Chapter one

C H A P T E R  O N E

 

 

 

"There it is again, that word. Now just say what it means." Annaria whispered under her breathe. She pushed her body against the door even more, her ear flat against the cold wood. Yet the wood was thick enough where most of the conversation was muffled, making it hard for her to hear an complete sentence. "What will...do in that type...the only thing to do is just seal..." said a female voice, clearly enraged. Annaria bit her lip and leaned against the door even more.

            "That can't be our only option you know, we can always...that animal would do..." Said a man's voice, clear and calm.

            Annaria heard somebody slam their hand on a table then started yelling, soon everybody else joined in on the uproar. She stopped listening then, knowing she won't be able to hear anything while they argue about something. "Come on, I already know about all of that, now make it clear enough where I can understand the rest." Annaria grinded her teeth together in frustration. Everybody...They all have been keeping this stuff away from me on purpose. But why? If it's that important then why did they keep all of that away from me? Annaria took a step away from the door then dipped her head down. She filled her lungs and slammed her fist into the door, releasing the emotions that swelled up in her. "Why? What's so important about all of that stuff anyways." She could feel the tears welding into her eyes. "Why was everybody lying to me all this time? Can I even trust anyone now?" Seconds later the commotion stopped and a dead silence covered everybody.

            Annaria backed away slowly from the door with her fingertips on her mouth, knowing that they must have heard her hit the door. Her heart started pounding and she stood there, frozen of whether she should run, or stay there. Seconds later, the doors flung inwards and there were a few kings and queens sitting around a long rectangular glass table, and a king standing up with his hand outstretched in front of him with  his round orange ring on his index finger glowing brightly. She locked eyes with his striking orange eyes and instantly ran down the straight hall without hesitation.

            "Well this isn't good at all. Elisi, please sound the alarms. And also tell your guards to stop her in any way, even if killing her is the only option." Said the king.

            "You don't have to order me around, King Varrinar, I know very well what do in this situation, especially what will come next." Elisi said while she glared at Annaria still running down the long hallway.

           

            One by one, warning bells started to ring throughout the castle walls and echoed into the large expanse of the golden meadow. The sounds of these bells made Annaria lengthen her stride through the meadow, ever so slowly coming closer to the stable. Her breathing quickened, and her pace started to diminish. For a moment, fear threatened to overtake her, they seemed so close.  I’m not going to make it in time; I’m not going to make it in time… Annaria thought in near panic. The guards were already in full chase, their menacing blades out, glistening from the sun’s rays. Setting doubt aside, she pushed forward, and in what seemed like endless time, but in reality just moments, Annaria found herself at the stable doors, and without pause, swung the heavy wooden paneled door open.  Adjusting her eyes to the low light, and ignoring her pained lungs, she sprinted with the last amount of remaining stamina, abruptly stopping in front of a black unicorn’s stall. The deep yells that came from the line of guards started to become clearer, and louder.

            Annaria pushed the stall door open, and greeted Distreigh. He placed his soft muzzle into her hands then lifted his head when he didn't find a treat waiting for him. As soon as he felt the fear emit off of Annaria, he flattened his ears. Annaria smiled then reached over the stack of hay and grabbed the brown leather bridle that hung over it. She patted Distreigh on the shoulder then maneuvered in front of him. She gently smiled then rubbed his forehead, her fingers separated around his dark horn. It's okay everything is going to be fine...hopefully. Annaria quickly thought, and slid on the bridle and smoothly navigated the worn leather straps onto his head. Having no time to prepare a saddle, she decided to go bareback, even though she hated doing so. She stepped onto the bale of hay and swung her right leg over Distreigh’s back and gathered the reigns in her hands. Loud footsteps filled her ears, and she froze. Her body became heavy and her head started to spin. "Daze spell...crap." She covered her face with her hands and cringed, trying to see if there is a way to dispel it. She only read about it in books, but she used to doubt that she never even had magic at all. Until now. Energy filled her veins then she concentrated that energy into her head. Soon her head started to clear and she gained focus on everything.

            “Stop right there!” yelled a guard that came rushing toward the stall, being followed by others. Annaria kicked Distreigh, but as soon as he fully stepped out of the stall, the guards were already right next to her. One of the guards raised his arm skyward, then a cyclone of warm air circled around him. Annaria knew what was coming next. She closed her eyes then screamed. She put her arms in front of herself as a shield. A massive wind force flew right into her stomach. It was strong enough to knock her off from the back of Distreigh. She stumbled a couple feet away and gasped for air. Bruises were covering her arms and sides.

            "Don't you think that's a little rough?" said the guard right beside him.

            "If it means were protecting this land, then I'll do whatever it takes." He walked forward, going around the frightened unicorn then right in front of Annaria which was still on the ground groaning. Annaria shook as she tried to lift herself up, but it was no use. She turned her head toward the guard and was greeted with an open palm inches away.

            "Please, don't hurt me anymore. I did nothing wrong." Tears started to weld in her eyes and her heartbeat became faster. For a first time in years, fear of death filled every square inch of herself.

            "Your death is just inevitable, and will come sooner than you think. So why not just end it now, and end the suffering that you could very well inflict on everybody?" Rocks started to appear around him. All of them were about the size of her head. He closed his hand and the rocks swiftly conjoined together right beside him. Annaria scooted away from him with tears falling down.

            "Besides, you are trying to destroy the world at this moment." His hand raised up in the air and the large rock floated right above his palm. No...No..What is even talking about? Besides I can't die right here...

            Annaria put her hand over her head and screamed, "No!" She quivered in fear, yet nothing happened. She only heard rocks falling onto the stone ground. then it got quite. She opened her eyes and saw a man dressed in a grey cloak. He was standing right over the man's body. The other guards were also down, and Distreigh was gone. She sat upright and gazed at him.

            "I have to say, you have quite a loud and long lasting scream there." He turned around then bent down to where he saw her in eye level. Those lavender eyes, then he's just like her, so he must be good.

            Annaria was still quivering. "Are they....dead?" She gulped at felt chills run through her body at the near thought of it. The one thing that Annaria hated most was death, and the sight of weapons covered in blood. Even though they attempted at killing her, seeing them lifeless on the floor was too much.

            "Don't worry, there not dead. But there are more guards coming, plus Spirit Wolves. We have to hurry. He grabbed Annaria's wrist and pulled her up from the ground. They rant toward the back door of the stables. Annaria stopped as soon as she saw the forest.

            "Are we going into that forest?" She looked up at the man and he nodded sternly. He looked up into the sky. In his eyes he saw a cloudless maroon hued sky, and a bright orange sun.

            "What a beautiful sky." He slightly grinned.

            "Well it's just the same old boring clouds and the same shade of blue. Nothing special really.  Anyways why would you--"

            "Well I like the way I see it." He looked at the ground he could faintly see a glowing line seeping through the earth. He grinned even more then pulled Annaria forward. It didn't take long to enter the darkening forest. They both went deeper and deeper inside the forest. As each minute passed, the dark maroon sky turned a brighter shade of red. And the land below slowly started to shake as a green light was being emitted from the dirt. Everybody else could see and feel the changes. Expect for Annaria.

            The man briefly stopped and let go his grasp on Annaria's arm. Annaria felt completely drained of energy. She fell to the ground from exhaustion beside him.

   "You did your part well. But now there's no use for you anymore." Said a whispery, ghastly voice. Shivers ran through Annaria and slowly, she adverted her eyes from the ground and up to the man. In front of him was a grey shadow that had depth and took a form of a human being. It also had white eyes. Annaria had goosebumps all along her arm. She felt cold, and frozen from just a glance at this thing. Seconds later the man fell down to his knees without a word. Then the rest of his body fell down. Annaria saw his face then her eyes grew wide.

            There were large gashes all over his face. Some of which were exposing bone. Blood streamed out of his wounds and his mouth. His lavender eyes were still open. As Annaria took all of the damage in, she screamed. She pushed herself away from him, and the creature. When she felt a tree hit her back, she didn't move at all. Her body shook violently and tears flowed from her eyes. Sobs escaped from her mouth. She no longer had enough air for anymore screaming. She covered her mouth with both of her hands. She wanted to look away, but she couldn't.

            The misty figure stood right over his body. Its white eyes were gone. More fear entered her body and her heart rate continued to go faster. She couldn't tell if the thing was looking at her or not. And she thought that she was next to go. Several howls were heard nearby. Then there were voices of several guards.

            When the guards and the Spirit Wolves showed up, they all un sheaved their blades. They could see the grey misty figure as well.

            "Such naive humans." Said the misty figure. The white eyes appeared again. It floated over the body and straight toward the guards. The Spirit Wolves, all snarled and bared their long ivory fangs. One of the guards yelled and swung his blade at the thing. It went straight though. He grimaced then started to swing his sword at the mist-creature multiple times, steadily becoming more frantic, but to no apparent effect.  Then, without hint of force or action by the mist creature, the guard came suddenly still, eyes wide with alarm, his breath caught midway, freezing the other silent spectators.   He coughed trying to regain his breath, only to stare in shock at the blood that spitted out, and eyes still wide open, silently fell to the ground, dropping the sword. It landed with a loud clank.  His lifeless eyes stared up into the bright red sky.

            All the others gasped then took a step backwards. More tears fell down Annaria's cheek. She pulled her knees in and covered her hands over her head. She closed her eyes and tears still continued to flow. The chain of screams and yelps echoed through her ears.  She knew what was happening to the others, but could not bear to witness. 

            "Stop it!" Annaria's muffled scream pierced through the air. The last body fell to the ground with an echoing thump.

            "Annaria... Be quiet for now." With those words Annaria looked up at the mist-creature.  It raised what looked like an arm straight of Annaria. A loud crack was heard from her left arm. Annaria screamed loudly from her own pain. She fell sideways while cradling her broken arm.

            Between large sobs she managed to say, "Somebody...Valndra...Anybody...Please help me." Annaria whimpered as the pain grew.

            "Nobody is going to help you. Not when the sky is quickly turning a brighter shade of red, the cracking of the ground ever increasing, all is in turmoil. No, no help will come, not when I'm here." It's voice became more eerie then.

            In a soft voice Annaria whispered, "You just wait, I know somebody will come." Her broken arm started to slightly swell. She let out a whimper as her arm started to throb.  Looking off to the distance, she murmured "There's no way she would leave me alone."

            "Silence, child. It's not time yet. Save your energy until then." The shadow faced a palm at Annaria again. A chain of sickening cracks were heard. Annaria screamed even louder than before. The bone of her index finger of her right hand was completely shattered. She never felt real pain before. Yet this was too much for her. She started to cry even more. What once just a few drops of tears seconds ago were now streams. "Why are you doing this?"

            "Preparation," The shadow looked away from the red sky and directly toward Annaria. Slowly it floated toward her. When it got about two feet away from her it stopped moving. "For something that curses everybody that sets foot in this world." Annaria didn't know what to say. Instead she tried to stray farther away from the shadow. It was useless though. She was pressed firmly against the foot of a tree. It was hard enough to have enough energy to even move at all. Why do I feel so, weak?

            Around the shadow a mixture of white and blue flames danced around it. "Please..." The shadow held out its misty arm straight at her head. The flames ran up its side and down its arm. it all conjoined around its hand in one, large ball. The heat reflected off of Annaria. Beads of sweat started to form on her forehead. "Don't do this..." The flames shot out of its hand and went directly inside Annaria's head. Seconds passed with not the slightest of sounds.

            Annaria took in a sudden shaky breathe of air and clutched at her chest. Then she coughed up some thick blood. The shadow laughed to itself as it saw her red pigmented eye started to glow brightly. Slowly the pain started to grow inside Annaria.

            Then from different directions, long howls came from the darkness. Her lips broke into a weak smile. I knew you'll come.

Author's Note

Some of the paragrapg indentations might be a little messed up :c

Reviews

[Mary]

Brilliant ... so look forward to Chapter 2 ....

[GorgEOus NiGhtMarE]

This is really good! Isnt this on booksie aswell? but with far more chapters of course hehe :)

[Miranda Fields]

It sure is! I'm just trying to get it around and stuff so it could orbably be more sucessful when I (hopefully) publish it before I graduate High School. Yet I was thinking of putting more poetry onto this site though :3

[GorgEOus NiGhtMarE]

You should :D your books are amazing so I can only imagin how wonderful your poetry it :) put a link on here when it published so us fans can buy it :P