Mars Underneath The Sceptre of Eternity

The Preparation

When she first arrived at the palace, Synus showed her the entire castle, but Deodara got no fun. She asked about the most mysterious and forbidden place of the palace.

Synus laughed and said, "You are the most mysterious thing."

"It is not funny, my father's palace has many interesting places." Deodara said.

"Like?" Synus was still grinning.

"Like dungeons, abandoned cells, torture houses; where traitors and conspirators are kept. Those places are full of ghosts."

Synus laughed; "In our kingdom, traitors and conspirators are not kept anywhere; but pushed inside the Dark Caldera of Mount Oganka. Human blood pleases the Lord of Darkness."

"So, the palace has no prison?" Deodara surprised.

"Yes, we have underground prison known as the Dark Cell; where prisoners are kept before sacrifice. However, it is no place to show a princess." Synus laughed again, "Why do not you try the flower garden? My father has made magnificent flower gardens for mother; come." He caught her soft hand and insisted to follow him.

However, the hands which now caught Deodara's arms were not affectionate like Synus; they were rough and strong.

"Synus, it is hurting." Deodara whispered.

"It is the time to go, Princess Deodara." A cold male voice answered her.

Deodara opened her eyes; she felt a sharp pain in her belly; she could not see a ray of light anywhere and could not understand whether it was day or night.

"Who are you?"

"Amerik, the chief of the Eagle Guard."

"The alien?" She spat.

"You've to go, princess; the time of sacrifice has come." Amerik informed her coldly.

"My son will take revenge, aliens." She yelled; a woman guard went to slap her; but Amerik caught her hand; "No, Hella; we are not permitted to hurt the princess. Where are the chains?"

Deodara realised that Amerik was not alone; he had women guards and men soldiers. One of the women guards put a heavy iron collar around her neck and tied her hands with a handcuff.

"His Omnipotent is merciful; he asked us not to put the chains and balls in your ankles;" Amerik said.

Deodara did not want Ergonn's mercy; she only wanted to see Deoes for the last time. She heard the heavy iron doors of the Dark Cell were opened widely. Few men in chainmail shirts came close to her; they had flaming torches in their hands. Deodara closed her eyes in the light; then gradually opened. She was not being able to see the faces of her captors.

"Superior," A man replied; "It is the time to go."

"Yes," Amerik, the alien replied back.

Deodara was forced to move forward; the fingers of the women guards tightened around her arms; they steered her around the edges of the long dark corridor. They pulled her up on the stairs and said, "Climb up." Deodara mechanically followed their orders. She looked ahead toward the winding spiral turret, staircase made up of black or dark brown coloured stones. The steps were tiny, and two adults would have a hard time passing each other on these steps.

Amerik asked his men to start climbing; they put Deodara in between two women guards followed by at least four men guards and Amerik at the end. Deodara stepped onto the tiny steep step and felt slippery beneath her bare feet. She was about to slip; but the woman guard just behind her caught her right arm tightly, "Be watchful; the floor is slippery with lichens and mosses."