Flashback, Thursday March 6, the day prior to the ceremony, back in the shed.

"Do these names look familiar my Queen?" Ray asked me. And I hunted down the list of familiar names, my finger featherily grazing over the soft padded paper, when one name shook the bone.

Adonai, or the real meaning, The Lord. A name which he chose for himself when he swims in luxury earning it in the sickliest ways. Even when I was only a child, his name shook me to the one. My father's best companion and the cruelest man to ever glare me in the eyes and awaken terror. "This one."

Charlotte was peaking over my shoulder, and our eyes met, and we both looked over to Nasir, who sported a stoic manner, and a ghost of a smirk. As if he read right through my eyes, he spoke the name aloud.

"We have been doing our own research on him for quite a while." he drawled.

Ray, languid, leaning his back against his chair, "Our eyes have been watching his every move for a while, my queen."

"Good." I smiled.

Because he was first on my secret list. And on that day Our plan was simple. And some new faces that will aid us in the process.

There is an old friend of mine that have been trapped by him for quite a while," Ray says, the last I saw him was back in the camp a long time ago." There was a weight hanging on his shoulders as he rested his elbows over his knee. His eyes distant and voice soft.

Nasir, Charlotte and me, along with Hakeem and Carter pay close attention to the sorrow in his words as he reopened a trauma in his past life.

"Who is it?" Nasir's natural deep tone reverberated in the shed.

Ray's cheeks burn pink, "His name is Javier. We met at camp, but he was rejected by King Adelheid."

Nasir tensed. And Ray continued, "But even after he was thrown into the streets, we ... we kept in touch."

"How were you able to gain access to him out of camp?" Charlotte intervened; her outspoken statement made me furrow my brows even tightly. There was more to this camp that I was beyond oblivious to.

"I implanted a device into him-"

"Into?" Nasir reiterated.

He nodded, "Yes sir. When were alone during breaks. He knew he'd be getting sent away and he let me implant a chip within him. So that we would still keep in touch. But by the time we were to meet again so that way I can remove it, he was caught by an elite and forced away since."

The silence that follows after was a period to reflect it all. The trauma, and pain. It was the first time since he spoke more than an entire sentence, and it was the first time he ever opened up more about himself. A past I didn't experience, but get to feel, drifting into a dark corner of his mind.

All eyes drifted up to Nasir in that moment including mine, the silence simmering as we wait for his command, the sun's ultraviolet touch weaving into the dark strands of his loose curled hair, silken strands draped and gelled back, groomed beard and light subtle of a mustache in the making.

A long vein pulsing over his forearm and another over the toned bicep. The information settling in, and it looked as if he is battling a rage inside. "You're fucking kidding me, right?" he growled.

Ray sighed, "No sir," his head lowering deeper in shame and his shoulders tensed, as if knowing the information would not be pleasing to hear.

"You wanted Adonai to gut you?" Nasir's anger only brews further, his tone harsh and dark, but spoken from a place of care.

Hakeem flinched, and Carter's shoulder's tensed, Charotte bearing witness to the evident fear attempted to step in. "Nasir -

"Of all the times to piss me off Ray, something like that is definitely one of them." Nasir says, his words are now cold, and his eyes dark.

"And that's why I didn't tell you sir." Ray says holding his own. And though he tries to maintain it, Nasir's darkness was too overwhelming, even for me.

"With all due respect sir, you yourself had a friend that was also rejected by Adelheid, along with Charlotte."

"But I know the consequences of caught giving out information." Nasir counters.

"I never gave him any information sir," Ray argued, their voices thunderous.

"So why implant something, for someone who posed a threat?"

Ray mumbled his words, his words foaming at the tip of his tongue, when he finally confessed. "He was special to me sir."

Not another word was spoken, all sounds suspended in a gush, and we glared deeply at Ray, he unveiled himself, and now I see a new him.

Charlotte uplifted to a resounding cheer, clasping her hands ever so happily while Nasir only nodded in understanding. Ray peered back up, his movements now tremulous, as he waited to hear from Nasir himself but is met with a carefree expression, "Then it appears there is a new addition to the family." Nasir says.

***

The day of the ceremony.

The day of the ceremony had begun, and we have deciphered who will be attending and what time they should be walking through the doors precisely. Each of us given a set of instructions before we turned in for the night.

The key is bringing attention to Nasir, and it will be done so by Gunter. Certain faces have mad entrance into the scene as we walk into the lavish ceremony. Each of them given an earpiece and is to stay within the limelight of Rays cameras.

Charlotte mingling with the guests, and Nasir and I spared only a few minutes before we enter with Gunter. But in that moment of tranquility between Nasir and I, there was light delay when we slipped behind the drapes, leaving Ray to guard the scene and make sure no one was coming near us.

Without an earpiece I might as well have been blinded to the circumstance, but my only task was to play good wife and Queen, and I ended up bumping into a man. His hair of deep scarlet and his eyes rare, sharp features, impeccably handsome, tall and masculine.

Nasir had spoken of a man who he shall reunite with him during the event but have not seen his face since they were children. The two meet eyes and it was like I could hear them speak within while I distracted Ms. Guatemala from listening. A smile grazed over the man's face as he understood the unspoken assignment and Nasir signaled to me walk, strutting along behind me as he filled me in to the task.

Every step is a drumming suspense, my mindset is new, and a cold thrill races down my spine. All those sleepless nights I'd spent rummaging over depression, wondering to myself what it would be like to simply exist alongside all those people I admired, the people my father taught me to admire. And now, I awake with an adrenaline, knowing I am one step closer to tarnishing a fucked-up life.

The one created by the man I call father. He bult me up, only to be a shield for the bullets that would be sent flying to him. It was never about being the greatest queen, only a puppet.

And as Gunter kissed my lips and embraced me into his arms, Nasir and I glanced to one another, low grins plastered on our faces.

And now ... we play.

The drapes are drawn, Ray intently watches the scene through the lenses of the multitudes of Camera's. Carter and Hakeem drilling through the walls, in their small hands is a scrunched piece of paper that they are instructed never to open and deliver it to Charlotte once the signal flares.

We blend in, Nasir and me keeping distance, I must play the good wife and pretend to give a fuck about anything these people spew to me and Nasir must keep his hands to himself. It scared me of this new mindset, how I used to glance at these women adorned with every jewel in their collection box with admiration, and now I picture them choking on their own rings. Once Sir Colten's and his son's location is verified, Nasir brushed behind me, opting the signal, aiding my eyes to look above in time to the three red blinks of the tiny red lens within the camera.

I ushered forwards, moving into Gunter as he spoke away with a few women, and Charlotte appeared from the crowd, her cherry spray a sweet change in the over spiced colognes lingering in the air, she pushed into Nasir and the two have a small flirtatious exchange.

My bones involuntarily tensed. Though the assignment is intentional, she has captured the eye of nearly all men, while Nasir is the epitome of their burning hatred.

I just hated how he is barely trying.

Sir Colten is supposed to move away from sight and leave his unhinged son alone. A task done by a simple unknown call from set up by Carter and Hakeem and once that is executed, she dispersed back, slipped and blended into the crowd, not even the gold of her strands can be seen until she is right at her location on the other side.

I reign in the urge to giggle.

Charlotte's role is deceptive in itself, but with her alluring beauty and sharp knowledge, the men were putty in her hands the minute she says hello. But this time her role is reversed, instead of the pursuit of men, she sought pursuit of women. Me.

The young man with heart shaped eyes, intently listen as he describes her worth and value, until she beckoned for a request, and he was quick to jump. I tune out everyone around me, steadying my heartbeat, and hear her exact words.

"The queen is indeed a beauty, but the guard is a captivating man," a dark web of jealously exuded from his aura in that moment, I could only imagine the sharp glare he threw at Nasir.

Charlotte continues. "I have heard of a place that can bend men until they are nothing." she insinuated, "Would you do a woman a favor?"

It was do or die, but with Charlottes lulling tongue and voice, the man was already on board driven by his disdain for Nasir already. Step one complete, and now it is time for some fun, the real treat of the evening, an ending brawl, something to spice up this dull establishment.

Charlotte ushered the man towards the wall, and I glanced back for a peak. Her eyes a dark promise of fun leading him and his open drink directly to Hakeem and Carters hiding spot within the cracks.

Ray must have spoken a cue and Nasir responded with a low gruff, glancing up upwards to the camera.

All it is now, is to wait just ten minutes for the powder to kick in.

10 minutes later. A brawl had commenced.

Two male waiters were paid to be in position, one posing as an elite and paid extra to allow the blow and the other one meant to dodge. Hakeem and Carter poured the powder as he and Charlotte were immersed in a fake conversation, with enough time the substance mixed in until it dissolved thus awakening an unmatched level of psychosis and he downed the entirety when Charlotte proposed a toast.

Soon plates began to fly, blows were being landed, and bloodied noses. The atmosphere became unsafe forcing everyone to safety and Gunter and I from each other. I was lifted into Nasir's embrace cradled into his arms and his hand holding onto the back of my head, where I was able to get a glimpse of Gunter and the young man being led out into the other side of the drapes.

***

On that same night, the team huddles for the last moment, before we can cheer with accomplishment Ray plays to us the recorded conversation of Gunter and the Carter's son. They hid away from the eyes of camera's but one.

My fingers crossed the entire time hoping this plan worked. A bone numbing chill races down my spine, apparently, they had plans to send Nasir to Adonai from the jump, hoping it can make him submit to their will. Adonai's insatiable appetite for strong men follows him and we listen the man venting out his frustration until Gunter agreed along with him.

The arc begins and the first is Adonai. I grin with excitement.

But it was also Charlottes last night with us, for she will meet us in the last month.

And on that following morning I waited, applying makeup as slow as possible, the moment between Nasir and me keeping me occupied and out of boredom, meanwhile Ray Hakeem and Carter have already packed, hiding a livable compartment within the plane not before slipping Nasir a note to prepare. And as Gunter opened the door of our bedroom, The mirror captured my grinning reflection.

Task two complete.

***

A few guards came along with us and implanted themselves within Adonai's team, while Adonai and I pretend to rejoice each other's presence. I slip in the car following Adonai keeping his attention guarded on the inside while Nasir directed the guards on the outside, hiding Ray, Hakeem and Carter, ushering them to a separate car, and with the tug of Nasir's hand in mine task three was complete and I begged to have Nasir inside with me, knowing Adonai would not say no.

***

A steamy reunion was granted to Javier and Ray. Hakeem and Crater have been in the small compartment of Nasir's room, scamping through the walls, unveiling the estates twisted secrets.

The torture chambers. Ritual rooms. Animal experiments, and sex rooms.

We reunite once again for the night, retelling Javier the plan, and his role to be the one to undergo the most gruesome things while he spills all of Adonai's weaknesses, and horrendous abuse towards Javier, but the only way to survive was to play a nice pet.

And little by little, the guards we implanted have kept up their end, and by the third day Hector had arrived, living in the camp along side the rest of them. Now all is left is to endure it all.

Fear, lust, and mockery. Adonai spat on my thrown before it was even mine and now I gaze at him from a throne, and he on all fours bowing before me as he wept and mourned his dead and mutilated brethren's. The same blood he spoke of and drenched himself in before the ceremony was now his pool to soak in, and now I gaze at him with zero empathy, his cries are musical notes to my ears.

***

Present day.

The statues of gargoyles bore witness to the gory scene, their silver stoned surfaces now tainted with essence of human blood, what began as a ceremony for a false celebration of my arrival with an old friend was now a blood bath of those Adonai himself unknowingly sacrificed, embedding his name into their mind till they all reunite in hell. Blaring electric music that once whizzed sharply within the rooms decrescendos into blood curdling chokes until it is silent all around.

I sit upon the thrown and watched the wreck of Adonai growing more frantic, my deceit has now fully been processed into his skull and he roared in utter defeat. I gaze over towards all the men that join aside me, we all watched the ruin of Adonai and is prized empire crumble to ashes, and my eyes found Nasir, being the closest to me than the rest a chill raced down my spine witnessing the eerie glow of his eyes within the dim and a sinister smirk in the making, and when my eyes found a shattered piece of a mirror onto the floor before me -

I noticed my eyes held that same golden canary glow, showcasing the real me inside, within the reflection.

The mafias guard and the queen, a forbidden tango that danced on the devils stoned pavement and came out victorious.

Little did my husband know it, but he hand delivered his toy to me to ruin. Helping me keep my promise.

'First his minions than him.'

Minion one complete.