The Sunken Kingdom E-Book

Russell Nohelty

• Herausgeber: Wannabe Press
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

The Fairy Realm has been fractured for too long. Now, The Sunken Kingdom must rise.

Lucy has awoken the great dragon Farzinium, and taken her rightful place as its rider. They are a formidable force, and for the first time in generations the Fairy Realm has a chance at salvation…

…but it will not be easy.

Nimue controls the devastating might of the Unseelie courts and seeks to reunite the four pieces of the legendary Xirgolov on her path to unlimited power. If she does, then there will be no stopping her.

However, if Lucy, Gwen, Red, and Rose can find the Xirgolov pieces first, then they have a chance to raise the Sunken Kingdom and restore the Fairy Realm to its former glory. Surrounded by a powerful group of surprising allies, they prepare for a final battle with the fate of the Fairy Realm, Earth, and the whole universe hanging in the balance.

Will they rise to meet the moment? Join the heroines of The Obsidian Spindle Saga in the final book of the second arc that will upend everything you know about the universe.

Leseprobe

The Sunken Kingdom

THE OBSIDIAN SPINDLE SAGA

BOOK EIGHT

RUSSELL NOHELTY

Contents

Special Thanks

1. Red

2. Rose

3. Lucy

4. Nimue

5. Gwen

6. Rose

7. Gwen

8. Red

9. Rose

10. Lucy

11. Nimue

12. Gwen

13. Rose

14. Lucy

15. Nimue

16. Gwen

17. Red

18. Lucy

19. Gwen

20. Rose

21. Red

22. Nimue

23. Red

24. Lucy

25. Rose

26. Lucy

27. Red

28. Gwen

29. Nimue

30. Lucy

31. Red

32. Nimue

33. Rose

34. Gwen

35. Nimue

36. Lucy

37. Red

38. Gwen

39. Rose

40. Red

41. Nimue

42. Gwen

43. Rose

44. Gwen

45. Red

46. Lucy

47. Rose

48. Nimue

49. Gwen

50. Lucy

51. Red

52. Nimue

53. Rose

54. Red

55. Lucy

56. Nimue

57. Gwen

58. Rose

Epilogue

Author’s Note

The Faceless Woman Preview

Rose

Red

Also By Russell Nohelty

About the Author

Special Thanks

Alexander Joyner, Allison Grier, Amber Reeves, Ashley & Amba Nevell, B Cooley, BOBBY ZAMARRON, Brett Bennett, Brian Toberman, Caledonia, Caspar Williams, CHAD BOWDEN, Chimera's Comics, Chris Call, Daniel Groves, Dave, Dave Baxter, David Irgang, DAWN LUPTON, Diana P., Douglas A Taylor, Dr. Charles Elbert Norton III, Edward Nycz Jr., Elias Rosner, Elizabeth Peters, Emerson Kasak, Erica Schmitt, Fawn of the Woods, Gerald P. McDaniel, GMarkC, James Kralik, Jamie Minnich, Janet Dopico, Jeff Lewis, Jessica Johnson, John "AcesofDeath7" Mullens, Joshua Bowers, Kara, Karen Bulgarelli, Kimberly Williams, Kenny Endlich, Larissa Washburn, Mark Newman, Martha Carr, Megan Yamamoto, Monkey King Comics, Natalie, Nathaniel Adams, Nick Smith, Noah Carruba, Oliver, Paul Rose Jr., Pierino Gattei, PikKaroKreuzHerz, Rowan Stone, Samantha Flynn, Shannon, Shelley Smith, Sky Fallows, Starcane Press, Stephen Ballentine, Sunny Side Up, T., Thomee Wright, Toni Robb, Victoria Nohelty, and Walter Weiss.

The Sunken Kingdom

Book 8 of the Obsidian Spindle Saga

By:

Russell Nohelty

Edited by:

Leah Lederman

Proofread by:

Katrina Roets

Cover by:

JV Arts

Formatting by:

Turbo Kitten Industries

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental. The Sunken Kingdom. First edition. January 2023. Copyright © 2021 Russell Nohelty. Written by Russell Nohelty.

Chapter1

Red

“What do you mean you’re not going to let me use your body as a vessel?”

Zabasha spoke through the gritted teeth of my mouth. I had no control over my body and hadn’t since the queen’s soul invaded it for her ends, dragging me from the Underworld through the Obsidian Spindle, to Earth, and finally into a portal to the Fairy Realm.

The red-headed girl that they called Nimue looked nothing like the Nimue I’d fought so many times in Urgu. She sat at the stairs of the throne, sneering defiantly.

“I mean I’m not going to let you invade this body. I quite like it in here, and I made a promise to its previous owner—good ole Bernadette—that I would protect it at all costs.” Nimue stood slowly, letting her black dress plume outwards. “Since you’ve already lost your body once, I can’t say that you would treat this one very well.”

“Why you little—” Zabasha crinkled up my nose. “Tholish! I thought you had chosen a champion worthy of my station.” Her angry steps thundered through the grand throne room. “This girl—she is an insolent cur.”

“I did, your majesty, but unfortunately, this child here killed him. As such, we are left with few choices.” Tholish, the rail-thin fairy standing before the black throne wrung his bony fingers. “This is a very unfortunate situation. I think there is one very easy solution to all of this, though.”

“And what is that, my dear?” Zabasha said, trying to hide her fury.

“You could”—Nimue took a step down toward us before Tholish could speak — “simply die. Go away, vanish, and leave us to run the kingdom without you.”

“That’s not what I was going to sa—” Tholish tried to speak, but the two powerful women facing off against each other were having none of it.

“You dare…” Zabasha’s nose—my nose—flared. “This is my kingdom. The blood of kings runs through my veins.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Nimue said. “It did, once, maybe, but now Red’s blood runs through your veins.” She thought for a second. “Does she even have blood, come to think of it? She is a construction of the gods, after all.”

She wasn’t wrong. Hypnos built me a shell to contain my soul and allow me to leave the Dream Realm and live on Earth. However, it still very much pumped blood and did all the other things that a body needed to do to survive.

“The way I see it, Zabasha,” Nimue said, “the minute you abandoned your body, your claim to the throne vanished along with it. In fact, I contend that Tholish Flit has more right to rule than you do. At least he has fairy blood running through him.”

“This is preposterous!” Zabasha shouted. Her hands rose from her sides and shot a long, inky tendril of shadow magic toward Nimue. The Wicked Witch sliced through it with her own hand, sending the shadows falling on either side of her like drops of water. “But how?”

Nimue cracked her neck. “You were late to reclaim your throne, and in your lateness, I took to studying. You have a fascinating collection of books in your library. They taught me how to manipulate dark magic using the very spells that you designed and then kept from the rest of your kingdom.” She clapped her hands together and black ichor spun from her dress. “Your puppet might not have read them, much to his discredit, but I did. From them, I learned how to use your powers better than you ever did.”

Zabasha’s head snapped over to Tholish Flit. “And you…you would let her speak to me this way?”

“I serve the true queen of the Winter Court, and always have.” He stammered. “However, Nimue has made some points worth considering.”

“And what has she offered you, you spineless fool?”

Nimue straightened her shoulders. “I offered him respect, if he bent the knee to me, but he refused. He is still loyal to you for some unknown reason. He did agree with me on one thing, however: royal blood no longer flows through your veins.”

“You insolent—” Zabasha snapped her fingers and two shadow demons leapt from the darkness on the edges of the room, rushing towards Nimue.

This time, Nimue closed her eyes and sliced the shadows in two with her mind, sending them away, howling. “We could bicker all day, but I offer you a solution.” She stepped down the stairs. “One that goes back to the beginning of the Winter Court.”

Zabasha gasped. “You can’t mean⁠—”

“I do.” Nimue nodded. “Virtutis proelio. One-on-one combat for control of the Court.” She reached into her dress and pulled out a pulsating purple orb. “This orb is powerful enough to bind either of our souls. If you win, you have my body, and the throne. If I win, though, I will take the throne…and bask in your humiliation forever.”

Zabasha tensed, sending panic coursing through my body. Outwardly she simply laughed, the kind of maniacal laugh that I hadn’t heard from her before. It was almost respectful, like she appreciated the boldness of Nimue’s offer, and it amused her. There was also a lilt of fear in her cackle as it died into silence again.

“You have no idea what hell you have wrought upon yourself,” Zabasha said. “I accept your silly request, if for no other reason than when I wrench your soul from your body and break it into a million pieces, you will scream in such pain that none would dare challenge me for a millennium.”

“Such confidence,” Nimue said, a wicked smile on her face. “I have always wanted to cause damage to Red’s body. To be able to wipe the smug look on your face is a ‘twofer,’ as they say on Earth.”

Chapter2

Rose

It was a dream…literally and figuratively, being with Chelle again. I had spent too many days, too many sleepless nights, trying to connect with her; to share one small moment of peace in this frenetic, unfair universe. She had braved the Dream Realm for me, and I had journeyed through Hell itself to rescue her. Now, there was nothing but the dreaming left for us in Urgu.

Queen Aine allowed me to stay with Chelle for a week in the most expensive high-rise apartment in the Emerald City. It was incredible to see Urgu turn from an agricultural, medieval country to one that resembled a futuristic novel in a matter of months. I was the first Dreamer to break through the barrier in a century and now, just months later, hundreds—if not thousands— of Dreamers had passed through the membrane into the Dream Realm, mixing with those that had lived here for centuries, all trying to make their way on this new, strange plane.

Chelle and I had spent most of our time in our room that week but today Chelle had to work. She had agreed to become a Fate again, at least on a part-time basis. I spent the day swimming laps and sunbathing at the building’s Olympic-sized pool. I would have to leave soon, return to Earth, and then I’d only see Chelle when I dreamed. I wanted to savor every moment of my time before they kicked me out.

Being a former queen and the savior of their realm gave me some leeway, but I knew that it wouldn’t last forever. I was an unnatural part of their ecosystem, having a body and all, and would have to be excised before too long. Which was why, when a green-shirted messenger showed up at the edge of the pool, my stomach jumped into my throat.

“Message for you, ma’am,” he said. “You are Rose Briar, yes? The front desk said I could find you here.”

I climbed out of the pool, leaving my stomach in my ankles. “I am.”

He held out a message for me, but I didn’t take it. Not at first, at least. I strolled over to my lounge chair and toweled myself off. Only when I was no longer sopping wet did I turn back to him and take the lilac-scented card from him, opening it slowly. Inside was a thick, green, ornately decorated card.

Your presence is urgently requested by Nox, the original Dreamer and goddess of Darkness. Present yourself forthwith.

Signed,

Lady Lynx, Precept to the Queen

The messenger was holding his hand towards the door when I looked up. “If you will follow me, ma’am.”

“Are you kidding?” I gestured to the two-piece swimsuit I wore. “I’m not going to the palace looking like this.”

He pursed his lips. “But I was told it was urgent, and not to let you out of my sight until you agreed to come with me.”

“I’m going to shower and change. You can come with me and wait but if you follow me into the bathroom, you’ll have me to deal with, and then Chelle once I’m done. I’m very sure between the two of us you’ll be dusted.” I grabbed my towel. “I guess you’ll just have to decide who you are more scared of, them or us.”

He gulped. “I suppose waiting in your living room is in the spirit of my instructions.”

“Good boy,” I said, stalking toward the glass door into the building. “Come along.”

Had I been the Rose from even a few months ago, I would have scuttled to Nox’s side. But after traveling to Hell and back while saving the Underworld in the process, well, if they wanted me, they could wait for me to grace them with my presence.

I took my time showering and picking out the right yellow dress for my meeting with the queen. It was incredibly freeing to just not give a care anymore, though sometimes, when I caught myself in the mirror, I barely recognized who I had become. When I finally finished blow-drying my hair and stepped out into the living room, the queen’s messenger was half asleep. I cleared my throat and he shot up to attention.

I pointed him to the door. “I’m ready now.”

Our building was only two blocks from the castle, and it took us no time to reach the gates. We passed the nearly rebuilt Cathedral of the Six along the way. When I arrived a week ago, the Gothic ceiling was still raftered and buttressed, but in my time here they had finished construction completely. It was odd to look up at the six gods that were once bound here, knowing that all of them but Hypnos were dead, killed in the war between the Dream Realm and Nightmare Realm. It would have destroyed Urgu if I hadn’t returned with the god of dreams at the last moment to save them.

The new castle had taken even less time to reconstruct than the cathedral. Nox and Hypnos used emerald and jade stones to shape the palace, creating a sleek, haunting shape that shouldn’t have been possible, and wouldn’t have been, except for the will of the gods. The only thing that remained from the old castle were the iron bars of the gate that had managed to hold back the monsters that roamed the streets just a few short months ago.

Once the guards saw me, they opened the gates and let us through. The messenger didn’t have to stop to announce us, and we didn’t even break our gait. I was famous, in my way, and it felt good—even better was knowing that one day soon I could wake up on Earth and have nobody know who I was or how important to the machinations of the universe. As we neared the steps, a woman stepped out into the light and snarled at me. She wore a black dress with a harsh face so pale it reflected the sun like a mirror.

“Afternoon, Nox,” I said to the goddess of darkness. “Shouldn’t Lynx be the one meeting me here?”

“Oh,” Nox replied, gruffly. “I’m not allowed to receive you in my own castle?”

“No, it’s just weird is all.”

“You are not the expert in all things Oz, my dear. I have a delicate matter to discuss with you, and the cat need not be privy to it.”

“Okay,” I replied, holding up my hands. “Truce.”

“Fine.” She sneered, as was her way. “Now, let us get down to business. I was wondering when you would get here. I thought perhaps my messenger was dusted. Your tardiness makes me wonder if he should be punished for his insolence.”

“I’m s-sorry, ma’am,” the messenger said. “She didn’t want⁠—”

“Enough. Go away. I’ll take it from here.” She waved him away and turned to me. “There is much I need to discuss with you, child. You have saved two different realms. I wonder how you would feel about saving a third.”

“I’ve done enough, I think,” I replied. “Enough for ten lifetimes.”

“There is no doubt of that, and yet, there are few I can trust. You are one of them, and just so happen to have a body, which makes you singularly able to carry out this task. More capable than any in Urgu.”

“You could give anyone here a body, as Hypnos did for Red, and⁠—”

“Impossible.” She sliced her hand through the air, cutting off my voice before I could finish my sentence. “You know how I feel about that kind of thing.”

I did. She hated that Hypnos gave Red a body. It was a mockery of her kingdom. And yet, not wanting to do something didn’t mean she was unable to do it.

“I guess I should expect you would have need of me eventually. After all, you’re only a goddess.” Asking me for help was a big deal for a god who preferred to handle everything herself. It softened my resolve. “Tell me what you need, and maybe I’ll say yes.”

She tilted her head towards the castle. “Come inside and we can discuss it. It’s so dreadfully bright out here.”

Chapter3

Lucy

Flying through the air with the wind crashing against my skin was a feeling I hoped would never lose its excitement. It had only been a couple of days since I became the Dragon Warrior and paired with Farzinium, the great red dragon, and gained the ability to soar over the whole of the Abyss on his back.

He felt strongly about uniting the clans of the Abyss once again and would gladly spend every waking moment of his immortal life doing so. We searched the canopy from morning to night looking for as many fairy clans as possible.

It was hard work detecting movement under the tree cover, made harder that the Unseelie were masters of stealth and hiding. We had only found three of their encampments this morning so far, and while they all stared at me with both fear and awe, only one of the Marzelles—the wise women of each camp—had agreed to bring her people to the wooden fortress that we had just liberated from Priot hands.

“There!” Farzinium called through the wind. He didn’t need to speak, having the ability to bore into my mind, but I appreciated that he did. I still wasn’t used to our psychic link. It was one of the worst parts of being the Dragon Warrior—maybe the only downside besides the fact that, without the strength of the dragon flowing through my veins, I was paralyzed and couldn’t walk.

I looked over his wing and made out a small fire below. Another thing that made spotting Unseelie camps difficult was that the tree canopy cover was thick and hard to see through, and the trees grew so close together that a giant beast like Farzinium couldn’t weave through them.

“Put me down there,” I pointed to a tall conifer jutting out above the others, touching the nape of the cloud cover that separated the Abyss from the Courts and the sky above. A purple lightning bolt struck the tree, which swayed back and forth but didn’t catch fire. Trees in the Abyss stored the lightning as energy since there was little natural light. “On second thought, maybe just here would be good.”

Farzinium perched on the top of a willow tree taller than any I had ever seen on Earth. I climbed down and stepped onto solid ground, pulling my sword from its scabbard on my back to cut a small star on the tree. From there, I headed into the woods, making small grooves in the trees every hundred feet so I could find my way back.

After so long without the use of my legs, walking felt unnatural. Before the accident, I had never worried about the way I put one foot in front of the other; now I often had to consciously manipulate my legs, which often made me stumble.

I made my way towards the campfire I’d seen from overhead, twisting my way through the trees as quietly as possible. The Unseelie were preternaturally gifted at sensing their surroundings, and even though I was not a threat, the blue lines etched deep into my body, bald head, and longsword didn’t paint a welcoming impression.

I reached the small encampment of twenty fairies, onyx, gray, or blue skinned, and sparkling like the night sky. They were definitely Unseelie. The Seelie folk had skin of gold, silver, and lighter colors, and preferred to live in larger camps with more lavish accommodations. They were easier to find but harder to convince to join us. The Unseelie had been hunted for so long, they were used to laying on the ground with nothing but a bedroll for comfort, if that.

“What, ho!” I said, coming out into the clearing slowly. Five of the Unseelie turned and drew their ruddy weapons. “I mean you no harm. I come in friendship.”

“Identify yourself,” a small, younger Unseelie with dark gray skin squeaked.

“I am the Dragon Warrior, Lucy. I ride the red dragon Farzinium, and we come here with an offer for you.”

“Impossible!” a taller, more confident fairy called out. “The Dragon Warrior is a myth.”

“Have you not heard that shrieking?” I asked. “The wind moving around the great dragon’s wings as it circled overhead? That is Farzinium, protector of the Fairy Realm. Come on, I’ll show you.”

“We’re not going anywhere,” a short, stout fairy with navy skin said, poking its spear at me. The fairies on all sides of it began packing up their camp in earnest.

I held up my hands. “Let me speak to your Marzelle to prove I’m coming in peace.”

The stout fairy glared. “Killed by the Priot some weeks ago⁠—”

The young fairy hushed him. “Do not trust the outsider.”

This is not working. I thought it to myself but knew better than to think it would go unheard by Farzinium. Instead of fighting it, I decided to turn into the skid. Will you please show yourself?

You said I would scare them off, Farzinium replied.

It can’t spook them any more than I already have.

The trees above creaked and groaned, causing everybody in camp to crane their neck up while crouching in fear. A moment later, a great shadow fell over the camp, obscuring what little light there was in this place, followed by an enormous crash as Farzinium landed, puffing his chest out.

“It is I, the dragon lord Farzinium. What this woman says is true, she is my rider, and I her steed.”

“D-d-draaaaagon!” one of the Unseelie screamed, dropping their weapon and running away.

“I thought it was just a legend,” another said, flailing her arms as she made her way to the tree line.

The short, stout fairy didn’t scare as easily. Instead, they moved toward the dragon. “Where’ve you been? My Marzelle said you were on our side, but we haven’t seen you in generations.”

Farzinium shuddered. “Your kings and queens imprisoned me in the volcano. The Dragon Warrior—Lucy—freed me with the help of her friends, and I have come back to save this land. It may take time, so we would like to offer you sanctuary at the base of the Spring Court.”

An older woman scoffed. “That’s the Priot base. We know better than to go anywhere near there.”

I shook my head emphatically. “It was the Priot base, but we killed the orc that ran the camp and liberated its prisoners. Now, it’s a stronghold and safe haven for all fairies and we’ve reestablished the fairy market there. There’s food and drink, a safe place to sleep…you can stay there while we work on freeing you.”

“That’s a good speech and all,” the stout fairy said. “But we know better than to trust outsiders.”

Just like the others, I thought.

It is to be expected. Farzinium replied. A great oak did not grow tall in a day, or without adversity.

“It is not my choice to make,” I said, “but if I know the Unseelie at all, you’ll go a long way before establishing camp again. Before you do, stop by the base. See if we still fly the flag of the Priot. When you see the truth, go on inside.” I climbed onto Farzinium’s wing and called over my shoulder as he lifted away, “We’ll be waiting for you.”

Chapter4

Nimue

I couldn’t believe Zabasha actually said yes to the magical duel. Now, everyone in Court would see how weak the White Queen truly was, and I would have the leverage to get what I really wanted—and it wasn’t this stupid kingdom.

Oh, the throne would be nice, but what I really wanted was power, and not the type of power that you got from being one of four rulers of a small, backward land. I sought the type of power I had seen in Zabasha’s books. The type that would bring the walls of Olympus crumbling down and leave the gods themselves quaking in their boots. I needed it, and the only way to get it was to take something she wanted—the throne. When I had it, then I would bargain it back for what I really wanted: a set of objects infused with immense power that I read about in Zabasha’s private archive. The Xirgolov. The four most powerful items in the Fairy Realm, which would allow me access to power on par with any god in the cosmos.

“Do we have any rules for this duel?” Tholish Flit asked. We were taking the stairs to the courtyard. He had already sent his shadow messengers to gather up everyone in Court to be present for the bout.

I’d gathered from my reading that a magical duel wasn’t uncommon in the Fairy Realm, especially the Winter Court, a place filled with more backstabbers and traitors than most, and loads of princes and courtesans that coveted the power of the throne. As far as I could tell, the only reason Tholish Flit wasn’t stripped of his power was because everyone in Court feared even the thought of Zabasha, who had ripped thousands of souls from prospective usurpers over the eons of her dark reign.

She would not do so today. I had promised to protect Bernadette’s body, and I took that promise seriously. More importantly, I would not be contained to a soul gem.

“No rules,” Zabasha said. She stood in the doorway in front of the courtyard, looking at me like I was a petulant dog needing of breaking. “If you think I’m going to place you in that silly gem and not rip you into a million pieces, then you don’t know me very well at all.”

They were powerful words, and overconfidence dripped from her mouth as she spoke them. I smiled slowly before responding, “I have read from your private library, including the journal you kept there, so I know you well enough. And you haven’t been in the Fairy Realm for a thousand years, Zabasha. Don’t get overconfident.”

“I killed a god,” she snarled as we entered the courtyard. “What have you ever done with your power? Party tricks?”

She had a point: I hadn’t used my new powers in combat. But from the moment I found Zabasha’s library, I’d pored over every word, foregoing sleep to practice with the dark secrets hidden within its tomes.

“Stand there,” Tholish Flit said to Zabasha as he walked through a circle of nobles and placed the purple gem at its center, on top of a giant crescent moon carved into a stone on the ground. Hundreds had gathered to watch the battle—to catch a glimpse of Zabasha, whom none had seen in eons. I wouldn’t have risked calling them if it wasn’t necessary for them to witness my domination of the White Queen. Only by beating Zabasha in single combat could I earn their respect, and their fear.

Tholish Flit brought Zabasha to her position in the circle. She waved at the crowd, and they cheered for her, which annoyed me. She hadn’t even been back for a day. They hadn’t given me the same courtesy, but then who was I but a whelp challenging their queen?

“Combatants, come forward,” Tholish Flit called out. Zabasha and I did as he instructed and met at the center of the circle. He pointed to the glowing purple gem lying in the middle of the moon underneath us. “In order to win this battle, all you have to do is remove the other person’s soul from their body and place it in this gem. Understand?”

“This isn’t my first time, darling,” Zabasha said. “Though, as I mentioned, I will not be so kind as to keep her soul alive.” She leaned in towards me and whispered harshly, “I will rip your body apart and then use it to rule my world for the next hundred years.”

“Tough words,” I replied. “Too bad that will never happen.”

“We’ll see.”

We took our places at opposite ends of the circle. I caught the eyes of a boy in the crowd with red eyes and a deep sneer. He spat at my shoe and screamed foul things. I looked up at the woman with him, presumably his mother, wondering if she would reprimand him, but she only gave me a smug smile. That kind of insolence will not stand.She will die first, while her son watches, and then I will kill him, slowly.

“Dark shadows, I have given myself to you,” I muttered to myself. “Help me defeat Zabasha. Make her magic weak and cloud her mind to your true loyalties.”

No doubt that Zabasha was making a similar prayer about me. Dark magic wasn’t something you could control. You needed to work with it, meld together with the shadows to work as one. It was a collaborative process and Queen Zabasha didn’t look like the collaborative type. I hoped that meant she would not be as kind to the shadows, and that they would favor me.

Tholish Flit stepped back away from the two of us and held up his hand. “Now!”

He dropped his hands and before I could cast a spell eight tendrils of black liquid shot forward and grabbed my limbs, pulling me toward Zabasha.

“I changed my mind,” she hissed. “I will keep you in that greater gem so you can see what I do to your horrible body, how I mold it to my will as I shape the darkness to my command.”

I imagined a buzzsaw. As soon as I did, Zabasha screamed out in pain, and I was released. Her inky tendrils had been cut straight through. I flicked my fingers and the shadowy buzzsaw flung toward her. The nobles ducked as she stepped aside to avoid it. On its second pass, Zabasha was ready. She closed her palm and the buzzsaw crumpled into a ball of black ooze.

Next, she tossed an orb of dark ichor toward me that turned into dozens of sharp knives. I closed my hands together and when I pulled them apart, they revealed a giant black shield. It swallowed the weapons inside of it and shot them back at Zabasha. She crushed them before they could hurt her.

This game of magical catch needs to stop. I dug my feet into the ground and stomped, creating a small tremor. As Zabasha worked to dispel another ball, two shadowy arms shot from the ground and yanked it away. She cried out as she fell to the ground and the ichor crashed into her. Before she could finish her next incantation, I flicked a bit of ichor over her mouth, and she fell mute.

“Looks like the darkness favored me.” I walked towards her, triumphant. “And now.”

I waved my hands and the black ichor leached from Zabasha, contained in Red’s arched body, her muffled screams cutting the air. Along with the ichor, her glowing purple soul escaped her body as she thrashed against my magic. It took only a minute before I had leeched out her soul.

I brought the ball of ichor to the gem and tossed Queen Zabasha’s soul inside. I knelt to watch her rematerialize there, her obsidian body sticky and moist. In her own form, she was beautiful, but pale for my taste. I picked up the gem and held it too close to my face.

“You have two choices,” I said, even-toned. “Stay in here forever as I drive your kingdom into oblivion.” She screamed loudly as she banged against the walls of the gem. I laughed. “I didn’t think you would like that option. The second one might be more appealing to you. I will give you back your precious kingdom—my precious kingdom—and you will help me find the four pieces of the Xirgolov, and with it, give me power absolute.”

She thought for a long moment. “And you will relinquish your place on the throne and leave this place forever?”

“I will, and I am a woman of my word.”

“Very well,” she replied. “You have a deal…until I can find some other way to kill you.”

“A woman after my own heart,” I said with a smirk. “Careful, I’m almost starting to like you.”