The Burning Queen

By Aziza Sphinx

It takes a special piece of work to be banished from Hell, and Valdis Rhonwen is a special piece of work. Queen of torture and despised by most, others sought her position and her power. Busy ruling the flourishing thirteenth kingdom, Valdis forgot rule number one -everyone in Hell is out for themselves. Stripped of her power and banished to the upper world, Valid now fights her way back into the fold.

 

Sent to Valdis to sate her hunger for torture, Hell's champion Jesar defected. No longer a patsy for her father, N'atas, he escapes the heart of Hell to reinstall his queen and restore her dying kingdom. Convincing N'atas that Vadis didn't betray him is a daunting task. And until they determine who planted the seed of deceit and why, the couple must tread lightly.

 

Their journey to the truth is wrought with dangers in lands designed to bring even the strongest Demon to their knees. But Hell hath no fury like Valdis scorned, and her greatest challenge will be coming face to face with a destiny not of her desire nor of her choosing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penned In Blue, LLC
• Release date: Oct 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781735727745

Aziza Sphinx

Aziza Sphinx is a firm believer that reading and writing go hand and hand. A southerner through and through she loves her peaches and pecans while curling up with a good book. A master of resourcefulness her love of research leads her down paths of discovery that touch every aspect of her writing. Her love of reading ignited her passion for writing leading her to frequently fill page after page with tales of her beloved characters’ adventures. An influence and an adversary she loves to sprinkle facts about her beloved Georgia throughout her fictional worlds. 

Book preview

Prologue

Reflect

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At the head of the boardroom table in the southernmost tip of his domain, N’atas sat, fingers clasped hands resting on one of many treasures in his kingdom. The handcrafted table, comprised of severed appendages, horns, and bones, consumed significant space in the room. Well preserved hands in suspended animation cupped goblets of the finest specialty brew, dark and thick with a hint of a metallic undertone. Twelve sons, six on each side, stared at the presentation as a general spewed figures and rumors in their direction.

N’atas stared at the empty chair at the other end of the table, the one reserved for the ruler of furnace thirteen. The empty seat reminded him of his decision to banish one of his own from the realm. But with each passing moment, more questions rose about the scenario that forced his hand to make an example out of anyone daring to challenge his power and authority.

As you all are well aware, the outer sanctum is hovering at the edge of chaos.

N’atas raised a hand, the ever-present glow of his commanding power drawing the attention of the others. I have assigned a replacement. He will bring order.

The man at the front of the room cringed, his mouth prepared to offer a challenge before reason smacked some sense in him, forcing his lips to seal. Instead, he offered a nod. So, he shall.

A dismissive wave from N’atas, and the man resumed his spiel. The world above teeters on war. The mortals are close to anarchy. I propose sending not only the watchers, but a few whispers. With proper encouragement, I believe we can tip the scales in our favor.

The boardroom door eased open; a thin, redheaded woman slithered through the small space. She strode past the men, her sights set on N’atas. He frowned at her presence, the interruption unconventional especially with the height of the stakes. If the humans fell into war, it would usher in a new era of abundance for them all.

The woman bowed as she approached, her eyes falling to the floor and remaining there until N’atas gestured for her to speak.

My liege. She dropped to one knee, still showing respect while invading N’atas’s personal space I apologize for the interruption.

The others continued to listen to the general. N’atas however, turned his full attention to his assistant. What is it Persephone?

You requested any updates.

I did. He shifted, his annoyance growing at her presence. Get to the point, woman.

It’s furnace thirteen. He sat up straight at her words. It’s shutting down.

The room burned brighter though the others played their roles continuing with the charade pretending the information from the man at the front of the room trumped any tantrum beginning behind them.

Through gritted teeth, a feat in and of itself, N’atas replied. What do you mean its shutting down?

The residents are dying. Many are already abandoning their posts, seeking refuge and passage through the twelfth kingdom.

Then deny them, he said dismissively.

We have tried. But it is not just the shift of the population, the land grows cold. The rivers have molted over. Volcanoes falling silent. The kingdom is literally drying up and dying. There is fear this will spread.

N’atas’s hand slammed into the table, the echo of bones breaking filling the room. He knew the risk of his decision, the potential fallout. He’d hoped to buy some time with the ruler’s replacement. The man was capable if not efficient. He’d figure out a way to restore order. They just needed to review the current situation and place temporary fixes until he instilled a permanent solution.

How much time do we have?

Persephone scanned the black tablet she’d retrieved from her dress pocket. If calculations are correct, at the current rate the furnace becomes irrevocably inoperable in five days.

As anger surged, a roar escaped from N’atas that shook his kingdom spreading outward until all in the realm understood the severity of the brewing situation. While he never intended the banishing to be permanent, he planned to teach a lesson, one that apparently would have to wait.    

Send him for her.

Are you sure? Jesar is still unstable, and Eldon is currently unaccounted for.

N’atas leaned in close, flames from his fingers licking at her chin. Are you questioning me woman?

Persephone held her ground. I will do as you wish. Standing, she again bowed.

Collecting his composure, N’atas tacked on one additional demand. And make it look convincing. It must appear as if he has escaped, not been granted release.

She nodded curtly, indicating her understanding of the underline message. And if he doesn’t take the opportunity?

You do not know Jesar as I know him. He has attempted to do everything in his power to prove his innocence. He will take advantage of any weakness to continue the fight.

Yes, master.

He waved her away. The only thing left to do now was wait to see who was prepared to play chess, and who was only capable of playing checkers.

Chapter One

In Another Lifeline

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With each passing moment, the sky grew a shade darker. Long gone where the yellows. The orange too had met its demise followed by the red until purple gripped the heavens before bowing to the grey and black of night. Elizabeth lost track of the time, her only indication of the length of their journey the changing of the skies.

Where are we going again? she asked, not directing the question specifically at either of the two men in the car. Her eyes stayed locked on the glittering of stars on the other side of the window.

We’ve been through this, Valdis, said Eldon, the man sitting next to her in the back.

She regarded him with disdain. Why do you continue to call me that? My name is Elizabeth.

Sorry. I mean we’ve been through this, he paused for dramatic effect or maybe to ease the annoyance out of his voice, Elizabeth.

Well, can we go through it again? I keep trying to wrap my mind around the story, but it just doesn’t make sense.

What part of it doesn’t make sense? Eldon asked, keeping his voice neutral this time.

All of it. It all sounds so, so far-fetched.

He patted her thigh, Which is exactly why we’re going to visit Asterios. Hopefully, he can help you remember.

Elizabeth allowed silence to fill the confines of the moving metal contraption. Still, her mind raced trying as best as possible to force the past to the present. They’d told her a fantastic story of being in Hell but enjoying the experience. She was a queen, a ruler over one of the largest and most prosperous regions. But with greatness came great responsibility. And great responsibility meant making decisions others disagreed with. Jealously knows no bounds and jealously led to her demise.

Tell her again, said the man in the driver’s seat.

Do you think it wise, Jesar? The last time I told it she ended up in tears.

The leather of the steering wheel creaked at the tightening of Jesar’s grip. We have at least another half an hour on the road. Just do it, he responded through gritted teeth.

If you say so. But I won’t be responsible for the outcome. Eldon shifted in his seat, turning more towards Elizabeth, though her attention remained out the window. Our realm is as old if not older than time itself. And the comings and goings of entities to our world began long before humans became self-aware. Within the realm burn thirteen furnaces maintaining order. Your kingdom was ruled by your father N’atas just as the others are ruled by your brothers. You are a queen in our home, keeper of the thirteenth furnace of...

Hell, the word fell from her lips in a whisper.

Eldon allowed the word to sit with them, giving her time to process the thought completely before continuing the important part of the larger tale looming within time. Yes. Hell. The people here call us demons. And I suppose on some level we are to them for we have gifts they do not. Our ways are not their ways. But your kingdom was stolen from you. Those you held dearest turned against you, separating you from your mate and weakening you. And when you reached your lowest point, they convinced your father that you were a traitor. The guards came for you, dragged you through your own kingdom among your own people who owed you their lives. Your accusers did all they could to smear your name and shame you until your father had no choice but to banished you from Hell.

Tell me my name again. She needed to hear it once more. Each time one of them spoke the name an unexpected heat rolled over her, like a fisher opening and energy seeping to the surface.

Your name is Valdis Rhonwen. You are The Burning Queen.

Every cell in her body burst to life as the car rolled to a stop in front of a door cut into the side of a grass covered mound. She shut her eyes against the drying heat. Her tongue grew parched, the moisture sucked out of her body. The world closed in, a bubble of hot air making it hard to breath until cool fingers came to rest on her cheek.

When her eyes fluttered open, Jesar stood over her, cradling her face in his palms. Come. You need to remember so we can go home and reclaim what is rightfully ours.

The cool, moist air did little to ease the aching inside, the flaming fisher now growing until what felt like the lava of a volcano dispensed into Elizabeth’s veins. She focused on the pouring of cold from Jesar’s fingers intertwined with her own, desperately clinging to the sensation for fear of spontaneously combusting. Elizabeth expected to see steam rising from their hands but no physical manifestation of their fire and ice dance presented itself.

This place was unnaturally quiet, completely devoid of creatures of the night. Not a cricket chirp, or owl hoot, just an unending, foreboding silence. Elizabeth stared at the door before them, watching as scenes of battles played across the surface like a mish-mash of movies. Chariots followed flying arrows. Sorcerers shot lightning towards the heavens as dark clouds rolled in. The ground opened up; flames shot into the air as liquids oozed from the cracks. Then the canvas fell blank and still.

The mound butted against the side of a jagged structure of rock jutting so far out of the ground that the top disappeared beyond sight, though no clouds or structures hid it. The rocks just continued to climb until their plateau became a trick to the eyes. The natural curvature of the mound a contrast against the forceful hand of nature indicating that it came at a time later than the original formation of the wall of stone. A strange moss covered the mound like tentacles reaching out from tiny holes towards the moonlight in a futile attempt at escape.

Aside from the mound and the rock formation flat dry land spanned out in every direction save for the road they’d driven to reach this point. This place felt like the end of the world where everything and nothing came to escape this domain and pass on to the next. Elizabeth almost expected to see ghosts or spirits coming and going though that didn’t make sense because what entity, physical or spiritual would randomly decide to venture out here to the middle of nowhere?

As they closed the distance between them and the mound Elizabeth realized that the moss wasn’t moss at all but sharp knife-like tendrils, a makeshift defense system against any creature attempting to land on top of or scurry over the mound’s surface. Not that she’d seen anything living or dead for miles. She leaned in discovering that the moss mimicked Jade as the light of the moon bounced off the lines of stone.

Jesar knocked lightly on the door, the sound growing larger as it sauntered away into the silence of the night.

Go Away! Came a voice from beyond the door.

Again, he knocked, this time a bit more forcefully but in the same rhythmic fashion from the first time.

I said. Go Away!

Third time’s the charm? Jesar silenced Elizabeth with the universal gesture of a finger over the lips. He wrapped a third time, though the cadence changed to that of a heartbeat. He repeated the pattern of six three times before pulling both Elizabeth and Eldon behind him.

The roar from the other side splintered the door. Jesar shielded Elizabeth drawing her to him, covering her body with his as Eldon dropped to his haunches. A massive set of wings pierced through the man’s jacket, the span adding an extra layer of shielding as wood rained down on them. When the last twinkle of ash disappeared, they turned to find a young man in the doorway.

His shapely body told of strength and commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, his bare chest a testament to the focus on building the perfect body. His hair gave away his age, the long white strands resting on his shoulders.

Why have you come here?

His voice boomed in the quiet of the night. The reverberation penetrating Elizabeth’s bones. She didn’t just hear the words he spoke, but she felt them to her core, the sensation unusual and unnerving.

Jesar stepped forward, leaving Eldon as a buffer between Elizabeth and this man. You know why we have come. You know what is at stake. It was my understanding that you volunteered your services to those of us charged with correcting the great misdeed.

Aye. I did. But his kind is not welcome.

Then you, Asterios, speak lies against the Queen, Jesar spat back at the man.

The Queen would not allow the company of his kind. Asterios gestured towards Eldon.

And yet she is here and has. Not all is as it seems.

The two regarded each other for a moment more before declaring a truce. In that time, Eldon’s wings fell away into tiny sparkling lights leaving a trail of ash against the back of his jacket. He still stood one step in front of Elizabeth, but she could tell he was ready to scoop her to safety should the need arise.

Very well.

They followed Asterios into his humble abode. Elizabeth took in the site of the hallway, the way lights flickered in sunken areas like candlelight. And yet, when she looked closer, she saw no source for the light. It was just there as they passed and as they moved further inward, the lights disappeared behind them. Cooled air filled the corridor as they entered the center of the house. A grand arched ceiling connected with five other arched doorways leading to various offshoots of the heart of the home. They followed him through the one on the furthest wall which led to the kitchen.

No one claimed a seat though Asterios gathered a kettle to make coffee or tea.

You are The Burning Queen? he asked as he filled the kettle and placed it on the first gas burner.

Let these two gentlemen tell it, the answer is yes. I however am not sure I subscribe to their way of thinking.

Asterios directed his next question to Jesar. Why have you brought this impostor here?

She is not an impostor! Eldon interrupted.

Asterios turned on the man, appearing directly in front of him seemingly without making a move. And how exactly do you know that Eater?

Eldon stood his ground, squaring off with the man without an ounce of hesitation. He held his tongue though. He had been given strict orders and he planned to keep them. An insult to his kind, those granted the gift of soul consumption by the ruler of Hell, would not deter him.

Well Eater?

Jesar stepped forward to calm the tension in the room. Tell him Eldon.

I cannot Jesar, and you know it.

We do not have time for this! Jesar’s voice filled the room, echoing out into the hallway before pouring into the other rooms. I will take the punishment should there be one. You must tell him, or he cannot help.

Fine. He wiped her memory. That’s why I followed them when they dragged her out of Hell and dumped her in that cemetery. They wanted to make sure she didn’t come back. That no recollection of her place or power remained.

Who is the ‘he’ you speak of? And the ‘they’? Asterios asked.

Her father. Who else? Eldon spat. And all of those who brought her up on the trumped-up charges.

Hmm. Asterios tapped his finger against the countertop just as the kettle whistled. Well then that presents a most difficult challenge.

They waited as he removed the kettle carefully pouring the contents into a single mug. He sprinkled a pinch of leaves into the steaming brew before downing the entire cup in one gulp.

Can you help her remember? Jesar asked when the man finished.

There may be a way. However, it won’t be fun for anyone.

Tired of conversations about her without including her, Elizabeth reminded them of her presence. If you’re talking about torture, I’m standing right here.

Asterios gave her a dismissive wave. Torture means nothing to our kind. He placed the cup into the sink before continuing. It is part of our very existence. For those who reside in Hell, torture is part of the business, a commodity readily available for sale and distribution.  The ill effects are minimum for it is our position that torture is a tool best utilized outside our realm. Not to say that it isn’t used in the outer rings. It has its place and purpose, one of which you were quite fond of during your reign. That is if you truly are The Burning Queen. He shrugged; his attention now focused on the place above the stove. His hand hovered over an empty space.

So how will you help me remember?

I can think of only one way. If what these two speak is true, then I have nothing here powerful enough to override N’atas’s wipe.

Elizabeth’s shoulders slumped in defeat. Then we’ve come here for naught? Her voice cracked, like the last bit of hope siphoned away leaving her hollow inside.

I didn’t say that. Asterios’ fist punctured the wall, his hand drawing back a silver portion of the pipe behind. Hissing followed, the scent of propane gas quickly filling the room."

Elizabeth staggered back. What are you doing?

Asterios moved to another place in the room where the wall connected with the one on the other side. A fireplace divided the room, the flames dancing in time with the hum of music from the other side. Why, my dear, I am encouraging you to remember. Again, his fist tore away the plaster as he drew back yet another piece of piping.

Elizabeth’s eyes grew wide as she realized what he was doing. She inched towards the door, only to be met with Eldon blocking her way. We have to get out of here!

Eldon’s lips turned down, his head swiping from side to side as he refused to look her way.

They were going to die. All this way to help her remember and they were just going to stand by and let Asterios blow them to smithereens. Jesar?

Panic setting in, Elizabeth searched for a way out without success. No windows. Only one doorway. This was it. Her mind fought reality. She wasn’t ready to die. Why? Why did she leave? She could deal with being here. Her home was cozy and warm, sans the advances of the young man of the house, but even that was tolerable. Why had she abandoned all that she knew to follow her heart?

Valdis Rhonwen!

Don’t call me that! Elizabeth dropped to her knees, her hands covering her ears as the men again chanted her name.

Valdis Rhonwen. Ruler of the fire kingdom. Queen and keeper of furnace thirteen. You must remember.

No! She shook her head violently as the heat came over her again. She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the searing pain threatening to consume her. Stop. You have to stop. Please. Just let me go.

The burn of ice against her skin made her open her eyes. Asterios stood before her with Jesar trying his best to offer a level of comfort. The man tore Jesar’s hand away.

It takes a special piece of work to be banished from Hell. And you, Valdis Rhonwen, are a special piece of work. There are two ways for you to return home, Asterios toyed with the top to a Zippo lighter. It was old and worn with a horned creature engraved on the side. The incessant clicking of the lid as he flipped it open and closed echoed in the room. An omen of their doom.    

There is the easy way. And there is the hard way.

What do I have to do!

Simple my child, Asterios knelt before her his voice calm and steady, you must remember. When you remember you will regain your power. Once you regain your power, you will then be able to walk between the worlds

I can’t, she pleaded. don’t you think I have tried. I don’t remember.

Jesar was on the floor with her, his hand slid against the back of her neck though he’d drawn the cold away, reserving his gift to protect himself.

Then it must be the hard way.

A flick of the thumb and the place burst into flames sealing their fate.

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Note from Valdis

Yeah, so he blew us to smithereens. And in case you’re wondering, this is far from the end of my tale. However, I supposed it would be helpful to know how all of this began. Can’t know where you’re going, until you know where you came from.

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The Burning Queen

Chapter Two

Rising in the New

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Elizabeth! Elizabeth.

A hand coming to rest on my shoulder startled me out of my trance. I shrugged the offending appendage away and shot a nasty look in Mortimer’s direction. I’d spent the last three nights fighting off the man’s advances. The fact that he was Elizabeth’s brother, my brother, only made the situation that much more disturbing.

Mortimer stepped away, giving me space. You didn’t answer when I called.

I focused on the growing mist consuming the tops of the headstones in the family cemetery just outside of my balcony. I didn’t know I was a dog to come bounding after my master when beckoned.

That’s not what I meant.

"But that