FROM HELL
From Hell – Chapter 7&8
→ Craving•The•Unhinged ←
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a BOLDLY written permission from ME.
Copyright © 2026
Naomi Cindy B.
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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
[Void Palace, Third Hall]
Whenever Bones is not meeting with officials in court or receiving s+xual pleasures from Empress Sally in his favorite Palace, he’ll be here, reading notes of complains from the people.
It’s stacked on top of the hall table, tall like a small mountain, and as he read everything silently under the brightness of the hollow flame, he looks satisfied—like the sufferings of the people brings him joy.
And it’s true.
Their pains is his relief.
And to him, they aren’t suffering. If they are, they won’t even have copper coins to buy ink and paper to write complaint notes to the Palace.
He dropped the 37th note and picked the next one, and that was when his eyes went to the middle of his legs where Empress Sally knelt at.
This hall is majorly for his relaxation alone, but he brought s+xual pleasures with it tonight.
Though, he could barely call it pleasure since he’s not feeling what Empress Sally is doing.
Not like she has ever been able to satisfy him with her tongue.
All she does is make him c+m without actually sucking his hardness away. He’s always boned.
Even with his c+k in her mouth right now, he feels nothing.
Her struggles are vain. She couldn’t even make him c+m tonight.
“Head up, Sally. You’re going to bite my c+k if you keep trying, and your head will leave your body.” He said.
The woman didn’t lift her head. Instead, she blew faster, letting her cheeks take in his balls too, sucking the nuts and popping it out.
She ran his c+k head over her cheek linen, slow and teasing and sweet till it reached her throat where she shoved it hard, letting it hang.
She grabbed his thighs, trying as much as possible to deep-throat.
“I told you,” Bones muttered. “To stop it!!” He roared abruptly, throwing the note with him away.
He slammed the table with his palm, and as a result of the violent hit, one of the rings on his finger broke.
Each side of it rolled away.
Sally raised her head, slipping her mouth away from his c+k before standing, looking pissed.
“Aren’t you being too much, Your Majesty? At this point, it’s better you send me on exile just like you did to your c+ncubine and her son! Cos me being in this Palace means nothing when I get treated like this!!”
Bones’s eyes lifted, cutting into hers where they sat in her sockets. The sheer weight of his blood-soaked gaze made regret settle inside her the instant the words left her mouth.
“You really want to get exiled?” Bones droned. “Someone!” He yelled.
A guard rushed inside.
“Your Majesty!”
“Prepare the exile carriage and luggage for the Empress!” Bones commanded, still so mad.
Sally quickly fell on her knees. “I’m very sorry, Your Majesty. Please pardon this Empress!”
She crawled to him on her knees, and she held his heavy robe tight. “I lost momentum when I saw you staring at Lucia earlier, and I allowed jealousy overtake. Please pardon my words.”
Bones returned to looking at the note of pains, and the guard left the hall.
“Return to your Place, Sally.” Bones said without giving her a glance.
She didn’t say anything else.
She stood and began walking out, her multiple-colored butterfly robe dragging after her.
By the door, she looked back.
Her lips curved into a faint smirk before she left the hall.
Barely two minutes after her departure, Lothar entered.
He’s in his black combat gear, and his hair is in a bun with a gold bun pin, meaning he’s just returning from the military base night trainings.
“Your Majesty,” he went on a knee, his breaths unstable.
“Strengthen the army by five hundred more men. Pick youths from the cities and get them into trainings.” Bones said.
“What!” Lothar looked up. “But we have enough armies in the base and we’re capable of—”
“Lucia killed the magistrate of our rival Empire Fenxi!” Bones spat in interruption, eyes spitting flames wickedly. “They might not be as rich and strategic as us in Fenxi, but their bastard Emperor will always come for a comeback, and the fact that he hasn’t said a thing since yesterday means that fool is planning something. I don’t like being left in the dark, so multiply the armies and strengthen the City Wall, starting tomorrow unfailingly!”
“But, Your Majesty…” Lothar started carefully again. “People are hungry in the Empire. Most of these youths are the only hopes of their old parents for farming and bringing food to the family. We can’t just capture them and send them to the front line just like that—”
“Lothar Draven, are you defying the imperial order?” Bones smirked.
“No! I dare not do that!” Lothar quickly knelt with his second knee too. “I’m just saying—”
“One more word, and the cutting of your head will be the first program pf dawn!” Bones growled.
Lothar went quiet, bowing. “This General will heed to the order and bring you appropriate feedback.”
Bones returned to his reading, and Lothar left the hall, his fists folded tightly till his nails dug into his palm.
—
[Northern Woods]
The thieves have moved from the four-way intersection.
Now, they’re beside a flowing river, each seated on small stones in the middle of the flow.
Only Ares and Lucia are seated though. The sidekicks are behind.
Ares should be back in the Palace by now. One hour is over, but he’s here already anyways.
Right now, sitting beside Lucia felt just right, and the fact that she called his name earlier.
The echo of it hasn’t stopped sounding in his chest, and at this point, he feels like he’s being delusional again, but delusions are for humans, aren’t they?
That just means he’s human too. And say what you want, but his name-calling from her is another intimate time. A better one.
He was smiling with a part of his face as he stared at the flowing river.
Lucia’s black-red robe makes her look like she’s bloodstained under the moon, giving her a warrior look.
“Horror?” Ares started. “Tonight has to be a dream.” He nodded.
“A nightmare,” Lucia corrected, finally looking at him. “I don’t appear in dreams, Calamity.”
“Look at you being all mysterious and bossy,” Ares smirked. “One would think your voice had a taboo for speaking to me before.”
“You have enough females talking to you already, don’t you?” She smirked back. “A man whose parents got massacred by the Void, and yet…all you do all day and night is crash with prostitutes like a loser.”
“And a woman whose father got wasted by the Void, and her mother developed an unnameable sickness cos of that, and yet…all you do all day and night is suck up to the Void and satisfy his sexual pleasures in his chambers.” He muttered.
“That scheming bastard!” Limon spat from the back, wanting to come forward to attack Ares, but Lucia was more than prepared.
Her knife flashed free before anyone could breathe. She rose in one sharp motion, fisting the front of Ares’s robe and hauling him up.
The blade found his throat, pressing into his skin until a thin line of his blood welled beneath it’s edge.
His red, warm blood.
“Psycho bî+ch!” Meng nearly set her arrow to fire Lucia, but Qui pulled her hand down.
“My Lord knows what he’s doing, learn some calmness.” She said.
Meng grunted.
“This is so fun,” Falcon smiled behind.
Lucia and Ares’s faces mirrored. Their gazes burned through each other like flaming nations after a bloody war. Their bloodlust match.
If they were very simple to read, they’d be seeing each other’s mind right now, but they’re both closed off.
Minds are locked.
The key has been long lost.
Ares’s seductive big eyes are smirking. No idea how he’s able to smirk with his eyes, but he does it effortlessly.
His blood ran down the skin of his neck. Her knife is still there.
“Let me tell you something, Ares.” Lucia muttered. “The next time you use the Void. Emperor, me and sexual pleasures in the same statement, this knife will go deeper!” She spat, digging the knife deeper into his skin.
Ares suddenly tore his sword out of his sheath, chosing a different spot—her shoulder.
He placed the sword on her shoulder, pressing it down too till her blood soaked that part wetly.
She didn’t stop him, and she didn’t even look like she felt the pain.
Throughout, their eyes didn’t leave each other, and her hand didn’t drop from his neckline.
It’s still squeezed in her palm.
“Plan the Void Emperor’s destruction with me, Lucia.” He said.
“You have no idea how deeply devoted the Empire armies are to the Void Emperor. You’re being delusional.” Lucia replied with a snicker and let him go roughly.
Her knife left his neck, and his sword left her shoulder, but they both left blood on both spots.
Lucia returned her knife to her waist sheath and stepped into the water, heading to the back where the sidekicks are standing.
“And if I have a way to steal control of the armies?” Ares said rigidly.
She stopped turning to give him a scoff. “Because your friend Lothar is the General? Don’t be deceived by that. Void Emperor made Lothar the General cos he’s aware of your friendship, and he has been expecting you to make a move with Lothar for years. It’s like a trap, and even Lothar’s life is in danger cos if you move, his head rolls.”
With that, she reached the back. Falcon and Limon followed her.
They disappeared down the riverbank in the next minute, and the ladies came to Ares.
“You’ve said it before that Void Emperor used Lothar as General to test and trap you. It’s actually true.” Qui muttered.
“Void Emperor…. he’s too smart for his own good, and every single day, my intent to kill him worsens.” Meng said, arms folded.
“Take the treasures to the black market. There’s still two hours before dawn.” Ares talked demurely.
He took a piece of clothe from Qui and wiped the blood on his neck.
There’s a small wound there.
“But what about her?” Meng pointed at the riverbank, referring to Lucia and her sidekicks.
“If you’re worried about her breaking our secret, then you’re worrying for nothing. She won’t. We caught each other. It’s a win-win.” Ares said.
“True, but is this the end of your interaction?” Qui asked.
“That bî+ch just left without giving space for penetration. I can’t—”
“Lucia, or Horror if you find Lucia too hard to call.” Area corrected.
Meng scoffed.
“And it’s only the start of our interaction. She’s a hardhead? I can be a real jerk too.” Ares nodded.
“But the Palace? What if someone enters the room before you get back? And the Princess herself?” Qui asked.
“The pill I added in the wine would knock her out for six hours. It didn’t work on me cos I ate the detoxifier before drinking with her. She should still be asleep.” Ares said.
With that being said, the ladies went down the riverbank too, leaving Ares there on the rocks.
He touched the knife slash on his neck and smiled.
“Her fiery temper is attractive.” He smiled, pulling a spare facecloth out of his robe pocket.
He tied his face and jumped down.
—
[Valmont Residence]
It’s an hour before dawn when Lucia returned, and thankfully, Doja was already asleep when she entered.
Doja stays here in the last smallest room actually.
Lucia just sent her men to the black market and came back home. She immediately had a shower to wash off the filth of the woods.
Now she’s sitting in bed, wearing a white linen sleep-robe with the shoulders lowered.
She’s staring at the little wound from Ares’s sword, and her eyes twisted.
She picked a small gourd of powdered medicine from under her pillow, and she sprinkled the powder on the wound sparingly.
It stung, but she doesn’t feel it. There’s a level of pain you’ll feel in this world that’ll make faint pains like this mean nothing to you.
He lifted the shoulders of her robe after the application, and her lashes immediately went up.
There’s a noise.
Her eyeballs stilled. She stood too fast, ready to kill whoever the intruder was, but then she realized it’s from the second room.
Her mother’s room.
She rushed there, pushing the door open quickly.
Phoebe’s eyes are open in bed, and the sick woman smiled lifelessly when she saw her daughter.
“Mother!” Lucia gasped, rushing forward to sit in bed with her.
“Lulu,” Phoebe called fondly, her smile gaining a little life when she saw her face up close.
Lucia caressed the woman’s face dearly, but her happiness doesn’t even show on her face.
There’s no smile. No warmth.
“When are you really going to give me a smile again, Lulu. When?” Phoebe held her hands with her wrinkled, old hands.
Now, the scarf on her head has slid off a bit, and her white strands are out on her temples.
She’s in her mid fifties, but the sickness is making her grow old rapidly. She looks like she’s 80.
“Lulu,” she sniffled. “Am I really not going to see your smile again till I die? When are you going to smile for me again? When are you going to show me warmth in place of this scary coldness of yours?”
Lucia wanted to turn her unfeeling face away, but Phoebe held it.
“Lulu…”
“Maybe when you start telling me what happened twenty years ago chapter by chapter.” Lucia said.
Phoebe’s hand fell from her face, but her sunken eyes didn’t leave Lucia.
“All you kept telling me is that father didn’t commit the sin he was accused of together with Ares’s mother. You told me they were both innocent, but still … My father and Ares’s mother were both executed, and their heads were hung. Tell me what exactly happened, but you’ve refused. Why should I smile when you’ve been keeping the truth from me?”
“Lu—”
“I was only 7, babushka. Just 7 when I was dragged away from this house and thrown into the Heatless Camp for trainings to become Shadow Minister for the same person who killed father. Heatless Camp stripped away all humanity I had, babushka. So don’t feel estranged if I can’t give you warmth cos I’m incapable of giving myself warmth too.”
“Just tell me the truth of what happened twenty years ago. What really happened?” Lucia urged, eyes searching desperately for answers as they roamed Phoebe’s face.
But Phoebe shook her head.
“It’s a truth that’ll put your life in danger. Now I know you’re the strongest woman in the world, but some truth weakens the soul, and I don’t want to put you in danger.”
Lucia stood and stepped back.
“Lulu,” Phoebe shook head head, keeping her tears from falling. “Please don’t hold this against me. I’m just trying to protect….”
Lucia was already out of the room before she could finish.
She stepped into the backyard and began stabbing the wall with her knife, angrily.
She made so many holes, but the more she made, the angrier she became. She didn’t stop.
Doja peeped out from the front wall, staring at her silently.
—
[Next Morning, Aloof Dessert]
As the largest Empire existing, Zura has it’s sweet parts and the sour opposites like desserts for exiling.
There’s a dessert that has wild animals. No one survives a minute once they’re exiled there.
There’s another dessert that has snakes valley. Within a minute of getting exiled there, one would get stung to death by vipers.
But Aloof Dessert has a different kind of sourness — it’s the dryest.
There’s no rainfall at all.
Other deserts experience rainfall at least three times a year, but here? Rainfall only comes once a year, and that once is a light shower.
The exiled Prince Fadey and his mother Devora were exiled here.
They managed to build a house with thatches and mud from the dessert sand, and they sleep on the ground clothes every night.
Within their one year of being here, they finished the food they came with, but thanks to Fadey’s hunting abilities and his gun, he makes bullets from metals and kills animals for their daily food.
He spent the night in the woods last night, and this morning, he appeared with a bloody bag containing a deer which he dropped flat in front of the house before stretching.
Even his raggedy clothes, rough long hair and sun-tanned face couldn’t hide his Princely charm.
He’s extremely good-looking.
Hearing the thud of the animal bag, Devora came out, smiling.
It’s safe to say her son got his good looks from her. She’s almost unreal, and anyone who sees her at first sight would understand Empress Sally’s jealousy towards her.
She checked Fadey out for any wound first, and the male laughed.
“I’m not wounded. You should be worried about the animals in the woods, not me…”
“I need to be sure,” Devora continued checking him out till she was satisfied and she eventually took the bag.
The deers are two.
“These should serve us for a week. Meaning you’ll have time to rest.” She gave his shoulder a pat.
“Do you have any idea when this exile will end?” Fadey asked suddenly.
Devora looked at him, sighing. “That question again.”
“Don’t act like you aren’t tired of it here. I’m tired too. We don’t even know our way out of this dessert anymore unless someone comes for us.” Fadey frowned.
“It’s my fault for opening my legs for the heartless Void Emperor. I got us into this mess in the first place.” Devora nodded.
“No!” Fadey held her shoulders. “I’m not trying to blame you, always remember that. He’s the stupid one for impregnating you when he’s aware that he doesn’t want a child.”
Devora smiled, hugging him.
“By the way, the water in a jar was dropped again.” She said.
Fadey broke the hug.
“Again?”
Since last year winter, someone has been constantly dropping a large water jar for them in the middle of the dessert, and that someone drops it every week without missing.
“I wonder who it is, seriously.” Devora sighed. “If not for the person, we’d have died of thirst.”
“Someday, when they’re ready, they’ll show up in person.” Fadey shrugged.
“Shall we prepare the deers?” Devora took the animal bag.
Fadey followed her in.
—
[Zura Empire – Palace of Darkness]
Princess Ina didn’t wake up till the late hours of the morning, and the first thing she checked was her body.
She raised the cover clothe from her body and saw she’s totally n+ked.
The white bedspread is stained by her v+rginity spill blood.
A large smile rented her face when she remembered the heavenly s+x she had with her husband last night.
She palmed her cheeks, squealing at herself at the feeling of newness.
The feeling of a wife.
She’s a wife now, and…
She’ll become a mother soon!
Sally conceived her with her first s+x with Bones.
So…she’s sure she’ll get pregnant with this first s+x with her husband too.
She squealed again.
“Are you that elated?” Ares’s voice said from the side of the room.
She gasped, turning there to see him seated handsomely in his fine, black-silver robe with half his hair up and half down his shoulders.
He’s such a sweet, delicious thing to see first thing in the morning, and to think that she’ll see him first every morning from now on?
It’s making her all giddy.
“Fujun! (Husband!)” She gasped, hurriedly getting off the bed. She wrapped the cover around herself.
Ares relaxed, watching her make her boring, predicable moves.
He had to do this final touch up after he returned from the eastern road last night.
He had stripped her undergarments and made her n+ked.
Though, he had to close his eyes to do that. He’s never going to ruin his eyes with the nakedness of any other woman in this life.
After stripping her, he proceeded to positioning her in bed.
He then spilled his own blood on the white covers as deception.
The pill he slid into her wine last night is supposed to cause derision; mess with her mind and make her think they made love.
Work is done.
Ina got to him and wanted to settle on his laps, but he stood before that could even happen.
“Last night was the best night of my entire life. You made me feel so special.” She said shyly.
Ares touched her hair, pretending to care for once, and that single gesture made her fold so much.
“Ares…” She whispered, but then she noticed the cut around his neck.
Before she could talk about it, he stepped back…
“The Cold Court opens this morning. I have to go.” He said with zero attachments.
“I’ll supervise the maids in the imperial kitchen and make them cook your favorite before you get back.” She smiled.
She stood on her toes to give him a kiss, but he turned away and left the room before she could.
She sighed.
“Why is he in a hurry?”
But she got over it quickly and called in the maidservants who helped her bath and dress up.
They wore heavy makeup for her according to her demand.
“Send word to the kitchen. They should put a rod in fire for me. I’m going to be marking the maidservants of this Palace as Marriage Slaves. They’ll be in charge of cooking my husband’s meals under my supervision always. If any of them is menstruating, tell the executioner to kill them. Can’t have odor in the kitchen.” She instructed cockily.
Without questioning, a maid left to carry out the order.
And Enya came in instantly.
Merely seeing the bloody covers in bed, she gasped.
“You did it!”
“Enya!” Princess Ina stood, grinning. “Yes, I did! He was so sweet, so gentle with me! We were meant to be together. I won’t believe otherwise!”
“Congratulations, Your Highness!” Enya pulled her into a hug.
“I’ve always known he’s the right person for you!”
“I knowwww,” Ina pouted. “Now I need to go mark some servants and supervise his breakfast making.”
“I’ll go with you,” Enya offered, following her out of the room.
“Your Highness, Fadey and his mother were exiled to Aloof Dessert, right?” She suddenly asked.
Ina stopped to face her.
“Why are you asking about that exiled Prince and his mother?”
“No reason, I just thought of it this morning. His life is so wretched.” Enya made mocking faces.
“Yes. They were exiled to Aloof, and I heard the way to the Dessert has wiped off two years ago, so there’s no way out for them. They’re stuck.” Princess Ina shrugged and moved with the maids, leaving Enya behind.
Enya gulped.
“The way there has been…wiped off?”
—
[Cold Court]
The Cold Court is just as wide and vast as the Midnight court. While the moon baths the Midnight, the sun bathes the morning.
As Lucia got down from her brown horse, she caught the sight of her father’s skull first.
It’s hung on the Cold Court gate.
Ares’s mother’s skull occupies the Midnight court gate top arch while her own father’s skull occupies this Cold Court gate top arch.
Void Emperor Bones is really ruthless. It can’t be measured.
Lucia didn’t stop walking as she stared at the skull. It’s a picture that has been painted clearly in her head with the strokes of years.
A picture of tragedy.
“Your father’s skull is so cute.” Edwin said mockingly behind her, and she turned slowly, giving him a stare.
“You look even uglier today, Edlose.” she said tastelessly and resumed her walk into the court.
“Uglier?” Edwin sneered. “Let’s see if you’re ready for what’s coming this spring morning.”
By the front steps of the court, Ares and Lothar are talking, and Lothar looks greatly disturbed.
“Capture 500 youths and throw them to the armies? Send them to the Frontline?” Ares smirked.
“He said he wants us to be prepared fully when Fenxi Empire attacks, but that’s just bull. We have more than ten thousand armies already, why add another five hundred hungry youths and just waste their lives?”
“If you still think Bones cares about the Empire people, you should rethink.” Ares glared.
“I know he doesn’t care, but 500 people is more than heartless. His Majesty is soulless and mindless, and I need your help to convince him to stop this plan.” Lothar said.
“Me?” Ares’s eyes shadowed.
And that was when Lucia walked past them, climbing the front steps without looking sidewards.
Her hair ponytail is tied with a red ribbon which kept dancing with the air, and her robe is perfectly sleek.
Ares’s head went angled.
But the one time she slightly turned her neck, their eyes met.
Seeing the cut she gave him last night on his neck, her lips curled.
And Ares might not be seeing her shoulder cut cos it’s covered by her clothe, but he could visualize it under her clothes, and that made him do the eye-smirk thing.
Lothar wondered what’s going on, but he was left in the dark till they all entered the Cold Court.
They didn’t wait long before Emperor Bones joined them, and immediately he took his seat, he called in the new member of the court.
Dakota, the new Minster of Security.
He walked into the circle, his cape is flowing aggressively with him, and for a moment, he gave Ares a meaningful stare.
“I don’t like him,” Edwin said.
“Is there anyone you like?” Prime Minister Kai replied beside him.
Edwin grinded his jaws.
“He’s good,” Lothar said. “Heard he won tournaments multiple times already. Prime Minister Kai must have handpicked him.”
As usual, Ares did no talking in here. He just lifted his cup and drank.
Lucia sat opposite him today, and coincidentally, she drank from her cup same time as him.
They seem like the only ones who aren’t bothered by Dakota’s presence.
When Dakota arrived at the center, Kai stood.
“He’s the new Minister in charge of Security,” he introduced. “Dakota.”
“I look forward to working with y’all!” Dakota payed homage to everyone including Emperor Bones.
“The last one was beaten to death for his inefficiency. Hope you won’t meet the same end.” Bones spoke, his choice of words edgy.
“I won’t disappoint, Your Majesty.” Dakota went on a knee.
Then he took his seat beside Edwin who immediately hates it.
Why would Dakota sit beside him?
“Lucia,” Bones called.
All eyes zoned into her. Lucia stood, dropping her cup.
“Your Majesty,”
“Last night during the midnight dinner, you left too early.” Bones muttered, eyes trained on her like he was going to swallow her.
“Yes, I did.” Lucia was blank and straight with her answer.
“You left with a male. Who’s it?” Bones query went further, the jealousy and fury in his eyes so high he could nearly see the feelings face to face on his seat.
“It’s starting,” Edwin mumbled. “My report reached His Majesty after all.”
“The person who lied to you about me leaving with a man should tell the name of the man, isn’t it? Your Majesty?” Lucia said.
“Lucia!” Bones raged, fuming. “Not only Edwin saw you! Other Ministers saw you too!”
“Yes, we did.” A Minister supported.
“We only saw the back view of the man, but he looked like a Palace steward.” Another Minister said.
“They’ve been meeting for weeks now without your knowledge, Your Majesty.” Another lied.
Edwin has supporters in court, so it was easy to turn them against her and make them testify.
“I knew it was going to work.” He grinned secretly.
Prime Minister Kai and Dakota were silent, but Ares looks gritty.
His cold eyes are on Edwin.
He definitely planned this.
“Edwin is a fool.” Lothar muttered.
“You’re going as low as sleeping with a steward? A male servant?” Emperor Bones spat. “I should have your head at my feet for giving my hole to another man, but instead of that, every male servant within Palace of Moonlight will be killed at noon! And you….!!..” Bones yelled, undoing the waistline of his pants.
Lucia was silent, surprisingly. But a whole, whole lot is going on in her mind. The calm before a storm.
“I’m going to enjoy this…” Edwin chuckled inwardly.
“Come here!” Bones commanded brutally. “Come here and show me how sorry you are by using your mouth to calm me! It’s time for me to start using your body. It’s mine!”
Lucia’s eyes turned bloodshot.
Ares’s grip on his cup turned so tight the cup cracked.
“Climb up to my throne, and take my c+k!” Emperor Bones fired.
TBC.
