Chapter Ten: The Demon And The Princess
The golden leaves never ceased falling. She could see tall hulking figures of machine like soldiers, their mechanical bodies were made of gold and their eyes glowed red like a burning hearth. It was a terrifying sight, like monsters marching in the blackness of night. But these monsters stood still and quiet, watching as their new king and commander struggled to walk towards the raised pedestal at the center of the throne room where she stood. His boots echoed with soft thuds against the carved floor.
He was bleeding. She could see the bright red spot blossoming on his chest like a rose; staining his pristine cream colored attire. Lilith felt the ache in his heart, the sting of the wound on his chest and the sorrow of his soul as he gasped for breath. He looked at her, stretching out a pale hand towards her even though he knows she is out of reach, so close yet so far. He chanted her name with trembling lips, as if it is her who is dying and not him. He said it over and over again, like a prayer. Her name. Her name. Nuala.
Lilith looked down at her own hands confused and lost as she stared at pale delicate hands that did not belong to her. Nuala's hands, Nuala's body. She slowly pulled out the knife sheathed in her chest like Excalibur from the ancient stone. Lilith felt the life leaving her body as blood soaked the golden dress Nuala wore. It is her body, a vision of a time to come through the eyes of Princess Nuala.
Lilith could feel their pain and yet she could not understand why they were dying, why the prince was dying. The twins share the same wounds, the same eyes; two halves of a whole and now Lilith shares the same pain with them. Does this mean they will die? One half of the whole will kill herself and in the process kill the other half. But why? Lilith gasped inwardly, she felt an odd sort of numbness sweep over her, and suddenly she feels like she is floating. Weightless. Dying.
She sprang up from the bed, her eyes wide as she gasped for breath. Lilith pawed at her chest trying to find a wound but only found the white fabric of her night gown completely unsoiled. She wasn't dying, and so was the prince.
Lilith examined her surroundings; she wasn't in her own chambers, she looked up at the ceiling painted with the branching roots and trunks of the father tree, then to the crimson drapes drawn over tall glass windows and the rows and rows of books neatly arranged in cherry wood shelves; the prince's chambers.
"I see you're finally awake." She turned to the voice with a sharp gasp. Prince Nuada sat at a desk, his eyes focused on the little gold trinket he was tinkering with.
"How long was I out for?" She asked, running her fingers through her hair to detangle the rat's nest it has morphed into.
"About a day and a half, I thought you had fainted because I kissed you but the healers assured me it was only due to a lack of proper sleep." Lilith blushed, still not used to the sudden development in their relationship and how bluntly spoke of what had transpired between them.
"Why would you assume it was because you kissed me?" She slid off the bed, her mind still unsure why she is in his room instead of her own. "And why am I here?"
"You'd be surprised of all the crazy conclusions a man could come up with when his romantic advances are met with the reaction of a woman fainting." He chuckled and Lilith couldn't help the laughter from bubbling up to the surface. "I brought you here because it was closer than your chamber; you need not worry for your virtue, as tempting as it was to simply have my way with you, you can rest assured it is well intact." He said as if reading her mind; she blushed at his words.
She walked towards him, her bare feet padding over the plush bear skin rug on the floor and sat on the edge of his oak desk, and without thinking, ran her fingers through his silken hair. He looked at her with his soft whisky eyes. "I'm so glad you're alive." She whispered. She remembered her vision and felt the ghost presence of the knife in her chest. She cared about him, she'd even dare say she's falling in love with him and the thought of him dying filled her with grief and a need to be close to him—to touch him, to reassure herself he is still there.
Prince Nuada dropped his delicate tools on the desk and placed a hand on the curve of her waist as if sensing the fear and sorrow in her soul. "What are you talking about? Of course I'm alive!" He laughed softly as he stood from his chair and placed both hands at her waist, his lean frame fitting perfectly between her thighs making her shiver and a strange heat came rushing through her body.
Lilith braced her hands on his broad shoulders as she looked up at his beautiful face. "I don't know what I saw but something bad is going to happen, you're in grave danger!"
"If there is one thing to be certain of, it is that I am always in grave danger. I am a warrior and a prince, I believe it is all part of the job description." He said, a boyish grin lighting up his features. But Lilith only shook her head, unconvinced of his answer.
"No, you don't understand, I saw you in my vision, you were dying!"
He did not seem alarmed at all. He tried to soothe her anxiety as he looked into her lilac eyes. "Nothing is certain in the future, but I do not intend to die anytime soon, do not worry too much."
The prince, despite his claim to hate all of humanity, held Lilith's face in his hand; cradling her cheek like a gentle lover; stroking her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb; and brushed away stray strands of ebony hair from her distraught face.
"No, you have to believe me, I've seen—"Her words were cut off as one of the hooded monks interrupted their conversation. He spoke to the prince in Elfin; his native tongue. And although Lilith could not understand a word being exchanged between the two men, she can definitely tell it wasn't good news. It was written all over Prince Nuada's face as his handsome features contorted in anger. Once the monk has gone, silence descended upon them like an invisible cloak. "W-What's wrong, what did he say?" She asked, unsure if she was prepared to know.
"He's dead. Mr. Wink is dead. A red demon from the surface killed him!" She could see the rage filling his soul as his whisky eyes grew dark with bloodlust and the need for vengeance. She had only ever had two encounters with the troll but she knew he was a trusted friend to the prince.
Lilith felt the cold seep into her skin as he pulled away from her, and went to his dresser where his armor was kept, along with his weapons. She watched with fascinated yet fearful eyes and he donned his leather armor, the shoulder pieces fitting perfectly over his frame, his movements precise and graceful. He strapped the sword and spear onto their holsters on his hip and back.
"You're going up to the surface aren't you?" She slid off the desk, standing beside him as he grabbed the little gold trinket on the desk and slipped it into his pocket.
"Yes, I will make the demon pay for his crime!" His tone was hard and cold, full of danger and contempt.
"No, you mustn't leave, please stay!" Lilith grabbed his arm, halting him from leaving. "What if you don't come back?"
"I promise I will return." He assured her but still she did not relent. She shook her head frantically, unwilling to let him go.
"If you must go take me with you!" She needed to be with him, to be close to him, as if their close proximity would ensure his survival.
"No, you shall remain here. You are not to leave this temple until I return. Do not disobey me!" Prince Nuada kissed her hair before finally pulling away from her, slipping right out of her finger tips and disappearing into the darkness.
She could see the blood again, on her hands and on her dress. It had only been minutes since the prince left and already Lilith could feel herself starting to cave in. She cannot play the part of a docile pet forever, not when lives were at stake. Lilith is left with a choice, to obey Prince Nuada and sit there doing nothing like some kept woman, or she could take action and risk angering him.
She didn't have to think for much longer, she found the answer when the earth suddenly shook, almost knocking her off her feet. The chandeliers swung on their brass chains making the room look as if it was spinning. Lilith ran down the hall, to the grand staircase that she has now memorized, then towards the front door. She could leave and the monks wouldn't even try to stop her now. If it had been the her from many, many nights ago maybe she would have contemplated about escaping instead of looking for the prince, but things are different now and she cannot turn her back on any of the things that has happened.
She ran out of the temple, her hair whipping behind her as she weaved her way through the lantern lit streets of the troll market. She only had to follow the trail of destruction to find the exit to the outside world.
Once she emerged from the winding tunnels, there was no prince to be found, but instead his sister stood before her, looking every bit out of place in the harshly lit meat warehouse. Her hair reflected the white lights from the fluorescent bulbs overhead, her golden eyes darting towards her as she sensed her presence.
She is just as Lilith had seen her in the prince's memories; oddly beautiful and fragile as glass. "Who are you?" Her voice sounded like bells, melodic and light, Lilith recalled every memory from Nuada's past of the woman laughing laughing.
"I am Lilith, your majesty. And I- I know your brother." Lilith stared at the princess, seeing the same eyes of Nuada but on a different face. Although they resembled each other, they are without doubt, complete polar opposites; where she is soft and calm, he is all harsh lines and a raging storm.
Nuala's eyes narrowed slightly, contemplating whether she should listen to her or not. "Did my brother send you to steal the crown piece?" She asked her tone quipped and clear.
Lilith furrowed her brows, confused by the lady's words. "Crown piece? No, that is not what I came here for, I am here to find your brother and to warn him of the danger he is in!"
"And why would you do that, who are you to my brother?" The princess asked, Lilith could hear the suspicion in her voice.
"It does not matter who I am, I have to find him and talk to him or else he will die!"
They were interrupted when the ground shook again and a strange blue creature wearing a black body suit came rushing towards them. "Hurry now princess, we must leave immediately, it is not safe here!" The creature tried to usher the princess away from her and the warehouse but Lilith rushed after the woman and her lanky companion, grabbing the pale monarch's hand in her own.
Nuala's eyes widened in surprise as Lilith's memories and visions all came rushing into her head, as if a floodgate had been opened. Both seeing Lilith's memories and visions in a fast forward pace, like a car speeding down the highway; blurred lights and all that.
She quickly let go of the princess' hand, clutching her head, as she fell to her knees in agony. She could feel pain everywhere, Lilith cried out; whimpering like a wounded pet.
"Oh dear, Are you alright?!" The blue man appeared beside her, Nuala stood still almost like a statue, staring at her with wide, golden eyes.
"I-I'm fine, I just need a moment." Lilith struggled to breathe; her head feels like it's been shoveled and screwed over like a dump site.
"This girl, she must come with us, Abraham." The princess finally spoke, her words, gentle and carefully put together. "She is my brother's prisoner and she is in grave danger." Lilith noticed the way the princess did not say the whole truth, despite the fact that she has seen everything.
"Oh dear, then we really must leave. Come now, Hurry along Miss-" The ground shook once more, cutting off Abraham's train of thought. A loud screeching howl echoed into the night, and Lilith looked up just in time to see a red man with dark hair shoot a monstrous green creature terrorizing the city.
"What is that?" Lilith asked in awe of the captivating giant.
"It is an elemental; a forest god, a giver of life and a destroyer." The Princess answered without pause as she too stared up at the awesome creature.
"Where did it come from?" It is then that the other woman looked back at Lilith, the eyes of Nuada haunting her on the face of another.
"My brother freed it from its dormant form, to kill the agents." Princess Nuala said, pointing towards Abraham and the Red demon as he shot the forest god's head. Green moss sprawled itself onto the ground and brick walls; like a velvet cloak; the head of the forest god unfurling like a blooming flower in the wake of spring; petals soft as snow erupting everywhere. It is beautiful, Lilith thought.
The police pointed a gun at Hellboy and the crowd only yelled in accusation towards the red demon despite his efforts to ensure their safety, throwing rocks at him and angering the female agent with short black hair.
Lilith could not see how these people could call the red man a monster; he saved their lives without even worrying about his own and yet they had the gall to call him names and accuse him of things he didn't do. They were the real monsters not him!
"Come now ladies, we have to go." Abe said, ushering Lilith and Princess Nuala towards a black van, but Lilith refused.
"No, I have to find Prince Nuada first!" She tried to leave but the Princess held her elbow and gave Lilith a soft smile.
"Worry not, my brother is safe, I can feel it through our bond. I saw into your mind and your vision of the future and I believe we have much to discuss." The princess pulled her towards a small group of people waiting by a black van. "I know you are concerned, but if you really want to save him, then you must help me."
Lilith steeled her nerves, and straightened her back. She knew the prince would soon learn of her disobedience but she hoped that he will find it in him to forgive her once she has found a way to alter his future and Princess Nuala seem to have the answers she seek. "Alright, I will come with you."
"Let me properly introduce myself, I am Princess Nuala from the Kingdom of Bethmoora, daughter of King Balor the one armed Elf king." Lilith felt awkward standing in front of the regal woman, not knowing whether she should curtesy or bow as she announced her title.
"It is a pleasure to meet you your highness!" She bowed deeply feeling every bit like a commoner.
"Please raise your head, do not bow down to me as you would not bow down to my brother." The knowing look in the princess' eyes assured her that the woman meant well.
"How did you meet them and why are you here your highness?" Lilith could no longer hold her curiosity at bay, opting to ask now rather than later when they are in the company of the agents.
"He found me, Abraham." She said looking at the blue fish man speaking with his companions. "He was following me inside the troll market and I confronted him if he was working for my brother like the troll he had sent to track me after our father died, as it turns out he is working for the Bureau for paranormal research and defense and they have been investigating a massacre that involved Toothfaeries and the royal seal." Her mind drifted back to that night at the auction house and the tiny creatures that killed all of the guests.
"How do you know he is not lying?"
"I am an empath you see, and I have seen into his mind just as I have seen into yours, he speaks the truth, the agents are trustworthy." Nuala explained to her with patience of a woman that has lived for hundreds of years.
They were taken from the meat warehouse to the outskirts of the city; on top of a cliff was the headquarters for the BPRD, it reminded Lilith very much of a miniature version of the Whitehorse with its pristine white walls and stately figure.
"My brother is looking for this, the final piece of the royal crown of Bethmoora." Princess Nuala held up a small strip of gold from the centerpiece of her belt, showing it to Lilith as the whole crew gathered in a conference room with glass walls. The princess thought it would be best if she knew the whole truth of what her brother has planned. "This piece when reunited with its sisters will form a golden circlet that would allow its wearer or whoever is worthy to command the Golden Army. And my brother already has the other two pieces that is why we must make sure that he never gets his hands on the final piece of the crown."
"An army made of gold?" Lilith asked with raised eyebrows, almost disbelieving what her ears are hearing.
"Yes, in the time of old, man and Fae was at war with each other, many lives were lost, both magical and human. My father the king commanded one of his advisers, the lord of the goblin blacksmiths to create an army that would know no pain, hunger or death. The Golden army was forged from gold and fire, melded into figures fit for war and battle; my brother commanded the army in my father's behest and soon the war was won and the magical world thrived once again, but my father was a compassionate man and after seeing the bloodshed and turmoil caused by his army, he called for a truce, giving one part of the crown to the humans as a sign of his intention to keep the peace and to assure humanity that the army shall sleep forever. But Nuada did not believe in man's promises and now he seeks to awaken the army and wage war against mankind." The princess looked at her with soft golden eyes that seem to speak volumes of her sadness and grief over her father and what her brother has done.
"The world will burn in flames if the army ever awakens!" Lilith sad quietly as she drew in a trembling breath.
"So what, he wants to kill all the humans, is that it?" Liz asked, shocked and disgusted at the same time.
"My brother blames humanity's greed for the collapse of the magical world; he believes it is the only way our people can thrive once again; we are dying out, our way of life, our culture, all of it will soon be lost to the winds like scattered dust and he thinks he can save us by killing off the very creatures that drove us from our lands" Princess Nuala's eyes showed the sadness in her heart. "I know there is still light inside him, but the world has been too cruel to him I'm afraid."
"He is fighting for a cause that he believes would change the world." Lilith quoted Loireen's words, finally it makes sense; the anger, the hatred, the despair and the loneliness in the prince's heart. "If such a threat exist how come no one has ever done a thing about it before, why has no one ever heard of this army and the magical world? If people knew then maybe we can change for the better, why keep it a secret?" She asked, confused as to why there is a need to keep everything in the dark, wouldn't it be so much easier to show people what the world is really like, to help them understand that what they are doing might be destroying another species way of life.
"Humanity is not yet prepared to carry the weight of such knowledge, the world will fall into utter chaos if they knew of the existence of the magical world, and such truth would put both worlds in great danger." Lilith listened to the apparent leader of the group; a faceless man in a metal and glass suit. Mr. Krauss' words reminded her of something the prince had said. "Knowledge about the magical folk has been lost to humanity many centuries ago when man forgot to honor the truce between two worlds. Nowadays we are nothing more but myths and legends to your people. They forget that the world does not belong to them alone."
Humanity is such a complex race, afraid of the dark, of the uncertainty beyond the unknown but even more so fearful of what is in plain sight, cowering at the thought of facing the harsh and painful truth of how things really are, such was the nature of humanity.
"But you know and here you are trying to protect both sides of the same coin." She looked to Hellboy and Liz and then to Mr. Krauss.
"Yes, look around you, as you can see madam we are not just a part of one side of the coin, we belong to both and we believe one cannot exist without the other, but what about you, why do you fight for two worlds?" The German agent's question caught her off guard. What could she possibly say? That she is trying to save the prince because she's fallen in love with him? That would not sound right, not to their ears. His words got her thinking about her own stand on the matter; suddenly she is no longer just trying to save one man but deciding which holocaust must be chosen.
