The black palace of the dark lord

Malgor stepped through the halls of the dark castle. It was strange. The place had been modeled exactly as his own palace in the land of shadows. Every detail was perfect. The dark marble on the floor and the pillars with jutted spikes that rose high to the curved ceiling of the hall. He placed his hand on one pillar. It felt like the stone of his homeland. Every notch and imperfection was there. He then looked down the hall.

He saw his throne standing magnificently at the end of the hall atop a few steps. He walked over to it, ascending each step with care until he was face to face with it. A black marble throne with mighty armrests and a tall back with razor edges sprawling off the sides. There was no mistaking it: it was the same throne that he sat on for thousands of years ruling the land of shadows. He ran his fingers across the armrest, savoring its feel. He hadn’t seen this throne since he started his conquests. He didn’t realize how much he missed it.

“Impressive isn’t it?” said Helga who came walking up behind him, “We spared no expense and suffered no lapse of detail. This is your palace exactly as it is in your world, plus a few altercations you will see later.”

He took his hand off of the throne. Despite its perfection in mimicry, something still felt off. He did not feel the presence of darkness that he so often bathed in when in his own palace. The power that radiated off of every stone, pillar, and chair. It was his power, his might, poured into every inch of the castle. It was not just a place for him, it was a manifestation of himself. But this was not. It was a manifestation of them. Their power. Their might.

“A perfect lie is still a lie,” said Malgor, “Who are you people who wield such strength?”

“Gotten curious already?” she said, “I believe to try and comprehend us is an act of futility. In truth, there is only one thing about us that you need to understand: we want to put on a good show.”

“And I am part of your show?” he said, “I assure you I am no mummer. I do not dance about for the amusement of others.”

“But why does a mummer play if not for the enjoyment of it?” she said, “And this show was made for you to enjoy.”

Helga slowly ascended the steps to the throne until she came up right behind Malgor. She seductively put a hand on his shoulder, running her fingers over the grooves of his right metal shoulder plate. She leaned her head over his other shoulder and whispered softly into his ear.

“Everything we do for the rest of this season is for you,” she said, “You may think of us as humble servants, setting up the table for your feast of vengeance. Trust that this is what we want, and that is all you’ll ever need to know. Relax, my lord, and enjoy the fun we have planned for you.”

She slowly stepped back again, sliding her hand off of him. He turned around to face her, staring her down intently. She met his gaze with a simple smile and an unchanging visage. Though he had taught himself to trust nothing of people he knows nothing of, he couldn’t help but sense truth in her words. Perhaps as long as he continued to play their game he would benefit exactly as they've claimed he would.

“You saved my life, and I have not forgotten,” he said, “I will consider your words.”

“Thank you my lord,” she said, “Now, if you would follow me to your room. We have something special laid out.”

Helga led Malgor off to the side, through a door, and up a spiral staircase that circled up to the highest tower of the castle. When she reached the top, she stood before a set of large doors with brass handles. She opened them both and revealed the room behind.

Malgor’s eyes opened wide again as he saw his own living quarters replicated just as perfectly as the rest of the palace. A great bed of white velvet stood at the end against the wall and beyond it stood great pillars that were all that concealed the best view of the land of shadows, though the landscape that he could see now was quite different. He saw his desk and chair where he received and wrote letters. He saw the helmets and swords he had claimed from the strongest of his foes hung as trophies against the wall. It was all perfect except for one part: a mysterious red crystal ball sitting on a small tray upon the bed. As his eye turned to it, Helga noticed.

“You never fancied this kind of magic in your real castle,” said Helga, “However, we thought you would appreciate what it could do for you here.”

Helga waved her hand over the crystal ball. Suddenly it shimmered with magical energy and an image came into focus within the ball. Malgor peered in and saw Angelica in her room, desperately putting clothes on.

“Impressive, is it not?” said Helga, “It is connected to your thoughts. Anything or anyone in this world you wish to see, all you need to do is think of them and nothing will be hidden from you. Try it out.”

Malgor cautiously approached the crystal ball. He never had any in the land of shadows because the magic wasn’t of darkness. Also, he had heard that most of the crystal balls sold on the markets were scams legitimized by fairy tales. However, as he waved his hand across the apparatus and thought of Athalia, it shimmered and changed its image to her sitting on her bed wearing a full maid's outfit. He stood up straight, clearly impressed by the device.

“This will be useful indeed,” he said.

“Very good,” she said, “Of course, this is where you’ll be taking each girl on the nights they stay with you. You’ll have a new one every night. It’ll give them the opportunity to please you and you can think of it as a trial run for when they become a part of your harem. As stated, Daelana will be up here by the time the sky is dark. Athalia will be here a bit before. I’ll leave you to do whatever you wish until then.”

Helga gave a small bow and began to leave the room. Malgor turned to look out the at the view. It was the strangest feeling of all to look out from a familiar spot into an unfamiliar land. He could see most of it from here. They were on a large island, beaches running along the edges. A great magical forest surrounded a large mountain at the center. It was nothing like the land of shadows.

“They will be in my harem if they win, yes?” Malgor said.

Helga stopped and turned around.

“Yes,” said Helga.

“But if they fail, they will become mindless slaves,” said Malgor.

“Yes,” said Helga.

“You said you brought me here to fulfill my vengeance,” said Malgor, “So I will have it. I will not let a single one of those wretched girls win. Not one of them is worthy to become a bride of mine. For their crimes against me, I shall see them crawling at my heel like the dogs they are forever.”

Helga’s smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. She walked back towards Malgor, placing a hand on his shoulder once more.

“My lord,” she said, “Surely to make your enemies your brides would be just as rewarding, if not more so.”

Malgor slapped her comforting grasp away from his shoulder with a backhand.

“Spare me your temptations woman,” he said, “I’ve agreed to play your game as you wish me to. You’ve set up the rules. I do not intend to break them. I will simply do what I wish with them.”

“This is not a game you’re playing alone,” she said, “You have no idea how many are watching this right now, pining for entertainment. If you simply refuse to indulge any as a potential member of your harem, there is no entertainment and there is no show.”

“That is your concern, not mine,” said Malgor, “Any wife of mine must have beauty, loyalty, and darkness. All of those girls have beauty, no doubt. But not loyalty or darkness. None would loyally give their lives in my service, that much they’ve made clear. And darkness only Athalia the traitorous bitch possesses, and perhaps Daelana too but she hides her darkness behind the cause of justice. The others call themselves heroes, a disgusting word. They believe themselves to be mighty, infallible, and perfect in every way. I could **** at the very notion. I would never take a wife without true darkness in her heart.”

He continued to look out at the lands below, waiting for an angry retort from Helga or perhaps even a threat. Such things he had heard before from other sycophants in his own court. Instead, he heard her return to her normal confident tone of voice as she spoke to him.

“My lord,” said Helga, “Loyalty and darkness can exist in any one of them. Your hatred for Athalia’s treachery is clear, but I believe you know the pleasure it would bring to **** her into deeper submission than you ever brought her to as your dark consort. To pull up loyalty from the depths of her soul and clutch it like a leash. And darkness? Do you truly believe any of those girls when they say they are perfect? Infallibly good? You know the nature of mortals better than that. There is darkness in every one of us. Imagine the feeling of bringing it out? Taking their words of righteousness and making them crumble in their mouths as you **** them to peer into their black hearts and all tenets of goodness lose meaning to them. As they realize that they were never what they claimed to be. At that moment of pure and utter despair, I believe they would make perfect wives.”

Malgor looked at her. She stared at him with a smile that reminded him of his own. An evil smile that showcased nothing more or less than the desire for malice. He had never seen anyone display that kind of face before. In truth, he was quite impressed and swayed by her words. Perhaps he should at least attempt it, see what would happen to each girl as they vie for his love. It would be quite fun to see them grovel and beg for the attention of their sworn enemy. And if he could change them to suit himself along the way, why not give it a try?

“Very well,” said Malgor, “I will see what can be done with them. But if I see any girl lacking, I shall not hesitate to toss her aside.”

“Now that is entertainment,” said Helga.

She turned away, clearly satisfied, and walked out of the room, closing the doors behind her. Malgor turned his attention to the crystal ball. He picked it up, holding it before him. He took a moment to admire its sleek form. During his conquests he would've killed for a tool such as this that would allow him to gaze upon his enemies without their knowledge. He knew he would not let this tool go to waste. He focused his mind on Angelica, the girl that had wronged him, and he saw her appear within the crystal.