Ianuani 17, 2225
Iagaban (Capital City), Lēos
Slap!
"You seek to drape our pride in a cloak of disgrace?"
Click. Clack. Click. Clack. The graceful, yet arrogant and avaricious Lēonion Empress Esther Adedeji's stilettos pierced the floor as she stalked around her son, Kamau.
There, on his knees, he was presented to his mother queen and her court. The light slap she gifted him faded seconds later. But humility and embarrassment coursed through the giant Prince. At age 35, one would think he would surpass such child-like punishments. But the vicious Great Empress ruled with bloody claws and an equally sharp tongue. None ever escaped punishment. Not even her "beloved" child, Kamau Adeyemi, the Shrouded Lion of Lēos.
"Time, lost again at your hands. Again, you've brought me failure." Empress Adedeji screeched, her clawed fingers raked through her dark coarse hair.
"Great Empress Adedeji, perhaps this-" one of her court members started.
The irate Queen whipped around and pointed a bloody finger to the one who dared to speak out of turn. "Hold your tongue, you pest! Your insolence will go unrewarded."
Coming from nowhere, guards seized the unsuspecting court member. "Wait...nonononono, please! Empress Adedeji, I didn't mean it. Please! Help me! Onononono-" his spittled cries cut short by the blade of the Queen's guard.
"Does another heart wish to speak? The floor is yours to command." She asked good-naturedly.
Various and quick motions of "no, your Highness" formed around the large room.
Facing her son again, she continued. "Surely my sight betrays me. Did that lowly creature make my greatest work tremble?"
Kamau bowed his head. "No, my queen."
"You've stolen a year from me, Kamau. Do you grasp the trials I faced to find the Key of Phasmarale? The bargains I struck?" She hissed. "Only to watch it vanish like a wisp before my very eyes?!"
Someone burst into the meeting place, chest heaving as perspiration coats his scent. "I...I've come...bearing good news... your Majesty."
She stalked up to the spy."You have but three heartbeats before my claws dine on your flesh." Empress Adedeji sighed, her patience fraying.
"The... the rogue...lives!" the nameless man disclosed. As quickly as he completed his duties as a spy, his eyes bulged from their sockets. The spy's hands claw at his chest while blood dribbles from his mouth as Empress Adedeji relinquished her hand from the spy's chest. Dropping to the floor, his eyes caught Kamau's in a silent wail of pain.
"Kitty, kitty, kitty. What have I told you about playing with humans like playthings? I have too many souls wandering listlessly around Hel for you to be so careless." a tenebrous and saccharine voice filled the space behind the deceased spy.
There, a brutish male kicked the body out of the way, swaggering in with a devilish grin.
Asmodeus, Lord of the Hel part-time; my mother's lover full-time. Kamau grumbled to himself.
Lord Asmodeus wrapped one hand around Empress Adedeji's neck and thrust his tongue down her throat. She gave a guttural moan before he released her.
The Demon Lord of Hel raked his eyes down at Prince Kamau like he was nothing. "Why is the Prince kneeling before you, my Empress?"
"Have your ears failed you, or are you blind to reason and speech?" Empress Adedeji hissed, hitting the Demon Lord's shoulder with no heat behind it. Her eyes were already sweeping the Demon Lord from head to toe.
YOU ARE READING
Smoldered Flames (Edonia Series: Part I)
ParanormalA young woman wakes in a dungeon with no memory of who she was before. She's accused of murder and sent to an academy, meeting four men who will change her life. Follow Helena's adventure as she discovers who she was before and what she will become...
