Nefarious

Prologue

Farren hadn't always enjoyed the tortured screams of others. As a small child she'd be the one to save a dying bird, or feed the malnourished strays that wandered her village. Animals happened to be her only solace among the menacing people she grew up with, as they could not whip rocks at her head or cry out vulgar death threats. She herself didn't know how her soul became so black, but she utterly adored it. Perhaps it was the relentless attempts on her life by strangers that happened to catch a glimpse of her appearance, or how the king's guards burned her mother alive before her very eyes. She was never accepted, never loved. Maybe that was what gradually morphed her into the monster she was today. She didn't think of her troubled past often, not that she cared for it, and there was a reason.

The mere thought of Farren struck fear into the hearts of every chest in the kingdom, and she didn't want it any other way. Her eyes alone would silence a raging man in fear. The village people dreaded her very appearance, which was odd as she was a stunning young woman really. Her personality however, diminished all traces of external beauty. The powerful malevolent nineteen year old thrived off of her nicknames, since no one bothered to learn her real one. Something about civilians screaming 'The Devil's Daughter' as she strode through the villages on her magnificent black Frisian stallion made her heart flutter and her lips smile.

Of course the King had attempted to terminate her existence, but iron swords were no match for the impressive dark magic she was easily capable of. Those who tried to save the kingdom from her wrath were fools, and the bodies that hung from her kingdom's walls proved so. The execution of the royal family was her favorite memory, and the castle she now owned was marvelously cloaked with the evil that resided within her. In the palace she lived with her guards and mentor, a man whom she resented yet strove to impress.

She twirled her black hair around her pointer finger, constantly repeating the motion as she scanned the city below from her castle balcony. The clouds above her seemed to reflect her mood as they darkly floated within the grey sky, slyly threatening to spew rain at the beings below. She was soon joined by her mentor, a tall but elderly man - the puppeteer, one would call him, while Ferran had strings attached to her every limb.

"What shall we destroy today Farren?"

The young woman looked up at him, then back at the towns below, furiously thinking of an idea that would impress her master. Many would question her loyalty to him, but she owed him her life and freedom. "I've heard rumors of the nation of Blue portending an attack my lord. If it suits your mood, we could ravage it and call it ours."

He harshly smacked the back of her head, causing it to lurch forward.

"You fool," He began dryly as she collected herself. "Have you no imagination? What fun would such a task be? Besides, an entire kingdom? Blue at that? You stupid girl, even we'd be unable."

She spoke quieter this time, as if that would make her next suggestion more appealing. "The kingdom has a princess. Killing her would surely interest you. She is beloved by the family and people, and it'd be a pleasure watching them suffer over her death." Farren narrowed her eyes at nothing in particular. Her grey-blue eye was squinted slightly more than her hazel, something she did unknowingly while thinking. "If she is beloved, she is almost certainly well guarded." Her lips curled into a smile as a plan sparked and snowballed inside her mind. "Let us play a fun little game. We'll toy with the hearts of their unfortunate souls."

Atticus grinned at his student. She was learning fast, and her power would come to greatness at his will after all.

A plan was then born, involving the careful infiltration of the other kingdom's palace. She knew of their family, and knew the prince was soon nearing his twenty-first year; he'd be searching for a bride. This would create the perfect opportunity for Farren to kill his sixteen year old sister; merely the first step to claiming the land of Blue.

The malicious woman leaned back into her chair whilst Atticus lightened her hair. A spell transformed her eyes into an ocean blue, and her black robes were replaced with cotton green ones. The nation of Blue's magic was considered the strongest, although the dying race of Grey was a close runner up, known for their sentiment. The nation of Grey's magic came from the heart, a dangerously effective form - especially when the heart in question is as cold as ice. The Brown are said to be the courage of the four nations - magic emanating bravely in any situation. The Green are the most intelligent, their power coming forth in the most resourceful manners. These four nations were split into kingdoms, and rarely were involved with one another. An affair between nations was punishable by death, which was the unfortunate fate Farren's mother underwent. Heterochromia is what this world feared, and hosts of this rarity were immediately put to death. Eye color determined power, and a combination of the four nation's magical traits would be lethal. The odds of a pair of eyes containing the color of all four nations were practically impossible and legends were sure this would mean the end of good and the flourishing of evil. Farren desperately hoped so.

The first glance in the mirror made both her and her old mentor smile. Her lengthy black hair was now a beautiful glossy brown - stopping at her elbows, and her multicolored eyes were a deep ocean blue. Wiping off her regular flawless make up, she revealed the freckles that she concealed so expertly, adding to her disguise. The green dress she wore fit perfectly, augmenting her body attractively. Surely the prince would fall for her instantly, and her plan would be well on it's way.

She made her way to the stable where her trusty Frisian snorted happily at her arrival. She stroked his velvety nose, feeding him a small mint. She couldn't take her horse with her, for they would certainly recognize his magnificence. He would stay in her castle stables, under the watchful eye of Atticus. With a small kiss on the nose, she whispered a goodbye and started off down the cobblestone streets.

A woman quickly approached her from a nearby house, suddenly clasping her arm. Farren wretched her limb free and shoved the elderly woman aside. "What do you think you're doing peasant?" She snarled menacingly, now looming over the woman on the ground.

"I'm sorry if I startled you my dear, but you mustn't be out at this time. The Devil's Daughter has ruthless guards regularly patrolling the roads, and they'll surely take a lady as beautiful as yourself for their own amusement. Come to my home, you may rest there for the night." The lady's voice pleaded with her, but Farren scoffed as she mercilessly snapped the grey-eyed woman's neck with a thrust of her wrist. She crumpled with a thud, and Farren rolled her eyes.

Foolish woman. She thought as she unremorsefully stepped over the body and continued. Atticus would have been proud of her action just then, if only he could've seen. She stole a fast young mare from a nearby farm, and was soon galloping off to the nation of Blue, her mind excited with thoughts of the bleak, depressing future she'd soon happily impose on them.

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A/N: Hello everyone :)) So this is the start of a new idea I've been working on, but I'm not too sure whether I'll follow through with this one or not! Let me know in the comments if you'd like me to continue or nah :)

Thanks for your support, and I hope that the world of the Green, Blue, Grey and Brown is interesting to you all ^-^