"I'm sorry, my Queen, I never meant to disobey your orders!" A woman panicked. She was in a dark room filled with water, as if the room was an ocean itself.
Afore her was a towering lady. A giant to be precise, and her arms looked solid while her dark skin glowed to the burning torch hung at one edge of the room. She was clad in a beautiful native attire that one would imagine no human had sewn.
Even the water that reached her victim's neck only covered her hips. Her eyes burned green and for that moment, she did not utter a word. The only sound left was the tranquil water slapping the walls softly.
Abruptly, the giant lady backed her offender as she stared into the wall. The water slightly formed a ripple towards her spot.
"Tell me, Ema," she began, "When last did a coil, given a little knowledge, try to overcome her master?" Her voice was not deep, but regal and moderate for every domineering woman. Her timbre felt like she was singing already.
"Deepest apology, Queen Dùdù, I tried to convince the guys it was a bad idea," the young woman stuttered.
Queen Dùdù slightly glared at her with her virid eyes while still backing her. "Convince?" she asked slightly turning her head to gaze at Ema.
Ema felt like her heart was about to jump out of its cage. She bowed immediately, her nose sinking in the cold water. "I'm sorry, my Queen, if that was the wrong choice of word!" She yanked as if she was in pain.
Dùdù turned to her again, folding her arms. "Now, tell me, Ema, you little coils are really trying to defeat me? Who offered you this forbidden advice?" she questioned, her voice still soaked with dread.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. It was... greed and pressure." Ema's words trailed off in fear. "Right after you took us in, Your Highness, we felt renewed and good. Becoming a coil from you felt like a blessing. We rejoiced in the palace and served you with all our hearts.
Not until you poured us out into the city to hold spots for you. Me, Dina, Jèjè, Ash, we all understood what you imbued in us to do - to capture more green coils for you.
But a powerful man knew we were the ones. He gave us doctrines that seemed to reshape us, turning our hearts against you. We quit bringing what you required and tried to betray your trust. The powerful man offered us a lot of money... so much we could not spend all..." Her voice became low. "I told the girls we would be the only ones defying your trust, my Queen. They said I either join or I get killed. There was no way to escape the girls and in my greed... I tried to join them. I'm sorry, my Queen," Ema begged.
Queen Dùdù sighed, still folding her arms. "You little snakes I rescued from being scorned in society, you chose to betray me for some cash that will falter. You want to become the prophecy children? I have lived centuries upon centuries, yet the old prophecy that an entity will destroy me is yet to be fulfilled. Then how can you little coils I offered blood of powers overcome me?
The whiskered cannot face me in battle, even Àsà cannot return to life as she promised. I fought through tiny villages, cities, and to this modern era, yet no one can stand me. Then how can you little coils overcome me?
Humans warred against me but I conquered; I still live among them. Even now that they are powerful and strong with dangerous weapons, they cannot conquer me. I live and dwell here among those who do not want me; it is a sign I own the macrocosm.
Àsà, the one they call the great white coil, why has she not risen from the dead as she claimed before I knocked her to death? Can you little and modern coils tell? Then you think you can overcome me... such a pity to behold," Dùdù's voice was ancient as she was.
"I'm deeply sorry, Your Highness. It will never repeat itself again," Ema begged.
Queen Dùdù sneered pitifully, nodding her head instead. "I wish I could take the apology, daughter, but coils like you do not need to breathe in the same place I occupy. I will do what I did to your colleagues," Dùdù stated, approaching fidgeting Ema.
"I'm sorry, my Queen! ..."
With that plea, Queen Dùdù placed her huge hand on the young woman, cracking Ema's skull to nothing. Gore spilled rapidly. The red blood could be seen spreading in the river.
Dùdù uttered no more words after staring into the body before her. A drop of blood had dropped on her face and as she stared at the corpse, her long curly tongue slithered out of her mouth, licking the gore on her cheek.
Queen Dùdù turned with grace, walking towards the exit of the ocean-room.
Just... the rippling of the water could be heard echoing in the background.