A week passed, and Liana got used to her new body and name.
"Princess Zahanna, you look well."
Liana bowed to High Lady Friste.
"Thank you, my Lady."
"You know what I think? I think that we should return to the land of the living to show off our new peer."
Viscount Drusan said, "Wonderful idea, my Lord."
"Are you sure about this?" Liana asked.
The others Masters nodded in agreement. Liana sighed.
"Alright. Let's go."
Magic swirled around them, and they disappeared. All seven of the reappeared just outside the Salencian throne room.
"Well?" Duchess Kupris asked. "Are we going in or not?"
"Let me. They're my family."
"Oh, dear girl. Don't you know?"
Liana gave Viscountess Roniv a questioning look.
"We're you family now. You're immortal, like us. Your family will die eventually."
Sadness filled Liana's eyes, and she looked down at the ground.
"We have made you immortal," High Lady Friste reiterated. "What greater gift could there be?"
"I never asked for immortality."
High Lord Zenthe cleared his throat. "Shall we go in?"
"Yes, my Lord," Duke Grejen said.
"This should be fun," Viscount Drusan said.
Liana shot the Viscount an unamused look. He laughed as she pushed open the door with her magic. Liana hung back and let the others enter first. Her fear of coming to terms with her family began to overwhelm her.
She quickly summoned the small box she had had Elsie retrieve from Shipwreck Cove. Her fingers caressed the smooth, rosewood lid. Sighing, Liana opened the box and took out a small bejeweled scarab brooch. Holding the item in her hand, she felt a little more at peace.
"Ahh, all four are here," Liana heard High Lord Zenthe say.
"What do you want?" King Russell asked coldly.
"Where's Liana?" her mother cried. "WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!"
Liana glided into the throne room.
"I'm right here."
To spare her family, she had illusioned herself back to her former self.
"Liana!" Harmon cried. "You're okay!"
"As okay as possible."
"Why do you say that?" her father asked.
"Because I must forsake the family that loved and raised me."
"What? Daughter, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying I'm the most unfilial child, Father."
Her bottom lip quivered.
"I'm so sorry."
"Liana? What tricks are you up to now?" Vander asked.
"No tricks."
Magic swirled around her as her facade fell away. She revealed herself in her new form. Her family gasped in shock.
"This is me now."
"Liana?" Harmon asked quietly.
"I'm not Princess Liliana Davine of Salenica any longer."
"Daughter..., please."
"I'm sorry, King Russell."
She watched her father flinch as she addressed him formally.
"I'm Princess Zahanna, Mistress of Hell."
High Lady Friste said, "She is one of us now. We are her new family."
"Thank you for giving us our newest Master. She has done well and survived the ceremony," High Lord Zenthe added.
Duchess Kupris smiled. "We have made your daughter immortal. In exchange for ehr blood, we extend to the Davine bloodline and offer of utilization."
"Which means," Viscount Drusan explained. "That should anyone of the Davine bloodline need help for something thought to be impossible, we will provide said help."
"We don't need anything from you!" Vander yelled.
Viscountess Roniv leveled him with a glare. "Future Davines to come might."
"Is that a threat?" King Russell demanded.
"No," Duke Grejen said calmly. "Just a statement."
High Lord Zenthe sighed. "If it's any consolation, we will allow Zahanna to go and help."
"I'd take care of those of my blood."
"Liana..."
She held up a hand to stop Vander.
"Zahanna is my name now, Princess Zahanna. I will never be Liana ever again. Now that I've repeated myself, have I made myself clear?"
Vander fumed while King Russell looked highly annoyed. Both Queen Coraline and Crown Prince Harmon looked sad.
"Is this what you've chosen then?" Harmon asked her.
Her chest constricted with guilt, but she didn't show any remorse.
"Yes."
Waves of sadness rolled over her family's faces. She felt bad, but there wasn't anything she could do about it.
"Well, I see no reason why we should stay any longer. I, for one, cannot wait to get home," Viscount Drusan said.
Soon, all the Masters had departed except for Liana, leaving her one last brief moment with her family.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I had no choice in this. They wanted me to become one of them, and I couldn't fight them."
"Is that your excuse?"
"Vander!" King Russel exclaimed.
"Liana, please, do not forget us."
"I won't, Mother."
"Is this the final goodbye then?"
"I don't know. Maybe? I hope not, Harmon, but I don't have the liberty of coming and going as I please."
Her brother nodded in understanding. She walked towards him and held out her hand, palm up. His eyes flicked downwards as she revealed the brooch. He looked up at her in shock.
"You still have it? I gave that to you for your eleventh birthday."
She nodded.
"Yes, but I fear that if I take it with me to Hell, the others might destroy it. Can I leave it here with you, for safekeeping?"
"Of course."
Harmon took the brooch from her and pocketed it.
"Princess Zahanna," High Lady Friste said. "Come."
The Mistress had appeared behind Liana. She turned around to face the other woman.
"Yes, my Lady."
Then, they left in a cloud of smoky, blood-red magic.
Back in Hell, Liana learned her new duties and soon became fully adjusted. The cruelties of Hell began to change her views and opinions. She became a true Master of Hell and pushed her memories of being the Mage Queen and Princess of Salencia aside.
'There is no room for these thoughts. Not here in Hell,' she thought.
Forsaking her past, Liana embraced her eternal future as one of the 7 Masters of Hell.