Twisted Roads – Twisted Horror Stories by Matthew Tonks

The Will of Your Queen

The door opens, and she walks through, queen of her world. All in attendance turn as a hush of silence falls across the room, watching her make her way in. A young man, no older than thirteen, rushes up to her, gripping her arm tightly.

“P-P-Please, Miss, PLEASE! My Dad, he’s… he’s sick, and he reall—” He doesn’t get to finish his words as several large men tackle him to the ground, while she looks on disenchanted. The boy screams for her to help his father, for the men to let him go, but instead, they drag him away, muffling his cries.

“I’m sorry, my queen, w—”

She holds her hand up to the man, cutting him off. “Do not apologise for your failure, General David. It is unbecoming. Who is the child?”

The General clears his throat, pulling his collar away from his neck and swallowing a mouthful of air. “L-Lieutenant Cuthbertson’s boy, your highness,” he replies.

“What is wrong with him?”

“H-He was one of the men who contracted the Sicita when we faced your brother.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Was his sacrifice to my will?”

“O-Of course, my queen. We all gladly gi—”

“Good. Make an example of Cuthbertson and his family. String them up in the town centre and remind all that I will not be accosted by those who live to serve me,” she says as he swallows again.

“But, my queen, his wife—his wife is my sister, sur—”

She glares sternly at him and places a firm grasp on his shoulder. His nervous eyes jump from her hand to her eyes, and he feels the sweat begin to pour down his brow.

“Do you wish to join her on the block? Do you wish to have your family also made an example of?” she hisses.

He stands there, frozen in fear. His mouth drops open, his lips quiver, but no words escape.

“Lieutenant Borash, congratulations. You have been promoted to general,” she says, glancing over to a large man who stands at the General’s side.

“N-NO! PLEASE, MY QUEEN!” General David screams, falling to his knees.

“Hesitation is never rewarded. You live to serve me; any doubt must be eliminated,” she says. “Borash, take your former commanding officer, and make an example of him and his family alongside Cuthbertson and his wretched kin, so all others learn that my will should never be questioned,” she commands.

“Of course, my queen,” Borash says, bowing down as he signals the guards to remove his former commander. David leaps to his feet, pulling his blade free of its scabbard, and thrusts it towards her.

“YOUR REIGN OF TERROR IS O—” But his cries are cut off as she raises a hand into the air and clenches it into a tight fist. His blade drops to the ground as he clutches his chest and gasps for air.

“My rule,” she says, twisting her hand, “WILL NEVER END!” she growls as he drops to the ground, lifeless. “Make an example of any man who is loyal to the former general—string them ALL up!” she hisses, turning back to the silent ballroom. She stares out at the crowd, her furrowed brow softens, and she smiles. “Are we not celebrating?” she cries out, and the room erupts in laughter and cheers as Borash and his men drag David’s corpse from the room.