Fatal Love

1

In this world, one thing never changes; life and Death.

I think of the space between life and death as I lie in bed. Would it be peaceful, or would it be painful? My family has been a part of this world since the beginning. It's a good thing, but when you have everything, life becomes monotonous. It almost makes death seem more inviting than life itself.

My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on my door.

"Come in," I say, sitting up in my bed.

My door creaks open, and in walks one of my servants.

"Miss, your father has requested your presence in the family hall for a meeting," she says as she opens my curtains. I let out a groan and nod.

Slowly getting up, I began to head toward the hall. The walk could be described as scenic, as family portraits lined the walls. Chandeliers hung throughout the aisle, illuminating the castle's dark and gloomy hue. I knew I was coming to the room as I heard my mother's familiar, screeching voice. I push open the door.

"We must take action now; the people are causing an uproar. We must resolve this matter immediately." Mother expresses. I could tell this was a serious matter because the look on my brother's face said it all.

My father noticed me as I walked in.

"Kelasta, come." He commanded me.

"What's the purpose of this meeting, Father?" I questioned.

"A mysterious force has taken over the Borders, and it has made the people of Damina unrest." He said with a heavy face. "All over the kingdom, there have been more deaths within the past weeks than in the years we've ruled."

"I do not understand...The runes of our ancestors protect Damina. How has something like this occurred?" I said in a rush.

"The runes consist of ancient spells that no magic has been able to penetrate." My brother stressed, "The information about all creatures in Damina has been recorded in our books and reviewed countless times."

"Lucius, we may be facing a rebellion. Look at the numbers; we haven't had this many casualties since the battle of Lyr." Mother said while pacing back and forth.

"Lilith, will you stop pacing and just sit down? It may not be the same as then. Maybe we can prevent that from happening. There must be a reason this is all happening now." He reasoned.

"Nothing is making sense right now. Maybe we can talk to our ancestors. Maybe they can shed some knowledge on what's happening right." I said.

Everyone looked at me in agreement.

"Let's give it a try." My mother stated in acceptance.

We began the incantation by drawing out the circle and lining it with candles. My brother turned off the lights, and my mother began chanting.

"Iungere venire nobiscum."

"Tempus venit."

The candles flickered, and the circle began to glow blue.

It silenced the room as flames arose from the circle and began to form a silhouette of a woman.

"Tempus venit."

My mother chanted again, and the silhouette became whole. It formed the body of my mother's sister. My mother's face darkened.

We all looked at her, sensing the foreboding feeling that came with that facial expression.

Nothing good ever happened when the summoning brought my aunt before us.

"You've summoned me; what information do you seek?" My aunt asked, looking at my mother in the eyes.

"The past weeks, we have been plagued with a darkness far greater than we've ever encountered. Its magic is powerful enough to penetrate the runes around us for centuries." My mother stressed to her.

My aunt looked perplexed, "It has broken through the runes and borders?"

"Yes, and it has caused more casualties than the war," I stepped towards her, "Do you have any idea as to the reason behind this."

She looked troubled and stood in silence for a minute.

She shook her head with a gloomy expression. "I fear that the prophecy may be coming true."

"Lies, you can't mean that prophecy!" My father yelled. "I won't allow it! Nonsense!"

"Time waits for no one, Lucius; you must make a choice! Your daughter or the slaughter of your people." She roared, and the flames commenced again.

"What prophecy? Father, what is she talking about?" I asked, confused.

"The beginning can only exist with the end," she said, disappearing with the flames. Darkness crawled in, and there was complete silence between us.

My brother turned on the lights and sat down.

"Father, what prophecy was she talking about?" My brother questioned him.

"Maelic, please." My mother shook her head.

My father groaned, and it looked like he was in a deep internal conflict with himself.

Why does the prophecy mention me, and why was I never told anything about it? A million thoughts were going through my head. Am I connected to the deaths of our people? It felt like I had cement blocks sitting on my chest.

My father sighed.

"I want to speak with Kelasta alone." He demanded and urged the rest of them out of the room. My brother was about to protest until my mother gave him a look and then began to walk out of the room and shut the door silently.

He sat on the chair by the window and ushered me to a seat.

He looked outside and sighed again before finally looking me in the eyes.

"My child, I've known about the prophecy since you were a little girl, too young to know about the world yet. I told myself I would wait until you got older to tell you, but as time grew closer to telling you, I found myself holding back on the thought." He said with a somber tone.

"What does the prophecy have to do with me, and what is my connection with the darkness harming our people?" I asked him.

"The time of darkness is upon us; death never gives but takes. There is no beginning without an end. The firstborn daughter must submit to death, or desolation will continue tormenting us all until time's end." He told me.

"So what are you trying to tell me?" I asked.

Part of me already knew the answer to the question I asked him, but part held hope that it wasn't the solution.

"You have to die, or a better term would be a sacrifice."

The world paused, and it felt like my father had stabbed me in the heart with the sharpest blade ever.