A guard rushes through the castle grounds into the bustling courtroom. Slightly out of breath, the guard hastily kneels before the Queen and breathlessly says, “Queen Mother, I bring news!”

The court stirs in interest as the Queen Mother motions for the guard to approach her and convey the news only to herself. The guard nervously tries to calm his breath as he rises to his feet and trots up the stairs. With care, the guard leans forward just enough to whisper into the Queen Mother’s perfectly pointed ear without touching a single strand of her silver hair.

A pleased smile appears on the Queen Mother’s enchanting face in reply. “Brave one, thank you for your wonderful news,” the Queen Mother sincerely said as the guard happily bows to the Queen Mother and departs in haste.

The court members look on in curiosity, but the Queen Mother merely smiles and waves her hand for the court to continue. The court does as it’s told as the Queen Mother thoughtfully pets her hound. It would appear the truce was finally over. Excellent! She had an old score to settle with the devil himself.

The Queen Mother bends down allowing a tantalizing glimpse of her snow-white breasts as her V-neckline plunges forward. The Queen Mother’s ruby lips seductively move as she whispers into her hound’s ear. The hound eagerly leaps away to deliver a message and vanishes into the shadows. The court glances curiously at the Queen Mother for an explanation, but the Queen Mother offers none as she leans back to rest against her ivory throne. The Queen Mother motions for the court to continue as a glimmer of bloodthirst can be seen in her eyes. The tides of fate were coming in and only one would remain standing in the sea’s wake.

*

At the academy, a Sanguniem Vorpal and member of Class Z receives a startling fright as the student crawls back into their bed in fear. From the shadows of the room, a head disconcertingly emerges from an inky black pool. The young Vorpal lets out a whimper of fright as the inky head opens its jaws wide as if to engulf the young Vorpal in its terrible jaws.

From the gaping jaws, a musical feminine voice emerges that of the Queen Mother. “Little one, it is time to fulfill your duties. There is a storm coming and I shall need your aid in surviving it. Fear not, little one, there shall be more than ample opportunity to finally seek your revenge, the time is at hand. The killers of your father and mother shall soon appear before you and you must be prepared. So, when that time comes, you may ruthlessly slit their throats and avenge thy parent’s deaths. I shall keep in touch precious child,” The Queen Mother said.

The ink-like maws snap shut as the ink bubble ominously before the young Vorpal as if in warning. Without a sound, the inky pool dashes into the murky shadows beneath the bed and vanishes. With unease, the young Vorpal carefully places his foot on the floor and with trembling fingers lifts the corners of the bed sheets to peek under his bed. With a sigh of relief, the young Vorpal allows the bed sheets to fall back onto the floor, before sitting down on the bed in deep thought.

The young Vorpal had always known this day would one day come. The Queen Mother had taken him in when his parents had died in a freak accident in the Arctic. And despite protests, the Queen Mother had personally raised him as her own child for which he was desperately grateful to her for doing so. Even if it meant, betraying his friends at the academy, he would willingly do so to protect his remaining family. But more importantly, he would finally be able to avenge his parents. With that thought in mind, the young male vorpal gathers his things and purposefully heads to the recreational center. The more fit he was the better he would be to protect those he cared for and destroy his enemies with his own to two hands.

*

Elsewhere, in dark, cold ruins of a temple in the middle of the woods, a figure can be seen kneeling as if in prayer at the cracked altar. A handsome dark-haired man wearing Italian leather gloves approaches. His footsteps sound loudly against the broken stone floor and echoes throughout the stony ruins. Douglas Montgomery comes to a halt before the kneeling figure as he patiently waits in silence. His breath can be seen in the cold as time ticks slowly on by.

Finally, the kneeling figure rises to her feet and turns to face him. The hooded female warmly says, “It’s been a long time Douglas. But, my, oh my, you’re still as charming and a handsome catch as ever. Do you still remember our time spent together beneath the full moon on the snowy white beaches of Hawaii?”

Douglas warily smiles and truthfully replies, “How could I ever forget those warm nights? They were certainly enlightening to the one who thought he was already knowledgeable in the affairs of pleasure.”

“You’re a scoundrel and a charmer as ever, Douglas. But you would not have called me her to reminisce about old times, now have you?” The hooded woman asked.

“No, sadly, that is not the case. I have come here to make a mutually benefitting proposal,” Douglas firmly proposed.

“Ah, I see. Then it wouldn’t be the same recent offer that you proposed to the Changelings? Or maybe that of years ago to the council or to my beloved elder sister, now would it? Because, frankly, they were all used by you, Douglas, and I have no desire to be the one on the receiving end of such a shaft deal,” the woman crudely stated.

“Yes, but those were much-needed pacts to keep the peace. I no longer have those intentions, I merely need to buy time to fulfill my own plans. And in exchange for your aid, I shall fulfill your greatest desire,” Douglas persuasively said.

“Like I said, Douglas, you’ve always had a honey-tongue and know exactly what to say to a girl,” The woman said as Douglas snorts at the word, girl. “However, how do I know you won’t betray me?” The woman asked.

“Because, Lilith, I am the only one who can grant you the Ivory Throne,” Douglas confidently answered.

The hooded woman pushes back her hood to reveal an almost identical younger version of the Queen Mother of about fifteen years of age with silver her hair pulled back in an imperial like fashion but dressed in Victorian gothic clothing. Her silver hair, red-slit eyes, and the pointed ears of the royal family all proved that she was the younger sister of the Queen Mother, Lilith.

Lilith steps forward and wraps her arms around Douglas’s neck as she presses herself against him. Douglas instinctively lowers his head and wraps his arms around her petite waist. The two share a passionate kiss and breathlessly pull away after some time. Lilith seductively smiles up at Douglas and says, “Very well, I shall aid you, Douglas. But should you betray me, please remember that Hell hath no greater fury than a woman scorned. And for better or for worse, I am the Queen Mother’s sister. My wrath is no less than hers.”

“Understood,” Douglas said as Douglas lowers his lips seeking more warmth and Lilith willingly complies. The couple’s passion escalates to the point, where the guards waiting outside can soon hear woman’s pleasure-filled cries from the ruins. The guards glance at each other in shame and firmly turn away pretending to not hear the passion filled cries from the ruins. Some of the younger guard’s stuff their fingers into their ears, while the older ones with resignation merely sigh and wait. Eventually, their employers would tire, of course, the key word being, “EVENTUALLY.”