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S omething felt wrong. She woke, but her exhaustion felt worse than before.

Gone were the soft sheets and the comforts of the luxurious bed.

Lilith tried to rub her eyes, but her hands were bound behind her back.

Struggling to free herself from her daze she called to her mana.

Feelings of emptiness filled her. Someone had given her a suppressant and a strong one.

She tried to blink away her dazed state to get a hold on the situation.

Where am I? Hands came upon her. Carrying her.

She felt so many hands. They searched and groped, and pushed her to the cold stone ground.

Lilith’s vision started to clear as she laid curled inwards to protect herself.

She heard sounds of others breathing next to her.

How many? She could make out a tree, its leaves draping over her.

She was in the throne room. Bright white light coming from the surrounding glass shone into her eyes, making her squint.

“Good morning,” a voice called to her. It sounded dark and otherworldly.

A hand caressed her face. It was rough and felt familiar.

She smelled hints of lavender. She twisted her head and found the source of the voice.

Dark blue hair fell across his eyes. His features were still blurry to her, but she knew his form well.

Prince Demetrius stood above her, wearing a crisp back suit.

A black cape was draped over his right arm.

What is he doing? Confusion clouded her mind.

She should be waking next to him in bed, not this.

She saw movement flicker beside her. Felicia and Lady Thalassa were bound next to her.

Both of them were wearing long white nightgowns, which made Lilith fully aware that she wore only a borrowed long black tunic that had risen above her knees.

She felt exposed and hugged herself tighter.

Felicia and the prince’s sister were similarly bound, but unlike Lilith, they were gagged.

Their eyes fought the same dazed confusion she felt.

Footsteps filled the throne room as guards marched in. Six polished armoured men with long swords dragged in the others. Though their hands and feet were bound, they were not gagged.

“What is the meaning of this, your highness?” called out Sir Erikson.

He was dragged in with Mistress Rhodes and Lady Tessa.

Blood was trailing down Mistress Rhodes’ face.

Her cheeks were bruised. She did not go down without a fight.

Lady Tessa was quivering as she stared at her daughter bound on the floor.

Her eyes filled with tears. The guards pushed the three to their knees.

Mistress Rhodes was behind Lilith, watching her with a look of concern.

Her eyes scrutinized Lilith’s body. A look of remorse filled her eyes as she understood what Lilith had done. What she had given up.

The prince’s demeanour changed and he gave the group a menacing look. “I said I would root out the pests and I plan to. It is time I take the throne. Free myself from this tiresome charade.” He rolled his head and breathed in. He ran his hand through his dark blue hair and smiled upwards .

Lilith quietly tried to call upon her mana.

It was gone. No droplets or threads of magic remained in her body.

She was useless. She couldn’t burn off the sedative or fight, whatever he had given her made her magic disappear.

His ice blue eyes twinkled and beamed. Was this his plan all along?

Or is this a strategy? Her mind raced as she watched him and hoped that this was an act.

The twelve Apostles stood off to the side, watching everything unfold.

A menacing grin on each of their faces. Is this their doing?

Did they poison the prince? The centre Apostle shifted his gaze to her and smiled wider.

The dark voice tutted. Having seen the confusion on their faces, the prince laughed.

“Look at you all. The confusion on your faces as you try to figure out what is going on. Is this a ruse? Is this a game? You are too quick to trust and too quick to follow. Deep down you wanted this: you looked to me to lead you.”

“I don’t understand,” Mistress Rhodes yelled, struggling against her bindings. “Why? Why are you on the Apostles' side? After all that you’ve seen and done. Why turn now?”

“I am not on their side.” The prince walked until his boots grazed Lilith’s body. She looked at his face and found his ice blue eyes. He looked down at her and blinked. Gone were the eyes that could penetrate her soul. What looked out was all dark. His eyes had transformed. “They are on my side.”

“What are you?” Lady Tessa pleaded. “Prince Demetrius, please.” Lilith and the prince remained in this silent standoff, his black eyes locked with hers. She felt a sharp pressure on her mind. Without her mana, he was free to search her mind.

What do you see when you look into my eyes? A dark voice like velvet caressed her mind. I can see your thoughts, I can feel your feelings, and you are not repulsed by this. Did you know all this time?

Looking at the prince in this state did not stir feelings of disgust. Felicia suspected that he had changed as they travelled through the Ruins of Thurndun.

He was different. She should have listened to her friend.

Had I known then? Shock and denial coursed through her.

Why? Why do any of this? To me. Why seduce me, and then do this?

The prince knelt down and ran his finger down her cheek.

I have been looking for you for a long time, my goddess.

You do not know what I’ve done to find you.

I crawled out of that forsaken darkness and waited.

Watched through eyes that are not my own.

By some miracle, there you were sitting so close at Skilheim.

I tried keeping you at arm's length, but this urge to be with you is overwhelming.

Your soul belongs to me. It always has and will forever be. He brushed his thumb along her lips.

But the oracle? Lilith thought. It was Amiriel, was it not? Lord Elwin said he saw his son.

She heard the prince laugh in her mind. It was purely coincidental that his son was born under the twin stars, on the fifth day of the rising sun.

Like myself. I look forward to killing that lord.

What the oracle saw was not his son. He scoffed.

He thinks his son could be your equal. Pathetic.

The dark voice growled. However, thanks to him, your powers are bound. It will make submitting to me easier.

Faint footsteps filled the throne room. Silver walked casually to stand next to Mistress Rhodes.

His eyes matched the prince’s, fully lost to the darkness.

The prince's black eyes looked at Mistress Rhodes, Sir Erikson and Lady Tessa.

“You have fulfilled your roles, but I no longer need you.” He pulled Lilith to her feet and turned her to face the group. “Thank you for leading her here.”

“Silver?” Lilith called to him. “Please.” Help us. She knew it was useless. She had failed him. She should have checked on him instead of following the prince. She should have gone with Felicia and followed her instinct. Lilith watched as Silver took out a dagger and stood behind Mistress Rhodes.

“No. Don’t!” Lilith knew what would come next, but she pleaded anyway. “Please, I’ll do anything.”

Mistress Rhodes accepted her fate. No tears fell down her face.

She replaced her anger with acceptance and looked at Lilith.

“Don’t hold back,” she said in a gentle tone.

Silver dragged his dagger across her neck and slit her throat.

Lilith screamed wildly as the prince held her.

She watched as Mistress Rhodes gulped, her eyes widened with fear as the blood poured from the cut.

She gasped and struggled until her last breath and then slumped lifeless to the floor.

Showing no emotion, Silver did the same to Sir Erikson and Lady Tessa. Their blood cascaded down their bodies and bathed Felicia and Lady Thalassa, who let out vicious screams. Lady Thalassa struggled wildly to get to her mother.

The Apostles came forward and pulled the blood soaked ladies to a stand.

They waited for the prince to give them his command.

The prince twisted Lilith so she faced him.

Tears were streaming down her face. You don’t even hate me.

His voice echoed through her mind. You hate yourself.

He leaned down and licked her cheek, letting out a menacing chuckle.

Their lives were meaningless, a blip in your path.

You will become my queen. My wife. My mate .

“Take them,” he said, as he pushed Lilith into the hands of an Apostle. Lilith struggled against her restraints as he pulled her from the throne room. She took one last look at Prince Demetrius, who smiled at her as he sat on the throne.

Lilith called out to Felicia through her sobs.

“I’m so sorry,” she cried to her friend.

“It’s all my fault.” Felicia beheld Lilith with eyes full of fury.

An Apostle pulled them forward and took out a vial of green liquid.

They pinched Lilith’s nose and pried open her mouth, forcing her to swallow.

The green liquid burned her throat as it went down.

Everything blurred around her, and she succumbed to darkness.