Lady Grim: A Fantasy Short Story

Chapter 9: New Changes

Clotho watches as her parents get lowered into the ground.

She couldn't feel any emotion at all besides relief.

Clotho looked over at Hubris, who had a wicked grin on his face, and wondered why he was smiling.

"Why's he so smiley? Did a girl giggle at a lame ass joke of his or...?" She thought.

"We're here today to mourn the demise of the king and queen of the Underworld." The Devil Bishop speaks out.

"I can't believe that the king and queen died so suddenly." Clotho heard one person whisper out.

"Wait, so is their daughter and her husband going to be the king and queen of the Underworld?"

"The daughter's only 19...does she even know how to run a kingdom?"

Clotho frowned at the last comment.

She clenched her fists in anger as she stormed off.

The rain was hitting against her face as if it was acid attempting to melt her from above.

All Clotho could think about was how she was in this mess to begin with...and now that her parents are gone, Clotho felt like her parents left her with Hubris...who was equally worse as them.

Clotho took a deep breath before she screamed,

"FUCK YOU!"

The scream echoed through the skies as Clotho stood there.

"Just...go with the plan...just go with the plan." Clotho muttered to herself.

Remembering the reason why she wanted to become queen in the first place, Clotho looked at Hubris then frowned.

"Two down...one more to go." Clotho thought to herself.

As days went by, Clotho looked around the palace to see her parents' portraits covered in a sheer black cloth, indicating that they were deceased.

Cerberus was laying in the throne room, feeling sad that Hades is no longer here.

"It's okay boy...I'm still here." Clotho assured him as she pats one of his heads.

Cerberus licked Clotho's face, making her chuckle.

Hubris then skipped merrily into the room with a big portrait of him in tow. He hung it above the thrones with the biggest smile on his face.

"Time for some new changes to this palace." Hubris spoke in a singsong voice.

He then looked over at Clotho and Cerberus.

"Sorry honey, but the dog's gotta go." Hubris states nonchalantly.

Clotho's eyes grew wide.

"Says who?" She asks.

"Says the new king here." Hubris replies, referring to himself.

"Like hell you are!" Clotho thought to herself before she speaks. "Dude, you're not king until the crowning day." She points out.

Cerberus growls at Hubris, making him yelp in fear as he hides behind one of the thrones.

"Pussy." Clotho thought to herself as she walks off with Cerberus behind her.

"Who the hell does he think he is telling me what stays and goes?" Clotho mutters out.

Cerberus whimpered as Clotho scratches one of his chins.

"Don't worry boy, you're not going anywhere." Clotho coos out as Cerberus pants happily.

"I guess he's girl's best friend huh?" Clotho hears a familiar voice speaks.

Clotho looks at the window to see Lida sitting on the window sill.

"Lida! What are you doing here?" Clotho asks as she hugs Lida tight.

"Came to see you, I heard what happened with your parents." Lida explains.

"Eh, it feels weird that they died so suddenly considering that they're very healthy." Clotho shrugs off. "However, I feel like I'm free...sorta."

"Why sorta?" Lida asks.

"Well this fucker husband of mine thinks that he's automatically king since my parents are dead, when he still has to wait until crowning day to officially become king." Clotho explains. "So, I'm still stuck with him."

"I guess being royal isn't very fun huh?" Lida nervously chuckles out.

"Nah, it's not." Clotho sighs out. "However, I am coming up with a plan to get rid of him." She states.

Lida's eyes grew wide.

"Wait...you don't mean..."

Clotho nods.

"Yes, I know it sounds fucked up but I feel like it's my only key to true freedom." Clotho explains.

"You couldn't divorce him?" Lida asks.

Clotho lets out a sarcastic laugh.

"Nah...divorce is heavily frowned upon when it comes to royal families, so as much as I wanna divorce him I can't do that." Clotho explains. "Not even if my parents are cold in the ground."

"That sounds like a no win situation." Lida comments.

"It's a no win life...well, I do have a win or two." Clotho states.

"Really? What?" Lida asks.

"I got you...and I get be queen soon." Clotho replies as she spins and dips Lida, making Lida chuckle.

"But wait...what about Hubris?" Lida asks. "As much as I want to be with you...I feel like he's going to get suspicious about us."

"He can be suspicious all he wants...I'm pretty sure he'll think you're here to help him get his rocks off, which I'm not going to let happen." Clotho assures her.

Lida smiles as she nuzzles Clotho's cheek.

"So, what is going to happen now?" Lida asks.

"Well, let's keep our relationship on the down low right now and until I become queen and get rid of the ego stroker...we can rule the Underworld together." Clotho states. 

"R-really?" Lida questions.

"Yeah, because think about it; werewolves being royal and...and...they could be like the knights of the palace. It would be so badass!" Clotho exclaims.

Lida chuckles.

"Sounds great...and I'm pretty sure my father would love to work for protection." Lida states.

"If that's the case, I'll dub your father as the general of the Underworld." Clotho announces.

"Well, once everything goes to plan." Lida points out.

"Yeah...once everything goes to plan." Clotho chuckles out as she hugs Lida tight.

Lida jumps out the window and runs off into the woods as Clotho watches her.

"Just a few more days..." She thought.

When the crowning day came, Clotho stood there in front of a thousand people.

Hubris was standing next to her with the biggest smile on his face.

He was happy to officially be crowned king.

Clotho took a deep breath as the Devil Bishop handed her the royal staff and placed the crown on top of her head. He then did the same with Hubris.

"By the power of gods...I shall now pronounce you the new king and queen." The Devil Bishop announced as everyone stood up and bowed down to Clotho and Hubris.

Clotho felt her heart thumping as she continued to stand there.

"I guess...this is where the things are going to change." She thought to herself.

July 12th, 2023