The sun blasted Argos, zeroing its glare on Queen Zailah’s marble palace. Golden rays spilled like honey, creating a kaleidoscope of sunlight.

A maze of marble and gold gleamed sharp as a blade in the glare.

The palace of Queen Zailah. Servants swarmed the courtyard, frantic ants hauling trays and flowers to please their queen.

Inside it was all, icy calm and royal glow. Zailah sat on the ornate throne that once held Argos’s past rulers—now ruled by a face as cruel as the sun. Two pale maidens, still as stone, stood beside her throne, waving palm leaves just enough to stir her blond curls and stop sweat from sliding down her neck.

Draped in a perfect white robe embroidered with plum, Zailah tapped her ringed fingers on the armrest. A sneer curled on lips many men would die to kiss as she stared down the man kneeling on the marble floor. Of course. Someone was always kneeling before her. This one—a foolish ruler who dared go to war against her ‘tyrannical’ rule as he claimed—and lost. Pathetic.

“You reek of defeat, Nikos. Was it humbling to watch your army fall?” Zailah flicked her wrist, and the maidens pumped harder.

“I beg for mercy, Your Majesty. I’ll do anything to save my life.” The man, Nikos, stammered, his hair and once royal attire was a mess and the same could be said about his facial reflection in the marble floor that almost looked like a blueberry.

“Hmm” Zailah pondered, twirling a honey blonde curl around her ring adorned index finger, before her icy blue gaze settled back onto Nikos.

“Anything? Well, that is quite ambitious Nikos, I ought to give you a chance.” She leaned forward, a true devil in mortal form.

“What is that you can offer me that would be so valuable as to save your life?” She asked, voice like butter yet every word burned a permanent brand in the skin of those who heard it.

Nikos inhaled, just enough to stop his trembling limbs from giving away his fear.

Fool. Zailah could smell fear.

“I have an heirloom-” He begins,

“And what makes you think I would want something your grandmother probably used to scent her armpits with?” Zailah taunted, blue eyes flashing.

“No- no your Majesty, please, you ought to listen” He inhaled deeply once more.

“It’s a mirror. A magical one. Fit for a beauty like you and would make you look even more beautiful. It is eternal charm”

Zailah leaned forward, genuinely curious now.

She sighed, “If I see the mirror, you may go Nikos”

Nikos immediately fumbled like a dying fish “Its- its in the pocket of my vest!”

Zailah’s eyes flicked to one of her men standing guard beside her

“Go retrieve it” she commanded, the sound icy and final.

The mirror was indeed a beautiful piece of art if Zailah had ever seen one. A mirror that never seemed to fog and remained crystal clear, gilded in gold with a delicate handle. She carried it everywhere now. Constantly staring into it.

God knows what she saw in it but surely it was worth something staring into all day.

And indeed it was. Like Nikos promised, it showed her more beautiful than she ever was. Glowing, perfect — everything she longed to be. It was everything everyone wanted to be. Perfectly beautiful. But weren’t mortals meant to be imperfect? But this mirror existed and it was perfection. She loved perfection. She was perfection incarnate.

Even today as she stared into it, she was so absorbed she almost could not hear the pig snorting beside her.

Her head turned sharply towards the fat pink animal.

“Oh shut up Nikos, did you really think I would let you go? All men are pigs. Including you”

Someone snickered in a corner and Zailah smirked in the mirror, Proud that she outsmarted the deal and had her magician turn Mikos into a pig instead of freeing him.

Somewhere in the west wing of the palace, Callista, the queen’s most trusted chambermaid wandered about with her lover, Theron.

Callista and Theron were both similar, same chestnut brown hair, same tanned skin but different eyes. As if they saw the world differently.

Hers were an unsettling mix of blue and green. Kind of like the world.

His were a hazel so warm they were surely why she fell in love with him.

“You’ve been brooding lately,” Callista said, running a hand through his dark hair.”I’ve been planning, there’s a difference,” he replied.She sighed, tugging his arm toward the gardens.”Tell me what—maybe I can help.” Her eyes shone warmly.”You shouldn’t, my love. You get too eager,” he smiled, tucking a strand of her hair.”No, I promise I’ll help if you tell me,” she insisted, tugging at his tunic’s laces.Theron sighed, reluctant to involve her before glancing around like a thief afraid of being caught. “Could you” he paused, breathing in deep before cupping her face with his calloused hands “Could you manage to steal the queen’s mirror for me?”

There’s a sudden widening of Callista’s eyes as she gasps softly.

“Trust me, love. It’s magical. If you steal it and I sell it, we’ll have enough to escape her tyranny—just like we planned.” He explains frantically.

“I don’t think it’s magical, Theron,” Callista says hesitantly.

“It is.” Theron presses.

“They say it shows her face—ten times more beautiful, flawless. You know better than anyone how obsessed the queen is with perfection.” He adds.

“What if I get caught?” Callista breathes out, lips trembling and eyes still wide.

“You won’t. You cannot. You ought not to make any mistakes” Theron warned and Callista seemed to shrink even more.

He brushed his thumb across her cheek.

“Don’t be afraid, my love. Bring it to me within the span of seven sunsets” His voice was a warm whisper now, full of tender protection, making Callista want to close her eyes and drown in it.

Perhaps that is what running away would feel like.

So, despite her trembling heart and aching loyalty to the Queen, she nodded, and let love blindly lead her to freedom.

To be continued…..

Will Callista and Theron succeed in their little stunt or does fate have other plans?…