Ivory thought she understood what conquest looked like.
She had seen the Blue Dragons take over territory.
She had seen people fear Blue; she had seen; She had seen what happened when someone challenged him; she had seen Blue let people test him, and how he loves the game of cat and mouse.
But this was different.
The Blue Dragons controlled parts of a city while The Seraphyne controlled a planet.
3 days after the broadcast, the world Ivory knew slowly disappeared.
The first thing she noticed was how there were screams, planes, helicopters, and the sound of cars speeding through the area; bright lights and loud, crashing sounds were heard. She even heard guns and vacuum like sounds that indicated that portals were opening and closing. Then, there was dead silence.
Not the peaceful kind. The kind that came when people were afraid to speak.
The news no longer showed debates between governments. There were no arguments between politicians, and no announcements from different leaders.
There was one message.
One authority.
One name.
Blue.
Ivory stood beside him in his lair as he watched reports from across the world.
The screen in front of them changed.
Europe.
Then Africa.
Then Canada.
Then America.
The images looked impossible.
Ivory stood in awe --- shock hit her entire body. She had no idea that Blue's mission to take over the Earth also meant changing exactly how it looked.
Seraphyne structures had risen alongside human cities. Their architecture was unlike anything Ivory had ever seen. The buildings were enormous, almost alive, made from materials that reflected light differently than anything on Earth. They were tall and futuristic looking --- they were shaped with glass and nature all at one: organic, intricate features. Caves appeared all over with blue crystals embedded -- the ground was now shaped as a walking labyrinth: sidewalks, hiking paths, and roads were intertwined with grass, nature, caves, or water.
Ivory thought it was beautiful and majestic .... but it wasn't Earth.
"They adapted quickly," Blue said. "They were already prepared. We took thousands of years designing how we wanted Earth to look like, how we wanted humans and The Seraphyne to both adapt and be able survive Earth.
"It will take time getting used to the new look."
Blue leered at Ivory. "We have existed beneath this world for longer than humanity has recorded history."
The screen changed again.
Different regions appeared.
"Europe will be governed by one of my descendants."
Ivory turned toward him. "Your descendants?"
Blue looked at her. "Our children."
The words made her uncomfortable.
He continued as if he was discussing politics.
"America will remain under my direct rule."
The map changed.
"Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the remaining territories will each require leadership."
Ivory stared. "You already planned this."
"Of course."
She looked at the screen. "You don't just want Earth; you want to live. You want ultimate control."
Blue's eyes met hers.
"I want the Seraphyne to continue."
There it was.
The reason behind everything.
Not revenge.
Not power alone.
Legacy.
"Our bloodline must expand. We need a heir for each region."
Ivory looked away. "That's a lot, Blue."
"I know," Blue nodded. "We will get a surrogate if needed. Remember, I will have human breeders."
Blue watched the screen. "Humans will become part of our future, temporarily."
"What do you mean?"
Blue laughed. "I doubt most will adapt and live on forever ---- The Seraphyne are stronger humans with innate capabilities."
The way he said it made her realize that he wasn't asking -- he wanted more children and for humans to die off, and what Blue wanted was what he got.
Humans are just his temporary release --- a race that he will use to advance Earth as part of evolution.
For years, Ivory had wondered what existed below Earth. She expected darkness. Caves. Something ancient and primitive.
She was wrong.
The Hollow Earth was a civilization. A world. Massive cities stretched farther than she could see. Lights illuminated landscapes hidden from humanity for centuries. Aliens were more advanced than humans were, and humans were so prideful and ignorant that they felt themselves to be the best. Now, here they are, imprisoned by a race whose existence they never heard of, and if they had heard of The Seraphyne, most likely believed that they were fake --- just stories.
Ivory removed the curtain from the window and peered outside, and saw more of The Seraphyne as they walked through the streets. Some looked almost human while others did not.
Some had features Ivory had only seen glimpses of when looking at Blue.
Unnatural eyes. Different markings. Stronger builds.
Features that made it obvious they were not human.
They weren't monsters. They were organized.
That was what disturbed Ivory.
Families walked together.
Children trained.
Workers maintained the cities.
Everything functioned.
"You built all of this beneath us," Ivory whispered.
Blue looked ahead.
"We survived."
She watched the Seraphyne interact. Ivory looked outside. There were schools, Medical centers, Government buildings, caves, labyrinths, beautiful landscapes, and homes.
Everything had a purpose.
"They aren't chaotic," she said.
"No. We are intelligent and organized. Remember, life is about who can adapt and who cannot."
"How long have you been preparing?" Ivory asked. "How long have you been planning to imperialize Earth and breed with humans?"
"Longer than your civilization has existed. Centuries. Thousands of years," Blue walked over to her. "The Seraphyne are calculated and controlled, intelligent and capable. We are patient with what we find important."
He took Ivory's hand. "Once we have heirs for all parts of Earth I want ownership of, that's when my duties will be complete -- that's when I can say that I have dominated Earth and made it a better place."
Ivory felt overwhelmed.
The world she knew had always seemed enormous. Now she realized humanity had only occupied the surface of something much bigger.