Heirot

"I'm sorry," Elena said and looked up at him. "I'm not feeling well today... Maybe I'll feel better once I have eaten?" she asked him and smiled.

Luther stood off to the side, looking rather satisfied with her answer.

It was the truth, however.

"Fine" Airen answered a little irritated.

Airen released her and turned to walk out the room. He saw Luther smiling and approached him. "What are you smiling at boy?" he demanded.

Elena blinked as if she had just been slapped and tilted her head at him. What was wrong with that? She couldn't help she felt ill. Maybe he should just go screw his whore he left her for...

Elena shook her head sadly and opened the book she had grabbed, staring down at the pages absentmindedly with a sad look in her eyes. Is that all he saw her as?

Luther looked at his father. "I'm smiling at an ass who just hurt his wife's feelings, father."

"How about an ass that just hit you," Airen knocked Luther to the floor before he had a chance to answer.

He glanced back at Elena over his shoulder. He didn't mean to hit the boy but it was his first reaction. he didn't show any emotion to either one of them though.

Elena stood up quicly and ran to Luther's side. But, that's exactly waht Luther wanted. He wanted Elena to see Airen as evil...

Elena helpd her son up and didn't glance at Airen. Seh couldn't at the moment... she might say something she shouldn't.

However, she couldn't hold it in. "Airen, don't push him..." Sometimes Elena thought of her son as the one year old he should have been.

Airen stepped over Luther and walked out the door without speaking. he went back to his room to cool down. When he got there the maid was still cleaning. He walked up behind her and grabbed her waist. "How are you?" he said smiling. She smiled also. The darkness and power was taking him over a little at a time.

His hands moved from her waist around to her stomach and made there way down her lush body. He spun her around and kissed her with intensity. She returned his kiss with the same power. This wasn't the first time this had happened. Airen hadn't let Elena find out thus far and didn't intend on telling her.

Elena sighed and went back to her book. "Will you immerse yourselves in these books that you pretend to read, mother?" Luther asked, leaning over the table at her. "When you don't know how to read."

Elena looked up for a moment. She then closed the book and stared at the table. "I need a place to escape to," Elena said. "This library is quiet, and warm... and homely... I enjoy it here."

"You enjoy it here because you are afraid of what this place is doing to you," he said.

"I do not want to become one of these people... I want to stay the way I was," Elena told him simply.

"Perfectly innocent, afraid, niave?" her son asked, pulling his mother into a hug.

"No," Elena said.

"Then step outside of this room mother... Live the way you have to know... To be stronger, you must except change..." her son said to her.

"I think Airen doesn't love me," Elena told him and faded into soft cries. "I'm afraid of leaving this room and finding someone else in my bed..."

"Mother... the only way to find out is to go and look in your bed..." Luther was hoping she would find her dear sweet husband in bed with another woman.

"Why are you with her, my lord?" the maid asked as they now laid in the bed. "Why don't you let me be your queen instead of that whore?"

Airen was stroking her hair as she laid across his torso, but stopped at the remark. He moved his hand down to her stomach and held her firmly. "Why do you talk about her like that?" he said.

His eyes blazed red with flame. The young womans skin began burning until she disintegrated in his arms and there was nothing there but ash and dust.

He stepped out of the bed and stepped out into the hall where another maid stood. She hadn't seen anything and was surprised when Airen stepped out of the door.

"Excuse me, my lord" she said softly nearly bumping into him. "I'm sorry..."

"No need to be," he interrupted, " and would you mind changing my bed clothes... they are a bit dirty, and tell my wife I am in the bath if she needs me and will be out soon."

"Yes, my lord," she bowed slightly and went into the room. She thought it was offly strange how the sheets were so dirty but didn't say anything about it.

Lenna pulled her dried clothes off the nearby rock on which she left them. The cool creek offered her a refreshing swim and bath, one that was needed. She looked around at the plains surrounding her. The grass swayed in the gentle breeze and the snow-capped mountains in the distance loomed with majesty. Which way should she go? Back to Ighten, or to her brother's village not far from here? Or maybe she should go back to Arken and fight for her love... or what she thought was the man she loved? Making her decision without much thought, Lenna picked up her bow and quiver and started out across the open plain.

Elena decided to take her sons advice. She left the library and walked to her room, hearing the roaring of water inside the bathroom. She smiled at the set of clean silk sheets that the maid was placing on the bed and when she was finished Elena laid upon them, staring at the dark ceiling above her head.

Airen stepped out of the shower and stood in front of the mirror. He could feel the changes running through his body. He didn't know what it was but he liked it. He looked in the mirror in front of him , but did not see himself. He saw his father.

"Hello, my son" Airis said, "How's everything been?"

"What have you done to me?" Airen grimaced hitting the wall beside the mirror.

Airis laughed, "Made you stronger, my dear boy..."

"No.." Airen interrupted, "You've corrupted me..."

"That is where you are wrong. I didn't corrupt you... you did..."

"I did.."

"Yes, you did. You let the power overcome you, and the more you use it the more it will consume you. I simply gave you more power to use."

"You lie.." Airen swung again busting the mirror into pieces. He could hear Airis' cold laugh fade as the mirror shatter to the floor.

The glass from the mirror cut Airen's hand. He felt no pain from it though. As he looked down at it, it healed instantly leaveng no scar. Airen smiled. His power was stronger and he did enjoy it.

He walked out of the bathroom wiping his face with a towel. He saw Elena on the bed. "I'm sorry about earlier, my dear." he said trying to act as f nothing had happened in the bathroom.

Elena sat up slightly and looked at him. She finally smiled and leaned against the silk covered pillow. "Its okay, I guess I'm just moody with boredom.... But I could think of some entertaining things..." She smiled softly.

Airen smiled back, more cockily though. "I think I'm just goin to go for a walk..."

He threw the towel in the basket just outside the bathroom door. He opened the bedroom door and glanced back at her, "I'm not really in the mood anymore."

Elena sighed once he had left their room. "And the boredom continues..." She stood up, walking towards the balcony. She opened the doors and stepped out, looking out over Arken. She saw the volcano mountain in the distance, spewing fire.

"I feel like wearing some silk..." she smirked. The one good thing she enjoyed about being rich now, was the beatiful clothes... and lingere.

She walked to her closet and grabbed a silk black bra, and a silk black pair of panties. She grabbed her black lacy robe, which was practically nothing, it was so see through. She stripped out of her clothes, changing into the black silk bra and panties, pulling on the lace robe.

Now that she had these clothes on she felt more comfortable. She walked out onto the balcony, wondering if she could see her husband.

What good Airen still possessed slowly faded each day. He grew more evil and the want of power and total dominance began to overtake him. He walked down the streets of Arken. No fear entered his body anymore. What did he have to fear, nothing or no one could hurt him. He knew his time was coming... His time to rise above all... even the pathetic excuses these lands had for queens.

The long expected queen wars were now at hand and it was only a matter of time before there was only going to be one. He would swear his allegiance to Shea and when the time came he would overtake her with his own army and claim himself king of all.

He entered an enormous crowd of demons and evil men. He rose into the air on a throne of fire. It was time to build his army. He walked through the air above them all as the giant chair of fire stayed above them. "The war is at hand and it is time to choose sides. Either you are with Arken or with them." He said aloud. His voice seem to carry over great distances even without him shouting.

"And what if we don't give a shit about either," a giant demon shouted back.

Airen laughed, "Then you will die at my hands..."

The demon laughed but began choking. He coughed up a black fluid that smoked as it hit the ground. He began heaving then hit the ground with an enormous thud. His flesh began melting away from the inside out.

Airen smiled evilly down upon the crowd. The throne of fire was now an huge ball of flame above his head that danced around as he waved his hands over the town. "So are you going to join me in fighting the mighty queen of Ighten?"

They all shouted in excitement, and he knew he had one them over.Then go forth and swear your allegiance. The ground opened and a set of stairs led down to lair beneath the city of Arken. His army was growing rapidly. He saw Elena in the distance standing on the balcony of his palace bedroom. "Are you with me?" he asked as if he were in her head.