The Serpentine's Revenge

Chapter Eleven

At the Palace of Azuria

Allura smiled. The girl crumbled at her feet. She moaned in pain. “Throw her in the dungeons. Lock her in chains.” Adrien and Cobalt rushed to hoist the girl beneath her arms. They dragged her away, a stream of blood trailing behind them. Maybe Allura would get that wench to clean it up. That would be interesting. Watching her clean up her own blood. She’ll bleed out in a matter of days, hours if she’s lucky. That’s a wonderful torture. Watching the time run out, like a ticking clock.

Death is too good for the Janadexiand girl. Allura once wanted to kill her, but now, she wanted to make her suffer. Her husband stepped behind her. She felt his smile too. Crimson’s arms wrapped around her waist, and his head rested on her shoulder. He planted a kiss on her neck. Allura tried to act pleased, but failed. She didn’t lean into his warmth, instead, she stood proud. Her posture was what is should be—like a queen’s.

“Well done, Allura. You have made me proud. Now, we rule together, without a girl getting in our way. Let us make Azuria the country is was destined to become.” He kissed her cheek this time.

She turned to face him. “Oh, but you see. I didn’t do this for you. Or for Azuria. I did it for me. Me and me alone.” She sheathed the dagger, and pulled out a vial. The vial with his life line—his life force. “And now, I no longer need you. You no longer have a purpose for me to use.”

Her eyes glowed red, and the strand combusted into flames inside the vial. Crimson winced, fire rushing over him as well. The fire danced in the glass vial and over Crimson. He fell to the ground, writhing and cringing at the heat that was burning his body. Leaving only ash. “Goodbye, husband.” She said. “Tell Azuria I say hello when she meets you in Hell.”

Allura, Queen of Azuria, stood victorious over the ashes of her dead husband. She was now, the one and only ruler of Azuria.

~

They tossed her into a jail cell, with barely any light. There was only the flickering torches that lit up the dungeon. She hissed in pain. Cobalt stood on the other side of the bars, looking down at her, at his love. She struggled against the chains at her wrists. Until they were bloodied and marred. She shrieked as the movement jostled the wound at her side. He just stood there. Watching.

“You’re liar. A damned liar. I can’t believe I actually trusted you.” She spit blood onto the muddy dungeon ground.

“It seems like you’re talking about yourself. How many names do you have? Let’s count. Azurellyn Dryaia, Dawn Emerly, Alexandria Crelea, and Anna Marez. You lie as much as me.”

She pulled against the chains once more. “I lied for protection. You lie for deception.”

“Is there a difference?” He could see the temper build up inside her. The fire in her heart sparked alive.

She growled, barring her teeth at him. “I hate you.” She practically spat out those words. “You ruined everything I ever had.” She exhaled a long breath. “What did I do to you to make you hate me so much?”

“Nothing. It’s not me that hates you. You should ask Queen Allura. As for me, I love you. I merely follow orders.”

She leaned as far as the chains would allow her. “But if you don’t fight back the orders, you hate me as much as that b***h you work for. You have as many sins as the person you follow.” Cobalt stepped closer to the bars between them. He reached out his hand to touch her. To feel the warmth of her beautiful skin. She flinched away from him.

“I wouldn’t do that.” Allura placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve done well, don’t ruin it.” He sighed, and pulled away his hand. The girl behind the bars began to struggle against the chains. As if to rip them off the wall. Probably to strangle him. She grunted and collapsed in defeat. Instead, she pressed her hand to her wound, as if to staunch the bleeding.

“What are you going to do with her?” He said, never taking his eyes off her.

Allura chuckled. “Something that you have failed to do. Kill her.” The chains rattled.

“But you’ll let my brother go?”

“A deal’s a deal. You didn’t kill her. Didn’t you hear me before? You failed me.” She gasped mockingly. “Oh, and that means you failed your family. What a shame.” Allura motioned to the guards behind her. A skinny, dirty boy stumbled into the torchlight. “Say goodbye to your brother, Cobalt.” The chains behind him stopped moving.

“No!” Cobalt slammed himself in front of his younger brother. “Please. I promise you. I will not fail you again,” His breathing became laboured. “Please. I beg of you, your Majesty.” Allura looked down at the two brothers. So much love between them.

“You’re lucky I’m in a good mood. I’m counting on that promise, Cobalt. Take your brother back to your family. He gets to stay. For now.”

Cobalt took his brother’s hand, and led him away from the dark dungeon. He prayed to anyone who would listen, that he could keep his side of the bargain.