The Great Black King

♱ •⋅ 1750 A.C. ⋅• ♱

There was much to be said regarding history, but nothing left me as stunned as this. The strong and warm arms of the man I had always dreamt of were around me, and he looked at me with a smile in his violet eyes that I admired so much.

He seemed real.

"What's wrong?" he asked me with a rough and gentle voice.

"Uh... nothing," I replied, questioning whether all of this was a dream or not. But he was still there, his eyes now closed as he held me in his embrace.

Indeed, this was one of the best dreams I had ever had.

"Sir," a masculine voice called out to him, and I saw Calisto raise his face with displeasure.

"What the hell do you want?" he grumbled.

"We've learned something that might interest you, sir," the man said, and a shiver ran down my spine.

"I'm busy," he said, burying his face in my back. I could feel his breath on my bare skin, and it made my face warm.

"Sir," the man persisted, and by this point, I already knew what would happen. I had read and reread that scene thousands of times, so I mentally repeated it as he spoke in perfect synchrony: "A girl has emerged in front of the Cathedral of Samael."

Calisto growled, and I could feel his fangs against my skin, but he hadn't bitten me. He was displeased.

"Then kill her already," he snarled.

"We couldn't, sir," the man said, and I involuntarily smiled.

Whether it was a dream or not, he was staying true to the book I had read so many times. And if it was him, if it was that scene... then I was...

My gaze wandered around the room, searching for a mirror, and when I found one, I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood.

Red hair like blood, ruby eyes without pupils, and skin pale as a corpse. There was no doubt I was Asra.

The king's concubine, who attempted to go against the saint sent by God, would not only heal the king's son but also win his heart and make him good again, as well as the cause of his death.

Calisto seemed irritated as he let go of me and sat on the bed.

"They need your king to handle something so stupid? What good are the princes?" he was bothered, but my eyes were occupied with his sculpted body, with every feature of his face.

No matter how many fanatics I had seen or how many times I had imagined it, I would never come close to the true beauty of Calisto.

Black hair cascaded down his back in messy waves, thanks to what we had done before. But, to my unfortunate luck, I wasn't even dreaming of this beautiful moment. His eyes were rose quartz.

Calisto was like a masterpiece, a magnificent body that seemed delicately sculpted. Slender, slightly defined, with perfect proportions, covered in tattoos and now red marks.

I sighed, and Calisto looked at me, expecting the morning tantrum that Asra always threw when he needed to leave her. I remembered this scene well. I remembered how I had understood it and, at the same time, found it annoying.

But all of this was just a dream. Who cares about the original script?

I slid my fingers along his arm, moving up to his shoulder, and sat on the bed beside him. I couldn't deny what I saw in the mirror: Asra was as beautiful as Calisto. Her body was perfectly shaped and looked even sexier with all the bite marks and love bites on her legs and back.

"Darling," I whispered near his ear, "don't be so angry... Isn't it better that they inform you so that you can resolve it? At least they learned their limits."

The dark-haired man looked at me with surprise. Indeed, this was different from what he expected from me. Without a doubt, it wasn't what we had agreed upon, and I vividly remembered Asra's tears-tears that weren't mine.

Calisto had promised to spend three consecutive nights with her, and they would go to heaven and the nine circles of hell together if she so desired. But Elaine appeared. The blonde ascended and took everything Asra dreamed of. Calisto's love, which he said he could never give her, and the throne that Asra always believed would one day be hers.

Elaine was sent from the heavens to destroy Calisto, but in the end, she beat much more than just the king. I wouldn't allow it to repeat, even if it were a dream.

"You should go," I said, knowing exactly how he would respond, and I enjoyed the look of surprise on Azrael's face. The fallen one seemed unable to believe what he was hearing, and I couldn't blame him for that. It was nothing to be expected from Asra.

"But that's not what I promised you," Calisto replied precisely as I expected him to, and I smiled. It was the opening I needed.

It was what Asra should have done.

"Then take me with you," I whispered. "You don't have to hold back because you promised to stay with me. I can accompany you."

Azrael cleared his throat but didn't expect everything to be that easy.

"I'm not sure if it's appropriate," he said, trying not to offend me, but his meaning was clear. "You shouldn't parade around with your concubine."

"I can stay in the carriage," I said, without waiting for Calisto to respond, and he looked at me as if trying to understand my change of attitude. Then, I shrugged. "I wasn't lying or exaggerating when I said I missed you..." I slid my fingers between his and held his hand. "So... I can wait for you in the carriage while you handle everything. I know I haven't behaved as I should and have constantly acted like a spoiled child, but... I want to prove to you that I can be useful."

Azrael opened his mouth to speak, and I cast him a fleeting glance. I knew Asra's abilities, so I shouted in his mind: "Suggest that I'm only good for warming his bed, and I guarantee you won't wake up for weeks, fallen one."

I didn't mind threatening Azrael if it allowed me to change things and if it allowed me to save Calisto. But it was apparent that the king had yet to makeded yet. He ed at me as if questioning whether he should do it. Asra needed to have a better track record of public appearances.

I smiled.

"Please..."

Calisto sighed.

"Alright, get dressed... I'll wait for you in the carriage."

⋅• ♱ •⋅

♱ •⋅ 1750 A.C. ⋅• ♱

I needed time, I needed certainty, and even though it was just an extremely vivid dream, I needed to be sure that I wouldn't change things too much, or else everything would spiral out of control.

I blinked a few times in front of the mirror. It was still surprising how attractive Asra was. I had envied her when I first read the book, but now, seeing her delicate face, her naturally rosy lips, and the way she seemed to have been carefully designed... all of it made me envy her even more.

Asra could have had any man, demon, or angel. She just needed to want it. And yet, she chose death over losing something she never had: Calisto's love.

I sighed, and the maids, who hurried into the room, dressed me quickly.

It was obvious that I was scared. After all, Asra was never known for her kindness and charity, much less her patience and gentleness.

"Excuse me, ma'am," one of them stammered as she tried to fix the hem of my dress after accidentally stepping on it without my notice.

I sighed again.

"Don't worry," I simply said. "Just make me as beautiful as possible and don't overdo it." That was all I could ask for, because when Calisto arrived at the cathedral, he would see Elaine, and she would be the epitome of angelic beauty.

Blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, almond-shaped eyes, blue as the clear sky. Her white and immaculate skin, just like her attire, which, as simple as it was, accentuated her beauty.

Elaine was the most beautiful, whether in heaven or hell. There was no competition, but at least I would try to keep Calisto's attention on me.

"The lord is already in the carriage, ma'am," one of them murmured as if afraid of being reprimanded. And looking to the side in the mirror, I found one of the young girls attempting to fix my hair.

"Leave it loose," I straightforwardly said and stood up from the chair. "I can't keep the king waiting."

The opinions of those people didn't matter to me, not when Calisto was waiting for me downstairs, not when I could change something, and not when I looked stunning in my riding attire.

The tight pants accentuating my hips and thighs, the corset defining my waist, and the delicate sleeves of the black shirt emphasizing the beauty of my absurdly pale skin.

"She'll take hours! Let's go already, you can always apologize later," Azrael said at the carriage door. "Sir, this is really urgent... It can cause riots, and you know that the miss..."

I didn't want to hear the rest because I knew he would say something stupid again. So I hurriedly cleared my throat as loudly as I could, cutting Azrael off mid-sentence.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting," I said, preventing Azrael from continuing to try to hinder me.

Calisto, on the other hand, looked at me with surprise and something that seemed like satisfaction.

"Come," he extended his hand to me, and I briefly saw a smile on his lips. "You truly look beautiful, even though I can't remember the last time you dressed like this."

I smiled.

Asra never wore clothes like those, especially not in front of the king. She preferred expensive dresses and delicate silks, embroidered with silver and gold, daring necklines, giant slits, and seductive designs.

They weren't ugly, of course not. And since her body was something that attracted Calisto, he didn't dislike what she frequently wore. But the first time he saw clothes like those on Elaine, he was breathless and thought that nothing had ever made a woman as attractive as such simple and practical garments.

I wouldn't let this chance slip away.

"I'm trying out new styles," I lied, and Calisto pulled me closer, sitting me next to him, close enough for his hand to hold onto my hip with some force.

"I think your new style is dangerous," he purred. "Maybe I want to test how to destroy these pieces, one by one, after dealing with this nuisance."

I smiled.

I wanted to believe that's what we would do at the end of the day, but I knew it was far from reality.

When he saw her for the first time, he would feel his chest weigh down and remember his deceased wife, the only being he truly loved. The only one who captured his heart.

"I would never say no to you," I replied, nestling myself against him. Calisto's scent was too good to pull away from, and his touch was warm.

I had dreamed of this touch so many times, so I simply allowed myself to enjoy it.

Unfortunately, it didn't last long. The damn carriage stopped in front of the cathedral, and Calisto's warm lips moved away from my neck.

I bit my lip hard. I couldn't be spoiled and ask him to continue, so I just lightly pulled on the collar of the shirt he wore and kissed him.

A long, engulfing kiss. A kiss where my tongue invaded his mouth and dictated every movement. A kiss to make sure he didn't dare think of anything other than me, at least until he descended and saw Elaine.

"Done," I whispered. "Now you can go."

He grunted.

"When did you become so unfair?"

I didn't have time to respond. Azrael slammed the door with an impatient face.

We were there.

Calisto glared at him, but still forcefully opened the door to leave.

"Let's go, sir," the fallen one said, ignoring my presence. Maybe he had taken my threat a little too seriously.

I should have waited in the carriage, should have stayed away, but I risked it once again. The worst response I would get was a no.

"If it's not a bother," I murmured. "Could I watch?"

It was obvious that Azrael would deny. It was obvious that Calisto would deny. But still, I hoped they wouldn't. And when the fallen one opened his mouth, I heard Calisto laugh.

"Of course," his answer caught me by surprise. "But you must stay behind. I wouldn't want you to get hurt."

I smiled.

Sometimes, the demon in front of me forgot that Asra was not only a demon who dedicated her life and loyalty to him but also a witch from a lineage capable of instilling fear even in someone like Prince Asmodeus.

♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C. ⋅• ♱

She floated above the cathedral, her golden eyes shining, her body completely covered by a white cloak. It was as if I was seeing Mary herself-the chosen virgin by the heavens to bear the life of the one who would save all humanity.

Elaine was equivalent to Mary, but her beauty was undoubtedly superior. I wasn't surprised that Calisto had fallen in love with her or accepted death for loving that woman. Elaine was like a deity in a fragile, delicate, and mortal body; she was a strong and determined heroine who was willing to do anything to fulfill what her God had commanded.

I couldn't deny that I admired Elaine. Not only for winning over Calisto-my great literary crush-but also for dedicating herself to a cause as she did (even though secretly I considered it foolish when the reason was something like religion and ancient, archaic beliefs like hers).

"By the nine hells," Calisto grumbled, and I could see his pink eyes burning with anger. He hated situations where he had no control, and with Elaine, he was never in control, and that was one of the significant factors that made him fall in love.

Elaine taught him a lot, but above all, she taught him to step out of his comfort zone, something Asra had never done.

"Order them to bring her down," the king growled, but Azrael pointed to the demons that constantly cursed the girl floating above the temple.

Nothing happened.

Nothing could happen; after all, Elaine was blessed by her God, and he would never allow anything to touch his favorite child, his deadly weapon that would bring about the defeat and death of the one who caused the fall of his beloved daughter.

"They can't reach her, my lord," Azrael muttered, and I could see Calisto burning with the anger that ignited his chest. "Weapons, curses, everything seems incapable of hurting her."

"Then I will bring her down myself," he said with a wicked smile, but I knew where that would lead.

Calisto would leap up, opening his wings for the first time in many years, and when he looked at her up close, when Elaine's eyes opened, he would remember his wife, the way she looked at him, and he would hesitate.

That was all Elaine needed, all the time necessary for him to be brought down from the heavens and for her to finally confront him for the first time.

I wouldn't let that happen, and if this were a dream, I would use everything to my advantage.

"I will," I said firmly, but Azrael looked at me with such disbelief that I almost believed I could not bring Elaine down from the heavens.

"Don't take it the wrong way," he began, and I interrupted him.

"Then shut up."

I felt Calisto's hand on my back.

"Asra, you said you would only watch."

I couldn't discern whether it was concern or irritation.

Asra had always been a burden to him, so I couldn't blame him if it seemed like he was hindering rather than trying to be helpful, but that wasn't a fact that extended to me; I would never be a burden to Calisto, I would never put my purposes above his.

"Darling," I called him with a smile, "let me try."

He seemed reluctant as he turned his gaze to Elaine, who was now murmuring something in Latin. A prayer, it seemed, and from afar, I could hear the screams of the demons and lesser infernals, those who suffered from the sacred words coming from the girl's mouth.

"I may be nothing more than a concubine," I said, playing my final card, "but this is still my people, so let me try."

I was playing dirty, I admit. But from all the scenes I had read, Calisto's pain was apparent when he told Asra that he would never make her his queen, that she would never become anything more than she already was or had been.

He felt guilty, and now I used that to my advantage.

"Fine," he whispered, and I felt his hand tighten on my hip as he leaned towards me, "but be careful," he added, and if I didn't know that Calisto was incapable of loving or caring for anyone other than his son, I would swear he was worried about Asra.

"I will."

His lips touched my cheek and then my lips one last time before he pulled away. I felt my breath pause for too long to remain alive, and then, I fixed my gaze on Elaine.

"As I said before, curses don't work on her," Azrael grumbled beside me, probably thinking of the obvious, that I would try to attack Elaine with magic, but I looked at him with a smile and ripped the black sword from the fallen one's hip.

"Wait!" he shouted, "what do you think you're going to do with that?"

"You don't even know how to use a sword," he shouted mentally, too loud to hide his foolish thoughts from me.

I smiled openly, and with a brief impulse on my tiptoes, I leaped towards Elaine.

I would break her shield, make her fall, and then on the ground; I would drag God's favorite to the depths of hell.

At least, that was my original plan, but unlike the script, Elaine stared at me intensely as I charged toward her, and that hadn't happened; it shouldn't happen.

"You," she whispered, "you are the one who carries the blood of the beginning and the end."

I scoffed; oracles had always been irritating to read, but now that I had to hear them come out of someone's mouth, they seemed even worse.

"Sorry, darling, but I don't have time for this," my words had barely left my mouth when a golden spear that seemed made of light stopped the sword I wielded just centimeters from Elaine's face.

"A-s-r-a..." she called me, "the one who carries the black heart in her chest."

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and was surprised by her sudden change; those were lines I didn't know. I dodged, and with a quick movement and a spin in the air, I attacked her again with precision, and this time, she dodged, letting strands of blond hair fall to the ground, deftly severed by my blade.

Elaine's fragile hands now held the spear, and I mentally cursed myself at that moment because Elaine-unlike the spoiled Duchess Asra-had trained for a very long time, and the grace of the Lord blessed any weapon she touched.

A single wound from that accursed spear and Asra's beautiful little body would gain a lasting scar.

"Damn it," I muttered.

I couldn't afford to miss, let alone be hit.

"To hell with it," I thought, "it's just a dream. So what can she do? Kill me?"

⋅• ♱ •⋅