Page 20 of Thorn & Ash
A shimmering chrome edifice towered over her. Prue’s gaze drifted over the grand outer wall surrounding the castle, then lifted to take in the six towers, their sharp spires piercing the sky. Onyx stone covered each tower, a brilliant contrast to the glistening silver that coated the structure. The tallest of the towers had balconies that wrapped around the apex, along with stained glass windows that no doubt looked into the most ornate of suites. Solid stone pillars supported the archway at the entrance, each one crafted with elaborate carvings Prue couldn’t make out from here.
It was even bigger than the castle of the Thanassian Empire, where she and Cyrus had been held captive for a short time. Briefly, she wondered what had happened to their monarch now that Vasileios, the prince of Hell who had stolen the throne, was dead at Cyrus’s hand.
For a moment, Prue stood there, her jaw slack with awe as she drank in the magnificent architecture. It was no wonder Cyrus often spat at the drab human cities when he was accustomed to this. It looked like something from a fairy tale. Despite the stony surroundings and the murky gray sky, the palace still glistened as if it had been recently polished. It seemed… magical. Not at all like the dismal throne Prue had pictured Cyrus claiming as his own.
In her mind, a prince of Hell would live in a cold, blocky fortress, something dismal and uninspiring.
But this? This castle was beautiful and yet mysterious, the silvery walls just as intriguing as Cyrus’s eyes.
“We’ll enter through the back to avoid His Highness,” Lagos said, gesturing to the left.
“Right. Good idea.”
Prue followed him around the castle, still craning her neck to gaze up at the tallest towers. “Magnificent,” she whispered.
“Only the finest for His Highness.” Lagos’s words almost sounded bitter.
Prue clamped her mouth shut and forced herself to face forward. She hadn’t even considered how this palace had been built. But now that she thought about it, it was likely through the hard labor of demon servants.
A sour taste filled her mouth. Cyrus might have been possessed now, but when the palace was built, he had been himself. He had made those choices on his own.
You knew he was like this, she reminded herself. You knew he wasn’t perfect or good. You fell for the monster within him.
Still. It didn’t sit well with her. And she vowed to change things, even if it infuriated Cyrus.
They approached the back entrance of the castle, and Lagos swung open the door to let her through first. He led her down a narrow hallway through which various demons were bustling. Some looked like Lagos—part beast, part man—and some looked mostly human, but with small horns or fangs or even tails. The demons paid them no attention as they strode past, no doubt assuming Prue and Lagos were ordinary servants. That was probably for the best, considering Prue’s grubby attire. She didn’t want to announce herself as queen when she looked like this.
Lagos led her up a winding spiral staircase that seemed to climb forever. Prue had to pause often to catch her breath, her head spinning from fatigue. Though she had just eaten, her stomach was growling again, her body still suffering from her time in chains.
When they finally reached the top, a grand hallway stood before them, carpeted with a plush silver rug and lined with ornate vases perched atop elegantly crafted mahogany tables. They passed by several rooms, the massive double doors stretching all the way to the ceiling, before Lagos gestured to the one at the end of the hallway. The carvings on these doors were grander than the others, depicting a scene of satyrs and dryads dancing in the forest. The curved golden handles were smooth and shining under the candlelight.
“This is the queen’s chambers,” Lagos informed her.
Prue looked at him in surprise. “Cyrus had a queen’s chambers built?”
Lagos’s mouth twitched into what must’ve been his version of a smile. “No. But his chambers are on the opposite end of the hall. For a sense of symmetry, an identical chamber was built on this end to keep everything balanced. It isn’t quite as exquisite or well-furnished as His Highness’s chambers, but it will suit you just fine.”
Anticipation buzzed inside her as she pushed open the door, revealing a room twice the size of her small home in Krenia. A four poster bed sat on one end of the room, with sweeping white drapes and plush pillows, along with a gold embroidered quilt on top. Massive floor-to-ceiling windows lined the room, bringing light into the large space. Though it was still cloudy outside, the light was enough to keep everything properly illuminated, even without candles.
On the opposite side of the room was a small sitting area with a fireplace, plush sofas, and a long, narrow table between them. A tray was already there with sandwiches, fruit, and an assortment of cheeses.
Prue raised an eyebrow at Lagos. “You had food brought up here?”
“I imagined you’d want to eat more, given your… situation.” Lagos dropped his gaze as if abashed.
Prue laughed. “You mean my basic human need for food? You are very considerate, Lagos.”
“The bathing chambers are through there.” Lagos gestured behind the sitting area. “I can send someone to help you bathe.”
“No need. Just show me where the gowns are.” Prue popped a grape in her mouth, relishing the way the juice flooded her mouth.
“Are you sure? You are a queen, and you should have a maid at the very least.”
“I will,” Prue said, avoiding his gaze. “But I want you to be the first in my court.”
Lagos stared at her, his face revealing nothing. At long last, he bowed his head. “That is very kind of you, my queen. I would be honored to be the first member of your court.” He turned his head, then changed his mind, and smoothed his palms along his trousers. If Prue didn’t know any better, she would say he was flustered. The thought made her smile.
“I’ll… give you your privacy,” Lagos said, his voice a bit gruff as he exited the room.