A LAND OF FIRE AND DARKNESS

Chapter 1

I had always wanted to be the hero of my story. I had wanted to ride into the battlefield and save the day with a large sword in my hand. I had spent my life training to ensure I could intervene and protect others while protecting myself. I wanted to leave this world knowing people would remember me for my courageous acts that made the world brighter. I wanted to leave this world a better place.

But that was before I knew how terrible and cruel the world was. That was before I watched my mother die on a death bed all alone because my brother would not see her. That was before my brother shut me out of his life when I was a young girl with no explanation. That was before I lost Lewis to poison.

It was before I went into the world and became the Veiled Rogue, it was before I met the terrible Elemental who lied and used me. And It was before I was claimed countless times by men who felt themselves better than women.

No. I was not the hero in my story. I was only living out my villain arch story.

I sat on the steps of the dais and stared down at the limp body of the King on the marble floor. His one eye was shut, while the other still had the bolt sticking out of his head. His silver hair was a mess of blood and knots.

King of Pretonas, taken down in his throne room in midday. The room was carved out of light stone with the back walls behind me completely opened up leading towards the ocean that crashed against the shores behind us.

I took in a deep breath while I rested the crossbow on my lap. I searched for some kind of emotion, some sort of pain for what I had done but found nothing. Absolutely nothing. My mind flashed with the images of the moments leading up to killing Delcallon.

His soft voice trying to calm me down as he stepped towards me. Telling me how we had been astral projecting into each other's minds for weeks. He had been kind to me. But then he went and tried to say we were Intwined and I decided I did not want to hear that.

I was not going to be anyone's Intwined ever again. Eskar had claimed it, and he had lied. If Delcallon thought he was any better than Eskar for trying to claim me, he was very wrong.

No. I felt nothing as I stared at the beautiful man on the floor. If anything, I felt calm.

I leaned my hands back on the marble tiles and looked up at the vaulted ceilings.

I should probably be trying to escape. Delcallon's court and men were outside the door waiting for their King to call them back in. I doubted they would take the sight of seeing him dead too well.

But I did not care about that either. They could kill me, torture me, that was fine. I was done with this pathetic world anyway.

The large silver doors swung open and I looked over to meet their faces.

Dorica stood in the center and her face morphed into utter distress. Her crystal eyes similar to Delcallon's stared between his limp body and me. Her silver hair, which also looked so much like her brother's, was braided down her side.

"Del!" She screamed out in a wail. It was rather irritating to the ears.

She rushed forward while the others followed after her. She dropped to her knees in front of Delcallon's body and crouched over him. She began to cry over his dead body.

"Fuck." Laveen muttered out as he stood behind Dorica. His golden-brown eyes traced over the body of the King. He had long black hair that fell to his shoulders and was large and muscular in size. "What the fuck did you do!" He spat towards me. I looked up at him through lowered lashes.

Dorica looked over at me, "Arrest her!" She shouted with a pathetic voice.

Brallon knelt down next to Dorica and began examining the King. He was the soft one in the group. His beautiful face with soft features only proved it. He had dazzling blue eyes and light blonde hair that was kept short and tidy. His fingers traced over the bolt that was in the King's head.

"It is not silver." He whispered out as he looked up at Laveen.

My face creased into confusion.

"There is an arrow in his eye!" Dorica yelled at the pretty Oblivion boy. Tears streamed down her face.

He placed a hand on her shoulder, "Dorica." He stated with a soft tone, "He will live."

I narrowed my eyes at them. He had an arrow in his head, he was dead. He was not breathing. I looked at the bolt and my jaw clenched. The only way to kill an Elemental was with silver. I had messed up.

"Take her to the dungeons," Laveen ordered towards some guards that stepped into the room.

"No!" Brallon gestured for them to stop. Everyone including me looked at the Blonde in confusion. "We cannot put the Princess of Utohia in the dungeon." He stated with a calm voice. "It will cause an uprising."

"She put an arrow in his head!" Dorica barked as her more vicious side took hold once again. "She cannot be free."

Laveen nodded his head firmly, "I am with Dorica." He stated as he glared at me. "She does not even look remorseful."

I faintly smirked, "I'm not." My voice felt as cold as it sounded.

"You are not helping." Brallon shot me a warning stare to keep quiet.

He pressed his hands to the temple of his head as he figured out what to do with me. Brallon was Delcallon's second. He was now responsible for deciding my fate until the King either woke up or died.

He let out a heavy sigh and turned to face me, "Put her in her chambers." He ordered towards two guards.

They slowly stepped towards me and I conceded into defeat. I stood up with my hands in the air and kicked my crossbow away. Fighting felt pointless at this point.

They spun me around and began to restrain me. My eyes stared down at Delcallon who looked dead. The bolt stuck out of his head, and the innocent me would have probably thrown up at the sight. But that little girl was dead.

"Guard every exit," Brallon added towards Laveen.

Yarris stepped next to Laveen, "You cannot restrain a Highvarion." I tilted my head towards the black-haired elemental. His purple eyes stared at me as he examined my face. His position in court was to ensure the rules and traditions were always adhered to. Even now he was still trying.

"She attempted to Kill the King." Brallon started as he stood up from the floor, "Law trumps religion Yarris." A faint growl escaped his lips.

He turned towards the guards and I. "Restrain her in her chambers." He ordered as his blue eyes narrowed on me.

I was dragged past them all with my hands behind my back. Their eyes all glared at me as I was escorted out. But still, I felt nothing.

I looked over my shoulder at the body of Delcallon.

No, I was not the hero of this story. I was the villain.