Lady Grim: A Fantasy Short Story

Chapter 12: Things Going Down to Hell

Hubris was just sitting in the throne room in silence.

His plan was already set so he was waiting for the first phase to start, which was when Clotho leaves out the palace.

"Hubris, I'm out!" Clotho called out as she walked out of the palace.

"Alright, I'm going to go get some fresh air." Hubris stated as he began to get up and walked out.

"Alright, time to get shit started." He thought to himself.

Once Clotho was out the palace, she began to ponder about Hubris.

She noticed that Hubris had been a little quiet lately, compared to his usual personality.

"Maybe he's just not in an ego stroking mood today." Clotho thought as she continued to walked.

However, Clotho had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach...as if something bad was about to occur.

When Clotho arrived at Lida's cave, Lida greeted her happily.

"Clotho, my love!" She exclaimed as she picked her up and hugged her.

"Welcome back Clotho." The father greeted.

"Is everything set?" Clotho asked.

Once she asked that, the pack showed up in a solider line.

"Most definitely." Lida replied. "So, the plan should start in...2 hours." Lida states as she looked at the sun setting.

Clotho was happy to have her plan getting ready to go in action.

Once the moon began to shine, Lida, her father, and the rest of the pack began to transform into wolves. When the transformation was complete, everyone began to howl.

Claw began to walk out but the father grabbed him by the scruff of his neck to carry him back into the cave, much to Claw's dismay.

The father shook his head, telling Claw that he can't go with them due to how dangerous it was.

Claw let out a bark in anger as he curled up into a ball.

"Alright, let's go!" Clotho yells out.

Before they began, Lida stopped Clotho to write.

"Are you sure you want to do this? In a sense, this is practically murder."

"I mean, I get that but...I'm the queen so there's not gonna be any penalty for me nor you guys if I'm running the place." Clotho points out.

"True, however I have the feeling that something is off...like my ears twitch when I know something bad is about to happen."

"M-maybe it's just nerves." Clotho dismissed as she mounted Lida as they began to run into the woods.

However, Clotho secretly agreed with Lida.

Something did feel off from the start, it's just that Clotho doesn't know what.

When they all arrived at the palace, the wolves got into hiding positions.

When Clotho dismounted, she walked up to the palace only to see Hubris standing by the entrance as if he was expecting her. 

Clotho was a bit surprised because she expected him to be somewhere else in the palace, but thought this will make her plan a tad bit more easier.

"Hello my queen." Hubris greeted with a big smile.

"Um...sup." Clotho replied, a bit creeped out by his smile.

"How was your day?" Hubris asked.

"Okay, something really is up because he doesn't ask me about my day at all." Clotho thought before she spoke. "Okay, what is up with you because I know you don't care about anyone's day but your own." She points out.

Hubris chuckled.

"What ever do you mean Clotho?" Hubris asked. "Is it a crime to ask the king his queen about her day?"

"Well...no? It just feels outta character." Clotho replied.

"Oh...? Out of character like trying to murder your significant other?" Hubris asked.

That was when Clotho felt her heart dropped.

Next thing she heard was the sounds of wolves barking and whimpering in pain. Clotho turned around to see Lida, her father, and the rest of the pack getting ambushed by guards.

"What the fuck!?" Clotho exclaimed as she ran up to help Lida, only to get pinned down by one of the guards.

Clotho whistled for Cerberus, but no response.

"Looking for him?" Hubris asked as the guards rolled out Cerberus, who was tied down and had a muzzle on each mouth.

Clotho struggled to break free but it was no use as Hubris walked up to her and bent down.

"I believe this is yours." Hubris states as he pulled out Clotho's plan.

Clotho's eyes grew wide.

She was busted.

Lida howled as one guard stabbed her in her leg with his spear.

"Leave her alone!" Clotho screamed out.

Lida whimpered as her father swiped at the guards left and right, which prompted Hubris to snap his fingers.

Lida's father then felt ropes wrap around his body as one of the guards tackled him to the ground.

Lida howled for her father as the guards tied him up.

Two guards then helped Clotho up but kept their grips on her so she would break free.

"You really thought that you could kill me just so you could let some commoner beast into the palace?" Hubris chuckled out. "You got to think your plans more thoroughly dear."

"Don't hurt her!" Clotho exclaimed. "She had nothing to do with this."

"Oh, so she's not the reason that you want me dead huh?" Hubris asked.

Clotho grew silent.

"I thought so, but at the same time...I don't blame you." Hubris stated. "We all have our reasons to kill, like me when I killed your parents to become king."

Soon as he revealed that, Clotho felt her blood boil.

She don't know why...but hearing that her parents were murdered made her want to bring the devil out of her.

"You...you...YOU BASTA-" Clotho screamed out as she lunged at him, only to be punched in the stomach.

Clotho collapsed to the ground, holding her stomach.

"Lock up the female pup...I'll deal with her later." Hubris ordered as the guards dragged Lida into the palace. 

Hubris then looked at Lida's father then smirked.

"You know...your head will look great mounted on the wall above my throne." Hubris stated.

Lida snarled as she tries to break free only to be sedated by one of the guards.

Lida was out within seconds.

Lida's father barked at the pack as the pack fled away. Clotho assumed that he was telling them to retreat.

Hubris then turned to Clotho as he grabbed her face.

"You and me are going to have a long talk about respect and love towards spouse." Hubris said with a dark chuckle.

August 8th, 2023