Demi-God: The Lost

Fourty-Eight

Riley rubs the back of her neck while the maid's of the Queen dress her in a very fancy gown. "K'alirn is very lucky to have you as his wife."

The Queen didn't seem to agree that she and Kal weren't together. She has her mind set on it and no one is changing that woman's mind. How it went from girlfriend-boyfriend to husband and wife is anybody's guess.

"I am not his-'' The maid pulls the life sucking corset strings in the back of her dress and squeezes the life out of Riley's body.

"My how beautiful she is." One of the maids whispered to another, "I'm sure she'll be a wonderful Queen to fit our future King." Riley pauses. King?

Kalirn is a prince. How hadn't she noticed that before? The two large doors open and in skips the small princess Leila. In her arms is the red and white fox, Foxy. The maids all back up a few steps to allow the princess to enter.

"You're not K'alirn's wife." She points an accusing finger at Riley. The latter pauses for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"You're right Leila, I am not his wife." The young girl lowers her finger, her face a little flushed from embarrassment. She hadn't expected Riley to agree with her.

"Y..You aren't supposed to agree with me!" She quickly stammers. A large smile grows on Riley's face. She fakes a shocked hand across her chest.

"Oh my. How dare I play the fool before the great princess of Alptrium." Riley says in an exaggerated voice, "Yes, indeed, I am the wife of dear Kalirn." The widest smile spreads across Leila's face.

"You are no foul wife of my brothers!" Leila grabs the fox and holds him out at Riley, "Get her Foxy! Eat the evil wife!" Riley laughs and picks Leila up. The young girl screams playfully while Riley spins her around.

"I got you!" The two girls laugh together for a few moments longer before a soft cough brings their attention to the door.

It's the Queen. Riley sets Leila down quickly and fidgets with her sleeve. The young princess however rushes to her mother's side and tugs on her shirt. The large smile is still plastered on her lips.

"Mother! Mother! I like K'alirn's wife!-Or I mean-uh...Not K'alirn's wife!" The Queen chuckles lightly and pats her daughter on her head.

"Yes, I too like her very much. Now, Little Leila, will you give mother and sweet Riley some time alone?" Leila rushes back over to Riley and embraces her in the tightest little hug.

"You're gonna stay forever right Riley?" She mutters with her cheek squished up against Riley's lower half. Riley lowers herself to Leila's height and pulls her into a tighter hug.

"We'll see Leila. How about you go find Kalirn for me and give him the biggest kiss on the cheek?" The young girl jumps in her place with her hands shaking with excitement.

"Okay!" She shouts and rushes for the door. The moment she's gone and down the hallway the maids too leave. That leaves Riley and the Queen all alone.

"Riley Rykers." The name forces a tension to fill the already anxious air. Riley rises to her feet and stares at the Queen with a look of both fear and determination.

"You know my last name." She doesn't falter when the Queen returns a look of intimidation.

"That I do. I also know you have a younger brother of similar age to Leila." Riley sighs and runs her fingers through her hair. "Why are you here, Riley?" The Queen walks towards her and slowly circles around the room.

"I got teleported here by that fox." The Queen shakes her head.

"No. I mean, why are you in Asphodel?" Riley doesn't answer for a brief moment. The Oracle of course. "No." Riley blinks, "The oracle gave you a hint. You misheard the Oracle's intentions."

"What?"

"The message the Oracle told you of was not meant to be what you think it is." The Queen stops at a window. "The Oracle intended to lead you to a fate you cannot accomplish without sacrifices being made. This fate you are doomed to suffer is not the one you are seeking."

"You aren't making sense."

"Seek the Lost. Seek the lowest pits and find what needs to be lost. The lost cannot be found without being saved. Save the lost and save the found." The Queen repeats, "That is your mission. The question is; Who are the Lost and who are the found?"

She walks just inches from Riley's face. "The Lost aren't the people of Asphodel, Rykers." Riley stares at the Queen in shock, "The Lost is you Riley. The true Riley Rykers. And the found, well..you'll have to save yourself before you can save them."

"How do you know who I really am?" The Queen scoffs and walks towards the window.

"Why do you think your father is so desperate to send you home? Or why he even brought you to this challenge in the first place." Riley knows she's part Tartanian. But how does she save herself from something she doesn't even know she's fighting?

"You still don't believe me?" Riley stares at the Queen. There's no reason for Riley to believe a word out of her mouth, "I was the Oracle before the one who spoke to you. I have seen you Riley. I saw your birth, I saw your supposed death, and I saw your new birth."

That's not possible. How can someone die and be reborn? "You're-"

"Your mother is Elin Rykeres. She was the heir to the Tartanian throne and the cause for the great Titan War. Your father is Zeus, the king of the gods. There used to be a rule." The Queen walks up to Riley, "Gods were never allowed to mate outside of their own people. There was no such thing as a Demi-god or Half God."

"Zeus fell in love with a woman he could never have. And you were the outcome of it. You, Riley Rykeres. You are the one true Demi-God. The Killer of Gods. Your mission is to bring upon the death of the Gods themselves."