Reign of the Dark Queen

It is said that beauty of a woman can save the world. The beauty of Queen Catherine, however, is not that kind of beauty - it is not the beauty of a caring mother that settles disputes between men and cools their passions, or a youthful, tender girl that can make a boy's heart bloom and the man inside him awaken, or the beauty of a wife that gives her husband the strength to carry on. No, hers is the beauty of a huntress, a seductress, a vile she-demon. Hers is the beauty of a that dooms, that controls, that makes the man a , an obedient warrior in her army. Hers is the beauty that rules the world.

The Dark Queen. Who in the world does not know her? There are many stories about her. If not the most beautiful woman in the world, then surely one of the most beautiful. Her gorgeous deep blue eyes, her long black hair, her noble and powerful features, the grace and lust of her body are said to have captivated many men over her life. Whoever she looks at, man or woman, young or old - one way or another, the flame of passion will engulf them and forever entrap them. And if they catch her fancy, she will, one way or another, make them hers. She is not just beautiful, after all - there's far, _far more to her than just her pretty face. Her beauty is not innocent. It is a weapon, one of the many in her silky hands. Manipulative, and intelligent, and strong-willed, and above all else - _powerful. She is a queen. The world trembles whenever she speaks. It gasps in horror whenever she commands, and bows whenever she orders it to.

Those fortunate - or unfortunate - men whom she chooses as lovers - become her slaves. Just as she wishes to reign over men as a ruler, she wants to reign over men as a woman. Her bedroom is her throne room, and it is there that her power is at its strongest - absolute and unquestionable. Where else can a woman be more of a queen than where her beauty is not concealed, where lust robs men of their thoughts and inhibitions, so that they are no longer able to resist her will? For the chance to even touch her body, her lovers would give anything. And the Queen demands everything. Their bodies, their souls, their loyalties - so that all would belong to her and her alone. Loyal husbands betrayed their wives. Generals betrayed their countries. Children betrayed fathers - all so that they would have even a chance to be with the Queen for a single night. A night when they could be her slaves. How strange it is - freedom is what men think of as the highest virtue and the greatest of gifts, and yet they are ready to forsake it in a heartbeat - if captivated by the beauty of a woman.

This is the story about that woman, about her reign of darkness, those who fell and those who fought. The story of love, war, of empires rising and crumbling, of slavery and freedom. The story of the Reign of the Dark Queen.