The Orb And The Onslaught {COMPLETE}

Home Truths

     Skyrah stole herself a moment, she had been hoping never to have to talk about her home Domain again, let alone go back there. But she owed Florence and Quentin an explanation. They deserved to know everything.

"I hope you can forgive me for not telling you any of this sooner, I had repressed all of it... I never thought I'd see it again and to be honest, I didn't want to."

    Florence reached a hand across the table to Skyrah. "It's alright, there's nothing to forgive. This is your story, just take your time."

Somehow, Skyrah could never understand how, but Florence's words always made her feel better. She felt love and care from Florence and it was sincere, no matter what was happening. Skyrah squeezed Florence's hand with her own glowing one, staring at it actually bolstered her resolve to get through what she needed to tell them.

    "You know now that I hail from Eracinda, and you know that I ended up prisoner to the Cult. You also know, as do I now, that I have magik. What may clear it up is my background and how I ended up in the Cult's clutches."

Skyrah knew she was still stalling, she couldn't help it. Thinking about the things that happened was easier than saying them out loud and reliving them.

     She looked up to see Florence and Quentin staring at her. This was a safe place, and they would help her through what came next. But they needed the whole picture first.

"You see, back in Eracinda... I'm not just Skyrah."

She glanced to Iccella, remembering her behaviour and couldn't help but wonder if Florence and Quentin would react similarly.

    "The way Iccella treated me when she realised who I was, it's because I'm... or at least I was, sort of... royalty, there."

Skyrah paused for their reactions, watching Florence in particular. It began with a look of surprise, which lasted around five seconds, to be replaced with a smile in Florence's case, a confused frown in Quentin's.

    "Why is that so worrisome to tell us? You're not a monster, Skyrah." Florence laughed warmly, presumably hoping to make Skyrah feel better- she succeeded.

"I didn't think any of the Domains had royalty left..." was all Quentin said.

"I don't know about the others, but Eracinda does. My family have reigned for around twelve generations. I was, or am, the eldest and supposed to be the thirteenth generation to rule. That's when the problems began."

    She paused to take stock, getting her memories in order after being in the dark so long was difficult. She had to figure out what was fact and what was fiction she'd made up to console herself in that cage. No, she knew she was away from there and didn't need to think of it for one more second.

Florence squeezed her hand gently, "You don't have to tell us everything, if it's too hard or painful, just leave it. We can wing it when we get there if we have to."

     Skyrah smiled, Florence was still trying to make her feel better.

"No, I need to tell you, I need to face what happened before we arrive."

Florence's brow furrowed and she squeezed Skyrah's hand once more. "Just take your time then."

    Skyrah took a deep breath, "When I was little, I was always told I would be Queen some day. I was taught all the airs and graces, what to do and not to do. I was instructed on every royal duty, my life was governed by it. However, one day when I was quite young, I was taken to a dark, unused room in our home by my parents, there was a chair placed in the middle of the empty room. I was told to sit in there until told otherwise, nothing else except sit and wait.