UnSeelie XVI

Faces emerged from the shadows behind him and reflected in the mirror's surface before him. He did not turn around as slowly the throne room was revealed therein. For all he knew this was just another illusion, another trap to harm him.

Voices carried like trickling of water over his senses making his skin tingle and crawl as it rippled against him. He was enthralled by each revelation of light and shadow. The faces, so beautiful and terrible, studied him as well until he felt like a bug under a microscope.

Some were pale as ivory and others were cast in shadow and black as the darkest of night. Their inhuman gaze echoed his own back through the mirror.

He slowly noticed the range of flying insects floating about the room. The eyes were masked in them, heavy with their bodies filling cheek bones and brows. Dragonflies flitted, landing on pale flesh to draw blood.

The melodic sounds created a dream like affect on him which he attempted to shake off but found he no longer had the heart or desire to move, to run or escape. All was forgotten as She came into view, cloaked in a web of shadow, her face crowned with crimson hued butterflies, raven tresses framed Her in such horrible beauty. Her ivory pale body elegantly displayed in misty darkness caressed the abyss within him.

Nothing mattered as She rose and stepped down from Her dais, the room grew silent and parted to allow Her access to him. He could not move, his gut twisted in a knot, but he remained riveted to the spot as She glided towards him and in a blink was standing next to him. He shook his head in utter confusion as the room turned pitch once again.

Haunting crystal bells rang in his ears as She spoke to him. The human within could not understand Her language, yet in a frightening moment of clarity, he realized that he understood Her words. He knew Her.

Queen Nicneven, the voice inside him whispered reverently. Bow before Her. In enchantment, he fell to his knees before Her. The part of him which retained his humanity wished to leave, his mouth was as dry as cotton with fear.