Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“The Under Queen is the ruler of the Unseen Empire. She rules the underground tunnel network and protects her subjects from those that would seek to harm them. She is deadlier than even the Basement Princess herself…”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“What did she do to the Thief?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“She very nearly killed him.”</span> you said, eliciting a gasp from Ester. She was such a good listener.
<span class="mu-r">“While the Thief hid, the Under Queen crept up behind him and pressed a blade to his neck. She suspected that he was here to harm her subjects or expose her kingdom, but the Thief knew nothing of either. He pleaded with her to allow him safe passage, and to his surprise, the Under Queen allowed it.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“She sounds a lot like Callisto.”</span> Ester observed.
You arched an eyebrow at her, dangling upside down from a webline attached to the ceiling.
<span class="mu-r">“Hmm. Now that you mention it...she does, doesn’t she?”</span>
Ester gave you a knowing smile, but didn’t inquire any further.
<span class="mu-b">“What happened next?”</span> she asked.
<span class="mu-r">“Well…after the Under Queen sheltered the Thief, they exchanged brief pleasantries, and the Queen offered to let him use her magic artifact to call for help. She gifted him with a token and instructed him on its use, allowing him to contact a relative that would hide him from the Vultures’ wrath. But before he left, he gifted the Queen with a portion of his ill-gotten gains. Through this, the Thief and the Under Queen an…acquaintanceship.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“And the Princess? Did the Vultures chase her too?”</span>
You shook your head.
<span class="mu-r">“If they did, then they never caught her. She was too fast, too agile, and too cunning by far for any of those bird-brained fools to capture her.”</span>
Ester giggled at that.
<span class="mu-r">“The Basement Princess returned home after that, hoping to retire to her sanctuary and greet her parents. She knew they would be angry, but she didn’t care. For she had had a night of excitement and adventure. But little did our little Princess know, there was something far more sinister waiting for her to return.”</span>
Ester’s face fell, and you carefully picked her up and swung away from the active carousel.
<span class="mu-r">“Somehow, a group of evil and powerful vampires caught wind of the Princess’ existence, and sought to eliminate her before she could become a threat to their rule. Her parents gave their lives to protect her, and she managed to escape by using the route she’d used to sneak out numerous times before. But she didn’t get away unscathed.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“Was she hurt?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“She was, but that was the least of her concerns. Before she escaped, the Princess was cornered by a wicked witch that put a terrible curse on her. The witch stole her voice, forbidding her from speaking of the atrocities she had seen take place in that house. Then, using the Princess’ melodious voice, she let out an evil cackle that echoed throughout the night.”</span>
(Cont.)