The Dark King (Book 1)

Chapter 1

In the kingdom of Craylle, I walk past the merchants in the street to enter my king's castle looming before me. The merchants all are wearing blue, the king's color. There was enough of the color in the kingdom to convince you that it was the only thread color we had. The merchants live a dull life, they are to sell only what the king approves them and they can only keep less than what their profit of the day is. Their life is a struggle as is mine, but they have it lucky to be normal and further from the king's grasp.

We are known as the Northern Kingdom, the kingdom where magic has died out in everyone except for a select few--all thanks to King Valdus Craylle. We live at the top of the land where the water is, the other kingdoms are completely secluded from us, or rather we are secluded from them.

I smile woefully at the handful of peasant villagers walking in the stone streets outside the king's castle. They look to me as if they're going to plea for money. I look like a lord--not that I look like a man, just that I'm dressed like one. I wear the tunic and leggings the king provided for me, it's of blue and black and it has the royal crest embroidered on both my biceps.

The knights wearing silver armor and holding blue shields stand at their post silently and on watch. "Lower the drawbridge!" One of the knights shouts. They know who I am. They give their signal for the drawbridge to be lowered and with a loud thump the wood hits the pavement creating a bridge to cross over the water surrounding the castle.

I look up at the ever darkening clouds that seemed to roll in suddenly within the last hour. I gasp at the raindrop that hit me in the eye, the first one of what seems would be many. The air is fresh and energized. The wind acts accordingly and whips my hair annoyingly in front of my face and I become aggravated at this seemingly taunting storm. I lift my hand to continue to feel the raindrops falling down. At first they come slowly, a soft quiet that builds and then all at once an almighty downpour. We haven't had a storm like this in years.

Quickly before the storm gets worse, I move over the mot and stand at the entrance of the castle. The guards open the tall steel double doors for me and I enter. I take a step into the main corridor as my footsteps echoing as they hit the white marble flooring. The entire decor of the large castle was designed by the king himself lacing everything with blue tapestries of his royal crest.

The king worships water, his power to control the element masterfully. I skim my hand along the tall fountain in the main lobby, the water freezing. Aside from the power of water he has the ability to to restrict anyone's magic and take away the memories of those he connects with. He is connected to me; connected to my mind.

I've lived in this castle since I was six years old. I know it's not right to complain about living in a beautiful castle, but I think I earned the right to be bitter. I was ripped from my family when the king's court discovered my powers that I couldn't yet control. A mother, a father, and two brothers he didn't take and they were left behind. I don't remember the entire incident and when I go to retrieve the memories all I can see are faceless and nameless people I use to know as my family.

I jump at the sound of thunder that shakes the castle and light fixtures that causes them to flicker on and off. The chandelier above me rocks back and forth and I step to the side to move out from under it. I escort myself to the throne room where I am waiting for my king's next assignment for me.

I hear deep rubble of shouting coming from the throne room, who dare raise their voice at the king? No one I knew ever dared such a thing- it meant death. The door flings open and a large, brooding man as tall as the archway of the door stands in dark, all black clothing. Quickly I turn invisible, shit, I think he saw me. I move out of his way so he isn't able to see me.

There's a power stated in him that any onlooker could detect. Call me crazy, but I'm sure electricity shoots through his eyes, he doesn't give a passing glance or a wonder to where I had disappeared to as he storms past me and down the hall. Leaving his sounds of his steps and the hard beating rain.