The Sky Stained Red

Chapter One

The sun's rays, broken up by the low canopy of crooked branches, dapple the barren ground. I run through the forest, my curly, dark brown hair streaming behind me, the crooked branches lashing at my face, cutting deep into my skin. My green eyes, flecked with gray, are focused on the person darting through the trees just yards ahead of me. In my hand I hold a long dagger, glinting with blood. My eyes are fixated on the target, and my focus is unwavering despite the blood that streams down my face. As I continue to chase after the person, I hear the sound of waves continue to grow. Almost there... I think to myself, as I continue to weave my way through the dense grove of trees, the person getting ever closer. Finally, I break through the trees, and see that I had trapped the person, a middle aged man with brown hair, on the edge of a cliff. His auburn eyes frantically darted around looking for a way to escape. But there isn't one.

"Wh-what do you want with me?" His voice is filled with fear as his eyes fall upon me, dagger in hand. I take a menacing step forward, making the man shuffle backwards, trying to distance himself from me.

"Karsyn Smith. Leader of the rebellion against our queen," I say. "Because this is a major crime, you have been punished to death." His eyes widen and he takes a few steps back, placing him on the edge of the clifface.

"Tha-that's not me," he says, his voice quaking.

"Oh really?" I say with a smirk. I then proceed to take another step forward, and as the man takes a defensive step backward, it sends him screaming over the edge of the cliff. I sheathe my dagger, saunter to the edge of the cliff, and peer over the edge at the huge, jagged rocks that protrude from the thundering sea. The water is stained red, and as I survey the rocks, my eyes fall upon his body, lying there broken. At moments like these, my heart aches. But this is all I know. Killing is all I know. I tear my eyes away from the gruesome scene, and head back into the foreboding embrace of the forest.

Hours later, I arrive at the palace gates, my face still littered with gashes. At the gates are a handful of guards, one of which whom I recognize.

"Sarina!" A girl with short blonde hair and green eyes looks up, and her eyes light up as she races over to me. "Acostia! I didn't know that you would be back so soon! Is he...dead?" Her face becomes crestfallen as I nod.

"Acostia, you really need to get away from her. You can't spend your whole life killing. That's not you," she whispers, her face somber. "But what if it is. You know I can't just disappear. She raised me," I say through clenched teeth. "You know that Sarina." She nods and looks away. "You know that I just hate seeing you like this. I hate hearing the stories of Acostia Mayne, killer of all." Her green eyes meet mine, and she smiles, her eyes teary. Suddenly, a loud, male voice rings out in the clearing.

"Acostia Mayne? Queen Mazalay will see you now." I smile at Sarina, and hear the thundering sound of the gates swinging open. I mouthe an inaudible goodbye at Sarina, as I walk through the gates, preparing myself to face the Queen of Thesia.

I walk up the marble stairs, adrenaline coursing through my veins. Two guards open the massive doors for me, and I step inside the Queen's throne room, my footsteps echoing loudly. I approach her throne, where she sits pleasantly smiling, her red hair framing hazel eyes.

"Hello Acostia," she says, her tone light. "Did you complete the assignment? Is Karsyn Smith dead?"

"Yes. He's dead." She smiles at me, her hazel eyes boring into mine.

"Now Acostia, what I am about to share with you is classified information. But considering your status in our kingdom, I find it probable that you are the only person capable of completing this assignment. As you know, 15 years ago, during the Blood War, we destroyed the Kingdom of Rayona. We wiped out the majority of the citizens, including King Tarek and Queen Maria, leaving their kingdom in ruins. But compelling evidence just recently acquired by our scouts suggests that there is a small group of them left, hiding in the mountains. And we intend for you to kill them all." My heart races, as I realize I will have to single handedly wipe out the remaining citizens of the Kingdom of Rayona. The last of their kind.

"When do I leave?"

"Now."