Enrieta had much time to think about what she would tell him when they spoke, her journey from Vanaheimr was a long one and it gave her much to think about. She knew she would need the emperor's blessing and that was not something so easily obtained, with Nero choosing to abdicate much of the power of the throne giving it to Saturn. Still, her swaying her father was paramount. The games had already begun, now she had to prove herself worthy in his eyes.

  She looked into the fire finding comfort, "Of all the books in your study, how many have you read?"

  The emperor was amused by the question but did not show it, "During the early days of my reign very few. But now I seem to be finishing them with regularity. I have read most of it."

  Enrieta smiled.

  She rose to her feet and began to walk around the room looking for something. The emperor did not interrupt, instead choosing to watch his daughter effortlessly glide across the floor. Each time he saw her she managed to grow even taller and her Nephilim features further enhanced. She looked very much like her mother but that was as far as the comparisons went. Enrieta was a true born noble, and everything she did was an extension of that. Something her mother lacked in copious amounts.

  The young empress waved her slender finger in the air and rested upon an old book, barely bound together. She raised it to her father for him to see, "How does this one end?"

  The emperor rubbed his gray beard and thought for a moment, "'The Battle of Blacklight', an interesting tale. Three hundred years of lords fighting over who gets to be king of the realm, each century more bloody than the last. Eventually the Stygians grew bored of the fighting and killed everyone involved."

  Enrieta carefully put the book back and moved on, "And this one?"

  "'Persephone's Lament', the first Nephilim rebellion, led by Persephone... Zxyphor." She waited for him to continue, "It ends with the rebellion being put out by the arrival of the Lords of War... Who proceeded to slaughter Persephone's daughters as penance for such hubris."

  Enrieta nodded her head pleased with his response. And on she went, book after book, tale after tale. Each abruptly ended by the involvement of the Stygians. Nero let her continue, he indulged in her games. But soon grew bored. Many things about him had improved with his age, such as his wisdom and temperance. But patience seemed to always elude him in his youth and even now.

  The old emperor yawned, "Are you going to get to the point or will I have to teach you about Aurum's entire history? Again."

  Enrieta rolled her eyes and sat back down, "I see where Saturn gets it from." the fire rumbled next to her as she leaned forward, interlocking her fingers, "It is always them. They are always the ones responsible."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "The Stygians," She began. "Every story you have told me, it always ends with them intervening and killing everyone. It has been that way for thousands of years."

  The emperor rubbed his brow, "Not this again."

  Enrieta rose, moving closer to the desk, "Just listen." she drew her face in closer, her dead ruby eyes never leaving her fathers, "Listen to what I have to say."

  Nero was a cautious man, his youth forced him to be so. Born without legendary abilities nor the power to wield magic. Caution had been a tool he learned to sharpen well, with but a glance his discernment of danger was enough to give him the advantage. Here in this very moment as he studied his daughter, he felt the same sensation that had plagued him throughout his life. He knew if he allowed her to speak, what she would say next would change everything. Aurum would never be the same and because of it, an endless amount of blood would flow. And it would be because of him.

  "Proceed."

  Enrieta smiled.

  "Ever since the first men happened upon this land a hundred thousand years ago. Along with their wives and children, the Stygians have been here. They rejected us at first, killed us in droves because we resembled their greatest shame. It was only when they saw reason through the bloodshed did they stop, and as an apology they sent those of us who remained to fend against the monsters of the night." Her eyes came alive, her words rang true in the ears of the emperor. She continued, "My people were once human too, driven to the brink of extinction, we turned to an ancient God of Aurum and thus the Nephilim were born. And what did the Stygians do when they saw us again, reborn as our own saviors? They enslaved us for our hubris to make ourselves in their image."

  "Focus Enrieta, I do not need a lesson on our history."

  The Queen of the Nephilim took her opportunity, "As long as the Stygians remain, there is no future for humanity."

  Her words reverberated throughout the room. They were not special words, long have they been spoken by thousands, from nobility to the peasantry who rarely knew how to read. It had been spoken by kings and queens, and lords and lady's alike. Whispered by knights and Dragon Lords. Even the ancient dragons on the Isle of Madness in their caves whisper it. The Stygians are to blame. Nero would not allow himself to foolishly react; he needed to be careful, for his sake and his daughters.

  "I taught you better than this," he remarked. "Such speak is reserved for the drunken soldiers and farmers to stupid to know any better. Not a queen. Especially one of your stature. Your obsession with the Stygians is clouding you."

  Enrieta rolled her eyes, "I am obsessed?" she was unamused with her childish treatment, "Enlighten me father, what would you call bedding the Black Witch of the West who was enamored with Barranagan Xerxes. Or marrying off your son to princess Freyja of house Stormborne. The former betrothed of crown Prince Antares Xerxes. Or should I say King Antares Xerxes now. If that is not obsession then, please enlighten me."

  "Careful."

  Enrieta bowed her head in reverence. A sense of foreboding washed over her. She allowed herself to toy with her emperor and the consequences for that would be severe. She knew the emperor to neither be a kind man nor forgiving. And yet a wide smile crossed her face. The anticipation of what would happen next excited her.

  "I do not know who has filled your head with such tales, but you would be wise to not so simply believe everything those around you say. Many seek to only gain favor for their own means, dear daughter. Do not forget that." There was heaviness to his words, and she strained underneath them. The words of her emperor, flat and resolute.

  Emperor Nero rose and Enrieta flinched, she prepared herself for punishment. But it never came. Instead her emperor walked past his desk towards the stairs behind him. He need not talk, she knew better and followed him in silence. They arrived on the second floor with a balcony overlooking the kingdom below. The archway was gilded with white stone and gold accents. Across it were words spoken in the first language. On either side of the opening stood pillars of Ivory, upon them carved symbols and objects of power belonging to house Blackrose. In the middle of the arch the golden visage of a stag hung with great pride. Thorns wrapped around its gleaming antlers and in between each antler, a black rose.

  Nero waved his daughter towards the chair, "Sit, your sister was here earlier. Do not tell her I brought out the good tea for you."

  Enrieta had always found the sun outside of Vanaheimr to be softer than her own. Its softness was a reminder of how life was like for the rest of the realms. Many of them did not know the thralls of war or what was done to keep them safe. She looked over towards the sprawling city and bustling with life. Even from Castle Blackrose people could be seen below. Between the stone buildings, pockets of trees were scattered throughout. Unlike her own castle, this one was situated in the center of the city equally commanding over every inch of it. She glanced to her right, also unlike her own castle, Castle Blackrose was constructed as two separate castles, later joined together, a massive sky bridge connecting the two fortresses. Even from this angle it was magnificent. The glass ceiling of the bridge was carefully crafted to withstand the heavy winds generated this high. Rarely did she ever admire the beauty of the world around her, but when she came here it seemed like it was all she ever did.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  "Tea is served."

  Nero placed a small silver tray with warm tea down on the table. He moved his hand over the drink, playing with the steam rising from the cups. Enrieta could tell this was a ritual of his, and she smiled warmly. She moved closer and sat opposite her father.

  "So what makes this tea so special?" she reached over to take a cup from him.

  "I am sharing it with my daughter," Nero mused.

  Enrieta was rarely flustered, she could recount how many times she had been so, a majority of it was in the presence of her father. She scowled at him and he laughed in return. As she sipped the warm liquid an array of aroma's filled her nostrils. It had an earthy flavor to it and was still sweet enough to gently swallow. Her fathers fascination with books and tea were odd choices for an emperor, but she did not mind. She would not admit it, but moments like these reminded her of better times, painful times. Times she could never revisit.

  Nero was the first to break the silence, "Do you want to hear a story?" he sipped on his tea.

  Enrieta swished her drink around, "Is this going to be one of your stories disguised as a lesson, or an actual story?" she looked at him unpleasantly.

  The old man narrowed his brow, "All my stories are lessons in one way or another. Now do you want to hear it or not?"

  She took a long sip of her tea, "Please continue."

  Nero grew comfortable in his chair, the tea had already begun to tire him. "There was once a serpent, beautiful as it was deadly. It roamed the forest, keeping to itself . Seldom did it have friends to call its own. But it did not care. One day it journeyed towards the edge of its home, a river created by other bigger animals some time ago. Their foolhardiness caused the snake great anger, for now with a river running through its territory it had grown smaller. Coming out from the bush behind him was a rabbit, black as night with ruby eyes. The rabbit and snake exchanged pleasantries. For the Rabbit was one of, perhaps the serpent's only friend." Nero poured himself another cup, and for Enrieta too.

  "The rabbit could see the snake was in some kind of discomfort, so it enquired as to what the problem was. The serpent went on to talk about the river and how it had affected it and its home. The rabbit consoled the serpent, telling it that other animals as well shared in its frustration. The river had become a problem for all. Well, for all except one that is. The serpent turned to the rabbit, towering over it and asked who could possibly benefit from this. And the rabbit in turn, turned further downstream towards the great turtle. The rabbit spoke of how the river had been a pleasant surprise for the great turtle, its home grew far larger than most and being as good of a swimmer as he was he regularly carried animals across, for a fee that is." Nero placed his cup back on the table and yawned. Enrieta could tell, soon her father would need to rest. There were many things the emperor could fight, but his body was not one of them. He took a moment to gather himself making sure not to forget where he stopped.

  Nero was lost in his thoughts, staring off into the distance, a lost memory grabbing his attention. And still he continued his story. "A cold anger consumed the serpent, it had watched over many seasons as the great turtle enjoyed the river. It tolerated it, because the serpent understood things had an order to them. But to exploit the other animals was not part of the order of things. The serpent asked the rabbit to accompany him down stream, and the rabbit obliged none the wiser. As they reached the home of the great turtle, the serpent called out for it. And out of the water arose the great turtle, upon seeing the serpent it recoiled back demanding it to leave. The rabbit intervened, calming the great turtle, that the serpent meant it no harm. The serpent spoke, saying it wished to cross the river and it had heard that the great turtle could do so for a fee. The great turtle laughed, and refused the offer of the great creature, for it believed the serpent would bite him, drowning them both. The rabbit spoke up once again, assuring the great turtle that the serpent would not harm it, to no avail. And so the rabbit suggested the great turtle carry both of them across. The rabbit was the closest friend of the serpent and it would not allow any harm to come to it. The great turtle thought about it for some time, the rabbit was a regular customer who always paid on time. After much thought, the great turtle accepted. They were halfway across the river when the great turtle felt a sharp bite across its neck. It cried out in pain and thrashed about, gasping for air. It began to cry out along with the rabbit on its back, both struggling to stay afloat. As both began to drown the great turtle cried out towards the serpent, cursing and asking it why it doomed all three of them and most importantly why it would kill its only friend. The great serpent slithered off the turtle and began to swim away. It turned back once more, looking at the thrashing turtle and rabbit. In response to the final words from the great turtle, it simply said, 'Because it is my nature.'"

  Enrieta placed her cup back on the table, "It is one of your better stories. I will give you that."

  Nero smiled, stroking his beard. As he laughed a couple gold teeth reflected the sun's light off them. "Your sister was not as appreciative."

  "Roderika is not one for stories," bemused Enrieta. "She is not one for much quite frankly."

  The father and daughter shared a laugh.

  "I assume in this story, King Antares is the serpent." She began, "I am aware of-"

  Nero raised his hand, stopping her, "The serpent is you."

  Enrieta was taken aback by her fathers comment. It did not take her long to realize the implication of his words if she were to be the serpent in the story. Long had she been forced to fend for herself, fighting against her people's former slave masters. The reigniting of conflict over Hightower had done nothing but spurn her on, her controlled victories over the Red Wolf of the north raised her acclaim throughout Aurum. Her painstaking attempts at consolidating all power in Vanaheimr through her, even the acquisition of Salok Yn. All of it was to prove herself worthy, worthy of the violent retribution she so desperately sought. And here before her father she felt it close at hand.

  "The question is," Nero looked at her with ancient frozen eyes. "Who is your rabbit?"

  "Reza." She did not allow his words to linger in the air. She knew her answer would pain him, but she needed to act quickly, she needed to push him past the pain as she had done to herself, to show him reason. "It has to be her, she is one of the daughters of the emperor and the Black Witch of the West. She is invaluable, even the Stygians and their nobility would not be able to ignore such a prize."

  "Why would Antares accept?" the emperor asked.

  "He does not need to," the Nephilim Queen began. "It is his court and council members that need to accept. And they are far more easily influenced."

  "How do you propose to separate him from his court without arousing suspicion?"

  Enrieta smiled, "It has already begun." She drank the last of her tea and set it down, "I have thought over this for some time father, this is not a plan I make hastily."

  "I see that," Nero looked out to the city below. "So what is it that you require from me. That you had to wait until your brother was not home to return?"

  Enrieta hesitated slightly, "In the coming days you will propose a marriage between Reza and Antares. A showing that even after a century there is still peace between the north and the south."

  Nero laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the sky. Such brazen demands from his daughter, a part of him cursed the Gods for Enrieta not being his first born. "You want me to create your river in your story? Is that it?"

  All the Nephilim Queen could do was slowly nod, unsure of how to take her father's reaction. "I understand how great of a risk this is to you, and I also understand lady Tereza and Roderika both pose a consider-"

  "Very well. If that is what you want of me, very well."

  Enrieta was unsettled by her fathers, agreeableness. She pressed him further, "What of Reza, I heard she was promised to another?"

  Nero shook his head, "It means nothing, just some young lord she thinks she loves."

  "And what of Tereza and Roderika?"

  "Leave them to me. Roderika will understand, in time. And as for Tereza, she has no say in the matter, she is only a consort after all."

  Nero rose to his feet, the weight of his body heavy on his knees. He staggered up right and leaned against the balcony, taking in the masses who carried on about their day. Never would he tire of the sight laid out before him. For a hundred years he watched as his city and by extension his empire continued to grow. He knew he was not long for this world. With the death of the Stygian king in the north, it signaled that Nero's would soon follow. What a story they had lived and still, there was much regret.

  "And what of... Antares?" Enrieta chose her words carefully, "I know not how much he means to you. But I know his father did."

  Nero smiled.

  "My dear, my one and only friend is dead. I took the crown from him and for a century I turned most of Aurum against him, calling him a demon to the public and far worse to those in private. Because of my own vanity, I was unable to go see him in his final moments. If that is what I did to the man I love. What makes you think I feel anything for his son?"

  Enrieta smiled. It was just as he predicted, everything went just as Salok Yn said it would. She doubted him, doubted his intentions and his true desire for the destruction of the Stygians. But here she sat with the emperor agreeing to her plans. Years of toiling around in her own wicked hatred, for the first time in a long while. Her hatred felt justified. Slowly but surely the pieces would continue to fall into place, She would use them all, Salok Yn, her father, her people, Reza. She would use them all to enact her revenge, for once a long time ago her heart was stolen by a Stygian god. And in return, she would take his, and all that he held dear. For that was her nature.