Imperia Luna (GxG)

"Ladies and gentlemen, if I may ask for your attention this way, please. For what your about to see is something that only exists in movies and books, mostly written or directed by those who believe in the unbelievable. But I can assure you, this artefact is legit and it was discovered in a famous shipwrecked many years ago. It is to believe that the person who resides in this was born more than 2500 years ago," said the tour guide.

"To those who study anthropology, I'm sure you've heard about this famous tale about the Lost Gold Casket," Evangeline Odin looks up from reading the brochure. She is in her last semester of studying anthropology at a local university. Since she was little, she always wanted to be an anthropologist like her late mother.

Like her late mother, she too wanted to study deeply about the famous Lost Gold Casket that was rumoured to be the final resting place of a once well-known 'vampire' queen. Evangeline makes way to the front row of the tour and nervously waited for the tour guide to release the cloth that's covering the famous casket.

"Any question before I reveal the cloth?" The tour guide inquiry.

"Why does in the history books that mention about this very casket says it is a final resting place of a vampire? That's bizarre even for a historian and as we all know, vampire and other supernatural beings doesn't exist," the tour guide giggled.

"Hmmm... you have to see to believe I guess. Any other question?" He looks around but no one raises their hand. He proceeds to remove the cloth and there it is, the world famous Lost Gold Casket. Evangeline was mesmerised by every bit of detail and the stories that were told just by looking at the casket.

"Our lead anthropologist has never yet to completely decipher every detail engraved on the casket because it is said to be cursed by the queen herself. Of course, it's only a rumour and no scientific explanation has been made. Ahh, Miss, you're not allowed to come near the casket except for those who work here. It is very valuable and fragile. The total cost for this casket alone is worth more than every single exhibit in this museum," Evangeline apologised.

She can't help but feel as if something lures her to touch the casket itself.

"What does those writing mean? It's like an ancient language," asked one of the students who also intrigued by this.

"It's translated to what we believe as the name of the queen and where it's originated from. Also, our anthropologist managed to know that much that whatever resides in this coffin, wasn't human and if you look closely to this part of the casket, it's translated to 'Vampire'," the tour guide explains.

"Why didn't the anthropologist continue to decipher it?" Asked the same student.

"Unfortunately, our leading anthropologist, Dr Angel Odin passed away before she could complete the transcript," Evangeline's heart drop when she heard her mother's name being said.

"You mentioned earlier that she managed to translate the name and origin of the person inside this casket, right? Well, what is it?" Asked another student who's eager.

"Queen Imperia Luna of the Gotus Empire,"

Evangeline went back to her dorm room right after she arrived at the university. As she walks into her dorm, her roommate who knows how obsessed her best friend is with the Gold Casket notices the never-ending smile on her friend's face.

"Isn't it worth it that you work for the campus cafe and earn yourself a trip to the museum? Now tell me who's the smart one who forces you to take the job and go to the exhibition?" Daphne, Evangeline roommate and only friend smirk.

"You are. Thank you for forcing me to go to the expensive trip to the museum," Daphne smile.

"Now, tell me all about it," like Evangeline, Daphne also study anthropology. Like Evangeline, she was intrigued with the legend of the Lost Gold Casket but unfortunately, she can't join the trip because of her many assignments.

"It was amazing! My mother was the only anthropologist that manage to translate parts of the casket inscription. If I can get a job at that very museum, I can continue my mother's work," Daphne was having second thoughts.

"Don't you feel a bit uneasy knowing that it's cursed? Everyone who knows you, even your father said that your mother passed away because she's studying that casket," Evangeline sigh.

"Look, I may believe the unbelievable but I don't think that by studying the casket is the reason my mother died. She was in a car crash. That drunk driver was the reason my mother lost her life that night," Daphne still having second thoughts but knowing Evangeline, she doesn't have many things to say.

"So, what are you planning to do now?" Evangeline smirk before showing her friend a piece of paper she took from the museum.

"The lead anthropologist that replaced my mother said she need some help regarding studying the casket. I took this flyer and told her I will ask my friend if she wants to join," Evangeline was giving such a hopeful stare at her friend.

"What?! Why me? Don't you have other friends who like to study that casket as well?" Evangeline sigh.

"You know how anti-social I am. The only friend I have is you, and all those dead mummies we study in class," Daphne really want to say no but Evangeline really wanted her to be there as well.

"Ugh... fine! I need the money," Evangeline smiled.

"Yay! And also, she won't be paying. It's volunteering work and she will only give us some pointers that will help with our thesis. Please don't say no, you know how important it is for my thesis. Please, Daphne, I promise I will pay for your food until we graduated!" Daphne can't believe what she's hearing.

Not only she doesn't get paid but now she has to face this curse for free?!

"Until we graduated?" Evangeline nod.

"Fine. God! I will regret this for sure,"

"This view never ever gets old. I am so in my own element right now," Daphne was happy that she finally had the time to visit the museum. Before Evangeline gets to reply her, a woman in her late 20's appear from the curator's office with troubling looks.

"Miss Kingston!" Evangeline greeted the lead anthropologist. At first, Miss Kingston doesn't remember her but when Evangeline show her the flyer, she kind of remembers.

"Ahh. The only student who wants to be part of this project of mine. You do know you'll be walking into your own death? Rumoured has it that the casket is bad luck to those who even touch them," Evangeline wasn't faze but Daphne was.

She looks at Miss Kingston choice of attire from head to toe.

"I see that studying the casket makes you... like that..." Daphne didn't want to finish her thoughts because she doesn't want to offend the lady.

"I think I should ignore the comment about my attire because I know what kind of words you want to tell me. Trust me, I know! The others already inform me of how bad I dressed," Miss Kingston sigh before leading the girls to a restricted area of the museum.

"Anyway, because the museum doesn't want any affiliated with this project, they force me to move the casket and the things that were part of the Gold Casket away from the museum in ... ASAP. So, girls, any idea where should we move this big ass casket?" Miss Kingston asked while the girls look at each other.

"Miss, you do know we're just students, right? We don't have any resources except for our parents," Miss Kingston sigh after Daphne state the fact.

"We can rent a warehouse?" Evangeline suggested.

"How much does a warehouse cost a month? You see, I may be an anthropologist but... the museum doesn't pay that good," Miss Kingston sigh.

"The museum supposed to find a place for it, right? I mean it belongs to the museum. I thought it cost more than all the exhibition here in the museum," Evangeline said while Miss Kingston sigh yet again.

"It does cost millions of dollars, yes, millions. The museum doesn't want anything that has a connection with the coffin itself to display here in this building. Since it was brought here, it does attract many historians and anthropologist across the globe to this museum but they just don't want to deal with the aftermath of it," Miss Kingston lead them to an underground vault and close the door when they're inside.

"They're many weird deaths and injuries reports after it was display to the public. A lot of them occur after seeing or when walking past the casket itself. The curator, who doesn't have any experience in field work strictly said that he doesn't want this 'cursed' exhibition to be in his building because he's afraid to die," Daphne glared at Evangeline for forcing her to do this.

"I've been working on this casket and the other objects that were recovered with the casket for years now. I'm still here, God bless," Miss Kingston removed the cloths that covered the casket. Once again Evangeline faces the extraordinary casket that always captivating her eyes.

"Wow... now this.. is amazing," Daphne was about to touch the casket before Miss Kingston spat it away.

"Rule number one, never touch the casket or any other objects and artefacts with your bare hands. The queen doesn't like that," both Evangeline and Daphne were weirded out by that.

"Here," Miss Kingston handed them both a pair of gloves.

"Do you ever open the casket?" Daphne asked while putting her gloves on.

"No, but I wish to do so once we're done reporting about our research for the other artefacts that were found with the casket," Miss Kingston pointed at the tables that have a few jewellery, weapons and even pots on them.

"You see, according to the stories that were discovered by translating an ancient text on these pots, the queen was born and raised in an ancient empire of Gotus. Or, known as modern Russia now. It's like a whole book was written in these pots alone," Evangeline was fascinated by the find as well.

"It says here, that the queen was not dead when they place her inside this casket. She was forced to be in this coffin so that her brother, the newborn prince and the only prince will be the one who will rule all Gotus Empire. Even though Queen Imperia is the oldest, she's a female and the former king, queen Imperia's father never like her as a ruler from the start," Daphne froze when she heard Miss Kingston told them the translation.

"She was forced to be here? Inside this casket? No wonder it's cursed," Miss Kingston nod before she took the magnifying glass. She begins translating text again while Evangeline and Daphne stare at the casket.

"Now that I'm standing in front of it, I don't know what to say or feel," Evangeline nod her head, agreeing with her friend.

"Miss Kingston, is it true that the casket was discovered on a shipwrecked?" The anthropologist suddenly laughed.

"What? No. The tour guide got it all wrong. It was never discovered under the sea. It was first discovered in a hidden temple of the moon by the famous treasure hunter, Sir Paul Merion. Sir Paul then tried to sell the casket and the other stuff that was found to the black market auction but everyone who bought the piece ended up giving it back because immediately something bad happened to them or their family members. That's how the whole cursed rumour happens," Miss Kingston was engrossed in her job to even notice that the casket slightly moves from its place.

Evangeline was looking around, trying to figure out out a way to wipe her bloody finger because she was touching one of the weapons on display while Daphne was admiring the jewellery that was on display.

"Being a queen must mean she has all the wealth in the world," Daphne said before she heard Evangeline yelp.

"What did you do?" Daphne asked. Evangeline showed her bleeding finger.

"I touched the weapon. It cut through the gloves ..." they were both frozen in their place when their eyes noticed something that shouldn't be happening.

The coffin's top was open, and a humanoid figure actually sitting up from the coffin, literally facing Evangeline.

"HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!" Daphne doesn't know what to do but pray that it's all a prank made by Miss Kingston.

"God? Still, believe in his teaching? Can somebody remove this stupid shroud from my face? I can smell you humans but I can't see you, you know. I can smell you, especially you. Your blood that is," the 'corpse' pointed at Evangeline.

Daphne looks at miss Kingston before she turns to Evangeline.

"That's a bad idea! Don't do it, Miss Kingston!" Daphne shaking her head no but the anthropologist curiosity makes it hard to say no.

"I'm sorry girls. This is by far the most iconic moment in my life! It's not every day that an anthropologist meeting someone that said to be born in a time before Christ," Daphne went to Evangeline's side, grabbing her arms from fear.

"Permission to be in the grace of the queen," the 'corpse' waving its hand telling Miss Kingston to walk forward.

Slowly, Miss Kingston removing the shroud that has been covering the 'corpse' for thousands of year. She was worried that chunks of flesh would fall out or turned to dust. When it comes to the last layer of the shroud, Miss Kingston heartbeat can be heard from the people that near to her.

"Hmm, are you nervous, human?" The 'corpse' asked.

"A little bit. I never met a queen before. This is my first time," Miss Kingston was nervous that she might offend the talking 'corpse'.

"Really, something tells me that you're all afraid to see me," once Miss Kingston removed the last piece of shroud, everyone who's in the vault was mesmerised by the beautiful dirty-blond haired woman who smiling at them.

Miss Kingston was astounded when she witnesses something that she never thought would even possible.

"Is that how you treat your queen? Humans, even after thousands of years, you possessed a brain of a monkey," Imperia Luna, the once proud vampire queen looks around the room that she was kept for years now.

"I thought I was this museum most prized exhibition but why am I placed here?" A sweet scent of blood lingers to Imperia's nostril.

"Ahhh... human blood. After so long, it doesn't change at all. Fetch me my crown," Imperia ordered but none of them even budge from where they stood.

"Honestly, what is the matter with you humans? Don't you ever seen a woman rising from the dead?" They all shake their head no.

"You, the one who yelled for God earlier, fetch me my crown. It's behind you," Daphne slowly turned around just to see the most beautiful crown made of gold sitting on a table behind her. She was too afraid to even.

"Hurry, before I turn you all to my dinner," Imperia used her tricks to change her eye colour from normal black orbs to the colour of bloodshot red. Daphne immediately grabbed the crown.

"Please don't eat me, I'm all bones," she kneels down and offered the crown to Imperia.

"Rise, humans," Imperia said before placing the crown on her head. She stood up from the coffin she was forced to be in and jumped on the concrete floor.

"I think my servants did pack some clothes for my afterlife. Where is it?" Imperia asked as she looks around.

"Clothes? You mean this?" Miss Kingston showed her a small crate that contains something that looks like a royal attire in the ancient times.

"Yes, that's it. Hmmm.. from the things I'm seeing here, it all belongs to me. Except for that. That belongs to my father who stabbed me and turns my inside into liquid," Imperia started to stripped her worn clothes in front of everyone.

Evangeline was fascinated when she noticed probably hundreds of scars around her body.

"Like what you see? I fought in war many times before becoming queen. Of course, my father doesn't like that he only gets female heirs," Imperia then put on a dress that brings out her beauty even more.

"They even pack my armour. What year is it? I've been inside the casket for thousands of years now," Imperia faces the humans.

"It's the year of 2018, September 20th. You're currently inside the Museum of Anthropology," Miss Kingston replies carefully. She doesn't want to trigger the Queen's wrath.

"Hmmm... what happened to the Empire?" Imperia asked.

"Umm... Gotus Empire doesn't exist anymore. The country you were born and raised at now calls as Russia," Imperia laughed.

"Nonsense. Gotus may be gone, but my bloodline still exists. There is no way I am the only living Luna," Imperia walks around the vault and noticed something that's on her side for thousands of years.

"My often used weapons. What a treat! They even included my weapons in my tomb. Back then, we often engage in wars with the holy one and the humans who think they can beat us. I prove them wrong by impaling everyone who meets my sword. I've lost count of how many winged creatures I've slain just to be queen," Imperia faces Daphne.

"God is not 'something' that you all thought he is. He is more than what the angels been telling you through the Bible," Daphne now curious about that claim.

"Do you have proof of this?" Daphne asked the queen rather rudely.

"I remembered how you humans placed me inside a church because of you apparently afraid of my cursed. I heard things that you humans willing to do for your God. I can feel the sorrow of those who died because your God wishes his followers to do so. I even witness humans willing to kill themselves just to make God happy," Imperia end with a smile that made her fangs visible.

"I have seen how humans burn their own kind because they were accused of witchcraft," Imperia winked.

"Anyway, Do you all expect a queen to stay in this depressing room? Come on humans, my casket worth so much more than this," Miss Kingston brave herself to face the queen.

"Is it true you're a vampire?" The queen showed her gums.

"Fully noted. Anyway, I've received orders to remove your exhibit from the museum and we're currently finding a way to bring it all out from this museum to somewhere else but we don't know any place that could fit, these whole things you owned and we can't afford to buy or rent some random place," the queen looks around before her eyes landed on a piece of jewellery that was gifted to her by her betrothed to-be.

"Here humans, you can sell this to pay for that. It's something I don't wish to see in my possession," Miss Kingston was trembling when the queen gave her the piece of jewellery.

"Any other question?" Imperia asked.

"Why did you suddenly decided to show yourself to us?" Evangeline asked, curious about this whole ordeal.

Imperia smiled before she walks towards her coffin and showed her a drop of blood on her coffin.

"You did wake me, now you have to do my bidding. It's that simple," both Daphne and Evangeline can't believe their eyes.