Master of Death

Chapter 5 - The Lost Goddess

The Lost Goddess

True and honest love is always earned; never purchased or won.

The faint sound of the doors creaking open is enough to coax me out of my slumber. But no matter how tired I am upon only just opening my eyes, I must be prepared and on my guard for the arrival of the emperor. The same servants as last night seat me in front of the vanity mirror and begin to do all of my hair up with more golden things. I refuse all but one layer of white face powder and everything else, with the exception of the eyeliner. Really the only reason I like eyeliner is because it makes my plain eyes stand out more and look amber rather that boring old brown.

"Emperor Shin should be arriving at the palace anytime. He came as soon as he got word of you, so he must be very interested in you to have been suggested by the general of this army's palace," a different girl this time says with a grin.

"Well he will be in for a shock when he finds out I will not be his mistress," I reply nonchalantly.

"Huh? Why would you not want to belong to our precious emperor? You can have unlimited wealth and power, and it's been said by the other mistresses that he's good in bed," she snickers. "Not to mention that if he likes you, there is no escaping him,"

"The same goes for if he hates you," the oldest one adds.

"I have no use for riches or a hot bed," I say while subconsciously touching the medallion and tucking it into the dress so it's out of view.

"Could it be that you have already given your heart to a man?"

I smile, but just barely, and it remains on my face for a fraction of a second. "I only wish it were that simple,"

Only a few minutes pass before they all leave and I am left alone in this extravagant cell. Since my patience is better than that of most, I sit on the edge if the bed facing the door and remove a pin from my hair, folding my fingers over it carefully to keep it hidden. Since the little demon I sent out before still has not returned to me yet, I seek it out with the invisible thread that binds it to me, and it slides under the door and takes the shape of a small dragon before me.

"What have you been up to?" I ask curiously. I know it was not simply sight seeing for the past day.

"My lady... I thought you would like... if I were to keep an eye on the dark lord..." it replies in that distorted voice.

I sigh because I have no idea what to make of that. "Do as you please, but keep in mind that if he spots you, you will not get off so easily. Where is he?"

"Mmm... he had been searching... for you... Your horse was sleeping at the river without you... and he seemed to worry. His wandering servant told me... that he cannot find you... unless... you call,"

"Unless I call?"

"Yes... Shall I bring him to you, my lady?"

As tempting as that sounds, I'm sure Thanatos has better things to do. "No, that is quite alright. Soon enough I will be sentenced to a trial, and if the rumors are true, I will see him then,"

"The emperor... the emperor is coming!" the voices begin to chant, causing a commotion within my head.

The "servant" in front of me crashes into my body and heavy footsteps down the hall cause the voices to hush, silencing completely by the time the doors swing open. There the emperor stands, robed in red, gold, and metallic grey threads. The man I favour least of all in this entire universe. I do not move an inch, remaining still as stone with a calm but somewhat pleasant look on my face. The man in his forties with hair to the bottom of his shoulder blades tied tightly in a ponytail, roams his eyes over my face. It takes every bit of my acting experience to hide my disgust.