A Nasty Surprise for Lariah - Part I

"Silence!" barked Lariah, as she sat on her throne in the Citadel of
Coupontris. "Idiots! Blithering, good-for-nothing, idiots! Not one
decent morsel among you!"
It was Curse Caster who stepped forward, quivering meekly in her red
robe. "Mistress Lariah," she said. "Please&;#8230;we tried our best.
But&;#8230;we just can't break the rebel alliance."
"Foolish Ho! Has the magic I gave you taught you NOTHING! You'd be
DEAD without me. I gave you your power to CRUSH the rebel alliance, not
power it. I can destroy you, remember that!"
"Sorry&;#8230;" wept Curse Caster, clearly shaken. But she had
known that she was secretly going to betray Lariah&;#8230;