The Empress of HellFire. The Emperor of Ice Storms. Together as one, they will tear the world apart. Stranded in a kingdom with their paths intertwined, the fight to reclaim what was once lost will draw nothing but blood and fury.
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Venix Draywin...
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Esmeralda watched the only home she had ever known burn before her eyes. Bright orange flames engulfed the frozen ground she would run on every morning and turned the trees she would climb into ashes.
She could hear the screams of people she would play with and see their heads decapitated and displayed on sticks, their lifeless eyes staring up at the sky as if any Gods could save them now. She was frozen in place, unprepared for what to do next and terrified of what she would have to do.
"Esmeralda, move away from the window!"
Her mother's sharp voice brought her back to reality and she obeyed as she stepped away from the window and turned around to see both of her parents running frantically. Her mother was busy packing two bags full of whatever she could fit while her father strapped the last of his armor onto his body. The glint of his sword could be seen through the darkness of the room, only illuminated by the flames burning outside.
"I don't want an arrow shot through your head" she mumbled.
"Rhilora," her father said in a stern voice, passing a cold look toward her mother.
Her mother sighed, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Raine. I just can't seem to calm down. I'm trying but I can't."
For the first time, Esmeralda witnessed her mom crying. It wasn't as loud and boisterous as she had always imagined. Instead, it was soft and mumbled as tears rolled down her porcelain face. Her hands were shaking and her breath wavered but she turned away to conceal her face.
Something in her father's gaze softened and he walked over to her mother. He didn't utter a word as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close as she continued to cry. His face seemed saddened as well but he held his own as he stroked his wife's hair, whispering sweet nothings into her ear.
"It's going to be okay" Esmeralda could hear him whisper. "The kids will be okay."
At the mention of them, Emeralda shifted her gaze over to her brother, Lucien, who was stirring awake from his sleep. His eyes were red and his hair fell around his face as he tried to gather what was going on. He looked over to their parents in an embrace before locking eyes with his sister.
"Esmeralda, what's going on?" Lucien asked as he slid off the bed.
Esmeralda snapped out of her trance as her brother walked over to her, a confused look on his face as he witnessed his mom crying. "We'll be okay, Lucien. Don't dwell on it too much" she whispered, turning over to her brother with a smile.
Lucien didn't return it. Instead, he scowled.
Eventually, Esmeralda heard their mother stop crying and their father brush her tears away. He planted a small kiss on her forehead. His eyes seemed to glisten with tears but they never rolled down his face as he cradled their mother's face.
"I love you Rhilora. I'll always love you, long after this world is gone and I'll continue to love you beyond that" he whispered.
Their mother nodded and she reached up to kiss him one last time. "I love you too. More than you'll ever know."
