Chapter 28

Eerie purple eyes glowed in the deep cavern of her damp, dim ruined layer, mist rising around her in a shimmering dance of amythest bleeding into the deep darkness. Her wounds, remnants of her battle with the Red lion slowly transformed from wet patches to red, softly heeled skin. Younger skin. Outside of her control, her beloved cat clawed at her folded thigh, hissing vehemently for her attention. But it's owner was deep in the tunnel of time, forced to remain dead still, to relieve the past that had brought her to that point.

'You are as magnificent as always, my love.' His lips traced the back of her neck after having made their journey allow her damp spine. Moaning, she allowed him to kiss the side of her neck, her most sensitive spot. He knew how to please a woman. That much was certain. As they lay on rumpled sheets with the warm glow of the dying candles as their silent witnesses, they basked in the afterglow of their love. His pale skin contrasted sharply with her deep blue hue, a shock to anyone who had never met a drule. Sighing, she allowed him to turn her naked body to face his, catching his mischievous azure blue eyes before he captured her lips.

It had become a habit of his to sneak off from his duties to the Arusian people. He considered himself a good king; they considered him a fair king. He had faithfully served the court from his youth, the epitome of dignity on the court. As expected of Alaric Raimon, he had served his people well. But they dared to deprive him of one desire in his selfless heart: Zahra. She had arrived to their kingdom in chains as one of the prisoners of the drule. Her brown, tattered, filthy brown dress barely covered her slim body with it's endowments. In her filth and her matted dark hair, rare for the drule, it was undeniable: she was exquisitely beautiful.

"If you keep staring at her that way, one might think that you may actually want her for yourself." Martin, his aide and best friend commented as he watched the drule slaves file in front of the soldiers with bolt cutters. Arusians were peaceful and slavery was a travesty in their society. A person was free and deserved to be protected. In many homes, the horrific stories of drule cruelty were whispered, but that day in their small capital, many of their people had first encountered the foreigners. But none had come as beautiful as this woman. When she reached the front of the line, the young soldier had to be nudged by his counterpart to cut off her chains. They fell off her skim wrists and onto the dirt, leaving bruised broken skin beneath. Alaric walked confidently and held her hands gently. "You're safe now." Timidly, she nodded before pulling her hands away, much to his disappointment. But his breath caught as he met a fearful dark eyes. His gaze did not leave her as she walked away with the other women to the nurses in waiting, his heart racing.

In months, they had saved countless drule and human slaves. As successful as their rescues had been, communicating with them outside of basic needs and through pointing was all Martin could manage. The council was extremely stressed with their lack of progress at assimilation with the foreigners and tensions were increasing. Unfortunately, one night on a festival street, a fight broke out between a drunk Arusian man and a young drule teen. One of the fierce blows landed on Zahra's cheek, but this did not deter her small frame from standing up to the taller drule teen. With hisses and a glare, the bow backed down, bowing. Zahra turned to the man and apologized in decent Arusian. Shocked, the man stared at her, surprised as everyone was.

"You understand us?" the drunk pointed, sheking his head of the fuzziness. A crowd had gathered around them, trying to stop the fighting.

"A little. We are sorry. We will go back and not cause any trouble." Zahra turned the teen around forcefully, matching him along the street and talking to him quietly.

"Wait!" Martin shouted, running after them. The two stopped as the crowd dispersed. "Where did you learn our language? You said it was a little that you understand, but your sentences are concise."

Zahra bit her lip and nervously wrung her fingers in front of her. The abnoxious teen nudged her again as if irritated by the delay.

"Your language sounds like Greek, an ancient Earth language."

" You know ancient Earth languages? From where?" Martin asked, both surprised and suspicious of the young woman. It was rare for drules to read. Surprising even. That is why the Arusians and other civilizations were having a difficult time communicating. What are the odds, he thought.

" My mother was a scribe and doctor for the emperor. She often taught me to read as I was intended to inherit her role after her. She was accused of treason and killed. And I was thrown into the slave pits." Tears flower down her cheeks as she recounted the pain. The teen seemed offended by her reaction and therefore folded his large arms in aggravation.

"She is rare indeed, Martin." Alaric chimed in, having caught up to his friend. He had been searching for him and had seen the fight.

"I am Alaric Raimon, king of the Arusian people. This is my aide, Martin. Why don't you join us so we can get to know each other." The king saw the young beauty hesitate, but he couldn't do lore than try to talk to her.

"I don't think it's appropriate to do so here. It is a festival, sire. Let them enjoy themselves for the first time since they came." Martin pointed out, his annoyance at his friend's philandering obvious. He caught Alaric's eye with a warning, but the king would not back down. A new gentle voice broke through the stalemate.

"Are you boys fighting again? Isn't this the fourth time today?" A beautiful woman placed her hand gently on Alaric's shoulder. "My queen. If Martin doesn't argue with me at every point, would that not end the world? I just want to invite these young people to join us for the evening, but he refused."

Zahra looked at the woman from beneath her lashes, noticing how beautiful and confident she was. One word that could be used to describe her was light. She was light. Her peaceful nature was infectious and those around her gravitated toward her. As for her? She would consume that light. Beside her, she noticed her partner's attention latch onto the newcomer with keen interest.

"Please come. I insist." Alaric stated with finality, leaving his wife and friend and going behind the two young drules before he placed his arms around their shoulders and walking them through the crowd.

"Names?"

"I am Zahra. This is my brother, Zarkon."

Martin and queen Talia could do nothing more than watch as the three walked away through the brightly lit streets with people smiling and gasping at the sight of their king. Martin noticed how Alaric's had slightly lowered from Zahra's shoulder and onto her back. Sadly, he wasn't the only one who noticed it. Queen Talia clenched her beautifully embroidered jade mask that her husband had won for her at a competition booth just minutes ago, much to the enjoyment of their people. They were considered the most graceful and blessed pair on their world. If only that facade were reality. She had caught Alaric between the thighs of their son's nanny while their little prince played in the wash basin in the bathroom. That had been a month ago. The year before he had been having strategy meeting late into the night with her father, who insisted that he stay at the castle e since it his departure times would be late. One night, restless from night sweats and four months pregnant, she decided to search for her husband. She found him. In his study with her older, widowed sister. In pain, she'd gone and knocked on her father's room, begging him to confront her husband and demand that he answer for this insult. The result? He laughed at her and told her blankly, " Girl, get those ideas of happily ever after out of your head! You married a man! Not a fairytale. It's normal for him to have one or two mistresses. So what if it's Elaine? She's widowed. She yearns for a man. That way, if you give birth to a girl, we still have insurance with her own baby. We still remain inlaws of the royal family. Don't make a scandal of this. I refuse to be a fool now that I'm head of the council."Her father dragged her to her bedroom and slammed the door after her. All she could do was bite her first as she tried to swallow her sobs, curled up on the cold tile floor, her world shattered. By morning, she had realized that those unplanned visits to the village to support the booming artists was another rendezvous with the singer who graced palace events now and then. The maids who stiffened everytime they saw her...how long had she been in the dark?

"Will it ever end, Martin?" Talia asked sadly, wiping a stray tear away.

Martin said nothing. He pitied their queen. He respected his friend. But he hated him at times

...

"How much longer must I endure as your 'brother' before you kill of that swine, mother?" Zarkon lashed out as he slammed the heavy doors of their quarters. Enchanted by Zahra, no one could here what was spoken between mother and son, even I'd the door was slightly ajar.

"Mother? Don't forget your place,Zarkon. Walls do have ears. Stop using that title even when we are alone. Otherwise, all will be in vain." Zahra sauntered her way to her soft padded couch that gave her a majestic view of Arus' s kingdom. This kingdom was hers to dominate, it's king under her thumb. Gazing at the exquisite floor to ceiling length mirror her lover had given her, she marvelled at the smoothness of her skin, the tauntness of her young breasts and the thck, glossy hair that was her crown and glory. Alaric had pledged to give her gold and silks at every juncture they met. And har he delivered. Gowns of burgundy, gold, crimson and all shades under the sun graced her residence. Only the most beautiful and finest glass, goblets, furniture, food and jewelry made its way past her doors. She was a queen by every right. She had the love and power of one. Within two years, she had establish communication channels, translators and scribes fo rthe kingdom, making an efficient network for the Arusians and foreigners to work. Her work was hailed begrudgingly by the council as necessary, and with Alaric's persuasiveness, she had agreed to be Minister of domestic affairs within Arus'. She was at the center of everyone's lips, functions and invitations. Applause welcomed her everywhere she went. Gifts piled up every week from suitors who wanted her hand in marriage. Never did she potray herself as abundantly wealthy.. Contrary to her success, when went to council and walked on the streets, her mode of dress was demure and toned down. A simple A line dress in black with long sleeves that reached her ankles and a long sleeveless jacket in black. How she loved their attention.

" I told you. We need the blood of a powerful Arusian to create a binding spell that willake you invincible to all. Including your father. These Arusians are only a small kingdom, but look how powerful their blood is." Zahra stated, carasseing a firm breasts and skin. Zarkon on the other hand scoffed in disgust at her display. He was a patient man, but his patience was wearing thin. In him was a conqueror mightier than any drule. He could feel it in his blood. He wanted to overthrow that old coot and ascend the throne of drule. But his grandmother and mother had done a lot of work on strengthening him. Innately, he was a powerful man who commanded the empire. But Zarkon knew that he could he mightier.

" Well , you don't look like an old hag at least. I don't have to gag at your appearance everytime I eat."

"Why, thank you, spawn of mine. Your appearance is stable as well. Those Arusian virgins are working wonders on your looks. Keep seducing them. Keep deflowering them. Make as many of them yours. You need at least six girls whose life force you drain at a time. Every time you sleep with those six, the spell remains active."

"You make me sound like a leech, witch. Those girls do provide for some good entertainment for a few months before they die. Although that fool Martin seems to be suspicious of their deaths."

"He can't prove anything as there's no trace of any outward injury. Just lovesick fools who are willing to die for the hero, Zarkon." She cackled, amused by all the weeping and wailing the girls' families make when they discover their daughters dead after months of leaving Zarkon.

...

"You can't show her the secret of the royal family, Alaric! Why can't you understand that it it's forbidden?" Talia yelled at her husband, weariness threatening to overtake her.

"Why can't you understand that it does not apply to me as king? I rule Arus'. I am above the law of our people! I can choose who I trust and who I cannot! You are just a wife, so shut up!" Alaric yelled back, his anger rolling over. Recently, the fights in the royal suites had become a widely heard phenomena. Their king had been losing his temper and snapping at anyone who tried to reprimand him. His blood boiled at the disrespect all these people's were showing his love. Had she not done enough to prove her worthiness as his soulmate.

"Only the people of Arusian descent are allowed in front of them, Alaric. We are their protectors and they protect us in case of danger. She is a foreigners. Even moreso, strange things have been happening ever since she appreared."

"Don't slander her in front of me, Talia. You are less than a woman than she is. How can you slander such a kind helpful women. You are a jealous, weak woman. I saw you the time I was with Elaine." Sneered Alaric as he picked up his jacket, intending to go to Zahra, his peace.

"You are not going anywhere!" Elaine desperately ran to the huge mahogany door, locked it and slipped the key in her bosom. "This has nothing to do with my sister, but you will listen to me today!"Jade eyes clashed with azure. Both of them would not budge. Alaric felt his blood boil. It was hot. Painful. Scorching hateful heat roared through him.

"We attended every funeral in the last year were the girls committed suicide, Alaric. Their deaths were not natural by any means. And all of them died within a specific period. Zarkon is using some method to kill them."

Breathing in harshly, Alaric sat down and tried to concentrate on calming himself. 'How could I have such a heinous, stupid wife?' he thought to himself.

"Now it's Zarkon. Earlier it was Zahra. Yesterday it was Throk. Your hate for drules seems apparent to all at this point, wife." Laughed Alaric. 'She hates us.' In his mind he saw Zahra crying in the hallway after a council meeting where her idea of establishing joint drule governance was shot down. Harshly. Especially by the queen.

" Yes! Call me a drule hater, call me a jealous wife. Whatever makes you happy. But you cannot call me an incompetent queen. I know my people and I listen to them. They are being attacked whilst all you can think of is your lover! From every side we've been infiltrated except one. The lions. Do not take her there. She is evil..." Talia felt the sting of the slap before she landed hard on the ground. She was too shocked to cry as Alaric looked sinisterly over her, eyes burning crimson. " Say it one more time and see if I don't spill your blood today, Talia. Petrified, Talia froze as Alaric ripped the fabric off her bosom, and snatching the key away. He shoved her violently away before he yanked the door open, slamming it against the wall. The guards in the hallway were shoved with inhumane strength, forcing them to crash against the wall.

"Your Majesty!" Martin shouted, shocked to see the state of the queen. One of the maids rushed to cover her and help her onto the chaise. Talia was shaking, trying to not fall apart completely. She was weary and in pain

"Martin, send a message to Lord Kogane. Tell him that we were too late. Alaric..." she sobbed, remembering the crimson crazed look in her husband's eyes,

"Alaric is no more."

...

The glow in the lab dissipated slowly, awakening a slumbering, sulking Coba. Confused, the feline tried to figure out how to escape the layers of fabric that was his mistress' clothes. Finally, with success, the evil cat snarled and jumped out before landing on an armchair. In front of him, his mistress stood naked in front of a full length gold mirror, admiring herself from every angle. All of the magic of the king had returned to her. And with it,power rolled off her.

"What do you think, Coba." a younger, sweeter voice asked the cat as she turned to admire her hair. Her young body could not have been older than that of a 21 one year old. Oh, how she loved it. How she loved her magic.

"Ironically, this is the same body that will end the human and Arusian races. How fitting." She smiled, waving her hand and donning her favorite black attire. Her uniform of death.

Alaric's body was deforming and reforming, his cells rejecting whatever Zahra had put in him. He heaved as he hit the barrier separating the two planes apart, revealing the hidden dimensional forest where the lions where.

"Come." His monstrous voice beckoned Zahra, demanding that she give herself to him as she had promised if he opened the dimensional barrier that protected the lions. Zarkon followed in disgust as he sidestepped a decapitated head before entering the barrier. Before he could say anything, his ribs cracked as something hit him straight in the chest. Blood poured from his mouth, feeling his lungs try to breath in more air but failing. His ribs protruded from his blue skin, standing in a bloody salute to the beast in front of him. It was huge black lion with eyes that flashed lightning and claws that had shredded in insides. The beast slept back, avoiding the punch that had dug a pit where the mighty beast once stood. More roars came from the forest and Zahra brought up her staff to defend herself against the scorching flames of the Red lion. Zarkon repeated a chant in ancient drule and a dark green light swirled around him. In front of the Lions' eyes, his broken body started to reverse it's damage. The ribs cracked back into place, his veins closing as the blood from his body reentered his veins. On the other side of the barrier, 6 girls collapsed. Their family members shrieked for their daughters to wake up as the town flames from the frighting burnt their homes to the ground. The drule, their friends, had betrayed them. Wailing was heard everywhere in the kingdom, the drule shooting villagers and dragging women away, screaming.

"Destroy these pests in the name of Emperor Magnus! Hail Emperor Magnus!" Roars of support filled the air as Arus' was levelled to the ground.

"Must you always be so hard on my grandson, Zarkon?" Haggar commented after noticing Lotor chained to the floor, his bleeding somewhat less. If he were not Zarkon's son,that injury would have killed him easily. He was half human, after all.

"I learnt from our mistake the last time. While we fought the lions, father overran the Arusians and took over my claim. Lotor thinks like him, after all." Commented Zarkon as he watched the umbra destroy the nearby mountain.

"Yes, you did feed him with ideas of greatness up until he thought like Magnus and took up his strategies as his own. Do not kill him though. He is useful."

"We have more concerns at this point. The lions will come at any moment. This time that black lion will not yield." Complained Zarkon.

"Yes. Those virgins did prove useful. We fought those beasts for three months. If the battle had stayed inside the void, we would have lost.

Haggar flew past the ice blasts by the female lion before getting knocked to the ground by a body blow from the yellow lion. Meanwhile, Zarkon was standing up after getting hit by black black lightning from the alpha lion. He could feel that his regeneration was getting slower and that Haggar's monstrosity could explode at any moment. They had underestimated their foe. These lions were too strong. For 3 months they had battled none stop, turning the forest dimension into dust. The beasts had stamina and would not back down. From where he stood, there was no fear of loss.

"Zarkon, watch out!" yelled Zahra as Alaric's body flew his way. Before he could react, the Red lion and green lion slept their way, both breathing their attacks, creating a massive flame ball their directions. The blow hit him before he could react, sending his, his mother's and Alaric's bodies flying out of the barrier into the ash treen streets of Altair. Landing with a thud in the warzone, the saw his father fighting knights in blacks and red. Human.

He drew more lifefore into him as the alpha lion landed , ready for another round. Throk had handled the business of acquiring more virgins for his revival, which sent their lifeless bodies straight to the ground. The Alpha lion let out a roar that nearly deafened him, and the other lions froze. Zarkon could not comprehend why the lions had stopped the offensive, but Haggar could. With a wicked chant, she materialized countless engraved spears in the air which pierced the lions, sending them to the ground.

"No!" screamed queen Talia who had been fighting nearby with some of the castle staff turned soldiers. They screamed horrified as they saw their king's deformed, monstrous body headed their way.

"Alaric, no!", yelled Martin as he saw his friend start to glow.

"Hurry, witch! You used up too much magic as is to protect us from that explosion."

"Absence of light is a shadow. The depths of the shadows are deep. From those depths emerge my monster. Rage, umbra!" The engravings on the spears grew hot, drawing out magic from the suffering beasts in the ground. Their painful roars drew the attention of the battling kings and as they watched, darkness emerged from the lions, morphing grotesquely into larger and larger forms. The shadows morphed into eyes, fangs, teeth and tentacles. What horrified them the most was the force of pure evil that emerged from the creatures. It was so thickand disgusting that it clogged the throat and weakened the will of the humans and Arusians nearby.

"I've won!" Zarkon yelled in victory, to leap onto the nearest creature. Then it hit him like a sledge hammer. Two arrows straight into his Achilles tendons. He fell to the ground, enraged, searching for the vile creature, ready to destroy it as he pulled out the arrows. He met queen Talia's defiant eyes, filled with anger at him

"Bitch!" Before he could get up, he felt the magic change around the umbra. Horrified, he saw his father squeeze blood from his wounded arm into the forming umbra, sealing it as his.

"No!" He screamed. Alaric exploded, sending drule ships, Zarkon, Zahra and nearby objects flying. Queen Talia fell to her knees, fearing that the end had come. She prayed that her baby would be safe. Her family was gone. Her people were almost gone. It's over, she thought.

After the blaze of the explosion,there was nothing left of king Alaric. Their enemies had been blown into different direction. What had saved them was the black lion which had expanded the void one more time, protecting the Arusians that were there.

But the damage had been done. The Arusian royal family had betrayed their protectors. They had failed their people.