Picking Petals:

Chapter 8: Thorns & Roses

 Rone dropped me off and went to the meeting with my dad and his, I decided to go to my bedroom and hide in there. I was usually good at keeping my feelings at bay, but maybe because being around Rone, as he is an empath, affects my emotions. They seemed to feel heightened and uncontrollable, and I needed control, I thrived on it.

I took a look out my window and took in my home, what was left of this world. At least that's all we know beyond our kingdom Valkri, is dead woods that stretched for what seemed for years. Every corner a demon lurked, they were relentless, even in my sleep they haunted my dreams. Our land dies more and more every day with the rot of death and decay. One day, maybe there will be nothing left. Just bones.

Many, many years ago this place was thriving, this place was happy. But back then it was just us Fae. We took the humans in as they found their way here, running from demons. The story is told every year at the ball, that even with the fights and incompatibility we were able to rise above. And we only did so because it was us or them. The moment those demons plagued our lands we were given a true enemy.

I haven't seen grass in this lifetime, everything is just pavement and mud, flowers don't bloom and the sun hardly shines. It rains and thunders quite often, to the point our lands flood and our crops are killed. Many lifetimes ago I lived a life in peace and beauty. So one could only wonder, how did we fall? Was this a curse? People are dying every day, Faes I knew in this lifetime and maybe even the past. Never to live or be reborn again. Gone, no more chances, no more goodbyes.

I know we have all sinned, we all have dues to pay but we didn't deserve this. Children deserved to know what happiness is, what grass feels like, and to explore the world. But every time we take a second to breathe and relax, forget what's outside of the iron walls. The demons come to remind us that we are sitting ducks.

I walked away from the window and decided to take a long soak in the tub, then I'll do some training to release some of this tension.

I sunk my entire body into the cold water to wake me up and than I just stayed under. I couldn't hear anything as the water filled my ears. And for once the world was quiet. My birthmark glistened underneath the water, a light pearl blue. A gift my mother said, from our Mother Valkri.
She has given us life and flight so if we never wanted our feet to touch the ground they didn't have to. She also gave us our first Queen Stella, to rule over the lands who created dwarfs and even Elves.

Some say the demons are all the dead spirits of the elves from the war many years ago with King Marvis. He was upset with Queen Stella because She didn't give the elves magic, nor rebirth, no soul, their only existence was to serve Fae. So of course, they eventually retaliated. Do I blame them? Hell no.

They were no match for our people, we killed most of them, and the rest we assumed moved on elsewhere, because they were never seen again. It's barbaric isn't it? Maybe that's why were being punished by the mother of Valkri, maybe even Queen Stella as well, Rones ancestor.

The crazy thing is, I know that I was a Trax in that lifetime, I died in the war I even have a memorial with a drawn picture painted onto my headstone. I've been able to discover bits and pieces of my past life, it was actually a hobby for me after my first few dreams that involved Berella. The memories come without warning, but once I had one, I craved to know more.

Hands reached into the bathtub, pulling me out forcefully. I was frozen for a second till I realized it was just Rone. His face was crippled with horror and worry, "What the hell are you doing?" He screamed.

I pushed his hands off of me and covered my body completely confused, "What the hell are you doing?" I screamed back. He turned around so I could put on my robe, its the least he could do. He was showing no sign of leaving though. I wrapped it snug around me and he turned to face me, if he didnt have an incredible explanation, he is dead.