The Crimson King with cloak of blood

Struts across the killing floor

His face a mask of agony

His flesh much scarred and smeared with gore

His broken bones bleached by the sun

Protrude through skin now parchment thin

His eyes are sunken and gone black

He pays eternal for his sin

He once was young and once was fair

Stood tall and smart in glinting gold

A godlike man with power to wield

His heart still pure, his soul not sold

His kingdom knew good fortune then

Led by one who was wise and young

His subjects loyal loved their king

In his praise their songs were sung

He dwelled back then, the Crimson King

Inside a palace crystal clear

That stood atop the highest peak

The valley and its people, dear

To the monarch’s heart, he could survey

Guarding them through blackest night

And watching o’er them through the day

His faithful subjects n’er knew fright

His reign had reached its fifteenth year

When up the hill the king espied

A stranger clad in robes of black

A fiery sword burned by his side

His snakelike hair writhed in the wind

His blind eyes stared blank from his head

But still his gaze filled all with dread

King Crimson tore himself away

Those deep dead eyes he could not meet

They drew him in and held him tight

And made his heart freeze beat on beat

But then a voice spoke in his mind

Quiet and unheeded yet, however

Saying in this man the king might glory find

And keep hold of his power forever

The guards stood resolute by the gate

Its crystal locks and bolts were barred

A breath of air could not have gained

Entrance to the king’s courtyard

Atop the highest turret stood

The shivering frame of the Crimson King

His heart was pumping icy blood

When a thin cracked voice began to sing

‘My Lord,’ the voice rang in his ears

The king spun round upon his heels

Again the voice rang high and clear,

‘I am no vision, I am quite real.’

The phantom’s skeletal fingers gripped

A sword who’s blade was flaming blue

The Crimson King stepped back and slipped

This was no mortal man he knew

He made to bid his guards to come

But from his lips no sound was heard

Believing that he was undone

His tunic torn, his chest laid bare

The Crimson king knelt down

The stranger’s laugh was paper thin

As he saw the king’s face frown

‘I mean no harm,’ Came a whispered grin,

‘I offer you eternity, never ending power

Simply take this sword from me

And henceforth from this hour

From laws your reign it shall be free.’

An evil rose in Crimson’s heart

An urge, a grim and dark desire

To rule as one who’s set apart

To rule with blood and iron and fire

His flesh was seared as he grasped the sword

He felt the dark power surge

‘Your soul must pay the price it owes.’

The stranger’s voice was heard

Then all at once and laughing still

The phantom form began to fade

It started to shrink and shimmer until

The king stood all alone and dazed

And so began the king’s new reign

One clothed in blood and broken bones

Feasting on his subject’s pain

Their corpses filling countless tombs

Eternity was the king’s reward

Its price, now paid, was much too high

To lead his subjects in endless wars

The king was deafened by their cries

But then with all his subjects dead

King Crimson fought the war alone

The blows rained down upon his head

And shattered all his bones

And gouged and tore into his flesh

But this king who could not die

Rose up time on time again

And raised his battle cry

The Crimson King with cloak of blood

Struts across the killing floor

His face a mask of agony

His flesh much scarred and smeared with gore

His broken bones bleached by the sun

Protrude through skin now parchment thin

His eyes are sunken and gone black

He pays eternal for his sin