Chapter 2

She's gotten used to her mornings. Usually, It would start with the chirping of the birds and her mother would plant a kiss on her forehead. That would satisfy her day, she'd smile at any person she'd come across. But her morning today started out not well, the room was still dark, there were no birds chirping nor have she even felt her mother's kiss on her forehead. It still hadn't been a day but she missed all of it.

Sitting upright, she allowed her eyes observe her surroundings–nothing's changed. The same colors of black and gold greeted her.

"Where the f--" Her words were cut short when the doors opened wide, revealing an unfamiliar man in his late 40's, the butler. His arms were by his sides and his look was stern. "Queen Emily."

"Y-yes?" Running her hands through the tangled strands of her hair, she aimed on looking formal and proper now that she's surprised for being addressed as a 'Queen'.

"King Lucius ordered me to order you to eat downstairs with him." The butler turned on his heel to face the opened doors, as he was about to take a step, he halted. "Oh, and, he told me not to tell you the directions. He said it'd be hilarious if you lost your way in this castle."

A minute passed when the butler left, she jumped off her bed and ran to the door, closing it. A bubble of anger started to grow and grow larger but Emily had to calm herself down, she inhaled deep breaths and exhaled it all heavily. She glared at the room, looking for things to throw and break to calm herself down. On the corner, a few steps away from the bed, is where a huge gray wardrobe stood. Nearing it, she realizes it has sliding doors and a huge mirror masking it.

Her breathing hitched. "Who are y-"

Emily saw the figure move as she did and that's when she realized that it was her.

She once had multiple scars from the beating she recieved from her abusive father. Her cheek had a long scar, too visible for every living thing to see.

It had been months since she last saw herself in the mirror, she was too scared to see herself. Now that her flaws had disappeared overnight, it felt like she didn't have any of them ever since.

Her hand gently caressed her right cheek as her eyes are still locked on herself on the mirror with a smile plastered on her face and tears gathering in her eyes.

"You're beautiful..." She whispered to herself.

***

Emily admired herself through the mirror once again. She was wearing a victorian gothic dress which she found that was placed on her bed after she got out of her shower. The dress was colored in scarlet, it has long, fitting sleeves, the off-shoulder showed her collarbone and brought out the color of her skin - pale.

The thought of asking Lucius why her flaws had disappeared crossed her mind, and now, she's yearning to ask how it disappeared overnight.

Speaking of Lucius.

She faced the large wooden doors on her left and went to it. Her hand held tight on the doorknob, the thought of what the butler had said to her hasn't shook off her mind, she gritted her teeth and tried to control her temper, desperately trying to hold herself from kicking down the door.

The door creaked open and she poked her head out to scan the hallways. No guards, no creeps and especially, no monsters. An Axminster carpet stretched endlessly on both of its ends. Torches have been lighting up the hallways from the walls, it was dark but the light from the torch was enough to see through.

She gently closed the door from behind her, no sound was made but her heavy breathing. She started to walk and examine the hallways, she wiggled her toes as they touch the soft fabric, she lets out a deep sigh as she enjoyed the warm and comfy feeling of the carpet, the wallpapers were grayish and printed with skulls and rats. None of all these decorations screamed Royalty.

More like a haunted house.

It has been a few minutes since she's been walking and the view is the same - same Axminster carpet, same grayish walls. Her stomach started to grumble and she rubbed her tummy with her hands, A chill ran down her spine and she inhaled deeply and exhaled it all out. "Lucius, this is not funny."

A laughter cackled and echoed around the hallways, she furrowed her brows and gritted her teeth. "This is not fucking funny," she added.

"It is." A voice whispered in her ear. She felt her heart jump out and she turned to the direction where she heard the voice but no one was there but a picture frame of Albert Einstein staring blankly right back at her.

She swore under her breath and a laughter echoed around the hallways again. And that's where she lost herself–she started to run.

"Run, Run, Little Emily."

The voice for her wasn't familiar, it was different from Lucius' voice, it was too deep, too manly. Her huffs filled the hallways and her tears starts to gather in her eyes, making her vision blurry.

"Run, Rabbit. Run, Rabbit. Run, Run, Run," the voice sang.

Her pace became faster, her heart started to pound against her chest, almost trying to escape and her breathing quickened. She cursed multiple times in her mind.

"Don't give the farmer his fun, fun, fun," the singing continued.

A force one again sucked her in from behind, making her inhale all the oxygen she thought she needed sharply.

***

A stinging pain on her left cheek woke her up. A soft groan escaped her lips and her hand reached for her cheek. It was a warm and a liquid substance. Blood. Of course it was blood, she's in hell after all. It's filled with nightmares, demons, vampires and unusual, creepy creatures.

"Lucius?" Her voice barely being heard as she called out.

Her eyes scanned across the place, it was dark. Pitch black, "Lucius?"

"Lucius is dead." It was the deep and manly voice that teased her and sang to her earlier.

How could that be? She didn't want to be stuck in hell for the rest of her life. Heck, she didn't even want to be involved in such dramas of other people's lives. Or rather, the hell king's life.

"Bullshit." She spat out.

"Let's not be too feisty, beloved queen." It teased her again, "You're facing food then curse? Haven't your God taught you manners?"

Candles lit the room. Indeed, she is in the dining room, dozens of food lay before her. Breakfast, desserts and also, drinks which includes blood.

A hand placed itself on Emily's that was on her cheek. Shivers travelled from her hand to her entire body and she gritted her teeth, "Freezing."

"My touch may be cold but I can warm you up in bed."

And that made her shiver more. She averted her eyes from the food to the man on her left. He looked more mature than Lucius. His eyes—shades lighter than Lucius' black eyes—a color of grey. He also has those broad and bulky shoulders, a defined jaw and a stubble can be seen.

"Axl, stop it." A voice roared.

Emily quickly faced the other direction, only to see those familiar black eyes.

"Oh come on, Lucius. It's not like she'll forever be yours."

Two hot royalty brothers fighting over me? I'd marry the both of them.