Storming the Castle Part 3

*huff huff huff*

He sprinted through the halls; he wore a dark cloak and had his hood up, along with gloves, shoes, and whatever else he could wear to cover his body. No part of his body was showing beside his face if you could see through the hood. He eventually laid his sight on a large lavish-looking red door. Despite its massive size and how it looked like it would take someone of immense strength or multiple people to open it, it was easily opened by him.

"Your Majesty! *pant* Your Majesty!"

The room was adorned by ripped banners, a beautiful mural on the ceiling, and sets of armor around the room which were all missing one or more parts. The floor looked as if it was made of marble but was sadly cracked nearly everywhere. Chandeliers, pieces of broken statues, and debris from who knows where also covered the room. There was a large red carpet that went from the entrance of the door all the way to the opposite side of the room. The carpet probably wasn't always this color, and with some proper cleaning, it could probably be restored to its former glory. It also seemed like magic was used for the lighting since no sources for the lights could be found, but the room was still fully illuminated.

On the opposite side of the room, there was a throne that was raised up with a staircase leading up to it; it looked wonderful and expensive at first, but upon closer inspection of it you could tell the materials used were very cheap. For example, instead of using materials such as gold, they instead coated the throne in a gold foil of sorts. Most of the foil had fallen off by this point and the lavish cushions and such had long since vanished; with the shape of the throne, it was a miracle that it was still standing. There seemed to be spots to both sides of the throne where other smaller thrones probably sat for people such as the queen, but they were simply rubble now. Shalene sat on the throne

"You forget yourself! PROSTRATE!"

His body moved by itself and some force made him prostrate in front of her. Shalene began walking down the stairs from her throne and soon found herself in front of him. The force that was making his body move stopped, and she kneeled down while placing her hand on his chin and tilted it up as she rubbed her thumb across his face. All that could be seen were two blue lights inside the hood, and due to the length of her nails she ended up scratching him when she moved her thumb, but he didn't say anything. She then moved the hood back and showed his true self.

He was a skeleton; or rather a lich if you wanted to be more specific. He was someone who used their vast knowledge of magic to defy one of the few truths of the world and conquer death. That being said, he couldn't do it on his own, not without Shalene's help, and that's why she was able to command him and his body with just a thought. She made a deal with him and now practically owns him. With his hood off he looked away as if he was ashamed. Shalene released his chin and removed her hand.

"You need to stop panting and things like that. You're not alive anymore; you don't have to."

He started getting up, but instead of standing took a kneeling position.

"Yes, your majesty. I apologize."

"So, what do you want, Moluaria…"

"I come with bad news your majesty. The humans have infiltrated the castle and are making their way here as we speak."

*tch* "Where are they now."

"They've made it to the second floor, so they're most likely at the living quarters now."

"Those worms… Moluaria…"

"Yes?"

"You will go down to the third floor and prevent them from reaching here. I'll buy some time for you by keeping them busy on the second floor. Go."

"b- but your majesty, they've already defea-"

Fire erupted around Shalene as anger filled her.

"THE NERVE! DON'T QUESTION ME OR MY ORDERS! I DON'T CARE WHO THEY'VE DEFEATED OR WHAT THEY'VE DONE, YOU WILL DEFEAT THEM OR DIE TRYING! NOW GO!"

Moluaria ran out of the room and began making his way to the third floor as he was directed to do. Once he was gone, her anger began to subside and she looked at the floor. She was standing on one of the banners which should have been on the wall; it was in tatters. She picked it up and wiped the dust and rubble off of it. She looked at it closely and her expression quickly changed. It was like she had remembered something.

"what would you have done…"

She held the banner close to her and walked back up the stairs to her throne.

"I need to start to prepare right now. The humans will be here soon."

Shalene couldn't blame anyone else besides herself for this outcome, after all, it was her that revealed herself prematurely in hopes of removing the current nations while they were at their weakest, but it had backfired, and she had revealed herself to the world earlier than she would have liked.

"I still have time. I can do it. I have to."