The Crown's Fire - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Bargained
The sight of bodies strewn across the ground and splattered blood marred the grandeur of the hall.

Tarah’s heart pounded against her chest as her eyes darted to the kneeling figures of her parents. In front of them was a man adorned with a dark crown, its centerpiece a gold serpent coiled circularly. Its design gave an illusion of the serpent seamlessly melding into the man’s head, a symbol of malevolence etched into his very being.

“You see, I’m easy to negotiate with,” the man, who she recognized from her vision as the Demon King of Helion, Devon, said with a malicious grin. “Submit to me, and you’ll all be spared.”

“We would rather die and be with the Almighty in heaven with a clear conscience than be subjected to your evil deeds!” Tarah’s father firmly stated with his head held high.

“I see,” Devon snorted. “Let’s have your wife there first, so she can be prepared once you follow her then,”

With a flick of his finger, Devon killed yet another victim. Tarah could only tremblingly gasp in horror as she witnessed how her mother’s body fell onto the floor with a thud.

“Lina!!!” her father shouted. However, he received no response.

“Mother,” she breathed out as her own knees weakened, causing her to slump to the floor helplessly.

Hearing her distress, her father turned to her. With a smile on his face, he whispered, “Don’t worry, my child. Everything will be fine. The Almighty is always in control, and we should have faith no matter what. Everything happens for a reason.”

Tarah could only nod. Those were the words her father loved to tell her, and they never failed her as a source of comfort and guidance whenever things got tough.

But just before she could gather her strength, manic laughter echoed throughout the great hall, coming from the gray-haired woman, whose face was painted with dark makeup that looked like an ominous mask.

Her chilling words cut through the air, mocking the unwavering faith of those gathered, “It truly amazes me how strong your faith in the heavens is. Look at you now in the face of impending doom, and not a single celestial being is here to rescue you,” the woman taunted. “What a fool!”

The resonance of her laughter lingered, casting a shadow over the dire situation unfolding in the hall. Tarah helplessly cried, for she already knew how things would end. Her father would rather choose death than succumb to evil and be its subject.

Closing her eyes, she sobbed. Things were already happening so quickly. By the time she opened her eyes, she was welcomed with the sight of her father’s head rolling onto the ground.

As the Demon King’s triumphant laughter reverberated in the air, Tarah clung to the enduring faith instilled in her by her father, finding solace in the conviction that, even amidst the chaos, there existed a divine plan beyond their understanding.

For a while, it gave her peace. However, her mind was assaulted once more the moment the gray-haired woman abruptly snatched her little brother away from her.

“No!” she screamed. “Please no!”

“Look how adorable he is!” the woman cooed with her sweetest smile. “I want to keep him, My King. I want a toy like him!”

Despite the woman’s calls, the Demon King’s eyes remained on Tarah. “What nice eyes you have. You’re glaring at me, and there’s not even a hint of fear in you,” he curiously stated as he approached her. “You took after your parents well.”

Tarah did her best not to look small against the man. Her whole face was currently covered by a golden rhinestone mask and a chain-tasselled veil, with only her eyes uncovered. It was their kingdom’s tradition to wear such a thing for a maiden of her status.

No one had ever seen her face behind the veil except for her parents, her little brother, and her personal handmaidens. In their kingdom’s custom, she could only show her face to others once she was already married.

In front of her, Devon bent down to stare at her.

“My Lord! Why are you-”

“Close your mouth, Marla!” Devon annoyingly hissed as he held Tarah’s chin. “I’m busy…”

He stared at her icy blue eyes, dark shades of thick and perfectly curved eyelashes fluttering against him with fear. His eyes sparkled with desire and interest while Tarah’s stomach churned out of disgust. But at the same time, a vision suddenly appeared before her…

It was Devon conquering the Kingdom of Bethel and obtaining another magical book, the Chronicles of Fallen Angels, like the Ancient Book of the Dragons in their safekeeping at the Holy Mountain of Mount Zion.

Tarah gasped as Devon abruptly removed the veil covering her face. “Oh… Just as expected…” he hummed with a satisfied smile as her face and hair were revealed. “Such beauty. It would be a waste to kill you. I will make you my Queen.”

“My Lord!” Marla burst out, but she pursed her lips the moment Devon glared at her. “V-Very well…”

“Come with me, and I will spare your life,” Devon announced, excitement lacing his deep voice as he held Tarah by the hand to drag her with him. “You will warm my bed as we celebrate tonight’s victory!”

Tarah gulped. If she didn’t do anything to change the vision she saw that would befall her, then she would live a life filled with suffering and hopelessness while being just Devon’s woman—an object of his lust, and nothing but a prized trophy that he would display at his side.

“Kill the child!” Devon commanded before dragging her with him.

“No!” Tarah exclaimed, refusing to move despite Devon holding her hand.

“We should also kill her, My Lord!” Marla quickly interrupted, putting a knife on her neck. She moved swiftly like a snake, holding Tarah firmly. “You can’t make her your woman! She’s not submissive!”

“Kill me then,” Tarah challenged. “You will not succeed in your goal to rule the world. I have the gift of foresight. You need my ability.”

At the revelation, Devon signaled for Marla to let her go, the woman frowning as she did what she was asked.

“A Seer?” Devon asked as he closed the gap between them. “Are you saying this so that I can’t tarnish your purity as a woman?”

“Yes, and because I want you to spare not just my life, but also my little brother’s.” Tarah confidently bargained despite how her body trembled with fear. “I want you to ensure that my brother won’t be harmed by any means. I know you’ve been wanting to obtain great power, and only I can make it happen.”

Devon stared deep into her eyes, his smile widening deviously as he commanded, “Don’t kill the child yet. Keep him safe and unscathed. We’ll see if this beautiful Seer right here is telling the truth about her gift in due time.”

To Tarah’s horror, Devon suddenly leaned in and licked her ear with a whisper. “They say that Seers must keep their virginity for them not to lose this celestial gift of foresight from heaven,” he gasped into her ear. “That purity of being a virgin is what gives them their connection to the heavens… But that doesn’t mean I can’t play with you whenever I’m bored…”