The Queen of Elysium

Chapter 42 - Wrath of a Queen

Elissa approaches the double doors leading to the main hall. It is almost a solar to the day since she was kidnapped by Nero's dark elves and brought before the sadistic elven lord. They had beaten her black and blue because they hadn't believe her truths.

If they have hurt Darish, so help me, I will make them suffer.

The doors buckle against the force of her ire and swing open, crashing against the wall. She strides in, head held high, a queen now. Behind her, the heavy footfalls of the Dragonites thud against the wooden floorboards.

The hall is the same as she remembers it; a long rectangular room with walls of cold stone and lit by flaming torches. On a dais at the far end, Nero is sat on a black throne-like chair. He stands with his gaze fixed upon her and his lips twist into a self-satisfied smirk. She reciprocates with a glare of ice and daggers.

Two black wolves are chained to the wall behind him. Their hackles rise as she approaches, but with just one look she causes the growls rumbling in their throats to turn into whimpers and they slink to the ground in utter submission.

On the floor, firelight glimmers off a swath of green scales and she halts, not wishing to step on them. Several of the Dragonites snarl at the audacity of using the hide of a dragon as a rug and she is enveloped in a heat haze as their anger ripples around her. With a flick of her wrist, the sad remains slide out of the way.

Nero bows his head. "My queen, such a pleasure to see you return to my home."

Normally she would be courteous, but she is here under sufferance. With her voice set on a dangerous precipice, she demands, "Where is Darish?"

"Would you like some refreshments after your journey?" he asks pleasantly, like this is a social visit.

"No." She grits her teeth. "What I would like is my elf." Just a few minutes in his company and her patience is already frayed to almost breaking point.

"I think he might be tied up." Nero's gaze slithers across her body. She finds him utterly repulsive, yet no matter how many times she rebukes him, he persists.

In no mood for his games, she orders, "Bring him here, NOW!"

The torches flare, the flames licking towards the ceiling, and thunder shakes the windowpanes. Nero clicks his fingers and a servant disappears through a side door. Nausea roils in her stomach, as she recalls how that door leads to Nero's chamber with all the chains and contraptions.

The seconds tick by slowly until the door reopens; the captain appears and with the aid of a dark-clad elf, drags a limp body towards her. The figure held between them is barely recognisable as Darish. His clothes are torn and bloodied and his face is so bruised that one eye is swollen closed.

When the captain releases his hold, Darish's legs give way and he crumples in a heap on the floor by her feet.

"Are you sure you want your pet back?" Malice glitters in the captain's ice blue eyes. "It is not very durable."

She can feel the fury rolling off of Dusk and Zane, but it is secondary to the inferno building inside of her. Dark power rushes through her at the same time as the fire bursts free. Blue flames engulf her body, burning through her dress and reducing it to white ash.

Unabashed to be clad in only her bra and skin-tight leather trousers, she steps around Darish and towards the captain. She neither knows nor cares whether it is the heat of the flames or the murder in her eyes that has the elf retreating backwards.

Blue lightning flashes from her fingertips, hitting the captain in the chest and sending him flying across the room. He is given no reprieve as an onslaught of blue lightning crackles across his prone body. He convulses and screams as the energy burns through his skin, however, her wrath leaves no room for pity for he certainly showed none towards her beloved Darish.