(Synn)<br/><br/>Maddox could hear the faint prayers of the one who calls himself Anthony. He knew very well who he really was but he had to admit he was a bit shocked he would pray to him as he was aligned with the one thing Maddox wanted most, Neema. The very reason he ripped this kingdom apart was to send a blow to the Goddess who rejected him. This kingdom was her pride and glory in which with time has been reduced to the remnants of a once great empire. He wanted to reconstruct it in his image and here this prayer came with promise.<br/><br/><br/>Maddox stretched out on Azurine’s bed while waiting for her to return. He ran his fingers through his long black wavy hair as he grinned. “What am I going to do with my beautiful Azurine if I grant this man his desire?” he whispered, already plotting her downfall in the most exquisite of ways…his ways. Of course he didn’t want her to die and would not permit it, but reduced to that of a slave girl that was another matter entirely. After all, she had her fair share of disobedience when it came to the opposite sex which angered him. Anthony would be no different once she got close enough to him and he knew she would probably fold with the right touch. His plans would not be disrupted!<br/><br/>Azurine returned to her chambers in a long dark green silken robe that trailed behind her across the marbled floors. She walked over to where Maddox was lying and knelt at the side of the bed. Maddox would run his fingers through her hair affectionately as she leaned into the palm of his hand. “You might have Anthony’s attention, but not the attention I seek you to have” he said, then backhanded her to the floor as he sat upright.<br/><br/><br/>She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth as she picked herself back up off the floor to return to her kneeling position. Tears streamed from her eyes, lighting up the yellow flakes that sparkled within her green orbs. He grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her upwards so they were eye to eye. His stare bore into her very soul and she shuddered. “I give you one week or you will face the consequences of my displeasure once more!” he snapped. He then kissed her harshly and drew blood from her bottom lip by biting into the soft flesh. She winced as she tried not to struggle in his grip that would only anger him further. “You are becoming rather useless, pet” he growled.<br/><br/><br/>“Yes my Lord” she replied as she sucked on her bottom lip, licking the blood from the open wound. It was the only response she knew he would accept at this point. He released his grip so she could stand and waved her off before laying back down on her bed once more. She scurried off to the changing room to get dressed for the day. There was so much work to do to accomplish what she needed to accomplish that she didn’t know where to begin.<br/><br/><br/>Her hands shook as she laced her dress. She was terrified of Maddox and what he would do should she fail him again. Anthony was rather elusive and he wasn’t taking the easy bait. She would have to up her game if she was going to bring him to his knees. In the meantime, she would continue to isolate the Queen from her most trusted subjects, mainly Oscar who began to stray from her grasp. It was something she had noticed for weeks now but had let it slide. A mistake she would not repeat. Who knows at this point what help he had enlisted to wage war against her. Anthony perhaps? She wasn’t sure and speculation leads to further mistakes that she could no longer afford to make.<br/><br/><br/>“Oscar” she whispered, her words would have the hairs on his neck stand at attention. Then when she spoke his name once more, he would feel her cold clutch wrap around his throat and squeeze and hear her chilling voice within the coils of his eardrums. He would choke for but a moment before the sensation would dissipate. Then she would whisper once more so her words would carry to his ears again, “Tsk tsk.” Then at that moment he would know that she was onto him. She would be vigilant of what moves he made next.