Phthonos’ Child

Born of royal blood, young Eulalia always had a grasp of her responsibilities.

She knew her acts reflected not just on her, but on her kingdom. Since she was a child, she knew in her very bones that she was meant to rule. But then, at the age of 12, she had a realization… Her mother had birthed 3 more children since her, still her father was unhappy.

Curious as a child is, young Eulalia began to listen to her father’s words, ‘Another, A boy, Prince, King.’

Soon, young Eulalia learned she was born to the curse known as sex. Being a woman meant she would never be able to reign. Eulalia quickly lost her lovely youth, growing ugly in her cruelty. Jealous of her fairer sisters and of her unborn brother, her corrupted mind compelled her to use her blade on her mother while she slept, killing the next heir. These intrusive thoughts plagued Eulalia, she had come close many nights but she knew, no matter how much she wanted to rule, she could never bring herself to hurt her family. 

At least, that’s what she thought.

The third moon cycle had passed, and the Queen was finally due to give birth. Beneath the full moon bright, the King finally settled, his rage lifting. All throughout the kingdom people were celebrating the birth of their crown prince king, Aero.

Eulalia’s five sisters celebrated their new brother too, praising him and predicting how he’d rule.

One guessed he would be benevolent and bring joy to the kingdom’s streets.

Another guessed he would be mighty and expand the kingdom’s lands.

The Queen, however, didn’t care what he would become, she was just happy to have finally had a son.

It seemed all was well in the kingdom, and so it was believed to be! Nobody busied their minds with worries, they instead only focused on one boy and one boy alone. Unbeknownst to the kingdom’s people and the royal family, there was a great evil lurking.

In the shadows of the glorious night, Eulalia crept, disgusted and enraged. She is the firstborn, yet she shall never ascend.

‘It wasn’t right!’ The princess thought, forever haunted by the knowing she was cheated out of her throne. She tried to calm herself, to rationalize, but in a fit of rage and jealousy Eulalia stalked into crown prince’s room. She loomed over the elegantly carved crib, moonlight illuminating the newborn’s soft skin and full cheeks. She didn’t want to do it, of course she didn’t, but how else would she gain the right to rule? Only she could ensure the kingdom would prosper.

Eulalia raised her blade, moonlight bouncing off the metal’s edge. The air was still, her breath tight in her throat. She tightened her grip with trembling hands but just before she could plunge it into the boy—

Warmth. The look of love. Sweet, honey brown irises sparkling in the night’s light. Smooth skin creasing around the eyes, a happy coo coming from the baby’s mouth, small hands reaching for his elder sister.

A metallic clang echoed off the walls as the blade slipped from her hand. Eulalia crumbled to her knees, eyes glazing over. How could she be so hesitant in what she was so sure of a moment ago? How could she have been so ready to end the life of an innocent baby boy?

Before another moment could pass Eulalia jolted up, frantic as she ran to her room. Her thoughts were manic and her mind racing. The whole world around her felt as though it was spinning. Her hands grasped at the edge of the bookshelf, grazing the old family bible.

Names of Kings and their wives. Monarchs who will be forever remembered but not the women they bred. It made her sick, knowing she would be an afterthought, a footnote in her own history book. She threw down her books and jewels in a fit of rage, emptying the shelf in one aggressive drag of her arm.

She continued her rampage, ripping sconces out of the walls, throwing papers off her desks, pulling down books and tearing their pages. With heavy breathing and a mess of a room, Eulalia finally calmed, her anger dissolving into sorrow as the water in her eyes finally fell. 

*BAM!*

A book fell from atop the shelf, a loud thud followed by dusty air. Eulalia was curious: How could it have fallen if she did not push it?

With great hesitance and skepticism, she approached the book that had fallen open, reading the first word on the nearly blank page, “Phthonos.”

With that single word, Eulalia grew more jealous and full of rage than ever before. She wiped her tears, grabbing a piece of shattered glass from the floor. Her footsteps were heavy, fast, determined. All five of her sisters groggily exited their rooms, following after her in haste and confusion.

“Eulalia, sister, what are you doing?!” “Eulalia, stop!” Her sisters cried.

Eulalia broke down the door to her brother’s nursery, wasting no time to get to his crib. The boy’s smiling face quickly turned to horror as the newborn sensed his impending doom. His cry echoed through the castle’s halls, alerting the King and Queen, who got to the room in no more than a second.

He screamed, and then he didn’t.

“What have you done!?” The King cried in horror as the Queen fell to her knees.

Eulalia didn’t speak, a smile plastered on her face as she turned to face her family, the echoes of her brother’s cries disappearing into the cold night.

“You will pay for this, you unreasonable heathen!” One sister screamed as she lunged towards Eulalia, but she stopped short, a sharp pain piercing her stomach.

Empty and hoarse was Eulalia’s laugh as it echoed through the bloodied room. The King approached the murderous princess, “You are not my daughter anymore. I will take much joy in your suffering.” his old hands unsheathed his sword, drawing it on offense.

Eulalia laughed again, bringing the king to his knees with a Godly amount of strength. He could only choke on his own breath as he gaped at this beast before him.

“No, my father, I don’t think you understand. I was the firstborn of this family. I was supposed to be the next heir. I was supposed to be Queen! You do not tell me what is unreasonable and what is not, I am doing what is right for my kingdom! You will respect me and all my decisions!” Eulalia’s voice no longer sounded human but instead of thunder and agony. She spoke as though she was possessed, stating every word with both triumph and defeat as she slit the throat of her father.

Then her remaining four sisters.

Then her mother.

Dim pricks of light began to enter the nursery, Eulalia hadn’t known how much time she’d spent reveling in the blood of her only family. It wasn’t until the sun had completely risen that she finally saw what she had done.

The sun cast a shadow of her body, but it was different; it was as though there was a tall man beside her. It was only then that she remembered his name. Remember his power.

Eulalia began to cry silently as she stood perfectly still, staring at the blood on her hands, the blood at her feet.

A whispered snicker pulled her from her tears.

Before Eulalia could ask who was there, Phthonos spoke, “Thank you, Eulalia… You have given me a body to enact my rage on the physical plane… While you were busy ending your only kin, an enemy clan invaded your kingdom, slaughtering the people you wanted so badly to lead; The people you swore you would protect. Yet you were so caught up in your lust for blood that you hadn’t even realized! You’ve cursed yourself, forever condemned to walk in guilt and loneliness, forever stuck roaming the ruins of your kingdom. You will forever be a Queen to the damned.” And with that, the shadow beside Eulalia disappeared, and she fell to her knees, blood pooling around her as she sobbed. 

The end. ♡