Mallory gasped the second they stepped into Victoria's assigned chambers, the room was bigger than any room they had ever went into, not even the rooms in the Light Temple where Victoria had lived after her parents were killed had such a grand decor as well as space. Mallory dropped Victoria's luggage and turned to Victoria who was also admiring the sheer beauty of the already furnished chamber.
"The Shadow Realm really spare no expenses, do they?" Victoria commented, begrudgingly. The chamber had dark green walls with silver accents, golden coloured furniture, a king size canopied bed with dark green curtains hung at the corners shielding the bed from view as well as large windows almost tall enough to reach the white ceilings with silver coloured curtains. The large golden chandelier with water drop shaped crystals hung from the ceiling as well, turned out to be the icing on the cake.
"They could fit my house in here!" Mallory exclaimed, still in awe. She went over to the bed and fell on top of it and laughed as she bounced slightly on the soft mattress. Victoria giggled as well and went to join her. Never in her life, had she ever laid down on something so soft and comfortable, it was how she imagined lying on a cloud would feel like.
"When I die," Mallory began, rolling over to her side and peering at Victoria's golden eyes. "I want to die on a bed like this, that's my dying wish."
Victoria rolled her eyes, still wearing a smile. "Should I tell your family that?"
Mallory nodded eagerly like a child, making Victoria laugh once more. "Well don't get too comfortable, Mallory." She said, "We won't be here for long."
Mallory raised an eyebrow, "what does that mean?"
Victoria patted her arm, "do worry about it, I have a plan."
"You're not going to tell me?" Mallory sat up, "are you escaping?"
Victoria stood up and proceeded to take off her dress, "Don't worry about it, when the plan sets in motion…I'll let you know."
Mallory released a sigh and decided to change the subject. "There's to be a welcome ball for the ladies competing for the Demon King's affection tomorrow evening. That's one of the first chances to capture the King's attention." Mallory continued. "If I were you, I'd use the chance to upstage that Silvercrest girl."
Victoria say by the golden dresser and proceeded to take off her necklace and earrings. She was already in her undergarments due to fact the sun was about to set. "Lady Freya, you mean?"
"Yes, such a beautiful girl. I can say the same about her personality though." Mallory commented. "But that Gwen girl seemed nice. Maybe you can be allies with her."
"I'm not here for allies, like I said…we won't be here for long."
Mallory nodded and got up. "I have to go to my Chambers, with any luck my bed will be as nice as yours." She made her way to the large double doors that were as tall as the windows themselves, but paused just as her hand touched the door knobs. "Your plan…is it dangerous by any chance?"
Victoria couldn't look at her in the face as she lied, Instead she stared at her own reflection. "No…it isn't."
Mallory didn't believe her, she knew Victoria too well to not see through her lies. But she kept silent and left.
Once Victoria was sure that Mallory had gone far away, she went over to her luggage and brought out a small purple box that resembled one for a wedding ring with black metal linings and opened it. Inside was a tiny glass vial with a glowing lemon coloured liquid inside.
"Serpent's Kiss." She whispered, a poison that would immediately kill anyone who drank even the smallest drop. No matter how strong the Demon King was rumoured to be, he would never be able to overcome the effects of the poison, no physician would be able to save him even with the best medicine and treatment.
*Flashback*
"This poison would ensure his death in less than ten minutes," said the Priest of the Light Temple, the man who had raised her after her parents' death. "If it doesn't work, if the Demon King is too strong for it, take this." The old man gave Victoria a black dagger hilt with no blade.
"What do I do with this?" Victoria asked, confused. A dagger without a blade would be better used as a toy than a weapon.
"This is a Flame Dagger, by concentrating your elemental magic into it, you'll have the perfect weapon to end the Demon King's life. Make sure to target his heart, that is the only way to kill him and free the Light Realm from the Shadow's clutches once and for all."
Victoria bowed and declared, "I shall do my best to make sure he perishes, Father Ambrose."
The old man smiled and ran his wrinkled hand through her black silky hair, his bright blue eyes looked very proud. "I know you will, I have faith in you."
The Great Priest pit his hopes on her, she would never let him or the Light Realm down…ever.
*End of Flashback*
Mallory returned later in the evening, with a tray of traditional Alcazarian food with such am amazing aroma. Victoria had a meal far better than she had ever eaten since the war ended then went to bed.
Despite how quiet the castle was in the dead of night, despite how comfortable her bed was, she couldn't find it in her self to put out the candle lights and fall asleep. She had a regular dagger underneath her pillow. She was in enemy territory, she couldn't sleep without protecting herself with a weapon even if she literally had fire powers, it just didn't feel enough. So she stayed with her eye opened all through the night, waiting for dawn to arrive.
As she did so, she promised herself once again that she would make sure Elveria was free from Alcazar's rule. It was her destiny, so she would ensure that it would come to pass.