Dance of the Damned

Fifteen

The following morning, I found myself dressed in a matching ensemble consisting of tight pants and a crop top made of black scales. It was then that Zeddicus materialized in the room, seemingly appearing out of thin air. I couldn't help but wish that he would stop startling me like that; the already eerie atmosphere created by the dark, misty shadows, and torch-lit fires was enough to give me chills. Upon casting a single glance at me, Zeddicus furrowed his brows and, with a snap of his fingers, transformed my attire into rags, leaving me covered in dirt.

"Why did you do that?" I grumbled, feeling instantly repulsed and unclean. The unpleasant odor emanating from me only added to my discomfort.

"It's all about appearances," he explained, his tone devoid of any humor. "We can't give Kalyani the impression that we're treating you well, or she might mist you right then and there."

Curiosity piqued, I inquired, "Why does she want to see me?"

Zeddicus shrugged nonchalantly. "Curiosity, I suppose. I've never taken one of her slaves before. She probably wants to understand why you."

"I've been wondering the same thing," I admitted, trailing behind him as we made our way through the corridors.

"I have my reasons. Perhaps I don't want her to mist you," he responded grimly, leading me into a grand throne room dominated by a colossal black throne that seemed to be engulfed in flames. It appeared to be a seat designed for the devil himself. "Stand to the side, keep your eyes down, and only speak when spoken to."

Without protest, I positioned myself a few feet away from his throne, at the base of the stairs. Numerous guards were present in the room, and within minutes, they summoned Kalyani. As she entered, she exuded the same beauty that I had remembered. Her skin resembled the purest snow, and her long, wavy black hair cascaded behind her, blending seamlessly into the shadows. Her cold, gray eyes immediately locked onto me.

"I'm surprised she's still alive. You don't often acquire slaves here, do you, Zed?" Her voice reverberated through the room, simultaneously soft and seductive, yet also icy and harsh.

"Not normally, no," Zeddicus replied from his throne, his voice betraying no emotions.

"And what purpose does she serve here?" She inquired, her piercing gaze seemingly penetrating my very being. Following Zeddicus' instructions, I kept my head down. His words echoed in my mind: 'Maybe I don't want her to mist you...' Why would he care? Could it be that he isn't as evil as we all believe? No. He was responsible for Mira's death. He is undoubtedly evil. How could I even think otherwise? He had his own selfish reasons behind my survival and I was determined to find out what they were.

"She is responsible for tending to the creatures in my dungeon," he calmly replied, his words causing me to refrain from lifting my gaze to meet his.

"Does she also sleep there?" Kalyani inquired. "She smells like it."

"Yes," Zeddicus confirmed. "Where else would she sleep?"

A brief moment of silence enveloped the room before Kalyani's laughter erupted, compelling me to steal a quick glance at her.

"And here I thought you had taken her as a sex slave," she continued to chuckle.

"You know that's against the law in Ardor," Zeddicus responded sharply.

"Don't get your panties in a twist, King of Death," Kalyani retorted, her heels clicking against the floor as she approached him. "You haven't paid me a visit since acquiring the slave, so I was curious if your... appetites have shifted elsewhere, below your status."

"I have a kingdom to govern, Kalyani. I am a busy man," Zeddicus maintained his emotionless tone, seemingly attempting to coax her into leaving.

"Even royalty needs to find pleasure. We both understand this. Let's go to your chambers and have some fun?" She stated, prompting me to finally raise my eyes to observe them. Kalyani stood directly in front of Zeddicus, who remained seated on the fiery throne.

Her hand rested on his chest, yet his expression remained unchanged. He appeared... bored. Good. For some reason, I felt disgust at the thought of her touching him. It didn't come as a surprise when Kalyani attempted to climb onto his lap, but what shocked me was Zeddicus swiftly grabbing her wrists and pushing her away. She stared at him in confusion, and I quickly averted my gaze back to the gleaming black floors and the maroon hues in the marble.

"How dare you deny me?" Kalyani's voice dripped with anger.

"You enter my home, attempting to ascertain whether I have taken sex slaves, and then you try to seduce me? You are no better than a pitiful, desperate girl. When I desire your presence in my bed once more, you will know. Remember, you are a Queen, Kalyani. Act like it," Zeddicus' voice was sharp and unyielding, compelling me to glance up at them. His expression remained apathetic.

Kalyani's face twisted with pure fury. "You will regret that, remember the last time you refused me," she warned before abruptly disappearing into mist and shadows. As she vanished, I noticed a slight slump in Zeddicus's shoulders.

He rose to his feet and gestured with his hand, transforming me back into the pants and crop top made of scales that I had been wearing earlier. The fabric reminded me of my own scales, which have not emerged in quite some time due to the binding of my powers. I followed Zeddicus out of the throne room as he issued commands to the guards, ordering them to lockdown the castle.

"Do you believe she would be foolish enough to launch an attack?" I inquired, struggling to keep up with his pace. Despite being a prisoner, I was desperate to understand what had just happened in there.

"It would not be unwise on her part, given her superior numbers," he responded, shouting further orders. Nadeen emerged alongside an unfamiliar woman dressed in attire similar to mine. She had a dark complexion, curly black hair, and an intimidating aura.

"Kalyani is plotting something. I rejected her. We all know the consequences of my previous refusal," Zeddicus confided in them. Nadeen and the other woman's faces turned pale. "Secure the castle. We require all available soldiers. I do not anticipate a direct assault, but..."

"We remember what happened last time, we understand," the unfamiliar woman interjected, casting a disdainful glance at me before refocusing her attention on Zeddicus. "I hope she was worth all this trouble."

Me? What trouble did I cause? I was the one who begged him to burn me alive and take Mira instead. I had kept my eyes down and didn't say a word in the throne room, just as he commanded. Why am I getting blamed for this?

"War is coming, whether you want it or not, Zed. You must reveal everything to her, right away. We are running out of time," Nadeen urged. "We can trust her, I am certain."

"What the hell is happening? Tell me, please," I pleaded, seeking clarification from them.

"Go and secure the castle. Instruct everyone to remain on sharp alert for any suspicious activity in the shadows," Zeddicus commanded, prompting them to hasten and carry out his instructions. He then turned his attention to me. "I had intended to provide you with more time, but that is a luxury we can no longer afford. We must locate Nailah to remove the binding on your powers."

"What?" I exclaimed, bewildered. How did he possess knowledge of my powers and their binding? Did he know that I am a Grim?

"Venya, we must leave immediately. I do not have the time to address your questions at the moment, but I assure you, nobody will harm you for what you are here." His voice carried a gentleness I had never heard before, and I made the decision to trust him and accompany him to have my powers unbound. Maybe then, I could kill him and escape.