Not Free
That night, at dinner, the Davines and Dorian were eating when Liana walked in.
"All done," she said in a clipped tone.
"What is, dear?" her father asked.
"The mages' rebellion. I've settled it."
Her whole family stared at her in shock. She laughed.
"What? Didn't think it'd be that easy? Oh, please. I simply told them that I'd ensure they get some more rights. And that if they didn't find it suitable, then I'd just have to wage war on them once again. Obviously, no one wants to seek out war, but it is a nice way to threaten people."
"Liana..." her mother began.
Liana could see the disappointment in her mother's eyes. But she shut herself off and pretended not to notice or care.
"What's done is done. Peace should last for a while now. Everything's been taken care of. I've fixed my messes. I guess I die happy now."
Liana whirled on her heels and stormed out of the room. She headed for the secret passageway that only she knew of. Turning the torch light on the wall, a door in the wall opened next to it. Liana stepped in, the door sliding shut behind her, and began her descent into the old catacombs. After emerging into the heart of the catacombs, she saw a pair of iron chains and shivered. A man emerged from the shadows.
"Well, well, well. Look who's come running back to us."
"Where are they?" she asked, impatient.
"Who?" the man asked, faking innocence.
"Don't play coy with me. When I mentioned this place, you and the other five Masters were torturing me. So you all know."
The man smiled wickedly.
"We're all here, yes. High Lord Zenthe, High Lady Friste, Duchess Kupris, Duke Grejen, Viscountess Roniv, and myself, Viscount Drusan."
"I figured as much. But why send your shadows and the Black Dog after me?"
"To make sure you stay in line," Viscountess Roniv said.
High Lord Zenthe added, "Your life depends on us, not the man you've attached yourself to. We decide when we want you back in Hell."
High Lady Friste nodded, saying, "Your time in the land of the living is a trial. You have already died. We allowed you to return to your former life."
"I know all of this already," Liana argued.
Duchess Kupris gave her a dark look. "You will abide by our rules. Deviate from them, and we will cut you off. The Black Dog will drag you back down to Hell."
Liana gave an involuntary shiver, and murmured, "I know."
Duke Grejen said, "You are not free. This is your only warning."
"I understand."
Then, the Masters disappeared and returned to Hell.
"I'm not free. How can I fight for other's freedom when I have none myself?"
Liana sighed and went back upstairs and into the main palace. She made a beeline back to her bedroom, but was stopped by her mother.
"Liana."
"Yes, Mother?"
"Is everything okay?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" she asked coldly.
"You seem... not yourself."
Liana gave a dark chuckle, "I wonder why."
Her mother sighed sadly and said, "Your father wishes to see you."
"Where is he?"
"His study."
"Very well then."
Liana walked past her mother and towards the study. Seeing that the door was closed, she knocked first.
"Enter."
Liana walked in to see her father, brothers, and Dorian.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Have I interrupted a gentlemen's club or something? Have I got the wrong room?"
"Liana," her father said pointedly.
She groaned, "What?"
Harmon said, "We have word from Sonic."
"So?"
"How could you?!" Vander exploded.
"How could I what?"
"You massacred people! Your 'fellow mages!' I can't believe you'd do such a thing!"
"Really?" she asked. "I killed the entire Gathering of Mages, and you wonder how I could kill dozens of Sonicans?"
Up until now, Dorian had remained quiet, not fully understanding what was going on. But now, he made a request.
"May we have a private word?"
The others nodded and left.
"What, Dorian?" Liana asked.
"Are you really so cold-hearted?"
She laughed, and he looked horrified.
"I consider myself ambitious. If being cold-hearted is a part of it, then so be it. Also, I died once already, so how can there be a heart beating in my dead chest?"
Dorian shook his head sadly.
"And I just thought that Hell had warped you. Lily, I took pity on you."
"Which I never asked for! I don't need anyone's pity!"
"then why'd you agree? Hmm? Just so you could stay here and make people's lives miserable? I won't be a part of that, nor the reason."
"Then what are you going to do about it?"
"I'm going home."
Liana laughed.
"This world is on top of yours. We're right side up and your world is upside down. Vice versa when you're in your world. The only way between the two is a portal in the center of both worlds which happens to be in the middle of the vats ocean for both."
"But you're a sorceress. Just make a portal and send me home."
"Then you don't care if I die?" she raised in eyebrow.
He hesitated, and she rolled her eyes.
"Joking. My existence here doesn't depend on you. It never did. It depends on me and whether I anger the Masters of Hell or not. If I do, then I'm rightfully dragged back to Hell by the Black Dog, no matter what."
Liana started to form a portal. Once it had grown large enough, it started to glow gold.
"This'll dump you right out in front of your home in Retonda."
"Thank you."
Before she could respond, Dorian stepped through. Liana made sure he appeared on the other side before closing the portal.
Then, there was a knock on the door.
"Liana, it's nearly suppertime."
"Coming, Father."
She stepped out of the study and followed her father and brothers to the dining hall.
"Where's Dorian?" Harmon asked.
"He asked to go home, so I let him. And before you ask, Vander, no, I did not kill him."
Just as they opened the doors into the dining hall, they all saw someone holding a sword to Queen Coraline's neck.
"What do we have here?" Viscount Drusan asked mockingly. "The whole Salencian family it seems."
"No," Liana breathed. "Leave my mother and family out of this!"
"Guards! Guards!" King Russell ordered.
"No! Father, don't!"
Soon, guards came rushing in only to be killed by another one of the Masters.
"Haha!" Duke Grejen laughed. "It's so easy to kill mortals these days. No wonder our Liana is so good at it. We recently had an influx of souls coming to join us for eternity, thanks to her."
Liana winced.
"Your Liana? Eternity? Who the hell are you people?" Harmon asked.
Soon, the other four Masters emerged.
"High Lord Zenthe."
"High Lady Friste."
"Duchess Kupris."
"Duke Grejen."
"Viscount Drusan."
"And Viscountess Roniv."
Then, all of the Masters smirked and said at once, "And we are the Masters of Hell."