Part I: Chapter VI

                                    

                                          
    The realm swirled with sins and evil deeds amidst the deafening darkness. Clouds drifted away and the light from the laboratory disappeared and entered a familiar portal.
    "Do you know where we're at, Elizabeth?"
    I wanted to say it out loud. The Demon Realm, I thought. But the words swallowed me up, and I couldn't say a word. Not one, not two. No words. My throat itched with desperation, but I held the words back for myself.
    "We're at the—"
    "Demon Realm, I know." I interrupt. I let go of Merlin's grip and wipe it on my dress.
    "Good, so you do have some brains left, Queen Elizabeth," Merlin says, emphasising on the last part.
    I stopped. Queen Elizabeth? I'm not a queen. I'm just Elizabeth. Elizabeth of the Dead Father, as others say after my father's death. I've heard many rude names people called me — even by my father. 'Le pathétique', for instance.
    "Elizabeth, you don't remember, do you?"
    "I most certainly don't." I fold my arms, with a cross and serious face.
    "Well, you've most certainly still have it in you." Merlin laughs repeating my last phrase, walking around me.
    "What are you doing?!" I shout.
    "Elizabeth... you're no ordinary human." Merlin states with a sigh.
    "Huh?"
    "You're Queen Elizabeth... the queen of the Gods and Goddesses," Merlin explains.
    This shocking reveal hit me. My heart beat faster, and I didn't know what to think. Those pictures in the books... those goddesses... those eyes and wings... they're all because of me? That can't be. I'm just a normal human being, who lived on the rural side of Britannia all these years!
    "I-I can't be..."
    Merlin let out a sigh. She took my hand and dragged me across the realm. We both arrived at an unfamiliar castle, with demonic guards sticking to their protocol at the entrance.
    "Madame Merlin!" one of the guards spoke.
    "Open the doors." Merlin commands.
    "Yes, Madame Merlin, but who may thy be?" the other guard spoke.
    "Yes, yes... she might be thy those gods and impuissant goddesses from above. Are you sure—"
    "Open the doors." Merlin repeats, angrier.
    "Yes, Madame Merlin." they respond.
    The gates open and retreat back like anti-clockwise gears. There, the castle revealed a grand hall of a million chandeliers, a red carpet outlined with a lace of gold, and a ruby red reflection across the floorboards. Royal portraits of descendants scatter across the castle walls, some of three or even four generations ago.
    "What... is this place?" I ask Merlin. She flounders around the castle floors and glances back at me.
    "This is my home. My true territory." Merlin responds.
    I look at the castle mandala. There were ancient doodles of long ago, royal signatures and even maps of Old Britannia. I have forgotten this bizarre time, let alone everyone else.
    "This is the Castle of the Golden Valley," Merlin explains. The Golden Valley? I've never heard such a place...
    ...or have I?
    "If you want a detailed explanation, I can tell you." Merlin offers.
    "Please do." I reply.
    "In the time of Old Britannia, there were multiple clans and realms. These included the Demon and Goddess realm. In between these two realms was a border. This border was a valley, the Golden Valley. The Golden Valley was where other clans came together and opposed to the other realms — which in this case were the Demon and Goddess realms. After the newborn generation coronation of the Demon King and Heaven's Queen, the clans of the Golden Valley decided to oppose and throw war onto the other realms." Merlin explains.
    Some memories rush back to me, but some bits of the story still leave parts unexplained. How was I the descendant of Queen Elizabeth? I was always with my father my whole life. It's not like I reincarnated or anything.
    "Do you wish to continue?" Merlin asks, sounding like a robot.
    "Uh- most certainly. Please continue." I respond.
    "The Fairy and the Giant Clan were the leaders of this war. They combined all the clans of the Golden Valley into one army — then lead to the Pre-Holy War. This war was before the all-known Holy War, where the goddesses and demons faced each other." Merlin continues.
    "This castle was the place where all the clans would unite as one. Some would leave speeches, and other would debate about problems and events in their lifespan. However, when the war ended, this castle was swallowed into the abyssal pit of Hell itself. Almost all of the clans died out, except for three clans." Merlin says.
    I kept listening to Merlin. This made my life even more confusing. Is this why I looked nothing like my father? Is this why my other eye is orange? Is this why... I'm special?
    If I was the Queen of the Goddesses... who was the King of the Demons?