Of Angels and Demons

Murderess

She awoke in the cold damp darkness of an unfamiliar place. She could feel that she was naked and her hands were chained tightly above her head. The blood of her stolen virginity was still caked to her thighs, gluing them together. Her head was on fire and she could feel the blood matted in her hair.

“Help!” she called out into the darkness

“There is no help for you, Murderess.” the Queen’s disembodied voice sneered from somewhere in the dark.

“Murderess?” Anuxsous asked in confusion.

“Your father, Anuxsous, how could you?” the Queen’s voice sounded almost gleeful.

“My father is dead?” her head was searing now, and she was struggling to stay awake.

“By your hand, Anuxsous” She practically sang, “but the dawn approaches, and dear Pharaoh will soon be avenged.”

“You b***h!”

The Queen’s high-pitched cacking rang off the stone walls of the prison but soon faded into the dark. Anuxsous was alone yet again.

Over the next few hours, consciousness teased her, pulling memories of her father from the deepest part of her mind. He was gone, and the Queen was blaming her. It was a brilliant plan, Anuxsous had to admit, killing her father and laying it on her. Two birds, one stone.

All too soon she was aware of someone in her cell. It was too dark to know who it was but they undid her chains and let her fall to the ground harshly. She felt her ankle snap as she landed. Anuxsous choked down a cry of pain as rough hands jerked her to her feet.

“Move!” A deep voice growled at her as two rough hands pushed her forward almost knocking her off balance. She limped slowly onward the pain in her ankle almost unbearable. Occasionally the hands of the man behind her would push her into moving faster than she was able to. The Sun was bright and high in the sky as she stepped out in it. Its light flooded her eyes and made her headache even worse. She wanted to vomit from the pain of it. The powerful man who walked behind her grabbed her shoulders with what felt like all of his strength halting her mid-step. Another broad man stepped in front of her and took hold of her wrists, tying them together. He jerked her forward pulling her off her feet. No time was given for her to stand as he began to drag her through a large crowd. Dirt filled her eyes and mouth adding to the shame of it all. People she once knew and loved and helped lined up to throw heavy stones at her naked body. She wanted to cry as the guard drug her slowly through the crowd, making sure all the people had their turn at humiliating her. He even stopped once or twice to let the men touch her body to shame her further. Finally, to her relief, they reached the center of the crowd. It would all be over shortly. The guard jerked her harshly to her knees and tied her down at her wrists and ankles leaving her throat exposed. Standing in front of her on a grand dias was her stepmother. She wore mourning clothes of black and gold and her face looked as though she had been crying.

‘Viper’ Anuxsous thought as she glared at the older woman.

Standing next to her, looking solemn was Akeim. He was holding a golden blade used for sacrificial ceremonies. So they intended to please the Gods with her murder.

“Anuxsous!” She yelled above the booing crowd. “You have been tried and convicted of the murder of our beloved Pharaoh!”

The people booed even louder some even throwing more rocks at her. The Queen silenced them and continued.

“The Penalty for this is death!” The crowd cheered at this and the Queen turned to Akeim and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I am truly sorry it must fall to you, my Son.”

Akeim stiffened his body and turned to face Anuxsous, “For Pharaoh.”

He knelt beside her, slipping one hand down her body adding to her shame. His other hand held the golden knife to her throat. She could feel the bite of its edge digging into her skin. She looked straight ahead as his hands moved across her skin.

“What a waste.” Akeim sighed in her ear before dragging the knife across her skin. For a split second, she could feel the warm sticky liquid spill from her body before cold darkness took her.