Chapter 13

As I stood outside the borders of Hell, the chaotic landscape fading behind me, I prepared to teleport back to the mortal realm. Just as I raised my hand, Zoth grabbed it gently, halting me. His crimson eyes sparkled as he reached into his subspace, pulling out something unexpected.

What he held in his hands made me freeze in surprise. It was a crown—a small, intricately designed crown that shimmered with a blend of obsidian and silver.

"I knew both your majesty and Master Tartarus would forget about this," Zoth said with a chuckle.

Before I could respond, he carefully placed it on my head. It fit perfectly, resting snugly above my small forehead.

"It's… a little smaller," I murmured, marveling at its beauty and craftsmanship.

"I've remodeled it to match your current form," Zoth replied, his voice filled with pride. "I hope your majesty likes it."

"Really?!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my excitement. A burst of joy escaped in the form of a bright, childish smile. "Thank you!"

The sincerity in my voice seemed to strike a chord within Zoth. His usually composed demeanor faltered, and I noticed a tear sliding down his cheek.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, tilting my head in concern.

Zoth quickly wiped his face and smiled softly. "Oh! My apologies, your majesty. I got carried away in my thoughts for a moment."

He extended his hand toward me. Without hesitation, I reached out and took it, a gesture of trust and gratitude.

The next moment, we vanished into thin air.

---

We reappeared in the mortal realm, in a narrow alley surrounded by old stone buildings. The soft glow of the rising sun was beginning to illuminate the sky.

"This is where I'll leave you, your majesty," Zoth said as he took a step back. "Master has tasked me with monitoring the mortal realm from the shadows. I will always be nearby, so please call for me if you ever need assistance."

I nodded, watching as Zoth dissolved into his own shadow, vanishing completely. Despite his intimidating appearance, his loyalty and kindness warmed my heart.

Looking around, I realized how close the sun was to fully rising. Panic bubbled up inside me. "Oh no!" I muttered, quickly teleporting back to my bedroom.

---

I landed softly on my bed, pulling the blanket over myself like a cocoon. The comforting warmth enveloped me as I shut my eyes, trying to fall asleep.

An hour or two later, the door creaked open. Through the hazy veil of sleep, I felt my mother's presence as she peeked inside.

Mama smiled when she saw me rolled up in the blanket, my small form barely noticeable under the layers. But her gaze lingered as something caught her attention.

"What's this?" she murmured, noticing the crown still perched on my head. She reached out to take it, but no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn't budge.

Sighing, she stepped back. Her soft sigh stirred me awake, and I peeked out from the blanket, rubbing my eyes.

"Mama…" I mumbled sleepily, my voice barely above a whisper.

She smiled warmly, leaning closer. "Good morning, sweetheart."

Blinking, I stretched lazily before grinning up at her. "I wanna eat!"

Mama chuckled. "Alright, Mama will prepare something delicious. But, Aleena," she added, pointing at my head, "what's this?"

Still groggy, I reached up and touched the crown, immediately realizing my mistake. The crown! I had completely forgotten to take it off! My mind screamed internally, berating myself for being so careless.

Pulling the crown off, I stared at it in my small hands. It really was beautiful. The intricate designs glimmered faintly, almost hypnotic in their charm.

"Aleena?" Mama's voice snapped me back to reality.

"Uh… I found it in my dreams!" I blurted out, lying as confidently as a three-year-old could.

Mama sighed, clearly not expecting too much from me. I quickly placed the crown back on my head, tilting it slightly for effect. "Mama, do I look good?"

Her smile softened, and she lifted me into her arms. "Yes, Aleena looks very cute and beautiful!"

Her words made my heart swell with warmth. Wrapping my tiny arms around her neck, I giggled softly, grateful for the simplicity of this moment.

But as I held her, the weight of the crown on my head reminded me of the duality of my existence. I was Aleena, a young girl cherished by her family, but I was also a goddess—Death herself. Two lives, two worlds, and a crown to bind them together.