Eternal Beauty

Eternal Beauty is a part of Tales of Arkain.

## Story

Everyone was waiting. The first were growing impatient, unsure what to think. Some of them were here for the first time - and some were even scared. Yet all had followed the call. After all, who would want to refuse her call? More time passed. After a whole hour, the door finally opened and she entered. Her mere presence caught the attention of everyone in the room. She truly was a sight to behold. Her long, beautiful raven hair fell down her shoulders, her red dress was shapen in ways that were certainly going to catch attention and cause shocked whispers in any court. She wore golden jewelry, decorated with gems of unimagineable value. Gifts from her many suitors who wanted to get her attention. Lady Meya walked slowly and elegantly towards her comfortable chair, seemingly ignoring both the ordinary and the rather improper stares. She was used to being in the center of attention as soon as she entered the room - and she loved it. She sat down and inspected the group that stood in front of her. The ones that had been scared or had wanted to leave suddenly were in no hurry at all. How predictable. They waited for her to finally adress them - she let them wait a bit longer.

Then, she finally raised her voice: "So. I have heard some rumors that you, my dear and beloved agents, have some important news for me. You have kept me waiting for long enough. Report." The shocked reaction of her agents put a smile on her face. They were such entertaining toys. They were still mortal men and women whom she had recruited. They had not yet earned their right to be given the rewards they had been promised. One of them, one of the younger men, stepped forward. "Countess Meya, I- Uhm, WE apologize that we have been keeping you waiting. We have news from the leaders of our cults. They have met with an Imperial general who has somehow managed to convince them to join forces with each other - and, this is the big news: They are being INTEGRATED into the IMPERIAL ARMY! Just within a day, our people, outlaws and outcasts, are accepted back in society!" he reported, trying to stay calm but quickly failing and instead sounding more and more excited. Meya smiled at him, which seemed to freeze him entirely. Oh, the joy of mortals! She looked at the others. Some seemed just as excited while others seemed... disappointed. She leaned back into her comfortable chair. "Not all of you seem to be happy about this. What's the matter, my dears, got too used to the lives as outcasts who made their own rules?" she asked amused. One of the women stepped forward. She was young and pretty, only the worries on her face undermined her looks. "Countess, we are... unsure what to think of this. The Imperials never seemed to take an interest in the cults and this general... I have seen him. Something about him is... different. I fear that he may just use us for his own goals and then let us down." she said. Meya looked at the young man again. "What do you think about this?" she asked. The man seemed a bit overwhelmed with this attention, but he eventually caught a hold himself. It only took him a few seconds. "I believe that he sees the worth of necromancy. The Imperials have a more open world-view than the stubborn nobles of the Kingdoms - except for you of course, mylady, your beauty and wisdom goes beyond anything these-"
"I just believe it is a bit naive to think that some random general just comes around and allows us to return to society. He is only going to hurt his own reputation with that. And the Imperials DO care about things like that." the woman interrupted him. The man looked at her, then at Meya who just gave a slight, almost bored, nod and then back at the woman.

And if he manages to defeat the Demons then his reputation will go beyond any damage that his alliance with us would ever do! Not just his, ours will too! For having defeated the Demons by his side! This will make sure that we will never be considered as outlaws! I disagree with my leader on many occasions, but this time I think he and the other cult leaders made the right decision!" the man replied. Meya leaned forward. "Tell me. Who does your loyality belong to? Me or this Imperial general?" she asked. The man looked at her, horrified and shocked. The woman immediatly bowed, as did the others who had decided to leave the talking to these two. "We serve only you, mylady." the woman assured her. The man finally recovered from his shock and also bowed before Meya. "My loyalty belongs only to you, Lady Meya, the fairest of them all." he said. Meya's smile returned as she leaned back. She had already been informed about this development by her unliving spies within the cults and reported this to her master. She had already received instructions on how to deal with this... unexpectedly interesting development. She had not called upon these living agents to be told these things. No. They were summoned here for a completely different reason. "We will watch this and allow it to proceed. Return to your cults and join forces with the Imperials. Despite some of you apparently disliking the mere thought of returning to society, you may enjoy living in civilized places rather than in caves and hideouts all the time. You are dismissed." Meya said. The group bowed before her and turned to leave. "...with the exception of you two." Meya added, her smile getting wider, as the young man and woman first looked at each other and then at Meya. She waited until the others had left and closed the door behind her. Then she waited a bit longer so that her guards could make sure that nobody stayed to listen. Her smile disappeared. "You two seem to have developed a lot since I originally recruited you. You spoke when the others were too afraid to. You were like them once. You were afraid to speak in my presence until explicitly asked to." she said. Both looked at the ground. "We meant no disrespect, mylady, I assure you." the woman said. Meya laughed. It was a sonorous melody to the ears of the mortals. "My dear, you misunderstand. I see this as a positive improvement. Silent, submissive servants bore me." Meya explained. She stood up, moved around her desk and stopped directly before the two who now focused on her face and were unable to stop looking at her perfect face. "Do you remember what you were promised when I recruited you?" Meya asked. "Rewards beyond our imagination." the man replied, his voice now much softer than before. Meya's right hand caressed his cheek.

"Indeed." she said as she looked into his eyes - he looked back and was unable to stop himself from drowning in the endless sea that was her eyes. Then Meya opened her mouth. But the man would not get the kiss he might have expected. Her mouth opened wider and wider. Meya revealed her true form. Her monstrous mouth and teeth were revealed and the man was now frozen in shock. Then Meya's mouth engulfed his face. He tried to scream, to struggle, terrified, but to no use. After a few seconds, he stopped moving. Meya let go of him. His face was now bloody and disfigured. His dead body fell to the ground. The woman still stood there, watching with widened eyes. Meya, now in her full, undead glory inspected the corpse of the man. "Unfortunately for you, you planned to betray me to this Imperial general, in hopes of the rewards he had for you. You had not done it yet, but your mind has betrayed you. First you wanted me to reward you only to then betray me to some man from the other side of the sea. Disappointing." she said. Surprisingly, she sounded amused and was still smiling. He would still serve her, though not as her agent. Meya now turned to the still petrified woman. "You have proven worthy. Are you ready for your reward?" Meya asked. The woman did not hesitate. She quickly fell on one knee. "I am at your service, mistress. Please, grant me your gift of eternal beauty. Allow me to continue to serve you." she begged. Meya's smile widened. The wish of the woman was granted