The first thing I remember upon opening my eyes is the headache on my head. I clutched my head while trying to shake myself off the pain in order to take a look upon my current surrounding. A bedroom? Aye, a very grand bedroom with a lot of clothes and jewelry. It was a rather sophisticated room for very ladies from those noble eras in western dramas. I grew up in a normal family. But sometimes, I wonder if I was born into the wrong family as well. I live and think too much like a king. Just in case I miraculously happened to land somewhere, I wanted to know if I was a male or a female. Opened my pants…phew, my goodness. Still a woman. In my several cycles in order to survive, I took only male physical physiques. It was only recently I got lucky in trying for female physical body forms. Less work. Figures, since the bedroom wasn’t really male oriented. I can hardly bother to check myself in the mirror. Still clutching my damn aching head, I got off the bed and dizzily walked outside into the corridor. Pitch black. Or rather, compares to my bedroom, it seems rather eerie and cold. There were small lights dimly lighting the corridors. It feels spooky. As I gradually walk to who knows where while trying to muster the strength into my body, I seem to run into a couple of people here and there. However, every time they see me, they ran. They ran for their life while screaming. What the heck did I even do to deserve this. First, I just woke up feeling like someone had just bashed me in the head with a club. Second, I was too dizzy to even clearly see what I am and who I am. Third, where the hell am I.
I continue trudging along. Picking a random corridor and hoping to find the exit out of this maze. I went along and by chance stumbled upon a large kitchen and found something to stuff my stomach. When I said by chance, it was rather my senses are very sensitive. The pain on my head hurts, and I can smell something good from afar. Grabbing a chicken leg from a plate, I chewed on it while I watch the kitchen staff ran from the kitchen screaming like I was about to eat them alive. Uh huh. So I keep walking while munching on my giant chicken leg. I walked into a giant armory room full of armors and weapons. The people there who were cleaning and polishing the armors and weapons froze. Then they once again screamed. At this point I was already pissed. I stick my clean hand and stuff it into my ear while the other hand I am still stuffing my face with the chicken leg.
“Shut up.” I said.
They all became quiet and ready to run. They couldn’t very well run since I’m the one blocking them to the exit. It’s right behind me.
“If anyone of you move without my permission, I will kill you” I threatened.
I can see the terrified looks on their face while standing or sitting on the ground rigidly. So the next thing I did was to lay leaning on a long cushion chair(chaise lounges) on one side while munching on my chicken leg. I stare at them to understand why would they be afraid of a normal person like me, but most kept their eyes to the ground.
“Am I that scary?” I asked.
Silence.
“N….no….my lady” a male servant mumbled with his head to the ground still avoiding eye contact.
Well, since they fear me, I might as well act the part eh.
“Then? Tell me a logical reason why I shouldn’t kill you. If your answer meets my expectation, I shall let you live, perhaps…or I can kill all of you…one by one.” I snickered.
“Line up,” I demand.
No one still dare to move. I finished stripping my chicken leg down to the bone and then tossed it to a corner somewhere.
“Come on, I won’t bite. Come closer” I wiggled my oily fingers with soft seducing words trying to trick children to eat a forbidden fruit.
They slowly edge forward and line up one by one next to my chair that I am lying on.
“Are…are you not going to eat me…” a young servant asked with downcast eyes.
“No. Tell me what other people say about me.” I asked.
“They said…said…you chase after men…and drink their blood…and curse their souls…and finally eat them alive…” he stammers.
Eh…what…am I like some creep?
“Anything else?”
“No…my lady” he still stammers.
“Ok. Next!” I beckon the next person.
“I uh…uh…heard you can send anyone flying to their death with just one wave” he mutters.
“Anything else?” I asked.
“That you eat children and likes to go after particularly males.”
“What…Ok. Next” again, what’s with me trying to eat men again.
The next few male servants keep mentioning the same thing about me being some kind of lustful evil thing who likes eating men’s heart and curse their family and all.
“Ok next!” I impatiently said.
I beckon to one of the women forward.
“My…lady…I…heard you curse women to be ugly” she said carefully.
What? Since when have I ever done that? The female servants aren’t even that ugly. Are they blaming me because they weren’t born blessed?
“Ok. Next!”
“My lady, they said you are a demon who will eat our children and seduce our husband and sisters away” one of the women said
“My lady, they said you are a seductress who not only play with men’s hearts but women’s heart as well” one of the women said.
“My lady, they said you like virgins regardless of gender as well” another women said.
“My lady, they said you are a demoness who preys on the weak and eat the flesh of the strong to become powerful” one of the male servant said.
“My lady, they said you can crush a kingdom if you’ve wanted” another male servant said.
“My lady, they said you have destroyed many kingdoms in the past” another male servant said.
“My lady, they said you wreck havocs and destruction wherever you go” another male servant said
“My lady, they said whoever kills you will become a godly legend” the last male servant in the room said.
“OK. SHUT UP the lot of you” I said impatiently.
Good lord. I just want to live in peace and quiet munching on my chicken leg somewhere while enjoying some peaceful relaxation.
“My lady…aren’t you supposed to be deemed half dead?” one of the male servant said cautiously.
Dafuq. I mean.
“Ehem…so how would I be…deemed, half-dead? Tell me.” I stood up from my chair and wiped my greasy hand on his shirt.
“Er…you were in a battle against the heavenly warriors chosen by God. I mean…they’re actually gods or demi-gods themselves.” Another servant exclaims enthusiastically.
“Are we not on the same side? Are you happy that I would have died? Hmm?” I glared at them while coming closer to that young male servant and blowing steam into his ear.
I can see the poor man shivering.
“No…I mean, we are all monsters to men’s eyes. But…but…pardon me mistress…you are a monster amongst the monsters.” He hastily whispers.
“But you are strong!” he once again hastily tries to correct himself.
“Sure, sure” I smile without any emotion in my eyes.
“The rest of you can clean or polish whatever you want. I won’t bother you.” I said to the rest of the servants.
“You. Come with me. After I hit my head or something, I don’t remember much. Come. Show me around, before I fancy you and ask you to become my next meal.” I smile beckoning him outside.
I blew a kiss to the female maidservants while leaving.
“If I ever need any future maidservants to warm up my bed, I’ll be asking for each of you. Mwah~”
As if electrocuted, they shiver in shock and I could even see one almost jump up running in fear.
The male servant led me to places like the indoor garden, the smith, the barn where they keep a whole bunch of monsters to ride, a big throne room where all the evil lords and ladies reside. Some dining room with grandeur and some random departments around the place. What he means departments? Well, every evil lords or ladies of this place seem to have their own place around this area. Each have their own place. I just happened to be awoken up in a shared place where they all meet. There’s even a lord who uses total poison and decorated his department with poisonous traps for intruders. There are really even ladies who really like to eat people. According to the male servant, for us eating strong warrior makes us stronger, especially eating the heavenly warriors their gods had chosen, those demi-gods. It was such a cruel world that demon lords and ladies can also eat up other demons. This place is a tasteless and dangerous place. No wonder all the servants are afraid when meeting a demon lord or ladies who are leaders of the demonic world.
“But why do you all scream when you see me” I asked curiously.
“Because no one has the worst reputation than you down here.” He said.
“Eh…why?”
“Because you kill without a reason. If a servant as much cough or breathe as much when you don’t like, when you are in your bad moods, you will kill them in a mere second.” He stammers while shivering.
“But I’m not always bad right” I lifted his chin up and breathe into his ear seductively.
“I..don’t know…but most of your servants end up dead by the next day with gashes on their skin by your whips and torture” he said fearfully.
“What…well, from now you. That won’t ever happen. Why would I kill cute innocent little lambs like you when I could exploit…er explore the big wide world with my loyal subjects” I whisper lifting his chin up and gazing into his eyes.
He look at me with glassy eyes while smiling.
Eh…Looks like I accidently brainwashed this dude. Do I also have the powers to bewitch and make others do my biddings as well? I am such a creep.
“Erm, moving on. Now tell me about what you know about me and my turf,” I asked.
He then mentions how I also like to collect random and dangerous monsters and how I would feed my servants to my collection of dangerous animals. I also like to do weird magic and created undead gargoyles and other emotionless magic monsters because I deem normal monster servants are too weak.
Of course, I totally understood. Why would I trust servants that I was given to by others? Most servants are assigned to random masters or given as gifts to other masters. If I was given a servant from some other evil lord and lady who want to kill me, why would I not be cautious of them. Making a magic monster who have utmost loyalty to me makes much more sense to me. I can even make them stronger than normal servants sent to me or given to me as gifts.
He then mentions to how I am very evil and ranked 2nd only after the demon king. How my love for the demon king is so great that I kill and eat anyone whoever gets near him or make advances towards him. What am I some jealous love-stricken idiot? How I aim to become the next demon queen and my hatred for everyone else is great and I like to kill with no reason again. He mentions how since I deem myself as the next demon queen, the section I rule is no smaller than any other lords nor ladies. It’s actually the same size, if not bigger than even the demon lord’s domain. How it’s no such secret that I wanted to crush any other love rival and make sure that the demon lord needs me as much as I need him. How my love for the demon lord is so great that I will never betray him for any other man.
What is this bunch of rumors base on trashy love-stricken romance? Oh, how very disgusting. I yawned but continue to listen to the report of the servant.
“Oh yeah? Give me the intel you have on the demon lord” I once again seduced him and made him look at my eyes.
He said how the demon lord is a womanizer who has many secret mistresses from other servants he had known from the demon lord’s castle.
“Did you know the demon lord has fallen in love with one of the heavenly warriors of god?” the male servant quietly whispers.
“They planned to sell you out to the heavenly warriors so you can die and the power struggle can stop after the demon lord acquire the heavenly warrior as his mistress. They made a deal pact to get rid of you. In a few days it was to be announced that you have died in the battle. Since you held as much power as the demon lord. You would have killed any women who the demon lord took as a mistress, killing you will solve everything for the demon lord and his supporters. It will provide peace to the heavenly demi-gods, humans, creatures, and demons for at least a decade or so by the demon lord’s promise.” He said carefully.
What? So, this dumb-demon-dunce who used me for millennials. Puts me up as a target to be hit while he hides in the dark so he can have his dream women? Just because he also fears my powers? Such a demon king who use underhanded methods are nothing but a weakling. Most of the things I did, I assume was by his orders because he told me to do them. As any women in love, they are blind and are easy to go under the manipulations of others. So just kill me, the evil villain of the story, and everyone will become happy? What am I? A tool for the demon-dunce? Never.
“You,” I snapped him out of my seduction.
“I want to meet with the demon king” I demanded.
“I am but a mere servant of the main castle. I have to stay neutral. I cannot harm any of the lords nor ladies.” He fearfully said.
“Then do you want me to put in a petition to have you come and work for me?” I maliciously asked.
“No…no…please. Please follow me.” He tearfully stammers.
The poor young male servant took me through a corridor and led me inside a room. There were probably maybe over 100 portals.
“Uh, these portals can take you anywhere. To any other lords’ or ladies’ areas. It can also lead to certain towns or areas under our influences.” He said.
He led me to the biggest portal and said,
“Since this is a place where it’s neutral these portals are what the lords and ladies travel using when they need to hold meetings or gathering events here. You were put here so it would make it, so you didn’t die a suspicious death but that you died by the heavenly warriors’ scheme. Then the demon lord will demand a female heaven warrior as a sacrifice to seal the peace from the kingdom of heaven because they have killed his future demon queen.”
He started the portal and took me through.
I’m starting to really like this servant. Plus, he’s still affected by seduction, so it was easy to wring the answers out from his mouth. It seems the servants who reside at the main residence are neutral but knows quite an amount from each lords and ladies.
I came upon a large gate and was led inside by guard servants. The neutral male servant had to stay outside because he doesn’t belong with me nor with the demon lord. They’re monster guards with the face of a bird and the tail of a monkey. They are somewhat a raven-monkey demon monster hybrid type. I was guided into the throne room by a frog looking human monster who seems to be the steward of this place. I gaze upon the throne. I thought the demon lord would be some hot stud so gorgeously hot. Alas, I was disappointed. What is this white hair grandpa? Well, first the face is young but combined with white silver hair…tsk tsk gray grandpa hair. Should I compare his hair and face to the butt of an old-albino-white ape. What does he think he is? Some hot gorgeous king who women would throw themselves too? I took a look at the women kneeling on the ground next to his feet. They’re beautiful, yes. But I heard I was the most beautiful. Ehem… I didn’t look at myself in the mirror yet but let’s just hope so. According to the male servant and the way he falls under my seduction so quickly, I should be able to sway any men or women’s heart. But this dunce-demon king just stare at me with cold eyes. I can feel his hatred and pure disgust against me.
“Oh. So you haven’t died yet? My dear, I’ve been waiting for you to rekindle our love” he smiles with icy humor.
“Oh really?” I smiled as I walked up the throne.
The guards were on high alert and the women were shivering as I was walking by. The guards tried to block my way, but he waved his hands and had them move down.
I walked up the throne and sat on his lap. Tilted his neck to match my eye level while whispering in his ear seductively,
“My king, you must not forget your queen. Your one and only, until the very day you…die. My love for you is as great as your love for me. Come hither. To your chambers, before I kill the last of your newly appointed mistresses.” I smile while gazing into his eyes. As cold, as ice, his eyes resembling mine.
You want to fight. Fine, I’ll give you a fight. Ugly dumb-demon-dunce who got grandpa hair and ridiculously think all women are in love with you. There are plenty of men in this world that I, demon queen can have. If you can have many women. Why would I stoop so low just to cower under you in order to have you to love me? I can have any men as well. Stupid arrogant dunce. I will show you today, my relationship with you have gone sour. I am not going to be your queen. I’ll rule in my own kingdom and be my own independent ruler and never, under you.
“Sure, why not, my dear lovely queen” the demon lord smile, but his eyes betrayed him. They were eyes with hate and devoid of any of the sweet words he’s mentioning.
So, I let him grasp my hands and led me up to his chambers. Who would grasp the hand of their beloved so tightly that had I been a weakling, would have yell out in pain? Of course, I know the demon king might want to assassinate me in his bedchambers while proclaiming I have died because of the thrill. Placing the blame on me declaring I demanded to bed him even though I was a foot in death’s door. He believes he can pat his hand clean and get away with my assassination. I don’t know who I am in the past, or how I was as a demon queen. But this time I shall be his worst nightmare.
The demon king bedroom is truly very large. The bed is 3 times the size of the bed I had awoken up on. It’s very grandeur, equipped with everything a king should have. But I don’t have the time to bother sightseeing. Not when there’s a poisonous snake who’s staring at me ready to kill any moment. I remove his fingers from my hand.
“I’m going to go get ready, just for you my love” I smile seductively while looking at the nasty dunce-king. I went into the giant bathroom the size of the room I’ve awoken upon. I can hardly care what the demon-dunce is scheming since according to the servants, I am very powerful. Since no one cared to give me a shower and just tossed me on a random room and pronounced me dead, I need to clean myself up before a battle. I’m actually a clean freak who’s obsessed with cleanliness. Even though I can wave my fingers and magically clean myself, but I find it boring. On the other hand, it gave me extra time to strategize.
According to the male servant, I am a monster among monsters. I don’t remember how to cast spells or to create anything since I might have lost my memory upon hurting my head. While bathing, I thought: How can I see through walls and watch what the demon king is doing? How can I know what he is doing. Who knows? He could just wait by the door waiting for the chance to slit my throat when I walk out.
Suddenly, I can see through the door. Every single place where I am looking at, I can see through the meshes and view the movements of other people. I can feel and see the guards assembling in the throne room. I gaze my eyes on the demon king. He told the guards to be ready to apprehend me in case I escape. A maid is coming towards me carrying clothes.
“My lady, my lord tells me to bring you a new set of clothes to change” she knocked.
“Come in” I said.
She left the stuffs on a chair and then excused herself out the door quietly.
There are many clean towels in the room. I dried myself and wrap a clean towel around my body. I walked over and picked up the clothes the maid left. It’s a blue dress. Very exquisite detail. But not my style. I thought in my head about clothes, a small pouch pops out in the air and laid in my hand. I open it curiously and saw a room fill to the brink of clothes.
Give me a dress. I thought.
I reach my hand in to randomly grab one. I grabbed a bright red dress. However, it was very revealing.
Give me another dress. I chanted in my head before reaching into the pouch again. After 3 tries, same result.
Access to my wardrobe room. I use the same magic spell in my head.
The next thing I know, I was inside the wardrobe room.
With a wave of my hand, I got the room to gather some dresses in front of me. Most of them contain very little fabric and the dresses are very provocative. I didn’t want to waste time. I grab the one I thought is quite pretty, which was a dark burgundy wine dress. I put it on and walk up to the giant mirror in the room. Beautiful.
It wasn’t just the clothes. My face is truly beautiful. Compares to the women the demon king has, I am a level they can never beat. The dress shows my cleavage. My bosom is very voluptuous it completely makes the dress look full. Taken any other women, they would have ruin such an outfit and made the dress appear like slits. Why do I have the body of a temptress? Is this why men and women all fear me? Just due to fear? It isn’t fear towards something ugly, but fear towards a beauty that is unmatched. The slits on the dress showcase my beautiful white legs perfectly. I don’t get it. Why would the stupid demon king want to kill something so beautiful? Honestly, if I was born a woman, I will fall in love with the being I’m seeing in the mirror right now. Big beautiful eyes like ocean water. Eyes the color of amethyst. Beautiful very long straight hair which falls perfectly just like a beautiful waterfall. Every single inch of the hair is evenly align. Not one inch is longer or shorter than the other. A beautiful striking dark, striking violet-red hair. Lips the color of snowy-ruby. I try to smile while looking at the mirror. Even the smile, can steal away the hearts of men and women. A seductress with the body every man yearns for in bed. I guess the way the servants avoid eye contact with me is a natural phenomenon. I can even steal their soul with just a glance. I even find myself falling in love with myself even in this moment.
Shaking my head, I move away from the mirror. It’s better that I try to not look at myself in the mirror too much from now on. Since I don’t remember much, I might even bewitch myself without knowing.
I walk over to the dresser and sat down. There were a lot of jewelry in this place. I only took a pair of ruby earing to fashion on my ear. I then took my crown that was placed on a pedestal and place it on my head. They may want to get rid of me for their own selfish desires, but a ruler is always a ruler.
I left the wardrobe room and is transported back into the original washroom I was in. It seems the demon king is finishing talking with his demon guards and a group of his guards are coming with him up to his chambers to finish me off. Hmmm. Let’s see if they can. I opened the door to the washroom and walk over to open the door leaving the bedchamber. The door of the bedroom chamber is locked. I can break the lock and escape but I feel that it’s a waste of time. I sat on the bed and wait. I watch as they reach the door of the bedchamber. The turning of keys.
The demon king threw the door open and walk in with demon guards behind him. Showtime. I rushed up at the ugly grandpa king in a mere second and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Oh, are we going somewhere special”
Shocked and still trying to remove my fingers from his neck he said, “Why yes. First let go of my neck.”
Uh-Huh. I am so not letting go. When your neck is exposed to my claws. I can rip you apart. Hell no. So I clung on and did not let go.
“I won’t let go unless I get some alone time with you. I don’t like the extra company” I said seductively.
“Fine. Follow” the bloke said impatiently.
You bitch. I spat in my head.
I was led down into a corridor. Dungeon?
“Hey, why are you leading me down into a dungeon, my king?” I asked, trying to sound terrified.
“Well, I know you love dungeons. I also recently renovated my dungeon. I want to show you of the amazing weapons and tools I just brought in.” He said nonchalantly.
“My, my, my please do” I smile.
What can of a creep I used to be again? If so, sure. Why not play some S&M with this creepy demon dunce.
He shows me several new instruments like the torture gallows and all the whips and painful torture tools. There’s even a place to bury prisoners alive, burn them alive, poison them, and the snake prison with a whole bunch of poisonous snakes is the most terrifying. There’s even death worm prison which eats the body parts of prisoners until they complete what they are told to do or say. There are even water prisons with water snakes. Prisoners can die from snakes or choose to die from lack of oxygen. Or even both, lack of oxygen and be bitten and eaten. Since, he almost never feed these things. There are probably like around 5 other prison blocks which he deem are now currently occupied and classified. It wasn’t important because he said I already seen them before, so I didn’t bother to prod further.
“My king, I don’t like company” I said while gesturing to the prison guards.
“All of you, leave” he gritted his teeth impatiently.
I waited to see what the bloke wants from me.
He led me to a different prison block.
“Do you know what I’ve been waiting to show you?” He asked.
“What?” I said while winking.
“A prison cell which sucks other demon powers and use it as my own. In fact, a blood prison. Which also drains the blood from prisoners drop by drop. So painful that most of my subjects wanted a quick death instead of having the prison eat at it slow and slowly. I do enjoy absorbing powers slowly only when I need it. Kind of like live-stocks, you know?” He said maliciously staring at me while licking his lips.
Creep. I said in my head.
He directed me into a different prison chamber using a portal. It was a room which smell like blood. At the sight of blood my body reacted weirdly as the smell hit my nose. I felt hungry. I realize after waking up, I didn’t really have a decent meal. But the question was, why did blood look appetizing to me? There were a few prisoners tied up against the wall. As if in a trance, I went up to the bloody chair and sat down. The next thing I know, I charged at the demon king and bit his neck. Fresh delicious smell of blood. Yes, this is the taste! Similar to the very few drops of blood on the chair I had smelt. I think he must have tested it on himself or perhaps got injured from the prisoners on the wall. The center of the room begins glowing an eerie red. The more blood I drink from the nape of his neck, the more powerful I felt. The poor bloke was paralyzed and couldn’t move. However, when I look down why do I see not his loathing eyes for me like he usually have but this dunce was actually enjoying having his blood sucked. After sometime, my hunger was quenched and I remove my teeth, or should I say, fangs from his neck. He dropped to the ground looking satisfied but still no intention of fighting. So I reach my feet out and kicked.
“Hey, get up” I said emotionlessly.
After a while he opened his mouth.
“Do you…think…I wanted…to be helpless…and lose to you…you bitch…You hid it very well…of sucking powers…and energy…even from top demons…like me…If I had known…I would…have killed…you…when…you…and me…were…younger…and not left…it…so long..” he wheeze while mumbling.
“Yeah yeah. Back when I wasn’t vampire queen and you weren’t vampire king? When the elders were raising us up and back when I was stupid enough to run after you every day believing we would live a happy life like back then. But, you killed the original vampire king and queen. You killed the vampire elders who were against you. Then, you got me wrapped around your fingers. I submit to you because you promise to love me. You used us to throw the demon world into chaos. Then, by using us, you were chosen to be the next demon king. You announce me as demon queen as followed by your oath to me and my people. However, even now after you receive everything you wanted, you have your underlings kill my people under the shadows. I turned a blind eye to that because I loved you. I believed in you when you said you killed them because they were trying to cause chaos to overthrow you as king. But that was the old me. I realize that after killing most of my people, you even wanted to kill me. Thanks to drinking your blood, I can see your memories and the truth to your actions. You never loved me. What you love was power. You were a nobody. I found you in the slave market and bought you. Against my parents’ wishes I asked to be betroth to you, and I even threatened them that I would kill myself if we can’t be together. At last resort, I even allow you into my chambers and into my bed many times. You, a useless servant. Or rather, slave thrall that was supposed to be my daily meal. Had I never come to buy you, you were next in line to be sold to the slaughterhouse. There are vampires who enjoy drinking every last drop of their thralls. In fact, most thralls end up dead the next morning. But I, kept you.” I said bitterly.
“I was a stupid vampire who shouldn’t have play with my food. I deserve every horrible things. Instead of protecting my own family and my own kind, I led them all to their doom. Yes, you are right…I deserve to die.” I spit out angrily
“Hah…you are a stupid demon. Did you think that keeping me by your side everyday was a gift you bestowed upon me? I was made into your servant. I had to have my blood suck by you every day. I would rather die like most vampire thralls. I had to make you happy by kissing up to you. If I even as much glance at any female thralls from other vampires, you sent them to the vampire slaughterhouse or vampire brothels. You think I wanted your love?” he said while crawling towards the bloody throne chair in the room.
“Oh really? You didn’t want my love? Maybe, but your body gave a different reaction. You didn’t love me, but you were willing to crawl into my bed. You didn’t love me, but you always come to me and bed me even though you were sent to work away from my castle. Your heart may hate me all they want. But you were willing to sell your body to me in order to obtain better things in your life. In order to get what you want, you were even willing to sell me your body and soul. You always come crawling back to me. A dog will always remembers its master.” I spat evilly while laughing.
“You-“ He said but was cut off short.
“I hate to chime into your lover’s quarrel. Nice show there but my arm is tired from being tied for days on these chains. Lady, I know you hate him as I hate him. However, mind setting us free?” one of the prisoners opened their mouth.
I look over to the prisoners chained by the wall.
“Yeah, I notice you lot. But I don’t bother with prisoners.” I said while walking towards them.
All four of them are males. I figured. The demon dunce probably won’t put the women in here. Who knows? He might send them to another prison so he can break them and bed them.
“Speak, who are you and why are you here.” I interrogated them.
They were a bunch of filthy young men covered with blood and torture marks.
“We are from the heavenly warriors. That man there,” he pointed to the demon king.
“Captured us during the last battle and wanted to drain our powers to use for his own.” He said.
“Yeah, and I almost got killed by your lot.” I said nonchalantly.
“My apologies dear beautiful lady. You are the demon queen I assume? Your king agreed a peace treaty with us. In exchange for the heavenly warrior’s hand in marriage, he will dispose of the queen to us and make a heaven warrior goddess as his new queen. The future demon world shall be rule in goodwill and peace.” He said proudly.
“Yeah, sure.” I went towards the male prisoner and use my powers to cut the chains and their bindings.
“What are you doing! How dare you. Stop.” The demon king said.
“Let me guess, you weren’t going to abide by the peace treaty am I right? Since I’m still alive. Too bad your deal is off” I said emotionlessly.
“Thank you” the prisoner told me.
“Really. Did you all not learn?” I gave them a wicked smile.
“Wait…what are you doing?” they exclaim in shock.
“Did you all forgot I am a demon creature? Supposedly to be deem evil and vile by your kind? Pity.” I said emotionlessly.
I used my powers and created a magic prison. One prison for the prisoners and another prison for the demon king. Opening up my space portal where items cannot be stolen, I took out one of my enchanted lockets I created and move the prison inside the space vortex. Of course, knowing the demon king, I don’t want him to try anything. I separated each prison and place them inside different enchanted locket.
“You all wanted me dead. Why should I release any one of you? The only thing you deserve is to become my new source of food, slaves.” I spoke to them.
I have a castle. I can also keep prisoners there. However, most everyone thought vampires became extinct. The demon king went around uprooting all vampire castles and lairs. He claims he wanted to end chaos in the demon world. He brought up the story of how he was a thrall to the vampires and how much evil they were. Such lies. He lived in luxury and I, his stupid master was groveling at his feet.
Even though sometimes I do take prisoners because they get on my nerves. That was when I would go around beating all the any female servants he said he like and take even his concubines as prisoners because I was deeply in love with the demon king. I had another secret. I had to lie and hide my heritage as a vampire, a vampire King. Even though I am a female, but in the vampire kingdom, female can rule. My mother was the last king. She treats her thralls with respect and taught me to love all creatures. That we vampires, need thralls in order to live as much as they need us. In fact, a few of her thralls became her consorts as well. Even though my father wasn’t a thrall but of the highest noble vampire lineage, he is the kindest man that I know. Of course, mother loves my father the most as well. I also have other siblings sired by different fathers, but everyone lived in peace and harmony. However, since my father is the second highest rank after mother, I was chosen from a young age to become the next ruler. I don’t get to enjoy much things like my other siblings.
They went to vampire bars and brothels. They can stay out all day and never get into trouble. They can start a business, learn a trade, or even attend normal social gatherings. They could even go to normal vampire academies or learn fighting or other interesting magic. They had a life with vast freedom and partake in so many hobbies. I was the only one who had to stay in the castle relentlessly to keep up with my studies to become the next King. A king must be powerful and strong, so I spent most of my life learning magic and perfecting my powers taught by my mother and the high elders. There are times that I can get out of the castle. Mostly on my birthdays. On a certain year way back into my past, I went out and bought a thrall, and it doomed my life for a millennium.
I couldn’t meet my siblings often because they left the castle to attend vampire schools of their choice. Each school specializes in certain areas. They can choose to become a vampire warrior, or vampire mage, vampire Beastmaster, vampire conjuring school, or vampire trade school, and such. There are around 15 category types of schools they can choose, and I wouldn’t know because I’ve never attended them.
To me, my vampire thrall is my friend. I was an idiot. I should have listen to my mother and dispose of my first thrall and got others. But I was smitten by the eyes of hate I received from him that I wanted to save him and change his views on vampires. His family was ransack and killed by vampires. I took pity to that and try to give him a better life. I wanted him to save me by saving him. Ironic isn’t it.
The next in line vampire King, believed her thrall as the light who will guide her through the darkness by saving her lonely heart. Even if the thrall ends up killing the next in line vampire King’s family. Even if the thrall killed her vampire brethren. She turned a blind eye and thought he has every right to. She stood on the sidelines and did nothing because she took pity to his vengeance. She loves him even though she realizes that one day he will come to kill her as well. But they grew up together. She taught him whatever she learns from her lessons. She provides him with anything he wanted. She wanted him to become strong and stand by her side, not as an enemy, but as a friend. If vampires didn’t kill the people he love, would he have spent his whole life on vengeance? Would they have a chance of becoming friends at least? Alas, fate cannot be changed. The wheel of fate cannot turn back time.
Young Thrall POV:
-I hate vampire. I hate vampires. They killed my family. They destroyed my village. They branded me and turned me into a vampire’s thrall. I waited to die, to follow my family members. But I wanted to live. To live. Please, anyone. I cannot be sent to the slaughterhouse. Please save me heavens. Anyone, just anyone would do.
-Someone bought me. A very small person. Hidden under a cloak. I cannot see his face. Maybe younger than me by a few years? He held my hands and we walk for a while. The next thing I know we’re in front of a big castle? Magic powers really exist!
-I was given new clothes, food, and was left in a very clean room. It seems this room is connected to a bigger room. But the owner of that room happens to be the person who bought me. The owner is a young girl. A very adorable little thing. She asked me to become her friend. Since she saved me, I do what she asks of me.
-I treat her like my little sister. I had a little sister too. I really miss my family. If the person who save me is happy, I am happy too. Days past. Seasons come and go. We grew up together. She gave me something to drink every year, said that it extends my life, and so that we can grow up together. Whatever she gave me looks kind of like blood but tastes sweet. But I drink it anyway just to seem rude.
-Decades after decades I watch as she grew even more beautiful. I said she loves me. I said I only love her as a sister. She bit my neck and took me to an even bigger castle. She brought me towards a group of vampires and declare I was her thrall. This cannot be. I hate vampires. I hate vampires. I hate vampires!
-I tried to leave but she stopped me. She used the magic oath made by vampires to enslave me and bind me to her for eternity. I had no choice but to do what I was told. All this time, I thought I was saved, only to be brought back into enemy’s territory. If I cannot leave you, I must thank you for giving me a chance to get revenge on those who destroyed my town. I will kill all these vampires.
-I wanted to kill her. I cannot because a slave cannot kill its own master. The magic would return to me and kill me if I try to kill her. So, I created a rift between her and the vampire King. I wanted the next vampire King to be mine. I bed her. There’re no other women as beautiful compares to her, so I’m not losing anything. I’m going to target the top vampire leaders next.
-I finally achieved my goal. I destroyed the vampire King and Queen. I killed the vampire’s foundation consisting of elders. Next, I shall kill the rest of the vampires, until not a single one is left. Hah!
– I use my role as the husband of the next vampire King to obtain connections with other demons. I built my own organizations of various demons. Very soon enough, I took over the position of demon King. With this, I mobilize my demon army to go out and assimilate every last vampire.
Chapter 2
I walked out of the prison chambers. On the way out, the guards stood with eyes on the ground. I easily walk around and about in the castle out into the throne room. Demon soldiers with battle gears waited for me. I smile and with a wave of my fingers, I float all of them up and twist their bodies. Droplets of blood dripped to the ground until they form large pools of blood. I took out a few of my empty elixir vials. I created these elixir vials with my own powers, they can hold a tremendous number of potions. I gather the blood dripping on the ground and let them run into the elixir vials. After 5 of my elixir vials was filled. I was content. I stop draining their blood and dropped them to the ground, kneeling. I took out minor potion vials and fill them until not a single of blood is left. What can I say? Blood is precious. I can use them to create more thralls.
“Ahhhhhhh!” the women who I believe to be the demon king concubines and the rest of the servants hid in shocked.
“Some of you might be here against your will…or not, I will make sure you return to where you came from. They will escort all of you off the premise afterward” I said while glaring.
“You king is with me, in my prison.” I said emotionlessly to the group of demons on the ground
“How dare you- “one of the demons spoke up.
“You can try to call up your demon legion to get him back. But I don’t know, I might accidently drain him until there is nothing left.” I smile while speaking.
“There’s something else you need to know now. I am the current demon Queen. Since the King is preoccupied, I am now the sole ruler. Under my newest decree, you are to abolish any capture of vampires. Whichever vampires you have, you are to let them go free. Gather them all up and send them to my domains in the next few days. Otherwise, I will kill you all” I emphasized.
I easily left the castle and walk out the door. After I left with the servants back through the magic portal, I released the bindings on the demons back at the demon King’s castle. Of course, the male servant who followed me was looking at me in shock.
“What!” I said impatiently.
“You sure…sure…they won’t come after us?” He stutters fearfully.
“You wimp” I muttered under my breath.
“Do you have any family members?” I asked.
“No…I’m an orphan…my lady” he said.
While grabbing the neck of his shirt shoving his face right next to mine, I impatiently said, “Do you have anyone you want to save?”.
“The other servants who are with me…we’re all orphans…We grew up together, I don’t want them to be in trouble” he fearfully said.
I shove his face away from mine and let go of the collar to his shirt.
“That’s your problem, not mine. I am not a saint. It’s none of my concern.” I spat.
The servant attempted to walk away, I suspect to tell the other servants to follow him to leave.
I pulled him back and assure him, “Don’t worry, they won’t die. They’re in a neutral zone. That’s probably why they picked up normal human orphans nobody wants”.
This time I pulled his collar up and shove my face towards his.
“But you, you helped me. I couldn’t open the portals because only servants of the neutral zones can travel and run errands because you can never pick sides. Even though I’m queen, the king did not give me the keys to the portals. You didn’t know that did you? Of course, don’t worry, once I get back to my domains, I will destroy the entrance to the portal, so they won’t be able to travel there. Now come with me if you want to live.”
“Come hither my dear servant. Show me where my portal is”, I grab his shirt and gestures.
“It’s right here,” he points to a portal next to the one we just existed.
“Very well, keys?” I asked.
He open the portal again. It had suddenly slip my mind to inquire if there are any prisoners in the neutral zone. I turn around and questions him.
“Is there any prisoners in the neutral zone? Vampire prisoners for example?”
“Most vampire prisoners are kept in different prisons. I don’t know if they survived since we heard vampires are sent to those places to die. We do currently house prisoners in the neutral zone, but I’ve never gone there since it is forbidden.” He answers.
“Well, rules are to be broken.” I turn around ready to exist the portal chambers.
“Wait…aren’t you going to go through the portal?”
“No. Open it once again.”
He follows my directions but this time, black tendrils come from my left hand and cracked the portal into pieces like glass breaking.
“It’s my domain, of course I’m the only one who can come and go as I please. No one else can without my permission. Low end demons won’t be able to receive such honor.” I said emotionlessly.
The servant led the demon queen down a whole bunch of corridors before reaching a big black metal door. Infused with silver nails and hinges.
“Surely, these doors are to ward off vampires” I told the servant.
“I heard the king doesn’t like vampires much. He often stuff his prisons, even cells with silver. Just to ward them off so they won’t be able to escape nor break in.”
“Of course, vampires are fast and strong. A normal prison won’t be able to keep them in nor out. But they wouldn’t house vampires in a neutral zone. So, it’s for someone else” I said.
That someone else is me. I thought.
Had it be any other low tier vampires, they won’t able to get in. However, the demon King misjudge the powers of his demon queen. She hid her own powers very well. Growing up she never show him her true powers. He probably thought she threw tantrums and beat others up because she was a spiteful and hateful person who lashes out at anyone because she was spoiled and didn’t get the attention she wanted. He might have even believed she did all these things just to get him to look at her or focus his attention on her. He wasn’t wrong on that part; however, he misjudge that she was someone who solely rely on him. On her own two feet, she could even be much more powerful than him if she wanted. She only lower herself because she pity him. Of course, her love for him was merely based off pity. In a sense, it wasn’t strong enough for her to stay utmost loyal to him even if he attempted and almost succeeded in killing her. Everything he has was due to her. If she didn’t make him her blood soul thrall, he would not receive some of her powers which made him powerful.
Even among vampires’ thralls, there are ranking.
Low-tier vampire thralls are named level 1vampire thralls. Low-tier-ascend vampire thralls are named level 2 vampire thralls. Normal vampire thralls are named level 3 thralls. Upper-tier vampire thralls are name level 4 vampire thralls. Upper-tier-ascend, higher than upper tier thralls are name level 5 vampire thralls. Then, there are 7 more ranking levels. Approximately, there are 12 levels of vampires’ thralls. However, there is a huge gap amongstthe 2 lowest levels when compares to a basic low-tier level 1 vampire thrall. The lowest of all, not even deem as living and far below the low-tier level are the slave thralls. The second lowest level, just an inch better is the level 0 thralls. They shall not receive any power from a vampire unless as stated by the vampire master’s will. Most vampires regards these as useless and only use them as blood supply.
To put it simply, Level 1-3 vampire thralls are servant and soldier thralls. Level 1 thralls are all servant thralls. There are also level 2 or level 3 servant thralls. However, there will never be a level 1 soldier thrall since servant thralls receive around 1-6 percentage of power and soldiers receive 3-6 percentage of power from a vampire. It really depends on their level rankings.
Level 4 vampire thralls are normal guard thralls usually used to defend castles, keeps, dwellings, resources, valuables, or prisoner cells. They receive around 10 percentage of power from their vampire masters. Level 5 are advanced warmongers. Dangerous and lethal, they receive 15 percent of power from their master. Level 6 thralls are commander or elite thralls, only those with full utmost loyalty can receive such honor. They receive 20 percentage of power from their creator and gifts like extra specialized skills or equipment.
Level 7 vampire thralls are bodyguards and receive 30 percent of power from its creator. Loyal and dedicated to their master every whim and beckon. Level 8 thralls are noble and exclusive thralls. They are team captains assigned to oversee certain tasks handed by the vampire lords. They receive 35 percent of power from their vampire lord. At level 9, blood soul vampire thralls receives around 40 percent of power from its master. Then all the way at the top, is the cherished thralls at level 10. Around 60 percent of the thrall’s power comes from the vampire who bestowed it upon them. They becomes almost a half-vampire being if created by the Vampire King or the true bloodline of the vampire King. A vampire can choose to bestow powers upon their thralls. So even among thralls, there are ranking.
If their master is a truly powerful vampire with advanced skills and top-level powers, even a tiny percentage of given power shall make a level 1 servant far powerful than even the most powerful living or dead beings known. In the past, even in the vampire kingdom there were strife and war among each other. Power is everything. Only the most powerful, can become nobles. Only the most powerful of the most powerful, can becomes the next vampire King. Regardless of gender, regardless of origins.
The vampire King did not have any other thralls. She saved a slave from the vampire slave market and due to his background, she took pity on him. He rose from a slave thrall into a blood soul vampire. There are many reasons why the vampire King refused to take any more thralls.
One, was because she was already occupied with one thrall. She didn’t have time since she had duties to perform as the next in line vampire King. Most of her free time she invested in him. Teaching him what she was taught, showing him the beautiful scenery of the vampire kingdom, and trying to change his views about vampires because she pitied him.
Two, she didn’t want to any innocent thralls to die in her place. There are rules in a blood pact. Vampire thralls shall never attempt to kill their master. If they do, they will die. If they kill their master themselves, their master won’t die. In fact, the powers they are using belong to their master in the first place. The powers will just go back and kills the thralls instead. Vampire thralls must protect their master with everything they got, even with their life. If their master die, they will also die. If one vampire dies, all the thralls die as well. Of course, vampire thralls can be relinquished from their duties but at a cost. They can be cast out by stripping the thralls of all their powers. This makes the thralls extremely weak and returns back into their original form, but they won’t die alongside with the vampire lord. This is an extreme method and is only used by vampires who deem human lives worthless or such cases of vampires laying punishment onto their thralls for certain crimes. Imagine vampire powers allow thralls to live as long as their vampire creator. But stripping a vampire thrall’s power will return them back to their old life. If they are humans, who have a short lifespan…if they are truly lucky, they can live for a few weeks at most…if not, a day. There were one or two cases of human thralls turning to ashes and dust after having their powers removed.
Three, she didn’t want to take on anyone else. Only the cherished ones of vampire lords doesn’t have to die if their master die. They can be released from the blood pact with all their powers still intact. Usually this is an emergency method. In case a vampire was hunted down and happens to die, he or she still needs to have offspring to continue the family’s lineage. The pregnant cherished one will not die and survives. This case ensures she or he will give birth to the next generation of vampires. In humans, only female can give birth. However, in vampire rules, nothing is impossible. The thralls’ energy is fed by the powers given to them by their master. If the vampire master is a female, she can choose to not be pregnant and her thralls will becomes pregnant instead. This is the cases for most female vampire Kings. There are duties to be completed as a vampire King. She cannot waste time to carry around a huge bulge to meetings nor can she waste time to go into labor. It will be dangerous for the female vampire King. She can die because of childbirth or even die at the hands of her enemies when she’s at her weakest. Therefore, as female vampire Kings, they will not give birth. It shall be their thralls or the vampire concubines’ job. In the vampire kingdom, weakness is a sin.
The next in line vampire King wanted a life with only one person that she love. She doesn’t want to bed any vampire thralls nor vampire nobles in order to make a stronger lineage just like her predecessors was taught to do. She originally wanted to make him a level 10 vampire, but because he was originally a slave thrall, most vampires reject the very idea. So thus, with no choice she forcefully turned him into lv 9 thrall. Why? He will die if he stay a slave thrall. They don’t receive any magic power and cannot survive long. Since human lifespan is short compare to vampires, vampire slave thralls will grow old, and eventually death awaits them. But her innocent heart grew twisted from betrayal from the one person she wanted to share the rest of her life with.
Back to vampire King POV
“Well, what are you waiting for, hurry up” I spat after watching the servant fumbling around trying to open the door.
“Just hold on you see, there are too many keys” he said while still digging out piles and piles of keys.
“Humph” I crossed my arm and leaned against the wall.
After around 10 minutes…he’s still rummaging.
“Hey, it’s forbidden for the servants. Which means even if you stand here and rummage for all eternity you won’t be able to find-“
“I got it!” He spoke with excitement and clamors over to open the door.
There was a click and the door opens. He gestures me to go through the door.
My mouth was still open from my last sentence.
“Ahem” posture, posture, aye I must act like a proper demon queen.
“Ok, let’s go” I pulled the servant along while kicking the keys on the floor away in order to close the door behind us.
Pulling the servant along, I discreetly tiptoe my ways through traps and hanging killer weapons. But at this moment, I’m very annoyed. Why bother so many traps just for a couple of demons, a few dogs, a few goody-two-shoes, and a few worthless humans. Of course, what else did I find? Vampire thralls.
I pace up and down the prison chambers while staring at each prisoner.
“Oye, you lot. Is there anything of value in this place?” I sound like a tyrant.
“…….” Silence follows.
“I’ll free whoever is willing to tell me” I said lightly.
“…….” Silence in all the cell blocks.
“I’ll give you money and jewels” I tempted.
“…….” Silence.
“What do you want, name your price and if I can, I’ll find it” I demanded.
This time it seems like some of them took the bait.
One of the prisoners in the cell came forward and said, “Anything?”.
“Yes, yes. Name your price” I smile innocently.
The demon queen doesn’t know that every time she smiles, she look more like a seductress than a friendly little girl. Her heart is innocent as a lamb because she was never exposed to much bloodshed and grew up protected as the next vampire King. It wasn’t like she didn’t kill. She did kill those who wanted to try and climb up to become the next demon queen however. Any women who are clingy and any female demons who have eyes for her husband, she will kill. The demon King origin is human. He still think like a human. All humans want a warm, friendly, and innocent wife. In fact, he disliked how the demon queen is too beautiful enough to drive men and women crazy. He would rather like a plainer woman who’s more warm, friendly, and pure like the woman he had eyes on in the heavenly warriors’ branch.
“…uh…We are thralls.” He said hesitantly.
“Go ahead” I was getting impatient. I wonder if I have to go in and torture them in order to get answers.
“Make us your thralls” another thrall prisoner chime in.
“UH. NO. Tell me why I would bother with prisoners who I’ve never seen before.” I spat.
“Then we will tell you what you want” the first thrall who spoke said.
I walked towards the thrall and lifted their neck with my finger “How about I break into each and every single cell and torture each and every single one of you for fun until you tell me what I need to know”.
He shivered for a moment.
I forced him to gaze at my eyes while I hypnotize him trying to get answers.
“Tell me if there’s anything else in this place” I questions.
“No, there’s no one else here but us” he answers.
“Where are the rest of the vampires? Where are your masters” I questions again.
“The rest of the vampires are each held at different prisons in the demon kingdom and many were also sent as gifts or prisoners to the heavenly kingdom and the human kingdom as well. We do not know where our masters are. They cast magic to block our mind from searching for our master. Even if we got out, they must have casted magic to block our master’s location from us. The only thing we can feel is that our masters are becoming weaker by the day. Our masters might end up dying and so will we. There were hundreds of vampire thralls put in here, but majority have all turned into dust.” He answers.
“Alright” I gently tap his face.
Realizing he was hypnotized, the poor lad blushed.
Turning my attention to the other cell block I walked towards and showed my disgust by being foul mouth again, “Well, well look what we have here. demons and dogs”.
“You damn vampire” one of the dogs barked at me.
“Dogs, don’t bark at the god who will determine your fate” I wave my hands nonchalantly.
“I don’t think you should do that, what if they bite you” the male servant walked up to me and said cautiously.
“Grrrrr…you dare- “the dog began again.
“Yeah yeah, what do you want you damn Lycans” I spat.
“…” as if not wanting to fight with me, the lycan turned his back and faced the wall. The other lycans still kept quiet while staring at me through their prison block.
“What? Doggie wants a bone?” I snickered.
The damn big lycan turned around and emit a loud deafening roar.
“Damn you, my super hearing sensitive ear” I shouted while recovering over the shock.
“I take it back. I’m going to go in there and turn the rest of you dogs into my thralls.” I threatened.
I freeze the door to the lycan prison block and broke it with a punch. While walking in, I took out my whip and went towards the prison where the damn blue wolf was in.
“My, my, no one here to save you now. It’s just me and you, doggie. Let’s play a game of…obedience.” I mock while breaking the lock open with my powers.
The silver blue wolf charge at me immediately the moment I walk in.
Black tendrils from my hands crawl towards the silver blue wolf. The dog leg was held down on the ground. His legs were not restricted to small movements, so he lunge his jaw towards me attempting to snap at my neck. With my whip I smack his jaw away to prevent it from getting closer to my face.
After a fierce fight of which I felt like my whip was a chew toy for this dog, I grasp the neck of the wolf and bit down hard. Releasing a bit of venom of euphoria to get the lycan to relax, I let go of my whip and made a cut on my arm. Using my blood, I drew a blood pact and drag my hand forward to drip the blood from my arm down into the throat of the lycan. A certain amount of blood is exchange, and the blood pact is complete. The room glows bloody red and at this moment, I am to decide which thrall level he should be. In fact, I don’t have anything in mind at this moment, so I decided to keep him at the slave thrall status until the lycan behaves.
I took out a small necklace and threw the wolf into there. It’s a prison but with necessities like food, a house, a bed, and other things. I usually keep prisoners I don’t intend on killing in these types of enchanted equipment.
Walking out the prison cell I said to the other lycans, “Sorry about your friend. It won’t happens to you if you just quietly walk away, I will free the rest of you by releasing the magic to these cells. Return to your human form.”.
They return to their human form. Again, no women. I see. The demon douchebag is known for his “kind” treatment of women. To him, I don’t even count as a woman even.
My vampire ears are sharp. I can hear everything even miles away if I want to. Right now, it seems the demon lords of the other domains are gathering in the hall and marching towards the small neutral zone prison. I immediately froze the whole entire prison from where I stand. I walked towards the male servant and handed him my chew up whip.
“Here, it still has a bit of durability left. Just go and smack those prison doors and it should open”.
“Yes, my lady” he said.
“Leave the goody-two-shoes prison alone” I warned.
“The what?” He turned to ask.
“I’ll will do that prison block myself. Go open the rest of the prison block.” I shooed him away.
I stood for a moment while eyeing up the heavenly troops that were caught up and down. There are probably like 10.
“Hey, if you want to live. Do what I tell you”.
Murmurs among the magic folks who are from the heaven branch.
I rolled my eyes and took out a book. The heavenly warriors here weren’t at the demon lord castle. He isn’t going to drain their magic like he will do to the other 5, so these 10 might be proven as a valuable trump card. In case the angels fail in killing me, there is always a backup plan in exchange for his beloved angel hand in marriage. So, in this group, there is probably a few important individuals.
“There’s quite a bunch of you. I just came back from death. I am not about to rescue a bunch that will stab a dagger in my back while I am not looking. So therefore, climb in”, I tossed the book to them.
A portal opens from one of the pages.
“Climb in. I like to tinker around and create a lot of magic items. I’m not here to kill you. You are not worth my time. There are demons coming this way soon. Unless you want to stay or leave, it’s up to you”, I shrug.
They all enter the magic portal one by one. I grab the book and walk to the next prison cell. There, I find 6 more heavenly warriors. Repeating the same thing, I tell them to enter the portal.
“They’re opening the door to the prison and entering. Are you finished?” I yell at the male servant and the rest of the prisoners who are scrambling to open the prison cells to release their kinsmen.
“Almost done!” the male servant yell back.
If I was in a bad mood, I might have kick his butt for yelling back. However, time is important.
I open a portal connecting to the outskirts of my castle and told the prisoners to hurry up and enter. I went off to help the male servant open the rest of the prisons.
It took quite a while for the demon legion to untangle themselves from each other after tripping over the traps at the front door. They didn’t know that keys can make them slip and tumble over one another in a way so disastrous. It even took them longer to disable the many traps that was laid into the prison in the neutral zone. By the time they got to the prison, what was left were huge chunks of ice everywhere and a chilling message in ice which states:
Those who comes after me shall live, live, live, live, and live. I will not kill you even if you beg. Come to find if you want to play.
They felt a chill on the back of their neck. There is no way they can enter the domains of the demon queen since the portals there were destroyed. Even if they finally found the location where the domains were hidden, receiving torture is worse. They’ve heard all the rumors. The demons shudder at the thought. They weren’t afraid of their demon King. Rather, they were more afraid of the demon Queen. In fact, they’re too terrified to even continue the pursuit. As of now, they shall wait and gather the rest of the demons together to vote on what decision they must take.
Chapter 3
A group of filthy looking humans was moving their way walking up from the beach and treading through the woods. From far way, one would assume they were humans. However, moving close, one would see horns and different physiques which would differentiate them from a normal human being. In fact, even the only female there seems to emit an aura of temptation and death.
Great. I’m glad I told these prisoners to switch to human forms. It would be tragic if my cover is blown away. No matter how I wanted to live a quiet and peaceful life, I can’t escape the fate of my origins. I am a vampire.
Considering why would I put my domains on a beach. I assure you, it’s not on a beach. It lies deep inside a lagoon. In fact, I built it to float on water. There is a small village on the beach. In order to conceal my identity as a vampire all these years as the demon Queen, the villagers are my food source. Of course, nothing is free in this place. I quietly take their blood and protects them quietly on the side. I created a magic protection shield over the village. Only they can come in and out. No invaders nor marauders ever come. To enter, they would need a magical key, to which I’ve imprinted as symbols on their skin.
Before I came to this area, villagers have been suffering from thieves and robbers. Their goods were stolen. Their fish farms were plundered. Their women were raped and kidnapped to sell on the black-market. Yes, even humans have slave markets. Sometimes, I wonder…if the demon king knows about the horrors humans themselves have wrecked upon this world. Vampires are noble creatures. We share our powers and protect our thralls. However, humans steal, kill, and plunder countlessly. In this world, it’s a cruel place. Whether to becomes the prey or becomes the hunter. As vampires, we have no other choice. Hunt, or be hunted.
My dear vampire King. You don’t know do you? Vampires are too beautiful. Our lineage and beauty makes us a target for humans. In the past, before vampires started hunting and killing humans, we were a peaceful race. We ask for blood from voluntary donors. In return, we offer our services and protection to humans. The pact didn’t last. Humans became greedy in the desire to obtain power and soon began quenching their lust by capturing vampires in their desire for beautiful slaves. What vampires value the most are our pride and ego. My vampire ancestors rebelled and escaped. The vampires who didn’t make it choose to end their life. Vampires are immortals. We won’t die easily. That is, only noble vampires and above. We have a life core. Gathering even fragments can cure and revive a fallen vampire. So thus, we were able to live on and survive. So, if I can find vampire life cores, I can save even one of my brethren
Those who managed to escape ran and ran until they’ve finally found our vampire kingdom. We have no choice but to slaughter humans and kidnap them in order to wipe their memories and make them our thralls.
As vampires, we chose to coexist peacefully. Cruel fate has it, we can only choose one or the other. Becomes the hunter or the prey. Hunt or be hunted.
It’s been decades since I’ve chosen this place as my home. I offer the villagers with protections. The magic in this place allow humans to live longer than expected. I’ve even given them enchanted items I’ve crafted. Magic scrolls and magic weapons. Amulets and necklaces to increase their fortitude and protect them if they were ever attack after going out of the magic shield boundary. I even know where they went and their location. If children are attacked by a ghoul, I would make sure to call off the ghouls. I’ve watch the humans in the village grow young and old. From the time they were born to the day they finally became a grandparent. Even my magic can’t extend their life forever. A lot of times I wish to make them my thralls so they can become immortal. But the humans seems happy being with people they cherish and love.
Of course, they don’t know I ever existed. I kept a low profile appearing as a peddler who comes once every 40 to 50 years or so. They wouldn’t have thought it was weird when I change my forms every 150 years claiming I am a son, grandson, great grandson, great great grandson, and so on. Basically, I come from a long line of peddlers who sell magical artifacts. Of course, I warn them of the monsters in the woods, swamp, and the lagoons and told them to avoid the abyss of hell and stay away from such terrors. There were a few curious villagers and I make sure to scare them away with my ghouls patrolling in the forests and magical creatures I’ve summon and placed around the lagoon. For humans, the only safe entrance is by boats riding through the swamp with many forks and turns. Perhaps if they find the correct path before being consumed by my swamp monsters, they might even meet me one day. However, none had the courage because some villagers though about that, but they got lost and couldn’t get out. So thus, I had to send out my creatures to scare them peddling their boats back towards their home.
Sometimes, I do feel tired from taking care of these humans. They’re a little bit simple and dumb. If they’ve met bad humans who would take advantage of their simple and friendly brain, they will easily die. It’s a small fishing village that rely on scavenging, hunting, gathering, and fishing. I do love their cuisine. I showed them a way to breed various fish and sea creatures for consumption. As a peddler, of course.
At night time, I would sometimes creep in and drink their blood and leave before they awake. The humans schedule would start early in the morning at 4. The women would pack food and the men would come out unloading crates and boxes on to their ships. Children would help carry lightweight nets and fishing equipments. The half of the fishermen leave with their ship to go to their fish farms and half would go farm for fish in the ocean. Women stay behind to watch little children. They work in the field planting crops with their in-laws or parents. Of course, there are men who chose to be farmers instead of fishermen as well. Children doesn’t have school until 8 in the morning so they can sleep in or help around with their parents. There’s a few professions in this village. Herb gather, cloth maker, fishermen, farmers, hunters, and a few more basic professions a small village should have. I sometimes have the notion of wanting the suggest them to fortify the place or get a blacksmith to make a lot of weapons. Though I refrain from the thought since they seem happy with their simplistic life.
There is one rule set out by the village elders. Do not go out at night. Of course, that was all due to the rumors and stories I’ve been spreading and fabricated over several decades. This way, I won’t have to waste my time running around manipulation their memories. Now going back towards our walk through the beach.
Of course, a few of the villagers spotted us. But I ignored them and walked on. It’s not like they’ve not seen odd things in their entire life.
I look at the group of prisoners in their tattered clothing trudging along through the woods.
I spoke to them, “The humans won’t follow us to the woods. The ghouls are not very pleasant”.
I then turned my attention to the dark foreboding woods. Giant tall trees, some look dried out and dead. However, the wood is so densely pack every turn a person makes, they would surely slam into the trunk of a giant tree. No sunlight, no wind breeze. Everything feels dead but the trees are very much alive. If a person were to walk into these woods, they would feel a slight cold chill around them. The black shadowy creatures which floats around sends a cold chill into the human’s heart. Of course, they’re my creatures. One single gasp into the intruder’s heart would be what I call the ‘touch of death’. It’s a skill to quietly and silently assassinate intruders.
“GHOULS” I yell.
“come to me” I beckoned.
Thousands and thousands of ghouls land and kneel before me. I think to fill this wood, I created more than 5 hundred thousand ghouls. Unlike humans, ghouls do not sleep. They patrols the woods without need for anything. Every moment, a ghoul would meet another every second they walk around while patrolling. This way, every inch of woods are fortified. No one can creep in without me knowing. Ghouls like darkness. Even if intruders thought about digging under, they will be digging for their graves.
“report” I command one of them to come forward and speak.
“Master, the children created a dare to see who can last in the woods longer.” the ghoul reported.
“And?” I asked them cautiously.
“We scared them silly. Mwahahah!” the ghoul spoke excitedly.
“Mwahaha! Ghoul Ghoul Ghoul!” the rest of the ghouls shout gleefully.
“Quiet down!” I shouted. I forgot my ghouls were very different than the rest. Ghouls are emotionless creatures with high tolerance to pain and everything else except for light. I created my ghouls using my own blood. I gave them emotions and even though they can’t feel. My ghouls are a cut above the rest. Just…very different.
[Oh, the headache when I must deal with ghouls who are children on steroids].
My ghouls are shameless little trickster. Instead of killing intruders quickly, I wager they will play with the poor intruders to death.
[Writer’s POV: hey, doesn’t that sound like somebody? Ehem. *cough* * cough*]
[Hey! Just because I used my blood to create them, doesn’t mean they will take on my characteristics. But that was me in the past! I’m a changed man! I mean woman!]
[Writer: Tsk Tsk. I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you.]
[You dare! I will drain you dry!]
[Writer: I fear for my life. Please exclude me from any further argument. I will take my leave now. Ciao~]
[Come back here!]
“Alright. Just keep to your usual patrol schedules. Scare away villagers and don’t kill them. Report to me if there’s any suspicious activity”.
I had the ghouls turn into black winged birds and flew us towards the entrance of the castle. My ghouls can change into any form if desired. They can walk, teleport, fly, float, and all. Except they can’t patrol in water. They can teleport in and out of the lagoon and tread anywhere, but they can’t patrol in water. Ghouls can swim but they are not sea creatures. They cannot live in the sea. I had to create other magical creatures to patrol certain areas. The dark woods are ghouls’ domain.
“Why did you not fly us to your castle?” One of the demons asked me.
“Unless you want to become struck by lightning, by all means, please try” I smiled evilly.
“My castle is very well hidden. Even if there are those who attempt to fly in, they would merely hit giant clouds and fried by lightning. Only I and those trusted can fly in. Since we’re not that close, we’re taking the front door.”
Of course, I didn’t tell them the whole truth. The lightning was just to warn people away and proclaim the place was dangerous. If someone were to venture further…uuhuuhuhuehee.
“Alright. Be careful of the moat. It’s highly poisonous. Even though it’s not poisonous towards me, it’s poisonous to humans.” I took out enough magic items consisting of capes and face masks for the demons, lycans, and human thralls.
I unlocked the big giant gates enshrouded by threes and vines and we walk through the moat. I call it a moat but in fact it’s miles of land infested with green poisonous gas and liquids. If anyone were to invade this area, they would die of hallucination first than the poison. The land here drives people insane.
After walking a couple of miles, we tread into a rainforest. This is where I was experimenting with plants. Some plants are carnivorous. Some plants are experiments gone wrong. However, it was a lot worse here. I rarely ever venture here since I always teleport to my castle instead. It took a bit of time detangling the prisoners from the plants’ grip and throwing them into a shield orb in which I floated in front of me while navigating out of the plants’ territory.
“What…what…” the male servants huffed terrified.
“It’s pheromone. These plants are not carnivorous. Only a few. But I guess after interbreeding with the failed experiments that I tossed out, they’re turning into humans more by the day.” I spoke emotionlessly.
I got injured fighting the heaven warriors a few decades back. I stopped by a human village in order to secure blood to heal my wounds. One of the human nobles trapped me with an intent on capturing me. I don’t know what his intention is for capturing me, so I knocked them out instead. Originally, I thought about killing his henchmen and him but instead brought them back and did experiments on them. I wanted to turn them into monster plants that eat humans. Too bad the experiments failed. Now I know why they wanted to capture me.
“These plants were once humans. Even if I convert them into plants, their lustful characteristics do not change. I suggest you all to never go through this area again. If you do as I say, I will give you enchanted equipments to teleport around while avoiding this place” I said nonchalantly.
I could have just teleport them straight to the castle instead of taking them around and showing a few of the traps I have around my domains. However, I’m not here to be a savior. I’m not here to boasts about my powers. I’m showing them around to make sure I receive absolute submission. After what I’ve been though, I hate betrayals. I only take submissive and subservient underlings.
I took them through a cave filled with treasures and watch their actions. Caves filled with magic crystals and artifacts worth several nations. It’s quite a shame none of the prisoners were tempted to wander off or take anything. If so, they would die. There are a lot of traps in this place. In one cavern I’ve threw a couple of those plants in there. Another cavern I’ve loaded with poison. Even the gold are coated with tiny magic worms that eats away at the flesh at anyone who touch them. The magic crystals are worth a fortune. There’s a lot of magic to be harvested from there. Too bad I’ve inscribed parasitic eggs inside them. The cavern is a cold region. Inside the crystal, I’ve imbued it with several layers of ice that keep the eggs in hibernation. In order to use the crystals, intruders would need to use their magic to absorbs them. In doing so will break the ice layers around the egg and thus releasing parasitic arthropods. Due to the heat source leaking in, the parasitic eggs hatch into poisonous arthropods which then latch onto the back of whoever is attempting to use the crystals. They look very similar to trilobites.
[Hey, Writer? This is a fantasy fiction novel series, not a nonfiction genre.]
[Writer: Eh? Anyway, it looks like a trilobite alright? I can’t find anything else to describe it in vampire terms]
The parasitic arthropods are known as Triols. Very potent parasitic creatures. They listen to their creator, that’s me. I designed them with the thought: during a times of conflict comes a strong bond of friendship. Or rather, make my enemy my servants. If a warrior got this far, it shows potential. They can serve my purpose as a puppet.
The leeches infect the blood of the host. They aren’t poisonous, and they do not harm the host. Except my leeches will attach to the host bloodstream, unlike arthropods, it’s harder to remove diols. Diols likes to attach to a blood source, they need the host alive and healthy. Diols won’t ever harm a single living breathing creature. They enter the veins of a living host and even provide enough strength and health to heal an injured host. They’re very adorable little thing. I think they are the weakest and harmless bunch of my magical creatures. Except for one thing. I created them with the intention for the demon king’s women and any of the females who ever ventured close to him.
These diols need to mate regularly. However, I choose who they can and cannot mate with. All the demon king’s lovers cannot mate with the king or else I force the diol to eat the lifeforce of these women away. Doing something such as touching my husband’s skin will result in unbearable pain. If they forego the warning, the diols will continue to gnaw them from inside out. The hosts infected by my diols act like my puppets. Those concubines in the demon’s king castle? They tremble at the sight of me. Diols are harmless, but they still follow my commands.
With the desires to mate regularly, I sent the diols to the forbidden forest. The plants can take care of the rest. Shrewd? Demon kings need permission from the queen in order to wed others. I gave him permission to do that because I had given him everything all my life. He kill my own people and I stood by and let him. He slaughter my own family members and I stood on the side and allow him to. I had given him powers and everything he so desires. However, he refused to acknowledge me. But he refused to love me.
As a human, his hair wasn’t silver. His hair was pitch black. It was due to my powers he received from a vampire King which made him immortal. My original hair color is supposed to be icy silver hair. The true lineage of the vampire Kings comes from a long line of immortals. I dislike the hair color. I once venture into the place where they keep level 0 thralls. The old human slaves have gaudy white hair. Even though mine is truly beautiful, I didn’t want to look like an elderly human. But Arysil, the demon dunce said my hair is beautiful. I turn his hair to match mine and lied about how his hair changed because he is my thrall. I heard my sisters once said about how human couples often have similar things to remember each other’s by.
After Arysil betrayal, I couldn’t kill him. Yet, I couldn’t save anyone. I was too ashamed. I change my hair color and alter my appearance, making myself uglier than my true appearance. Since my true vampire King’s appearance can bring calamity and dangers upon my peaceful and quiet life. Yet, even though I’ve made myself way uglier than before, they still claim I bewitch them.
There are other magical monsters I’ve created to guard in other areas as well. Though reaching the caverns is enough. I wanted to test their greed and see if they are even worth my time. At this point, I opened a gate and led them through into my castle.
A group of people scamper through a rift opened into the middle of a giant hallway. A bunch of women was running towards the group. From far away, they resemble women, coming closer, one can witness their hair consists of branches and leaves. They’re wood sprites. Wood spirits used to maintain the castle and gives protection to this area. The vampire King built this place. The trees in which she planted meticulously. Everything in this place was created by her. In doing so, she spent years over exhausting her magic and was often forced to sleep for days.
Given the direction to lead the prisoners to guest chambers, the wood sprites led the group of men down to different corridors and hallways. Awe by the great works done to this place and amazed at the grandeur of the palace, they felt as if they’ve venture into a great maze with treasures. After checking up on the activity of the palace and the dismissal of the rest of the sprites back to their usual tasks, the vampire King open a gate and enter her bedroom chambers.
Why would a vampire need to sleep? The vampire King fought a great battle and previously was injured. In order to heal herself, she need to replenish her energy.
Chapter 4
In a remote island on the borders of the Kalance empire, a group of young women were being led together in chains. They weren’t the best in beauty but nevertheless good-looking young women. There were also young children held in cages led by the guards and bounty hunters. Behind them walk old elderly women and men also held together by chains. A rowdy bunch of soldier rides behind them on the body of orcs. Every time the line in front of them wavers, a single utter from a single man sends wave of terror. Whippings and lashing by soldiers rain upon the elders in front of them. One of the young women look back in horror and tries to run back while screaming but to no avail. Once again, she was yanked back into the assembly line.
The man whose words can determine their fate, saw the commotion up front and rode up from the back. He bellows, “You ignorant buffoons, be careful of the goods! We still need to fetch a good price for these prisoners of wars!”. One of his soldiers walked up to him and reports, “Commander, we are exiting the borders of the Kalance empire soon and in order to reach the City of Alterise we have to cross through the border of the Diregent Pass”. The commander eyebrow heighten with discontent, “Very well, prepare the rest of the cages and put these prisoners in there. Be on the lookout for any dangerous evil crawling about and increase perimeter watch”.
The group of soldiers hastily quicken their pace at the very thought of the vile creatures of the dark lurking about under the cover of darkness.
In order to not attract attention to their party, they move quickly as fast as possible before dusk sets.
A few soldiers walk up towards a group of people donning cloaks walking huddle closely together. One of the soldiers spoke, “You magician and relic priests, go set up your invisible cloaking and hide our people from predators and wild monsters”.
A few other soldiers came to another group walking behind them, consists of muscular and healthy-looking humans and said, “You bounty hunters and assassins should know what to do, secure the goods and protect us well”. The bounty hunters donning big hammers and axes double their sizes scoffed at the soldiers, “Grr, make sure ya pay us double. We never sign up to go through the Diregent Pass”. After dusting dried blood off their blades (resembling shuriken) of various sorts in which they wear from top to bottom. The assassin merely glanced over while sharpening their dual blades. Of course, it was full of murderous intent. The soldiers hastily back away, “Yeah. You see…about that. We’ll relate that back to our captains”. Like cowards they scurry away with tails between their legs. Yes, literally with tails between their legs. This time both the bounty hunters and assassins gave a nod of acknowledgment to the magicians and the priests. One of the bounty hunters even said with mockery, “I guess you lot aren’t useless after all. The whole way we had to keep you weak magic lot alive too. What a hassle”.
“Humph” magicians chose to ignore the mockery and walked off with the soldiers to set their magic.
“Oye, you lot. Wait for us. You can’t defend yourself against physical attacks. Your magic is useless in close range” the bounty hunters began splitting themselves up following the magicians and priests.
Dawn of a New Era
DAWN OF A NEW ERA *1st rough draft*
Chapter 1: Awakening
The first thing I remember upon opening my eyes is the headache on my head. I clutched my head while trying to shake myself off the pain in order to take a look upon my current surrounding. A bedroom? Aye, a very grand bedroom with a lot of clothes and jewelry. It was a rather sophisticated room for very ladies from those noble eras in western dramas. I grew up in a normal family. But sometimes, I wonder if I was born into the wrong family as well. I live and think too much like a king. Just in case I miraculously happened to land somewhere, I wanted to know if I was a male or a female. Opened my pants…phew, my goodness. Still a woman. In my several cycles in order to survive, I took only male physical physiques. It was only recently I got lucky in trying for female physical body forms. Less work. Figures, since the bedroom wasn’t really male oriented. I can hardly bother to check myself in the mirror. Still clutching my damn aching head, I got off the bed and dizzily walked outside into the corridor. Pitch black. Or rather, compares to my bedroom, it seems rather eerie and cold. There were small lights dimly lighting the corridors. It feels spooky. As I gradually walk to who knows where while trying to muster the strength into my body, I seem to run into a couple of people here and there. However, every time they see me, they ran. They ran for their life while screaming. What the heck did I even do to deserve this. First, I just woke up feeling like someone had just bashed me in the head with a club. Second, I was too dizzy to even clearly see what I am and who I am. Third, where the hell am I.
I continue trudging along. Picking a random corridor and hoping to find the exit out of this maze. I went along and by chance stumbled upon a large kitchen and found something to stuff my stomach. When I said by chance, it was rather my senses are very sensitive. The pain on my head hurts, and I can smell something good from afar. Grabbing a chicken leg from a plate, I chewed on it while I watch the kitchen staff ran from the kitchen screaming like I was about to eat them alive. Uh huh. So I keep walking while munching on my giant chicken leg. I walked into a giant armory room full of armors and weapons. The people there who were cleaning and polishing the armors and weapons froze. Then they once again screamed. At this point I was already pissed. I stick my clean hand and stuff it into my ear while the other hand I am still stuffing my face with the chicken leg.
“Shut up.” I said.
They all became quiet and ready to run. They couldn’t very well run since I’m the one blocking them to the exit. It’s right behind me.
“If anyone of you move without my permission, I will kill you” I threatened.
I can see the terrified looks on their face while standing or sitting on the ground rigidly. So the next thing I did was to lay leaning on a long cushion chair(chaise lounges) on one side while munching on my chicken leg. I stare at them to understand why would they be afraid of a normal person like me, but most kept their eyes to the ground.
“Am I that scary?” I asked.
Silence.
“N….no….my lady” a male servant mumbled with his head to the ground still avoiding eye contact.
Well, since they fear me, I might as well act the part eh.
“Then? Tell me a logical reason why I shouldn’t kill you. If your answer meets my expectation, I shall let you live, perhaps…or I can kill all of you…one by one.” I snickered.
“Line up,” I demand.
No one still dare to move. I finished stripping my chicken leg down to the bone and then tossed it to a corner somewhere.
“Come on, I won’t bite. Come closer” I wiggled my oily fingers with soft seducing words trying to trick children to eat a forbidden fruit.
They slowly edge forward and line up one by one next to my chair that I am lying on.
“Are…are you not going to eat me…” a young servant asked with downcast eyes.
“No. Tell me what other people say about me.” I asked.
“They said…said…you chase after men…and drink their blood…and curse their souls…and finally eat them alive…” he stammers.
Eh…what…am I like some creep?
“Anything else?”
“No…my lady” he still stammers.
“Ok. Next!” I beckon the next person.
“I uh…uh…heard you can send anyone flying to their death with just one wave” he mutters.
“Anything else?” I asked.
“That you eat children and likes to go after particularly males.”
“What…Ok. Next” again, what’s with me trying to eat men again.
The next few male servants keep mentioning the same thing about me being some kind of lustful evil thing who likes eating men’s heart and curse their family and all.
“Ok next!” I impatiently said.
I beckon to one of the women forward.
“My…lady…I…heard you curse women to be ugly” she said carefully.
What? Since when have I ever done that? The female servants aren’t even that ugly. Are they blaming me because they weren’t born blessed?
“Ok. Next!”
“My lady, they said you are a demon who will eat our children and seduce our husband and sisters away” one of the women said
“My lady, they said you are a seductress who not only play with men’s hearts but women’s heart as well” one of the women said.
“My lady, they said you like virgins regardless of gender as well” another women said.
“My lady, they said you are a demoness who preys on the weak and eat the flesh of the strong to become powerful” one of the male servant said.
“My lady, they said you can crush a kingdom if you’ve wanted” another male servant said.
“My lady, they said you have destroyed many kingdoms in the past” another male servant said.
“My lady, they said you wreck havocs and destruction wherever you go” another male servant said
“My lady, they said whoever kills you will become a godly legend” the last male servant in the room said.
“OK. SHUT UP the lot of you” I said impatiently.
Good lord. I just want to live in peace and quiet munching on my chicken leg somewhere while enjoying some peaceful relaxation.
“My lady…aren’t you supposed to be deemed half dead?” one of the male servant said cautiously.
Dafuq. I mean.
“Ehem…so how would I be…deemed, half-dead? Tell me.” I stood up from my chair and wiped my greasy hand on his shirt.
“Er…you were in a battle against the heavenly warriors chosen by God. I mean…they’re actually gods or demi-gods themselves.” Another servant exclaims enthusiastically.
“Are we not on the same side? Are you happy that I would have died? Hmm?” I glared at them while coming closer to that young male servant and blowing steam into his ear.
I can see the poor man shivering.
“No…I mean, we are all monsters to men’s eyes. But…but…pardon me mistress…you are a monster amongst the monsters.” He hastily whispers.
“But you are strong!” he once again hastily tries to correct himself.
“Sure, sure” I smile without any emotion in my eyes.
“The rest of you can clean or polish whatever you want. I won’t bother you.” I said to the rest of the servants.
“You. Come with me. After I hit my head or something, I don’t remember much. Come. Show me around, before I fancy you and ask you to become my next meal.” I smile beckoning him outside.
I blew a kiss to the female maidservants while leaving.
“If I ever need any future maidservants to warm up my bed, I’ll be asking for each of you. Mwah~”
As if electrocuted, they shiver in shock and I could even see one almost jump up running in fear.
The male servant led me to places like the indoor garden, the smith, the barn where they keep a whole bunch of monsters to ride, a big throne room where all the evil lords and ladies reside. Some dining room with grandeur and some random departments around the place. What he means departments? Well, every evil lords or ladies of this place seem to have their own place around this area. Each have their own place. I just happened to be awoken up in a shared place where they all meet. There’s even a lord who uses total poison and decorated his department with poisonous traps for intruders. There are really even ladies who really like to eat people. According to the male servant, for us eating strong warrior makes us stronger, especially eating the heavenly warriors their gods had chosen, those demi-gods. It was such a cruel world that demon lords and ladies can also eat up other demons. This place is a tasteless and dangerous place. No wonder all the servants are afraid when meeting a demon lord or ladies who are leaders of the demonic world.
“But why do you all scream when you see me” I asked curiously.
“Because no one has the worst reputation than you down here.” He said.
“Eh…why?”
“Because you kill without a reason. If a servant as much cough or breathe as much when you don’t like, when you are in your bad moods, you will kill them in a mere second.” He stammers while shivering.
“But I’m not always bad right” I lifted his chin up and breathe into his ear seductively.
“I..don’t know…but most of your servants end up dead by the next day with gashes on their skin by your whips and torture” he said fearfully.
“What…well, from now you. That won’t ever happen. Why would I kill cute innocent little lambs like you when I could exploit…er explore the big wide world with my loyal subjects” I whisper lifting his chin up and gazing into his eyes.
He look at me with glassy eyes while smiling.
Eh…Looks like I accidently brainwashed this dude. Do I also have the powers to bewitch and make others do my biddings as well? I am such a creep.
“Erm, moving on. Now tell me about what you know about me and my turf,” I asked.
He then mentions how I also like to collect random and dangerous monsters and how I would feed my servants to my collection of dangerous animals. I also like to do weird magic and created undead gargoyles and other emotionless magic monsters because I deem normal monster servants are too weak.
Of course, I totally understood. Why would I trust servants that I was given to by others? Most servants are assigned to random masters or given as gifts to other masters. If I was given a servant from some other evil lord and lady who want to kill me, why would I not be cautious of them. Making a magic monster who have utmost loyalty to me makes much more sense to me. I can even make them stronger than normal servants sent to me or given to me as gifts.
He then mentions to how I am very evil and ranked 2nd only after the demon king. How my love for the demon king is so great that I kill and eat anyone whoever gets near him or make advances towards him. What am I some jealous love-stricken idiot? How I aim to become the next demon queen and my hatred for everyone else is great and I like to kill with no reason again. He mentions how since I deem myself as the next demon queen, the section I rule is no smaller than any other lords nor ladies. It’s actually the same size, if not bigger than even the demon lord’s domain. How it’s no such secret that I wanted to crush any other love rival and make sure that the demon lord needs me as much as I need him. How my love for the demon lord is so great that I will never betray him for any other man.
What is this bunch of rumors base on trashy love-stricken romance? Oh, how very disgusting. I yawned but continue to listen to the report of the servant.
“Oh yeah? Give me the intel you have on the demon lord” I once again seduced him and made him look at my eyes.
He said how the demon lord is a womanizer who has many secret mistresses from other servants he had known from the demon lord’s castle.
“Did you know the demon lord has fallen in love with one of the heavenly warriors of god?” the male servant quietly whispers.
“They planned to sell you out to the heavenly warriors so you can die and the power struggle can stop after the demon lord acquire the heavenly warrior as his mistress. They made a deal pact to get rid of you. In a few days it was to be announced that you have died in the battle. Since you held as much power as the demon lord. You would have killed any women who the demon lord took as a mistress, killing you will solve everything for the demon lord and his supporters. It will provide peace to the heavenly demi-gods, humans, creatures, and demons for at least a decade or so by the demon lord’s promise.” He said carefully.
What? So, this dumb-demon-dunce who used me for millennials. Puts me up as a target to be hit while he hides in the dark so he can have his dream women? Just because he also fears my powers? Such a demon king who use underhanded methods are nothing but a weakling. Most of the things I did, I assume was by his orders because he told me to do them. As any women in love, they are blind and are easy to go under the manipulations of others. So just kill me, the evil villain of the story, and everyone will become happy? What am I? A tool for the demon-dunce? Never.
“You,” I snapped him out of my seduction.
“I want to meet with the demon king” I demanded.
“I am but a mere servant of the main castle. I have to stay neutral. I cannot harm any of the lords nor ladies.” He fearfully said.
“Then do you want me to put in a petition to have you come and work for me?” I maliciously asked.
“No…no…please. Please follow me.” He tearfully stammers.
The poor young male servant took me through a corridor and led me inside a room. There were probably maybe over 100 portals.
“Uh, these portals can take you anywhere. To any other lords’ or ladies’ areas. It can also lead to certain towns or areas under our influences.” He said.
He led me to the biggest portal and said,
“Since this is a place where it’s neutral these portals are what the lords and ladies travel using when they need to hold meetings or gathering events here. You were put here so it would make it, so you didn’t die a suspicious death but that you died by the heavenly warriors’ scheme. Then the demon lord will demand a female heaven warrior as a sacrifice to seal the peace from the kingdom of heaven because they have killed his future demon queen.”
He started the portal and took me through.
I’m starting to really like this servant. Plus, he’s still affected by seduction, so it was easy to wring the answers out from his mouth. It seems the servants who reside at the main residence are neutral but knows quite an amount from each lords and ladies.
I came upon a large gate and was led inside by guard servants. The neutral male servant had to stay outside because he doesn’t belong with me nor with the demon lord. They’re monster guards with the face of a bird and the tail of a monkey. They are somewhat a raven-monkey demon monster hybrid type. I was guided into the throne room by a frog looking human monster who seems to be the steward of this place. I gaze upon the throne. I thought the demon lord would be some hot stud so gorgeously hot. Alas, I was disappointed. What is this white hair grandpa? Well, first the face is young but combined with white silver hair…tsk tsk gray grandpa hair. Should I compare his hair and face to the butt of an old-albino-white ape. What does he think he is? Some hot gorgeous king who women would throw themselves too? I took a look at the women kneeling on the ground next to his feet. They’re beautiful, yes. But I heard I was the most beautiful. Ehem… I didn’t look at myself in the mirror yet but let’s just hope so. According to the male servant and the way he falls under my seduction so quickly, I should be able to sway any men or women’s heart. But this dunce-demon king just stare at me with cold eyes. I can feel his hatred and pure disgust against me.
“Oh. So you haven’t died yet? My dear, I’ve been waiting for you to rekindle our love” he smiles with icy humor.
“Oh really?” I smiled as I walked up the throne.
The guards were on high alert and the women were shivering as I was walking by. The guards tried to block my way, but he waved his hands and had them move down.
I walked up the throne and sat on his lap. Tilted his neck to match my eye level while whispering in his ear seductively,
“My king, you must not forget your queen. Your one and only, until the very day you…die. My love for you is as great as your love for me. Come hither. To your chambers, before I kill the last of your newly appointed mistresses.” I smile while gazing into his eyes. As cold, as ice, his eyes resembling mine.
You want to fight. Fine, I’ll give you a fight. Ugly dumb-demon-dunce who got grandpa hair and ridiculously think all women are in love with you. There are plenty of men in this world that I, demon queen can have. If you can have many women. Why would I stoop so low just to cower under you in order to have you to love me? I can have any men as well. Stupid arrogant dunce. I will show you today, my relationship with you have gone sour. I am not going to be your queen. I’ll rule in my own kingdom and be my own independent ruler and never, under you.
“Sure, why not, my dear lovely queen” the demon lord smile, but his eyes betrayed him. They were eyes with hate and devoid of any of the sweet words he’s mentioning.
So, I let him grasp my hands and led me up to his chambers. Who would grasp the hand of their beloved so tightly that had I been a weakling, would have yell out in pain? Of course, I know the demon king might want to assassinate me in his bedchambers while proclaiming I have died because of the thrill. Placing the blame on me declaring I demanded to bed him even though I was a foot in death’s door. He believes he can pat his hand clean and get away with my assassination. I don’t know who I am in the past, or how I was as a demon queen. But this time I shall be his worst nightmare.
The demon king bedroom is truly very large. The bed is 3 times the size of the bed I had awoken up on. It’s very grandeur, equipped with everything a king should have. But I don’t have the time to bother sightseeing. Not when there’s a poisonous snake who’s staring at me ready to kill any moment. I remove his fingers from my hand.
“I’m going to go get ready, just for you my love” I smile seductively while looking at the nasty dunce-king. I went into the giant bathroom the size of the room I’ve awoken upon. I can hardly care what the demon-dunce is scheming since according to the servants, I am very powerful. Since no one cared to give me a shower and just tossed me on a random room and pronounced me dead, I need to clean myself up before a battle. I’m actually a clean freak who’s obsessed with cleanliness. Even though I can wave my fingers and magically clean myself, but I find it boring. On the other hand, it gave me extra time to strategize.
According to the male servant, I am a monster among monsters. I don’t remember how to cast spells or to create anything since I might have lost my memory upon hurting my head. While bathing, I thought: How can I see through walls and watch what the demon king is doing? How can I know what he is doing. Who knows? He could just wait by the door waiting for the chance to slit my throat when I walk out.
Suddenly, I can see through the door. Every single place where I am looking at, I can see through the meshes and view the movements of other people. I can feel and see the guards assembling in the throne room. I gaze my eyes on the demon king. He told the guards to be ready to apprehend me in case I escape. A maid is coming towards me carrying clothes.
“My lady, my lord tells me to bring you a new set of clothes to change” she knocked.
“Come in” I said.
She left the stuffs on a chair and then excused herself out the door quietly.
There are many clean towels in the room. I dried myself and wrap a clean towel around my body. I walked over and picked up the clothes the maid left. It’s a blue dress. Very exquisite detail. But not my style. I thought in my head about clothes, a small pouch pops out in the air and laid in my hand. I open it curiously and saw a room fill to the brink of clothes.
Give me a dress. I thought.
I reach my hand in to randomly grab one. I grabbed a bright red dress. However, it was very revealing.
Give me another dress. I chanted in my head before reaching into the pouch again. After 3 tries, same result.
Access to my wardrobe room. I use the same magic spell in my head.
The next thing I know, I was inside the wardrobe room.
With a wave of my hand, I got the room to gather some dresses in front of me. Most of them contain very little fabric and the dresses are very provocative. I didn’t want to waste time. I grab the one I thought is quite pretty, which was a dark burgundy wine dress. I put it on and walk up to the giant mirror in the room. Beautiful.
It wasn’t just the clothes. My face is truly beautiful. Compares to the women the demon king has, I am a level they can never beat. The dress shows my cleavage. My bosom is very voluptuous it completely makes the dress look full. Taken any other women, they would have ruin such an outfit and made the dress appear like slits. Why do I have the body of a temptress? Is this why men and women all fear me? Just due to fear? It isn’t fear towards something ugly, but fear towards a beauty that is unmatched. The slits on the dress showcase my beautiful white legs perfectly. I don’t get it. Why would the stupid demon king want to kill something so beautiful? Honestly, if I was born a woman, I will fall in love with the being I’m seeing in the mirror right now. Big beautiful eyes like ocean water. Eyes the color of amethyst. Beautiful very long straight hair which falls perfectly just like a beautiful waterfall. Every single inch of the hair is evenly align. Not one inch is longer or shorter than the other. A beautiful striking dark, striking violet-red hair. Lips the color of snowy-ruby. I try to smile while looking at the mirror. Even the smile, can steal away the hearts of men and women. A seductress with the body every man yearns for in bed. I guess the way the servants avoid eye contact with me is a natural phenomenon. I can even steal their soul with just a glance. I even find myself falling in love with myself even in this moment.
Shaking my head, I move away from the mirror. It’s better that I try to not look at myself in the mirror too much from now on. Since I don’t remember much, I might even bewitch myself without knowing.
I walk over to the dresser and sat down. There were a lot of jewelry in this place. I only took a pair of ruby earing to fashion on my ear. I then took my crown that was placed on a pedestal and place it on my head. They may want to get rid of me for their own selfish desires, but a ruler is always a ruler.
I left the wardrobe room and is transported back into the original washroom I was in. It seems the demon king is finishing talking with his demon guards and a group of his guards are coming with him up to his chambers to finish me off. Hmmm. Let’s see if they can. I opened the door to the washroom and walk over to open the door leaving the bedchamber. The door of the bedroom chamber is locked. I can break the lock and escape but I feel that it’s a waste of time. I sat on the bed and wait. I watch as they reach the door of the bedchamber. The turning of keys.
The demon king threw the door open and walk in with demon guards behind him. Showtime. I rushed up at the ugly grandpa king in a mere second and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Oh, are we going somewhere special”
Shocked and still trying to remove my fingers from his neck he said, “Why yes. First let go of my neck.”
Uh-Huh. I am so not letting go. When your neck is exposed to my claws. I can rip you apart. Hell no. So I clung on and did not let go.
“I won’t let go unless I get some alone time with you. I don’t like the extra company” I said seductively.
“Fine. Follow” the bloke said impatiently.
You bitch. I spat in my head.
I was led down into a corridor. Dungeon?
“Hey, why are you leading me down into a dungeon, my king?” I asked, trying to sound terrified.
“Well, I know you love dungeons. I also recently renovated my dungeon. I want to show you of the amazing weapons and tools I just brought in.” He said nonchalantly.
“My, my, my please do” I smile.
What can of a creep I used to be again? If so, sure. Why not play some S&M with this creepy demon dunce.
He shows me several new instruments like the torture gallows and all the whips and painful torture tools. There’s even a place to bury prisoners alive, burn them alive, poison them, and the snake prison with a whole bunch of poisonous snakes is the most terrifying. There’s even death worm prison which eats the body parts of prisoners until they complete what they are told to do or say. There are even water prisons with water snakes. Prisoners can die from snakes or choose to die from lack of oxygen. Or even both, lack of oxygen and be bitten and eaten. Since, he almost never feed these things. There are probably like around 5 other prison blocks which he deem are now currently occupied and classified. It wasn’t important because he said I already seen them before, so I didn’t bother to prod further.
“My king, I don’t like company” I said while gesturing to the prison guards.
“All of you, leave” he gritted his teeth impatiently.
I waited to see what the bloke wants from me.
He led me to a different prison block.
“Do you know what I’ve been waiting to show you?” He asked.
“What?” I said while winking.
“A prison cell which sucks other demon powers and use it as my own. In fact, a blood prison. Which also drains the blood from prisoners drop by drop. So painful that most of my subjects wanted a quick death instead of having the prison eat at it slow and slowly. I do enjoy absorbing powers slowly only when I need it. Kind of like live-stocks, you know?” He said maliciously staring at me while licking his lips.
Creep. I said in my head.
He directed me into a different prison chamber using a portal. It was a room which smell like blood. At the sight of blood my body reacted weirdly as the smell hit my nose. I felt hungry. I realize after waking up, I didn’t really have a decent meal. But the question was, why did blood look appetizing to me? There were a few prisoners tied up against the wall. As if in a trance, I went up to the bloody chair and sat down. The next thing I know, I charged at the demon king and bit his neck. Fresh delicious smell of blood. Yes, this is the taste! Similar to the very few drops of blood on the chair I had smelt. I think he must have tested it on himself or perhaps got injured from the prisoners on the wall. The center of the room begins glowing an eerie red. The more blood I drink from the nape of his neck, the more powerful I felt. The poor bloke was paralyzed and couldn’t move. However, when I look down why do I see not his loathing eyes for me like he usually have but this dunce was actually enjoying having his blood sucked. After sometime, my hunger was quenched and I remove my teeth, or should I say, fangs from his neck. He dropped to the ground looking satisfied but still no intention of fighting. So I reach my feet out and kicked.
“Hey, get up” I said emotionlessly.
After a while he opened his mouth.
“Do you…think…I wanted…to be helpless…and lose to you…you bitch…You hid it very well…of sucking powers…and energy…even from top demons…like me…If I had known…I would…have killed…you…when…you…and me…were…younger…and not left…it…so long..” he wheeze while mumbling.
“Yeah yeah. Back when I wasn’t vampire queen and you weren’t vampire king? When the elders were raising us up and back when I was stupid enough to run after you every day believing we would live a happy life like back then. But, you killed the original vampire king and queen. You killed the vampire elders who were against you. Then, you got me wrapped around your fingers. I submit to you because you promise to love me. You used us to throw the demon world into chaos. Then, by using us, you were chosen to be the next demon king. You announce me as demon queen as followed by your oath to me and my people. However, even now after you receive everything you wanted, you have your underlings kill my people under the shadows. I turned a blind eye to that because I loved you. I believed in you when you said you killed them because they were trying to cause chaos to overthrow you as king. But that was the old me. I realize that after killing most of my people, you even wanted to kill me. Thanks to drinking your blood, I can see your memories and the truth to your actions. You never loved me. What you love was power. You were a nobody. I found you in the slave market and bought you. Against my parents’ wishes I asked to be betroth to you, and I even threatened them that I would kill myself if we can’t be together. At last resort, I even allow you into my chambers and into my bed many times. You, a useless servant. Or rather, slave thrall that was supposed to be my daily meal. Had I never come to buy you, you were next in line to be sold to the slaughterhouse. There are vampires who enjoy drinking every last drop of their thralls. In fact, most thralls end up dead the next morning. But I, kept you.” I said bitterly.
“I was a stupid vampire who shouldn’t have play with my food. I deserve every horrible things. Instead of protecting my own family and my own kind, I led them all to their doom. Yes, you are right…I deserve to die.” I spit out angrily
“Hah…you are a stupid demon. Did you think that keeping me by your side everyday was a gift you bestowed upon me? I was made into your servant. I had to have my blood suck by you every day. I would rather die like most vampire thralls. I had to make you happy by kissing up to you. If I even as much glance at any female thralls from other vampires, you sent them to the vampire slaughterhouse or vampire brothels. You think I wanted your love?” he said while crawling towards the bloody throne chair in the room.
“Oh really? You didn’t want my love? Maybe, but your body gave a different reaction. You didn’t love me, but you were willing to crawl into my bed. You didn’t love me, but you always come to me and bed me even though you were sent to work away from my castle. Your heart may hate me all they want. But you were willing to sell your body to me in order to obtain better things in your life. In order to get what you want, you were even willing to sell me your body and soul. You always come crawling back to me. A dog will always remembers its master.” I spat evilly while laughing.
“You-“ He said but was cut off short.
“I hate to chime into your lover’s quarrel. Nice show there but my arm is tired from being tied for days on these chains. Lady, I know you hate him as I hate him. However, mind setting us free?” one of the prisoners opened their mouth.
I look over to the prisoners chained by the wall.
“Yeah, I notice you lot. But I don’t bother with prisoners.” I said while walking towards them.
All four of them are males. I figured. The demon dunce probably won’t put the women in here. Who knows? He might send them to another prison so he can break them and bed them.
“Speak, who are you and why are you here.” I interrogated them.
They were a bunch of filthy young men covered with blood and torture marks.
“We are from the heavenly warriors. That man there,” he pointed to the demon king.
“Captured us during the last battle and wanted to drain our powers to use for his own.” He said.
“Yeah, and I almost got killed by your lot.” I said nonchalantly.
“My apologies dear beautiful lady. You are the demon queen I assume? Your king agreed a peace treaty with us. In exchange for the heavenly warrior’s hand in marriage, he will dispose of the queen to us and make a heaven warrior goddess as his new queen. The future demon world shall be rule in goodwill and peace.” He said proudly.
“Yeah, sure.” I went towards the male prisoner and use my powers to cut the chains and their bindings.
“What are you doing! How dare you. Stop.” The demon king said.
“Let me guess, you weren’t going to abide by the peace treaty am I right? Since I’m still alive. Too bad your deal is off” I said emotionlessly.
“Thank you” the prisoner told me.
“Really. Did you all not learn?” I gave them a wicked smile.
“Wait…what are you doing?” they exclaim in shock.
“Did you all forgot I am a demon creature? Supposedly to be deem evil and vile by your kind? Pity.” I said emotionlessly.
I used my powers and created a magic prison. One prison for the prisoners and another prison for the demon king. Opening up my space portal where items cannot be stolen, I took out one of my enchanted lockets I created and move the prison inside the space vortex. Of course, knowing the demon king, I don’t want him to try anything. I separated each prison and place them inside different enchanted locket.
“You all wanted me dead. Why should I release any one of you? The only thing you deserve is to become my new source of food, slaves.” I spoke to them.
I have a castle. I can also keep prisoners there. However, most everyone thought vampires became extinct. The demon king went around uprooting all vampire castles and lairs. He claims he wanted to end chaos in the demon world. He brought up the story of how he was a thrall to the vampires and how much evil they were. Such lies. He lived in luxury and I, his stupid master was groveling at his feet.
Even though sometimes I do take prisoners because they get on my nerves. That was when I would go around beating all the any female servants he said he like and take even his concubines as prisoners because I was deeply in love with the demon king. I had another secret. I had to lie and hide my heritage as a vampire, a vampire King. Even though I am a female, but in the vampire kingdom, female can rule. My mother was the last king. She treats her thralls with respect and taught me to love all creatures. That we vampires, need thralls in order to live as much as they need us. In fact, a few of her thralls became her consorts as well. Even though my father wasn’t a thrall but of the highest noble vampire lineage, he is the kindest man that I know. Of course, mother loves my father the most as well. I also have other siblings sired by different fathers, but everyone lived in peace and harmony. However, since my father is the second highest rank after mother, I was chosen from a young age to become the next ruler. I don’t get to enjoy much things like my other siblings.
They went to vampire bars and brothels. They can stay out all day and never get into trouble. They can start a business, learn a trade, or even attend normal social gatherings. They could even go to normal vampire academies or learn fighting or other interesting magic. They had a life with vast freedom and partake in so many hobbies. I was the only one who had to stay in the castle relentlessly to keep up with my studies to become the next King. A king must be powerful and strong, so I spent most of my life learning magic and perfecting my powers taught by my mother and the high elders. There are times that I can get out of the castle. Mostly on my birthdays. On a certain year way back into my past, I went out and bought a thrall, and it doomed my life for a millennium.
I couldn’t meet my siblings often because they left the castle to attend vampire schools of their choice. Each school specializes in certain areas. They can choose to become a vampire warrior, or vampire mage, vampire Beastmaster, vampire conjuring school, or vampire trade school, and such. There are around 15 category types of schools they can choose, and I wouldn’t know because I’ve never attended them.
To me, my vampire thrall is my friend. I was an idiot. I should have listen to my mother and dispose of my first thrall and got others. But I was smitten by the eyes of hate I received from him that I wanted to save him and change his views on vampires. His family was ransack and killed by vampires. I took pity to that and try to give him a better life. I wanted him to save me by saving him. Ironic isn’t it.
The next in line vampire King, believed her thrall as the light who will guide her through the darkness by saving her lonely heart. Even if the thrall ends up killing the next in line vampire King’s family. Even if the thrall killed her vampire brethren. She turned a blind eye and thought he has every right to. She stood on the sidelines and did nothing because she took pity to his vengeance. She loves him even though she realizes that one day he will come to kill her as well. But they grew up together. She taught him whatever she learns from her lessons. She provides him with anything he wanted. She wanted him to become strong and stand by her side, not as an enemy, but as a friend. If vampires didn’t kill the people he love, would he have spent his whole life on vengeance? Would they have a chance of becoming friends at least? Alas, fate cannot be changed. The wheel of fate cannot turn back time.
Young Thrall POV:
-I hate vampire. I hate vampires. They killed my family. They destroyed my village. They branded me and turned me into a vampire’s thrall. I waited to die, to follow my family members. But I wanted to live. To live. Please, anyone. I cannot be sent to the slaughterhouse. Please save me heavens. Anyone, just anyone would do.
-Someone bought me. A very small person. Hidden under a cloak. I cannot see his face. Maybe younger than me by a few years? He held my hands and we walk for a while. The next thing I know we’re in front of a big castle? Magic powers really exist!
-I was given new clothes, food, and was left in a very clean room. It seems this room is connected to a bigger room. But the owner of that room happens to be the person who bought me. The owner is a young girl. A very adorable little thing. She asked me to become her friend. Since she saved me, I do what she asks of me.
-I treat her like my little sister. I had a little sister too. I really miss my family. If the person who save me is happy, I am happy too. Days past. Seasons come and go. We grew up together. She gave me something to drink every year, said that it extends my life, and so that we can grow up together. Whatever she gave me looks kind of like blood but tastes sweet. But I drink it anyway just to seem rude.
-Decades after decades I watch as she grew even more beautiful. I said she loves me. I said I only love her as a sister. She bit my neck and took me to an even bigger castle. She brought me towards a group of vampires and declare I was her thrall. This cannot be. I hate vampires. I hate vampires. I hate vampires!
-I tried to leave but she stopped me. She used the magic oath made by vampires to enslave me and bind me to her for eternity. I had no choice but to do what I was told. All this time, I thought I was saved, only to be brought back into enemy’s territory. If I cannot leave you, I must thank you for giving me a chance to get revenge on those who destroyed my town. I will kill all these vampires.
-I wanted to kill her. I cannot because a slave cannot kill its own master. The magic would return to me and kill me if I try to kill her. So, I created a rift between her and the vampire King. I wanted the next vampire King to be mine. I bed her. There’re no other women as beautiful compares to her, so I’m not losing anything. I’m going to target the top vampire leaders next.
-I finally achieved my goal. I destroyed the vampire King and Queen. I killed the vampire’s foundation consisting of elders. Next, I shall kill the rest of the vampires, until not a single one is left. Hah!
– I use my role as the husband of the next vampire King to obtain connections with other demons. I built my own organizations of various demons. Very soon enough, I took over the position of demon King. With this, I mobilize my demon army to go out and assimilate every last vampire.
Chapter 2
I walked out of the prison chambers. On the way out, the guards stood with eyes on the ground. I easily walk around and about in the castle out into the throne room. Demon soldiers with battle gears waited for me. I smile and with a wave of my fingers, I float all of them up and twist their bodies. Droplets of blood dripped to the ground until they form large pools of blood. I took out a few of my empty elixir vials. I created these elixir vials with my own powers, they can hold a tremendous number of potions. I gather the blood dripping on the ground and let them run into the elixir vials. After 5 of my elixir vials was filled. I was content. I stop draining their blood and dropped them to the ground, kneeling. I took out minor potion vials and fill them until not a single of blood is left. What can I say? Blood is precious. I can use them to create more thralls.
“Ahhhhhhh!” the women who I believe to be the demon king concubines and the rest of the servants hid in shocked.
“Some of you might be here against your will…or not, I will make sure you return to where you came from. They will escort all of you off the premise afterward” I said while glaring.
“You king is with me, in my prison.” I said emotionlessly to the group of demons on the ground
“How dare you- “one of the demons spoke up.
“You can try to call up your demon legion to get him back. But I don’t know, I might accidently drain him until there is nothing left.” I smile while speaking.
“There’s something else you need to know now. I am the current demon Queen. Since the King is preoccupied, I am now the sole ruler. Under my newest decree, you are to abolish any capture of vampires. Whichever vampires you have, you are to let them go free. Gather them all up and send them to my domains in the next few days. Otherwise, I will kill you all” I emphasized.
I easily left the castle and walk out the door. After I left with the servants back through the magic portal, I released the bindings on the demons back at the demon King’s castle. Of course, the male servant who followed me was looking at me in shock.
“What!” I said impatiently.
“You sure…sure…they won’t come after us?” He stutters fearfully.
“You wimp” I muttered under my breath.
“Do you have any family members?” I asked.
“No…I’m an orphan…my lady” he said.
While grabbing the neck of his shirt shoving his face right next to mine, I impatiently said, “Do you have anyone you want to save?”.
“The other servants who are with me…we’re all orphans…We grew up together, I don’t want them to be in trouble” he fearfully said.
I shove his face away from mine and let go of the collar to his shirt.
“That’s your problem, not mine. I am not a saint. It’s none of my concern.” I spat.
The servant attempted to walk away, I suspect to tell the other servants to follow him to leave.
I pulled him back and assure him, “Don’t worry, they won’t die. They’re in a neutral zone. That’s probably why they picked up normal human orphans nobody wants”.
This time I pulled his collar up and shove my face towards his.
“But you, you helped me. I couldn’t open the portals because only servants of the neutral zones can travel and run errands because you can never pick sides. Even though I’m queen, the king did not give me the keys to the portals. You didn’t know that did you? Of course, don’t worry, once I get back to my domains, I will destroy the entrance to the portal, so they won’t be able to travel there. Now come with me if you want to live.”
“Come hither my dear servant. Show me where my portal is”, I grab his shirt and gestures.
“It’s right here,” he points to a portal next to the one we just existed.
“Very well, keys?” I asked.
He open the portal again. It had suddenly slip my mind to inquire if there are any prisoners in the neutral zone. I turn around and questions him.
“Is there any prisoners in the neutral zone? Vampire prisoners for example?”
“Most vampire prisoners are kept in different prisons. I don’t know if they survived since we heard vampires are sent to those places to die. We do currently house prisoners in the neutral zone, but I’ve never gone there since it is forbidden.” He answers.
“Well, rules are to be broken.” I turn around ready to exist the portal chambers.
“Wait…aren’t you going to go through the portal?”
“No. Open it once again.”
He follows my directions but this time, black tendrils come from my left hand and cracked the portal into pieces like glass breaking.
“It’s my domain, of course I’m the only one who can come and go as I please. No one else can without my permission. Low end demons won’t be able to receive such honor.” I said emotionlessly.
The servant led the demon queen down a whole bunch of corridors before reaching a big black metal door. Infused with silver nails and hinges.
“Surely, these doors are to ward off vampires” I told the servant.
“I heard the king doesn’t like vampires much. He often stuff his prisons, even cells with silver. Just to ward them off so they won’t be able to escape nor break in.”
“Of course, vampires are fast and strong. A normal prison won’t be able to keep them in nor out. But they wouldn’t house vampires in a neutral zone. So, it’s for someone else” I said.
That someone else is me. I thought.
Had it be any other low tier vampires, they won’t able to get in. However, the demon King misjudge the powers of his demon queen. She hid her own powers very well. Growing up she never show him her true powers. He probably thought she threw tantrums and beat others up because she was a spiteful and hateful person who lashes out at anyone because she was spoiled and didn’t get the attention she wanted. He might have even believed she did all these things just to get him to look at her or focus his attention on her. He wasn’t wrong on that part; however, he misjudge that she was someone who solely rely on him. On her own two feet, she could even be much more powerful than him if she wanted. She only lower herself because she pity him. Of course, her love for him was merely based off pity. In a sense, it wasn’t strong enough for her to stay utmost loyal to him even if he attempted and almost succeeded in killing her. Everything he has was due to her. If she didn’t make him her blood soul thrall, he would not receive some of her powers which made him powerful.
Even among vampires’ thralls, there are ranking.
Low-tier vampire thralls are named level 1vampire thralls. Low-tier-ascend vampire thralls are named level 2 vampire thralls. Normal vampire thralls are named level 3 thralls. Upper-tier vampire thralls are name level 4 vampire thralls. Upper-tier-ascend, higher than upper tier thralls are name level 5 vampire thralls. Then, there are 7 more ranking levels. Approximately, there are 12 levels of vampires’ thralls. However, there is a huge gap amongstthe 2 lowest levels when compares to a basic low-tier level 1 vampire thrall. The lowest of all, not even deem as living and far below the low-tier level are the slave thralls. The second lowest level, just an inch better is the level 0 thralls. They shall not receive any power from a vampire unless as stated by the vampire master’s will. Most vampires regards these as useless and only use them as blood supply.
To put it simply, Level 1-3 vampire thralls are servant and soldier thralls. Level 1 thralls are all servant thralls. There are also level 2 or level 3 servant thralls. However, there will never be a level 1 soldier thrall since servant thralls receive around 1-6 percentage of power and soldiers receive 3-6 percentage of power from a vampire. It really depends on their level rankings.
Level 4 vampire thralls are normal guard thralls usually used to defend castles, keeps, dwellings, resources, valuables, or prisoner cells. They receive around 10 percentage of power from their vampire masters. Level 5 are advanced warmongers. Dangerous and lethal, they receive 15 percent of power from their master. Level 6 thralls are commander or elite thralls, only those with full utmost loyalty can receive such honor. They receive 20 percentage of power from their creator and gifts like extra specialized skills or equipment.
Level 7 vampire thralls are bodyguards and receive 30 percent of power from its creator. Loyal and dedicated to their master every whim and beckon. Level 8 thralls are noble and exclusive thralls. They are team captains assigned to oversee certain tasks handed by the vampire lords. They receive 35 percent of power from their vampire lord. At level 9, blood soul vampire thralls receives around 40 percent of power from its master. Then all the way at the top, is the cherished thralls at level 10. Around 60 percent of the thrall’s power comes from the vampire who bestowed it upon them. They becomes almost a half-vampire being if created by the Vampire King or the true bloodline of the vampire King. A vampire can choose to bestow powers upon their thralls. So even among thralls, there are ranking.
If their master is a truly powerful vampire with advanced skills and top-level powers, even a tiny percentage of given power shall make a level 1 servant far powerful than even the most powerful living or dead beings known. In the past, even in the vampire kingdom there were strife and war among each other. Power is everything. Only the most powerful, can become nobles. Only the most powerful of the most powerful, can becomes the next vampire King. Regardless of gender, regardless of origins.
The vampire King did not have any other thralls. She saved a slave from the vampire slave market and due to his background, she took pity on him. He rose from a slave thrall into a blood soul vampire. There are many reasons why the vampire King refused to take any more thralls.
One, was because she was already occupied with one thrall. She didn’t have time since she had duties to perform as the next in line vampire King. Most of her free time she invested in him. Teaching him what she was taught, showing him the beautiful scenery of the vampire kingdom, and trying to change his views about vampires because she pitied him.
Two, she didn’t want to any innocent thralls to die in her place. There are rules in a blood pact. Vampire thralls shall never attempt to kill their master. If they do, they will die. If they kill their master themselves, their master won’t die. In fact, the powers they are using belong to their master in the first place. The powers will just go back and kills the thralls instead. Vampire thralls must protect their master with everything they got, even with their life. If their master die, they will also die. If one vampire dies, all the thralls die as well. Of course, vampire thralls can be relinquished from their duties but at a cost. They can be cast out by stripping the thralls of all their powers. This makes the thralls extremely weak and returns back into their original form, but they won’t die alongside with the vampire lord. This is an extreme method and is only used by vampires who deem human lives worthless or such cases of vampires laying punishment onto their thralls for certain crimes. Imagine vampire powers allow thralls to live as long as their vampire creator. But stripping a vampire thrall’s power will return them back to their old life. If they are humans, who have a short lifespan…if they are truly lucky, they can live for a few weeks at most…if not, a day. There were one or two cases of human thralls turning to ashes and dust after having their powers removed.
Three, she didn’t want to take on anyone else. Only the cherished ones of vampire lords doesn’t have to die if their master die. They can be released from the blood pact with all their powers still intact. Usually this is an emergency method. In case a vampire was hunted down and happens to die, he or she still needs to have offspring to continue the family’s lineage. The pregnant cherished one will not die and survives. This case ensures she or he will give birth to the next generation of vampires. In humans, only female can give birth. However, in vampire rules, nothing is impossible. The thralls’ energy is fed by the powers given to them by their master. If the vampire master is a female, she can choose to not be pregnant and her thralls will becomes pregnant instead. This is the cases for most female vampire Kings. There are duties to be completed as a vampire King. She cannot waste time to carry around a huge bulge to meetings nor can she waste time to go into labor. It will be dangerous for the female vampire King. She can die because of childbirth or even die at the hands of her enemies when she’s at her weakest. Therefore, as female vampire Kings, they will not give birth. It shall be their thralls or the vampire concubines’ job. In the vampire kingdom, weakness is a sin.
The next in line vampire King wanted a life with only one person that she love. She doesn’t want to bed any vampire thralls nor vampire nobles in order to make a stronger lineage just like her predecessors was taught to do. She originally wanted to make him a level 10 vampire, but because he was originally a slave thrall, most vampires reject the very idea. So thus, with no choice she forcefully turned him into lv 9 thrall. Why? He will die if he stay a slave thrall. They don’t receive any magic power and cannot survive long. Since human lifespan is short compare to vampires, vampire slave thralls will grow old, and eventually death awaits them. But her innocent heart grew twisted from betrayal from the one person she wanted to share the rest of her life with.
Back to vampire King POV
“Well, what are you waiting for, hurry up” I spat after watching the servant fumbling around trying to open the door.
“Just hold on you see, there are too many keys” he said while still digging out piles and piles of keys.
“Humph” I crossed my arm and leaned against the wall.
After around 10 minutes…he’s still rummaging.
“Hey, it’s forbidden for the servants. Which means even if you stand here and rummage for all eternity you won’t be able to find-“
“I got it!” He spoke with excitement and clamors over to open the door.
There was a click and the door opens. He gestures me to go through the door.
My mouth was still open from my last sentence.
“Ahem” posture, posture, aye I must act like a proper demon queen.
“Ok, let’s go” I pulled the servant along while kicking the keys on the floor away in order to close the door behind us.
Pulling the servant along, I discreetly tiptoe my ways through traps and hanging killer weapons. But at this moment, I’m very annoyed. Why bother so many traps just for a couple of demons, a few dogs, a few goody-two-shoes, and a few worthless humans. Of course, what else did I find? Vampire thralls.
I pace up and down the prison chambers while staring at each prisoner.
“Oye, you lot. Is there anything of value in this place?” I sound like a tyrant.
“…….” Silence follows.
“I’ll free whoever is willing to tell me” I said lightly.
“…….” Silence in all the cell blocks.
“I’ll give you money and jewels” I tempted.
“…….” Silence.
“What do you want, name your price and if I can, I’ll find it” I demanded.
This time it seems like some of them took the bait.
One of the prisoners in the cell came forward and said, “Anything?”.
“Yes, yes. Name your price” I smile innocently.
The demon queen doesn’t know that every time she smiles, she look more like a seductress than a friendly little girl. Her heart is innocent as a lamb because she was never exposed to much bloodshed and grew up protected as the next vampire King. It wasn’t like she didn’t kill. She did kill those who wanted to try and climb up to become the next demon queen however. Any women who are clingy and any female demons who have eyes for her husband, she will kill. The demon King origin is human. He still think like a human. All humans want a warm, friendly, and innocent wife. In fact, he disliked how the demon queen is too beautiful enough to drive men and women crazy. He would rather like a plainer woman who’s more warm, friendly, and pure like the woman he had eyes on in the heavenly warriors’ branch.
“…uh…We are thralls.” He said hesitantly.
“Go ahead” I was getting impatient. I wonder if I have to go in and torture them in order to get answers.
“Make us your thralls” another thrall prisoner chime in.
“UH. NO. Tell me why I would bother with prisoners who I’ve never seen before.” I spat.
“Then we will tell you what you want” the first thrall who spoke said.
I walked towards the thrall and lifted their neck with my finger “How about I break into each and every single cell and torture each and every single one of you for fun until you tell me what I need to know”.
He shivered for a moment.
I forced him to gaze at my eyes while I hypnotize him trying to get answers.
“Tell me if there’s anything else in this place” I questions.
“No, there’s no one else here but us” he answers.
“Where are the rest of the vampires? Where are your masters” I questions again.
“The rest of the vampires are each held at different prisons in the demon kingdom and many were also sent as gifts or prisoners to the heavenly kingdom and the human kingdom as well. We do not know where our masters are. They cast magic to block our mind from searching for our master. Even if we got out, they must have casted magic to block our master’s location from us. The only thing we can feel is that our masters are becoming weaker by the day. Our masters might end up dying and so will we. There were hundreds of vampire thralls put in here, but majority have all turned into dust.” He answers.
“Alright” I gently tap his face.
Realizing he was hypnotized, the poor lad blushed.
Turning my attention to the other cell block I walked towards and showed my disgust by being foul mouth again, “Well, well look what we have here. demons and dogs”.
“You damn vampire” one of the dogs barked at me.
“Dogs, don’t bark at the god who will determine your fate” I wave my hands nonchalantly.
“I don’t think you should do that, what if they bite you” the male servant walked up to me and said cautiously.
“Grrrrr…you dare- “the dog began again.
“Yeah yeah, what do you want you damn Lycans” I spat.
“…” as if not wanting to fight with me, the lycan turned his back and faced the wall. The other lycans still kept quiet while staring at me through their prison block.
“What? Doggie wants a bone?” I snickered.
The damn big lycan turned around and emit a loud deafening roar.
“Damn you, my super hearing sensitive ear” I shouted while recovering over the shock.
“I take it back. I’m going to go in there and turn the rest of you dogs into my thralls.” I threatened.
I freeze the door to the lycan prison block and broke it with a punch. While walking in, I took out my whip and went towards the prison where the damn blue wolf was in.
“My, my, no one here to save you now. It’s just me and you, doggie. Let’s play a game of…obedience.” I mock while breaking the lock open with my powers.
The silver blue wolf charge at me immediately the moment I walk in.
Black tendrils from my hands crawl towards the silver blue wolf. The dog leg was held down on the ground. His legs were not restricted to small movements, so he lunge his jaw towards me attempting to snap at my neck. With my whip I smack his jaw away to prevent it from getting closer to my face.
After a fierce fight of which I felt like my whip was a chew toy for this dog, I grasp the neck of the wolf and bit down hard. Releasing a bit of venom of euphoria to get the lycan to relax, I let go of my whip and made a cut on my arm. Using my blood, I drew a blood pact and drag my hand forward to drip the blood from my arm down into the throat of the lycan. A certain amount of blood is exchange, and the blood pact is complete. The room glows bloody red and at this moment, I am to decide which thrall level he should be. In fact, I don’t have anything in mind at this moment, so I decided to keep him at the slave thrall status until the lycan behaves.
I took out a small necklace and threw the wolf into there. It’s a prison but with necessities like food, a house, a bed, and other things. I usually keep prisoners I don’t intend on killing in these types of enchanted equipment.
Walking out the prison cell I said to the other lycans, “Sorry about your friend. It won’t happens to you if you just quietly walk away, I will free the rest of you by releasing the magic to these cells. Return to your human form.”.
They return to their human form. Again, no women. I see. The demon douchebag is known for his “kind” treatment of women. To him, I don’t even count as a woman even.
My vampire ears are sharp. I can hear everything even miles away if I want to. Right now, it seems the demon lords of the other domains are gathering in the hall and marching towards the small neutral zone prison. I immediately froze the whole entire prison from where I stand. I walked towards the male servant and handed him my chew up whip.
“Here, it still has a bit of durability left. Just go and smack those prison doors and it should open”.
“Yes, my lady” he said.
“Leave the goody-two-shoes prison alone” I warned.
“The what?” He turned to ask.
“I’ll will do that prison block myself. Go open the rest of the prison block.” I shooed him away.
I stood for a moment while eyeing up the heavenly troops that were caught up and down. There are probably like 10.
“Hey, if you want to live. Do what I tell you”.
Murmurs among the magic folks who are from the heaven branch.
I rolled my eyes and took out a book. The heavenly warriors here weren’t at the demon lord castle. He isn’t going to drain their magic like he will do to the other 5, so these 10 might be proven as a valuable trump card. In case the angels fail in killing me, there is always a backup plan in exchange for his beloved angel hand in marriage. So, in this group, there is probably a few important individuals.
“There’s quite a bunch of you. I just came back from death. I am not about to rescue a bunch that will stab a dagger in my back while I am not looking. So therefore, climb in”, I tossed the book to them.
A portal opens from one of the pages.
“Climb in. I like to tinker around and create a lot of magic items. I’m not here to kill you. You are not worth my time. There are demons coming this way soon. Unless you want to stay or leave, it’s up to you”, I shrug.
They all enter the magic portal one by one. I grab the book and walk to the next prison cell. There, I find 6 more heavenly warriors. Repeating the same thing, I tell them to enter the portal.
“They’re opening the door to the prison and entering. Are you finished?” I yell at the male servant and the rest of the prisoners who are scrambling to open the prison cells to release their kinsmen.
“Almost done!” the male servant yell back.
If I was in a bad mood, I might have kick his butt for yelling back. However, time is important.
I open a portal connecting to the outskirts of my castle and told the prisoners to hurry up and enter. I went off to help the male servant open the rest of the prisons.
It took quite a while for the demon legion to untangle themselves from each other after tripping over the traps at the front door. They didn’t know that keys can make them slip and tumble over one another in a way so disastrous. It even took them longer to disable the many traps that was laid into the prison in the neutral zone. By the time they got to the prison, what was left were huge chunks of ice everywhere and a chilling message in ice which states:
Those who comes after me shall live, live, live, live, and live. I will not kill you even if you beg. Come to find if you want to play.
They felt a chill on the back of their neck. There is no way they can enter the domains of the demon queen since the portals there were destroyed. Even if they finally found the location where the domains were hidden, receiving torture is worse. They’ve heard all the rumors. The demons shudder at the thought. They weren’t afraid of their demon King. Rather, they were more afraid of the demon Queen. In fact, they’re too terrified to even continue the pursuit. As of now, they shall wait and gather the rest of the demons together to vote on what decision they must take.
Chapter 3
A group of filthy looking humans was moving their way walking up from the beach and treading through the woods. From far way, one would assume they were humans. However, moving close, one would see horns and different physiques which would differentiate them from a normal human being. In fact, even the only female there seems to emit an aura of temptation and death.
Great. I’m glad I told these prisoners to switch to human forms. It would be tragic if my cover is blown away. No matter how I wanted to live a quiet and peaceful life, I can’t escape the fate of my origins. I am a vampire.
Considering why would I put my domains on a beach. I assure you, it’s not on a beach. It lies deep inside a lagoon. In fact, I built it to float on water. There is a small village on the beach. In order to conceal my identity as a vampire all these years as the demon Queen, the villagers are my food source. Of course, nothing is free in this place. I quietly take their blood and protects them quietly on the side. I created a magic protection shield over the village. Only they can come in and out. No invaders nor marauders ever come. To enter, they would need a magical key, to which I’ve imprinted as symbols on their skin.
Before I came to this area, villagers have been suffering from thieves and robbers. Their goods were stolen. Their fish farms were plundered. Their women were raped and kidnapped to sell on the black-market. Yes, even humans have slave markets. Sometimes, I wonder…if the demon king knows about the horrors humans themselves have wrecked upon this world. Vampires are noble creatures. We share our powers and protect our thralls. However, humans steal, kill, and plunder countlessly. In this world, it’s a cruel place. Whether to becomes the prey or becomes the hunter. As vampires, we have no other choice. Hunt, or be hunted.
My dear vampire King. You don’t know do you? Vampires are too beautiful. Our lineage and beauty makes us a target for humans. In the past, before vampires started hunting and killing humans, we were a peaceful race. We ask for blood from voluntary donors. In return, we offer our services and protection to humans. The pact didn’t last. Humans became greedy in the desire to obtain power and soon began quenching their lust by capturing vampires in their desire for beautiful slaves. What vampires value the most are our pride and ego. My vampire ancestors rebelled and escaped. The vampires who didn’t make it choose to end their life. Vampires are immortals. We won’t die easily. That is, only noble vampires and above. We have a life core. Gathering even fragments can cure and revive a fallen vampire. So thus, we were able to live on and survive. So, if I can find vampire life cores, I can save even one of my brethren
Those who managed to escape ran and ran until they’ve finally found our vampire kingdom. We have no choice but to slaughter humans and kidnap them in order to wipe their memories and make them our thralls.
As vampires, we chose to coexist peacefully. Cruel fate has it, we can only choose one or the other. Becomes the hunter or the prey. Hunt or be hunted.
It’s been decades since I’ve chosen this place as my home. I offer the villagers with protections. The magic in this place allow humans to live longer than expected. I’ve even given them enchanted items I’ve crafted. Magic scrolls and magic weapons. Amulets and necklaces to increase their fortitude and protect them if they were ever attack after going out of the magic shield boundary. I even know where they went and their location. If children are attacked by a ghoul, I would make sure to call off the ghouls. I’ve watch the humans in the village grow young and old. From the time they were born to the day they finally became a grandparent. Even my magic can’t extend their life forever. A lot of times I wish to make them my thralls so they can become immortal. But the humans seems happy being with people they cherish and love.
Of course, they don’t know I ever existed. I kept a low profile appearing as a peddler who comes once every 40 to 50 years or so. They wouldn’t have thought it was weird when I change my forms every 150 years claiming I am a son, grandson, great grandson, great great grandson, and so on. Basically, I come from a long line of peddlers who sell magical artifacts. Of course, I warn them of the monsters in the woods, swamp, and the lagoons and told them to avoid the abyss of hell and stay away from such terrors. There were a few curious villagers and I make sure to scare them away with my ghouls patrolling in the forests and magical creatures I’ve summon and placed around the lagoon. For humans, the only safe entrance is by boats riding through the swamp with many forks and turns. Perhaps if they find the correct path before being consumed by my swamp monsters, they might even meet me one day. However, none had the courage because some villagers though about that, but they got lost and couldn’t get out. So thus, I had to send out my creatures to scare them peddling their boats back towards their home.
Sometimes, I do feel tired from taking care of these humans. They’re a little bit simple and dumb. If they’ve met bad humans who would take advantage of their simple and friendly brain, they will easily die. It’s a small fishing village that rely on scavenging, hunting, gathering, and fishing. I do love their cuisine. I showed them a way to breed various fish and sea creatures for consumption. As a peddler, of course.
At night time, I would sometimes creep in and drink their blood and leave before they awake. The humans schedule would start early in the morning at 4. The women would pack food and the men would come out unloading crates and boxes on to their ships. Children would help carry lightweight nets and fishing equipments. The half of the fishermen leave with their ship to go to their fish farms and half would go farm for fish in the ocean. Women stay behind to watch little children. They work in the field planting crops with their in-laws or parents. Of course, there are men who chose to be farmers instead of fishermen as well. Children doesn’t have school until 8 in the morning so they can sleep in or help around with their parents. There’s a few professions in this village. Herb gather, cloth maker, fishermen, farmers, hunters, and a few more basic professions a small village should have. I sometimes have the notion of wanting the suggest them to fortify the place or get a blacksmith to make a lot of weapons. Though I refrain from the thought since they seem happy with their simplistic life.
There is one rule set out by the village elders. Do not go out at night. Of course, that was all due to the rumors and stories I’ve been spreading and fabricated over several decades. This way, I won’t have to waste my time running around manipulation their memories. Now going back towards our walk through the beach.
Of course, a few of the villagers spotted us. But I ignored them and walked on. It’s not like they’ve not seen odd things in their entire life.
I look at the group of prisoners in their tattered clothing trudging along through the woods.
I spoke to them, “The humans won’t follow us to the woods. The ghouls are not very pleasant”.
I then turned my attention to the dark foreboding woods. Giant tall trees, some look dried out and dead. However, the wood is so densely pack every turn a person makes, they would surely slam into the trunk of a giant tree. No sunlight, no wind breeze. Everything feels dead but the trees are very much alive. If a person were to walk into these woods, they would feel a slight cold chill around them. The black shadowy creatures which floats around sends a cold chill into the human’s heart. Of course, they’re my creatures. One single gasp into the intruder’s heart would be what I call the ‘touch of death’. It’s a skill to quietly and silently assassinate intruders.
“GHOULS” I yell.
“come to me” I beckoned.
Thousands and thousands of ghouls land and kneel before me. I think to fill this wood, I created more than 5 hundred thousand ghouls. Unlike humans, ghouls do not sleep. They patrols the woods without need for anything. Every moment, a ghoul would meet another every second they walk around while patrolling. This way, every inch of woods are fortified. No one can creep in without me knowing. Ghouls like darkness. Even if intruders thought about digging under, they will be digging for their graves.
“report” I command one of them to come forward and speak.
“Master, the children created a dare to see who can last in the woods longer.” the ghoul reported.
“And?” I asked them cautiously.
“We scared them silly. Mwahahah!” the ghoul spoke excitedly.
“Mwahaha! Ghoul Ghoul Ghoul!” the rest of the ghouls shout gleefully.
“Quiet down!” I shouted. I forgot my ghouls were very different than the rest. Ghouls are emotionless creatures with high tolerance to pain and everything else except for light. I created my ghouls using my own blood. I gave them emotions and even though they can’t feel. My ghouls are a cut above the rest. Just…very different.
[Oh, the headache when I must deal with ghouls who are children on steroids].
My ghouls are shameless little trickster. Instead of killing intruders quickly, I wager they will play with the poor intruders to death.
[Writer’s POV: hey, doesn’t that sound like somebody? Ehem. *cough* * cough*]
[Hey! Just because I used my blood to create them, doesn’t mean they will take on my characteristics. But that was me in the past! I’m a changed man! I mean woman!]
[Writer: Tsk Tsk. I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you.]
[You dare! I will drain you dry!]
[Writer: I fear for my life. Please exclude me from any further argument. I will take my leave now. Ciao~]
[Come back here!]
“Alright. Just keep to your usual patrol schedules. Scare away villagers and don’t kill them. Report to me if there’s any suspicious activity”.
I had the ghouls turn into black winged birds and flew us towards the entrance of the castle. My ghouls can change into any form if desired. They can walk, teleport, fly, float, and all. Except they can’t patrol in water. They can teleport in and out of the lagoon and tread anywhere, but they can’t patrol in water. Ghouls can swim but they are not sea creatures. They cannot live in the sea. I had to create other magical creatures to patrol certain areas. The dark woods are ghouls’ domain.
“Why did you not fly us to your castle?” One of the demons asked me.
“Unless you want to become struck by lightning, by all means, please try” I smiled evilly.
“My castle is very well hidden. Even if there are those who attempt to fly in, they would merely hit giant clouds and fried by lightning. Only I and those trusted can fly in. Since we’re not that close, we’re taking the front door.”
Of course, I didn’t tell them the whole truth. The lightning was just to warn people away and proclaim the place was dangerous. If someone were to venture further…uuhuuhuhuehee.
“Alright. Be careful of the moat. It’s highly poisonous. Even though it’s not poisonous towards me, it’s poisonous to humans.” I took out enough magic items consisting of capes and face masks for the demons, lycans, and human thralls.
I unlocked the big giant gates enshrouded by threes and vines and we walk through the moat. I call it a moat but in fact it’s miles of land infested with green poisonous gas and liquids. If anyone were to invade this area, they would die of hallucination first than the poison. The land here drives people insane.
After walking a couple of miles, we tread into a rainforest. This is where I was experimenting with plants. Some plants are carnivorous. Some plants are experiments gone wrong. However, it was a lot worse here. I rarely ever venture here since I always teleport to my castle instead. It took a bit of time detangling the prisoners from the plants’ grip and throwing them into a shield orb in which I floated in front of me while navigating out of the plants’ territory.
“What…what…” the male servants huffed terrified.
“It’s pheromone. These plants are not carnivorous. Only a few. But I guess after interbreeding with the failed experiments that I tossed out, they’re turning into humans more by the day.” I spoke emotionlessly.
I got injured fighting the heaven warriors a few decades back. I stopped by a human village in order to secure blood to heal my wounds. One of the human nobles trapped me with an intent on capturing me. I don’t know what his intention is for capturing me, so I knocked them out instead. Originally, I thought about killing his henchmen and him but instead brought them back and did experiments on them. I wanted to turn them into monster plants that eat humans. Too bad the experiments failed. Now I know why they wanted to capture me.
“These plants were once humans. Even if I convert them into plants, their lustful characteristics do not change. I suggest you all to never go through this area again. If you do as I say, I will give you enchanted equipments to teleport around while avoiding this place” I said nonchalantly.
I could have just teleport them straight to the castle instead of taking them around and showing a few of the traps I have around my domains. However, I’m not here to be a savior. I’m not here to boasts about my powers. I’m showing them around to make sure I receive absolute submission. After what I’ve been though, I hate betrayals. I only take submissive and subservient underlings.
I took them through a cave filled with treasures and watch their actions. Caves filled with magic crystals and artifacts worth several nations. It’s quite a shame none of the prisoners were tempted to wander off or take anything. If so, they would die. There are a lot of traps in this place. In one cavern I’ve threw a couple of those plants in there. Another cavern I’ve loaded with poison. Even the gold are coated with tiny magic worms that eats away at the flesh at anyone who touch them. The magic crystals are worth a fortune. There’s a lot of magic to be harvested from there. Too bad I’ve inscribed parasitic eggs inside them. The cavern is a cold region. Inside the crystal, I’ve imbued it with several layers of ice that keep the eggs in hibernation. In order to use the crystals, intruders would need to use their magic to absorbs them. In doing so will break the ice layers around the egg and thus releasing parasitic arthropods. Due to the heat source leaking in, the parasitic eggs hatch into poisonous arthropods which then latch onto the back of whoever is attempting to use the crystals. They look very similar to trilobites.
[Hey, Writer? This is a fantasy fiction novel series, not a nonfiction genre.]
[Writer: Eh? Anyway, it looks like a trilobite alright? I can’t find anything else to describe it in vampire terms]
The parasitic arthropods are known as Triols. Very potent parasitic creatures. They listen to their creator, that’s me. I designed them with the thought: during a times of conflict comes a strong bond of friendship. Or rather, make my enemy my servants. If a warrior got this far, it shows potential. They can serve my purpose as a puppet.
The leeches infect the blood of the host. They aren’t poisonous, and they do not harm the host. Except my leeches will attach to the host bloodstream, unlike arthropods, it’s harder to remove diols. Diols likes to attach to a blood source, they need the host alive and healthy. Diols won’t ever harm a single living breathing creature. They enter the veins of a living host and even provide enough strength and health to heal an injured host. They’re very adorable little thing. I think they are the weakest and harmless bunch of my magical creatures. Except for one thing. I created them with the intention for the demon king’s women and any of the females who ever ventured close to him.
These diols need to mate regularly. However, I choose who they can and cannot mate with. All the demon king’s lovers cannot mate with the king or else I force the diol to eat the lifeforce of these women away. Doing something such as touching my husband’s skin will result in unbearable pain. If they forego the warning, the diols will continue to gnaw them from inside out. The hosts infected by my diols act like my puppets. Those concubines in the demon’s king castle? They tremble at the sight of me. Diols are harmless, but they still follow my commands.
With the desires to mate regularly, I sent the diols to the forbidden forest. The plants can take care of the rest. Shrewd? Demon kings need permission from the queen in order to wed others. I gave him permission to do that because I had given him everything all my life. He kill my own people and I stood by and let him. He slaughter my own family members and I stood on the side and allow him to. I had given him powers and everything he so desires. However, he refused to acknowledge me. But he refused to love me.
As a human, his hair wasn’t silver. His hair was pitch black. It was due to my powers he received from a vampire King which made him immortal. My original hair color is supposed to be icy silver hair. The true lineage of the vampire Kings comes from a long line of immortals. I dislike the hair color. I once venture into the place where they keep level 0 thralls. The old human slaves have gaudy white hair. Even though mine is truly beautiful, I didn’t want to look like an elderly human. But Arysil, the demon dunce said my hair is beautiful. I turn his hair to match mine and lied about how his hair changed because he is my thrall. I heard my sisters once said about how human couples often have similar things to remember each other’s by.
After Arysil betrayal, I couldn’t kill him. Yet, I couldn’t save anyone. I was too ashamed. I change my hair color and alter my appearance, making myself uglier than my true appearance. Since my true vampire King’s appearance can bring calamity and dangers upon my peaceful and quiet life. Yet, even though I’ve made myself way uglier than before, they still claim I bewitch them.
There are other magical monsters I’ve created to guard in other areas as well. Though reaching the caverns is enough. I wanted to test their greed and see if they are even worth my time. At this point, I opened a gate and led them through into my castle.
A group of people scamper through a rift opened into the middle of a giant hallway. A bunch of women was running towards the group. From far away, they resemble women, coming closer, one can witness their hair consists of branches and leaves. They’re wood sprites. Wood spirits used to maintain the castle and gives protection to this area. The vampire King built this place. The trees in which she planted meticulously. Everything in this place was created by her. In doing so, she spent years over exhausting her magic and was often forced to sleep for days.
Given the direction to lead the prisoners to guest chambers, the wood sprites led the group of men down to different corridors and hallways. Awe by the great works done to this place and amazed at the grandeur of the palace, they felt as if they’ve venture into a great maze with treasures. After checking up on the activity of the palace and the dismissal of the rest of the sprites back to their usual tasks, the vampire King open a gate and enter her bedroom chambers.
Why would a vampire need to sleep? The vampire King fought a great battle and previously was injured. In order to heal herself, she need to replenish her energy.
Chapter 4
In a remote island on the borders of the Kalance empire, a group of young women were being led together in chains. They weren’t the best in beauty but nevertheless good-looking young women. There were also young children held in cages led by the guards and bounty hunters. Behind them walk old elderly women and men also held together by chains. A rowdy bunch of soldier rides behind them on the body of orcs. Every time the line in front of them wavers, a single utter from a single man sends wave of terror. Whippings and lashing by soldiers rain upon the elders in front of them. One of the young women look back in horror and tries to run back while screaming but to no avail. Once again, she was yanked back into the assembly line.
The man whose words can determine their fate, saw the commotion up front and rode up from the back. He bellows, “You ignorant buffoons, be careful of the goods! We still need to fetch a good price for these prisoners of wars!”. One of his soldiers walked up to him and reports, “Commander, we are exiting the borders of the Kalance empire soon and in order to reach the City of Alterise we have to cross through the border of the Diregent Pass”. The commander eyebrow heighten with discontent, “Very well, prepare the rest of the cages and put these prisoners in there. Be on the lookout for any dangerous evil crawling about and increase perimeter watch”.
The group of soldiers hastily quicken their pace at the very thought of the vile creatures of the dark lurking about under the cover of darkness.
In order to not attract attention to their party, they move quickly as fast as possible before dusk sets.
A few soldiers walk up towards a group of people donning cloaks walking huddle closely together. One of the soldiers spoke, “You magician and relic priests, go set up your invisible cloaking and hide our people from predators and wild monsters”.
A few other soldiers came to another group walking behind them, consists of muscular and healthy-looking humans and said, “You bounty hunters and assassins should know what to do, secure the goods and protect us well”. The bounty hunters donning big hammers and axes double their sizes scoffed at the soldiers, “Grr, make sure ya pay us double. We never sign up to go through the Diregent Pass”. After dusting dried blood off their blades (resembling shuriken) of various sorts in which they wear from top to bottom. The assassin merely glanced over while sharpening their dual blades. Of course, it was full of murderous intent. The soldiers hastily back away, “Yeah. You see…about that. We’ll relate that back to our captains”. Like cowards they scurry away with tails between their legs. Yes, literally with tails between their legs. This time both the bounty hunters and assassins gave a nod of acknowledgment to the magicians and the priests. One of the bounty hunters even said with mockery, “I guess you lot aren’t useless after all. The whole way we had to keep you weak magic lot alive too. What a hassle”.
“Humph” magicians chose to ignore the mockery and walked off with the soldiers to set their magic.
“Oye, you lot. Wait for us. You can’t defend yourself against physical attacks. Your magic is useless in close range” the bounty hunters began splitting themselves up following the magicians and priests.
The assassins stealthily follow behind.
Copyrighted. of own personal work
© CEAEN for CHAMPION
the one and only, Shabang~
initials: JTTP