67 Part IV

"Say, Sir Darren. Why don't we trade? Give me this slave and in return you get the gem."

Artemis was stock-still as the Queen continued to examine her body. The slave wanted to know why Darren was thinking about an answer. A 'No' could have ended it in seconds.

"Your highness. I need time to consider."

The Queen let go of Artemis then walked back to her throne, "You have two days to give me the answer I want."

"Yes, Queen Shani."

"You will not leave my domain till then."

Something about the Queen was terrifying. She was pretty and all, but something wasn't right. Artemis couldn't point at what made her so strange.

"Why don't you take a bath? You are both my visitors. The house keepers will see you to the tub," She grinned as she sat back on her seat.

"Follow me, Sir Darren."

Darren and Artemis followed a maid to the grand bath used by visitors the Queen hardly had. It could be said that sometimes, she felt lonely.

Artemis had never been given privileges to have a proper bath ever since she got to sol, but it seemed like good fortune had finally given her a chance.

Darren moved ahead, following the slave that was leading them to the grand bath while Artemis stopped by a different door and spotted some female slaves with towels heading out. She smiled, feeling more comfortable, then went inside.

"Where is he?" Darren turned back after he'd noticed Artemis was gone. "Excuse me," the slave bowed before leaving and she bumped into Artemis on her way out.

"Where did you go?"

Artemis was too embarrassed to state the unfortunate outcome she'd faced. She didn't want to share a bath with Darren, neither did he want to do so with a slave, but the Queen had her reasons.

"I wonder why you have to take a bath with me."

"Shut up!" Artemis commanded as her face reddened.

Darren took off his garments, then stepped into the rectangular pool. The stones underneath his exposed feet were cold and, at the same time, soothing. He lowered his body to feel more of the coolness Artemis was missing out on. "Won't you join in?"

"I will when I want to!"

Artemis couldn't join the females because they thought she was a male slave who came to peep. She had the option to join the males, but she didn't want to see a hoard of buck naked men cleaning themselves. Her last option was Darren, and it would be easier to avoid eye contact with him while he bathed.

"Hey, Darren"

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you tell her no? Don't tell me you are planning to trade me for the gem."

"What if I am planning to?"

"I will kill you right here and right now."

He sighed, "Well I'm not planning to. The only thing I have in my head right now is how I will get the gem from her without referencing the book, or trading you. You're not even worth it."

"What did you say!?"

She wanted to charge at him, but she remembered he was naked. She didn't want to go beyond her position and ruin the pureness of her eyes.

"Don't take it seriously" He said as he swam a few laps around the pool, then got out.

He ran his hand through his wet hair, then headed towards Artemis's direction. She covered her face as she heard his foot striking the water on the floor. He grabbed a towel in the basin behind her and wiped his body.

"Hey, Arm"

"Yes?" She answered, but she refused to open her eyes.

"Have you heard of the tale of the two women that fought over a baby?"

"No, why?"

"It's a myth. When Queen Shani suggested we trade, I  I recalled the story. I wanted to say no, but I thought of the risks. The Queen is very dangerous. In case you're ever alone, keep an eye out for her. There's a chance she might still come after you, so be cautious." He wrapped the towel around his waist and was about to leave when she called him again.

"Wait! What does the story have to do with me?"

"Maybe I should tell you more about this." He went back to her, wondering why she still had her eyes closed even when he was covered.

"Something about you intrigues the Queen, and I don't believe this is a direct result of your Aura. Something different caused her to notice you."

Artemis considered the possibility of the queen knowing a thing or two about her actual identity and the alter skill she used to change her physical appearance.

"My mother told me this story a long time ago. Two women had babies, a child to each, but unfortunately one had died overnight. The trouble started from there. The two women claimed the baby that was alive and dragged over the custody of the child. They took the matter to the King during that period, and they tried to prove who was the genuine mother of the child. The two gave suitable points, but it wasn't easy to tell who was the mother of the baby, especially when the child was just a few months old. Then, the king suggested that he should cut the baby in half so the two would have a part to themselves."

"Well, that's sick."

"Not really. That way, the king could draw out who the actual mother of the child was. But that's not where I'm heading to. If I told the queen no, she'd have split you in half. If she wants something, she'd do everything and anything possible to get it. Getting half of it is better than not having it at all."

"So what now?"

"I don't have the foggiest idea. Two days is all I have to answer, and I'm afraid of mentioning the book because she's a close friend of my father."

"I believe Demigod Marcellus only associates with the strong, and a weakling like yourself."

"I'll pardon your intrusion and I'll continue to explain who she is. Everyone fears the Queen, even by my father."

"Well, that's something I didn't expect. Is there a reason?"

"Strength. Magic. All her stats and achievements. She could dominate if she wanted to, but she's not interested in such. When the summer games were required to be postponed, the senates needed to someone to rule. Some proposed her, however many kicked against it. My father remained neutral to both sides. She said it was best if the games continued, and from that day, she gave up her seat in the Chambers. I don't know if that makes enough sense to you, but I just want you to be careful."

He left. Artemis stood up, trying her best to calm down after what she'd heard. Was the Queen able to see through her disguise? How powerful was she to have Marcellus fear her?

She took off her clothes and tossed it to the side before getting in the pool. Too many questions occupied her mind, and it terrified her.

She shrieked, then jolted in the water, "w-what?!" She was certain she glimpsed the Queen standing in the pool, or was it just her mind playing with her?

Her heart raced, and she darted her orbs to every detail in the hall. Every pillar, the flowerpots, the archway of gold, and the pool. She put a hand over her head, "Maybe I'm just stressed. Tired, a bit tired. Yes...that seems logical enough haha" She scurried out of the pool, wrapped a towel around her, picked up her bags and clothes, then made way for the exit.

"Hmm" The Queen licked her lips as she shaped from the water "So my suspicions were valid after all…" She muffled her evil laughter, but it burst open, and her voice echoed all around.

Artemis clung to Darren until evening time. The head slave informed them that the Queen had gone out and Darren wanted to do the same. Since she wasn't in her royal residence, Artemis was safe for the meantime, and Darren had time to clear out his mind.

The prince made his way into the city to explore a little, while Artemis stayed back in the room the Queen assigned her to. She had her eyes opened, watching for any danger, but hours passed and the Queen never came. "Maybe she isn't much of a threat after all." Artemis said.

"Isn't it too early to judge my dear"

Before Artemis could react, the Queen grabbed her and with her sharp nails, she gradually ripped Artemis's clothes to shreds. What made it more alarming was the fact that Artemis couldn't see her despite the number of torches on the wall.

Artemis tried to move to her sword, but she fell before she could reach and remained still on the floor.

"Why am I not moving?... why?... why is my body numb?" Her eyes widened, and she felt her pulse quicken. Her heart thudded as the pair of hands travelled along the bare skin of her back and thighs.

The voice sounded like the Queen's but she was nowhere to be found. The head servant said she went out, Artemis didn't expect her to be back so soon. She played close attention to the door, but somehow, Queen Shani got inside despite Artemis's vigilance.

"I know what you're hiding…" her voice was genuinely so serene, and her touch was light as a plume, but Artemis didn't want any of that. The colors drained from her face as she slowly reverted to her female form, and the Queen groped the slave she'd numbed. Fear coursed through Artemis's veins the moment she could feel the heavy aura in the atmosphere. When Darren said she was strong, there were no jokes about it.

"As I thought, you truly are a female pretending to be a boy." She forced Artemis's legs apart, then chuckled. Tears shaped in her earthy colored eyes as the Queen kept on playing with her body.

"Why can't I move? Why?! Why?! Why can't I do anything" Panic, anger, sadness, and fear overwhelmed her. She couldn't move the muscles In her face and the rest of her body. Shani muzzled her mouth to prevent her from shouting. She wondered if that would make a difference because there was no telling if Darren was back or if thieves had mugged him.

Even if Artemis could move, there was no way she'd win In a fight with an Elf Queen that was so unpredictable and fast. "Please… Don't do this…" she begged, hoping the Queen would read her mind at least, but Shani ignored.

The head slave led Darren to his assigned room the moment he arrived back at the palace. The same slave gave him the key, then left him to have his privacy. He sat on the bed with a blank mind. A second passed, and a random thought of Artemis sparked. Going on a walk was exhausting, more than he'd expected. He wanted to lie down and just close his eyes, but he had a feeling that he should go check on the Queen, to make sure Artemis was safe.

He headed out of the room, and walked down the hallways, his eyes darting to each room, in search of the one that might look like the Queen's. Better still, a slave was passing by and he stopped her.

"Where's Queen Shani's bedchamber?"

She turned around and pointed at a large golden door that was slightly open. "That's it over there, My Lord" The slave bowed, then excused herself. Darren took a few more steps and peeped into the opening.

It surprised him to see the Queen sleeping. Darren glanced around to check if anyone elde was in the foyer, and fortunately, it was just him.

He snuck in to check if she was really the one, and not some doll or bed slave. He lowered the cover and his eyes met with her heart-shaped face. He sighed in relief. Everything was fine for the night.