Chapter 13

Darius looked at his mother in shock. “Wait a minute, did I hear you correctly? Lucifer has not only returned but he wishes to make Thea the new High Queen?”

Gaia smiled at her son. “I did. Is it such a crazy idea? She’s already mated to the best ally she can have, she has the bloodline and power, she has all of Celestia's support, but most especially Chaos believes in her.

“My darling son, it would provide you with the connection and backing of the Dark Realms the likes of which no one has ever had before. At a moment's notice you’d have thousands of Legions should you need them. Theanna has allies and friends from across the realms. If she rules as only she can and uses Damien to help her, she can help the Dark Realms be awe-inspiring and she can also unite the realms as never before.”

“But Thea... that’s a lot for her to deal with,” Darius stated, unfailing concern for his granddaughter first and foremost in his mind. “She’s still recovering from being attacked, AGAIN.”

“Lucifer wants to fix things with her. He truly does. He informed us that he’ll fix her because it’s his fault she’s suffered as she has. Darius, he plans to give of his own essence to do so. He wants it so that Nihasia is never an issue, finishing what you have started. He’ll also make it so that she has access to all of her powers and with that access she’s already more powerful than Innara ever was. With love and support from all of us but most especially from Damian she’ll make the best Queen the Dark Realms have ever had.”

Gaia watched her son as he contemplated her words. “What are you not saying?”

“She’s so young and unprepared. To spend all her time in the Dark Realms... it could corrupt her.”

“Young yes, unprepared no. You’ve been training her all of her life to head up D Corp. Besides, you and I both know she’s lived several hundred years via her training. She may be physically young but she’s not inexperienced. She also knows what it’s like to release her inner beast. Nihasia did that more than once and each time Thea hated it. She won’t let that happen.”

“Everything that you say, in truth I know but still, I worry,” Darius replied, his brow furrowed.

“Isn’t that the job of a parent, to always worry for our children?”

“You’re right. I know you’re right, but after losing Nira I can’t help but fear the worst.”

“Chaos believes Thea has the ability to unite the Mythic realms as never before. Even Lord Uriel, your father, is curious about a possible alliance with a new High Queen that has Illuminare blood. This is something that will be good for all Mythics. She’ll have a support system like no other. She’ll be fine and will amaze us all. You’ll see!”

“My love, have faith in her. She’s more amazing than either of us even realize,” Helen stated as she appeared next to Darius.

“I know. She amazes me regularly. I’ll always have faith in our Thea-mia and I’ll be there when she needs me,” Darius said with a smile.

“That is all any parent can truly do.”

~~*~~

As Thea, Damian and Lucifer arrived outside the gates to Innara’s palace, Thea couldn’t help but notice how run down it looked. The walls were collapsing as the gate sat open. The palace appeared as if it were ruins rather than the palace of the High Queen of the Dark Realms. “Does she not take care of her home?” Thea found herself asking aloud.

“Innara cares nothing for her palace or even the Realms. She only cares about freeing Mordecai. That one goal has become her dark obsession. She cares for nothing else but herself. If it wasn’t for your mate, the Dark Realms would’ve fallen long ago,” Lucifer explained. “Perhaps I should’ve made you the Dark Lord, Damian.”

Damian couldn’t help but smirk as he replied, “My Lord, it wasn’t what was best. If I hadn’t found love I would’ve become what all realms fear about us. Now my place is besides Thea. I may be the Prince of Ikisat but I’m always first and foremost the mate of Theanna.”

“Nira and Mikael chose wisely,” Lucifer smiled. Looking around with a sigh, he added, “Shall we go in?”

“Where are her guards?” Thea asked as they entered the gates.

“Few have remained in her service, ” Damian stated flatly. “Even fewer are still loyal. Even so, only Hezin I trust. He’s loyal to Ikisat where he was born. More importantly, he’s loyal to the Dark Realms.”

“Well, fewer guards will make it easier. So, I’ve been thinking. A queen must establish her right to rule. Most in the Dark Realms simply know me as Damian’s betrothed and as Innara’s pawn. Nihasia is known and feared, but not me, not Theanna Prince. All that being said...”

Thea paused as she turned around and looked at both of them, her eyes glowing as she started to tap into her powers. “I need to do this alone. I know what you’re going to say, Dnirya, but I must. Thanks to Lucifer I can access and control my powers, ALL of them. I need to do this my way and establish my right to rule.”

Damian sighed thoughtfully. “I don’t like this, but, strategically you’re right. I'll be in the shadows should you need me. You’re never alone.”

“As shall I. When it's the most effective, I’ll appear in support of you,” Lucifer smiled proudly. He could only wish that Mikael was here to see the woman his child had become.

“Then, it’s settled.” With a deep breath, Thea changed her clothes to her favorite dark purple leather ensemble, complete with thigh-high stiletto boots. She wanted to feel more confident and jeans and a t-shirt didn’t say throne usurper to her. “Let’s do this!” With another deep breath, Thea vanished.

Inside the palace, Innara sat in her thrown room, bored as she picked at the rubies that encrusted her outlandish gown. She wanted Mordecai free now. “Where’s that stupid little hybrid?” she muttered, her council members looking at each other nervously.

“Oh stop that!” she hissed at them. “Nihasia is under my control!”

“Are you sure?” a powerful female voice sounded throughout the palace.

“Who dares to appear before the High Queen without an invitation?” Council Member Mezial demanded. Suddenly Mezial could no longer speak as his mouth had vanished, causing him and the other council members to nearly panic.

“Innara... oh, Innara... why are you on MY throne?” the voice taunted.

Innara hissed in derision, her black and red gown glittering in the light as she stood. Her claws elongated as did her teeth. Her pale gray Daemoni form reminded one of death in its appearance. “I’m High Queen of all the Dark Realms. Who are you to challenge me?”

“Tsk... tsk... Innara. You’re no queen. You’re a powerless pawn in a game you’re losing,” Thea stated as the doors to the throne room burst open wide. She leisurely walked into the throne room, her eyes glowing as her long pink hair swirled, caught up in a mysterious, magical wind.

At Innara’s look of surprise Thea laughed wickedly. “What, you thought all of your scheming, your attacks and dream manipulations would weaken me and allow you to control me? I am Theanna, daughter of Nira and Mikael, the one known as Nihasia, destroyer of Realms. No one controls me!”

“Where’s Damian? Your pet is always around, pest that he is,” Innara asked as she looked around nervously and slowly moved towards Thea.

“Oh, I’m sure he’s around somewhere, not that it matters,” Thea said as she waved her hand dismissively. “This is between you and me, Grandmother.”

It was then that Theanna noticed out of the corner of her eye one of Innara’s guards trying to get the jump on her. “Tsk, tsk!” she chastised as she wagged her finger at him, freezing him where he was.

“You see, I decided I’m tired of playing nice with you, Innara. Your lover killed my parents, your son, and you didn’t care at all. Instead you became bent on destroying everything, including MY child. I am DONE with putting up with you and your cruelty... the game is FINISHED and you’ve lost!”

“You ungrateful little hybrid trash. I released your full potential and you think you can turn on me? The High Queen of the Dark Realms? Think again, little girl!” Innara hissed.

“No, you thought to create a monster you controlled,” Theanna replied as she transformed into her Daemoness form, a form even more terrifying than Nihasia in the sheer power she controlled and exuded. Her dark purple ridged horns curled around her head as her nails turned into claws dripping with poisoned acid. Her teeth sharpened as her fangs grew long and deadly. Her skin darkened to the blackest black as it swirled with her power. “You only held an illusion of control, poor Innara.”

“Get her!” Innara demanded of her guards, rage filling her at the idea that she of all people could’ve lost to this hybrid.

At her order several guards moved in on Theanna. Not fazed in the least, she dismissively flicked her fingers and smiled as one by one they froze in place, unable to move. “As I said, Innara. I’m done playing nice.”

Innara screeched as she suddenly attacked Thea. Expecting her attack, Thea ducked out of the reach of Innara's claws, spinning as she slashed into Innara's side, causing her black blood to darken the color of her dress as the gemstones she wore flew across the room.

Innara howled in pain as rage overtook her and caused her to make mistakes. Over and over again she attacked and each time Theanna moved out of the way only to slash and draw blood. As Innara began to weaken, she looked at Thea with pure hatred.

“I curse the day Mikael ever met your whore of a mother. She took him away from me, turning him against us, against the Dark Realms. You should’ve never been born. You’re an abomination to every realm and don’t deserve to live much less know happiness!” she spat. “I should have ripped Nihasia free from you and left you to live the miserable life of a human,” Innara screamed as she once again attacked.

Thea spun around and easily missed her clumsy attack. This time though as she spun she grabbed Innara by the throat, her claws elongating as they dug in, drawing forth even more black blood. Pulling her close as Innara tried to claw free, Theanna said to her, “I may be human, Grandmother, but I’m also Daemoni, Celestian and Illuminare as well. I’m a daughter of all the Realms and I’m more powerful than you or Mordecai could ever hope to be. You’re nothing and Mordecai will never be free.”

Dropping her arm, she dragged Innara by the throat towards the throne, the trail of blood demonstrating how powerless Innara was to all in the room. At that moment, a great many more Daemoni guards entered the throne room and started to approach them, hissing and growling.

Standing in front of the throne of the Dark Realms, Theanna stopped them where they were with a simple look. “Swear loyalty to me as your new High Queen, and you shall live. Attack me and perish!”

As Theanna released all of the guards that were frozen, Innara rasped, “Destroy her now!” Unfortunately, to her dismay, all but a few fell onto bended-knee before Theanna. Those that didn’t, few as they were, moved forward.

“There’s no honor in your death,” Theanna stated flatly as those that moved against her burst into flames and perished where they were. Those that submitted gasped in surprise. “I’m not here to play nice. No matter what you heard, I’m not weak or powerless. I chose to live as I did so that I stayed out of Innara’s way as she was Lucifer’s chosen Queen. She moved against me. She attacked me and those I love time and time again. That’s unacceptable.”

“I agree!” Lucifer’s voice boomed as he appeared to everyone’s gasp of surprise. All fell to the floor in submission to the Dark Lord except for Theanna who held Innara powerless by the throat, blood seeping free and pooling around her from where Thea’s claws had pierced her skin.

“Innara, you’ve failed miserably as Queen. You’ve left the Realms weakened and in disarray. You’re no longer my chosen queen. Do what you will with her, my granddaughter.”

“She wishes to be with Mordecai so much, I say send her to the nothingness where he resides,” Damian suggested as he appeared next to Lucifer, a wicked smirk on his face. Thea had taken his breath away. Her power, her cunning, the sheer way she handled herself made him proud to be her mate.

“No!” Innara rasped in desperation.

“I agree! But before I do, Innara, see the truth of what happened to Nira and Mikael.” Placing her free hand onto Innara’s forehead, she shared the memories and visions from her mind. She wasn’t gentle or kind and when she was done, Innara hung limply, lost in the memories.

With her free hand she carved out a doorway saying, “Mother of my father, destroyer of my family, you’re condemned to the nothingness. May your suffering be what you deserve.” As a doorway to complete darkness opened, Thea threw Innara into it, after which it immediately closed. Wiping her hands together she announced, “It is done and over!”

“The Dark Realms deserves a High Queen befitting it’s status, one who will make it great again. Theanna, Princess of the Dark Realms, is my heir, my granddaughter. Summon the Princes. It’s time for a new High Queen,” Lucifer announced loudly.

Returning to her human form, Theanna looked at Damian. Her life was about to dramatically change. Whether that was good or bad was yet to be seen.