The Newest Master

Three days later, Liana was dragged into Hell's throne room.

"No, stop! No!"

"You will become one of us," Viscount Drusan said.

"I don't want to be one of you!"

"You have no choice, Princess. Soon, you will no longer be Princess Liliana Davine of Salencia," High Lady Friste said coldly.

"Then who will I be?"

"A Master of Hell," Duchess Kupris answered.

"It is a high honor. Viscountess Roniv was the last one to be made a Mistress of Hell," Duke Grejen said.

"And that was a couple centuries, your time, ago now. Yet, I still remember my ceremony as if it were yesterday."

Before she could protest anymore, the Masters seated her in a chair and bound her to it with thick leather straps, surrounding her in a circle.

They began to chant, "He tesa vou mi. He tesa vou mi. He tesa vou mi."

The Masters continued chanting as magic drifted towards her. It swirled up and began to encase Liana. She could feel the powers of Hell as they melded into her body.

"AHHH!!!"

Liana screamed in pain as the magic imbued into her. The process was long and arduous. But finally, it was over. Magic receded and revealed a slumped over Liana. High Lady Friste unbound her and caught her limp body.

"Now, she must recover."

She took Liana back to her room and laid her down on the bed.

"Sleep now," she whispered. "When you wake, come find us in the throne room."

High Lady Friste left, and hours passed. Liana continued to sleep,a dn when she finally awoke, she groaned.

"By the gods, what happened?"

She looked around her and remembered.

"No, no, no. I'm a Master of Hell."

Liana sighed and got up. She got dressed into a new, black satin dress with a deep, blood red, lace waist drape. After putting some onyx earrings in, she headed for the throne room.

Using her magic, Liana opened the doors and glided in. The others turned to look at her. She watched as a knowing smirk grew across High Lady Friste's perfectly sculpted features.

"Hello, dear. Feeling better now?" she asked.

"Yes. The rest did me good."

"Wonderful! Now, comes the naming," High Lord Zenthe said.

"What?"

"I wasn't always Viscountess Roniv. I used to be Ryna Urzas from Pteleria and was given the name at my own naming ceremony. Now, it's your turn."

Liana sighed. "Fine, but can I request to keep my title of Princess?"

"That can be arranged," Viscount Drusan agreed.

Duke Grejen spoke up. "Something must be chosen that represents her unbreakable spirit."

"I agree," Duchess Kupris said.

"Then what do we think?" High Lord Zenthe asked. "Hmm?"

"How about Princess Zahanna?" High Lady Friste suggested.

"That could work," Viscountess Roniv said.

Viscount Drusan added, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but Zahanna means strong and enduring, right?"

"Yes," Duchess Kupris said. "It suits her well."

"I'm standing right here!" Liana gasped.

"Oh, you don't get any say in your name. That's part of the ceremony. You can't choose it; we do it for you," High Lord Zenthe explained.

"That's not fair!"

He responded, "When is anything fair?"

Liana crossed her arms and pouted like a five year old, but she couldn't argue with him. The other Masters continued discussing it, and when they had decided, turned towards Liana.

"What?"

High Lord Zenthe walked over to her and summoned a wide, shallow, copper bowl. He pricked Liana's finger with a needle, letting the blood drip into the bowl.

"Ow!"

"We, the Masters of Hell, christen you, Princess Zahanna, Mistress of Hell," they all said.

Magical fog rolled from the blood in the bowl and moved towards Liana. It surrounded her and changed her. As she felt her whole body change, she cried out in pain. Her legs elongated a bit, making her taller than before. Her arms lengthened to be proportionate to her new legs. Her tan skin turned creamy white. Her pink hair with orange tips turned black with pink tips. When the fog receded, Liana was a whole new person.

High Lady Friste walked over to her and smiled. She presented a gold headdress with an onyx jewel hanging down in the middle and draped it on her head. The jewel rested just above the center of Liana's eyebrows.

"There, much better. Now you do look like a Master."

"Hrrk," Liana coughed. "What have you done to me?"