Bk 2: Chapter Five (20)

A chill ran down Lizzy's spine as Sol opened her mouth to speak, "We have come for the mortal jewels," she said and Lizzy immediately felt the dangerous stare turn sinister. The next moment, space warped and she was standing in a grey room. Suddenly confused by the change, she looked around, only to recognize this room. This was the Nether Lord's study. She was back in the Nether Palace in the Nether World. She spun to look towards the raised platform and just as she had guessed, he was sitting there, causing her to stiffen.

"You are bold. Not even a few weeks since you left the palace and you have gone into such a place," he said. His voice seemed to be soft as she heard it as though spoken just by her ears, yet it had a hint of echo in it. This was the first time he had ever spoken to her.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked cautiously and he remained silent. She could not tell what his expression was, as he had his face behind the dark mask.

"Why did you make me your concubine?" she rephrased her words.

"You have a hint of destiny on you," he said and she raised a brow.

"Mortals sometimes have such marks. No one is quite sure what it means, but is there. You escaped with the Nether world key, so I brought you back with me," he said and she paused.

"Nether world k…." her confused eyes paused and she looked down on the necklace she had on.

"Rubbish! Who keeps such a valuable thing like that just anywhere? And I did not escape, you pursued me!" she said in anger, then froze the next second as she realised what she had just said, before retreating slightly.

"I only followed to see what you would do with it," she sighed in relief when she did not hear anger from his voice as he spoke, "besides, it was never valuable, there are many keys in many places. I just never saw a mortal be able to pick it up. Then again, I have never seen a mortal so comfortable around Nether energy. It made sense you could pick it up," he answered.

"What?" she started to ask.

"Should you be so lax? Your other question is tied to your life," he interrupted her.

"I" she paused, "Why did you draw me into the Nether world this time?" she asked.

"Your physical body is about to die, so I brought you here for safety. Physical body or not, you are still a mortal and as such, useful," he said.

"What?" she was confused at first, then she realised he was talking about her encounter with the Yxorna flower and panicked, "I don't want to die! What about the maids?" she asked frantically.

"They were the ones that let you walk in there. Dying by her hands is a worthy way to go," he answered. Lizzy was fuming, pacing, looking for words to express her anger, yet the straight form of the Nether Lord sitting in lotus fashion stared down at her from his high platform.

"I want to live!" she insisted after pacing a while. She stopped right at the edge of the elevated platform and stared into his scarlet eyes with her stubborn blue ones.

"And I want an empress," he said and she paused.

"You have an empress," she answered in confusion.

"A mortal one,"

"But… can't you just confer one; one that is not me?"

"The Nether empress' crown is one of dominance. It can only be conferred if the last empress is no more or taken away from a reigning empress by complete dominance. The crown must accept you,"

"But, how can Nether people die? You are not mortal," she asked.

"There are many kinds of death. Death is but a transformation of one's being. For mortals it is to take on a new body, for someone others, it is to take on a new beginning either higher or lower than who they used to be," he said.

"Then ask your empress to step down so you can confer upon the one of your choice,"

"You must take the crown. You are the only mortal concubine in the harem, you are eligible," he said and she found herself wincing at the word, 'harem'.

"Are you bargaining with me? I take the crown, then what?"

"I save your mortal body," he answered and she considered for a while. She wanted to live. If she died, she would have to permanently stay here as his concubine for all time. But if she succeeded in taking the crown, couldn't she ask to leave? She immediately shook the thought away. She was a mortal woman. How was she supposed to tear the empress' crown off an entity?

"You know this is not possible!" she insisted.

"Come closer," he said and she froze.