Chapter 39 The Birth of a Queen #3
Though my old self fully exists when his power does not consume me, I do what feels entirely wrong and let her fade away.
That woman cannot be here. This is not the time to fight.
For now, I must survive. I tell myself anything I can to push the old me away, to bury her down so deep until I cannot feel her at all.
The celestials did not want me. My realm abandoned me.
At least here, I am wanted. I tell myself anything to survive.
I take a deep breath and step through the portal, groups of demons stopping and lowering themselves to the ground, bowing their heads against the cracked, dry earth.
Here, I will be a queen, and I suppose for now that is better than dead.
Erebus enters the realm and closes the portal behind him.
With only black flames flickering from torches lining the path up to the throne, he is even more frightening.
His power not only creates the darkness but controls it in his surroundings, too.
The shadows part as he steps forward with only a slight twitch of his finger.
What little light exists from the flames of the pit and torches focuses only on lighting the way for the two of us.
I follow him up the stone steps and come to a stop beside him as he gazes down at the velvety chair and the spiked, obsidian adorned crown sitting on a cloth beside it.
He waves me forward and I do not hesitate.
I sit, crossing my legs and holding my head high, eyes burning into the demons gathered below us, commanding their attention and submission.
If he wants me to play the part of the villainous queen, then I shall.
“You are no longer the celestial called Nyx, but a queen to be feared by all. You can hide no thought from me so do not waste your time plotting. I know you do not want this. I can feel the hatred seeping out of you.” He picks up the crown, running his fingers along the glistening obsidian stones.
“I am only doing what is necessary to save your mother. You will forgive me one day. She did not deserve what happened to her. Neither did I.” Placing the crown upon my head, he smiles and then brushes the backs of his fingers across my cheeks.
“Your mother and I are not the villains, here. Everyone you believed to be innocent and pure; they are the true villains. You shall be free to do whatever you please once I have my fated mate back in my arms. I only hope you choose her and I over the monsters who hide in plain sight, pretending to be the heroes.” His crimson eyes swirl and I feel myself fading into oblivion, my ability to think and speak for myself slowly slipping away.
“What will we do to your parents and Kairos? To the celestials?” I force out, grinding my teeth and fighting against the dark power, because I need to know how far gone my soul will be after it is all said and done.
“Your soul is too pure, dear daughter.” His head tilts, eyes shifting from gold to bright crimson.
“I truly hope one day you will forgive me. After all I have been through, there is nothing pure or good within me. All life in this world, save for yours, Melinoё’s and mine are meaningless to me.
I will take all they find beautiful and let it rot.
Every precious thing they hold dear—I will drain the life away slowly until it is nothing.
They will endlessly suffer until they beg for death to take them.
Their realms will crumble to the ground after I am through, and it will be exactly what they deserve, and nothing less.
” His gaze shifts away from me and focuses on two rings he pulls out of his pocket, his shadows whispering to life and swirling around us.
“Destroying my brother, taking everything away from the traitorous bastard, that will be my favorite part of all.” He smiles, lifting the rings toward the light of the torches before gently sliding them back into his pocket.
I stand, shaking my head as the realization slams into me that having my wings burned with holy fire was not my true punishment.
This is. “It cannot just be us who exists. Light must exist. Mortals, witches, and celestials must exist. The balance of light and darkness cannot be broken or else we all fall.”
He laughs, tipping his head back and spreading his wings wide.
“Look around, my queen.” He bows his head slightly, waving a hand out to the realm for emphasis.
“I have fallen long ago. Your realm let you fall. We cannot get much lower than this.” He turns his back to me, one foot on the top stair, hesitating there.
“Light has existed for long enough. Let them all fade into oblivion as they deserve to. It is time for shadows and darkness to reign. You are the Goddess of the Night. You were born to live amongst only darkness. You will thrive in it.”
He makes his way down the stairs, the demons growling and snarling and running to his side like little children thrilled to have their father’s attention.
As I follow after him, the scent of decay and death and emptiness seeps into my soul, numbness slipping in stealthily and clamping down tight, refusing to let me fight it any longer.
My thoughts are not my own. I feel nothing.
All that exists now is him. The only thing that matters is making those who have wronged us pay dearly.
My father smiles and I smile back, suddenly knowing this is where I have always belonged.
After all, I was born of darkness. In the end, into darkness I shall return…
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