Mirrored Shadows

A scandal at dinner 2

Back in the ballroom (present):

- Have it your way. - the queen gave up. - You don't have to tell me what you did. I have my own surprises.

- I am so curious.

- Then let's waste no time. - she clapped towards the doors.

  The royal announcer announced:

- Her grace, Zana Fley.

  Something got stuck in Monika's throat, as the demoness stepped into the ballroom and sent her a malicious grin right from the door. Monika felt her blood boiling and wanted to run to her and punch her. Zana stood at the doorstep briefly, entertained by her shock.

- My dear. - the queen smiled at Zana and invited her to join them.

 She bowed deeply and took a seat next to Monika, who immediately grabbed her hand and gripped it so hard that her nails slightly carved into her skin.

- Where is Bruno!? What have you done to him???

  Zana pulled her hand back.

- Watch your language with me, I'm not your nanny anymore. You are surrounded by demons. They'd pluck your eyes out if they knew who you are.

- And just who am I Zana?

- You clearly don't know why are you in Hardcoat. The vessel of Azura's son was under your care. You protected the Defiler of Plains. And he is now missing. You were arrested for hiding him and helping him escape.

- That's madness! And it was you who took him! You kidn*pped my boy!

- All these demons around us would love to hear that.

- Should we tell them right away, my dear? - the queen joined.

  Monika started sweating. She was overwhelmed by anger and fear in equal measure. The chamber was filled with demons of the highest classes. Veterans and patriots who lost many in the war against Azura and the Defiler, long ago. She was in a snake nest.

- What's the rush, your Majesty? - Zana sipped on her wine. - The night has only just started. I'm dying to try that delicacy you told me about!

- Oh, certainly! You must try this Monika, I think it's to your taste.

  Monika was sitting like petrified. She felt like the roof was crashing down upon her. The cooks came in. The guests cheered them. A big plate was placed in front of the queen, carried by five chefs. Thousands of candles from the ceiling shined on its polished lid.

- My dear Monika, would you do me the honor and open the lid? The dessert under it was made for you, after all.

  The girl shivered. She knew she'll hate this. All the heads were turned to her, waiting.

- Of course... Majesty... - she said quietly.

  Her shaking hand reached the lid and grabbed its handle.

- Honestly child, it's just a specialty, why the nervousness?

  The guests giggled. Monika squeezed the handle, because the sweat made it slide out of her hand. After taking a deep breath, she pulled the lid. Once it was moved, the guests wanted to applaud, but Monika's scream beat them to it. It echoed across the ballroom. The music stopped, as the lid fell from her hand on the floor, jumping in racket. Mira clutched her chest and held her mouth not to scream as well. Then the silence took over. The guests looked at Monika in confusion, surprised by her reaction. She fell back on her chair.

- What, it doesn't look delicious? - the queen asked her, pointing at Camelback on the plate. His skin was roasted, and eyes taken out. - A fine dessert indeed.

  Mira couldn't believe her eyes. She turned around, ready to leave.

- Where do you think you're going? - the queen stopped her.

- I feel like vomiting. - she said and, without asking for permission, left the ballroom.

- Hmph! - Piri looked at her as she was leaving. - Ill-mannered girl. I don't know why do you put up with her, your Majesty.

- Forget that chancellor, it's time for the dessert!

 She took a knife, ready to cut the poor Camelback.

- How can you do this? - Monika whispered so that only Callisto can hear her. - Your sister was dethroned for cannibalism.

- Correction, my dear. My sister ate her own specie, in other words, demons. The thing on my plate is human. - she paused to look at her. - The lowest form of life.

- Is there no trace of good in you?

- Good? Like when you betrayed my loyalty?

 Monika remained quiet, glancing Zana who raised glass to her.

- Your only luck is that I was misinformed about your true crime that brought you here. - the queen said. - If I knew it back then, you would've been killed the moment you stepped out the carriage at the gates of Hardcoat! But a curious little thing saved you, my dear Monika. It happened that your criminal file was switched with the one of a girl called Stella Hempspree, who took a spear with your name on it. And I find it hard to believe that someone just... switched the files by accident. But do not worry, I will find the rat responsible for that hole in the plot.

   Monika listened to all this with her eyes closed, on the edge of fainting.

- You... cannot prove that I'm responsible for whatever is that you're accusing me for. - she stuttered, looking at both of them.

- Maybe. - the queen confirmed indifferently. - But you will admit it yourself.

- You must be joking.

  The queen nodded at Zana to explain instead:

- Tomorrow, you are going to the court for a trial. Of course, you are already sentenced to death and the trial will only be a show for the crowd who wants a righteous verdict. At the court, you will admit that you were the guardian of the Defiler and responsible for his disappearance.

- And if I don't admit?

- You can say goodbye to your boy.

  Monika couldn't believe what was happening to her. Her heart threatened to jump out of the chest. She looked at the queen:

- You are surrounding yourself with suspicious allies Callisto... Don't you wonder what could Zana possibly want with my boy?

  Callisto's eyes moved at Zana.

- Spare me, Monika. - Zana laughed. - Do you really think that conspiracy theories will help you turn this into your favor?

  Suspicion slowly grew inside Callisto. She wanted to interrogate Zana about this, but not in front of Monika.

- Zana... Don't hurt my boy.

- That depends entirely on you. - said the queen triumphantly. - You'll admit your crime.

- And then you'll accuse me.

- Of course.

- And then you'll be free to execute me.

- That's right.

- And then, you'll never see the Dragon belt again. - she said and poured the wine down her throat, slamming the glass against the table. - This tastes good. Almost like irony.

  The queen's smile faded away. She realized that she entirely forgot about the belt. Zana was astound by the speed by which the her face changed from smiled to bloodthirsty.

- Tell me where it is or you'll lose the boy right away!

- Do that and I'll have zero reasons to tell you.

  Callisto punched the table. The guests looked at her again.

- Your Majesty, calm down. - Zana said. - Didn't you say that your royal mage has summoned a demon who grants wishes in order to prevent someone else to do so? He could ask for the belt from the demon for you.

- That's a great idea! - Monika said. - I wonder where he is though? I just can't see him anywhere? - she started looking around jokingly.

- You...killed my mage? You killed my mage! - suddenly, the queen shouted and stood up with such force that the entire table flipped before her. The guests jumped on their feet, as the plates and candle-holders rolled over the floor. - No one has ever provoked me this much under my own roof! How dare you!!!?

 Everyone just stood in silence, looking at her and Monika.

- THE DINNER IS OVER! SCRAM!

  The nobility once again rushed towards the exit like a mad stampede, aware what's it like to be around when the queen is mad.

- Guards! - she called. - Take this b***h back to her cell and prepare the guillotine! Tomorrow we shall have the trial, but I know how it will end!

  The guards did as they were told and grabbed Monika. While she was leaving, Monika looked over her shoulder at Callisto, and she looked back. It was a silent vow by both of them that they will fight to death if it takes. When she was taken away, Zana stood pressed against a wall, watching the queen breaking the remaining plates and statues.

- Majesty... - she was trying to calm her down. - Please. You have an advantage. Tomorrow you will execute that pathetic fool.

- And then I'll never find the belt!

  Zana looked down. ''You and your goddamn belt...'' she thought to herself.

- Zana. I want you to bring that child. That'll make her tell us where the belt is.

- That won't be possible, your Majesty... The child isn't here...

- I don't care, I want you to bring him immediately!

- But I cannot do that...

  Callisto stopped and looked at her.

- You are really up to something like she said, aren't you? You are working behind my back too.

- No, your Majesty! The thing is... The child, he is in the Ninth circle... Weeks away... He...

- That stuttering... That blinking while you talk... You lie like a man. Clearly you are plotting something and I will find out what. That abomination child, you want something from it, don't you? You must have found some sort of use of it... I'm keeping my eyes on you Zana. Get out of my sight.

  Zana pouted and left the ballroom.

                                                                                      ***

  The queen entered her private chambers and threw the crown on the floor, furious, mad. Only then she noticed Mira next to one of the windows.

- What are you doing here? And care to explain your behavior, back in the ballroom?

- Don't worry, your Majesty. You can be sure that no one will talk about my behavior after the way you behaved.

- What did you say?

- You have changed... I've seen all your faces over the years together. But the things you did in the last few days...

- Mira? Are you questioning MY decisions and MY behavior!?

 The girl smiled ironically and moved away from the window.

- You used to ask for my opinion about your decisions and your behavior.

  Callisto crossed her arms.

- What are you looking for in my chambers, Mira?

- My queen. A strong woman who doesn't succumb to horrible means to get what she wants.

- That woman is gone.

- I've seen that today... And I loved her so much.

- Get over it already, woman!

  Mira looked at her with a lot of sadness in her eyes.

- You think that's possible? - her voice shivered. - You think I haven't tried? Were you... Were you able to do it? To get over it?

  The queen didn't reply. Mira could see that she's fighting something from inside. The night was tossing a large shadow between them. Suddenly, Callisto proudly lift her head and said coldly:

- You're saying nonsense Mira. There's nothing that I'd have to get over. There never was.

- No... Don't say that...

  Seeing the way these words affect her, the queen wanted to torture her even more and vent the anger she carried inside. Before her stood just another vase waiting to be shattered.

- That's right, Mira. Get that into your head already. I never loved you. How could I possibly?

- Cali...

- Don't you dare to call me like that! You have no right to address me as your equal! I am your queen! You are a servant!

  Mira started crying.

- Stop crying, foolish girl. What did you think it would happen!? - she burst into a forced laughter. - That we're going to hold our hands and live happily ever after!?

  Each word she said pierced through Mira's heart like a knife. Her sobbing did not affect the queen even the slightest.

- Even if there was something in me towards you back then, it was temporary. You were just a passing fun of a ruler who needed something to do between the endless obligations. Don't be pathetic. Did you really think that I love you? I'm a demon, a queen. And you are a human, the lowest form of life.

- No, you don't mean that...

  She knelt on the floor and crawled to Callisto's boots, soaking them in tears.

- I gave up my life for you, to be here, in a world that isn't mine...

  Callisto kicked her away.

- You won't stay here any longer. After the trial tomorrow, you will abandon this place and never come back. Call that an act of mercy, because I would rather kill you for this scene.

  Another cold look was enough to make Mira leave. She couldn't listen to those painful words anymore. The doors have closed behind her. The world collapsed before her eyes. She stood in the half dark of a poorly illuminated hallway.

- Well, well. - Piri grinned, walking her way. A purple feather on his hat comically jumped as he moved. - Judging by your face I'm guessing that you weren't promoted?

  He giggled. Mira rolled her eyes and started leaving.

- Do not turn your back on me, Mira, I am your superior! - he screamed. - I will inform the queen about this, just so you know!

- You tried so hard to become her favorite, Piri. Her right hand. It must be eating you alive that you got my place only because I'm not on it anymore, not because you're better.

  She didn't wait for his reply.