11. Embracing it
2190 Words
Liv
“Hottie, we should talk about it before.”
“Sure, but we don’t have much time.”
“Wait. You’ll decide without pondering about it first?” It was crazy, even for an impulsive chick like me.
“Sugar, in Hell we don’t usually give it so much thought before we act, we aren’t bureaucrats, that’s why things work fast in here.”
“I see... so, what do you have in mind?”
“6th pit, but I want to be more... lenient due to their special situation, so 5th pit.”
“Seriously?” I raised a brow.
“We can decide together Sugar. What is in that sneaky kitten mind of yours?”
I laughed. How great was that he was so open to having me as his Queen, as his real Queen, not one in name only. He could teach Avalon one thing or two... hundred.
“1st pit?” It sounded more like a question. Of course, I was a bit insecure about this judgement thing, even though I was trying to put myself together and show resolution to the people. I don’t want them thinking that I’m stupid or weak.
“They both broke two very fundamental rules of Hell. Not punishing them would be opening a very dangerous precedent. They are Demons, Sweets, they don’t do things because of morality, ethics, or another kind of philosophical illusion. They do it, follow rules because they are afraid of punishment, like some humans in your movies. If I let this one slide, Hell will become a pandemonium as it was before my reign started, in my father’s last centuries of reign. I need to keep some order, to guarantee the libertinage and debauchery. They need to respect and fear my rules and authority.”
It was the first time he mentioned his parents. Wow, he had great responsibility and a hell of a job, maintaining some order in a place that seemed naturally inclined to grow/bloom chaos. And he seemed pretty good at his job.
“I understand.” I sighed. “How about the 2nd pit?” Goddess of Fergie ‘meet me halfway’! I was literally bargaining with the Devil. The Devil that happened to be my soul mate and the love of my life. Well, one of them.
“It’s not enough, Sugar.”
“Now we will resume the judgement. King Laius will state his decision.” Scarlet announced as she stood up.
That demon-lady looked so badass and gorgeous. She has very long scarlet red hair, caramel skin, and purple eyes.
Laius stood up, taking my hand and I mimicked his action.
“‘This is a very peculiar case.”
“Laius, you should believe in second chances. You had somehow yours. Why shouldn’t she have hers?” I said through the bond as I touched his arm, he turned his gaze to me and nodded.
“They are both provisionally condemned to the 4th pit of Hell, Fear, until my Queen and I issue a further decision.”
The crowd of demons gasped and muttered, they looked all very surprised.
An old Demon, that Laius told me is General Proctor hissed and the Captain demon murmured something to him.
I saw Laius tensing up and felt his rage burning through our bond. Damnit! Hell will break loose!
~ * ~
Laius
“The King shouldn’t let his s*x toy intervene in the ways of Hell.” Captain Gunner muttered to General Proctor. Those fuckers always forget about my acute hearing and sight.
I stood up suddenly, fuming. The power of my aura vibrated across the room, making the walls shake and slowly dematerialise.
“I heard it!” my voice was guttural, coming from the very blasted 6th Pit of Hell, my fangs were down, my eyes red and the smoke that escaped my body overtook the courtroom.
Silence. The Demons didn’t move. Not even breathed.
Liv got closer to me and wrapped her arms around me, looking up at my face. “My love, please. You will destroy the room and kill everyone around.” Her voice was so soft in my mind, this time she wasn’t afraid of seeing me in this form.
She embraced it, she embraced me. She went through my darkness and reached the other side, a part of my soul that darkness and death haven’t clawed into yet. And doing so, she made the darkness retract and the untouched part of my soul expanded, within her light, love, and acceptance. This thought alone brought me a sense of peace. Of her peace.
I turned to her and cupped her face, before I looked around, everyone else in the room still looked frozen, statues. The feeling of her skin under my fingers also calmed me down. But it wasn’t enough.
I took her in my arms and pressed her tightly against my body.
“Hottie, calm down. After this judgement we can relax all the way.” She had a little mischievous smile. Oh, Kitten.
I brought her soft body flushed against mine and breathed her vanilla scent in. In a couple of minutes, my fangs and wings retracted, and the smoke escaping my pores reduced considerably. It was so thick before that I couldn’t even see the rear of the Court Room.
“Does anyone else wants to defy my Queen? Has anyone wakened up with the wish to die and be sent to the 6th pit of Hell today, huh? The Hellfire needs to be fed.” I grinned at the stiff audience. They seemed as if, they were under a strong paralyse spell, even their breath could be barely heard. All murmurs were silenced, I could sense their terror rolling off of their bodies. Good, very good. They must learn to never disrespect my Sugar.
I turned my burning gaze to that mediocre general “General Proctor?”
“No, Your Majesty.” He bowed down slightly, averting his eyes from my fiery red ones.
“Laius, you can’t kill people, demons, because of that,” Liv said using our bond.
“They can’t disrespect you Sugar. I won’t tolerate that.” I wouldn’t allow anyone in this horde to make a sound against my Sugar.
She sighed through the bond.
“Fine. Scold them, smoke around... punish them if it isn’t enough for you. But don’t kill them, honey please.” She asked in my mind.
How could I deny that? Deny my fierce and sweet Sugar? That was beyond my powers.
“Alright, Sweets. We have a compromise.”
She twisted the corner of her lips in a small and sly smile.
...
Liv
“Take him to the 3rd pit, the High Hills of Irony. He didn’t respect his Queen, so his punishment shall be living for some decades with all Hell queens in a small house. With all the queens of the Human Realm that ended up in Hell.” Laius ordered the guards.
They tugged the very-screaming demon towards the ‘Pits Portal’ and literally kicked his butt making him fall into the portal’s vortex.
That’s a not totally unreasonable punishment for a misogynist, I guess. But what about these poor queens that will need to share a place with that Demon?
I think Laius caught my thought through our bond, because he answered it, “Hell is all about illusions, deceit Sugar. It will be all only in his mind, although he won’t ever be able to see it that way, for him, it would be the most concrete of the realities.” He explained.
Well well, such a lies pit is Hell.
Damages reduction is my key approach here today. It would be too naive to try to make Hell resemble a Disney musical, so I’ve settled for making bad okay, and making too bad, just bad-ish.
...
General Proctor
“She is affecting him, making him go soft. She is a threat to our way of life, to the ways of Hell.” I said.
“What are you do you aim to do? A revolution? War? If the King gets to know about it, we will be all exterminated, sent to the 6th Pit for eternity!” Enar, an elite demon answered.
“It means that we must act smart, calculating,” I answered.
Unlike most of the Demons, I am very patient and sometimes it's one of my best trumps.
I will act at the right time.
…....
Liv
On the day after the judgement, I am trying my coronation dress, as two demon ladies make the final adjustments. I’m glad it’s the last time. Cause I really don’t like to stand here as a mannequin and don’t be able to move or do anything, while they prick me with these pine needles more often than not. That’s pretty much my idea of boredom.
Medeia enters the room with a tea tray and looks around. Probably she is checking if the demon-ladies are doing it right.
My coronation will happen soon, like tomorrow soon. I’m not nervous, you are nervous!
Anyways, back to the dress. It’s a long wine-colored gown with black lace embroiled. Quite beautiful and queenly, I guess it was their goal.
“Do you want some tea, Livia?” Medeia asks as she pours some tea in a cup. Is she the Hell version of the human Queen of England to like tea that much?
“No, Medeia. Thanks.” I reply, and she sighs deeply.
“Everything is ready for your coronation, Livia,” Medeia says.
I breathe deeply. “What will they say? Will they like me?”
I don’t really care about what people think about me in general, but as a queen, I must care for my people. So, in this case, it does matter.
Medeia cackles. “Why care? Jitters? You are their Queen. You don’t need their approval. It is nothing like that Greek Tragedy: Democracy.” She cackles again. She does like to cackle.
“I do care, they are my people now.”
“Huh… you shouldn’t.” Medeia answers.
“Why? Did you hear anything?” I ask arching a brow.
Lucrecia, one of the seamstresses, coughs. She is a tall and pale demon lady. What I don’t understand, (I mean the pale part) since Hell is so hot and everyone has a tan around here, even the vamps.
“Do you know anything Lucrecia?” I ask, looking at her face.
She smiles naughtily and says, “The Demons don’t want to have a witch as their Queen.”
Medeia stares at Lucrecia with a murderous look. I look at Medeia and then back at Lucrecia.
“You can tell me, no harm will come to you because of it. You also can tell me what you know Evelyne.” I say looking at the older seamstress she-demon.
“They said you are a weakling and a shame for Hell.” Lucrecia utters with a smile.
“Not good enough, just a piece of as$ for the King,” Evelyne adds.
“The old male demons, the elite, deem you unworthy,” Lucrecia says in a saccharine voice.
“They are all wrong,” I reply, full of determination. I wouldn’t let any of these females hear the rage in my voice, nor the insecurity that was permeating my speech minutes ago.
“Those two will be grilled,” Medeia says crossing her arms in front of her chest.
“There is no need for grilling,” I reply, staring at Medeia.
Medeia huffs, “We need to feed the Hellfire” I gaze her another serious look, and Medeia only shakes her head.
Well, I’m nervous about my coronation ceremony. To be totally honest, I didn’t expect to have ruling powers that soon. Especially not as the Queen of Hell.
I know that the ceremony involves me placing my hand on the source of all Hellfire. The core of Hell’s energy. My Hottie said that it won’t hurt a true Hell Queen, a queen by birthright. But I also know that most of the Hell folks are afraid of such a powerful and unstable source of energy.
Anyways, Laius assured me more than once that I only have to do it for a brief second and I won’t be harmed or feel any pain.
* Please take a look at my new spinoff werewolf story: She is not my Luna (COMPLETED) *
- Writer
