Chapter Four

I'll be here.

When you need me most. I'm always here. Beautiful goddess.

Bella awoke to icy cold water pouring down her back. Her golden eyes opened halfway, then closed again. 'Where am I?' She asked herself. She couldn't remember.

"Aye, so you decided to grace us with your presence?" A rough voice permeated her consciousness, followed by a stinging backhand across her face. Now wide-awake, she sat up slowly, very aware of the throbbing sensation at the back of her head. Groggily, she took in her surroundings.

This was Thora's palace, the throne room. The usually bright room was dim, and instead of her mother's palace guards, there were towering, hulking.things. She could only describe them as things. Their appearances were man-like, but their visage was demonic. Evil seemed to emanate from them, surrounding them in a shroud of shadows. Heavily armed with axes, swords, bows, and maces, the very sight instilled a bone-chilling fear in her. But the next sight scared her even more. Hanging from the rafters, her toes just brushing the ground, was Thora, her mother, her queen. The crown was haphazard on her head, her armor bloodied, her sword lying on the ground next to her.

"Ma!" Forgetting her pain, Bella scrambled to her feet and threw herself at her mother. Instantly, rock hard arms caught her and pulled her back, coarse laughter ringing through the hall. "Let her go! You let her go this instant!" The stubborn princess in her reared up as she whirled to face her captors, her hands on her hips.

"Oh, so you're giving orders now?" The brute to her left broke into a malice filled grin, as he walked towards her, hitting a sword lightly against his open palm. She whimpered and backed away from him, until she hit a firm surface.

"No, I believe that's my job, Belthar." She whirled back around only to be staring at the bloodied breastplate of another shadow/man/thing. Almost against her will, she lifted her eyes until they met his red, soulless orbs. Instantly, his hand balled into a fist, and he swung at her, only to spread his fingers to grab her chin and lift her up to him. "You dare to look me in the eyes?" He bared his teeth at her in some sort of a twisted smile, before lifting his eyes to look at Belthar. "Are you sure she's the one?"

He nodded, humbly averting his eyes from the powerful demon lord. "She fits the criteria, Mi'Lord Celestin." Red eyes lowered back to meet hers once more. "So she does." He replied softly, bringing another hand up to stroke the side of her cheek. "But, she lacks the markings."

Bella narrowed her eyes and turned her head sharply. She didn't want him touching her. She had no idea what was going on, what they were even speaking of. The beast chuckled and dropped her suddenly, causing her to tumble in a heap at his feet. "Hold her down, I don't want her interfering." Two demons were at her side in an instant, pining her arms to her side.

Celestin's laugh grew malicious as he turned to face Thora. Until now, she had been silent, her chin on her chest. He brought the tip of his sword to her chin, lifting it up. "Ah, the gracious queen." He gestured grandly with his other hand. "Where are your mighty warriors?" He leaned in close to her, practically spitting the words into her face. "Who will protect your precious daughter when you are gone?" Thora's silver eyes bore into his, as she spoke, her voice low and dangerous.

"It would be wise to leave us be. You have no idea who you are dealing with." Celestin nodded like he understood, the reared back and head-butted her, breaking the delicate cartilage of her nose.

"Are you really going to stop me? Tell me," he paused to grab the crown from her head, ripping out several silvery-blonde strands from her scalp and crumpled it in his hands, only to throw it aside, "Enlighten me, please, oh wise and powerful queen." He turned then, to Bella, who was cowering on the ground, gasping for air as she covered her eyes, unable to watch the person she loved most be humiliated and hurt like this. "Uncover her eyes! I want her to watch, I want her to see me take down the fucking Queen of Light!"

Thora growled low in her throat, as blood streamed down her face. "You will not touch her, bastard." With the final word, she strained hard against her restraints, trying to throw herself at him. Celestin paused for a moment, and with a sly wink to Bella, turned and threw himself on Thora, fists flying.

He hit her again, and again. In the stomach, across the face, no inch of her body escaped the beating. But beatings weren't enough for him. He reached down and took a whip from his belt. It wasn't a regular whip, but a cat o' nine tails. From the handle, the whip divided itself into nine long strands of leather. Imbedded in the leather was any object that could rip and tear at the flesh. Teeth of tigers, broken glass, metal spikes.

Celestin grinned and squatted next to the trembling princess. In a conversational tone, he asked her how he was doing. She seemed to be in a state of shock, her mouth hanging open in horror, only able to look helplessly at the broken body of her Thora. Celestin followed her gaze and chuckled. "It's a shame isn't it. She should have surrendered a long time ago." He shook his head like he felt bad for the queen, before turning back to Bella. "Don't worry, love," He told her, leaning into her face. "It's almost over, everything's almost over." His lips brushed her forehead, finally eliciting a response.

The princess lunged at him, catching the demons holding her off-guard. She landed a well-placed hit, then scratched him across the face, leaving a bright crimson streak down his cheek. He growled and pushed her back down, a knee on her stomach. "Ah, a feisty one." He leaned back down to her. "I like that in a mate." By now the guards had regained their hold on her arms, and he stood back up.

"No! You won't have her!" Thora's voice was broken and shaking, blood bubbling from her mouth with each word. Immediately, the cat o' nine tails wrapped around her body, tearing chunks of flesh from her. Celestin had stood back up and now held the bloodied whip in his hands, nearly shaking with rage. He brought it down on her again and again, but Thora almost seemed to ignore it. She had eyes only for her daughter, a slight smile on her face.

"Ma?" Bella mouthed the words to her, "I love you." Thora's silver eyes held immeasurable love for her beloved daughter. "I love you." Thora's body then shook, like a shock went through her, and her eyes closed. The beautiful queen was gone.

"NO! No, no, no, no!" Bella covered her ears and shook her head, the tears that had been aching in her throat spilling over, running down her cheeks. "Don't leave me, please, I don't want to be alone."

Celestin stood in front of the bloodied corpse, breathing hard. He was splattered with her blood, the whip dropping from his hands. Nothing stood in his way now. He had her. He turned to face Bella, then gaped at her in surprise. She was glowing, the Light shining through her, causing those holding her to drop to the ground, covering their eyes. Blue diamonds appeared on her cheeks, shining through the tears that ran down her face.

"You." Her hand came up to point at him. Her voice was different, like there was something speaking through her. Something unreadable flickered across his eyes, as he brought the sword up in front of him, shielding himself. Fear, perhaps? The fear that he may have pissed off the wrong princess. Fear mounted as she lifted several feet in the air, floating. The aura around her intensified as two magnificent golden wings shot from her back, stretching out to a length of nearly twenty feet. Celestin than realized what he was seeing.