Hey peps! Here I am with a brand new chapter for you guys to read and hopefully enjoy. Also, I am going to start making longer chapters, I hope you guys like that little information. That's all, have a great read everyone, until next time, bye.

A Shattered Life

Chapter 34: Void of Darkness

Twelve strong, round towers surround the castle, they reach twice the height of the walls and are connected by lower, thick walls made of dark stone. Stylish windows are scattered generously around the mighty walls in fairly symmetrical patterns, along with same-sized holes for heavy artillery and archers to take place in case of an attack. But no army has entered in these forsaken lands in a long time and those who have never returned because no one defies the Goddess without suffering the ultimate punishment, death.

The people that live in this marvelous stronghold are among the worst in Remnant, murderers, rapists, thieves and many others, they are all free to stay as long they obey without thinking twice and fight for their new Queen to the death. Salem wants all of her servants to be loyal, so she offers them riches and carnal pleasures to keep them happy and to raise morale. But lately things at the castle haven't been good for everyone, specially since the word got out that her agent failed the last mission. "I am surrounded by a group of incompetent souls!" Salem's anger was growing by the second as she was walking through the hallway.

"All that incompetent man had to do was capture a boy and a girl, yet he failed me miserably!" Several guards she walked past were trembling with fear and some of them even dropped their weapons to the floor as they couldn't stop themselves from shaking in pure terror. "Not just that, but he also tried to kill the Silver Eyes when I specifically said that I wanted her to be brought to me alive!" She was completely furious that her agent had disobeyed her orders.

Salem quickly made her way to the black gate that led to the throne hall. The two guards there kneeled when they saw the beautiful Queen approaching their position. "Raise yourselves and open this gate immediately, I don't have time to waist." She ordered. With incredible speed the guards placed their hands on the large metal gate and pushed forward, opening it. "Finally." Salem entered the hall.

Huge braziers encompassing each of the ten onyx columns light up the lower level of the throne hall and bathe it in an orange glow, which Salem enjoyed very much. The intricate golden patterns on the curved ceiling dance in the flickering light while statues look down upon the porcelain floor of this magnificent hall. A purple rug runs in a circle around the room, with two paths at the throne and the main entrance while ribbon banners with embellished borders swing gently from the walls.

Between each banner sits a small alter full of candles, none but a few have been lit and in turn illuminate several tapestries below them. Modest windows are bordered by draperies colored the same purple as the rug. The curtains have been adorned with fancy tassels and jewels. A striking throne of carved rock sits beneath a fairly plain canopy and is adjoined by one similar, but undecorated seat for her son. The throne is covered in complicated marks and fixed on each of the stubby legs is a gem encrusted flower head. The light pillows are a dark red and these too have been adorned with emblazoned edges.

Near the perfect throne was Hydrox and he knew what was coming to him. When Salem's eyes fixed upon him, the masked warrior felt shills streaming down his spine. "My Goddess!" He fell to his knees, shame was spread across his face. "I beg for your forgiveness, I know I have failed you but I can still be useful to you." He said with a trembling tone. "The parasite I created was successful in destroying Gwain and infecting it's people. Now, we have a brand new weapon in our arsenal that no kingdom can match."

Salem kicked him to the side with some force. "We might have that, but you still weren't able to accomplish the importante mission I gave you." She replied with a cold tone that could freeze someone's heart in an instant. "The Silver Eyes isn't here and neither is my precious son." Salem was disappointed with her agent. "I told you what would happen if you came back without them didn't I?" Her eyes burned red.

Suddenly, the voice of a man was heard and it came from behind Salem. "My Queen, forgive me for interrupting but I believe it's time you revealed yourself to the boy and tell him everything." This man was none other than Arthur Watts himself. He has short black and grey hair, he also has a mustache and green eyes. The Doctor wears a grey overcoat with yellow linings, a yellow dress shirt and a black necktie. His pants are the same color as his overcoat. His yellow-buttoned undercoat and fingerless gloves match his cordovan shoes, under which are yellow socks. "Sending more soldiers after him and his girlfriend won't do any good."

"What?!" Hydrox doesn't support the idea. "Our Goddess can't risk herself by travelling to Vale! That disgusting Headmaster has spies everywhere, it wouldn't take long for him to prepare an ambush." He said with a serious tone, then he turned back to his leader. "It's not that I doubt your powers my Mistress, I know very well what you are capable of, but Ozpin does have an artifact of the Maidens in his possession if not two. Not to mention that annoying Silver Eyes is on his side."

"Silence!" Shouted Salem, causing Hydrox to put some distance between them. "I have thought about that but I still haven't discovered who Aiden placed in charge of executing my son if he ever knew who he really was or if I tried to contact him." That part concerned her deeply. "But it's worth the risk, for far too long I have been apart from my child, its time I bring him back to where he rightfully belongs." A smile spread across her lips with just the mere thought of seeing her son with her own eyes.

"It's your decision my Queen, but I still object."

Arthur chuckled. "For a scientist you can sometimes be an idiot." When those words came out, Hydrox turned his attention towards him and it was clear the masked man wanted to show this so called 'Doctor' his place. "Salem doesn't need to travel to Beacon, she possess an enormous power that we can't possibly understand. Communicating with the boy is a walk in the park for her majesty." He showed great admiration for the Goddess.

"Indeed." Said Salem. "My child and I share a deep bond, all I have to do is tap into that bond and communicate with him."

"What if he doesn't believe you?" Asked Hydrox. "When me and Cinder were in Gwain wreaking havoc, she revealed to him that his father made a deal with you, but he refused to believe in her words, otherwise he would have went to Ozpin in search for answers."

"Maybe, or..." She turned around. "He knows that she might be right, and he is afraid of that." Salem slowly approached the undecorated seat that's adjoined to her throne. "Caedos has no idea what type of person his father really was. All those battles that he fought and won were arranged by me, Aiden was never a great warrior, he only gained those victories because of our little arrangement." She explained. "He was no hero, he was nothing but a fraud, but I saw an amazing potential in his bloodline."

Arthur agreed with his Mistress. "Casterwill's with purple eyes are the only warriors that can actually match the Silver Eyes in combat. Their Semblance is extraordinary but if it's used too many times their bodies will pay the price." He said. "Most of them become blind and in some rare cases they die."

"That part isn't a problem to me." Replied Hydrox. "Unlike you, I'm not afraid to go further when it comes to experiments Arthur." He stared directly at the Doctor like he was challenging him. "With the changes I have made to my body, I can use my Semblance for long periods of time without suffering any type of physical pain." Hydrox was proud of his achievement.

"I do hope that comes around eventually."

Hydrox's hand reached the hilt of his blade. "We can take this outside if you want."

"Now, now, there won't be any fights among my people." Said Salem. "Doctor Watts, I need you to go meet with Hades and her Inferno Legion in Haven. It seems your unique talents are needed in order to advance our goal there."

"I'll go right away, my Queen." He bowed his head.

"And you Hydrox, you are free to go but don't think I have forgotten what you did." She looked at him with a cold gaze. "I will decide what type of punishment you will take in a few hours, so don't go far."

The masked man bowed. "Understood." With that said, he left the throne hall quite angry at how things went. "Dammit! This wasn't supposed to happen, and that bastard Watts didn't make things easier. I swear, someday I will wipe that smug smile of his with my blade." He then turned left and went through a door that was guarded by two soldiers, they were wearing a black armor with a few red markings spread across their chest-plate. These men belong to Salem's special unit, the Horus Guard. They were genetically modified by Hydrox and they are the strongest unit under the Queen's command.

After a couple of minutes, Hydrox finally reached his laboratory. The lab was brightly lit, with a gleaming stainless steel table running nearly the length of the room. White cabinets line the walls, punctuated by floor-to-ceiling glass cases that display a combination of equipment. A fume hood lurks in one corner of the room. The table has two sinks and gas hook ups at the center. "It's nice to be back home." He smiled behind the mask, then he moved to another section of the room.

"My precious." Hydrox approached a glass cage, what was inside was unknown because everything was dark. "Hello my pretty, how have you been lately?" He placed his hand on the glass, but nothing came to him. "I know you are angry because you are inside this awful cage but it's for your own safety. The others wouldn't understand how magnificent you are."

Two orange irises flared up inside the glass cage. "What you did to the people of Gwain was astonishing, those infected will be great test subjects for me, if the disease doesn't kill them first that is." He said. "Now, I have a feeling you are hungry, but don't worry I will feed you soon. I even have a special treat for you, unfortunately it might take awhile to arrive, I still have to find her body first." Hydrox stared directly at the creature's orange eyes. "I bet Summer Rose's body will taste good, even if it has been a few years, it doesn't matter really. After you are done with her, I will conduct my experiment and hopefully it will work."

"Hahaha!" Hydrox laughed. "That Red whore has no idea what I have planned for her. The next time we meet it will be the last."