The Empire of Blood and Serenity

Epilogue

I stood by myself, just wondering what life would've been like if I was like them. If I had a family like the rest of them and wasn't cursed with this...power some may call it. No one knows how I ended up with it, hell no one knows how I ended up here, not even me.

Back then, I felt like I was destined to be alone. I lived in isolation my whole existence but back then it bothered me. I wanted to belong, to have a sense of family, something I never had. in Leggera, the light realm, the only thing I had in common with its citizens was my power. I

I learned the hard way that just because you have one thing in common with people, it doesn't make you like them at all. I learned that lesson as a child, a baby, new to this world. I thought because I had the same gift as the rest of them I could just waltz into the city with my red hair, red eyes, and darkness in me. From the moment I got into the town square, I felt the eyes on me. I thought it was because I was a black girl and at that point in time, I could only see white faces, that was until I saw her.

She was beautiful, a deep brown skin, voluminous black curls on her head, and a golden glow around her. She was like me. Upon seeing her, a wave of serenity hit me, and knowing what I know now, I shouldn't have felt that way.

The beautiful stranger didn't notice me, she had her eyes focused on a little white boy who was just as beautiful as she was. he had a gigantic grin on his face as well as hair as dark as coal and emerald green eyes. They looked really good together, like royalty.

The crowd shifted their focus to the strangers and I could make my escape, from that day forward, I grew up alone. Afraid that if I stepped back into that town, without a distraction, I would be brought to my death just because of how I looked and the power that grew inside me. I was only twelve when that happened, it was four years ago since I stepped foot in the city of Leggera.

I spent those four years alone, in my sacred spot new the golden trees past the woods of light, not entirely isolated from the world. I practiced my magic so much that I had enough focus to see whatever I wanted to see, naturally, I spied on the city. I heard it all. Some people thinking I was there to curse the kingdom, some people thought I didn't exist because I hadn't been back in four years, and then just other made up stories about myself. No matter what it was, they saw me as a negative light ruining their perfect world of sunshine.

I didn't belong there and I knew it. I grew to accept the fact that I would be separated from the world for the rest of my life and I was starting to become ok with that until one thing happened that I never wanted to. I gained a family. And it was the worst thing that could have ever happened to me.

I was in my home, alone, content, practicing my magic because it grew every day. I could feel it swelling in me like a balloon. I guess I got sloppy because when I drew up my "magic mirror" to look into the city, the people were talking. They were saying things about me, they saw what I was doing. damn it.

Drawing attention to myself was the worst thing I could do, I had to lay low for a while but I couldn't let the take that for me. They had already taken my sense of belonging but they were not going to take my strength from me, my power from me, my life from me. So in good faith, I shot one last dark blast up into the sky, I  bet that will keep them talking.

And it did.

"Shh our she'll here us." and I did indeed hear them, I could feel them. Magical beings, one stronger than the other. The voice I heard was almost angelic. She was so calming, motherly, no not motherly. That voice was the calm before the storm, serenity. That's what it reminded me of, serene, soothing, nature.

"I doubt she can hear us, we shouldn't even be here. What if she's as powerful as they say?"

That voice however was the weaker one, he didn't have anything really noticeable about his voice but the pattern he spoke in. It was eloquent, too articulate, he's a royal. And I was doomed. "She could kill us."

"She has no reason to kill us you fool. You're just scared because you left your guards at home."

"I can hear you. Show yourselves." I tried to make my voice sound bigger than it is because in reality, if there was a royal after me, it could only mean they knew. This could very much be the end of me but I wasn't giving up without a fight.

The thoughts about losing my life, and the royal guards coming after me were running through my brain rapidly. I couldn't let that happen to me. What if the King and Queen choose to make me their royal slave, my power is too strong, I could hurt too many people and that is not who I am. Before I knew it, a blast shot from me and straight towards the source of the two voices. Damn it. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. Are you guys hurt? I didn't mean to do that I promise."

"We're ok. it went over our heads" said the strong one. As she emerged from the bushes, it was her. The beautiful stranger from four years ago and she was just as beautiful as back then, she was actually way more beautiful. She radiated this golden glow all over and right behind her, was the Prince of Leggera, Prince Ezra.

I thought he would be a bit more frightening as his mother was fierce and his father stood strong as he ruled the kingdom. He was definitely attractive but nothing was really giving royal except for the way he spoke and he barely did that.

"I am Prince Ezra of-"

"Of Leggera the realm of light, yeah yeah yeah. He's the prince but more importantly, I'm Calliope, his best friend." She looked at me, waiting for me to introduce myself but I was waiting for the guard to show up and take me away.

"Oh yeah, I'm Asha, the Dark one as your subjects and citizens call me." I tried to laugh it off but they both looked frightened.

"Why do they call you the Dark One? Are the rumors true?"

"Calliope! You can't just ask that?" He spoke to her as if there were no royals in the vicinity, she has no boundaries with him and I love that about her already. She speaks her mind.

"And why can't I?" She turns to me. "Am I offending you?"

"No it's fine. They call me that because I have dark magic and this isn't exactly the place for that." I looked at them and I could almost hear the thousands of questions they were ready to ask next. "Yeah but I should probably get back before the guard comes looking for him," I gestured towards Prince Ezra, "And then the Queen has me beheaded."

"Do people really think my mom is that cold?"

Calliope looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Ignore him, clearly he doesn't see who he lives with. Are you here all alone? Where are your parents?"

That is a question I wish I knew the answer to. I turned away from them. It never bothered me being alone until I realized I was alone, and I had been for as long as I could remember. I looked at Calliope and Ezra, they had families, they had each other, and I have no one. I think they caught on to I was alone and that is when the worst started to happen.

"What if you stayed in the palace with me?" Calliope and I almost broke our necks as fast as we turned to look at him. "What? If I'm going to be king I have to care for the people," he locked eyes with me, "all the people."