Princess of the Underworld

Chapter 14 - Exploring The Underworld

As Ràinà and Livana made their way to the city of the underworld, they passed through the lower-class area. "This is where I and some others live," Ràinà said. Livana looked around and saw different species scavenging through dumpsters and getting into fights. It was disheartening to see how these people lived. Livana turned to Ràinà and asked, "How can people live like this?" She abruptly stopped and turned to Livana with a sad expression. "It's hard, but we all manage in our own way," she said in a low, sombre tone. Then she looked around, grabbed my right forearm, and continued walking.

While walking past the lower class of the underworld, something felt off, but Livana trusted Ràinà and followed closely behind her. Once they neared the city's border, Livana felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. It was odd, but seeing how the lower-class of the underworld lived made her want to help them even more. Livana could not believe that her father had not already done anything to assist them. It made Livana mad. Once she become the new ruler of the underworld, she will be the one to act and bring about a fresh new start not only for the citizens of the underworld but for the entire underworld itself.

While observing the lower-class of the underworld, Ràinà stopped at the edge of the city and watched me. "Hey, don't worry about them," Ràinà began to say as Livana focused her attention on Ràinà. "They may look weak, but trust me, they are far from being as weak as other citizens make them out to be." I had a confused yet surprised look on my face as I replied, "Oh? What have they done, or what can they do?" Livana was now interested in the lower-class citizens of the underworld.

"Oh, some can rip ya limbs off in one quick, painless motion if they wanted to; others like to keep it long and torturable and have their victims feel every excruciating pain that is happening to them" as Livana was at 's side, she stopped and was a taken back with the words Ràinà had used to describe what the lower-class of the underworld are capable of doing.

As they entered the city, they saw many citizens going about their day. Some were working in shops and markets, while others were shopping. Livana glanced around and spotted Ràinà at one of the market stalls, chatting with the vendor while making a purchase. Livana walked over to look at the interesting items on display. She knew that her family would never allow her to get so close to anything or anyone, as they always warned her about the potential dangers. As Livana browsed the items, she suddenly heard a familiar voice speaking at the stall. Livana looked up and saw it was Ellerosé. Without drawing attention to her royal status, Livana silently communicated with Ellerosé using telepathy.

Livana began to say ".." Ellerosé jumped a little as it seemed Livana had startled her. She looked up, her eyes scanning her surroundings until they landed on Livana. Livana had a slight smile on her face as Ellerosé looked in the direction Livana was in, and to her surprise, her eyes widened in shock. Then, she walked over and quickly but calmly pushed Livana and Ràinà into a small, unattended alleyway. "Livana, what in the hell are you doing here!?" she said in a firm yet concerned voice.'

Livana just smiled at her and explained what had happened back at home. "Ellerosé, they wanted me to get married tomorrow, but I didn't want to. Besides, the one they had so-called suited me to is horrible. So, here I am, and Ràinà here has been showing me around and has told me how the lower-class citizens live and what they do while on our way here to the city." Ellerosé quickly lifted her hand, stopping Livana from talking, before she said, "You...you were in the lower-class section of the underworld!? You are not hurt or injured or anything, are you?"

Livana could see the worry in Ellerosé's eyes, so she quickly reassured her, saying, "No, no, I am fine." While talking, Ràinà opened the bag and began eating the food she had bought at one of the stalls. "I'm sure no one has noticed that the princess of the underworld is here. Besides, they are always busy anyway, so all is good. If not, they would have already surrounded us," she began to say, catching the attention of both Livana and Ellerosé as they looked in Ràinà's direction.

As they stood in the city markets, Livana turned to Ellerosé and Ràinà with a hopeful expression. "Can we keep exploring the rest of the underworld and have fun?" she asked, her hands cupped together. They both looked at her and before they could respond, Livana added with a cute "Please?" Finally, they sighed and said, "Okay, let's go, but you MUST stay close to us at all times." Livana squealed with excitement, her eyes lighting up and clapping her hands together before then walking in between Ellerosé and Ràinà as they continued their exploration of the underworld, discovering so many different places and sceneries in the city markets.

The three were having so much fun and laughing a lot when all of s sudden stumbled upon a open big field surrounded by trees, with only one tree right in the middle. The three went and sat down under the big tree watching the red sun set behind the mountains on the horizon. "I just love how the sun sets," Livana said while looking at the sky changing from a deep red to a light peachy colour, mesmerised by the colours. Ellerosé and Ràinà both smiled while watching the sunset, the sun in the underworld is very different to the one on Earth. "It is pretty amazing, isn't it?" Ràinà replied to which Ellerosé agreed, "Yes, very pretty indeed." Livana sighed while lifting her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them in a hugging position, resting her chin on top. "Oh, how I wish I could do this all the time, not caring about or taking orders from anyone, just being free to do whatever I want, whenever I want."

The three sat silently, watching the last light in the sky fade away. The full new moon replaced the sun, and millions of stars twinkled in the night sky. Crickets began to sing in the tall grass until they were disturbed by a snap of a tree branch on the ground. All focus was on the dark opening between the two trees leading to the field. In the middle of the field, there was a single tree. As a figure emerged from the darkness, the three quickly stood up in a fighting stance, only to relax when they realised who it was.

Livana's eyes widened as she saw her father, the king, approaching with a few guards, but they were not alone. Beside her father was none other than Vernon. Livana's expression turned into a cold glare as she noticed Vernon smirking. "This is bad, really bad," she thought to herself as she watched her father, the guards, and Vernon come closer and closer. They stopped just inches away from the girls. Livana clenched her hands into fists, preparing for the inevitable lecture from her father. Livana took a deep breath and waited. Ellerosé and Ràinà both bowed their heads, keeping their eyes fixed on the ground, not daring to look up unless spoken to.

"Livana," Zadimus began to say in a dark, cold, firm voice. Livana greeted him with the same tone, indicating that she would not back down. "Father," Vernon then decided to join in on the conversation, but with a smirk on his face. "Hello, dear-" Livana cut him off with a dark glare, her voice almost a growl towards him. "SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU-" Before she could finish, her father stepped in, "LIVANA, MANNERS." Livana turned her cold glare from Vernon to her father and replied with the same tone she used on Vernon, "NO." It was then dead silent, with the atmosphere growing cold and dark. Zadimus and his daughter Livana were at a standoff. Livana was ready to fight for her freedom, even if it was with her father. Livana will continue fighting until she can be free and do whatever she wants, with no one telling her what to do or not to do.