Charmaine awoke to a faint light filtering through a high, narrow window. Her body felt heavier than usual, her limbs stiff from weeks of disuse. She turned her head, spotting a bowl of soup on a small table beside the bed. It was still warm, and the aroma of herbs and spices filled the air. Someone had been feeding her.
She pushed herself upright, groaning as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her feet touched the cold stone floor. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and moved to the door. She knocked tentatively, unsure what to expect.
Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a strange creature clad in black armor. Its humanoid form was unsettlingly inhuman, with a face resembling molten iron twisted into a vague mask. It gestured for her to follow.
Charmaine hesitated, but her curiosity outweighed her fear. She followed the creature down the long, dimly lit corridors of the fortress. The walls were lined with tapestries depicting battles and sprawling landscapes, but they did little to make the place feel less oppressive.
Finally, they entered a grand throne room. The vaulted ceiling loomed overhead, supported by dark, ornate pillars. At the far end, seated on a black throne, was a man she recognized instantly.
"You're not King Richard," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and realization.
The man on the throne smirked, leaning forward. "Ah, so you remember my face from your fevered dreams. You kept calling me Richard. But no, I am not your dear king. I am Rexus, Richard's twin brother."
Charmaine's heart sank. "Are you the Dark Lord?"
Rexus chuckled. "Dark Lord. Usurper. Villain. I've been called worse. Richard cast me out when I asked for my rightful share of the kingdom. Instead of dividing it, he branded me a traitor and rallied the people against me. So yes, I suppose I am the Dark Lord."
Her anger erupted as she clenched her fists. "Then why am I here?"
"Because you wandered into my domain."
"But you spooned soup into me, made sure the fever broke. You could have eaten me or tossed me into a dungeon." She was no longer scared.
Rexus stood and descended the steps of the dais, his dark cloak billowing behind him. "Because you, Lady Charmaine, are a curiosity. In your fever, you healed the wound I've carried for years—one no healer could touch. You saved my life, though I doubt that was your intent."
Charmaine folded her arms, her expression guarded. "And now you want something from me?"
"Perhaps," Rexus said, studying her with sharp, calculating eyes. "But first, let's address the question that brought you here. What is it you desire, Lady Charmaine? What would you ask of the Dark Lord?"
Her lips quirked into a bitter smile. "I don't suppose you can send me back to my world."
Rexus shook his head. "Regrettably, that is beyond even my power."
She sighed, then straightened, her eyes hardening. "Then I want revenge. I want to punish that sack of potatoes and his court. They dragged me into this world, humiliated me, and treated me like a burden. Make them pay for what they've done to me."
Rexus's smirk widened into a grin. "Now we're speaking the same language. You can have that, and perhaps even more. With your powers, limited though they may be, you could be quite useful."
Charmaine met his gaze, her own smile forming. "Good. Because I think I know how to help you."
Rexus raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do tell."
Charmaine leaned closer, her voice low and determined. "Richard's court overlooked me because I wasn't what they wanted in a hero. But they also underestimated me. My powers may not destroy armies, but they can build something better. Let's give them a taste of their own arrogance and bring your kingdom back to life, one vine, one herb, and one healed wound at a time."
The Dark Lord's laughter echoed through the throne room, rich and approving. "You surprise me, Lady Charmaine. Perhaps the summoning wasn't a mistake after all."
Charmaine's smile turned sly. "Perhaps it wasn't."