Disclaimer: I don't own Riddick or any of the characters from the Pitch Black universe. So don't sue me cuz I have no money, it's all for college.

18. The Things I'm Privy To

Lord Faru-tal Mitigar strode leisurely down the large unguarded hall towards the royal chambers of the queen. He let out a snort at the stupidity of the empty halls. The woman thought herself so invincible that she had no guards on the upper levels. It was a known fact that Kazira was more than capable of taking care of herself. It was no matter to him. Soon, when he had control over Helzard, he would make sure that his abode was heavily guarded and secure. No assassin would get close enough to him unless he was hiring them. His lip twitched in both anger and excitement. Utze was no longer working for him, but in a small way he was making amends. The small transmitter in his eye was evidence of that. He had seen the last message and had to laugh. A mortal.

'Goddess Govinda Almighty!!! I can't believe she would stoop so low.' He blew out a raspberry in amusement. 'Her majesty will be beside herself in rage and will no doubt speed up the wedding engagement. All will be set right. My seat on the throne of the two most powerful nations in this universe is in sight.'

Stopping in front of the large double doors, he reached for the handle only to frown when it did not turn. The queen was in there, that he had no doubt of, but how was he going to get in? He was unaware that there was any lock here. His frown deepened when a small face appeared in the door. At first it seemed only a part of the metal but as the eyes opened to reveal two small obsidian pools he knew this place was enchanted. 'Bloody Witch!' he thought.

"What is your business with the Queen Mother?" He could pick out a few voices. One of them he was positive belonged to his long dead mother.

"Let me pass demon. I have no interest in dealing with you." He pulled back his fist, threw his hand forward and howled in pain as the creature's mouth latched on and bit down. Dropping to one knee from the crippling pain he saw the smile on the creature's lips that were curled around his fist. He swore out loud as a second pair of teeth latched onto his hand, sinking into his palm.

"Release me this instant! You are attacking a member of the royal family!" He felt some of the tension loosen only for it to be amplified when a third pair of teeth snapped down and damn near severed his fingers. He could hear it laughing at him. It was times like these that he hated his mother. It was her blood that made him weak on Helzard. His powers were cut in half due to Kazira's curse. His eyes drifted from the floor up to his hand. He growled out as he watched the face of the creature contort into Kimera's. 'That Bitch! Just wait till our wedding night, and then we will see who is screaming!'

'You lied Half Breed. You are not of the royal family. The blood in your veins is cursed blood. You have no authority here. I should bite your ungrateful hand clean off and savor it, for I know you do not deserve it.'

His eyes widened in fear. "LET ME GO!"

He was unaware of the soft foot falls from the other side of the wall.

"Let him go Lamia. I have business with this… abomination." Kazira was leaning against the door with her head rest against it. She felt small hands on her face and lifted her weary eyes up. The metal face of Lamia was looking at her mistress with sad black eyes. The innocent, child-like Lamia wiped the sweat from her brow and cooed at the ill queen.

"My dear Lady, you should not be out of bed. You need your rest."

"I am alright my child. I must attend to business. As long as I still breathe, my work is not complete."

"As you wish Highness."

Lamia released Kazira's face with a sigh. The face disappeared and the snick of the door unlocking was heard. With a snarl, Lamia removed her teeth one set at a time from Mitigar's hand. 'Ingrate pup! Be warned. I have domain in this fortress and I will be watching your every move'

As Mitigar cradledhis slowly healing hand, the face melted back into the wall. Lapping the remaining blood from his hand, he moved towards the door again and cautiously turned the handle. A smirk crossed his lips as the door finally opened.

Slowly, so as not to anger the spirit he knew was in his presence, he entered the chambers then turned around to close the door shut. He stepped back and frowned as the door automatically locked. The small image of Lamia shimmered for an instant upon the knob before disappearing again. This entire planet reeked of enchantment. Straitening out his shirt and running his now sweaty palms on his slacks, he turned towards the open veranda. There in all her still unflinching beauty, stood The Queen Mother, Kazira.

Kazira had made her way to the veranda. She needed air. She barely used her body anymore and depended solely on Lamia to provide her with a daily nourishment of blood that kept her sane. Standing with her back to the door, she braced all her weight onto her arms and hands that gripped painfully at the rail. She hated feeling weak. Most of all the fact that she couldn't protect her children brought a pang to her old heart. 'My darling girls… I pray that I have not failed you.' Her silent request ended on a choked sob. All her hard work over this lifetime was being literally fucked up by a spoiled brat.

Her lips curled back as she snarled. The bastard child! The shit didn't even know what he was fully capable of and all he wanted was a chance to bed her daughter. Numerous refusals, punishments, even death would not stray him. "The things I'd do to you boy if it were not for the treaty that I signed in my own blood."

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Faru-tal stiffened at the door. He had been standing there for a few moments while he observed the Queen from a distance. He had entered so silently it was as if he were carried by the wind. Her voice startled him and made it known that her sixth sense was aware of everyone and everything around them. 'Thank Govinda that there was a treaty in effect between the two planets,' he thought or he would have never made it to this room in one piece.

"Indeed highness, but then, if I die, so do your daughters and your lineage with them."

Her hand had gone white from squeezing the railing and there was a small crack underneath where her nails had pierced the strong marble. Anger was far beyond what she felt. She had the strong urge to change form and leap off the ledge to fly away.

'To my children who need me. To my love who left me. To my death that awaits me. To the rebirth that is due to me in the end.'

But she could not do any of theses things, not while she was literally at the mercy of a cowardice pig such as the fledgling standing on the other side of her room. She was stuck between the change. Her face was contorted into sharp, angry curves. Her eyes were black with only a prick of red at the center. Mitigar's tainted blood called out to her for a taste. Oh how she would have loved to end his life with just a thought, for she knew she was capable of such things. Fangs that had not tasted flesh in years grew longer from the bloodlust and hatred.

Images of a tortured and sacrificed Kimera made her face drop into one of sorrow. If she did not follow through, not only would her girls suffer, but her people would feel it as well. This man could not lead them and would not. She had to let things play out; let her plan take root before unveiling the truth. She decided that a little show would give her the edge she would need to keep the pup in place. Letting the little bit of mortality that was left in her slip away, she let the form of the demon that resided inside of her take point on her face. Her brown skin turned black and deep indented crevices lined her face. Her fangs turned black along with her hair that was accustomed to the red that she preferred. After she was positive that her appearance would have the effect that she wanted, she turned around to face her blackmailer.

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It irked him how a creature such as she, could be so beautiful, yet deadly in everyway. The outfit she wore was more modest than her usual attire. 'She is dressed like a priestess instead of a queen. How sweet.'

"Do not judge me by how I dress, pup. I have my reasons, as do you." She had not turned fully towards him yet, but the side of her face could be seen. She was glad he could not see the true fury etched across her face. She was not in the mood for childish antics.

He paled instantly. He had never been allowed to see the true face of the Queen. Now was one of the moments that he would have hoped not be gifted with such a thing. She was… atrocious. Her aura screamed darkness even with the large, open mouthed grin she gave him. He couldn't count all the sharp teeth that were gleaming back at him as if laughing right in his face. She had her hands clasped in front of her resting over the long hilt of the blade that was always on her person. Her hands were thin and rattled with red symbols that seemed to dance across her pitch black skin. He could decipher only a few of the words before they scattered or disappeared from sight.

'Devourer of Light'

'Harbinger of Death'

'Queen of the Damned'

Just as quickly were the red symbols gone did new ones surface. These ones were blue and white in color. They spoke of complete opposites and confused the Young Lord to no end.

'Savior of the Innocent'

'Protector of the Weak'

'Mother of the First'

She was upon him in an instant. Her robes were still swaying from the speed of her movement. He was pinned to the door and raised off the floor by the strong hand wrapped securely around his throat. She wasn't looking at him as her head was down towards the floor. Trying to move his head, he stopped as she applied more pressure. "I could kill you right here and blame it on the Ravens and no one would argue it because they hate you, they all do, including your people.

She lifted her head slowly, staring him down with her obsidian eyes that were void of emotion. "You call them your people, but they are mine. I spawned them, nurtured them and gave them the will to survive and prosper. Your anger towards our race is stemmed from the wrong doings of a child that went astray, your father."

Faru-tal flinched away at her words but was met with cold metal at his back. "SHUT THE FUCK UP! Father did nothing but love me, while mother still haunts me. I'm glad the bitch died bringing me into a world she could never have."

The slap that followed was a small warning for him to watch what he said. "Do not speak so badly of the dead, for they can defend themselves in this place." At her words a fluttering of light voices echoed through the chambers.

"Demon woman, you cursed her. It matters not anyhow. All I strive for is a strong heir to my throne. Your youngest, Kimera looks prime for child bearing." There was a sick smile on his face that mirrored that of his late father's.

"Why do you try my patience boy? You want what is mine and yet you insult me in my own house!? Such insolence you have in you pup. I see you are more your father's son than anything. It lightens my heart to know I saved Rayh-tal the sorrow of seeing you grown."

She stepped back and released him, letting his body slump to the floor as he caught his breath.

"Speak of what was so important that disturbing my meditation was necessary."

"Of course Highness." She smiled at the venom in his words. Good, he was angry.

"I have word that your eldest resides on Jopah 5 and that Kimera is …"

"I know."

"What? But, how my lady? This news was just received from one of my sources who happens to be in close proximity to your daughters."

She eyed him warily. "Alimatia does not keep secrets from me. She told me where she was as soon as she had landed. As for Kimera, well she is something different all together. No matter. You have said what you came here to say, correct?"

"Uh, I…" He stuttered as she arched a brow at him and waited for his response.

"Yes, I think you have. Leaving the planet would be in your favor young one. My Ravens will be returning in the hour and seeing you here might peak their interest on breaking their blood fasting. Don't you agree?" she walked towards him and started him down.

His eyes flashed and his body went slack. His face now blank of any emotion he answered in a robotic voice. "Yes, Highness. I shall leave for Demura as soon as I leave."

"And what else will you do my pup?" She stroked his cheek and tilted his head down to her own as her obsidian eyes flickered to a pale yellow.

"I will… I…"

"Yes, continue."

"I will seek out my future bride."

"What!? You will do no such thing. You come within 100 yards of my children and I will kill you in a way your simple mind could never imagine. Do you understand me? DO YOU!?" She shook him hard to get her point across.

"I understand."

"Good. Now leave before I change my mind. Also, from now on, your so called source, this Utze, he will be reporting to me from now on, so forget about him."

"Yes."

The queen did not give him a second glance as he moved towards the large doors on his way out. The loud slam of the door closing signaled that the show was over. She slumped to the floor in an exhausted heap as she gulped in large amounts of air. Her hands shook and her head swam. The room was loud and monstrous things echoed their thoughts to her. Forcing herself to stand, she looked towards her veranda and smiled. Lifting up her skirts she ran. Her human skin was flaking and falling to the floor as she picked up speed. When she reached the rail, she hopped up and pushed off with her other as she spread her arms out while she began to plummet to the ground below her.