The air grew heavy, thick with a strange energy that made the hairs on my neck stand up.
The demon lords quieted. Even the ever-dramatic Veylor, who was monts ago screaming off-key into the karaoke mic, slowly stepped down from the coffee table like a chastised child. Lady Eira set her cherished pack of instant noodles gently onto her lap, stroking it like a beloved pet.
And at the center of it all...
The Shadow Queen sat with one leg crossed over the other, her chin resting on the back of her delicate hand, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
Her crimson eyes glead dangerously in the dimd light.
"The night is still young, my honored guests..."
She snapped her fingers.
With a low hum, the room shifted again. My already abused living room stretched unnaturally, shadows crawling up the walls and transforming them into towering, blackened arches. My creaky old ceiling was now lost in a starless void above us, as if we'd been transported into a grand, ancient hall straight out of a dark fairytale.
And then... in the center of the room...
A long, obsidian table materialized, polished to a mirror-like sheen.
Atop it sat a single, ancient-looking hourglass, filled not with sand—but with swirling, dark purple mist.
"We shall now play a ga," the Shadow Queen announced, her voice carrying an almost hypnotic weight.
My knees buckled slightly.
"Oh no... no more gas. Last ti it ended with in a maid outfit and karaoke trauma I'll never recover from," I protested weakly.
She ignored , of course.
"The Ga of Fates," she continued, her voice low and seductive, laced with amusent. "A ga played among shadow royalty to test courage... and uncover secrets."
Lord Veylor cracked his knuckles, his eyes gleaming.
Lady Eira's frosty expression ward with interest. Even the tiny chibi demon perched on Veylor's shoulder let out a squeaky little cheer.
I raised a trembling hand like a terrified student in class.
"W-Wait... uncover secrets? Like... embarrassing stories? Or... life-destroying secrets?"
The Shadow Queen's smile deepened.
"Both."
The rules, as she explained them, were horrifyingly simple:
Each person takes a turn flipping the hourglass.
When the mist drains completely to the bottom, the Queen asks a question.
The target must answer truthfully... or face a punishnt chosen by the Queen herself.
"Can I just... opt out?" I asked hopefully.
She leaned toward , close enough that I could feel the warmth of her breath against my ear.
"Opting out... is also a punishable offense."
My life was officially over.
Round One:
The Shadow Queen turned to Lord Veylor.
"Veylor... let's start with you."
The massive demon lord grinned and flipped the hourglass with one thick, clawed hand. The mist inside drained unnaturally fast, swirling like a tiny storm until it settled.
The Shadow Queen sat up straight, her eyes sharp.
"Tell us... who was the last person you loved?"
The room went silent.
Even Veylor's smirk faltered. His massive shoulders stiffened.
After a long pause, his deep voice rumbled through the room.
"...Her na was Lysandra."
Lady Eira's icy expression cracked for the first ti. Her eyes darted toward Veylor with sothing that looked dangerously close to pain.
But before anyone could react further, the hourglass reset itself.
Round Two:
This ti, the Queen's crimson eyes landed squarely on .
"Your turn, Caretaker."
"Oh, co on! Can't we just pretend I'm not here?" I stamred.
She raised one delicate eyebrow.
"Punishnt, then?"
I dove forward and flipped the hourglass before she could open another portal to whatever embarrassing outfit she'd prepared next.
The mist drained at an alarming rate.
"Question," she purred. "Tell us... in vivid detail, your most scandalous fantasy."
I almost swallowed my own tongue.
"WHAT?!"
The demon lords leaned forward, their supernatural senses practically vibrating with curiosity. The tiny chibi demon was already taking ntal notes.
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. My brain decided to just shut down entirely.
The Queen leaned in closer, resting her chin on her hand.
"Lying, dear Caretaker... would be unwise."
Sweat poured down my face.
"F-Fine!" I blurted out in a panicked rush. "It's—uh—uh... being the last human survivor in a post-apocalyptic zombie world, dramatically rescuing a princess from the ruins... and—uh—being rewarded with a lifeti supply of instant noodles!"
The room fell completely silent.
Veylor blinked.
Lady Eira blinked.
Even the chibi demon dropped its tiny notebook.
The Shadow Queen stared at , her lips twitching.
And then—
She burst out laughing.
For the first ti, the terrifying, mysterious Shadow Queen laughed so hard she had to wipe tears from her eyes.
"Oh, Liam... you really are the most hopelessly innocent creature I've ever t!"
I crossed my arms and scowled. "Hey, instant noodles are a perfectly acceptable fantasy reward, okay?!"
She leaned back on her throne, her laughter finally fading.
"Well then," she said, eyes gleaming with mischief. "For being such an entertaining little mortal... I'll grant you a rare reward."
My heart stopped.
"A reward?"
She leaned closer, her lips just inches from my ear.
"You may ask one question. Any question. And I will answer it truthfully."
My mind raced.
Should I ask about her real na? About why she's really here in the mortal realm? About what insane cosmic event led her to tornt out of all people?
But then...
Her eyes sparkled like she already knew what I'd choose.
And suddenly, I wasn't sure I was ready for the truth.
To be continued...
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