Heir of Shadows and Ruin

Prologue

We need to get Asteria to the throne room. We must give her the mark before Draiglior can get to us and finish the job. As I carry my bleeding wife, Faith, in my arms I push my legs to move faster. She is bleeding far too much. Brendan, my most trusted guard, and my best friend, keeps pace next to me carrying a crying Asteria. We run through the halls trying to get far from the screaming and fighting going on behind us.

How was Draiglior able to recruit so many Lords without my knowledge? How could I have let this happen? I knew keeping him on the council was a risky move, but I figured if I could keep him closer I could watch him easier. How wrong I turned out to be. His being so close only created a blind spot. He seemed to have finally given in to my ruling and let go of my family's old ways, but I guess it was all a ruse. My father, and many more of the Nightshades before him, ruled through fear and violence. But I changed everything after I killed him and took the throne. Draiglior was one of my father's closest counselors and who I believed to be pulling my father's strings.

As we flew around the last corner, I could see the large throne room doors. So close, yet so far. I used my shadows to push myself even harder, wrapping them around my legs and giving myself the last bit of strength to make that final push.

We finally made it through the doors and to the thrones as I lost my strength. I was able to slow myself enough not to fall on top of Faith as I collapsed to my knees before the thrones. Brenden set Asteria down next to me as I tried to regain my breath. I looked to Asteria as I sat Faith down on her throne making sure she was ok, then turned back to my wife, caressing her head. "Just hold on a little longer, Dove." I said as I stood to help Brenden barricade the door.

We used chairs, tables, and anything remotely heavy to block the door. "Brenden, we need to mark Asteria." I said as we lifted the final table into place. He turned and looked at me in almost disbelief as he said "Damien, she is too young. You know that fire could kill her."

"And I think that is a risk we are going to have to take. It is either we risk it now and give her a fighting chance for later on, or we don't and risk her never getting the Shadowlands back." I responded as I quickly made my way back to Asteria. But before I could get there Brenden called after me "We must find another way, I will not lose any of you today."

I felt a part of me break as his words hit deep. I turned back to him as I said "Brenden, there is no other way. If we all try to escape right now we would never make it." I stepped closer and grabbed the side of his head as I continued "Brother, Faith cannot make it any further. And if she cannot go, neither will I. For I vowed on our wedding day to stay with her till the end, and I hold true to my vows." I felt a tear run down my cheek as I took a deep breath and looked into Brenden's brown eyes. Once I saw him take his own deep breath and nod slightly I turned back to my wife and daughter.

Faith had become so pale and her breathing was more shallow. She will only last another couple of minutes. I kneeled in front of her, caressing her blood-crusted blonde hair, and leaned in to kiss her forehead as I whispered "Dove, it's time." I leaned back just enough to see her face as she looked into my eyes. Her blue eyes, so opposite to my nearly black ones, were so beautiful as she simply nodded and looked at Asteria. I do not think she has the strength to speak too much right now.

She waved Asteria closer as I laid my left hand on her leg. When Asteria approached I put my arm around her back and asked "Asta, remember when we told you about the Eternal Flame?" Asteria simply wiped her eyes and nodded looking into my eyes. It has been said that she acts like me and looks just like me in every way except for her eyes, she had her mother's eyes. The light blue is such a stark contrast to her Nightshade black hair. It was odd that her eyes were not the near black that ran in the Nightshade family. My scholars said they had never read of a Nightshade inheriting any other color eyes except the black. It was quite odd and many doubted my wife's faithfulness, but I have no doubts that Asteria is my daughter.