Catharsis and corruption

Immediately, Iris steps forward, taking Mayella’s hand. The vampire queen shrinks back, shaking her head. “Don’t…it’s my fault…”

Iris glances at you. “We’ve saved you, my queen…you were being controlled!”

You nod. “I removed the control. You’re yourself now.”

Collecting herself, Mayella pulls away from both of you. “You don’t understand…it’s my fault! Everything, all of this…”

You and Iris share a concerned look. Mayella sighs. “When…my husband died…I got angry, and lashed out. I blamed everyone else for what happened. I began to take out my anger by attacking the people around me. And I immediately regretted it. But my advisors saw what happened.”

The vampire looks away. “I asked for their help. They told me they could take away the pain. So I agreed, and…now this has happened.”

You shake your head. “You were grieving, and they took advantage.”

She looks at you. “No. I was weak, and now people are suffering. I am not the only one who has lost someone. A leader must think of more than themselves.”

Mayella clenches her fists, sitting up straight. “I allowed myself to be manipulated, to run from my pain. And I allowed these two…”

Her words trail off, and all of you look at the bound advisors. Or rather, where they would be. Somehow, while everyone focused on the drama on the throne, Hektor and Lain have made an escape.

You sigh. “I’m sorry, Queen Mayella, but we’ll have to continue the conversation later. I have a couple assholes to recapture.”

Mayella struggles to her feet. “I know where they are going. They spoke freely around me, while I was…trapped inside my mind. The goddess, the one they captured. She is hidden in the room we house the barrier in. They intend to corrupt her power and enslave her.”

Sadie gasps. “No! Can they do that?”

Mayella nods. “Lain…I don’t know how, but he discovered some ancient magic, corrupt and vile. It seems to have twisted him from an honest wight, into…this. I don’t know when, but it’s irrelevant now. He and Hektor must be stopped.”

You nod. “Point us in the direction, then.”

She shakes her head, conviction coming into her eyes. “No, I am the queen. I will lead you there.”