The celestial maidens understood instantly. One by one, they conjured whips of pure spiritual energy.
And they lashed into me without mercy.
I was mortal flesh and bone. I had no way to withstand an assault from this many immortals at once.
I was beaten to the ground, curled into myself, my skin split open in ribbons of blood.
Through the blinding agony, I locked both hands over my belly and screamed with everything I had left:
"Stop! I am the Demon Queen!"
At those words, the celestial maidens froze mid-strike.
Seraphina stood off to the side, eyes narrowing as she studied me.
"What did you just say? That you're the Demon Queen?"
I met her gaze without flinching. "That's right. If the Demon Sovereign finds out what you've done to me, none of you will walk away from this."
I laid the truth bare, certain that Seraphina would stop.
Instead, they burst out laughing in unison.
"This filthy mortal has lost her mind! She actually thinks she's the Demon Queen?"
"Just because she looks a little like Lady Seraphina, she has the nerve to claim our lady owes everything to her?"