Ileus: The Dark Prince

The room's walls were lined with red stones that were carved with odd writing symbols. She went close to the right wall to examine the writing and her eyes flared wide open when she recognized it. 

Demonic writing. 

Over the last few years, she had spent with the Master, she had learnt ancient demon script. And so she recognized every symbol, every word that was engraved in the walls. What she was surprised about was the fact that how come demonic writing was there in a room in Kralj palace. It was the fae kingdom. 

It had a story of how a demon gave up his life for the good of his kingdom. At the end of these carvings were sand dunes and shapes of several winged demons battling with dwarves and a… dragon? She traced her fingers further and the carvings ended with three lines engraved on the wall in big letters,

The wings and the shadows 

The demons and the gallows 

Who will rule the morrows?

She narrowed her eyes as her brows tightened. She had seen these words somewhere earlier… just a blurry vision… She shrugged. With Diumbe in her body, whatever she looked at usually became blurry when they left her. She wanted to go to the left side of the wall to see what was written over there, but decided to go to the sarcophagus. The smell was getting too much to bear and she wanted to leave. But having come this far, she had to look what was inside it. 

The two stairs that led to the coffer were covered in the dense fog. Carefully, she placed her feet on them, hoping that she didn't fall down. The sarcophagus was no taller than her waist. The fog around it was so cold that she could actually see her breath turning to clouds. Covered with a thick slab of stone, it appeared to protect something. Made from red stone, the sarcophagus was engraved with more carvings of sand dunes and a palace. She had to see what was inside it. Iona closed her eyes and chanted, "Otvori!" The stone groaned loudly and shuddered but didn't open. It was as if it was healed. 

Gods, if it made such a loud noise at opening, she was sure someone would wake up. How many levels beneath the main palace was she? She was sure that the noise would travel up and into the study. She gritted her teeth and then thought of leaving the place. However, if she left without seeing it, it was possible that she wouldn't come back. Once again, she closed her eyes and repeated her spell, "Otvori!" 

This time the stone shuddered loudly and shifted a little from its place. It slid to the right, revealing what was inside it. Iona clenched her nightgown on the side with one hand and the other was on her nose. She peered inside. And when she realized what was inside it, her breath lodged inside her chest. Her body movements froze and she drew her head back as she stared at the body inside. Her legs became so wobbly and she held the edge of the sarcophagus to support herself. "Oh my god!" she rasped. A sudden feeling of cold expanded to her stomach making her feel dizzy. 

She closed her eyes and memories of past years flashed across her mind one by one and shock gave way to anger and then to pure rage. Even though it was very cold, her body lined with sweat with fury rising in her chest. She glared at the body inside the tomb and punched the slab of the stone that covered it. A vein on her temple pulsed and she subdued a shaky yell. But now that she knew what was in it, she had to do something. 

Iona descended the steps and walked to the entrance of the room. She closed her eyes and summoned Diumbe. They came rushing to her, hissing, slithering, swirling. It was a call from their Master. As if knowing what she wanted, they attacked the thing that was lying inside and within minutes, chewed the last bone. She watched them eating it and she didn't know why she felt—

Smoothing the front of her gown and tugging its long sleeves down, she casually anchored her hands on her hips. A deep gratifying sigh escaped her lips. Somehow tiredness that was fulfilling rather than exhausting filled her body and mind. 

Unhurriedly, she placed the stone slab back on the sarcophagus and walked back with her pets following her at a distance out of the room. She lifted the candle and waved her hand for the sconce to go off. There was a wild smile on her lips and she didn't care what would be the repercussions of it. Just as she was about to exit the narrow pathway, on the left, she encountered darkness. Wasn't it there when she came down or she missed it? She lifted the candle to see in the darkness. 

There were more cobwebs in the narrow foyer. Just after the foyer was a heavy door. Curious, she walked to the door. The knob was covered with so much dust that it was apparent that no one had entered the room for a very long time. She pushed the knob down and opened the door only to find yet another passage. She had an urge to go inside to find where it ended, but she heard yet another bell ringing. Surprise flickered through her that it had been an hour ever since she was in the room. She wanted to turn back and reach her room hurriedly for she wanted to sleep and have rest. She didn't want to look haggard for tomorrow. But once again, she realized that if she didn't check the passage, she might regret it. 

Iona chuckled at herself and then walked ahead. The candle was reduced to a flicker and she knew that it wouldn't last long. She ordered the Diumbe, who had begun following her, to leave. They left… reluctantly. 

She followed the long winding passageway which dipped a little and then rounded into a U-turn. At the end of the pathway, there was a wooden door, whose handle was so dusty that she had to press her nose to stifle a sneeze when she pushed it down to open the door. She must have opened only a little when she heard a faint voice of a woman, as if it was coming from a long distance. 

"This letter should reach Adrianna as soon as possible," said Etaya. 

"Yes, m'lady," said a man, a royal messenger, perhaps. 

"Now off you go!" 

Iona heard the fading footsteps of the man and then there was complete silence. Shock flitted through her. She pressed her mouth with her hand to stop herself from gasping. Etaya was a woman of dirty secrets. Shock gave way to disgust and her grip on the handle tightened. She calmed herself to not let her breath become shallow. When she settled, her thoughts went to what Etaya had said. She had a few days before the exchange took place, which she highly doubted that it would. In fact, she was sure that wouldn't. She pursed her lips and quietly closed the door behind her.