The Torment • Alternate Reality Book One

Prologue- The Birthday

Author's Note: I hope you like my story! Feel free to voice your opinion, ask any questions and point out any mistakes I make.

Nia's POV

It's my 18th birthday. I thought today was supposed to be a good day. I never suspected that I'd have this huge decision over my head. Kill my evil aunt and become a Queen, ridding this realm of her and most definitely saving a lot of lives but have to lose my memory, or give her a chance to become good and stay with Saber, the love of my life and my connection mate, without the extra stress and responsibility of being Queen? I don't want to lose the memories of my Aunt Meredith and Uncle Alaric. They might not be my actual parents, but they raised me and I love them. I also don't want to lose all of my other memories, like the fun times I had with Saber growing up, and meeting everyone at the orphanage.

I don't want to abandon my sister. My twin sister, the person I just found a month ago. I don't want my memories to be gone, I don't want to do this. I can't do this. I can't go to my Aunt Cora's Dark Earth kingdom and kill her, taking her place as Dark Earth Queen. I just can't.

As I stand under the full moon with Saber, my determination to go to the Dark Earth Castle slips away. I can't kill my aunt. I know that she is evil, and tortured me for 4 days straight, but I just can't. She felt like an outsider in her own family, so she turned to the Darkness that comforted her and was there for her when she needed it most. Then, the Darkness corrupted her brain, and she let it. The Darkness warped her mind, and she has slipped into insanity. It's not fully her fault, and I want to try and help her, not resort to violence.

"Saber, I can't. I just can't." I whisper, tears starting to appear in my eyes "I can't kill her, even if she's evil. I want to try and help her, maybe lock her up. Violence should only be a last resort. Also, I don't want to risk losing my memories of you, and everyone else I love, forever. I don't know how I'd cope, knowing I had lost important memories to me and having them right out of my reach."

"I understand, it's okay. We'll find a way." Saber soothes me, bringing me into a hug as my tears stream down my face at the thought of the deed I nearly did, and what I would have lost. But, I also fear the thought that I may live to regret this decision if my aunt Cora is beyond retribution, which she probably is. Still, I want to try. I don't want to give up so easily, it's not in my nature.

With that done, we walk back inside. I see everyone looking depressed, crying or on the verge of tears, and it breaks my heart. Even the tough shell of sarcasm that Molly keeps around her emotions has cracked, and her sadness is clear on her face.

"Guys, I couldn't do it. I couldn't go, I just couldn't." I choke out, and everyone gasps and looks to me, either staying silent or shouting my name. I get enveloped into a massive group hug, and I smile, knowing this is where I belong.

Breaking the silence, the clock chimes 12 to signal midnight.

Suddenly, I gasp and cry out in pain as a bolt of pain runs through my entire body, leaving uncomfortable tingles behind in its wake. Everyone steps back, not understanding what's happening. Then, it hits me. My powers of Earth and Darkness are going back to being dormant with me unable to retrieve them, but they won't go without a fight. I scream as pain shoots through me again, but more extreme. Saber grimaces, feeling some of my pain. He rushes to my side and brings me into his arms, not knowing what he can do to help as I cry and writhe in his arms from the pain. The powers are trying pull me to the Dark Earth Queen's castle, so I can kill Cora and become the Queen. That is not happening.

I stay clutched to Saber's chest for the rest of the night, screaming occasionally as huge bursts of pain blast through my limbs. Between them, it's just a dull throbbing pain everywhere that has me whimpering. I finally fall asleep when the sun starts to rise, and my body rests from all of the pain it went through over the long hours of night.

Saber's POV

I know that Nia's Darkness and Earth powers left her during the night, but very painfully, because they didn't want to go. It broke my heart every time she screamed, and squeezed it with every little whimper of pain that left her mouth. I was useless, I didn't know what to do to relieve the pain, if it was even possible. I hate feeling useless. It won't happen any time soon if I can help it.

When Nia finally falls asleep with a relieved sigh, I carry her up to her room, where I gently lie her down and pull the covers up around her. She smiles, and I gently kiss her forehead, walking out of the room.

"Saber, what happened to her?" Ivy worriedly asks me as soon as I step out of Nia's room. I put a finger up to tell her to be quiet as I slowly and silently ease Nia's bedroom door closed. I then walk down the stairs into the living room, and explain

"Nia's Earth and Darkness powers were slowly leaving as the night passed and she didn't kill Cora, but they were putting up one massive fight in Nia's body. They were fighting for her to go to the castle so she could become the next Queen, and so they didn't have to become dormant again."

"Why are you speaking about the powers like they are living entities with feelings and a power of their own, like they're alive?" Ivy asks

"It's because in a way they are." I answer "The powers are mixed with the life entities of all of the past queens, and mixed with Nia's own life force as well."

"So if the powers go... so do she?" Ivy questions with concern in her voice.

"Only if they are separate from her body. Right now they are simply dormant, like a caged tiger, waiting to be let out again." I reply, and sink tiredly on the couch.

I'm just done with it all, all of the stress and pain that this journey has brought. I sometimes miss the simplicity of my old life, but then again, without this trip, who knows how long it would have taken for me and Nia to get together. Also, Nia would have never known the truth and met her twin sister. Ivy would still be without any family, when now she has met her sister, her Aunt Meredith and her Uncle Alaric. Also, we wouldn't have the massive group of friends that we do now.

Shockingly, Jake runs into the room with bloodshot eyes. He obviously just has a vision, and an important one.

"Jake, what's wrong?" I quickly ask, standing up and rushing over to his side to guide him down onto a couch.

"I-I-I had a vision. A really, really bad one. So much blood..." He says, going quiet at the end.

"What happened?" I question urgently.

"We all died!" He wails "So much blood, slit necks, wide and vacant eyes staring at me, so horrible!"

"Stay calm!" I command to Jake, then turn to Ivy and murmur "Get Amy." She runs off, eager to find Amy to help Jake. "Who killed us?"

"Nia and Ivy."

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Author's Note:
I know, I know, I'm evil! I end the prologue on a massive shock, which is fun... for me! Hehe 😈 and the shock may or may not be explained more in chapter 1, who knows?

Question:
How's your summer break going? (if you're on it)

Sadly, I'm still in school since I live in England, but I hope those of my kittens who aren't still suffering through school are having a good time!