A Fairy Tale

CHAPTER ONE - A Discovery

Ten years later...

Adam laughed. He poked Marcus at the arm and laughed when his friend just scowled at him. They were annoying each other at the garden while the adults were busy with flirting with the new queen of Cyrae. It has been years since the deaths of King Cadmus and Queen Elaine that the old castle was no longer habitable. The council appointed his younger brother as the new king but two years into his rule, he died suddenly. There was no other choice but to give the reign to his wife, Vivian.  As soon as she was crowned, she ordered all unmated creatures from the seven realms to attend her crowning ceremony. They are now being vetted and ordered to compete for her attention.  Everybody knows that the new queen has unremarkable beauty but there has also been rumors that she murdered her own husband.  Adam's father, being loyal to the alleged dead king as there was no evidence that he was dead, did not come to pay tribute to the fake queen.  He was only here to represent the werewolf community. So does the other kings of the vampires, faeries, dwarves, elves, giants and humans.  They allowed their subjects to attend with the warning that they should thread carefully.

Adam pulled Marcus from the overcrowded garden and walked back towards the woods.  In the clearing, they met the other children of the otherworld leaders. They were all playing by the clearing, unmindful of the dirt clinging to their colorful clothes.  Both boys moved to a separate group seated by the riverbank.  Adam smiled roguishly at his friends.

Kieran and Kiefer, twin vampire sons of Lord Vladimir from the south; Princess Shiela and her older brother, James of the Fae kingdom of the north; Drake, the stout warrior of the dwarves of the west;  Mavis, the elven prince of the east and Prince Connor of the human race.  Each greeted the other like they haven't seen each other for a long time.  As they were busy with catching up, Adam sniffed the air as the breeze wafted an unfamiliar scent.  It was citrusy and sweet but somewhat faint.  When he didn't smell it again, he shrugged his shoulders and continued to chat away.  Unbeknownst to him, a couple of cloaked figures were approaching the palace gates.

...............

"Rose, it's almost time.  Soon, you will return to your rightful place." The black-haired witch named Lydia whispered to her small charge.  She caressed the child's head, musing over the years that passed. She wanted to undo the curse but the queen was very powerful even when she was young.
Both figures were garbed in brown cloaks, hiding their hand spun gowns. Travel weary and dust ridden, they were still a striking couple.  Lydia glanced at the children playing by the clearing, her eyes doing a double take upon seeing the next generation of leaders from the seven kingdoms.  She prayed that they would not be touched by the evilness of Vivian's heart.

Suddenly, the gates burst wide open.  Men in horseback and carriages erupted in disarray, almost trampling Lydia and little Rose.

.........................

"Adam, Marcus! Time to go!" A booming voice called out to the boys.  Adam looked at the source and saw Marcus' father, Beta Rowan calling to them.  Both boys scurried when they saw how worried he looked.  They gave their friends parting hugs and handshakes with promises of meeting again.  Adam hurried over to his father's carriage, anxious to get home to Redwood, when the smell he sniffed a while ago wafted by, this time stronger than the first time.  He looked around and his eyes landed on the smaller brown cloaked figure standing on the sidelines.  The sudden gust of wind threw the young girl's hood back, revealing her long white hair.  Her small exquisite heart-shaped face was revealed, her dark chocolate eyes burned with intensity.  Her lips were like poppies in the wild.  Never had he seen such an unusual beauty.

Oh my!

How was he able to make out her features at such a distance? Even with his werewolf abilites, such a feat was nearly impossible but he could imagine himself almost touching the ethereal beauty.

Lydia noticed her charge's preoccupation and looked at the direction she was looking.  Her eyes widened when she saw the young werewolf boy standing amongst the cloud of dust, seemingly oblivious to the chaos surrounding him.  He was almost too tall for a boy, his electric blue eyes a contrast with his raven black hair.  His stature commands attention even though his clothes were ordinary. 

Mine

Lydia looked down at Rose and grimaced.  The young girl was trying to learn how to mind link and now her distraction is costing them their freedom.  If they weren't careful, they might get caught by enemy forces who might be just around the corner.  But she knew why her child has been lost in her thoughts.

Soon, my lamb.  You must let it go for now. - Lydia mindlinked back.  Rose lifted her face towards her keeper.  Without any warning, she was suddenly lifted in the air and thrown backwards.  Alarmed, Lydia ran to aid her charge.  The young boy also involuntarily moved forward to help but was snatched up by the occupants of a carriage.

Adam tried to catch a last glimpse of the beautiful girl he had just laid eyes on.  He tried to wiggle free from the beta's hold but as he was only ten, his strength was not that much.  He sighed helplessly as the carriage hurried away from the castle.

.........................

"Aaaaaaggggghhhhhh"

The castle shook at Vivian's cry.  Maids scurried to clean up the mess that the visitors had left. The men tried their best to round up the last of the visitors to plead them to stay.  The crowning ceremony had not gone well as planned.  Everyone was looking forward to crowning a new leader for the kingdom and for her to choose a mate from the invited guests but things went awry when a human sage suddenly announced, in front of the massive crowd, an earth shattering message.

"Darkness shall bring blight
But one will come from the light
A beauty far from thee
The true queen of Cyrae"

Whispers soon became loud murmurs and then objections came from the loyal followers of the previous monarchy.  Requests for a wider search from each kingdom was requested but Vivian was livid.  She did not marry Cadmus' brother just to loose the crown from the word of a human.

So she picked a spear and struck the sage.

Enraged, the leaders of the seven kingdoms immediately took their leave, dragging their subjects with them and saying that they will not acknowledge such a violent woman as their queen.  The king of the human race was beyond livid at the death of his most trusted advisor.  He ordered a full stop of all communications with the races until "this" queen has been eliminated.  He flounced with his entourage, leaving vile words and curses coming from the witches.

Vivian threw a vase at the wall.  Looking at the magic mirror at the wall, her eyes focused on the children running away from the castle but her gaze marked on a white haired girl wearing a brown cloak.

"Let them go blind!  I don't want brats in my kingdom!"  She roared in anger, her words echoing in the castle.