�Your highness, we found these attempting to infiltrate the grounds. We thought you might wish to make and example.�
�Go to hell, you fil�� a teen boy�s insult was cut short by the jab of a vampire�s boot.
I smiled. �Such bravery in the face of the queen of your pitiful race� I commented.
A middle-aged man spoke up, �Yeah, but what of the four others who used to rule alongside you? What of them??
I narrowed my eyes and turned them black. Insolent fool. I waved away the vampires. The stuck the chains through a ring in the floor and left the room.
I removed my demon countenance of horns and cheek plates. Stepping forward, I knew I was stunning. The girl I had chosen as a host was beautiful, but still tall and well built enough to be a warrior.
The teen who had told me to go to hell stared. Men..Humans�so simple, so easy to manipulate.
I ran my fingers through my long hair and flipped it over my shoulder girlishly.
Pulling out a dagger, I used my powers to heat it to white-hot. I pressed it down the front of the teen�s shirt. I ran my fingers lightly along his jaw line, seeing him at home with his family�he had left to become a warrior.
A door creaked and I drew back. Eyroh. My beloved. I turned to him. He stared. �You know that look doesn�t suit you. You are a queen of Demons. Be it.�
I became myself again. Small red horns grew from my temples, my pupils turned dark red, and parts of my face turned into bony plates.
�I wish to hunt them later. They could be fun.� I indicated the humans.
�Of course.� Eyroh agreed. He ordered the prisoners taken to the holding cells.
Eyroh put his hands about my waist and pulled me closer to him. He whispered in my ear. �I missed you. How long until we�re alone?�
�Not long.� I replied and put my arms around his neck. Eyroh was my last sanctuary. Initially, there were six of us. Three males, Three females. All of us demons of power. We had one major thing in common: we controlled the elements. Banded together, we supported one another. Where one was weak, another was strong. It was this ability that got me the Queenship.
Eyroh bent his head over my neck and brushed his lips on my collarbone. I pulled away. �Get your crown and cape.� I told him. �Others are probably already waiting on us.�
I left the throne room and headed towards my chambers. Eyroh had been mine as long as I could remember. I was always the first, but he was beside me. I--as much as one like me could--loved him. He was my match, my partner, me equal.
The others had never enjoyed power and ruling like I did. I believe that they left. Or perhaps died. I do miss having dependable people to watch my kingdom or go on
I entered my bedroom. I would need my diadem for tonight�s dinner. I stopped at my large jewelry box and picked out my favorite--a short fan of obsidian and bloodstone. I was wide, but small. I used pins to pull up the top half of my hair and stick the diadem around the resulting bun. I looked in the mirror. Not enough. I picked out a string of hematite beads for my neck, along with a large garnet brooch. I changed out my robe for a train with a fan ruff. I inspected myself. Good. I looked intimidating and regal.
My mind wandered a bit�I adjusted my leather armor�.and then left the room to find Eyroh. He was waiting for me, he held out his arm and I took it. We left together for the banquet room.
Many other demons marvel at and look at me with disdain about my choice of hosts. Most prefer male, or their own bodies. I go to great lengths to find the perfect female host. Her consciousness has never been a problem, and the only thing I keep is the soul, for that is what helps me root my power and consciousness in her body.
I carry myself as a warrior, and I dress as one too. My full jacket and pants, along with finely made boots are cut from dragon hide. Originally, there were six suits like this, but 4 disappeared with the others, and Eyroh has the other. I wore my double swords, and I reached down and felt, with my left hand, the hilt and pommel.
I loved these swords. They were elven-made and helped me to win my kingdom. I fingered the crossbraid on the hilt. I wore one on each side, at my hips, and they crossed in the back just above my knees.
I looked at Eyroh. He had chosen a similar train, one with a large, stiff velvet collar that stood up around his ears. He wore a crown of jet and obsidian that had a small profile. I looked at his hand and saw that he wore our wedding band, a silver and orichalcum mix that withstood heat and stress. Eyroh steered me into the banquet room. All the vampires, demons, and generals of my armies were there. Everyone rose, including Akasha and three hooded seers at my table.
I nodded and they sat back down. Raising my arms, I said �Faithful servants to the kingdom of Nimwah! I call upon you now. Tomorrow is the day we expand the kingdom of our forefathers to new distances. To-morrow, we battle the humans of the light lands. Honor and Glory to the name of Nimwah! Glory Be! To the warriors of Nimwah!�
I raised my wine goblet-
�Glory Be!� said the group, and drank from their(also raised) glasses.
�To Victory!� said Eyroh.
�Glory Be!� Another sip.
�To Food, wine, and Blood!� said Akasha.
The crowd roared, �Glory Be! So mote it be!� Everyone took one last sip, then poured a little on the floor before finishing the rest off. Eyroh and I sat down while servers busied themselves with refilling our glasses.
Vampires and Demons tore into their food ravenously.
Akasha leaned forward and picked up a glass with a lost soul stem. Daintily she filled it and took a drink. As a vampire queen, she was both refined and deadly. In a sense, we were partners in crime. She enjoyed hunting as much as I do.
The banquet was rather boring�.I slipped out early with Eyroh to talk to him. I led him by his left hand in mine, we went to the entrance of the prisoner�s chambers and I
�What?� he asked, �what is it?�
�I want to let go the prisoners from earlier today.�
�Um�why?�
I held him by his shoulders and pulled him close, touching our foreheads�.It pained me so to do this, but I knew that I must.
�I want you to follow them, find their camp and destroy it. I cannot take risks. Their group found this place once, and they may be able to find it once again�.plus I fear that there is more like them.� he nuzzled my neck with his face, carefully brushing his lips and fangs across my skin. He whispered in my ear.
�I will do it for you. I shall miss you.� and he faded into smoke from my arms.