The Rising Shadow

Prologue

Ræya
Ræya heard a bird squawk across the road, whistling in hopes of finding a mate. It continued to whistle as it flew farther away.
She ignored it and continued playing with her train set.
Ræya pushed down on her track and her train track slid into place letting her train slide down to where her cardboard passengers she'd made stood.
She'd been collecting cardboard for months, taking the boxes from the cooks and the trash. When her dad had asked, she'd lied and told him she'd bought them because they weren't "proper toys". Her dad was starting to get frustrated too at all the tape used though she could tell he was proud she was creating her own kingdom to rule. Ræya picked one up and the Mack in cheese cardboard person tipped over in her hands.
She'd known that they be flimsy but she was still disappointed with them. She often made her toys now and they were getting better. Each attempt brough her view closer to life. Ræya put the doll down in the train and watched it whirl around her track.
A gentle hand knocked on her door and she could tell it was her mom. No one else would enter a Ladies room especially Lady Ræya Minguez Solems without permission along as her father lived.
He insisted no one was allowed in their hallway except for her dad's personal guards and the few selected servants.
Her mother let herself in and smiled as she took in her paper figures.
" Ræya your father wants us down stairs now, it'll only be a bit" the duchess smiled warmly.
Ræya stood up and nodded. She quickly wiped the dress her maid had dressed her in down this morning and flattened her hair smoothly.
Her mom smiled nervously and Ræya could tell something was wrong as she helped her do her hair.
She grabbed her mom's smooth and strong hand as she held Ræya's tiny hand in hers as they headed down stairs.
The paint was peeling in multiple places as they passed the servants hall down the back entrance. Ræya frowned as they took another turn down towards the old garden.
"Mom, are we lost?" Ræya asked trying to figure out why her dad would want them.
"No, love. I just wanted to have time to get ready." Her mom replied her face flushed against her pale dress.
" For what? Is daddy mad at me?" Ræya asked her mind still spinning as she pictured her dad, the king looming over her, his face red like a tomato, yelling at her with words she didn't understand.
" No sweet" her mom replied patiently. " No, not mad at you. He just wants to talk. Everything will be fine. Just remember July 2nd last year. Our code? Remember how fun that was?" Her mom speed, continuing quickly. " You were young but that was my happiest memory. We had Rainbows using nature! Years only until humans and very evolved animals taught each other!"
Ræya stopped mid hallway trying to process her mom's nonsense. Her mom shook her head a little and smiled.
" Remember that Ræya?" As they turned the corner.
Her father was waiting there and frowned at her mom as they turned the corner.
" Tïzēýa," Her dad gave a smirked smile. " Glad you found Ræya, it's time for us to meet Chancellor Rikovig to meet his son for marriage. "
Her mom, the Queen Tïzēýa frowned and her beautiful face creased.
"Six isn't too young? Isn't Ismal twelve now? Can we wait at all?"
"No," Ræyas father said shaking his head." They were offered a great sum to arrange a marriage in the next few years for all four kids. Their great grandmother Alifïža gave them some conditions if she was going to pay off their debt... If we want to arrange this marriage, we need to do it now."
Her mother sighed and nodded as hand in hand they all walked out into the sun where they'd meet the chancellor. The sun was bright and as the roses riffled in the breeze, the breeze whipped at her hair.
Of in the distance Ræya heard a rustle, she frowned towards her father as suddenly blast hit the wall nearest them.
Ræyas mom fell gasping as she clutched her side gasping for air. Ræya screamed. Blood was soaking Queen Tïzēýa's shirt. Ræya stood there in shock. Another blast fired but she ignored it. Her father was yelling but she'd tuned him out.
Someone had killed her mother. The Beloved queen. Her head roared and her eyes clouded red. No one did that. The wind started spiraling around her. Forming a barrier around her as another blast hit her. She shrugged it off and continued towards the shooter. Her father stepped in front of her to pull her away and she shoved out her hand. A giant gust of whirling wind rushed toward him pushing him on the ground.
All Ræya saw was red. Shooter. Dead. Mom. Die. As she approached even closer, she saw a figure back away. Coward, she spat as he ran. She let her wind pick him up before ramming him into the ground. Her dad called her to stop but it was too late, the wind had already heard her command. Die.

The man was being torn apart. By her wind as it wrapped around him one last time before dropping him down hard. Ræya watched as the man sobbed as blood seeped from him. The big gash on her shoulder started to throb. She winced, sagging to the ground. Exhausted and devastated with tears falling from her eyes, the horror of what she'd just done hit her.
She'd killed a man. One that had tried to kill her and had killed her mom. She'd pushed her father and she'd developed her ability.
A rare ancient power passed every few generations to just one descendant. The control of whispers. The ability to whisper to the wind and use that to whisper into people's ears controlling them. One that had skipped her father leaving him with telepathy. Another incredibly rare, strong gift leaving him with the ability to sense people's minds.

One that meant he could have saved her mother but he hadn't... because he hadn't wanted to get hurt.
Ræya got up slowly and walked over to her father.
" You useless coward " she spat before running back to her mother's side over on the far side of the gardens. Her mom was still alive but the blast had badly hurt her heart. The wound was bleeding badly. There was nothing she could do.
" Get out of here" her mom gasped. "Don't let your father get me, he is a lot more dangerous than you think. Do what he says until you find your fat-..." her mom drifted of, her eyes gazing off slightly, obviously in pain. Her eyes slid closed and she pressed a gun into Ræya's hand
" End pain, pull...it bad...please." her mom begged. She mumbled it again, desperation in her eyes. Ræya flinched away. Her mom would live all she had to do was get her help. Help, Ræya repeated, as she tried in vain to calm herself down. She glanced back at her mom but the nonsense had soon become jumbled and all she heard now was the faint call of help within the muttering.
Ræya gripped her mom's gun. She flinched as the gun clicked as she turned the safety lock of. She turned her head pressing it into her arm as she blindly aimed the gun at her mom's wheezing chest and fired three times

BANG. BANG. BANG.