Mirrored Shadows

The lonely prince

  Two days have passed, and the Hardcoat was still in stagnation. The nobility acted as unchained animals. Endless orgies and binges stretched throughout the hallways, chambers and staircases. Some danced on top of the furniture, others were breaking it. Piri kept fainting from watching it all.

  Mira mustered some courage and knocked on the queen's door.

- Majesty... You've been in there for two days, I'm worried about your health... Please, at least let me bring you your breakfast...

  There was no answer.

- I'll come in. Is that alright?

  Still no answer.

  The woman opened the door and peeked inside. Callisto was sitting on the window in a soft, transparent night dress, shivering. She looked worn out and small. Dark circles around her eyes were witnesses of sleepless nights. Winds rushed through the opened window. The floor was covered in piles of books and scrolls.

- Majesty? - Mira walked in, stepping over the mess. - What's happening here?

- What do you want, Mira?

- You have us all worried, your Majesty. Please, come at least for the breakfast so the courtiers can see you. The castle is in chaos.

- I have no time for your nonsense. - she got up from the window and knelt on the floor, rummaging through the documents and books. - I've sent an entire army to seek Ana, but there's no trace of her. Then I thought that maybe they are searching in the wrong place.

  She was tossing the papers behind her back. Mira had an impression that she's on the edge of her sanity.

- What are you talking about, your Highness?

- Monika said that Ana will return with an army. I asked myself where could one common noblewoman get an army big enough to attack the entire kingdom? I have read all the records, legends and texts in hope to find an answer. Then I found this.

  She raised a small book with leather covers.

- What's that, your Majesty?

- Azura's journal. My traitorous sister seemed to have the bad habit of recording her thoughts. In it, she reveals that she had gathered many angels and demons who supported her politics about stopping the war between the Hell and Heaven once and for all. The things did not go as planned. Azura and her diverse army were cornered. In a desperate attempt to save the lives of her followers, Azura locked them into the very heart of Hell. According to this journal, the one who sets them free will have the biggest army the world has ever seen. But apparently, no one can unlock them unless they have our blood. Specifically, Azura's. But.

- But what, Majesty?

  She got up and threw away the journal.

- BUT, then I found something that puts a period to this whole charade. Just the way locked doors of Azura's army can only be opened by our descendant, so can the Dragon belt only be worn by one. No one outside our family tree can wear it. Ana could not put it on. In other words, one little b***h under this roof thought that she's a cunning fox. Send for Monika immediately!

- But your Majesty, she wouldn't...

  The queen whipped her with a mad glance. Her eyes were red from rage.

- Are you defending her, Mira? Maybe you are involved in all this as well.

  Mira made a step backwards, clutching her chest, with eyes that sparkled with tears.

- Majesty... Would I... My own queen...

  Callisto pulled her by the hair and pushed her out of the room.

- Bring that b***h here or don't come back!

  Before she closed the door, an old man in blue robes, holding a long staff, appeared on her doorstep. It was the royal mage.

- Thousand pardons, your Majesty, but as soon as I saw you opening the doors, I had to come and discuss with you about an exceptionally alarming subject.

- What the hell do you want!? - she yelled.

  The mage almost dropped his staff.

- I wouldn't bother you if the subject wasn't this urgent...

- Speak already, you old fool!

  He raised his nose in offense.

- I have to inform you that an exceptionally important page is missing from one of my books. Someone tore it out.

- What page, what are you babbling?

- A page for summoning the Contract demon, Amadeus. I'm afraid that someone under this roof is trying to summon him.

- What!? Is this how you take care of your possessions, you old baboon!? This is all I needed now! Find out who did it right away or I'll behead you!

  The old man quickly ran away.

                                                                                       ***

  The queen is sitting by her desk and glances Monika. She stood calmly, looking down. Mira, as always, filled up a glass with wine, tried it first, and gave it to the queen. Callisto took a sip and got up, walking around Monika like a preying wolf.

- You must be thinking that you're very clever, don't you?

- Highness?

- You lied to me. Ana couldn't put the belt on. Only my blood can wear it.

- I have no idea what you're talking about. - Monika shrugged. The queen recognized her own words in that.

- Are you... mocking me?

- I wouldn't dare, your Majesty.

- Tell me where the Dragon belt is. Now.

- Ana has it.

- LIAR! - she shouted and tossed her glass into the fireplace. The fire erupted, lifting the curtains.

  Monika remained calm.

- I'll give you one more chance. Where - is - the - belt?

- My answer remains the same, your Highness.

  The queen made a fist. She turned her back to her and approached the desk. On its surface stood the letter opener.

- Mira, leave us alone. The two of us will have a little chat, woman to woman.

  Mira looked down at the letter opener in Callisto's hand, then at Monika.

- Your Majesty, please don't...

- I told you to leave us.

  The woman bowed and left the room. The queen continued walking around Monika, playing with the knife in her hands.

- I do respect good players. Sadly, most of them only think they are good. Only the real players are ready to go all the way. Let's see how long you'll last.

  A sharp whistle pierced the air. Monika screeched and fell down, holding her cheek. Blood rushed into her palm and soaked the carpet.

- Where is the belt?

  Painful sighs, instead of tears, slowly turned into a light laugh. It was not a laughter out of amusement, nor bravery, but a laughter of despair. The queen looked down at her where she laughs, wondering if she has lost her mind. Her reaction annoyed her. If the circumstances were different, she would've killed her by now. But she was equally desperate as Monika.

- You are standing before the First of Three; - she whispered, as her hand squeezed the knife. - I am the Keeper of the Eternal Flames, leader of the Legions, I will have your body scattered among the Nine circles and not even the Seven Muses will be able to put you together. Who do you think you are, you miserable little insect?

   Monika cleaned the blood off his cheek, but it kept leaking.

- I am someone who knows where your belt is, oh great Keeper of the Eternal Flames. Does a letter opener stand behind all those threatening titles, or are you simply none of that without the missing accessory?

  The queen's eyes were opening wider and wider towards her. She felt a tide of strength she always believed she possesses. Her hand nailed Monika to the floor and she climbed on top of her, carving the girl's face with the blade without control. The castle echoed with Monika's screams. Mira held her ears and cried. Everyone in Hardcoat silenced, listening to her painful shouts. They were echoing for hours.

                                                                                         ***

- You called, your Majesty? - a woman dressed in armor came inside.

- Take this b***h back to the dungeon. Tell them not to feed her nor give her water.

  The guards-woman looked at the floor. A girl was lying there, with hair as red as blood that was dripping off her destroyed face and without conscience.

- As you wish, your Majesty. - she bowed and picked Monika up, taking her out.

  When the dungeon door opened, the prisoners approached their cell doors to see whom the guards-woman is carrying. Looking at that hair and gentle skin, they have recognized the girl immediately. A girl who shared the dungeon with them, who was always kind to all. They followed her with sad looks. Some mourned her fate and destroyed face, but there were some who grinned maliciously because she is back among them.

- Ah... Ah no... Camelback's poor little friend... - Camelback lamented, choking in tears. He couldn't hold his keys to open the cell. - Ah... ah my good, little friend... My everything... 

- Come on Camelback - the guards-woman rushed him. - Open that door already so I can put her down.

- Bad... Bad queen... Evil... Ah, what she did to my little friend... Ah...

- Shut up i***t, you want someone to hear you!? Open the goddamn door!

  He couldn't. She took the keys from him and opened the cell herself, then placed Monika down.

- I see you kept her cell clean. You were hoping that she'll come back here?

- Camelback did not hope... Camelback knew... Queen liar...

 She hit him on the head.

- You were safer when you weren't talking. That tongue will get you into trouble. Listen to me now, the queen has ordered not to feed her or give water to her. Is that clear?

- Evil... Evil!

- Camelback, I'm serious, don't mess around. You hear me? I won't bail you out if you break the order. I have my own worries. So long.

  She left. Camelback knelt down in front of Monika's cell and started weeping.

  All the prisoners suddenly felt bad him.

- Come now, Camelback my old man... Don't cry... She'll be alright... - they comforted him from the other cells, touched by his tears.

- Camelback, recite that poem you came up with for her. - Alma said from her cell. - It was such a beautiful poem.

  The unfortunate Camelback couldn't pull himself together. He took Monika's hand through the bars and placed his cheek on it, soaking it in tears.

- Recite the poem, Camelback. Maybe it will help her open her eyes. - they started convincing him.

  His lips shivered as he tried to shape the words:

Little princess, sad and alone,

sits in her cell of cold stone...

Without hope, without a choice,

she cries endlessly, yet makes no voice...

Only a Camelback, the ugliest sight,

watches over her, day and night, day and night...

The Moon is mocking, far in the sky

but Camelback is happy, he doesn't cry.

The princess loves him, gives him light,

so Camelback glows, that poor, ugliest sight.

They cry together, in a cell of cold stone,

only happy that they don't cry alone.

 The rest of the poem turned into sobbing. He laid down on the cold ground, with Monika's hand on his cheek and continued to cry through the entire night.

                                                                                  ***

- Rise and shine, sunshine! - someone shouted and a splash of cold water fell on Monika, spilling all over the cell.

  She screamed, feeling the dirty water crawling into the cuts on her face.

- Tsk, tsk... - Corfold crossed his arms. - Look at yourself. Now you're not good enough even for me. Maaaaybe if I turn you over. I only need you below the belt anyway.

   Monika wasn't quite conscious. Everything was blurry. All she could see was a tall figure before her.

- Where...Wh...

  He lifted her up and pushed her against the wall, then locked her hands into chains so she would hang.

- There. Let's see how tough you are now.

  He punched her in the stomach, knocking the air out of her. She bent as far as the chains allowed her to, unable to scream in pain.

- What was that thing you said the last time? Something about me begging you to spare my life? I'm afraid it will be the other way around.

  When the second punch struck, she lost her conscience. The captain splashed her with water again.

- Not yet, birdie. I haven't heard you begging.

  The scars started burning again and painfully pushed her back to consciousness.

- There she is. Good morning!

  Another punch, this time in the face, before grabbing her by the neck.

- What are you doing!!? Let go of me!

- Say it.

She started wiggling and squirming to push him away.

- Let go of me you fool. LET ME GO!!!

- Perhaps we could do this more effectively. - he said and reached for her thigh under the skirt.

  A short silhouette jumped on his back and crashed with him on the floor. The captain quickly turned over to face his attacker - Camelback.

- What do you think you're doing, ugly bastard!? - he pushed him off himself, got up and started kicking him.

- Leave him alone!

  The guards arrived. They looked at all that in confusion.

- Help him, please! - Monika pleaded.

- Tie him up upside down. - Corfold gave the order and smirked at her.

  The men just stood still, not knowing whether the captain is serious or not.

- What are you looking at, idiots? Do I have to repeat?

  They did as they were told. The poor Camelback was tied upside down, hanging from the ceiling. He looked at the far floor in fear, terrified of the height.

- Bring me the whip!

  One of the guards went to get it.

- Now we shall teach a monkey how to dance.

- Leave him be, you monster!

  The guardsman returned with the whip. Corfold tore the dirty tunic off Camelback, revealing the hump on his back.

- Hit him. - he ordered.

  The guardsman's eyes were filled with tears.

- I said hit him!

  The whip whistled. Camelback screamed.

- Stop it! Please!!!

  The whip whistled again. Camelback screamed louder and started to cry.

- Friend... - he called in pain.

- It will all be alright!

  The whip kept striking, over and over.

- Oh please stop, that's enough, for the love of god!

- More!

  Second strike, third, tenth. Drops of blood turned into a puddle on the floor. The dungeon carried Camelback's cry. It echoed throughout the hallways and the secret passages that knew him so well, all the way to the moon. Then it finally stopped.

- Why is he silent? - Corfold asked.

- Because... He's dead. - the guardsman said and looked at him in disgust. - I'm sorry he interrupted your ''fun'' too soon.

  The man threw the whip on the ground and left the cell. Monika burst into tears.

- Camelback! Please open your eyes!

   Corfold spit into the blood and left the cell as well.

- Camelback, look at me! Come on, my little friend! I didn't even give you a name!

  The lifeless body with the hump on its back swayed in silence, left, right.

                                                                                       ***

- Your Majesty... You must get out of this room, the castle is falling apart. - Mira insisted.

- It will fall apart regardless if I don't find the belt. Will you get that into that head of yours already!?

  The woman sighed.

- You know what the people whisper around the castle, Majesty?

  The queen did not pay attention to her. The texts and books had her full attention.

- They say that you have lost all your strength with the belt. That you're no longer suitable to be a ruler.

  Callisto squeezed the quill in her hand, breaking it.

- They dare?

- They say that a man would rule better than you. They say your father was right about you.

- Impudence! - she jumped off the chair, making it flip on the ground.

- You have to come out and show that you're still the same old you.

- I don't have to prove anything! I'm the queen, damn it!

- You are losing respect of your people.

- Once I execute that b***h in the cell I'll gain it back.

- Forgive me, Majesty, but the courtiers are very fond of young Monika. If you execute her, you will cause disapproval and will appear even weaker.

  The queen stopped for a moment to think. She was losing her patience.

- She will get a trial. - she decided in the end. - I shall bring the evidences of her crimes before all of them and then execute her.

- Do you have any proof?

- At least proves are easy to find or create...

  The door suddenly opened without knocking and a demon girl entered.

- Maybe I can help. - she said nonchalantly.

- What is this endless barging in without knocking!??

- The Hell is falling apart above your head, and you think about decorum.

- Who are you, girl?

- From this day forward, your best friend, your Majesty. - she giggled and deeply bowed.