Chapter 1

I don't know what month has just passed since I've been trapped in the underground world of Abaddon, but I'm used to living here. It's quite a pleasant feeling when all these strange creatures treat me with due respect. They listen to my every word, they do everything I tell them to do, and for that reason, I seem to be getting worse every day.

I know that behind my back they call me a cold bitch, especially since I can't reciprocate the feelings of their master — Abaddon.

It's strange, if we had a strong, amazing love for centuries, why can't I love him again?

I have read many "fantasy" books in my lifetime, and it seemed to me that such love in particular was strong and indestructible, but I must admit that this is just the lush imagination of the authors.

Love like love. Each is short and burns out pretty quickly. Later, people are with each other only out of habit.

And it's the same with Abaddon. He doesn't truly love me, I'm simply his trophy, a past he wants to return to out of habit.

It seems to me that we are more suited to each other as friends than as lovers.

- Stop trying to seduce me, Abaddon. There is no chemistry between us, we do best in a friendly relationship. Let it stay that way," I announce, sitting on the railing of the throne. He is pacing around the chamber, thinking intensely about something. He would rather not reveal to me the subject that is disturbing his thoughts.

- If you eventually recover the memories of your previous life, you will understand how wrong you are," he answers me, without even glancing at me for a fraction of a second.

- If we once actually shared a strong love, it's been ages since then anyway.... it's not coming back.

Finally, he looks at me. His gaze is intense.

- But you yourself admitted to me that so far you have not been able to fall in love with anyone. This is because I am destined for you.

- Our destiny has passed," I say in a stifled voice, reminding myself of Thomas. It's strange that every time I think of him, I feel how deep my longing for him is.

- In that case, I feel sorry for the man you manage to love in this life.

I furrow my eyebrows, being outraged by his words.

- What is the meaning of this, Abaddon?

- You are sick in love. It is because of you that we were punished.... You caused us to be separated. My people tried to protect me, and now I've taken you back here, because it's a matter of time when the memories of your previous life begin to return to you, and you become a threat to all humanity. You used to be a cruel bitch, Jennie, that's why you have to be trapped in the underground world this time too. In our world.

- Stop with these fairy tales. I won't believe you anyway. - I snort under my breath, crossing my arms on my chest.

I jumped down from the throne's railing and dodged him, elbowing him in the arm as I passed by.

- Despite how much harm you have done to me, I have taken care of you all this time. It is because of me that you have become like this, so I must be by your side for all eternity, even if you are reborn a thousand times. It is my duty to take care of you.

I force a crooked smile, and turn to face him, thinking it's pathetic how hard he tries to push a fairy tale on me.

- Let's just stay friends, Abaddon.

- All right, let's stay. I don't mind, since you went back to your place anyway. Being the queen of the underworld is meant for you, only that I just want to make you aware beforehand of how inconceivable things you will start doing in the future. This relationship will not last long.

- Stop living in the past, Abaddon. It was, it's gone.

I leave the chamber, slamming the brass door.

 *

I am lying on a hammock, overeating oranges. Below me sit three little red creatures with pointy ears, holding plates. Although I notice that their hands are suffering, I don't feel sorry for them at all. I'm going to torment these little ugliest, since I heard them cursing me loud and clear. Their blasphemous words had no censorship.

- Madam, can I at least leave the plate for a moment? I am in pain. My shoulders hurt.

- You did not suffer when you called me a volcanic cunt from which lava flows.

One of the creatures parries with laughter, but rapidly covers its mouth with its hand, being terrified when I pierce it with my eyes.

- Forgive me, lady. - He bows to me contrite, afraid of the punishment I may prepare for him.

- Get out. I would rather not look at you. - I chase them away with my hand, to which they eagerly respond.

They rise from the ground and run toward the castle. I watch the creatures until they disappear from my sight.

Eventually, I will punish them anyway. They have no right to humiliate me.

I take a deep breath and close my eyelids. My thoughts immediately begin to relate to longing for Lisa, Victor and Thomas, and especially when it comes to the latter, who hurt me so much.

It is because of him that I am "Faerie." That bastard took advantage of me, and yet I would like to see him again.

What is wrong with me?

I open my eyes and observe the darkness that surrounds me. Here at all times the sky is black, everything around is dark and gloomy, and this spooky charm is completed by the castle that stands on the hill.

With my feelings, I undoubtedly fit in here.

- This time your end will be tragic. Enjoy the presence of Our Lord while you can. Destiny will not bring you together again. This is the last time, because we will not allow Our Lord to suffer again at the side of a cruel woman like you.

I turn my face the other way and look at the old woman, whose head is covered with a pointy hat. She looks like a typical fairy tale witch.

- Is everyone abnormal in the underground world?

The old woman, whose face is covered in excess by wrinkles and whose sparse gray hair peeks out from under her hat, looks at me with a hateful gaze.

- We are not happy that Our Lord has brought you back here, but regardless of his decision, we will do everything to protect him.

- So what? Kill me so I disappear from Abaddon's life?

- When she returns, this time she will finally rescue him from your hands. You will die, she will become queen of the underworld.

- And you know all this because you are....

- An oracle," she answers directly, and I swallow my saliva harder as I feel anxious for a moment.

I watch her carefully, looking into her blue, even faded eyes that pierce me to the core.

- Why does everyone in the underground world hate me so much? Why are they worried about Abaddon? To be honest, I am more appalled by his behavior. He doesn't resemble at all the friend who was my guardian angel before.

- On that day, when the sky shines, you will understand.

The old woman walks away, supporting herself with a cane.

I jump down from the hammock and face the castle, looking at it for a long moment. I try to remember something, to make some flashbacks from the past appear, but nothing like that comes.

And even though I'm having more and more familiarity, I find it difficult to believe that my past is hiding there.

- Who was I, and what really happened a century ago?

*

I stroll through the corridors, which are illuminated by oil lamps that hang on the walls. I try to find any hint that will help me understand what happened here a century ago.

Why am I the cruel woman that the people of the underworld hate?

I stop in mid-step when my attention is caught by a painting that is on one of the walls. I stare at it with wide-open eyes, horrified by the painting, which depicts me bathing in blood. I look extremely frigid and terrifying there, so cruel that for a moment, my body shivers.

- Is this really me? - I ask myself in a whisper, shifting my gaze to another painting next to it. The painting depicts me and Abaddon. The man is sitting on a throne, and I take a seat next to him on the railing, exactly where I like to sit since I live in the castle.

- Deep down, you have old habits, Jennie.

I turn to face Abaddon, who is looking at the same images as me.

- It's just a painter's imagination, right? - I ask in a stifled voice, watching the corner of his mouth lift upward.

- Painters love to draw inspiration from models. He painted what he saw with his eyes, not his imagination," Abaddon replies to me.

I look him in the eye, then turn my attention once again to myself, bathing in blood.

- So you're saying this painting took place in real life?

- It's a piece of your memories, but don't you want to know whose blood it was, Jennie?

My heart begins to beat harder with fear.

- Did I bathe in the blood of animals?

- No, Jennie. - He leans over my ear, then adds in a whisper. - This is the blood of a young woman who tried to seduce me. You skinned her alive, which is why I kidnapped you to the castle. I'm afraid that the story from the past will become a hellish reality again. You are no longer human, so you can no longer live in the human world. You are too dangerous.

He walks away, and I watch his back with wide-open eyes.

- It's impossible... they are trying to mess with my head. I wouldn't hurt a fly," I say in a quiet, trembling voice.

Yet, a part of me is horrified when I look at this painting again. I can't bear to see my face in this painting. I look so haughty and arrogant. Furthermore, I seem to look at the painter with superiority in my eyes — as if the whole world is mine.

Is it possible that a century ago, I was a monster?

I come closer to run my finger over this painting, but my attention is caught by the painter's signature in the lower-right corner.

"Set".

Who is he?