"From even the greatest of horrors, irony is seldom absent." - The Shunned House, H.P. Lovecraft.

Part 1

Prologue

Serenity flew down the castle stairs, crashing into the walls as she went. Her father was set to be executed first thing in the morning, and she had to do something. She was close to Addison Brenner, who was Captain of the Daggerfall Guard and served as an unofficial bodyguard to the royal family. At this time of the night, he was normally liaising with the court wizard in the castle dungeons. Serenity knew this because they'd often meet down there when he was done to have a liaison of their own.

Addison owed her big time, and she knew that if anyone could save her father, it was him. As she approached the court wizard's office, she could hear voices coming from nearby. Serenity held her breath and crept closer to a large wooden door that was slightly ajar. Behind it, she saw four figures standing around someone who was tied to a chair in the middle of the room. Serenity almost gasped when she saw that one of them was the Queen of Daggerfall, Luala. She was glaring at the man sitting in front of her, tears streaming down her beautiful face. Those with her were Addison, a guard, and someone else who wore a strange black and purple hooded garment.

"You… of all people, why you? It makes no sense. How could you do this? To Daggerfall, to Hammerfell? I'll see you killed, I'll—" Luala sobbed. "How can it be you? I don't, I just can't, I …"

"My queen. The evidence speaks for itself. Your son's clothes and weapons, which he was in possession of when last seen, were found in the accused's chambers," said one of the guards. Looking at him, Serenity realized he was the one who arrested her father. He stepped forward, his hands resting on his hips and an unreadable expression on his handsome face.

"Let me see him," Queen Luala said despondently.

The guard looked over at the hooded figure and gestured with his head at the man on the chair.

The figure approached the seated man and roughly removed the bag from his head. Serenity brought her hand to her mouth as she saw who it was.

The queen clasped her hands in front of her and shook her head.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Mattias?"

Serenity's father, whom she had never seen cry before this day, looked up at the queen with a tear-stained face.

"My queen… Luala... you know I'd never hurt you or your family. I-I've been framed, I—"

"I think we've heard enough of this fool's lies," the guard interjected. "The blood of Prince Qiaren is on his hands. This man must die for his crimes against the Crown."

Queen Luala cradled her head in her hands as she cried. Finally, she looked up. Putting her arms behind her back and standing tall, she looked as regal as ever.

"Normally, I would put you through a proper hearing. If found guilty, your execution would be public at the gallows for all of Daggerfall to bear witness. But I'm afraid of what that might do to both of our families. Being that my husband, the King, is away… delaying something of this magnitude would leave the gates open for all manners of events, be that escape, intrigue, or more death. There is a target on my family's back, and whether or not you speak the truth to me here today Mr. Hearthhart, this fact does not change. An attack on my family will not be tolerated, and I shall make an example of you to all those who may wish us harm. You will die here today, Mattias."

Tears rolled silently down Serenity's cheeks as she listened. She watched her father bow his head in resignation.

The guard knelt before the queen.

"My queen," he said. His face wore a sadistic expression. "My associate here is a very talented torturer. How would you like this traitor to meet his end?"

The queen stiffened.

"Make his death as quick as possible," she said. "I do not wish him to suffer, as I will have to in the coming years. Gods know, there's more than enough of that in this world. I don't want word getting to his children that he suffered by my hand. I couldn't live with myself either."

She walked towards Addison and leaned over to whisper something to him, and they had a hushed conversation.

Finally, she turned her head and spoke over her shoulder.

"Slit his throat. Make it quick. May he find his way to Aetherius, and if he did kill my son… Then may Stendarr have mercy on his wretched soul."

"Very good, my queen," said the guard as he stood up. He turned to look at the person in the hooded garment and with his thumb, he made a gesture across his neck.

Serenity looked on in horror as the cloaked man pulled her father's head back roughly and plunged a dagger deep into his neck, pulling it sickeningly slowly across his throat in a perfect line. They made it look like some kind of morbid art. All of a sudden the entire room quickly whipped their heads in her direction, seemingly in unison. Both Addison and the queen looked at her with the same expression, one that can only be described as agony. Serenity's throat felt like it was tearing apart and she realized then that she was screaming. She drew air into her lungs, and in doing so, felt the extent of the damage done to her vocal cords. She fell hands first through the door and sprawled into the room. She tried to pull herself towards her dying father and attempted to speak, but no words came. The last thing Serenity saw was her father's almost severed head before she felt cold hands around her shoulders, a dull pain, and the whole nightmarish scene faded to black.