The crowned veil

Chapter 1: Valoria

It was impossible to ignore the deafening screams. I could barely see, surrounded by a smothering darkness, people or souls all crying and shouting. I've never understood what for, it's always like this, almost begging for something. Their faces pale and obscure, obsidian eyes seething towards me. I can't run. I can't close my eyes. I can barely breathe. My heart pounding in my chest and a heavy thumping in my head are the only indication I'm still alive. This is the doing of silencers, this only makes my heart beat faster.

I sit on a regal throne of gilded and jewelled stones, some encasing spirits whose crimes are so old that they are unknown. No one I know is there, nothing can help me escape my silence. As the ornate room doors swing open, I can't help but sigh with relief. Someone's come for me...

I stare wide eyed in horror at the display in front of me. My brothers lifeless, war massacred body dragged in by someone. The worst part is that I can't even scream. Their cries and my brother's body overwhelm me, my eyes losing focus, I think I might be crying. If I am, I can't tell. I close my eyes feeling as if I could erase the image from my head. Even with them closed all I see is his lifeless emerald eyes staring back at me. I hear the throne room doors open and I reluctantly open my eyes.

My eyes strain to regain focus, as a shadowed figure walks across to the dais, a glinting circlet of rose-gold and emeralds approaching me. For a second I forget to breathe, horrified by the sentiment. I despise the thing but for a stranger to hold it and my brother dead I can only imagine the horrors of my mother and why I'm here. I am to be crowned. I am Queen. As he grows closer I recognise who he is and why he holds my crown. My father. The late king has been dead for a while now, two years have passed. But that wound is still fresh, I feel my face pale, my heart pounds in my ears. The resonating sound makes it hard to concentrate.

The closer he approaches the more I am confused, he walks past my brother with no regard as if he never existed. Just as he reaches the dais, no matter how I wish to retaliate he crowns me Queen embracing me, and for a split second I am released of my silence finally being able to do as I wish. I embrace him not caring how he's back. I bury my face in his chest wanting to forget the corpse at my feet and the heavy ring of metal upon my head, and the symbolism of what it means. Mothers dead now. His warmth is a comfort, the last time I touched him he was stone cold, white as the moon itself.

He pulls away slightly a darkness gleaming in his eyes. I stare at him confused for a moment until his whole body towers over mine. I try to pull him back and he does. A piercing pain rips through my chest and this time it is not my heart. All I can do is scream.

"NO!" I shout, unsure of who stabbed me. If they would stab father too. I feel as my blood rushes pouring down from my chest. Soon I realised he stabbed me. In all honesty I think I stabbed him as well...

I wake to a jolt, gentle but firm hands slightly shaking my shoulders. I sit up immediately too fast for my head to process, making me immediately regret the decision. Tears flow down my face as I gasp for air that was never truly taken. I just about hear my brother's soothing words.

"Shh Valoria. It's alright. You're here, you're safe." he tells me, repeating it whilst he holds me patiently waiting for me to calm down.