Shadow Cursed

Chapter 40: Betrayal

Anna's P.O.V.

My footsteps rushed up the stone stairs in the tower, I had to get to the top quickly. There was something in the library I needed to read as soon as possible. It was near midnight and it wasn't like the library was closed but it would be empty at this hour. I've heard weird stuff happened at night, but when you have no choice you have to do what you have to do. And also time was of the essence now.

The door slammed behind me as I ran for the back room where the more challenging to read books were kept. Using a dimly lit candle I looked at the bindings of the books for the gold writing that would tell me the truth. It had bit at my insides when I heard of the rumors floating around about the prophecy. It took me enough courage to be able to even set foot in this section of the massive library to find this couple pages.

I ran my finger over several titles I had once read in my free time, and pausing after I passed one in particular. I took a step backward and shed some more light on the faded binding. The letters reacted to the light source and sparkled a little.

I gently but in a rush pulled the book out of the book case and laid it out on a nearby table with the candle next to it. The book was thick and covered in dust. Flipping the book open half way, I flipped through the pages until I stopped and just stared. In black and white ink, a picture of Ethelyn and her baby girl was drawn. The prophecy was written starting on the next page, but in an almost illegible fashion in an ancient language I barely understood.

In a low whisper I told the book, Translate. A glimmering came from the book as the words shifted shapes and soon formed a language I could read.

A land, long lost,
Lay in boundaries,
Not many crossed.
Such a bloody cost,
A war here did once rage.

The Daughter, in doom bound,
And her only baby,
Lost and never found.

A kingdom,
Hidden from sight.
Houses a darkness so dark,
That none did shine light.
There He hides,
Plotting his final fight.

Though all is not faded,
A hero is soon to be bladed,
With the gifts and wisdom of many before them,
And also by a friend aided.

The letters danced in the candle light before my eyes. It had to be Celeste, she was the hero. But what role did I play in this? I was promised a spot at the top, but in the last meeting I was nothing but "a servant he could bend to his will." It hurt, and it was worse when I was sent to be locked in my tower and to be watched at all times. I was no longer needed, and just thrown to the side where he could dispose of me later.

The doors to the library opened and closed, they couldn't know I was in here. Taking cover behind a book case in the back of the room, footsteps passed the room, but then walked in guided by the candle I had left burning. The figure snuffed out the candle and closed the book, putting it back where it belonged in the wall and leaving after looking around the room and mumbling something.

My back against the book case, I wished I had finished reading it. But I had to get back into my tower before I was discovered missing. I took the secret passage out of the library and made my way to the tower entrance. As I started my way up quietly as possibly, I paused and took deep breaths when I heard more voices.

"So when is Master Damien continuing with the plans?" A voice asked.

Another answered, "At the moment, she is being uncooperative. But he has plans to make her work with him until her time comes."

"He won't even consider keeping her around after the deed is done?" I knew they were talking about Celeste, it couldn't be any other significant her.

"She's a bundle of trouble," followed by a sigh, "He doesn't want to deal with her after his perfect world is formed."

The voices soon passed and my breathing calmed down. I had to make my way up without waking up any of the night guards outside the door. Reaching the top of the stairs I slowly walked over to discover the coast was clear, and no guards were outside. I kept my guard up as I slipped into my room and let the door gently close behind me as if I never sneaked out.

Hidden away in my room was an object I sealed away when I had just arrived years ago. A gift from my mother, and the only item left that reminded me of her, a locket with a single picture inside. I held the small piece of jewelry against my heart and cried for the first time in years.

What had become of me? I was a merciless killer who lost their touch with reality. I couldn't even kill my own sister. I couldn't have become soft again, it was impossible. The locket reminded of a time when I loved my sister and father, before the voices got to my head. Before they took over my body and told me every command to follow. Before I was dragged away to this hell and left to die. What had become of me.

Hands shaking I held onto my dresser. I did love my sister and father, they weren't the enemy. The true enemy was Damien, the two-faced liar, he told me I was powerful and could rule beside him. It was all lies to build me up, and then throw me away like the left overs from dinner.

Legs shaking I stood up and walked over the the full length mirror in my room holding a dagger. I thrust the dagger into the glass and stared blankly ahead. The glass around the tip of the weapon shattered littering the floor.

Not anymore. My father didn't trust me anymore, but I would convince him. Then I would come up with a plan to delay the wedding and save my sister. If I had to die, I would be able to die in peace once I cleared my guilt from the past. Two wrongs wouldn't make a right, but it would ease the pain.