Chapter 46 The Mask Fell

Chapter 46 The Mask Fell

Emperor Namon's POV

Something definitely happened to Taya while I was gone. I do like her new, assertive character. She makes reasonable demands and gives orders like a goddess should. She however sounds like she lost her memories.

"Is this really safe for our baby?" she strangely asks, halting at the doorway.

Her body is shaking, like she is suddenly afraid of dragons.

"She has a goddess's blood. None would hurt her," I remind.

She hesitantly turns and takes steps into the den. The dragons seem to watch her with hostility rather than admiration.

"My Lord, are you sure she is the real Taya?" the butcher, Casters, asks.

"Who else could she be?"

"You never know. It could be some being the gods forged for you," he answers.

The man has forgotten his place. I will have to remind him that he is just a servant I introduced to my dragons.

Taya's pace slows even further as she gets deeper into the den. "How far do I need to go?" she asks in a terrified voice.

"You loved the female at the far end, remember? The baby will definitely love her colors," Casters shouts back.

Taya keeps going, gazing up at the heads of the dragons more than she watches her steps. The dragon behind her lets out a loud growl and she freezes, halting in her tracks. The one in front of her takes steps towards her.

I watch in shock as the baby slips out of her hands and drops to the floor. She turns and splints back, screaming in horror.

The dragon avoids stepping on the baby as it chases her.

I am about to order it to stop when Taya suddenly shifts into a werewolf and keeps running.

"Told you she was fake," Casters says.

I am for the first time dumbfounded by shock. Taya was a goddess, not a werewolf.

The ugly beast halts at my feet and lowers its head. Its eyes are a dull shade of brown, which reminds me of Viyara.

I feel sickened! It was never Taya!

"Go get my baby!" I order the butcher.

He runs past the dragons and picks up my crying daughter. "She looks alright! The soft covers must have absorbed most of the impact," he shouts after looking at her.

That's a relief. At least the baby is still real. But where is her mother? Where is my goddess?

The wolf at my feet is shivering with fear. I will have it slaughtered for the dragons while still alive to feel the pain. That is after torturing it for information concerning what happened to Taya. Only it would know where my goddess is, because she is not dead.

"Get me a liber chain," I order my butcher after he has returned with the baby.

The werewolf looks up with teary eyes. Its path is blocked, and it cannot escape back into the den. It slowly shifts back to human form. The naked woman it transforms into is not Taya, but my former Empress, Viyara!

My anger triples. I would rather it was some stranger I have never met. Her ugly body curls up and trembles under my gaze.

"Forgive me . . . My Lord. I thought that the dragons would not attack as long as . . . I had the baby," she stutters.

I furiously stomp on her right hand, breaking bones and smashing fresh. She wails and writhes in pain.

"How did you gain the beautiful face of my mate? What kind of dark spells did you use?" I question, applying more pressure against her broken hand so that she would not have the comfort to think of a lie.

"It was . . . Harom! He tricked me!" she screams.

Blood freezes in my veins. The evil god of unmaking is already here! My mother was right. Harom would do anything to prevent Taya from acquiring the crown of gods. I should have put measures to protect her sooner.

"Where did he take Taya?" I question the nked woman at my feet.

She shakes her head. So I stomp on her other hand.

"I do not know!" she screams.

"She is lying. I can tell. Let me torture her for you and she will sing the answers to your every question," Casters offers after bringing one of the silver chains he uses to bind the criminals for slaughter.

I take my daughter from his hands.

"Bring her," I order.

He locks the chain around Viyara's feet and drags her behind us.

"What kind of torture did you have in mind?" I ask.

"I can get a hot branding iron from the Dungeons. The one they use on slaves. I know some soldiers who will enjoy punishing her without mercy," Casters answers.

I give a nod and he makes his way to the dungeons after dumping Viyara outside of the Slaughter Hall.

She uses her hands to hide her nakedness. "I swear I do not know where Harom took Taya. I didn't meet her before taking her place in your chambers," she defends.

"I will believe the answers you will give after an unbearable punishment. And even after knowing everything, I will have you cut into pieces starting with your feet and hands," I tell.

She attempts to crawl away but fails due to her bound feet and crashed hands.

"Please . . . I will be a loyal servant of Taya when you find her! I will be anything you ask," she pleads. "I will worship Taya like the goddess she -"

"Start with telling us where she is," Casters demands after returning with four soldiers carrying a hot branding iron and burning charcoal in a firepan.

"No! Stop them! I don't know where - ouch!" Viyara exclaims in pain as one of the soldiers sets the hot metal down hard against the skin of her thigh.

Her screams attract the attention of everyone outside, and soon we are surrounded by a crowd as the soldiers continue the ruthless punishment.

Her commoner mate suddenly bursts through the crowd, but doesn't dare attack the soldiers torturing her. He instead falls down to his knees.

"I know where the goddess is! I will take you to her. Just spare my mate's life!" he begs.