Brides of the Underworld

My best friend, Briar, and I passed on the same day, spending five long centuries in the Underworld. Then, one day, Briar had a vivid dream. She told me: A century in the Underworld is merely a year in the living world. We hadn't truly died in our car accident; we’d simply fallen into comas. If we sacrificed ourselves here, we could awaken back on the mortal coil. With those words, she leapt into the Cauldron of Transmutation, dissolving into a wisp of emerald smoke. The Chief Judge, who moments ago had been sneering at Briar for being theatrical, now let out a gut-wrenching wail that tore through the very fabric of the Nether Realm. I turned to look at Lord Valerius, Sovereign of the Dead. He held his beloved, Elysia, close, conjuring a shimmering barrier to shield her from the splashing ethereal oil. "My love, I'm leaving too." I followed Briar, diving headfirst into the searing Cauldron. Behind me, a tormented roar echoed, as if someone desperately tried to snatch me back. But no one mattered. Briar and I had promised each other we would go home, together. 1 "Elysia, the Celestine Spirit, is preparing for Rebirth! Lord Valerius and Chief Judge Caspian are both clamoring to protect her, even proposing to make her their primary consort!" "Really? But don't they already have consorts?" "Hmph. Those two can't compare to their true soulmates, can they?" At Briar's quincentennial celebration in the Underworld, spirits whispered amongst themselves. The guest of honor, however, was neither of the two men who claimed they were "too busy" to attend. It was Lyra, the ethereal beauty, and the subjects of the whispers were Lord Valerius and Chief Judge Caspian. Briar, disbelieving, stumbled towards the Acheron Crossing. There, she saw the Chief Judge, who had whispered sweet nothings to her just last night, now gazing devotedly at Elysia, the Celestine Spirit, poised for Rebirth. "Elysia, at last we meet again. These five centuries, I haven't forgotten you for a single moment." The Arbiter's Quill, an artifact no one dared touch, was now reverently placed in Elysia’s delicate hands, a token of his devotion. And my own consort, Lord Valerius, gently took Elysia's hand, guiding her to sit upon his Obsidian Throne. He offered her his Soul-Bound Artifact, a Primal Conduit, to shield her essence. His voice was laced with profound tenderness: "The Underworld is cold, my dear. Do not let your essence be harmed. It would worry me so." With a sweep of his hand, countless tormented spirits were released from their bonds, their accumulated merits all attributed to Elysia. The spectral multitude hailed her as their Sovereign Lady. Witnessing this scene, my heart ached with a bitter understanding. Five hundred years ago, Briar and I perished on the same day. As our souls drifted into the Underworld, we found ourselves amidst a raging chaos of lost spirits. To protect Lord Valerius, who had lost his Primal Conduit, I disregarded my own safety and plunged into the Infernal Pits, battling my way through the infernal hordes to retrieve his artifact. Briar, meanwhile, aided the Chief Judge, who had lost his Arbiter's Quill, in quelling the restless specters. When the Divine Courts later issued a decree of censure, we took the blame, shielding them from official repercussions. I endured unspeakable torment within the Spectral Gaol. The Chief Judge had suggested Lord Valerius use his Soul-Bound Artifact to protect my soul. He refused, stating that his Primal Conduit was sacred and could not be lent. Yet, he promised to love and protect me forever. I had believed him implicitly, thinking it was his unyielding principle. But now, seeing him tenderly bestow that very artifact upon Elysia, it felt like a cruel, absurd mockery. Clearly, his 'principles' were merely convenient lies, bending to suit his desires. Briar’s gaze remained fixed on the Chief Judge, who hovered solicitously around Elysia. She let out a pained, bitter laugh. "Anya," she said, her voice thin with despair, "I'm tired of revolving around him." She was truly heartbroken. When we first arrived in the Underworld, Briar had fallen instantly in love with the Chief Judge. To help him recover his lost Arbiter's Quill, she had sacrificed four of her own Essence Threads. Later, though the Chief Judge managed to restore her Essence Threads, she endured a century of torment in the Cauldron of Transmutation for taking the blame for his negligence. Her soul, like mine, had become almost translucent. Now, the Chief Judge, who had sworn to protect her forever, saw only his beloved Elysia. How could a woman so consumed by love not be in agony? Briar sent a telepathic query to the Steward of Souls, inquiring about rebirth. The Steward warned us that our souls were unstable, making us vulnerable to memory erasure or even transmigration into the animal realm, condemning us to never meet again. He urged us to reconsider. My gaze settled on the figure beside Elysia, perched on Lord Valerius’s Obsidian Throne. I remained silent. I had once gone to great lengths to sit beside him on that throne. But he had always gravely reprimanded me, saying it was "improper." He had claimed the throne was for the Sovereign alone; even his consort could not transgress that rule. Now, it was clear. The true mistress of that throne was never meant to be me. A sharp pang shot through my heart. I looked at my increasingly translucent soul-form and whispered, "I just want to leave this place. To leave him." 2 Briar and I had suffered enough. We found the Steward of Souls and demanded reincarnation, a new beginning. But the Steward looked troubled. "You are the consorts of Lord Valerius and Chief Judge Caspian. How could I make such a decision without their consent?" "Your souls are fragile, constantly nourished by their Soul-Bound Artifacts. If anything goes wrong during reincarnation, I cannot bear the responsibility." We, too, couldn’t bear to sever our deep bond of sisterhood. So we decided to wait until our souls naturally dissipated, hoping that would allow us to be reborn together. Lord Valerius and Chief Judge Caspian had once promised that if our souls scattered naturally, we would be granted rebirth, a ploy to keep us in the Underworld. At the time, Briar and I had staunchly believed we would never leave them. Little did we know, they would be the first to betray us. In the days that followed, Lord Valerius and Chief Judge Caspian continued to dote on Elysia, utterly absorbed in their devotion. Briar and I, meanwhile, spent our time with our pet dog, Whisper, exploring the Underworld, trying to reclaim the wasted years. We never intended to cross paths with Elysia, but she seemed intent on stirring trouble. One day, in the Phantom Bazaar, Elysia falsely accused Whisper of running into her, threatening to banish the little spirit. We intervened, and she seemed rather annoyed. "Let's see how long you can protect this little beast!" she taunted. Briar and I didn't pay much mind to Elysia’s words, dismissing them as idle threats. But ten days later, she delivered a truly 'grand surprise.' 3 That day, Briar and I, unwilling to witness our respective partners doting on Elysia, had quietly slipped out of Necropolis Prime for a meal and some recreation. We only separated to return to our chambers when the evening feast was due to begin. I was delayed slightly, retrieving something from my dwelling. As I reached the entrance of the Sovereign's Citadel, I heard Briar’s heartbreaking cries. Panic seizing me, I burst inside, catching Briar as her body plummeted. She was covered in injuries, her soul-form rendered almost transparent. "What happened?" I cried, my voice laced with urgency. Briar struggled to stand, channeling her essence into a spectral blade, furiously lunging at Elysia: "Elysia, I'll have your life!" In five centuries, I had never seen Briar so enraged. She was willing to risk total dissipation just to strike Elysia down. But the Chief Judge merely flicked his Arbiter's Quill, sending Briar crashing to the ground. Elysia, nestled against his chest, looked on like a victor, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Briar, don't test my patience," the Chief Judge warned, his voice cold. Briar gazed at him, her face contorted in pain. She hadn't even had a chance to voice her anguish before Elysia preempted her. Elysia stood there, fragile and delicate, clutching her chest, her face pale. "It's not Briar's fault," she murmured, "She didn't know I'm afraid of spirits in animal form, so she didn't control that little beast, causing me to be startled." "A few days ago, that creature made me stumble, and I let it go. But today, I was truly terrified, so I dispelled its three souls and seven ethereal facets." "Briar claims she treats that dog as family, which is why she attacked me. I don't understand, how can you treat a beast as family?" My eyes widened in shock at the sight of a shimmering orb of light hovering in the air. It was Whisper's soul essence! The orb circled me a few times, then dissolved completely. I gasped, a mouthful of fresh blood spraying forth, staining the opulent hall. The metallic scent ignited my rage. Whisper was our cherished companion, Briar's and mine. Even in the living world, he had been the sweetest dog. When he passed and came to the Underworld, fearing our loneliness, he voluntarily gave up his chance at rebirth to stay with us. For five centuries, his presence had been a profound comfort in this alien realm. Briar and I had even planned to send Whisper to be reborn into a happy life before our own souls dissipated. But now, Elysia had severed his path to rebirth with a single strike. We had lost our only family member here. How could we not be in agony? Elysia, meanwhile, was playing the aggrieved victim, causing the Chief Judge to dote on her even more. Briar watched it all, her torment erupting in a raw scream: "That's a lie! Whisper never charged you! You deliberately cast a spell on him, which is why he panicked and ran wild!" Elysia, feigning shock, hid behind the Chief Judge, murmuring, "I lost my abilities ages ago. Don't fabricate lies to deceive everyone." "If you're jealous of my bond with Chief Judge Caspian, just say so. Why stoop to using a mere animal to frame me?" "This time, I'll be magnanimous and forgive you. But don't let there be a next time." "You lying cheat! Today, I'll make you pay in blood!" Briar, driven to a furious frenzy, exerted all her strength to break free from the Arbiter's Quill's restraint, lunging at Elysia. But before she could get close, the Chief Judge unleashed a spell that sent her tumbling. He then cruelly stomped on Briar’s hand, humiliating her before all the specters. Briar’s face was etched with pain as she stared at the man she loved, tears streaming down her face. "Caspian, Whisper was my family! You promised to protect us both forever. Why are you shielding her now?" The Chief Judge pressed down harder with his foot, his voice cold. "Beasts are not fit to be my family. As my consort, you should be obedient and proper, not arrogant and insolent." "I told you, no one can harm Elysia. Not even you." Briar looked at him, a bitter, twisted smile on her lips. "Whisper once saved your life! You personally imbued him with divine light, saying he was our most important family member." "Now, to please Elysia, you let her kill our family! Caspian, you're worse than a beast!" The Chief Judge's face darkened. He plunged the Arbiter's Quill directly into Briar's hand. Briar let out a cry of pain, head thrown back, while Elysia smirked triumphantly. "Do you admit your fault? If you do, apologize to Elysia at once. Otherwise, I'll throw you into the Infernal Pits," the Chief Judge threatened. Briar’s face was pale. She smiled tragically. "Five centuries ago, I rescued you from the Infernal Pits. Now you want to send me back. A full circle, indeed." "If I could, I wish I had never saved you, never believed your sweet words and stayed in this wretched Underworld." The Chief Judge, enraged, summoned his spectral wardens to seize Briar. I lashed out with my Aether Lash, knocking his hand away and shielding Briar behind me. Two more lashes sent the Chief Judge scrambling for cover, looking utterly disheveled. "For the wounds on Briar's soul, you will repay a thousandfold." The Chief Judge’s face was grim as he stared at me, daring not to speak. After all, I was Lord Valerius’s consort. Even if Lord Valerius didn't favor me as much, I was still his superior in the Underworld hierarchy. Briar clutched my hand tightly, her voice trembling with sobs. "Elysia not only dissipated Whisper's soul, she threw Whisper's remains into the Cauldron of Transmutation and fed them to the spectral wardens." "Anya, I want her to suffer the same fate!" I secured Briar within the Soul-Sanctum Tower to help her soul recover, comforting her. "Don't worry. I will make her fate far worse than Whisper's. Rest your soul now, don’t speak." My words carried a strong murderous intent. All the spirits knew: Whisper was my family too. The moment I raised my Aether Lash, the Chief Judge immediately activated a defensive ward, nervously shielding Elysia behind him. He knew the true power of the Soul-Binder Whip, a wedding gift from the Divine Courts upon my union with Lord Valerius. Even celestial beings struggled to evade its might. Earlier, when I struck him, I hadn't used my full power. Now, my lash crackled with divine energy. A single flick could dissipate Elysia’s soul. But my target was not just Elysia… 4 It was Caspian too. He had personally harmed Briar for Elysia’s sake. This debt, I would collect. If not for his and Lord Valerius’s sweet words and passionate pleas, Briar and I would never have forsaken the path to reincarnation to become their consorts in the Underworld. Five hundred years, for them, was but a blink of an eye. But for Briar and me, it had been a long and arduous journey. They had betrayed their vows for Elysia. Should such despicable men be allowed to live? I was a mortal soul-form. Even married to Lord Valerius and imbued with some divine light, my raw power couldn't match the Chief Judge's. But my resolve to kill them was absolute, so I sacrificed a portion of my soul, pushing the Soul-Binder Whip's power to its absolute zenith. With a single lash, the Chief Judge was sent flying like a broken kite, his robes tattered, blood gushing from his mouth. His disheveled state pleased me. But I was still not satisfied. Compared to the suffering Whisper and Briar had endured, his injuries were nothing. "Now it's your turn." I pointed the whip at the pale-faced Elysia, ready to end it all. I intensified the burning of my soul essence, using my blood as a conduit, and the whip flew like a sharpened blade towards Elysia, who stood beside the Chief Judge. But just then, a powerful force deflected my whip. The lash snapped back, striking me. I was thrown violently to the ground, blood oozing from my eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. I struggled to rise, desperate to strike Elysia one last time. But my Soul-Binder Whip slipped from my grasp. A surge of arcane energy struck my limbs, binding me, leaving me sprawled on the ground. I lifted my head, battered and disoriented, to see my Soul-Binder Whip held by my seemingly gentle consort, Lord Valerius. His gaze was cold and unforgiving. "Is this how you conduct yourself as my consort? Bullying the weak, arrogant and insolent. You deserve punishment." His fingers moved subtly, and I felt my soul-form being torn apart by a thousand invisible spirits, the agony so intense I nearly blacked out. He knew the Soul-Binder Whip was bound to my soul-form; if it were destroyed, I would dissipate. But he didn't intend for me to vanish so easily. He meant to torture me slowly, to appease the visibly shaken Elysia. Watching him tend to Elysia with such care, I couldn't help but laugh through my tears. A century ago, I had endured a hundred years of bone-gouging pain in the Spectral Gaol for taking the blame for him. He had refused to use his Primal Conduit to protect me, instead traveling to the Divine Courts to request the Soul-Binder Whip for me. He then used his own heart's blood as a conduit, binding the whip tightly to my soul. He had held me then, promising, "Anya, become my consort. I will always protect you, love you. No one can harm you, not even I." But now, those vows had become razor-sharp blades, twisting within my heart, making the pain a dull, unbearable throb. Lord Valerius held the weeping Elysia, comforting her tenderly, yet his eyes held utter revulsion as he looked at me. "Anya, who gave you the audacity to harm my esteemed guest?" "That little beast startled Elysia; its death was well-deserved. Instead of apologizing to Elysia, you sought to harm her." "From this day forth, you are no longer my consort. Confine this criminal to the Eighteenth Infernal Pit, let her reflect on her transgressions!" Briar and I were cast aside, dismissed by our consorts. One imprisoned in the Shadowlands, the other trapped in the deepest reaches of the Infernal Pits. Centuries of devotion and sacrifice, instantly reduced to dust. I had thought this was the wretched end of our tragic fate. But I never imagined they wanted more than just our subjugation…

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