked at his interlocutor who just smirked. "Then why does this one have two?"
"Because sometimes a person is born with a pure heart. But it is the first time that the purest of them all is destined to be broken."
"The purest of them all?" The young man asked quietly, afraid to hear the answer. It would not be pleasant, that was for sure, especially since Thanatos raised his lips in a smirk.
"Just look at the name."
Daniel looked carefully at his interlocutor, and then toward the object. But when he saw the name, he held his breath. Gold letters on a sphere formed the following name: Princess Regina.
That tiny thing contained the life of his love within itself. It contained the life of his wife.
She was the purest of them all (not that he had ever doubt that). She was destined to be broken.
"No..." he muttered to himself and turned toward his companion, unaware of the tears which appeared in his eyes. "Just not Regina, please... just not her!"
But Death said nothing, just laughed, and before he was even able to blink, the man turned the ball around. A moment later they could see what was going on in the living world.
The young, eighteen-year-old black-haired girl, his beloved one, lay curled up on a big bed and cried loudly into the pillow. Daniel felth guilty when he saw it, because he was the reason why she was crying. He had promised himself that his wife would not cry because of him, but he did not keep his word. He was not able to do it.
"I'm sorry," he whispered and put his hand on the ball, as if he wanted to touch her. "I'm sorry, my love, that I made you cry."
"Pathetic."
Daniel jumped when he suddenly heard the familiar voice and looked at his companion who just shrugged and pointed toward the object.
A dark-haired woman closed the door behind herself and looked toward the bed with disgust. The young man just frowned. Why did Cora behave like that? Of course his wife told him more than once that her mother was not the warmest mother, but he had never seen her treating her daughter badly.
"Just look at yourself," the woman barked, walking toward his lover and grabbing her hair. Regina only groaned as her mother pulled her off the bed and took her to a mirror. "Look how pathetic you look, all in tears. Who would even love someone like you?"
"Me. I love her!" Daniel cried and turned to his companion who watched everything with amusement. "Why is she doing this? Why is she so mean to my wife?"
"This?" Thanatos pointed at the ball and when the man nodded, he laughed. "Oh, you poor soul. This is nothing. Just wait till the real fun begins."
The brown-haired man said nothing, just looked into the orb once again, because he heard Regina saying something about him. That made Cora laugh cruelly.
"Yes, I was informed about what happened," the woman said and looked at her daughter as if she was nothing but dust. "Who would have thought that an athletic and healthy twenty-year-old boy could have a heart attack?"
"How can you be so cruel, mother?" Regina asked quietly, still crying. "Why do you not care that someone died less than two hours ago?"
"And why should I?"
"Because this is what every decent person should feel when someone is dead!" The girl whispered and it cost her much not to put her hand on her heart. "Besides, Rocinante adored him."
"Rocinante is a horse. He loves everyone who gives him food," Cora rolled her eyes and Daniel snorted. It was not the truth. Rocinante was a very proud and intelligent horse and it had taken Daniel a lot of time to gain his respect. He only loved Regina. "And I can find you another stable boy."
"But I don't want another stable boy, mother!" The young princess cried and before she could stop herself, she added. "I want my Daniel back!"
Regina's hands went to her mouth, her eyes widening in horror as she realized what she had just said, and she involuntarily stepped back from her mother. Cora should never know about her relationship with Daniel.
"You want your who back?" The woman asked, dangerous flames appearing in her eyes, but her daughter said nothing, just swallowed quietly. The young man cried when he saw his mother-in-law grabbing his wife's hair. "I asked you a question, you stupid girl! You want your who back?!"
"I want to have Daniel back," the girl whispered and tried to release herself from the woman as she strengthened her grip. "Mother, please... let me go, please, mother."
"You had an affair with a Stable Boy?"
"You have to do something!" Daniel yelled at his companion when he heard Cora's cold voice and then pointed at the orb. "You can't let her hurt my wife!"
But Thanatos just laughed once more.
"Believe me, lad, I can and I will," he waved his hand and glued Daniel's feet to the ground. "And you will watch it with me whether you want it or not. And I assume you know... it won't be pretty. But then again, you're as guilty as she is. In the end... it takes two to tango."
The twenty-year-old opened his mouth to say something, but before he had the chance to do so, he heard Regina's scared voice:
"Mother, please..."
"Be quiet!" The woman barked and slapped her daughter across the face, hard. The girl did not fall to the ground only because her mother was still holding her hair. "I won't listen to your pathetic excuses, young lady!"
"Let her go!" Young Lucas yelled when he saw that. He really could not understand how a mother could treat her only child like that. It made him sick.
"Did you let him touch you?" Cora asked coldly, still holding her. "Did you not hear what I just said? Did you let him touch you, Regina?"
"Mother..."
"Don't „mother" me here, you foolish girl!" Cora put her hand on her neck and forced her to look her in the eyes. "Did you sleep with him?"
Daniel bit his fists, because the girl only looked away, and that response was sufficient for the woman.
"That's enough, you pathetic whore. Soon, I'll teach you a lesson that you will remember for a lifetime," she said and then brutally pushed her daughter to the floor. Regina groaned, as her head hit the chair which stood right behind her, and curled up into a ball. "And I promise you, it won't be pleasant for you!"
He tried to move, but he was unable to, much to the great amusement of Death. Thanatos did not know what was more interesting; watching Cora abusing her daughter or Daniel's relentless attempts of getting out of the spell.
"Stop fidgeting or you will miss all the fun," he heard a few moments later, but ignored his interlocutor. He would not stand here and watch his mother-in-law torture his wife. Over his dead body. "You're already dead, you know."
"SHUT UP!" He yelled and tried to reach the ball. Maybe then he could stop it. "Shut up, you fucking psycho, I don't want to listen to you!"
But his companion said nothing, just chuckled and once again looked into the orb.
Regina lay on the floor and blood was running from her head. Cora, on the other hand, left the room. Young Lucas frowned when he saw that and with a raised eyebrow looked at Death.
"Oh, it's not the end," he said and raised his rotten lips in a nasty smile. "Your brother arrived an hour ago. And she went to find him."
"Wait, what?" His eyes opened widely in confusion. "Why did she go to find Alexander?"
Thanatos grabbed his hair and leaned toward him.
"Why, to punish her naughty daughter, of course," he whispered to his eyes. "Her slutty daughter, who dared to lose her virginity with a poor Stable Boy."
"Don't you dare call my wife a slut!"
Daniel forgot where he was or that he could not move. He used the moment that Thanatos was standing beside him, and heavily punched him in the face. A moments later, a bony nose fell on the floor.
"Just say one more word about my beloved one and I will kill you, do you understand? I don't care if you're immortal or not. I will find a way if you insult my wife again!"
His interlocutor watched him carefully for a few moments, before grabbing his nose and putting it where it belonged. Then he smirked.
"I want to see you trying," he said and then pointed at the sphere. "Look, it seems that your mother-in-law and your brother just arrived."
Death was right. Cora, smirking, entered the room once again and a tall blond-haired young man, his older brother, walked right behind her. Daniel noticed that Alexander's eyes were red from crying. But who could blame him? When he arrived there with his King and the young princess, Alexander expected to see his baby brother. Instead he was informed that the younger Lucas had died less than two hours ago.
Regina slowly raised her head and shuddered when she saw whom her mother had brought. If her friend was there, it only meant one thing. Cora was not joking when she said that she would regret it. She had never dared to punish her in front of anyone. Her punishments always took place behind a closed door.
"Do you know why are you here?" The woman asked his brother who was looking at the girl sadly. When Alexander heard the question, he shook his head and turned toward his interlocutor. "You're here, because I learned that my daughter had an affair with your brother."
Alexander said nothing, just opened his mouth, as he heard this information. Daniel knew, of course, that he was not surprised they were together – in the end he was the one who gave them a secret wedding two years ago – but he did not expect that. The older Lucas knew that Regina wanted to keep that marriage a secret as long as possible, so he had no idea how Cora had found out. Especially now that his baby brother was dead.
"Your brother is lucky to be dead," Cora hissed. Her words instantly made Thanatos laugh and Daniel swore loudly at the rude act. But he could not hit him, because he stood too far. "Or else he would be dead soon."
"Relax, boy," Death said and looked at him. "You should be grateful you had a heart attack or else who knows what she would have done to you."
"I don't care about myself!" he hissed and tried to hit him again without success. "All I care about is Regina and that I can't do anything to help her, because I'm fucking dead!"
"And that's my fault?"
"SHUT UP!"
"...Because of that, you're here to witness her punishment." When he heard that, the twenty-year-old man looked into the orb again. "And if you refuse I'll drag her to the ball room and punish this little whore in front of everyone," she added, because Alexander opened his mouth to protest.
The girl looked pleadingly at her brother-in-law and Daniel immediately knew what she meant. She wanted the man to agree, but not because other royals would see her penalty, but because Snow White, the daughter of King Leopold, would see it, too.
She had known the young princess, who was only eleven, for over eight years, and she was like a younger sister to her. A sister she always wanted to have.
When Snow was five-years-old, her mother, Queen Eva, died and she swore to take care of her even if she was only twelve then, because her father was a very busy man. So the princess either spent her free time in her manor or Regina stayed in the King's castle (sometimes they were both in Regina's grandfather's castle, but that did not happen very often) and their relationship grew stronger.
Besides, Alexander was Snow's personal guard and their niece (because she became Ruby's aunt once she married Daniel even though the child had no idea about it) was the best friend of the younger princess.
"Just as I thought," said Cora and turned to her daughter, who was still on the floor. "Take off your clothes, you stupid girl."
Both Lucas brothers opened their mouths to express their opposition and were silenced at the same time. Thanatos chuckled when the woman glued the blond-haired man to the floor just as he glued Daniel not so long ago.
"This woman, I swear," he said and patted Daniel's back. "How can you not love this woman?"
But the twenty-year-old man's gaze said only one thing. „You're insane, you idiot. Just wait till I find a way to kill you!"
"Hurry up, I don't have all day!" Cora snapped, because Regina had problems with unbuttoning her dress. But when she saw that the girl did nothing, she pushed her on the bed and got rid of her clothes herself.
Both men turned their gaze, ashamed that they were watching something they should not be watching. Something that should not have happened in the first place.
"Oh, don't be so embarrassed, my dear Alexander," the woman said and waved her hand to make him look at her. "Just look at what your brother could see."
Thanatos could not help but laugh out loud, because Daniel was screaming something, although no sound left his throat, and was waving his hands in all directions. He was so mad and if he had a chance he would kill Cora for this.
"What happened? Aren't you interested?" she continued with a cruel smile as she dragged her daughter to him, because he fought with her magic that forced him to look at them. "Maybe you should try her, hm? It looks like she doesn't mind sleeping with men. Besides I'm sure she will enjoy sleeping with you, too. Who knows, maybe you're even better than your brother."
"What do you think, Daniel, is he a better lover than you?" Death asked with a smirk, and Daniel only looked at him with hatred. "I'm just curious, lad, don't look at me like that."
"Mother, please..."
"Oh, but Regina, dear... don't play prude now," the woman interrupted her as she gently brushed the hair that hid the girl's breast. "Little whores, like you, have no right to pretend to be innocent."
The princess said nothing, just bit her bottom lip and lowered her head. She knew that her face was red from embarrassment, because no one had ever humiliated her like that.
"Just look, dear, even your lover's brother cannot look at someone as disgusting and pathetic as you," she hissed to her ear. "You foolish girl."
And then, without any warning, she pushed her back to the bed.
Daniel's eyes opened widely in surprise when he saw a whip appearing in the woman's hand and once again tried to reach the ball. Hell no! He would not let anyone touch his wife. Over his dead body.
"You're already dead, please, don't forget this."
"Now, let me show you how little sluts are treated," said Cora as she tied Regina's hands to the bed and then looked at Alexander before raising her hand.
The girl hissed when the whip met her naked back for the very first time, but before she even had a chance to move, she was hit again, again and again. After the sixth strike she began to sob, and after the ninth she could not help but start crying, although she didn't want to. However, no one – but the two brothers, her mother and Death – could hear her, because Cora had put a silencing spell in the room.
Some time later, after another hit – and she had no idea how many times she had already been hit – it was impossible to tell who cried the most. Regina, who was unable to scream anymore and all she felt was soreness, Alexander, who was forced to watch all that, or Daniel, who felt as if his heart was broken, because his wife was in pain because of him, because they slept together?
"Have you had enough, you little whore?" the woman asked a few moments later, when her daughter stopped screaming.
Regina could not say anything, so she only nodded slightly. She was in pain and all she wanted was to disappear.
"Use words, Regina," she scolded her. "A princess always answers the questions."
"I ha-ave had e-enough, mother," the eighteen-year-old girl whispered quietly. "No more, please."
"Will you let another man touch you?"
"N-no, mother, I won't."
"Well, you just earned another twenty strokes for lying," Cora said, smirking. "Because once you're married you will allow your husband to touch you."
The princess did not have the strength to scream when the whip met her back again. Daniel, on the other hand, swore loudly in his head, much to Thanatos' amusement. Alexander, however, stood with his head lowered, once the spell that forced him to look at Regina stopped working, and did not dare to look at his friend. He felt ashamed that he had seen her naked. He felt as if he had stolen her innocence from her, even though he had not touched her. Also, he felt like trash, because he allowed Cora to hurt her.
"I have to talk with my daughter alone," the woman said and turned toward the blond-haired man, whom she ignored most of the time and waved her hand toward him. "You may leave now."
The older Lucas said nothing, just bowed deeply and left the room as soon as possible. When his brother saw that, he frowned. What was that supposed to mean?
"She erased his memories of this situation," Thanatos answered his unasked question. "He thinks she said that she is sorry for your death."
The man just snorted, or at least he tried to since he was still silenced. However, he looked into the orb once more, because Cora spoke again.
"There's no need to cry, Regina, it's over," she said gently as she untied the girl's hands and sat down at the edge of the bed. Daniel, shocked, had to collect his jaw from the floor. After everything she had done to her daughter, he did not expect her to act like that. "It's over."
Regina only sniffed and involuntarily laid her head on her mother's knees. The woman began stroking her hair and healed her wound on the head. The girl did not want to be near her parent anymore, but right now she really needed comfort and Cora was the only available person.
"I'm sorry, mama," the black-haired princess whispered and looked at her mother. Tears were still visible in her big, brown eyes, and her back hurt like hell, but she tried to ignore the pain. She knew better than to show her that she was hurting. "I'm sorry I let you down."
It was not a lie, but it was not the truth either. Regina did not regret that she had married Daniel and lost her virginity with him, but she was disappointed that she had failed her mother again. She might have been afraid of her most of the time, but she really wanted to make her proud, because maybe then her mother could finally love her. Maybe she really was as pathetic as Cora thought.
"I know, my dear, I know," she nodded and covered her daughter's still naked bottom. Not that she cared about it now, but still. "But soon you'll have a chance to redeem yourself."
Both Regina and Daniel looked at the woman. While the girl was curious, the man thought that his mother-in-law was insane.
"How, mother?"
"Snow's father, King Leopold, will propose to you tonight," the witch said with a smile. "And you'll say yes."
"But I..."
"You just said you were sorry, Regina," she interrupted her sternly. The princess bit her lip and wanted to lower her head, but her mother grabbed her chin and forced her head to stay up. "Your grandfather and your father have already determined all the details with the King," she looked her in the eyes. "This marriage will unite two of the biggest kingdoms in the Enchanted Forest, dear, and I won't let you ruin this. Do you have any idea what would happen if you said no? How many people could be hurt because of that? Because of you? Because you were a little selfish girl?"
The tone of her voice was so serene that both spouses were surprised. Only Thanatos smiled suspiciously as he knew what would happen next.
"No, mother, I don't want anyone to die because of me."
"Good girl," Cora nodded and looked at Regina's back. Her whip had not left any marks; she knew that she should not disfigure her daughter's beauty, so she had enchanted the whip to cut the meat under the skin instead. "Good girl."
The eighteen-year-old hissed, because the woman put her hand on her back and made it hurt even more. Why did her mother hate her so much?
"Mother, please, stop!"
Thanatos smirked and looked at his guest who was yelling something really disrespectful at the woman. If only she could hear it...
The woman got up and, grabbing her daughter's hair once again, she led her to the mirror. The girl closed her eyes, because she really could not look at herself now, with her mother making her feel so dirty.
"Today you'll accept the proposal and in a week from now you will be a Queen," she muttered to her ear and then added with a smirk. "If you refuse, I will rip your lover's niece's heart out and crush it in front of you. And then I'll tell everyone what kind of dirty whore you are."
Fucking, manipulative bitch! Daniel swore in his mind and Death smirked before picking up the ball and hiding it back in the locker. Then he undid all the spells.
"I hate you!" the young man yelled and attacked Death as soon as he could move. "How dare you laugh when my wife is in pain! How dare you let Cora hurt her! You said that her sphere is your greatest treasure and you treat her like nothing!"
"I like your attitude, lad," Thanatos chuckled, ignoring his attack. "And you're right. She's my greatest treasure and it's why I allow her mother to do this. She must be broken."
"You're a psycho!"
But Death ignored him and transferred them into another room. When Daniel saw that besides a throne, nothing else was there, he frowned. He looked at his companion with a raised eyebrow.
"Why are you showing me your throne?"
"It's not my throne," the owner of this place said and walked toward the object. "This belongs to my sovereign, the Ruler of the Darkness."
"Wait a second. Are you telling me that there is someone more powerful than you?"
He was shocked, because it was not something he expected. He always thought that Death did not have a master above itself.
"Indeed there is," Thanatos nodded and looked him in the eyes. "But this place will be empty for many years."
"Why?" Daniel asked, although he was almost sure that he knew the answer.
"Because the Darkness cannot triumph as long as the source of Light is untouched," the man started, his voice sounding emotionless. "Because the Ruler of the Darkness cannot sit on its throne as long as the purest of them all exists."
TBC
I hope it was not that bad.
Also, I would like to thank you spiralnebulaM31 for being my beta.