Silver Shackles

Prologue

Life seeped out of me through the hole on my chest as I lay on the freezing ground. If my eyesight still worked, I'd see my own sword's golden hilt protruding from my chest. I'd made sure the blade cut all the way through my back and right through my heart.

Everything had gotten so cold, so miserably cold.

Yet the thought of being free from this body... of breaking free from my prison, made me want to smile. At last, I'd paid for my crimes... I'd rest, even if my soul were condemned to The Void.

"What have you done?" A woman's voice questioned me. Her voice got further away with each word she spoke. "You don't get to decide when you die."

I wasn't leaving, my body wouldn't let me go anymore.

An icy hand clutched my throat. Sensation returned to my body as I got hoisted up, I opened my mouth to moan in discomfort, breathing in air painfully into my lungs. In an unsuccessful attempt to release myself from her grip, I clawed at her hand.

"Let me die..." I begged the cruel Goddess as she tightened her grip on my throat, her rage filled silver eyes burning into mine.

With no hesitation, she took her free hand to the golden hilt and pulled my Heavenly Sword out of my chest. I coughed blood, the black substance tainting the Goddess's long white dress and her translucent white skin. She growled as she unsummoned my sword and placed her hand over the hole in my chest.

"You will live, you ungrateful, foolish child."

I screamed. My blood boiled as energy circled through my veins. She was healing me, the bleeding gap on my chest closing up on its own thanks to her power. Once my wound healed, the Goddess dropped me on the floor like she would a bag of trash.

It hurt. Being alive hurt so much.

"You still have a mission to carry out. I'll drag your weakling ass from the depths of hell if I have to." The Goddess crouched, took a fist full of my hair and forced me to see her in the eyes. "I don't pity you. I won't mind making your life a living hell if it means it'll keep you on the right track."

"Destiny, stop it." A voice commanded, but not in a frightening tone. This newcomer's voice was gentle, merciful.

The cruel Goddess released me giving me the opportunity to curl up into a ball while I trembled in anger and fear. If my body was the only thing in pain I wouldn't have had any trouble moving on, but... everything hurt. I was so tired of living like this and now I knew I wouldn't be able to escape my fate.

"Try to understand. He's lost everything."

A different woman got closer, her scent was sweet and her aura warm to my senses. She stroke my hair letting her fingers gently glide to my back. They stopped over the spot my sword had stuck out from. Her touch hurt slightly on the recently healed skin.

"He's been led astray. We must help him find his way again."

"He offended us and you plan for there to be no punishment? You usually enjoy punishing treacherous cowards like our fallen king here. What makes him so special, Moony?"

"Destiny, he's already been punished enough." The second Goddess spoke with authority.

Despite being the reason for their argument, I had become calm. The Moon Goddess wasn't well known for her patience or kindness. That she was exhibiting both towards me was strange.

"Regardless of your beliefs, I forgive his sins."

"You may, but I won't." Destiny's words pierced through me like a sword. They sought to wear me down, bend me to her will much like her recent actions were attempting to do. "I can give you one chance to redeem himself. Don't you want all that pain you feel to go away, fallen king? Would you like to forget? All you have to do is give your entire being to me."

Silence lingered between us, the Moon Goddess remained by my side as I worked on an answer for Destiny's proposal. I thought about what I had done, the lives I ended and what I had lost. The pain in my chest returned and washed over me to leave me feeling helpless and weak. The answer was clear amidst that pain that threatened to drive me completely insane.

I laughed, tears finally escaping my eyes. To forget who I was would by all means end the hurt. I stood up to face Destiny, the Moon Goddess standing hidden in her veil of darkness and stars beside me.

"What is your answer, my king?"