THIRD PERSON POV

Queen Helmine of Grugary was the sole survivor from the Grugary Kingdom tragedy that claimed the life of her parents and siblings. The only reason that the queen survived was that she was saved by the Grugary’s loyal servants from the castle at the time it was attacked. She was only ten when she was left alone to deal with her kingdom's downfall, but slowly, she rebuilt her kingdom back from the ashes with the help of her loyal subjects and servants. She eliminated every possible enemy without a care in the world and gained her enemy's kingdoms as Grugary territory. When she was twenty years old, she controlled half of Europe's biggest powers. She was feared by most, but in the process, she gained more enemies than before as well. She only cared about her people, and she would not tolerate anyone who defied her orders. After successfully seizing every small island along the Sea of Grugary, she wanted to control the east side of her kingdom. But she encountered a little problem with one of the queens, and that was Gisele.

Helmine avoided reading anymore reports about the Gavreau island as it would bring more anger than solace to her mind. When she heard the door towards her office open, she looked up.

Emely Tauber, Helmine’s advisor, made herself known as she bowed and greeted the queen.

"I hope there's good news for me."

Emely was having second thoughts about telling the queen the truth about her investigation. "Apparently, Gavreau is allied with Sacia, Olaria and Sliria's rulers, my queen."

That gained Helmine's attention. "Oh, ... is that so?"

Emely nodded.

"So? The results?”

Emely looked down. "They refused to give up their island, and they will fight us."

Helmine sighed heavily and turned her rotating chair to watch the sunset. "Too bad. What's the current situation in Gavreau?" She asked.

"From the looks of it, the people of Gavreau have no idea about what's going on. Our eyes in Gavreau were confirming of this matter, your highness."

Once the sun had set, Helmine turned to face her advisor. "What about the current situation of the army that will be helping that queen?"

Emely bowed and presented the report she was carrying earlier to her queen. "The complete list of the allies, manpower and weapons. This list was from their latest war against their enemy."

Helmine was bewildered when she came across what Empress Adelina was capable of doing. "From the looks of it, Adelina has the best soldiers, correct?"

Emely nodded. "Her fleet and tanks could easily wipe us out, your majesty."

Helmine hummed her response. "Maybe it's time to wake them up."

Emely was surprised when the queen suggested that. "But, your majesty, after the last war, you said you won't be needing them anymore. That's why we agreed on locking them up in their coffins.”

Helmine smiled. "I can control them still. I have the Narcosis Crystal in my hands." She showed her advisor the necklace she’d been wearing since the expedition she led a few years back. The no man’s land in the south of Grugary was known for its supernatural phenomenon. It was in the Queen's mind at the time to find something that was out of the ordinary. Her wish soon was fulfil when she came across an ancient tomb of the Narcosis vampire princess, Valika Narcosis.

Valika was the leader of her clan, The Narcosis Knightress. She was known as the cruel creature that never listened to reason and killed whoever was in her path. But somehow, queen Helmine managed to control the sadistic vampire with only wearing the crystal. Valika swore that she would remain loyal to queen Helmine as long as she possessed the crystal.

Helmine stood up and went to the elevator that would bring them both to the dungeon where Valika and her army were locked up. "Relax." She said to her advisor when the elevator doors closed. It took exactly ten minutes for them to reach the deepest part of the Grugary Castle. "Find the switch." She commanded as she went to the centre of the dungeon. "LISTEN TO MY VOICE AND WAKE UP!" Helmine screamed.

Suddenly, Emely noticed the crystal around the queen's necklace was glowing bright red.

"Ugh, shut up."

Emely cringed when she heard a voice from one of the coffins.

"Your highness.." She tried to bury her feelings by running towards the queen.

"Ugh ... headache."

Emely was holding the queen's arm tightly.

"Valika, get up."

Emely was trembling.

"Relax Emely."

Valika was grinning at the human girl who was trembling behind the queen.

"Wait. Valika?" Emely asked when a figure stood up from one of the coffins.

"At your service." The figure bowed down as she snapped her fingers. "Whoa, you look kind of old now." She said to the queen.

"I am thirty six years old now."

Valika tilted her head. “Thirteen years already? Wow." Suddenly, she remembered something. "You forced us to sleep for thirteen years?!" She gave the queen a blank stare.

"Wake them up." The queen referred to the unopened caskets.

Valika snapped her fingers before witnessing the caskets open on their own.

"They can eat the prisoners. There's no way I'll let them free." Helmine commanded before walking out of the dungeon. "Follow us, Valika."

Valika obliged and followed the queen to humanity again. It was nighttime when she took a deep breath of fresh air. "I miss this part of living freely."

Helmine ignored the vampire. "You will be free after you complete the mission at hand." She informed.

When they all seated at the gazebo, Emely started to brief Valika about the situation they were facing.

"Adelina? I think I’ve heard that name before. But where?"

Helmine placed her cup of tea on the table. "The undefeated Battalion of Sliria, first division." She informed.

Valika remembered. "Oh yes.. her.” She clicked her tongue. "She's one talented commanding officer. That's all I can say." She added. "Not to mention, her soldiers were mostly women wearing short black skirts, combat boots and red and black with golden cufflink army jackets. Those are my kind of women."

Helmine sighed.

"Don't blame me for wanting sex. It's been thirteen years." Valika looked around. "Where's your dead beat wife?"

Helmine traced a finger on her neck stating she was killed.

"Wow. By whom?"

Helmine pointed at Emely who was pouring tea for her queen.

"What a doll you have."

Helmine looked up. "She's not a doll." Was all Helmine said nonchalantly. "Not anymore."

***

"So basically the queen wants this island?" Valika concluded the discussion with Grugary's every division battalion commander.

Tirza, the commanding officer of Grugary army nodded.

"So, I have to deal with Sacia and Olaria's troops including Gavreau's?"

Tirza responded with a nod.

"Easy. I can do that." Valika read through the CO’s (commanding officer) battle sheets again. "Can you handle Sliria's troops?"

Tirza nodded again.

"You're not much of a talker huh?"

Tirza was about to nod again but Valika stopped her.

"You don't have to respond to that. By the way, what is the main objective?"

Tirza pointed at words on the board. "Search and destroy. Search the ruler of Gavreau and destroy her and her family to ashes. Queen's order is absolute."

"That's Helmine for you. No mercy for the person who defied her." Valika looked at each and everyone's face before smiling. "You all seem to be determined. Except for you, little boy. What's up? A soldier should never fear a mere war. Or are you scared of me?"

The young soldier flinched.

"Don't be afraid. I have no intention of killing you. Well, except if you did something wrong to me or the queen, then you're dinner." Valika smirked when he actually peed himself.

"Honestly, Sven, don't be a baby." Emely voiced out when she entered the war room. She sent Sven away before facing the commander's. "We have new information. It turns out that little Gavreau has something up their sleeves." She showed everyone a picture of a mysterious flying object lingering inside Gavreau's airspace.

Valika squinted her eyes and examined the photo. "This ..." she wanted to remember, but somehow, she failed to do so. "A witch?" She said mentally. She was thinking it was impossible for such a thing to happen. She never knew of any creatures that survived after what had happened many years ago. She needed to make sure of what she was seeing. "Tirza, I need to do some investigating regarding this matter."

Tirza turned to Emely.

Emely took charge of this discussion. "Anything that strike your concern?”

Valika pointed at the picture. "I need to confirmed this."

Emely nodded. "I'll inform the queen later on. I take full responsibility. You have my permission."

Valika stood up. “I’ll be back in two day’s’ time." She walked out of the war room leaving everyone. She went back to the dungeon only to find Helmine was sitting on Valika’s coffin watching the naked vampires eat the prisoners. "Oh, what a nice surprise. Aren't you scared they might be too uncontrollable for you to handle?"

Helmine shook her head. "I have this. They bow to me."

Valika noticed the Narcosis Crystal around her neck. "You haven't change one bit, Helmine."

Helmine smiled. "There's no need for me to change. I am perfect the way I am."

Valika scoffed. "Helmine, you asked your advisor to kill your own wife."

Helmine wiggled her finger. "Commanded. She was being an asshole. There's no point in having such a wife in my presence.”

"She has a daughter correct? Where is she? Don't tell me she was killed as well."

Helmine shook her head. "You asked me to take care of her. Remember? She's now twenty three years old. Perfectly safe. You haven't said your greetings yet. What a bad mate you are."

Valika blushed. "You're the one who forced me to sleep for thirteen years. I’ve lost my charm." She began to pack her things in a bag.

"Where are you going?"

"The island of Gavreau."

"Why?" Helmine stopped the vampire from moving.

"I need to make sure of something. Let's just hope it is not real."

Helmine was confused, but there was no need for further explanation. She knew that everything that Valika did was for a reason only she could solve. "Are you going by sea or air?"

Valika zipped her bag. "By magic." She winked and gained her army's attention. She was mumbling something in German as she gained their focus. “Protect the queen while I'm gone." Was all she said and disappeared into thin air.

"Well, she's gone." She looked around the dungeon and smiled.

"Queen Helmine." Said a voice.

"And what do I have to do for you, my servant?" Helmine watched as this naked creature bowed and worshipped her.

"To serve Grugary is our future. To follow the queen's order is our pride. But .. we... need more to be to our normal selves.”

Helmine motioned for the vampire to stand up. "You vampires have such an appetite for sex." She chuckled. "Man? Woman?"

The creature grinned. "Both is fine."

Helmine stood up from Valika's coffin and started to walk out of the dungeon. She went back to civilisation and waited for Emely.

"Your majesty?" Emely called out when she noticed her.

"Our little friends in the dungeon need some sexual pleasure. Deal with it. I don't want them to pulled the maids again. I don't want to lose anymore of my dolls."

Emely nodded.

Helmine left Emely to her job and went to her chamber. "Well well, what do we have here?" Helmine voiced out when she noticed a couple of figures inside her room. "You will not find any gold in my room. Just my jewellery.”

These figures bowed down to the queen. "We were instructed to be here by Emely."

Helmine was confused.

”She said something about cleaning the room."

Helmine now got the idea. "New maid? From?"

"The eastern village of Grugary."

"You’re supposed to finish up before I come inside."

The maids were worried the queen might behead them.

"Don't worry. Continue your job."

They were surprised the queen didn't yell.

"Before that, ... strip off your uniform and only wear your undergarments.”

They didn't say much as they stripped.

"Good. Now, continue." Helmine smiled.

***

"Oh, ... such a modernised town they have. This is so not Grugary." Valika said mentally as she walked around the Island's main town. "Sorry sir. If I may ask, which way to the royal castle of Gavreau?"

The merchant started to explain to Valika the way to the castle.

Valika thanked him and smiled. "For your trouble." She offered a few gold coins.

The merchant shook his head. "No need for that, traveller. You probably need it more than I do." He smiled.

Valika began her journey to the castle like planned. All the way, she never encountered unpleasant passer by. It was a shock for her when she remembered the time she was in Grugary. She had to kill just to get by. Everyone here was so friendly to a newcomer like herself and they were close to each other. Grugary may be a strong country, but there was a lack of morality.

"Are you lost?" Valika was brought back to reality when a royal guard asked her the question.

"Oh. I'm sorry." She explained that she was just a traveler who lost her way on finding a rest house.

The guard guided her to the nearest rest house.

"I would like a room with the castle view please." She said to the man behind the counter.

"Ahh.. dreaming of becoming a princess?"

Valika smiled. "You can say that." She said as she removed her hoodie from her head.

"That would be 200 gold coins."

Valika was surprised by the price. "Seriously?"

The man nodded. Valika handed him her coins and was guided to her room. She thanked the man and locked the door.

"Let's see what these royalty are up to." She grabbed a pair of binoculars from her bag and kept surveillance on the activity inside the royal grounds. Nothing was out of the ordinary except for the royal kids playing with their chamberlain. “Whoa... thats a nice rack!" She was just looking through her binoculars and watching the chamberlain’s breasts bouncing around when she was shocked to see the chamberlain's eyes shoot daggers towards her. "Whoa..." she dropped her binoculars and looked out again, but this time, the maids were truly playing with the prince and princess of Gavreau. "Did I just imagine that?" She said under her breath. "That girl is one mysterious person. Somewhat looks familiar to me." She suddenly heard loud footsteps that resembled a marching soldier. When she looked out the window, there it was. The elite soldiers of Sliria Kingdom. She still remembered how amazing these soldiers were along side their empress, Adelina. Like Helmine, their empress's orders were absolute. "That's weird. Why so many? Helmine didn't even give her the results of this war. Did she?"She heard her door being knocked on. She hid the binoculars and opened the door.

"I'm sorry for not informing you about this earlier. Here." She handed her a basket of ... gifts? "Tomorrow will be this island’s Independence Day. The queen will be announcing our new allies to the people of Gavreau. Everyone is welcomed."

Valika thanked the woman and closed the door. She started to laugh at the situation she was in. "You make it all so easy, Gisele."

Gisele suddenly sneezed for no reason.

"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted by someone sneezing." Helvisa stated. "You need to introduce these three rulers to your people. Let them know we have full support regarding this matter."

Gisele rubbed her nose and nodded. "I will. I have my speech ready."

Helvisa took the speech card from the queen and read it through.

"I feel like she's more of a mother to the queen than a maid." Said a guard in the room.

"Agreed. But for someone wearing that uniform, I’ve never seen her clean anything."

Helvisa looked up to the guards. "I am not a maid." Was all she said before looking at the queen again.

"Adelina, Emma and Alice's armies were on time. I hope the people of Gavreau can handle this new information about their island being targeted." Armina said when she walked in.

"Good. Settle them inside the castle ground."

Armina nodded.

"Gisele, when the war starts, you have to command them all. I will only follow your orders. Your advisors and Armina will help you in decision making, but I will oblige to your orders for that one time."

Armina leaned in to the queen. "Basically it's her demon side." She chuckled.

"Armina, what's the current situation for Reina and Eris?"

Armina gave her a thumbs up. "For now, Reina enclosed the telepathy path because they encountered some great power of magic inside the Grugary kingdom. But it's nothing to worry about, they are close to the Narcosis base camp. The Magic’s probably from that place. The Narcosis Knightress practiced the Narcosis dark arts. But that clan was banished completely years ago." She informed.

"Valika Narcosis? She's dead?"

Armina shrugged. "No ashes or bodies were found that could lead us to the death of the Narcosis clan. They just simply pooffed and disappeared.”

"They're your kind?"

Helvisa shook her head.

"I am superior." Armina chuckled. "She's a vampire." She whispered in the queen's ear. "Charlene’s father has had his fair share of tracking her down."

Gisele asked the guards to leave them alone. "Adelina said to ask you about this."

Helvisa let her continue.

"This should be fun to watch." Armina chuckled.

"Who are you Helvisa?"

Helvisa was confused by the Queen's question. "I am Helvisa, of course."

Gisele shook her head. "No. I mean, who were you before you came to Gavreau?”

Helvisa stood straight up and cursed Adelina under her breath. "There's no need to wander to the past."

Gisele abruptly stood up and stared at Helvisa the way she’d never stared at her before. "No! As a queen, I have to know." She was being determined.

"Trust me. It's not worthy to know."

Gisele slammed her hands on the table.

Armina was surprised.

"I need to know! I have to know! I am obligated to know!"

Helvisa was shocked herself but sighed heavily in the end. "Fine..." She sat back in the chair and sighed. "I came to the human world 200 years ago..."

Armina was bewildered that Helvisa started to tell her part of the story to the queen.