Empress Bethsabe (complete)

Warning! This story features a miscarriage.   

 I became Emperor of Culuweth when I was sixteen years old. In many aspects, I was just a child then. Bethsabe was eighteen, just a little older than me. But I had known her almost all my life. And from the time I first met her and at the end of her life, I admired her. She was the things I wasn’t and completed me. She had bravery and charisma where I lacked it. Yet somehow I ended up happily married to her.

    Even at a young age, Bethsabe was called a genius by her tutors. She was brilliant and resourceful. She was a fantastic problem solver, and also at the tender age of ten, she was planning battle strategies where most young girls were learning to dance.

    I was only able to see her during holidays, as my schooling sent me off the military academy. But it was during those holidays Bethsabe would show me the world she had concocted all on her own.

    “See here?” She points to the map. “If we storm the shores at night, they won’t be expecting it. All you have to do is build these ships here, the one they call the Night Raiders.”

    “Bethsabe,” I squeaked as she talked passionately about her plans. “Those ships are only legends.”

    She snaps up her plans and glares at me. “No, they’re not! They’re very real! How else do you think so nasty pirates get away with so much?”

    “They have money,” I reply and Bethsabe swats at the end of my nose.

    “Esdras! You’re my betrothed! When you’re my husband are you going to cast doubts on me still?” She asks.

    “Bethsabe, no!” I gasp. “I’m not casting doubts even now. I just don’t think you need special ships. I think you could do this all with what you already possess.”

    Bethsabe’s expression shifts and she looks almost sad. She lays her papers down again and frowns. “Do you really think they’re good?”

    “Even the Captain’s at the academy don’t have such well thought out plans,” I tell her.

    Bethsabe turns quickly, kissing my cheek and then switching back to her maps. I remember how happy I was then. Bethsabe was never one for affection, but on that day she started to show it to me.

    “You know she’s not allowed to have pets,” Nadeem tells me one day during cleaning duty. 

    I look up at him from mopping, seeing his serious expression. “What do you mean?”

    Nadeem was older than me, but he took care of me at school and was my best friend. He was so tall and good looking and was at the top of his class. I still wonder why he ever took notice of me.

    “Bethsabe isn’t allowed to have pets,” he repeats. “Her mom caught her dissecting her birds.”

    My fur stands on end. “No,” I shake my head.

    Nadeem nods. “She was cutting them open and organizing their organs. She even found a jar of preserved organs under her bed as well as some bones.”

    “That’s not true!” I snap.

    Nadeem's eyes widen at me, and he holds his hands up. “Whoa,” he starts. “Those weren’t fighting words, Essy,” he says. “I’m just telling you to be careful. Bethsabe’s not normal.”

    I’m seeing red. “Of course she’s not! She’s a genius! She’s special!”

    “Hey,” Nadeem says cooly. “I know she is. Bethsabe has always been ahead of the pack.” He puts his hands down. “No one can say you don’t like your bride.”

    Several months later, I was pulled from the academy for my wedding. Bethsabe was crowned the Empress of Culuweth, and she made me her Emperor. 

    Our wedding night was strained, in fact, we never consummated our marriage until much, much later. Bethsabe was grieving the loss of her parents as well as the loss of her childhood. She had become Empress so fast, she was sent for a loop.

    One evening I went to her and took her hand. “You look beautiful tonight my love.”

    “You flatter me because you want something,” she growls.

    “Bethsabe,” I whisper to her. “I have you, that is all I’ve ever wanted.” I kneel down, and she tilts her head to look at me. “Ever since we were little, I’ve always admired you. You’re the epitome of womanhood in my mind as well as the destined conqueror of the Ruby Empire.”

    Her expression goes soft, and her mouth opens slightly.

    “Your destiny is to lead the Gnolls to supremacy,” I whisper to her. “And all I want from you is a promise you will do as you please.”

    She smiles at me and dips down, kissing me softly. “My lovely Esdras,” she whispers. “What I want is a baby.”

    We consummated our marriage that night, and well, many times later. Bethsabe prepared a nursery, filling it with toys and clothes and everything the baby could need. But months passed and still, she could not conceive. She contacted a shaman who came to the castle and provided her with some herbs that would help her conceive. They worked, and soon she became pregnant.

    One day I came home, having been out most of the day visiting family, and I heard a terrible noises coming from the nursery. I rush in, seeing Bethsabe is ripping down the curtains. The room is destroyed. The crib is toppled and smashed. Toys have been flung out the broken windows. Bethsabe is in a blind rage, and as she moves, I see her dress is bloody.

    “Stop it!” I cry as I race to her and grab her. “Bethsabe stop!”

    She screams and snaps in my face.

    “Bethsabe!” I tackle her down on the ground and hold her. “Please! Bethsabe!”

    She claws at my back and starts to cry. She clings to me and sobs to my chest.

    I hold fast to her, knowing what pain she has suffered today and the pain she’ll feel the rest of her life. Apparently, it was not in our stars to have a child. So destroyed the nursery and emptied everything within it out. She kept the room dark and empty and forbade anyone from entering it.

    After she recovered she set to work on a new batch of plans. “Esdras,” she beckons me to her desk one day. She kisses me and motions to her maps. “I’ve had enough of the Rakshasa,” she tells me. “Their smugness suffocates me. Just because they defeated my grandfather doesn’t mean they can get it away with.”

    “What do you have planned?” I ask her.

    She smirks. “Those disgusting cats think they are regal,” she then scoffs. “That pompous prince Amit has just taken the throne. And already he is grating on my nerves.”

    “What do you mean?” I ask and Bethsabe hands me a written letter from Amit himself. 

“He wants to talk!” Bethsabe laughs. “As if his kind hasn’t humiliated me enough! He wants to talk about peace between our countries.”

I frown. “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing,” she then shrugs, “for now.” She turns back to her maps with a giddy smirk on her face. “The Rakshasa think they are owed something when really, they took everything from us. If it weren’t for us, they wouldn’t have all they possess now.”

“Are you planning on taking it back?” I ask.

“In one way or another.” She pricks her finger and uses the blood to mark Xs on the map. I watch her as she touches Rakshasa Country, the Cobra Strait and the chain of islands within it. She marks Obresh and its port. She crosses the Mountains of the Golem and the Goldmines of Brackor. She smirks to herself and holds her hand up. I lick her pricked finger and kiss the center of her palm.

“I want them,” she sighs. “Those marked with blood will be mine.” She turns and looks at me with a soft smile on her face. “I plan on planting colonies,” she tells me. “As the start to all this.” She turns back to the map. “I’ll plant the colonies, and they will root and grow. From there they will spread, and like vines, they will suffocate out everything else. Not that there’s much.”

“As always, you’re brilliant, my love,” I tell her, still clutching her hand.

She starts her colonization plan right away, sending some of her most loyal subjects to the marks on her map. All the while, she continues her slave trade operation. And with the colonies in place, she grows more aggressive with it, even turning her Navy into the business.

My older sister Ismay calls a private meeting with me one evening. She has become an advisor to Bethsabe, a member of her inner circle and is privy to all her doings. She is also one of the wealthiest women in the Ruby Empire. Her lumber business and shipyards have her in high demand. That is why Bethsabe keeps her close.

“I have some concerns,” she tells me.

I shake my head. “What is there to be concerned about.”

“It’s Bethsabe,” he voice is low and cold. “There is something wrong with her, Esdras,” she starts as she lights a cigar.

I chuckle. “She’s fine!”

“No,” Ismay insist, thrusting the red-hot eye of her cigar at me. “I’ve known her as long as you. I’ve seen the shadows dancing in her eyes. Something is wrong.” She blows a cloud of smoke from her nostrils. “Bethsabe’s mind is off kilter.”

“She’s just as brilliant as ever,” I argue.

“Yes, she is, but there is madness there.” She leans forward towards me and grabs my hands. “Brother, I am telling you this because I am worried about you. You see no wrong with Bethsabe! But you need to see that she needs help!”

I pull my hands away from her. “If she needed help she would ask for it.”

Ismay scoffs. “That is not how this works.”

I stand up and step away from Ismay. “Bethsabe has grown Culuweth so much! She has pulled us from the shadows left by the Rakshasa uprising. She has taken us leaps and bounds into the future!”

“You can do all that and still be unstable Esdras!” She snuffs out her cigar and stands up. “I am telling you, she needs an eye on her. You’re too wrapped up by her to see it. If you really loved her, you’d do something.”

The next day, Nadeem returns from a mission to make his reports to Bethsabe. But I am given a strange report from one of the guards.

“He has a woman with him?” I ask.

“Human,” the guard answers. “Blind as well.”

Bethsabe closes her eyes and sighs. “Very interesting.” She then stands up. “Esdras, I doubt he wants me to know about this little treasure. Will you go fetch her for me while my dear cousin and I talk?” She asks.

“Yes darling,” I answer. “But what do you plan to do?”

She huffs. “My cousin concerns me,” she answers. “I want to teach him a lesson.” She looks at me and smiles. “I also want to meet his little secret.”

She goes to talk with Nadeem in the throne room, and I go to Nadeem’s chambers. I find the girl sitting alone by the window, her eyes downcast and vacant. They’re pearly, the iris and pupil are faded like in a fog. She lifts her head when she hears me approaching. 

“That was fast.” A beautiful smile blossoms across her face. “Nadeem?”

    I say nothing and quicken my pace towards her.

Her smile fades, and a trembling voice replies. “Nadeem?”

       I grab her by her neck and pull her off the window. She screams and starts to cry.  “Say nothing, young lady, and come along with me.”

      She struggles against me, fighting at my grip. “Who are you?”

       “Esdras. I am Bethsabe’s husband. I truly don’t mean you harm, young lady. She told me to fetch you once Nadeem was gone.”

    She’s shaking like a leaf. “Why does she want me?”

       “I truly am sorry,” I whisper.

       She grows silent as I drag her along, leading her towards the throne room. 

“Esdras?” She whispers, “Is that correct?”

       I swallow back the lump in my throat. This girl is so small and looks rather feeble. I remember the words Nadeem told me ages ago, about Bethsabe not being allowed to keep pets. I don’t know why such a thought entered my mind then.

“Yuh-yes it is,” I gasp.

“Why does the empress want me?” She repeats the question, but her meaning is far different than before.

       I feel sick and uneasy. “I am sorry. I truly am sorry.”

    She closes her eyes. “You keep saying that. But what does she want?”

       I shake my head. “I cannot say, young lady. That is why I am so sorry.”

“I see,” she whispers. “I suppose you have no choice in the matter either.”

    I stay silent the rest of the way, taking her towards the throne room where I hear Bethsabe’s laughter. She then screams, and I hesitate for a moment. She throws something against the wall and starts to laugh again.

We walk inside, and I see Bethsabe standing before Nadeem with his sword in her hand. She turns and looks at me, a big smile on her face. “You took your time!” She sighs. “Esdras! Bring her close.”

       “What is she doing here?” Nadeem growls low.

   “I’m offended you didn’t want to introduce me,” Bethsabe says as she takes the girl from me. “What a sweet little thing.” Bethsabe places her hands over her eyes. “Too bad she’s no better than a broken toy.” She growls low. “Can’t see. Can’t work.” She keeps ahold of the girl. “Why on earth would you keep something like this alive, my darling Nadeem?”

   Nadeem takes a few deep breaths then scoffs. “You know how it is, dear cousin. Sometimes you need a chew toy.”

   Bethsabe laughs and shoves the girl to Nadeem. “I would certainly like to see that, dear cousin. There is a table there. Bend her over and chew on her, as you so say.”

   “Darling,” Esdras I snap at her. “Th-that is so unbecoming!”

  Her eyes cut at me, and she sniffs.  “You have no complaints when I ask you to-” She then laughs, cutting herself off. “Nadeem, why are you hesitating? Getting your dick wet should take no time at all, correct?”

   I look at Nadeem, seeing the pure rage in his eyes. “Even still, this is not something I like people to watch. I couldn’t get into the proper mood.”

 “That is why you are a weak man!” Bethsabe snarls. She then leans back into her seat. “Fine then. If she is just a toy, you will have no qualms punishing her.” She walks over to the fireplace and picks up the fire poker. “Beat her.” She says as she hands it over to Nadeem.

     This wouldn’t be the first time Bethsabe has reacted this way. I have seen it many times before and I doubt this will be the last. But because it is Nadeem, I feel that this is different fromt he rest.

“Bethsabe maybe we should-” I start, and she turns and glares hatefully at me.

       Bethsabe turns back to Nadeem. “Beat her Nadeem, or I will have to question where your loyalties lie. Don’t test me, Nadeem. That isn’t fair after all I have done for you.” She whips away and comes to stand beside me. She takes my hand and grips it tightly.

Would you rather I have him killed?” She whispers. “This is for the best.”

    “But,” I choke on my words and swallow. Nadeem is still my closest friend. As I watch him with the girl, I look back to Bethsabe. “If you think this is what’s best.”

She kisses me and nuzzles to my cheek. “Thank you,” she whispers then turns back.  “Do it!” Bethsabe roars at them.

I turn my head as the girl screams. There is no returning from this moment. Even long after, I still hear the girl’s screams. I wake up nights in cold sweats seeing Nadeem’s eyes as the screams echo in my head. 

After his betrayal is revealed, Bethsabe shows me the secret she’s been hiding from me all this time. The shaman who tried to help us conceive is down in the catacombs of the castle where he holds a dragon his prisoner. Bethsabe plans to use the creature to destroy her enemies.

“I’ll start with the fat Rakshasa,” she says. “We’ll send our troops to their shore along with the dragon,” she giggles gleefully. “Even if Nadeem has told them all our secrets they won’t be prepared for this!”

"My love," I whisper and let my voice drop. 

She glares at me. "Do you doubt me?"

I shake my head. "No! Of course not. I just think...I don't think that's enough of a message," I lie.

She grins. "You think so? Then how about we try to steal the royal children?" 

My eyes widen. "What?"

"Because I thought of that!" She laughs. "But I thought it would be too much." She then cackles. "i'll have them brought her and I'll skin them! We'll make them into slippers!"

"Of course, love," I whisper.

To our horror, the Rakshasa defeat us. They turn the dragon against us, and they are headed our way. Bethsabe starts a spiral into panic. She doesn’t eat or sleep for days, but she keeps making plans and strategies. 

“Please,” I beg her as I try to get her to eat. “You need to stop. Please, rest or eat!”

She slaps the plate from my hand. “I can’t sleep! If I sleep, then he’ll get me!”

“Who?”  I gasp.

“The horse!” She snarls. “He’s been after me all this time! He used Amit to hide from me but now. Oh now! Now he’s shown himself!”

“You’re talking about Demir,” I murmur as she goes through her maps, ripping them off the wall and repositioning them. 

She then taps the side of her head. “I can hear his thoughts,” she whispers. “We’re the same.”

“Bethsabe, that’s not true,” I whisper to her as I pick up the glass from the shattered plate. She steps on a shard and keeps going. “You’re bleeding! Please stop!”

She crouches over her desk, and I kneel down beside her, taking her foot and removing the glass. Her blood smears all over my hands, and I start to cry. She glances down at me.

“Esdras?” She whispers. “The baby is crying...oh...wait,” she murmurs softly. “Oh, we didn’t have the baby. We didn’t...Esdras…” She shakes her head. “Esdras, you’re crying.”

“I am scared!” I yelp, and she kneels down beside me. “I don’t know how to reach you!” I wail in pain. “I can’t help you, and you aren’t-” I sob heavily as she puts her arms around me.

“Esdras,” she whispers. “Oh good, you’re still here.” She holds me tight. “I keep feeling like you’re fading away from me.” She looks around the room. “I can’t let them win. I can’t stop, not now. I have to-”

I kiss her, and she kisses me back. “You can sleep,” I insist. “You can eat!”

Her eyes look dazed and distant. “If I do, that’s when they’ll come.” She stands up, and her eyes go wide again. She throws herself at a map and starts to cackle. “I see it now! Oh, you stupid fucking horse! I see it!”

I stay there on the ground, watching her as she goes into her panic again. “Don’t leave me,” I whisper.

On the day of the invasion, I watch from the windows as the dragon Bethsabe had been so proud of holding descended upon the city. It’s fire created a barrier between our troops and the city. It destroyed crops and fields, scorching the earth and all in its wake.

“Hellfire,” Bethsabe whispers as she walks into the room like a ghost. “The horse is from hell,” she says.

I got to her and took her in my arms. “It’ll all be ok,” I tell her.

She shoves me away and screams. “How can you say that you idiot!” She cries. She claws at her face. “I am damned! Damned to hell! I always knew it.” 

I go to her again and hold her. “Bethsabe, tell me, what else do you know?”

She scoffs and looks at me. “I know nothing, and yet I know better!” She growls. Her eyes widen, and she looks at me. “I know I will die.” She pushes me away again and looks out the window. “Look at him! He was mine!” She screams. “He was mine!”

I watch her, and I know deep in my heart I love her. I understand what Ismay was trying to tell me. I love her so much, I have to do what is best for her.

“Bethsabe, my love,” I whisper as the tears roll down my face. I step towards her, and she doesn’t face me. She keeps staring at the window. “Do you love me?” I ask her.

“I love Esdras,” she says with a hoarse, parched voice. “I always have.”

I take my dagger from my belt. “Then kiss me.”

She looks at me. “Oh, there you are.” She comes to me, and as she kisses me, I plunge my dagger into her chest. 

She places her hands over mine, and she looks down, watching as her dress begins to stain with her blood. “I lost the baby again,” she sighs. “Esdras will cry.” She sinks to the floor, and I hold her in my arms.

She looks up at me, and her eyes look clear. She smiles at me. “Are you happy?” She whispers, and she closes her eyes.

I scream and pound the ground. I hold her close to me and sob into her fur. When the doors open I know who is there without looking. 

“Brother, what is this?” Nadeem’s voice is clear and loud as he kneels beside me.

    I lift my head from Bethsabe’s chest. “I couldn’t let her die by their hands. I couldn’t let her be held by them either.” I turn and look at my old friend. “I put her out of her misery.” I reach up and grab his shirt with my bloody fist. “I still love her!”

    Nadeem’s expression makes me want to die. “I understand, brother,” he takes hold of my hand. “You did what she needed.”

    “What do you command, my lord?” The hoarse asks.

    I glare up at him and hold Bethsabe closer to me.

    “Take him captive,” Nadeem murmurs. “But do not harm him. We will hide Bethsabe’s body. For all that the public knows, she is captive.”

    “No!” I scream and cover her body. “She deserves a proper burial! You owe her that much!” I grab Nadeem and shake him. Bethsabe is his family, his blood. How can he not understand this? “You owe her!” I tell him. Does he not understand what he’s done? “You owe her!”

    Nadeem holds my face between his palms. “I know what I owe!” He howls at me, and I see the tears rolling down his face. He stands and moves away from me. “Take him, prisoner,” he whispers. “And take Bethsabe to the ship. Let no one see her.”

    They put their hands on me and pull me away from her. “No!” I scream. “No! Nadeem! How could you! Don’t take her from me, please! Please! Don’t let her be alone! She’s scared! She can’t be alone! Nadeem! Nadeem!”

    “Brother,” a soft voice whispers. “Are you there?”

    I wake up and stare at the ceiling. I turn, seeing Ismay sitting beside me. 

“Was it all a dream?” I ask. I sit up and see Rakshasa guard at the door. “Where’s Bethsabe?” As soon as I say the words I am filled with dread.

“I’m staying here,” Ismay tells me. “I promised Nadeem I would stay and help him as long as you stayed alive and were protected.” She offers me a cup of water. “I couldn’t bear seeing you down in the cells, so I offered my room.”

“You should have left me down there,” I refuse the cup.

“You didn’t deserve that,” she tells me. “Esdras-” her voice chokes off, and I look at her. She puts her arms around me and holds me tight. “I am so sorry, Esdras,” she whispers. 

I hug Ismay back. “She’s ok now,” I sob. “She’s ok.”