Chapter 174 - Behind Enemy Lines

I appear in a blood-red room with large windows overlooking an equally large dark garden. "This will be your room, my Queen. I will send someone to help you get dressed for tonight, we will celebrate." He gives me a dark sexy grin before walking out of the large room.

"It's a good thing I'm hungry.." I mutter with a blank face. This will be your last celebration... Suddenly, several women walk in and rush me over to take a bath. They walk me out to a side yard that houses a natural spring with warm water.

They pour in some oils and drop dark red rose petals into the water before helping me strip. I think about fighting them but then decide against it. I will play nice until I get my chance. After my bath, they bring over a dark red dress with shimmering black thread. 

They help me dress and do my hair with a few dangling ornaments while putting a bit of makeup on me. They put on some bright red lipstick that goes well with the bold black eyeliner then lead me to a large room before announcing "The Queen, has arrived." The whole room grows quiet as I walk in as calmly as possible.  

They were all men with solid black eyes! There were so many of them...  I never imagined there being this many! I keep my face blank as I walk into the room with my head held high. Men around me suck in at the sight of me but I ignore them and keep my eyes on the King.

He smiles at me and slowly stands, lifting his hand out to me. I walk over to him and take his hand, allowing him to seat me in the chair next to him. He gives me one last smile before turning back to his men and saying "My men! Behold, your Queen! Is she not the most beautiful woman in all the Realms?" 

The men all break out in cheers as the King says "Tonight, we celebrate and enjoy the full winter moon! Evil is afoot men so we must enjoy ourselves to the fullest. Bring the women out!" With that, more cheers can be heard as numerous women are led into the large room.

They were all dressed up and looking like beautiful jewels. The men quickly make their way over with hungry eyes. Each one selecting a woman to hold and dance with. The King watches everything with a smirk and says "Tonight, we will turn this full winter moon into a full blood moon!"  

Cheers are again heard as sensual music begins playing. I keep my face blank but I can't help but frown internally when I see the women laughing and flirting with the men. Were they here because they wanted to be? 

The large room was done up in nothing but dark reds and blacks, washing everything in a dark sexual vibe with the help of the dark music. The King sits beside me and asks "So how is it, my Queen? Do you like what you see?" 

Seeing the men and women both enjoying themselves, I feel myself relax a little as I say "It indeed looks nice. To be honest, I thought you were all a bunch of heathens." The King chuckles and says "Oh we can be heathens but we also know how to party and have fun. Are you hungry, Nova?"

I look over to his handsome face and say "You know my name but I don't know yours..." The King watches me closely as he says "Everyone calls me King but you may call me Jiang. Now, are you hungry?"  

I arch an eyebrow at him and say "I am, are you going to let me eat a few of your men?" His smile turns dark as he says "What kind of King would I be if I let my men get eaten? Besides, I am more than enough to feed you." 

This time I can't hind my shock as I look at him with confusion. He was gonna let me eat him? Was he not afraid I'd kill him? Seeing my shock, he chuckles in delight as he says "From now on, whenever you are hungry, come to me. I will give you everything, Nova." 

I narrow my eyes on him as I ask "And what do you get out of it?" His smile turns seductive as he says "To finally have a worthy Queen by my side. To help me rule over this Kingdom and bring forth a new beginning. How does that sound?" This man really was good looking if you looked past his creepy solid black eyes.

Suddenly, flashes of the dark pit and all the blood come to mind. It's starting to all make sense now. For some reason, he needs me to open that pit and for once, I couldn't be happier. He's probably planning to kill me... to sacrifice me to the pit in order to open it up.

But this works out to my advantage. I know I'm not strong enough to absorb him right this moment but if I can feed off him and grow by leaps and bounds, I could fight against him and put an end to this evil. I want to go back to Bai Lei's side and demand answers. I know he's trying to keep me safe but he's going about it all wrong... Maybe I am too... Bad decisions made with good intentions are still bad decisions. I just hope this one doesn't turn out to be one...

The men and women were dancing while some were making out and groping each other, instantly reminding me of the dance clubs back home. The sensual music with the dark energy flowing through the air has a strong seductive vibe rolling through the entire dimly lit room. 

I give him a seductive smile of my own as I lean in and say "I don't mind becoming a ruler as long as I don't have to listen to anyone." He watches me closely as he leans in and says "You'll just have to listen to me. How does that sound?" 

I pretend to think it over before nodding my head in agreement. His smile lights up his sinfully handsome face as he says "I will give you everything your heart desires." I lean forward, almost touching his lips as I whisper "I'm hungry" I see him slightly shiver before pressing his lips against mine.

The second I taste his dark energy, I moan at the rush. It was so dark and rich, unlike anything I've ever had, instantly making my head spin. I thought this whole thing would be a painful process but if this is what it took to kill him? I was truly in heaven...  

I lose track of time until he pulls away with a heated gaze. He reaches out and touches my lips while saying "That's the first time I've even given someone my power... I didn't realize it would be so... enjoyable." 

I blink several times and fight to regain control again as I smile and lean back in my chair. I wish I could say something snarky or just say anything at all at this point but I was currently fighting to control the potent energy raging through my entire body. 

My entire body felt like it was melting as I struggled to keep my head up. It almost feels as if I'm drunk. Seeing it, Jiang chuckles and says "You don't have to fight it so hard, I'll bring you to rest." He easily scoops me up and brings me back to my room.

My heart races with fear as he lowers me onto the bed but to my relief, he just covers me before walking to the door and ordering "No one in, no one out" The servants all bow as he walks out of the room without looking back. I sigh in relief and say "Get out"   

The servants all bow and leave, shutting the door behind them. I reach up and begin pulling at the collar of my dress until the whole thing is open. I'm so warm now... not burning but... I'm uncomfortable. 

I pull the dress off and throw it on the floor as I struggle to keep the sheer black robe on. I want to rip it off too but I don't feel safe being naked here. I lay back on the bed and struggle to process the dark energy within me. I bite my lip and look up to the dark ceiling above me, fighting with my own will power. 

How strong was he? I pulled so much of his dark energy and he didn't even look bothered! I roll over onto my stomach and squeeze my eyes shut. I focus on breathing and continue filtering the energy. I need to become as powerful as I possibly can so I can kill him and all his men. I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to...