THE DEAD QUEEN
Property of:
Rapid Fire Enterprises
Created By:
David Tyrel Little
Chapter 3: The Depths of The Castle
As she continued her search, her thoughts wandered to her old life above the clouds. Her father, for all his coldness, besides her role in the Immortal project, had never put her in a position where she feared for her survival. Even when the weight of his expectations crushed her, there had been no danger, no life-or-death struggles.
But here? The ground world had been merciless. Every step forward seemed to demand blood, pain, and sacrifice. She wondered if her transformation—her rage, her power—had allowed this darkness to take root in her heart. Was this the person she was always meant to become? Or had the world below began shaping her into something unrecognizable?
Eventually, her wandering brought her to a grand spiral staircase [https://img.wattpad.com/02bd2994c1bbd6529afcf7805cbdf0b1cb857759/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4468364b634739476d42795036513d3d2d313530353935373139342e313831353435303532346634386137383830363230333037333536362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Eventually, her wandering brought her to a grand spiral staircase. The walls surrounding it were adorned with paintings and tapestries, each depicting scenes of life in the castle and the city beyond. There were images of markets bustling with people, children playing in fields, and soldiers standing tall in their shining armor. But one piece of art stopped her in her tracks.
The painting was large, its frame gilded and ornate. It portrayed the throne room in stunning detail. At the center sat the throne itself, carved from dark wood and draped in deep red fabric. Above the throne, suspended in the air, was a pyramid—its glow rendered in shades of blue and teal, just as the librarian had described.
Enixia's breath caught. This was it. The artifact was in the throne room.
Her initial relief gave way to dread. The throne room was the heart of the castle, likely bustling with guards, courtiers, and perhaps even the king himself. Sneaking in undetected would be nearly impossible. But what choice did she have? The artifact was her only lead—her only hope of finding a way back home.
As she descended the staircase, her mind turned to the humans who lived here [https://img.wattpad.com/bc2232d212c128841eebfb529fc74ca11da3e093/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f316f5f377a6a526f48354c722d413d3d2d313530353935373139342e313831353432646532373833623337353539373939383830313538392e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
As she descended the staircase, her mind turned to the humans who lived here. The Temeri had always viewed the human race as chaotic, prone to fighting and destruction. Their short lives were spent squabbling over power and land. In contrast, the Temeri had long abandoned such pursuits, focusing instead on technology and progress.
Yet, as Enixia considered the differences between their races, a darker thought crept in. Were humans lesser? Their technology was primitive, their lives fleeting. The idea flickered briefly in her mind before she crushed it. No. That's not who I am.
She reminded herself that every life had value. Dismissing humanity's worth would make her no better than the cruel world she sought to escape.
The base of the staircase opened into another hallway, its walls lined with portraits of kings and queens long past. Enixia's resolve hardened as she walked. The throne room was her next destination, and no matter the risks, she would find the artifact. Her steps grew quieter, her movements more deliberate as she prepared for what lay ahead. Whatever awaited her in the throne room, she knew one thing for certain: she would face it head-on.
Enixia descended the spiral staircase, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone walls. At its base, the staircase opened into a great hallway, grander than any she had seen so far. The high, arched ceiling was lined with chandeliers, their soft light casting a warm glow on the intricate tapestries adorning the walls. The art was similar to what she had seen before—scenes of the kingdom's life and history. Citizens in bustling markets, knights riding into battle, and rulers seated on ornate thrones. The theme was clear: power, unity, and tradition.
The hallway stretched long and wide, with polished stone floors that gleamed faintly in the torchlight. On either side, heavy wooden doors led to unknown rooms. At the far end of the hallway stood a set of grand double doors, their intricate carvings marking them as a significant entryway.
Enixia's sharp gaze fixed on those doors. They had to lead to the throne room—the place where the artifact was hidden. Her breathing steadied as she planned her approach. The corridor was quiet, but she stayed cautious, moving silently along the walls to remain unseen.
Chapter 4: To The Dungeon [https://img.wattpad.com/a30940dd8e5e0df6b43d71bf5fcdc56f8c2c1b21/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5446585453716e6a524a4b376d673d3d2d313530353935373139342e313831353435306332336636316136363939383933343237383830392e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Chapter 4: To The Dungeon
As Enixia crept along, her attention was drawn to one of the doors ajar along the hallway. A warm light spilled into the corridor, accompanied by the faint rustling of movement. She paused, her instincts sharpening. She edged closer, peeking inside.
Three servant women bustled about, cleaning the room. They wore simple dresses and aprons, their faces focused on their work as they scrubbed and dusted. Enixia's heart sank. Their presence complicated things. She couldn't risk them seeing her and alerting the guards.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
But before she could decide on her next move, one of the women glanced toward the door. Her eyes widened in shock as she spotted Enixia's cloaked figure.
"Intruder!" the woman screamed, her voice shrill and panicked.
The other two turned quickly, their faces filling with terror. They huddled together, their shouts echoing through the room. "Stay back!" one of them cried. "Don't hurt us!"
Enixia raised her hands, her voice calm but firm. "Please, I don't mean you any harm. Just stay quiet."
But the women were inconsolable. Their screams grew louder, their trembling forms pressed against the far wall. Enixia's anxiety spiked. The noise would draw guards any second. She took a step forward, trying again to reassure them.
"I'm not here to hurt you," she said, her voice tinged with urgency. "Just stop yelling!"
But they wouldn't stop. The fear in their eyes mirrored countless others she had seen before, and it twisted something inside her. The panic in their voices made her heart pound, and a dark thought took hold. She couldn't leave them like this. If they kept screaming, they would ruin everything.
Silence them.
The thought was intrusive yet insistent. Her blackened veins pulsed faintly as she considered it, her breathing uneven. Slowly, she steadied herself, resolve hardening. There was no other choice.
Her body tensed, preparing to lunge forward. But as she took her first step, heavy footsteps echoed from behind her. She froze, her head snapping around just as a group of guards appeared out of nowhere and they were closely behind her.
The guards moved quickly, their armor clanking as they approached. The leader, a burly man with a sword drawn, barked an order. "Stand down!"
Enixia turned to face them fully, her hands clenched into fists. Her mind raced, torn between fighting and fleeing. Before she could decide, one of the guards surged forward, swinging the hilt of his sword toward her head.
The blow landed with brutal force. Pain exploded in her skull, and her vision blurred. She staggered, her knees buckling beneath her as the world tilted and darkened. The last thing she heard was the muffled shouts of the guards and the terrified cries of the servants before everything went black.
Enixia awoke to the cold, damp air of the dungeon. The stone walls were rough and unyielding, dimly lit by a single flickering torch outside her cell. Her head throbbed from the blow she had taken, and she shifted, realizing with dismay that her black armor was no longer on her. Instead, it sat just beyond the bars of her cell, neatly stacked as if mocking her. She was back in the simple cloak she had worn when she arrived in the city.
Instinctively, she tried to summon her energy whips. Her back tensed, and she reached for the familiar surge of power... but nothing happened. A sinking feeling settled in her chest as she noticed the glowing magic circle etched into the floor of her cell. Its soft blue light pulsed faintly, intricate runes interwoven with symbols she couldn't decipher. Her abilities were sealed.
Humans... capable of this? she thought, both surprised and unnerved. The simplicity of their weapons and armor had always belied their ingenuity, but this—this was unexpected.
A voice interrupted her thoughts [https://img.wattpad.com/bc9f2b20656cae63327a08b4f7e69587a4e34e50/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f77487074486464686a466e4a4e513d3d2d313530353935373139342e31383135343531313865323764396166383135353438333632342e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
A voice interrupted her thoughts. "Awake, are you?"
She turned to see a guard standing just beyond the bars, his expression a mix of disdain and authority. "You're lucky we didn't cut you down on the spot, thief," he spat. "Stealing the royal armor? What were you thinking?"
Enixia raised her hands in a calming gesture. "I apologize. I'm unfamiliar with your customs and this land. I meant no harm."
The guard sneered, stepping closer. "Save it for the king. Your lies won't get you out of this. You'll face judgment soon enough."
Before she could respond, the guard spat on the floor in front of her cell and walked away, muttering curses under his breath. The sound of his boots on the stone floor echoed as he disappeared down the hallway, leaving Enixia alone once more.
Enixia examined the cell—the bars, the walls, the circle. She tested the bars, gripping them with her enhanced strength, but they didn't budge. The iron was thick, unyielding even to her heightened power and strength. She sank to the floor, her back against the cold stone wall, and let out a slow breath.
Her mind drifted to the events that had brought her here. If she had used her powers—touched those servants, silenced them—she wouldn't be in this situation. The whispers in her heart, the darkness she had worked so hard to suppress, coiled around her thoughts.
Mercy was your downfall, it whispered. You had the power to stop them. You chose weakness instead.
She clenched her fists, shaking her head to banish the thought. No. I made the right choice. I'm not like that. I won't be like that.
Her resolve remained, but the weight of her predicament gnawed at her. If she could just escape and retrieve the key, her Dema could come to her aid and hold off the guards while she fled. But for now, she was powerless, trapped by the humans' magic. She would have to wait.
The sound of footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. She stood as the guard returned, this time accompanied by two figures in red cloaks. Their hoods obscured their faces, but the air around them hummed with power. Enixia tensed as they stopped outside her cell.
One of the cloaked figures raised a hand, and three glowing blue circles appeared in the air around her. The rings descended and locked into place, one at her shoulders, one at her waist, and one at her knees. She tried to move, but her arms were pinned against her sides, and her legs were stiffly held in place.
The guard unlocked the cell door, stepping inside and grabbing her arm roughly. "Let's go," he said, his tone gruff. Enixia complied, knowing resistance was futile. The two cloaked figures followed closely, their hands raised as they maintained the spell binding her.
As they led her through the castle's hallways, Enixia noticed the stares of the people they passed [https://img.wattpad.com/471b31b433d9b0e723b742ce2ae3e3c91292c5ee/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f2d59307849574e784d576a7139773d3d2d313530353935373139342e313831353435313636386239353364363733353530303437303737362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
As they led her through the castle's hallways, Enixia noticed the stares of the people they passed. Servants and nobles alike stopped in their tracks, their eyes wide with shock and curiosity. Whispers followed her.
"What is she?"
"Is that a Dema?"
The murmurs grated on her nerves. A Dema? Really? she thought, mildly annoyed but unwilling to draw attention by correcting them. She kept her head down, her hood still concealing most of her face, and focused on the path ahead.
The hallways grew grander as they walked, the stone walls giving way to ornate carvings and golden accents. Finally, they stopped before a pair of massive, beautifully carved doors. Enixia's heart quickened.
The throne room? she wondered. If the artifact was here, her plans might still have a chance. But for now, she would have to face whatever judgment awaited her behind those doors.
The grand doors creaked open, revealing a magnificent throne room bathed in golden light. The black carpet stretched from the entryway, running down the center of the room, leading to a series of steps that ascended to an ornate throne. The throne itself was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, carved from dark wood and adorned with intricate designs. Seated in the chair was a man who could only be the king.
He had a commanding presence, with sharp brown eyes that scanned the room with authority. His black hair framed a face hardened by years of rule. His garb was regal, encrusted with jewels that caught the light, and a bright golden crown sat atop his head, gleaming in stark contrast to his dark attire. On either side of the throne were two smaller chairs, occupied by women dressed in pure white garbs. Their hoods concealed most of their faces as they bowed their heads in silent reverence.
The room was lined with nobles and soldiers on either side of the carpet, their eyes fixed on Enixia as she was forced forward. Her heart pounded as the guards brought her to her knees at the base of the steps. The glowing magic circles still encased her shoulders, waist, and knees, preventing any movement or use of her powers. She glanced up, her gaze darting to the two women by the throne, but they remained unmoving.
The guards and the red-cloaked figures stepped back, joining the others who looked down at her with expressions of disdain and fear. Enixia's breathing quickened. She tried to summon her Dema, but the magic held her abilities in check. Her fear grew as she realized she was entirely at their mercy.
image [https://img.wattpad.com/e9b78763dd0ffe87e53ba3bc2cb258056c4653da/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4e5f4172435162765148414a6a673d3d2d313530353935373139342e313831353435316165626135303739613138333531313933363539352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]