The skulls, crackling and blackened from the flames that illuminated my city.
The screams and cries of the dying, those unlucky enough to have survived the first strike, reached my ears as I stared down, horror, panic and fear warring in my gut.
Ilithrea had betrayed us.
Just as Kayenna had warned us.
Sure enough, the sounds of clashing Cayiri blades echoed just outside my chambers.
My second, Ventra, slammed through the doors, allowing the noise to escalate before they sealed once more.
"Your Highness, we must leave at once! The Illithrians are going to be here in seconds!"
Breathing heavily, sweat glistening on her brow and gore on her armor and blades, she reached a hand towards me. I looked pointedly at the bile-inducing remnants on her gauntlet, and remained where I was. "I have no intention of leaving my people to die, Ventra. You know this."
"Your Highness, think about it. If you die, no one will be left to lead the survivors of Kallis. There are no others. What of the Royal Line? What of Kallis herself? Would you doom us all for the sake of pride?"
I stared at her, incredulous. "How dare you think so little of me! I have given everything for this city, for this kingdom, time and again!"
The clashes of the fighting were growing louder outside, indicating the Illithrians were closing in. I was running out of time.
Realizing this, I looked at Ventra, my resolve hardening, stronger than steel. Her eyes widened as she beheld what I carried.
"Take her. She is the last of us. Guard her with your life." As I passed the bundle in my arms to Ventra, the doors began to shake and shudder under the combined fire of the Illithrian invaders.
"Run, Ventra. Do not look back, do not linger. Consider this.. consider it my parting gift, for 3 centuries of honorable service."
Before she could escape, the last of the defenses finally broke, the doors exploding inward as if pushed by an inordinate amount of force.
Beyond the smoke, standing in the shadows, was a face shrouded in darkness; unknown, yet familiar.
I was jolted awake by the sound of my mother's voice from the kitchen. "Lira, can you come downstairs for a moment?"
"What?" I yell in response, feeling as though I had been struck by a bus.
"Get up, or you're finding your own way to school!" shouted a second voice. Samira? She isn't supposed to be here today... could this have something to do with that strange vision?
Jumping out of bed, I went to my closet to get ready for the day when I noticed something amiss: a single, robins-egg-blue shirt on my dresser.
Exactly like the one I had worn in my dream.
Shaken, I took the shirt - I wonder what material this is? - and tucked it behind the rest of my t-shirts in the top drawer. I'll deal with it later, I thought to myself. Maybe Mom or Samira knows where it came from. I'll ask them about it later.
Looking back, I wish I would've asked then.
Especially with what I now know.
