Page 83 of Crowned A Traitor
“Klara has taken out another patrol, tracked her first coven, her abilities surpass even those of ancient Higher Demons. Her sense of duty blah blah blah.”
Mila circled her and Klara gripped the dagger, wishing she had her axe.
“I was raised in the belly of Hell, left the scraps that you hadn’t already eaten up. No matter how I pushed or bled you did it first, faster and bloodier. You were what cursed me,” Mila’s bow cut through the air and Klara ducked behind a pillar.
“Poor Mila, you think I didn’t bleed and break as much as you. Stop with the pity party and own your shit. You wanted power so bad that you took it instead of earning it.” Klara dropped her dagger and let her fist connect with Mila’s jaw, the blow splitting her lip.
Mila dropped her bow, and she didn’t pick it back up.
“A talented fighter, but you have no abilities, do you? No power? I’m guessing you are more suited to potions like your mother, maybe even mastered a few spells but how can you take my place without power,” Klara went for Mila’s ego as Abadan watched from the end of the room.
Mila’s eyes went to her bow and Klara’s blade.
“Go on. Take the cowards way out, better yet let me make it easy for you.” Klara stood a few feet away, clasping her hands behind her back. “Drive that blade through my heart, and I will still be able to rise.”
“Ignis,” Mila hurtled a ball of flames in Klara’s direction, but Klara remained still.
“Glacies,” Klara said calmly, and the flame turned to ice and shattered on the stones. “Simple tricks don’t prove you can stand in my place,” Klara dove for Mila before she reached her bow. Klara gripped her sister’s bare arms and dove into her half-sister’s mind.
Klara watched Eve give Mila a bloomed flower from Hell’s garden only for Mila’s slight touch to turn it to ash. Mentors in black cloaks beat Mila bloody for missing her target. An empty plate in front of her because she failed to pick up her spells. Mila had suffered just as Klara had, the only difference, Klara was stronger.
Lucifer’s blood gave her strength, but the Fae Queen had given her the power of revelation.
Mila dropped to her knees as Klara blinded her with her worst memories. Klara felt the raw power Mila had felt when she killed Frendall.
Klara’s hands went to Mila’s neck.
“Finish her, take your revenge for my son,” Abadan’s words distracted Klara from her blinding anger. Klara stopped, letting Mila breathe before her fist knocked Mila out cold.
“Another disappointing end. Are you going to try to kill me now?” Abadan smiled.
“She won’t, but I will.”
A voice echoed through the portrait of Forneus, the Great Marquis of Hell. The Fae Queen and a number of her armoured Fae came through the ancient portraits.The Fae are breaking the treaty. “I like what you’ve done with the place,” Queen Aemella said, winking at a stunned Klara. Her white suit had been covered with violet armour.
“The treaty forbids you from entering my lands,” Abadan said as she rose from her throne. The Castle shook violently as Abadan summoned her Crimson guard, but the doors to the throne room remained closed. The Fae Queen looked at the door in mockery, “I don’t think anyone is coming.”
Klara waited for an army to arrive, but not even the Ogres came blustering through with batons at the ready. Abadan was alone. “Aemella, you have grown brazen in your old age. Maybe you need to read over the treaty once a century.”
“Let’s not discuss the age game, Abadan,” Aemella winked not looking a day over thirty before she continued.
“The treaty forbids me from entering Lucifer’s land but since Lucifer no longer controls this land either through his presence or by proxy then are treaty is null and void.” The Fae Queen stood a head taller than Abadan, her endless limbs made her more Creature than Queen.
“Malum is mine,” Abadan said, and the Fae Queen moaned. “You share no blood with Lucifer, you were merely a Guardian until the natural Heir assumed the throne.” Queen Aemella extended an arm towards Klara, “and since you seem determined to take my daughter’s head. I see no reason why I can’t reclaim my lands.”
Abadan looked between Aemella and Klara. It was news to her that Klara wasn’t just a daughter of Hell.
“She can’t be…”
Queen Aemella held a hand in the air, silencing Abadan, “Let me tell you how easy it was to cross your lands, the Ogres have been surrounded by my Giants and have submitted. The Lycaons that weren’t burnt to ash were waiting eagerly for me when I entered. The Leprechauns, Centaurs and Vampires practically begged me to stay. Your Malum more than willingly rolled out the welcome wagon.”
Abadan spoke words to summon her council of Higher Demons, but no one came. Abadan reached out her hand, and Klara coughed as her airways closed.
“Enough,” Aemella said as vines ripped through the ground and ensnared Abadan. The harder the High Queen struggled, the tighter the vines bound her. Klara took a deep breath, remembering those loyal to her on the field. With her Father not on this plane, the crown would fall to her without her Father claiming an Heir. The King on the battlefield was only a glamour just as Abadan had glamoured Lokey.Higher Demons wouldn’t appreciate being tricked.
Mila groaned, and before she opened her black eyes, the Fae Queen snapped her fingers, and Mila vanished from the room. Klara didn’t have time to wonder where Aemella had sent her.
“Resurgemus liberals meos,” Klara said softly standing before a bound Abadan. Rise, my children. With her words, Higher Demons in all shapes and shades lined the walls of the throne room. They glared at the Fae Queen and her men. The Fae rose their weapons, and the Demons readied themselves.
