Selene

2: Helen [EDITED]

"Helen, remember."

I paid no attention to my Mother and continued the process of breaking my neck, just to stare at a portrait hung high up. She always said the same thing anyway, something or the other pertaining to the topic of awakening magic.

But the gold frame which held the portrait of the handsome Lord, the highest authority, was incredibly intriguing.

"Selene is your enemy."

I froze for a moment to look at her demonic rage. I did not find Selene unpleasant, but I knew better than to say so in front of her. Gulping down the lump in my throat, I suppressed my guilt and went back to the frame.

Waves of curiosity flooded me once again, bringing back my previous chain of thoughts.

I wanted to meet him.

I was five years old by then. Everyone said I excelled at my studies – and I could even read the Imperial language – so I tended to have a bit of a pride over that.

I read the name tag aloud: "E-ric... Ya-mi... Eric Yami!"

The Lord, the administrator, whose portrait was one the maids actually paid some attention to.

Mother sighed irritably. "He is the Emperor, your Father."

"Yami...?" I tilted my head, confused. "But I am Helen Hikari. Why is he Yami... like Selene Yami?"

"Because they are bound by blood, father and daughter, two excellent sword wielders."

The sentence jabbed me somewhere deep down. Perhaps my pride was wounded, or maybe it was because I yearned more than my sister had.

I looked down with a heavy heart. My world felt slightly melancholy – dark and lonely. It made me wonder, I am bound by blood to him too, right...?

The soft red carpet on which I liked to run about with muddy shoes, while being screamed and chased by the Head Maid, Anne, would belong to Selene then, right?

It made me furious. That she would be the one to replace this man, that she would be the next High Authority. Was that why she got to be with the priestesses?

That was how my mindset had become upon staying with my Mother for the longest time.

A petty mindset.

"Selene is my enemy?" I asked timidly, recalling mother's previous words. I was a bit troubled by that.

Of course, Mother immediately snatched her opportunity from a seemingly useless conversation.

"Yes! Selene will try to snatch everything away from you. My dear child, how I wish I could protect you...! But the throne conflict is only between you two, and I may not even be alive then..."

I gritted my teeth. "...How do I win against Selene?"

Though Selene was named heir only for the throne of Yami, she would undoubtedly receive the Kingdom of Hikari as well. if not peacefully, then by war – because she was the daughter of Eric Yami.

My mother seemed pleased. "Will you go against that Selene? You know, the girl who plays with you every Tuesdays and Thursdays, celebrates birthdays with you, and loves you so much?"

I hesitated. "I like Selene... but I like Eric more." It was a lie.

I was after power, riches, and praise.

If neither Selene nor Eric existed, all would be mine.

Mother's green eyes seemed to be that of a snake. That day, she had sown the seeds of hatred in my heart.

She knew that Eric would never favor any of his children. Under the context of being moral and unbiased, Emperor Eric Yami twisted all the rules to his favor. That body of his only housed a cold tyrant would never open his heart to anyone.

No.

He didn't have a heart to begin with.

It was my own fault for being greedy, selfish, and wishing for the impossible. I fooled myself with the excuse of me wanting a normal and happy family, and that I was too naïve – so innocent that it was a crime.

I was raised that way, baited by praise and respect which led to me forgetting my moral boundaries.

"To get the attention of Eric... well, let's start simple. Learn to control your magic."

She was back at it again. The awakening of Magic.

The thing was, I always knew how to summon Magic from countless books that stuffed me with knowledge. But it was my twisted desire that truly brought it about.

Concentrating on my tiny palms, I looked deep within myself – my emotions. A glowing green fire cackled on my palms almost immediately. "This glowing green thing?"

I showed my mother little wisps of green dust – the leftovers of the fire that only lasted a moment.

Green.

The color or deep-seated envy.

And if my Mother knew that – which I am certain she did – she only continued to fuel my flames.

"Oh, my!" My mother laughed maniacally. "How swift! You've already summoned the first bit of your magic! Helen dear, I am so proud of you!"

I had been very confused. That was the first time I had seen my mother break into such a big smile.

I felt accomplished, being showered with compliments.

Even though that was the beginning of my misfortune... at least I was happy for a while.

I shouldn't have followed my mother's footsteps.

"Helen!" My five-year-old twin rushed towards me on that evening, for it was a Thursday. "Helen!"

"First Imperial Princess." The High Priest of the Temple of Yami trotted behind Selene. "Please slow down – you might fall."

He gave a little bow to me. "Good evening, Second Imperial Princess."

My sister giggled and began pulling my cheeks. "How have you been?"

At that moment, looking at her smiling face, I began feeling a slightly guilty. But, by then, my love for her had only turned superficial.

But my desires outweighed that impulse to turn back on my decision.

"Gwood." I couldn't speak properly because she was pinching my cheeks. Her pleasant laughter rang in the halls of the Palace of Hikari.

I was shining light, yes, but my sister's gentle glow was more overwhelming than mine.

People around me always whispered whilst looking at me pitifully, As expected of the Crown Princess...

Our lives were intertwined so pitifully, it was worse than a tragedy would have been.