The Princess & The Lord

Part 27

Elena stood in the middle of a grassy field. The sun was high above her shining down on the never-ending hills. To her left stood Nyx, his eyes locked ahead and his family flared out behind him. Elena looked to her right to see her mother and father beside her with their court staggered behind. Her grip on her sword tighten as she faced forward.

A large dark shadow cascaded over the green hills, devouring all life in its wake. Elena took a few steps forward ready to meet the darkness, but the shadows halted nearly 200 paces before them. The darkness merged together and a single being stepped forward. His blond hair fell to his shoulders. He was garbed from head to toe in midnight black nearly matching the darkness that seeped from his eyes. His golden orbs locked on her.

"Princess," the Valg King seethed. "You know what I've come for." He willed the shadows to flow up and wrap around his hand.

"Never," Elena said quietly but she knew the king could hear her.

The king only smiled, "Have you enjoyed the creatures I've sent? I want to see what you were capable of." Elena bared her teeth at him.
"I was quite impressed with how you handled my wraith."

"You're risking the lives of innocent people to test me? People who have done nothing to you." Elena said between her teeth reeling in her anger.

"These people are not innocent. Your precious High Lords are not innocent either," he pointed at Rhysand behind her. The Valg king shook his head as he continued, "This world needs me. This world just like all the rest is bogged down with suffering and sin. The wealthy live off the poor. It's an endless cycle that needs to be stopped. And I can stop it. You couldn't possibly understand. You've only lived in the light. But in the darkness, everyone is equal. There is no wealthy, no poor. There just is."

Elena stood there with her mouth gaped open. She couldn't comprehend what he said. How could he be so convoluted to believe his own words. She scoffed, "Everyone is equal, but you? You get to be king?"

"Someone has to ensure equality remains. It is the reward for my sacrifice," he took a few steps forward. "My patience is running low. I want the keys, girl. I will tear this world apart until I get them."

"No," Elena said firmly. She reached down for her magic. She dove down and down knowing she needed it to be ready at a moment's notice.

"You know the consequences," Orcus sneered. "I know you saw it- wrapped within the shadows of my wraith. You saw what is to come should you refuse me." Elena shook her head refusing to see the vision.

"That will never happen," she said. She pushed the memory down, willing herself not to see it. She couldn't see it. She couldn't accept it could be real.

"Look around you, princess. It's already happening." The king smiled eerily. Elena turned around to see the darkness covering everything and everyone behind her.

"Nyx!" She shouted and searched through the darkness. She couldn't see him through the shadows. "Mother! Father!" But there was no answer-only darkness.

The cloud of shadows began to recede and in its wake it left a trail of blackened bodies. All the light drained from their eyes. All the color gone from their skin. All of them gone within the blink on an eye.

Elena fell to her knees, "no" she whispered as the tears lined her eyes.

"They will all die, Elena." The king said his voice in her ear as he peered over her shoulder. "It is your choice, Princess. Give me the keys and I will show them mercy. But they will all die- either by my hands or by yours."

Elena shook her head as the tears began to fall, but she couldn't stop the vision from replaying in her mind- the vision she saw trapped inside the shadows of the wraith.