Twisted

I

Serving the King might have seemed like a dream to any ordinary stranger wishing for a shot at royalty, in the kingdom that lay high above the lands of Aestelle. Towering over the cramped, wooden cottages, bustling markets and flourishing greenery, it was a standing power in the kingdom. The interior was immaculate, polished floors so you could see your reflection and golden engraved pillars shimmered in the halls. The furniture was antique and every surface contained precious stones. Each stone served its own purpose: protection, healing, power, energy, sources of higher powers that the inhabitants worshipped. The exterior was a reverse image. Towns overflowed with the poor, hanging on strings of hope that the King would throw out with every appearance; which were few. He was young; a beacon of hope, a dashing man with a way with words yet they never went beyond being words. Speeches could only achieve so much. But who the exterior knew as their saviour was a terror of darkness inside.

They knew little of the castle's atmosphere, created by the king, that drowned it's inhabitants. King Lasane was ruthless. If one dared to step out of their line, he'd have them butchered and dumped into the ocean before they could even open their mouth to explain. For a young king he didn't have much remorse. His image fooled many and he always used it to his advantage. Only a few close people knew of his true intentions and character, and the people who unfortunately met their grimly deaths because of him. Helenia didn't know of his secrets, but she was determined to find out.

Brought to the castle as a child, her memory erased, she didn't have a clue about her childhood, or who her parents were. The only life she knew was this one, serving as the king's most trusted 'adviser', probably due to the fact that she didn't know of another life, a better life. For seventeen painstakingly hard years, she had carried out tiresome deeds for the King to prove that she was a loyal servant to his royal highness. Every day she brought things to him, whether it was a person or an object, it didn't matter, she was tired of it. A royal adviser was supposed to give advice on how to improve the kingdom, but she rarely had the right of speech. Her position was just a label. Instead she would write all of her ideas in a book, hidden under her mattress. She also served as an example to the outside, of what kindness the kingdom offered. A poor girl raised by the powerful as one of their own, and given a shot at a fulfilling life. An easy story to believe, just another string of hope. Her image was seen everywhere but never interacted with. The King knew better than to let the truth free. He didn't feel the need for drastic improvement, his actions would remain stable as long as there were no uprisings. Helenia never left the castle. She was an animal bred in captivity, never before had seen the outside other than through the glass that encapsulated the castle. Aestelle might have been poor in the towns but it was rich in its greenery. Luscious grass grew in every crack in the pavement, trees were loaded with leaves and fruit that burst with flavour. She could smell the array of flowers and taste the juice of the peaches. She swore that once she found a way to leave, she would never return. The shade beneath the trees served as a more welcoming place than a grand space customised for her.

This day wasn't particularly special, she attended boring council meetings with some of the lords that served certain districts and did was she was told. As usual, small discussions of change that never led anywhere and more rehearsed speeches to hide the fact that Aestelle was slowly sinking into depression. Daily, she passed a set of heavily guarded steel doors decorated with gold flakes and intricate designs, the doors to his highness's chambers. No-one was allowed in King Lasane's chamber, anyone who has been, hasn't lived to tell their tale, so it was a shocking surprise when his most fiercest guard came to escort Helenia to that forbidden room. She dreamed of walking in and exploring every inch, finding out secret plans and background stories of the King himself. She knew his family possessed the stone of sapphire, stone of mental clarity and confidence, which made him a very formulaic and assertive man. He was a very secretive man which made him all the more dangerous. Even though his life was questionably balanced, no king rules without greed. A secret was locked behind those doors, Helenia was sure of it. Aestelle had always had possibility to be powerful, its army was once dominant and its naval strength overshadowed the rest in Faerline due to the fact that Aestelle was on the coast, surrounded by the Aecoria seas, but since the death of the previous king, Aestelle had spiraled out of control and lost all of its influence on the leadership in Faerline. She could also discover her past. The only thing she truly wanted and would do anything for. However, her records had been sealed shut years ago, miles underground, never to resurface again. She had tried finding them once, only to be thrown in a prison cell for a week, left to starve, forgotten, until someone brought her back.

*

The doors opened ever so slowly. It felt like eternity until there was a gap wide enough for just her to slip through. Beyond the doors was complete darkness. Helenia had developed senses, due to the fact that she only had herself to rely on for seventeen years. It was a terrible experience, having no one to guide her through life, but in this way she was able to learn how to live her life only trusting herself. The castle served as a reminder that no-one could be trusted; the King swore by it and she understood why, lies, manipulations and betrayal were around every corner. At this point even she couldn't register any movement from behind the mountains made of steel. Without having time to take her first step, the guard forcefully shoved her into the gap.

"Hey! Don't shove a lady!" Helenia exclaimed, teasing slightly. She had to remain light on her feet and in her mind to remain sane and not alert the King. Taking a deep breath, she walked deeper into the cavernous room, her eyes adjusting to the pitch black. Beside her, a flame roared and she turned to find two maroon eyes piercing her heart. 'Breathe' she recalled the phrase that kept her from going over the edge.

"Helenia Surtas," King Lasane began, "I have a mission for you."

Her heart skipped a beat. Luckily, he couldn't see her face. This must be an important mission otherwise he wouldn't have gone through all the trouble to get her there, where no soul could overhear them.

"Have you heard of the Corneliorra sword?" He asked. His voice was almost soothing, yet it had a sharp end to it which Helenia felt stab her.

"Yes Your Highness." Helenia returned. Corneliorra was said to be the strongest sword of the battle stones- hessonite garnet, that held more power than any being ever possessed, a sword that the King should never get his hands on, otherwise... she shuddered at the thought of what the King could do.

"You are to leave at noon tomorrow with Aidan, my toughest soldier, the general, to Misthaven forest where you will track down and retrieve the sword, only for it to be brought back directly to me. If you dare disobey my orders, I will not hesitate to get rid of you, Surtas." The King explained his demand without sugarcoating the consequences. He didn't need to; she knew the costs. He was awfully young to care that little about lives, but Helenia wasn't surprised. After the death of his father, the King, he spiraled out of control without guidance. The death of his mother followed close by and some said that he was her cause of death but Helenia never wanted to believe that he was that corrupted.

"Of course, Your Highness." She prolonged her reply with a hint of sarcasm; she never respected him. Helenia wasn't dumb, she figured out the King was using her. She was not the best soldier, she was not the smartest in the castle, but she didn't know of anything different which made her the least able to abort the mission and run away. But neither was he. Not the smartest as he would have realised the hunger and determination that sparked through her veins. For a king in his late twenties he was covered with scars that usually become present later in life. He was a rock on a cliff. Unable to be read, cold and jagged, but unstable with the slightest amount of emotion that he let through his mask.

"Now, get out of my sight!" He snapped at her, a bit of his mask dropping. He wanted this, badly. At that, she gave him a small necessary bow and clenched her jaw. Before exiting the chamber, she turned around as if she thought she might see something. Her emerald eyes coated with gold, scanned around with something that didn't exist until now- hope.

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A/N

Welcome to Twisted! 

Hope you enjoy! 

EDIT: I made it a bit longer as I felt that it didn't have enough detail :) Sorry that I haven't updated in ages, lost all inspiration and was so busy with exams.

Also please tell me how you like it and what you see happening, i love seeing what people think!

- S