Swan Heart

5

The king waited outside his throne room. He had not been born into royalty but married into it. He had no powers.

His wife, the beautiful Queen Nattalia, was so sweet. He used to be a lowly servant but was accepted by Nattalia's parents and herself to wed her.

The ceremony was large and festive, but sadly held short. Nattalia's mother had passed away in the night. They had not known the cause.

He was now waiting for Nattalia's ceremony to be over. The males were not allowed for the ceremony since only queens could rule the Swan Realm. The new queen, Nattalia, stepped through the large doors with a heavy crown on her head ad proceeded to take her husband's arm and walk out to the balcony with him.

There was a giant crowd underneath them and the queen was hesitant at first but let all worry fly away as she looked at her husband. He gave her confidence to do what was needed.

"Your queen is dead! I, her only offspring, will continue ruling in her place as queen!" She addressed the crowd smiling and patting her husbands hand.

She looked at him one more time and he smiled reassuringly. That is he smiled until there was an arrow shaft protruding from his forehead.

~*~

Erin, remember our deal? The voice said inside of Erin's head.

'Yes. Don't let others know or get involved.' He thought back.

You just broke both of those rules. What should I do about this?

'I don't know. Take me away before she gets her wings?'

The voice seemed to laugh at this. No. We are going to extend your time so you will be taken before her very eyes and, here's the best part, she can return you to this world.

Erin froze. 'No. Please anything but that. She wouldn't be able to survive and even if she did she'd be traumatized for life.'

The voice laughed again. That' is what I am planning on.

There was a pop and Erin knew that the voice was gone... for the moment anyways. He had been "talking" to the reaper for a few years now. What he discovered out of all of the conversations they had had, the reaper always got the last word in.

~*~

Lillian felt a pain in her shoulders. She thought that the pain was probably from tackling a massive guy like Bãrte.

"Talula! Can you come hear please?" She called out.

Talula showed up in an instant. "How may I help you m'lady?"

"Talula..." Lillian warned.

"Lillian." She corrected herself.

Lillian smiled. "My back and shoulders hurt a little. Do you mind giving me a massage?"

Now it was Talula's turn to smile. "We used to give each other massages as kids. You don't remember it though."

Lillian sighed and got comfortable. As Talula began massaging her shoulders Lillian began to drift off to sleep.

~*~

The girl was swimming in circles. Her grey eyes danced around as she brought her muzzle out of the water.

It felt good to be able to be in her wolf form. She had not told anyone of her wolf. If she did she would be an outcast in the Swan Realm. She was born and raised here though instead of the Lunar Realm.