Pictured and Penned

Ashes trickled to the ground. Wails of agony rippled through the air, which smelled of smoke and burnt flesh. A small girl stood frozen in the middle of the city square. She was already covered in soot from the fire. Her long, red hair that was normally in a braid was disheveled. The little girl had been with her trainer, Asa, practicing her gift when the attack hit. Asa had quickly placed a protective shield over her cottage. When the worst of it seemed to be over is when the little girl rushed to the center of the city. She watched in disbelief as her future kingdom was falling apart. The kingdom her parents worked so hard to build. Her parents…where were they?  

         “Ellyria!”

         The little girl turned her head slowly, her emerald green eyes locking with Asa’s old grey ones. She motioned for the little girl to come back. Ellyria, the girl, pressed her lips together and bolted towards the castle. She could feel her heart drumming in her ears as her little hands trembled. Rubble crunched under her feet as she forced herself to search for her parents, frantically looking through the chaos. Loved ones held their own; wounded or dead, Ellyria couldn’t tell. Unclaimed corpses lay scattered and estranged across the ground. She felt like she was going to be sick. Houses still burned angrily, the foundation cracking and faltering with the heat.

         Once Ellyria reached the castle, she immediately went to her parents’ royal chamber. “Mom! Dad!” She yelled, her voice breaking. They weren’t there though. She checked the throne room. It was empty too. Most of the guards must have went to fight outside. She looked in other rooms. Empty. Empty. Empty. Ellyria collapsed against the stone wall while tears flowed down her dirty cheeks, leaving streaks. Where are they? They wouldn’t have just disappeared when their people needed them. She felt lost and hopeless. Gritting her teeth, she took a deep breath and wiped the tears away. Her mother wouldn’t approve of crying during times of panic. She was the princess and future queen of this realm; she had to stay strong. All at once, it came back to her. She knew where they would have been when the attacks started! The gardens! Ellyria ran as fast as her tiny feet could carry her.

                                                         ~//~

         A tall, muscular man swung his sword. The creature with blue-tinted skin and black wings jumped backwards, trying to dodge the weapon, but managed to obtain a gash on his left arm. It hissed in contempt and lunged forward, thrusting his sword forward. The man blocked the attack and swept his sword in an upward crescent motion, disarming the creature before running his blade through its torso.

         Ellyria covered her mouth, tempted to gasp loudly. She remained hidden in the bushes as she watched her uncle wipe his sword clean with his handkerchief. Breaking her gaze, she searched the courtyard for her parents. Her attention stopped at an overturned table. Two bodies lay motionless behind it. She recognized the turquoise and gold floral pattern worn by those who represented the royal family. All the self-control she had stored in her body escaped. She clumsily emerged from the bushes as she let out a blood-curling scream, “No!”

         Her knees buckled underneath her as she stood over her parents, and she gripped onto their clothes desperately. This wasn’t happening. It can’t be. Her stomach felt like it was in knots. She gasped and hiccupped between her sobs as she shook violently.

         “Ellyria…” She felt a warm hand on her back. She turned slowly to look at her uncle. But his face… It didn’t look like her uncle. His skin was tinted green and the area right beneath his eyes were scaled like a reptile. His hair was not brown, but dark grey and slicked back. He had a long angular nose and pointed chin. His eyes were glowing yellow with small pupils.

         “Un…cle…?”

         The face flashed closer, his mouth open like he was going to eat her. Everything around his face was black. A malicious laugh echoed over and over. “You will suffer, princess.”

“Could you be happy here with me?” Ethynia stared into Raedyn’s ice blue eyes. Her fair hand cupped his cheek gently. She was filled with content and hope. This past year had been so taxing. Maybe she could let her uncle have control over the kingdom, and she could hide away in this forest with Raedyn for the rest of her life. Her happy thoughts trailed off. It wouldn’t be that easy. A small lump formed in her throat, the conflict inside her soul tugged her in opposite directions.