Dungeon of Torment

7. Evil Creations

Nailah stood on the steps of Uranus' palace. Diamonds glittered on her throat, laying heavily against her collarbone, the swollen grape-sized diamonds seeming to tumble down her chest in abundance. She wore nothing beneath the monstrosity, allowing the jewels to shield her breasts and the scar nestled between – ensuring that her glowing skin was exposed. The tiara on her head winked in the sunlight.

On the way here, humans had bowed – most probably assuming she was a titan. Cīrulis was by her side, with a face like a granite wall. He'd wanted to verify that Hyperion had authorised the trip but was unable to. Disrupting her own security's communications had been easy work for Nailah, she had after all been part of a terrorist group from a young age. Her education had suffered a definite illegal activity slant.

Humans might be fooled that she was Titan, but the Titan guards -standing either side of the great entrance doors – were not and their sharp gazes swept over Nailah. The skimpiness of her outfit had been intentional, there was no way they could suspect her of concealing a weapon. The guards let her through, but Cīrulis was forced to remain outside, with the other liverymen.

A shiver ran down her exposed spine as she entered the chilled assembly room of harsh white stone and glass. Courtiers eyes followed her with interest - and desire.

"Hyperion's whore," hissed a female Titan at her as she passed. "Filthy human." But the insult hit Nailah as no more than a breath of wind. No one was blocking her path, that was all that mattered.

Nailah's lips twitched in a smug pout. Titan lives were sacred, and right now she was the vessel of one. That was why she couldn't wait until after the birth to do this. After the birth, she'd be just a human – dependant on Hyperion's protection. But right now, she had an edge. She had almost Titan status. And they couldn't hurt her.

Guards blocked the next entrance way. Looking past them, she saw a domed chamber that was divided in half by silvery gauze. The screen intersected steeply inclined steps and through the thin mesh, Nailah saw the outline of the throne these steps led to with a person sat upon it, looking down at them. Uranus. A supplicant was on his knees before the throne. Nailah angled herself to give the throne a good view of her attire but with her sawn arm hidden.

"I beg his most royal majesty," she spoke to the guard, but loudly so that her voice carried, "emperor of us all, sacred from above, holder of our hearts," (the title, even this shortened down version, was nauseating) to see this lowly servant. I have an offer for him." Her voice sounded strange to her own ears, full of sugary sweetness.

The kneeling supplicant turned suddenly to face her. Nailah was momentarily thrown to recognise Kronos. She bowed to him, giving him an ample peek at her breasts. The titan frowned.

"Approach," drawled the voice occupying the throne. Beads of sweat ran down Nailah's back, streaking the glitter she'd shimmered her body with. No doubt the Titan king thought she was about to offer herself – and in a way, she was... just not to him.

She took a deep breath, causing the diamonds to heave on her chest. Sunlight streamed from the glass dome above, casting a golden pool of light across the mosaiced floor. As she mounted the steps up to the curtain, her features hardened. This was it, this was what worth her life amounted to. This final moment.