Beyond- Memory & Character profiles

Chapter 1

A middle-aged woman dressed in a traditional maid uniform ran down a hallway that was lined with stone on all sides and a deep red rug running down the middle of the walkway. Her face is a mixture of concentration and fear. Her arms are wrapped around a babe swaddled tightly in a white blanket with small clouds and sheep stitched around the hem. A single lock of red hair fell from the blanket swaying slightly with the frantic running motion.

With a violent jerk the maid is thrown to the side as the floor starts to shake. She takes a moment to look up at the large silver and crystal chandeliers that were set in the ceiling every several feet. Currently, they were swinging back and forth so violently that she feared their connector would snap and the entire fixtures would come crashing to the ground. One hand goes from the baby in her arms to her own chest as she takes several deep breaths in quick succession before she starts running again, her brows drawn in determination.

Relief flooded the maids face as the doors that she had been running towards come into view as she turns a corner. Two large wooden doors that are the height of the hallway with thick black hinges. Running right up to the large slab of wood she pulls one side open slowly the hinges creaking with age. The room shakes again just as the woman manages to open the door wide enough to squeeze through before turning and shoving her weight against it, closing it.

"You're majesty!" The shout that comes from the maid's lips is more of a breathy sigh as she draws in more ragged ones her hand on her heart again. Her hand going to her chest as she tries to slow her frantic breathing. The room was a large rectangular room that was big enough to hold every member of the district with elbow room. The walls were made from the same stone as the rest of the castle with large white marble columns set in intervals heading up to the front of the room. Where two high backed, dark wooden, ornately carved chairs sat on a dark blue marbled floor.

Under normal circumstances this room would have been breath taking with its high ceiling and tapestries lining the walls. However, in the wake of the chaos that was currently racking the room, it was in disarray. One of the high-backed chairs had been knocked over and the white columns had fishers and cracks running up them. The threat of them crashing to the ground at the next shake of the ground was high. Throughout the room there were pots made from clay held plants had all been knocked over or broken; the greenery that once lived inside was discarded laying on the floor. The tapestries that lined the walls of past royal families had fallen down in heaps or ripped right down the middle. Then directly in the middle of the room, the large crystal chandelier had fallen from its hanging spot and was lying in a pile of glass several feet from the front of the room.

Next to the chairs were two people, the circlets of gold adorning their heads showing their rank; fear shining clearly in their eyes. The woman had long flowing red hair that went down past her waist looking even brighter over the woman's snow-white cloak. Her bright green eyes went to the woman the instant she had entered the room and she rushed to the maid, her arms outstretched to take the bundle. The man that was close on her heels had short black hair that was cut so that his bangs fell around his eyebrows. His eye were also green however, they were more of a vibrant green that in some light glowed slightly.

"I came here as soon as I could," The made spoke with a hitch in her speech. The maid passed the small baby to the Queen as her eyes swept the small bundle for any damage. "What's happening?"

"The darkling's have started their attack," The King spoke, his voice grave, as he looked at his wife and knew that her face mirrored his own. "Quickly, use the service stair well and escape the castle. You should still have time." He motioned for the maid to run; she took one look at her Queen. Their eyes locked for just a moment before she dropped into a bow.

"I pray for your safety your majesties." The maid broke into a sprint as she hit the door with a thump before she turned the knob and was gone. The Queen tore her eyes from her Kings as she looked around the now empty room.

"We have to get her out of here," She spoke her voice soft, but strong before she looked back at her King with tears shimmering in her eyes. "She has to survive, even if we do not." The last of her words were a whisper. The King wrapped his arms around his Queen, her head going to his shoulder as his arms encircled her.

"I know darling," He spoke to the top of her head where she placed a soft kiss onto her hair.

"We can't go with," The Queen held the bundle close to her chest. The man nodded, his face looking stricken. "We will send her with our most trusted scout." The King nodded before he turned on his heel.

"Jonathan!" The King's voice boomed with all of the authority of his position.

A man dressed in all black appeared next to the king suddenly as if he had been there the entire time. The King looked down at his old friend and smiled weakly. "You are my closest friend," His voice was soft now as the room shook around him. "I am trusting you with the most important thing in our lives." Jonathans head shot up as he looked at his King.

"You can't be serious," He stood and looked from his King to his Queen. "You should be the one who is with her, I cannot raise her." The man looked horrified.

"You will do fine," The Queen spoke softly as she kissed the small baby's forehead. The red locks turned into a dark brown. "They will be able to follow our aether no matter where we run, and we will be hunted down." The woman shook her head, "I have cast a spell on her to mask her aether," She handed the small baby to Jonathan. "She is his mated soul and deserves to live that life." Jonathan took the baby as the Queen seemed to teeter. Her King quickly reached out and snaked a hand around her middle holding her upright. She looked at Jonathan and tried to stand straight but she was hunched, and her breathing was labored.

"Jonathan," The King clapped him on his shoulder with his free hand. "Just make sure she's happy." The large doors that the maid had run though started to shake as darkness started to spill from its cracks.

"Go now!" The Queen spoke quickly as she stood and pulled her necklace off and tucked it into the bundle.

"Get away from here at all costs; we will hold them off as long as we can." Another figure said as it appeared directly in front of Jonathan. Before several more appeared with the rustling of their clothing, the knifes appearing in their hands, faces hidden behind their scout masks.

"Try not to die," Jonathan whispered before he took several steps backwards as the door's burst open and shadows started pooling inside. He turned in time to see the darkling creature take several steps inside. They were shadow's that had taken form of blood thirsty creatures. The place where the mouth should have been was dripping with blood as it screamed. Every person in the room tensed and he turned using his movement skill as he jumped up to the high window and used his movement once more. Landing with a roll, keeping the baby tucked tightly to his chest.

And that is how I ended up on the other side of the Fairy Gate, parentless with a guardian who had one mission: to make sure I was happy; but at the end of the day what is happiness?