ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴄᴇɴsɪᴏɴ (ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴏɴᴇ)

PROLOGUE

Deep crimson colored blood dripped from a silver blade. The sword's handle wrapped in leather and a pale hand gripped it tightly.

Cold gray eyes were locked on the body of a young man - around the age of nineteen, his side cut open with a deep gash that oozed blood. The man's face was contorted in eternal fear as he laid dead on the cool, gray stone covered ground.

A smirk played across the lips of a young lady, looking no older than seventeen. She held the blood drenched sword in her hand.

Her body wasn't without its own wounds however. Cuts and scrapes along with some bruises littered her small form. Some appeared to be fresh while others weeks old.

"Well it would seem the crown is mine after all dear brother," the lady muttered, her voice sweet and melodic even though her surroundings were anything but.

She turned on her heel before giving one last glance behind her at the corpse laying in a pool of it's own blood and then walked away.

The sun was beginning to set as the lady walked along the stone paths that threaded it's way through the dense forest. She kept her eyes trained ahead of her as she walked.

She still clutched the bloodstained sword in her pale hand and the smirk was still planted on her face. She knew that she was the last one and that gave her the satisfaction and pride she needed.

As the trees began to grow sparser and the sounds of the forest began to fade, a large dark gray wall began to stretch out before her. An old, yet strong, black iron gate separated the inside from the rest of the world. Glimpses of castle towers could be seen from where the lady stood.

She let a smile grace her lips in place of the smirk as she walked out of the forest line. Her steps were slow and deliberate as she moved across the pathway. Guards in shining silver armor stood at the sides of the iron gate and stood at the ready when the lady approached them.

"State your name and business!" The one to the right of the gate shouted. Her voice strict and curt as she spoke. The lady offered the guards a small smile before dropping her bloodied sword.

"I am Lady Laurel Hathaway and I am the sole survivor of The Ascension Games," she announced with pride and confidence in her voice. The two guards looked at each other before turning back to the lady.

"Show us your badge!" The other guard commanded in a gruff tone of voice. His eyes narrowed as he watched Lady Laurel peel back her cloak to reveal a gleaming gold and pear badge pinned to her leather armor. With one quick glance to one another, the guards bowed to Laurel and turned to open the large gate to let her inside.

"Welcome to Terra Nova Palace, your majesty," the female guard said before giving another bow. The male guard had a look of annoyance on his face, but still bent over into a deep bow as well.

Laurel nodded to the guards and stepped inside of the walls. She had made it to the royal palace -

Alive...
-
"Do you Lady Laurel Cristina Hathaway pledge to rule the kingdom of Veresa fairly and with a kind heart?" The priest asked the young lady as she stood in front of the aging man. She was dressed to the nines for this day - her coronation.

"I will," she said as her gray eyes locked onto his pale brown colored ones. A strand of her dark blonde colored hair fell out of her bun and joined the others which framed her pale, blushed covered cheeks. The priest gave the lady a smile before turning to the woman standing behind him.

A beautiful golden crown with many different diamonds placed upon it was sitting on a deep wine colored pillow. The brown haired woman who held the pillow stepped forward and bowed while holding her hands out to the priest.

The priest picked it up and turned back to Laurel. The crown glittered beautifully in the light. With a smile on his face, he moved towards Lady Laurel and stood directly before her once more.

"With this crown you are the reigning Queen of the great kingdom of Veresa," he said while placing the crown on her head. Lady - now Queen Laurel - turned to face the crowd that had gathered to watch her coronation.

"May her reign last for many years to come! Long live Queen Laurel!"