Centuries ago, Benna was once a place of heat and haze. Of contagious lust and passion. For eons, the Goddess Desire ruled the Eastern region of the Meadows, a vast Arlan grassland. The fiery goddess welcomed Arlans to her enclave, to experience intense pleasure, with open arms. Worshippers traveled from all around Arla to the Scarlet Palace where she ruled from, and experienced mystifying lust. But that Benna was gone.

***

The carriage had just arrived at the gate outside of Scarlet Palace. Unlike the Grand Palace of the Isle, the Scarlet Palace had four crimson red roof domes and ornate gold pillars. And unlike the Grand Palace of the Isle, Scarlet stood on extremely high ground. Reaching the entrance door required one to march up 88 steps where two purple fruit trees stood in front of it. Hanging from these trees were Arlan plums, juicy fruits that manipulate the lust of daring devourers. And hanging above, in between these trees, was the Gold Bell.

When the carriage was approaching, Yila and Twila, twins and daykeepers of Scarlet Palace, struck the Gold Bell and alerted Benna that their Queen was here. Crowds immediately formed outside of Scarlet. These same crowds then swarmed the right side of the carriage as it stopped outside of Scarlet’s Gate.

“Your Majesty, Benna knows you’re here.” The driver said as he stopped the carriage.

Sharra closed her eyes and exhaled loudly.

“What do you want to do?” Emmar asked softly.

Sharra rubbed her head with the back of her hand.

Then without warning, she opened the left carriage door and climbed out.

The crowd noise was deafening. Some cheered her. Some heckled her.

Emmar immediately followed her.

But before opening the gate, Sharra turned to the crowd and waved at them.

“Benna! Here! Here!” She shouted.

Emmar smiled at her before doing the same. The crowd noise grew even louder.

***

Inside Scarlet Palace, the palace is split into two wings: East Wing and West Wing. Normally, the Isle monarch spends two or three months living in the East Wing at Scarlet as part of their annual service time. As the Isle monarch, it was expected for Isle rulers to split their time between the three Isle provinces: Benna, Araqu, and Thalassia.

But Sharra was not like other monarchs. Instead, for the past five years, she had mainly stayed in Thalassia, only leaving the misty province for balls in Araqu and delegation meetings. But leaving Scarlet empty was not wise. So months after her ascension, she bequeathed the palace to her cousin, the Commander Prince Kilé, and his wife, Princess Annalae. Since then, they lived in the palace with the servants and keepers chosen by Sharra.

***

“Your Majesty, we weren’t expecting you?” Yila said as they entered the Light Chamber in the East wing.

The Light Chamber was an open room with windows that stretched from the ceiling to the floor, allowing guests to view the breathtaking gardens behind the palace, gardens that once belonged to the Goddess Fer.

“I’m here for urgent matters.” Sharra responded. “Where is Princess Annalae?”

Yila and Twila quickly glanced at each other.

“Hunting.” Twila answered slowly.

Sharra slowly turned to face Twila. “Hunting? Are you serious?”

Both twins nodded.

“Interesting.” Sharra mumbled.

Beside her, Emmar was staring up at the high ceiling where beautiful artworks of the Goddess Desire were painted. Artworks that told the stories of the devouring goddess. And around these artworks, a phrase was inscribed and repeated all over.

“Desire eya uioas.” Emmar whispered. Desire the Ravager.

“Desire the Ravager.” Sharra repeated after her, as she took off her gloves. “You are definitely a ravager.”

Emmar closed her eyes and laughed before lowering her head.

“We are not alone, Your Majesty.” Emmar responded. Her cheeks were blushing.

Sharra turned her attention back to the ladies, Yila and Twila, who were just staring at them eyes wide.

“You are both familiar with Pariesa Emmar?” She asked.

The twins shook their heads.

“Emmar, meet Yila and Twila.”

The twins bowed.

Emmar laughed. “You don’t need to do that.”

The twins frowned.

“Are you not the Pariesa, Emmar?” Sharra chuckled as she made her way towards the window. “You are royalty…even if many think you are my prisoner.”

Emmar rolled her eyes playfully.

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Then suddenly, footsteps were heard. The twins stepped to the side.

“Your Majesty, we were not expecting you.” The servant said softly as she entered.

“Winnea, it’s been a long time.” Sharra beamed.

Winnea was named the Head Keeper of Scarlet Palace by Sharra on her first day as Queen.

Winnea pulled Sharra into a warm embrace and held her tightly.

“It’s been forever.” Winnea responded. “I was even planning a visit to Thalassia soon to see you.”

“Well, there’s no need now. I’m here now.”

Winnea let go of Sharra and clasped her hands together. “What brings you?”

Sharra took a deep breath. “We’re here for Kilé. When’s the last time you’ve seen him?”

The twins immediately looked down. Sharra and Emmar both noticed.

“Kilé….” Winnea started, “he hasn’t been here in days.”

Emmar quickly joined Sharra’s side.

“How many days?” Emmar asked. Winnea's eyes shot towards her.

“Four days.”

“Four…days” Emmar stuttered. “No one thought to inform the Queen that her Commander wasn’t here.”

Winnea unclasped her hands and placed them on her hips.

“Kilé…sometimes sleeps elsewhere.” She revealed.

Sharra frowned. “Elsewhere? Where is elsewhere?”

Winnea raised her eyebrows. “What do you think?”

“I thought the Prince and Princess were getting better.”

The twins standing behind Winnea snorted.

Winnea turned her head and glared at them before turning back to Sharra.

“I’m afraid not.” Winnea answered slowly.

Emmar and Sharra both looked at each other.

“Is there something wrong with the Prince? Is that why you’re here?” Winnea asked quickly.

“Its best if we wait for Princess Annalae to return.” Sharra answered.

Winnea nodded. “She'll be back in an hour.”

Sharra nodded then put her gloves back on. “Send her to the throne room when she arrives.”

Winnea bowed. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

Sharra then grabbed Emmar’s hand and dragged her in the direction of the throne room.

***

Inside the Throne Room of Desire hangs 88 tiny mirrors on red painted walls, mirrors, now covered by curtains, that reveal the desires of those who pass by.

When Sharra first opened the door, she motioned for Emmar to enter first.

“Go on.” Sharra urged.

Emmar happily entered. Sharra noticed the bounce in her steps.

“It’s exactly like I’ve seen it in the memories.” Emmar said.

“It’s basically empty.” Sharra laughed as she followed her into the room.

Emmar ignored her.

While Sharra closed the door behind her, Emmar skipped to the center of the room and did three twirls.

“Sharrrraaa…” Emmar sang. “Do you feel it?”

“Feel what?”

Emmar bit her lip. “Desire.”

Sharra’s face scrunched up. “Emmar, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Emmar skipped over to Sharra and pulled her into her arms.

“Come on, Sharra. I know you feel it.”

“Feel what?”

Emmar softly placed her right hand on top of Sharra’s head.

“The heat.” She breathed. “The pull, the wanting.”

“Emmar, I don’t feel anything.” Sharra chuckled. “Maybe, Incarnates are immune to whatever magic is in here.”

Emmar pulled her closer. “I don't believe you.”

Sharra gently pushed her away. “Go.”

“Go where?” Emmar laughed.

Sharra raised her left hand and pointed towards something behind Emmar’s head.

Emmar slowly turned around. The only thing that was behind her was the Throne of Desire, a crimson red seat of steel with tongue shaped spikes.

She turned back to Sharra who was smiling at her. “Are you serious?”

“Go.” Sharra urged. “That’s a command.”

Emmar shrugged her shoulders. “As you wish.”

Emmar quickly turned on her heels and made her way to the crimson seat.

When she finally sat, a wide smile appeared on her face. She slowly rubbed her fingertips over the rough texture of the seat.

Sharra would never admit it outloud, but she thought the two were a perfect fit. She didn’t want that smile to ever disappear.

“Is this what you have been wanting?” Sharra asked. “For you to finally sit on a throne…and me to stand.”

Emmar slowly took in her lower lip as she held eye contact with Sharra.

“I actually prefer you kneeling.” She answered slowly.

Sharra immediately laughed. “I’m not getting on this floor, Emmar.”

Emmar then stood from her seat. “Well, let me.”

***

Emmar had just finished zipping the back of Sharra’s dress when a knock on the door came.

“Enter.” Sharra yelled.

The door opened to reveal Winnea.

“Your Majesty, Princess Annalae has arrived.” She announced.

Sharra nodded. “Send her in.”

A tall woman then emerged from behind Winnea, dressed in brown pants and a cream vest.

“Sharraaaaaa.” She sang as she entered and walked towards Sharra.

She pulled Sharra into a hug and Sharra immediately stiffened.

Annalae pulled back and noticed Sharra was frowning.

“I take it, I'm still not forgiven.” She said slowly.

“Let go of me, Annalae.” Sharra mumbled.

Annalae slowly let her go.

“When will you let go of this animosity?”

Sharra rolled her eyes. “Don’t pretend like you’re not angry with me either.”

Annalae rolled her eyes then looked at Emmar. “Well we have company…so I thought we were playing nice.”

Annalae extended her hand out towards Emmar. “Emmar, it’s nice to see you again.”

Emmar slowly took her hand. “Likewise.”

When she let go, Annalae noticed she was wearing one of the signature rings of the queen. She made a mental note to come back to that. But for now, she wanted to know why the woman who banished her from Thalassia is here.

“What brings you to Scarlet?”

“It’s Kilé…..” Sharra said. “….he is dead.”