Ella watched as the goblin leader prostrated before the Dark Lord. She could not understand why they were still alive. After everything the goblins had done—enslaving, torturing, and feasting on her kin—they deserved nothing but annihilation.
The Dark Lord sat high upon his throne, a girl perched on his lap as though she belonged there. Ella had seen the mysterious woman several times, slipping in and out of the hall, and yet no one gave her a name. Whenever Ella asked, both High Sorcerer Oscar and the Human Knight Michael deflected her questions.
The Dark Lord's cold voice echoed through the chamber.
"My right hand tells me you requested an audience. Speak."
The goblin pressed his forehead to the floor.
"Yes, Flame-Eyed One, terrible and mighty. I, Gork, leader of the tunnel clans, beg for mercy."
The Dark Lord's gaze burned like coals.
"Mercy? You goblins have enslaved, butchered, and devoured the innocent. I should take all your souls as punishment."
Gork flinched at the thunder in his voice.
"Mighty Lord… goblins trade slaves for food, tools, survival. We do not always kill. Only the weak… the sick. Slaves work the tunnels. Without them, my people starve."
"That is the way of the Dark Realm," the Dark Lord roared, "and I will put an end to it. Defy me, and you will see why they call me the Dark Lord."
The goblin raised his hands, palms trembling.
"Great Conqueror, spare us! We will serve. Goblins will fight your enemies, obey your command."
The Dark Lord studied him for a long moment. "Then you will swear fealty. You will crush the other clans who resist me."
"Yes, Shadow Vanisher. Protect our tunnels, and we are yours. My kin will follow."
The words sparked hope in the goblin's eyes—hope that made Ella's blood boil. She and thousands like her had suffered in those tunnels. Justice was being traded for obedience.
"Very well," the Dark Lord said at last. "But your survivance comes with a price. You will choose ten thousand of your kin as sacrifice, and I shall claim their souls. As for those who raided your tunnels, I will take them all."
Gork trembled at the decree.
"Goblin kin pay the price. We obey."
"Then return to your people. Make your choice." With a wave of his hand, the Dark Lord dismissed him. Gork vanished into shadow.
---
Ella's anger broke free. She strode toward the throne.
"You cannot let them live! We suffered because of them—there are still thousands in chains!"
The girl on the Dark Lord's lap lifted her head, a cruel smile touching her lips.
"I like this one, my love. Give her to me, and I'll teach her respect."
Rage flared in Ella's chest. "Careful, girl. Were this the court of the Fae, you would have learned humility quickly."
The words left her mouth before she could stop them. She cursed herself—challenging the Dark Lord's consort was madness.
The Dark Lord's voice filled her ears.
"Enough."
---
I should be furious, he thought, but I see only pride in her defiance.
If not for my Princess, perhaps I might have been smitten by her beauty. Ella of the Fae was striking, with ocean-blue eyes and pale hair falling like silk around her delicate face. Her ears were longer than any elf's, her features sharp, regal. Even the rags she wore could not hide her grace.
Yet beside my Princess, she was only a shadow.
I felt Victoria tense, ready to rise and strike Ella down. I took her hand and spoke into her mind: Let her have her pride, my love. She has just clawed back her dignity after years of chains. Do this for me.
After a pause, Victoria settled again, though her eyes still burned.
"She is fortunate you asked this of me. Otherwise, she would crawl back to slavery by choice." Her smile turned to me alone. "But I will keep my word. I harm no one unless you command it."
My Princess was fierce, irresistible, and terrible. I longed to give her a kingdom worthy of her.
---
Ella braced for punishment, but none came. They had forgotten her, speaking to each other in whispers no one else could hear. The dismissal stung worse than any blow.
She had once stood proud in the Fae court, honored by her people and feared by her enemies. Now she was overlooked, ignored, treated like a ghost. Memories of her captivity seared her mind—long years of torment when death had seemed a mercy. Only her bond with the other captives and her thirst for vengeance had kept her alive.
If the Dark Lord would not grant her justice, she would claim it herself. Once free, she would rally the Fae and strike down those who had enslaved her kin.
But as she turned to leave, she found herself facing the throne again. Shadows twisted around her, guiding her back.
The Dark Lord's gaze pinned her.
"You have not given me the courtesy of hearing my reply, Lady of the Fae." His voice was cold, commanding.
"I captured your tormentors. Their fate is mine to decide."
She opened her mouth, but he silenced her with a raised hand.
"You have suffered, yes. But remember—your people left you to rot. It was I who stumbled into the tunnels and shattered your chains. I will free the rest, but I need the goblins' knowledge of the Dark Realm. With it, I will conquer them all. And this I swear: I will free all the slaves in the Never Day but any hand raised against my subjects will answer to me personally."
His burning eyes locked with hers until she turned away.
---
"Who are you, Dark Lord?" Ella demanded softly. "Where did you come from? Are you of the Dark Realm as well?"
Silence stretched before he answered.
"I was summoned here. That is all you need to know. If you have more questions, ask Oscar or Michael."
Then he turned back to his consort, as though Ella no longer existed.
Furious, she stalked from the hall, down the shadow-carved corridors toward the quarters he had conjured for them. The place unsettled her—lightless yet bright, stone shifting at his command, entire rooms appearing with a thought. Who was this being, that he could bend reality so easily? And he swore to free every slaves in the never day! This changes everything! She must let the other slaves know about this! but before that, those two should give her answers.
She found Oscar with the other freed elves and confronted him.
"High Sorcerer, tell us who he is. Tell us who that girl is. Or I will see the Alliance council knows of your betrayal."
Oscar stammered, lost for words. But before he could speak, Michael's voice cut through the silence.
"The Dark Lord is a MagalaN, Ella of the Fae."