Ethereal Burn

Lady of the East

I felt frozen, unable to look away from the scene unfolding below throughout the lands of my home.

Tears blurred my vision and with every blink they trickled down my face untouched. I watched from our bedroom window as Killian and his company of Knights rode off to battle outside the first stone wall, front gates to these lands. I saw men, women and children running to either safety or their stations for battle. I could hear the frightened shouts and cries to those not fighting as they were rushed beyond the second gates and into the two outer castle buildings, which were meant for the people in such dire situations as this.

The bells were still sounding off in a constant rhythm, a sound I was quickly becoming numb too, but even they were not as disturbing as the screeches and roars coming from the monsters. Monsters that were currently threatening to destroy my home, and take away the man I love. People I had quickly grown close to. Captain Rex, Knight Bram and other smiling faces cross my mind. I clench my fists tightly in anger knowing all these wonderful people are out there fighting with the risk of never returning. My heart races in fear, in this burning anger that builds the longer I stare out at the ongoing chaos.

There were so many of them, my skin crawled as the moonlight shined down on creatures that flew over the stone wall bordering our lands. Even from a distance their leathery skin in different shades of gray to white, deadly jaws filled with yellow teeth that made me shiver, and from the deepest hells where nightmares are born is their glowing red eyes. Even though i've only been witness to two attacks now, I could tell with ease that these monsters were much bigger individually than the horde I witnessed the first day I arrived here. Does that mean they are stronger? More powerful?

My heart constricted in fear, my fingers frantically fidgeting with my dress which was quickly starting to feel constricting around my chest.

  It wasn't long before tiny balls of fire were seen in the distance. Bursts of purple light was seen outside the stone wall, which could only belong to Davina. How brave she is to be out there fighting amongst the knights, odd she may be but cowardly she is not.

Unlike me who sits up in her tower, helpless and useless. That thought stirred something just beneath my skin, I couldn't explain it even if I tried, but it was there.

Fire arrows were simultaneously being released, some hitting their marks, some missing altogether. A few homes began to fall victim to those arrows, a few rooftops erupting in flames as the fire began destroying everything in its wake. It was a war between beasts and man. At first glance there was truly no way to know who would be victorious, it could easily go either way.

What do they want? Is it really just to feed and destroy.. Is that all they do?

I felt stupid for not asking enough questions about these horrible creatures. I didn't know anything about why they attack, and shouldn't the Lady of the East know something as important as that?!

Why are you so useless Isabella!

I could feel her power before I saw the subtle white glow spread along the glass window panes. As it disappeared from sight, so did any sounds from outside this room.

No! Wait!...

As if I had been shocked by lightning, quickly turning around I put my sights on Kira criss-crossed on the floor. Her eyes bore into the floorboards in what I could only guess is rage, she too was affected by what was happening outside this castle. I knew she was a warrior at heart and it's not hard to guess that if given the choice, she'd probably rather be out there fighting alongside those brave Knights. Alongside Killian and the man I'm sure she has feelings for, Knight Bram. But instead she was on babysitting duty with a helpless Duchess. The thought angered me even more.