BORDER

Chapter Six

NERISSA

Silence surrounds me as I force my feet forward. I would not be surprised if you could hear a pin drop upon the black ground. I do not know where to go but if it is built anywhere like the palace in Lani, I have a feeling that the throne room would be at the end of the hall.

Two guards appear around a corner and they stop in their tracks as they catch sight of me. "Excuse me-"

"Who are you, girl?" The taller guard questions.

"I am Nerissa." They look at me, then one another, and laugh. Embarrassment fills my cheeks with a burning red as they shake their heads in amusement.

"Is that supposed to mean something?" The guard questions with an arched eyebrow.

"Yes, I am the P-"

"Actually I do not care." The one that has not spoke yet grabs hold of me and throws me over his broad shoulders.

I squeal out of fear before thundering my fist against his back weakly. "Put me down, I demand it!"

"Demand all you want, Princess, it is of no use."

The two guards bring me into a ginormous throne room. I do not get a good look at it before they throw me down. I hit the black ground hard, thankfully I did not go head first because that fall surely would have killed me. I immediately force myself up on my feet.

"How dare you touch a lady like that. Do you not know who I am?! I could have you killed in a heartbeat for throwing me down like that!"

"Trust me when I say nobody cares who you are here, risen." The one who threw me says with a roll of his eyes.

"H-how did you know I am risen?"

The guards scoff. "I could see your hair a few miles from here. It is the only thing of color besides black and white for miles. It's so...ugly and bright. I highly recommend you fix that before she sees it. She doesn't take kindly to your kind."

What?

What are these two talking about right now? Do they not know who I am or what I have been doing for their people? Was the money I have been sending not going through? I need to know.

"What? Who? Who is she?" Then I hear the clicking of heels hit the black, glass floor. Everyone immediately falls to their knees with their head down.

It feels unnerving to be the only one standing up as the sound of the mystery she gets closer and closer. But I am the Princess of Lani, I get on my knees for no one — woman or man. Whoever this mystery woman thinks she is, she is insignificant compared to me.

I believed fallen did bot have any type of government. That includes monarchical power of any sort. Why? Because they aren't emotionally or intellectually intact. That is what makes them imperfect, they have no understanding of how things flow through the universe we just so happen to own. I know the stories, I have heard them all my life of how fallen do not function like risen. They may be angels but they are not like us in any shape or form that matters.

The woman dressed in darkness finally enters the room from a side door. It must have been a long hallway. She looks like she is made from the very same material that is under my feet. Her face is cutting and piercing like she is made to inflict pain. Her blood irises meet mine and for a second I feel a trembling fear.

"Down!" She barks in a nasally voice. Her voice does the opposite of sending chills down my spine. "On your knees, little girl, before I take off that head of yours."

Disgust falls upon my expression. I can not keep in the laugh that is waiting to get out. "This is adorable. Now who is in charge?"

"I am Calytrix Kumar, the queen of Gehena, is this supposed to be some sick joke or are you serious?" The psychotic looking woman questions before pointing a long fingernail towards me. The fingernails are far too long. It is almost vile.