Chapter 409

"Tainted Love 3 / Slayer of the Gods 2"

The Time of the Pharaohs…

The Forsaken Continent

The Backseat of the Eastern Pharaoh's Carriage, Near the Luvdisc Pond

(If your girl only knew…) Eva thought.

She smiled while she felt the warmth of Prince's arms around her. To compensate for her ivory skin, she'd turned away from him so he wouldn't have to look at her face. It was a strange compromise among the two of them. The warmth of their bodies against eachother versus the icy wind and fatal mist was a winning battle for Eva.

For Prince, being forced to admit that he enjoyed the comfort of a white woman was too much for his conscience and soul to bear right now.

(She's not Forsaken. She's Atlantian.) He told himself.

(It's different. She's like Paige.)

(Well, how many times have I been naked under a fur coat in the backseat of your private carriage with Paige?)

(Never. No, this is different.)

(No it's not.)

(Yes it is.)

No it isn't.)

The internal strife between his pragmatic mind and tortured soul raged on with every second she was in his arms.

Eva was so soft; a complete contrast from his battle-hardened skin. Everything about her was the opposite of him. Light and dark, soft and hard, stringy hair and fluffy hair, woman and man, moon and sun.

In that moment, Eva felt like the missing piece to the incomplete puzzle that was him. Even still, they hadn't fully filled the puzzle yet, they still hadn't "connected", he realized as his mind wandered to the warmth between her legs.

(No! She's a Forsaken.) The tortured soul snapped.

(She's an Atlantian. Does it matter?) The pragmatic mind rebuked.

(Yes, it does.)

(No, it doesn't.) The internal-war continued.

Eva carefully loosened his embrace, twisted her body and turned around and faced him, "A lot has happened since we were last together here in this carriage."

Prince hissed, "Shit."

"Yup," Eva smiled, "We're breaking the fourth wall."

Prince exhaled and thought, "Yeah, we are."

Eva stared at his chocolate brown-eyes, everything felt so perfect right now. Should she part her legs just a bit, tempt him? Or would he become offended?

(He wants me. I know he does.) Eva thought with a flint of arrogance. (I obviously want him too but…) She could feel the thunder behind his eyes, he seemed serious. Was his serious demeanor merely a shield to mask his insecurities in a more loose environment?

Or was it merely the way reality and the universe had molded him?

"Lacey's pregnant, right?" Prince asked.

"Indeed, she is." Eva smiled.

It was that smile that always seemed to be on her face. It wasn't always a display of happiness, but it always felt like "her", to him.

"Where does that leave Ash?" Prince wondered. "In the past, he'd left the party with her and kinda similar to what Carlito was going through with Ronda in the village. Watching all the people and his pokemon deal with the effects of the mist."

"COVID," Eva corrected, "Oh, you're right. The Mist is what we're calling it. Don't wanna piss any of the readers off or for them to think any of the writer's are clairvoyant since this Fanfic has predicted a lot of pop-culture and world events since it started right after the Dylan Roof murders."

"True, true," Prince nodded.

"So," Eva looked up at the Eastern pharaoh, "Where does that leave, Ash?"

"We could just retcon it and put him back at the party with Alexa and the other queens trying to spit game to him." Prince analyzed, "Besides, you never know how any female athlete is going to come back after they're pregnant. Not every woman is going to be Serena Williams."

"Right," Eva agreed, "And in the case of Becky, well, Becky had already been in the top spot. It won't be too different than seeing a guy return from a long injury like Daniel Bryan for example. Lacey never got to the top spot. We might see another Tamina."

"Yeah," Prince agreed, "So, retcon?"

Eva nodded, "I say we retcon that part. Ash is back at the party. But how does that change things with the Corin murder by The Flock?"

"We'll see." Prince's embrace began to loosen.

(No.) Eva thought. She stared into his eyes, fighting every fiber of her being to not pull him closer. Talking was the last thing Eva wanted to do with Prince right now. The more he talked, the more he would think. Romance, love were not things that were thought out, they were merely things that we felt and instinctively found our way through. It was those instincts that made love more deadly than any drug on the street. Love had the power to destroy you worse than any drug because it was thoughtless and "free".

"And Tessa got fired by Impact and it's been forever since we've heard anything." Prince exhaled.

"You wanna retcon her too?" Eva asked.

"Nah," Prince shook his head, "Sooner or later she'll resurface. She's already in play. Would we have preferred to keep her more connected with Trey's story on the Forsaken continent? Yeah but it is what it is."

Eva exhaled, "Yeah, and about that that. You and a few of the other guys don't really talk no more."

Prince shrugged, "I wish them well. No man ever gets anywhere really by hating on another man. Both sides just have to grow in different ways and if we intertwine on a different avenue, cool, I don't beef with grown men. I legit go see them if the issue is that real."

Eva smiled, "Isn't that what grown men are supposed to do?"

Prince shrugged, "Well, what do we know. I mean, the internet is an amazing place, after all." He said sarcastically.

"But you liked the writing?" Eva asked.

"Yeah, that's why there are portions of the writing's that will continue. And it's an entertaining character. It's not just me who has the final say of who get's killed off and who stays. If it were up to me you wouldn't have made it past Season 4."

"What?!" Eva snapped.

"I mean," Prince shrugged, "We are breaking the fourth wall."

"You're an asshole." Eva hissed. "Kill me off? Are you crazy?"

"That's what everyone else said." Prince exhaled.

"So," Eva inhaled, calming herself, "Is this going to be like the final few Three Six Mafia albums. Like "Last 2 Walk" and Rell goes to DJVlad and does Crunchy Black interviews after he's lost his mind?"

"I don't know."

Eva giggled, "It makes you wonder, if Club Atlantis is Three Six Mafia, who would be DJ Paul, Gangsta Boo, Juicy J and Crunchy Black?"

"Liz is definitely Gangsta Boo, now the other three is up for debate." Prince replied.

"You'd have to either be DJ Paul or Juicy J." Eva responded. "More than likely Juicy J."

(The others tho?) Prince thought. (Well, I'll let them figure it out.)

"Who do you think Carlito and Larrell are?" Eva asked.

Prince shook his head, "They can chill and figure that out among themselves, maybe. In between all the other stuff they've got going on as well as me."

"Yeah," Eva smiled, "And Biden winning the election and half the country slowly turning against him and all."

"Yeah, well, heavy is the crown, right?" Prince shrugged.

Suddenly, the door to the carriage was thrown open and standing in the misty darkness was a strange man wearing rags similar to a homeless vagrant with a strange cap on his head.

He had caramel brown skin that hadn't been touched by the sun in eons by the looks of it. And a twisted energy radiated from his eyes.

"Who the fuck are you? What do you want?" Prince cursed.

The strange man smiled, "I came looking for booty!" He announced, "And to continue where I left off in Chapter 334."

Prince blinked, "What the fuck," as Eva clinged to him for safety.

"Oh," the strange man gawked, "Have no fear, lady. I didn't come here for you. I came looking for man's butt!"

"Oh hell nah!" Prince untangled Eva's arms from his neck, ready to attack the strange man.

However, Eva was still an obstacle in his path. The backseat of the carriage was too narrow for him to force her out of the way.

Between the both of them, Eva's petite frame was the buffer that kept to the two men apart.

"Look, pharaoh, I'll tell you what," The strange man continued, "I like you, and I want ya. Now we can do this the easy way or we can do it the hard way. The chawse is yaws."

Prince's eyes flashed with fury, "Oh I know now how we doing this," his fingers clenched into fists ready to pound the man to a pulp. Unless the man knew a secret form of martial arts, he was a dead man.

Although the strange man was a similar height to Prince, he was greatly outweighed by the pharaoh by at least 30 – 40 pounds.

"Oh," The strange man nodded, "I see you choosing the hard way. Well, I'm a warrior too. Just let that be known, I'm a -"

Suddenly, the strange man gawked, cringed and fell face down into the dirt.

"The only person on this continent that is getting that booty is me," Charlotte whispered, standing over the Booty Warrior.

Eva blinked, "Oh, you kicked him in the balls."

"You're welcome." Charlotte stared at Prince.

"I didn't need your help." Prince underscored.

"You got it though," Charlotte sassily retorted, "You're welcome."

Prince looked taken aback with this more aggressive attitude that Charlotte had now. The only woman that ever had the nerve to sass him was Sasha.

(Who does this maggot-skinned whore think she is?) Prince gawked.

"I don't know why you're with her," Charlotte pointed to Eva, "When you were promised to me."

Eva turned to Prince, "What is she talked about?"

Before Prince could say anything, Charlotte dug into her glacial blue robes and withdrew a long fancy piece of parchment that had clearly been crafted in the Promised Lands and handed it to Eva.

The Royal Seal of Almighty Queen Isis herself rested at the bottom of the parchment as well as a promise that the Pharaoh of the Eastern Empire would wed the Princess of Norway to cement the alliance between the two superpowers.

Eva stared at Sasha's seal. (That bitch!) She thought bitterly. Eva shook her head, "I don't see Sasha here. Her seal means nothing."

"That's," Carmella waved her hand as she marched up to the scene, "one place where you are right. However, my seal and my word means everything." She smiled sinisterly at Eva Marie. "And it'd be best if you remembered your place."

Eva shot a glare of death at Carmella.

Carmella turned to Charlotte, "It's been a pleasure doing business with you."

Charlotte smiled at Carmella, "The pleasure," glancing at Prince and imagining the power of his dragons destroying Kyurem and the mist once and for all, "was and will be all mine very soon."

Prince shook his head, "Your word has power over your own people but not over a pharaoh." He promptly hissed, grabbing Eva's hand and preparing to close the door of his carriage.

Carmella raised her hand again, summoning guards, "And Eva is my people." Snapping her fingers, "Seize her." Before Prince could react, Eva, stark-naked was torn from beneath the comfort of his Akita coat and there she stood, in the cold darkness, her head down in shame, the soles of her feet in the dirt beside the cringing Bootywarrior.

"A booty," the Bootywarrior cringed, "Is more important than whatever business y'all are talking about."

"Good lord," Carmella rolled her eyes, "And lock that creep up too. How'd he get out anyway?" Shaking her head. She then focused her attention on Prince, "If, you want to convince me to not throw Eva to the cannibals in the dungeon, you'll be a good boy and leave with Charlotte."

"Boy?" Prince snarled.

"Or," Carmella shrugged, "I'll let them eat her. They are starving and could seriously use a bit of," tugging on Eva's flaming red hair, "flavor down there."

Prince turned away out of fury.

Charlotte smiled and tenderly climbed into the carriage, "I've never felt Akita fur before." Reaching for the coat.

"And you never will." Prince responded, angrily yanking it out of her grasp.

"If," Charlotte smiled, "You wanna see Eva again, you'll do as I say and keep your bride happy."

Prince downcast his eyes as the doors to the carriage closed. "Fuck!" He hissed.

"Oh," Carmella gawked, "And look, I have just the driver for your carriage. I doubt you'll mind if I choose the driver since your party is having such a wonderful time enjoying my hospitality."

Prince said nothing. What could he say? Carmella had just silenced a God. A pharaoh, who in the eyes of his people was the closest thing to a God had been stripped of his power. Disarmed and made mortal. His love for Eva had been weaponized against him.

When the carriage disappeared over the horizon, Carmella turned to Eva Marie. "How does it feel to know that no matter what you do, you'll never be good enough? All you'll ever be is lowly trash."

Eva raised her eyes, fighting every fiber in her being to not strike the smug face of Carmella. As heir, she could have Eva and her family executed at the snap of her fingers. Would Italy really risk the wrath of the Eastern kingdom though? And, upon wedding Charlotte he'd also have control over the Norwegian military as well.

Eva's eyes widened. (It makes sense. Sasha didn't force Prince to marry Charlotte to spite me. It's a strategic move. Dragon's only weaknesses are ice and fairies. Fairies are rare and aren't a huge threat. Norway controls majority of the ice pokemon. This was a chess move by the East. Prince had to have already known about it before he arrived. That's why he wasn't fazed by the parchment and so grumpy towards Charlotte at the fiesta. It makes sense. Sasha wasn't doing it to spite me. She's doing it to have control over the ice fields so that the East has no military force to oppose it.)

"Nothing to say, huh?" Carmella smiled, "Maybe you've finally remembered your place."

Eva exhaled, "You didn't tell Prince about Corin's death and neither did I."

Carmella's grin flattened to a serious tone. "You know about that?"

"I saw the killer." Eva admitted, "While Prince and I danced, the killer left with the Southern Pharaoh. The only person that was in the room with him who could have possibly killed him. Then, the killer left the room. Returned to the party as you were having me escorted out. Slipped right by the guards."

Carmella rolled her eyes, "What about the guards in the alley?"

"I had to sneak to the carriage through the alley." Eva explained, "The killer didn't kill the guards." Eva pointed to the struggling Bootywarrior, "He did."

The Bootywarrior smiled, "I told ya, I came here for man's butt. They wanted to do it the hard way so I-"

Carmella exasperated shook her head, "Throw him to the cannibals."

"More booty for me!" The Bootywarrior cheered, "Hehehehe," as the guards dragged him towards the dungeons.

Once the laughter of the Bootywarrior vanished, Carmella continued, "You didn't tell Prince about the murder. Why?"

Eva pushed her flaming red locks out of her eyes, "Probably the same reason you chose not to. We know what he'd do. Italy would be burned to ashes if I told him."

Carmella nodded, "So you do care for your land?"

Eva exhaled, "I care for the least amount of blood being spilt."

Carmella crossed her arms, "So, who is it? Who murdered Corin?"

Eva stared at Carmella, "Since you're in the business of making deals, I want a deal in exchange for the killer's identity."

Carmella rolled her eyes, "I could just have the guards beat it out of you."

"Prince won't be in Norway forever." Eva negotiated, "All I have to do is tell him you tortured me and Italy burns."

Carmella nodded, "You really should remember your place, Eva. It'd make everything much easier on you and everyone else."

"I know my place," Eva smiled, "It's by his side, where I belong. It just seems the world keeps doing everything to keep us apart."

Carmella exhaled, "What do you want?"

"I want immunity." Eva explained, "I can be charged with no crime so long as you are in power, I have immunity from any and all things regardless of what it is."

"Treason included," Carmella forecasted.

"If it comes to that." Eva shrugged, "That or I could send a Noctowl to Prince or wait for him to come back. If I'm not here, he'll burn this place down looking for me."

"Fine." Carmella exhaled, "You have my word."

"Beaulah." Eva answered, "The killer's name is Beaulah. She also murdered two other girls. She tested the 'poison' earlier at the party and the women went crazy and started brawling. They died from it a bit after and the guards stuffed them in the alley and just like Corin, they had the same white stuff coming out of their mouths after they died."

"So she experimented with it on a few girls at the party before she dosed the pharaoh?" Carmella realized. "And tried to frame us for it. But why?"

Eva shrugged, "I don't know. Now, since I have immunity," gesturing to the guards.

"Yes," Carmella exhaled, "I am a woman of my word." She nodded. "Well, no, I'm not. Take her away."

"What?" Eva gawked, "No!" As she was hauled off.

"You really should remember your place, Eva. Lowly trash, that's what you are. You don't make deals with people like me!"

Carmella watched with a sinister grin as Eva struggled against the sentries. (Know your place, trash.) She thought. (I'll have to meet with the Northern Pharaoh, Larrell. He seems to be the most understanding of the pharaohs. He'll be the most inclined to speak with us and make a deal for the antidote for the Mist. The others will want blood. The North, well, the North and South haven't always been on the best of terms. We'll see what Larrell says after I speak to him about this.) Carmella smiled sinisterly as she plotted various ways to tempt Larrell to the side of the Italians.