The Demon: A Breaking Kingdom
May 12th 2010 12:43
The last three days I have written nothing. My days were spent training my daughter, my nights spent planning with the generals of my last army. They strike against the Elves, the Drakor, and Appollinia tomorrow. I know they will fail. I have seen their low spirits. I have seen the armies all around that they must fight.
My preparations have been meticulous. I have given my daughter leadership of my paradise. Even if I am not killed by the Council, I know I will be left in such a pathetic state that I will barely be able to rule myself, let alone paradise. I’ll be broken, just like my kingdom.
I know the king is ready to yield. He knows, just like I do, that the army outside his walls cannot be defeated by what is left of our forces. He knows, just like I do, that the army will fall, and the city will be left to rot.
He will surrender the very next morning. I can already see it, see his actions. I can feel the Fatalis Intarnati laughing at me, and the Phoenix's ghost looming over my shoulder. My love doesn’t speak when she sees me. She simply stares at me with sad, beautiful eyes. And I stare back, wishing I could console her. I really wish I could be with her, wish I could do what she asks, but it is too late now, even if I were to turn back; they would destroy me.
What the king doesn't see is that even if they surrender, my people will not be allowed freedom. Appollinia will rule them. My temples will be destroyed. My nobles will be slaughtered. My worshipers will die by the hundreds, with only the poorest of the nation remaining. There will be nothing left of my people but the street urchins upon whom the Council will take pity.
I am sick to my stomach. This is all too much for me. I must go lay with my love for what might be the last time.
My preparations have been meticulous. I have given my daughter leadership of my paradise. Even if I am not killed by the Council, I know I will be left in such a pathetic state that I will barely be able to rule myself, let alone paradise. I’ll be broken, just like my kingdom.
I know the king is ready to yield. He knows, just like I do, that the army outside his walls cannot be defeated by what is left of our forces. He knows, just like I do, that the army will fall, and the city will be left to rot.
He will surrender the very next morning. I can already see it, see his actions. I can feel the Fatalis Intarnati laughing at me, and the Phoenix's ghost looming over my shoulder. My love doesn’t speak when she sees me. She simply stares at me with sad, beautiful eyes. And I stare back, wishing I could console her. I really wish I could be with her, wish I could do what she asks, but it is too late now, even if I were to turn back; they would destroy me.
What the king doesn't see is that even if they surrender, my people will not be allowed freedom. Appollinia will rule them. My temples will be destroyed. My nobles will be slaughtered. My worshipers will die by the hundreds, with only the poorest of the nation remaining. There will be nothing left of my people but the street urchins upon whom the Council will take pity.
I am sick to my stomach. This is all too much for me. I must go lay with my love for what might be the last time.
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Comment by RedParrot
I am glad he is a villian. : ) I think he is an idiot, an appauling leader, a crummy soldier and - overall - a self-involved nitwit. : ) It makes me laugh that I have made all these judgements from just this one entry. It also amuses me that I want badly to push him aside and let me do some of the heavy lifting for he clearly has no clue. Even spent part of my transit time annoyed with the character's ... erhm ... set of choices and priorities. Not. A. Real. Person ... : )
And all this with no context, no backstory and no real compass to orient myself. : )
I'd say that makes this a fine, provocative entry. : )
My latest is here ... Really Long Link
I've done some house cleaning so that the diary reads down except for the last entry ...
Nearly at the half-way mark! Whoo hoo!! : )
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
The Demon is an interesting character because when Those Who Are created him, they meant for him to appear a certain way in the mythology of his people. They didn't mean him to really be exactly as the myths say-but they made him into a monster. They never gave him enough of a conscience.
I'm glad that you found this entry powerful, even if you don't necessarily like the guy.
I'm really enjoying reading Elgin's diary-the idea that he is an outcast among his own kind, that he only truly finds acceptance from a human woman, is quite interesting. And I still love his voice.
Two days and then we're halfway there...
~Dianna
Comment by RedParrot
I am glad you are enjoying Elgin. I am becoming more and more interested in him as entries happen. I have it my head that there is almost a cliche of Vamp/human relationships that is - it is under-rationalized? Is that the word? A la Twilight wherein she just smells good. I am always tempted to say "don't we all?" Why her? Seriously. He's only had opportunity with a gazillion other girls ... not to mention vamps ... sigh.
Plus - I'm always a fan of a good deal of character torment / not fitting in / trapped by consequences & circumstances and then seeing how it all plays out.
In other stories, I'm inevitably attracted to the anti-hero - Snape, Uther (Merlin), Skinner (XFiles), Spike, Spade, etc. (note the abundance of the First Letter S ... maybe I re-baptize him Selgin? lol). This diary chalenge has let me explore what that might look like for vamps.
I need to be careful here or I am going to end up having Elgin as permanent November company! : )
Thank you for all your lovely support and "hosting" the exercise.
Cheers!
RedParrot
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
Sadly, the Demon is like quite a few of the world's worst dictators throughout history. I'd even be willing to say that most political leaders, especially of the royal or imperial kind, care mostly for power and money, at least historically.
I love the anti-hero as well, and Spike and Snape are two of my favourites.
And I don't necessarily having a vampire for November company is a bad thing.
I love helping other writers. Moral support is perhaps what I'm best at.
~Dianna