Scars and Burns (No Light Without the Dark #1)

19. Aeron

19

Aeron

I expected a group of guards or soldiers to be the ones coming to the Queen’s aid. What I did not expect was King Elio. Alone and armed. Vengeance in his eyes.

I should leave but I am intrigued by the interaction that is about to occur. So I stayed. Listening and watching intently. Hidden away in the shadows. I take it all in.

“Hello, Freya.” King Elio begins, nothing but malice in his voice. “Been waiting a long time for this.” He smirks at her. Stalking toward her. She doesn’t move an inch.

“You’ve chosen wrong.” She states, “You believe this will bring you greatness and power.”

“Oh I know it will. Saphrina is the one chosen. The one blessed by the goddess. And with you gone and out of the way. She will finally reach her full potential.” He stops directly in front of her. Dagger at the ready.

She looks up at him and smiles.

“Blood for blood

Her starlight will glow

As his shadows gro w

The Goddess has blessed one

A bond that cannot be undone

To bare her mark of

Light and Dark”

Oh my goodness. She’s quoting the Goddess’s prophecy. Known only to a few. I’ve never heard it in its entirety before.

King Elio sneers at her, “You know I wanted to love you. Fuck, I did love you.” His jaw clenching as he turns his head away.

Returning his gaze to the Queen, “I’ve loved you since we were children. I loved you the way I was supposed to. We were betrothed. We were supposed to unite the realms together. And what did you do?”

His voice begins to rise, “What. Did. You. Do.” Emphasizing each word. He grips his dagger even tighter. His knuckles turning white as he does.

She doesn’t say a thing. She just keeps looking back at him, as calm as ever. Clearly bothering King Elio by her lack of worry in what he is saying. He rages on.

“You ran! You fled to the Celestial Realm. Using your magic to conceal your true features. Come one, let’s see them! Show your true self before you die!” This seems to entice her. Because she gives him a small smile.

I didn’t think it was possible but her shoulders relax even more. Her whole body glows and just like that her entire appearance changes.

Her porcelain skin becomes darker. A caramel tan. Her once white hair, the color of mountain tops, fades to a deep chocolate brown. But her eyes remain the same icy blue, with no touch of cold or malice.

My eyes widened. I didn’t even know magic could be used this way.

So, she is originally from the Middle Kingdom and she fled to the Celestial Realm to avoid marrying King Elio. At that I smirk.

Does that mean my Mother was also from the Middle Kingdom ?

Reverting my attention back to King Elio, as he continues, “And then you birthed that mixed blooded bastard. That disgrace. That vile, worthless, pathetic excuse of life. And I allowed you to bring it into my castle. The Goddess made a mistake of blessing her with magic. She will amount to nothing. I will make sure of it.”

That seems to get a reaction out of her. Raising her arm and reaching out her hand, it flexes. In an instant King Elio’s dagger is gripped tight in her hand.

What powers does this woman possess? She has healing ability. I know that for a fact. Not uncommon for Celestial Realm descendants. They value rebirth. The ultimate healing for our souls. But she’s not from the Celestial Realm. And tonight she has shown powers that I have never seen. Or even heard of. She has masked her features and gravitated objects to her hand. What else can she do?

She raises her other hand. Blasting King Elio to the ground. Landing him straight on his ass. Pinning him there with a constant stream of energy.

Middle Kingdom magic.

Her hair blowing back in wild strands. Swirling around her. Her moonlight energy illuminates the room. She speaks. Her tone of voice is not filled with anger but power . She emanates power.

“If you harm Dinalia. I will come back and haunt you until the end of your days. I will unleash the full wrath of the Triple Goddess on you. There will be no escape. She will flourish. If she does not ascend into the light. I will drag you down into the shadows. Ripping your soul apart myself.”

I never thought I would hear such words from her. Someone who always seemed so kind and understanding.

Full wrath of the Triple Goddess?

What does she mean by that? And how could she be the one to drag him into the shadows and rip his soul apart? Does she also possess magic from the Shadowlands? The more I listen to her the less I understand.

She releases her magic. King Elio instantly stands. Attempting to recover what little dignity he has left. She tosses his dagger back to his hands.

She glances over to me. Hidden in the shadows. She’s looking directly at me. How can she see me?

Giving me a small half smile.

Then the most extraordinary thing happens. I hear her in my head say, “Do not fret, little light. So much has yet to be seen but much has been foretold.”

Oh so she is telepathic too. Of course she is. What can’t she do?

I glance down at the journal she handed me. The one intended for Dinalia. Curious. I wonder if she explains everything here.

She turns her head back to King Elio. Who is oblivious of the interaction we just had. She smirks, “Finish it. Seal your fate. Praise Saphrina for the chosen one you believe her to be. I think much will change for her once I am gone.”

King Elio cuts in, “Oh, I know it will.” smirking, he raises his dagger, with a single thrust he plunges it into her chest. Straight through her heart.

Her breath catches. Mouth slightly ajar. No fear in her eyes though. She simply smiles and with her last breath says, “Blood for blood, King Elio, Blood for blood.”

King Elio pulls the dagger out from her chest. She slumps to the ground in a heap. He grips his dagger. Letting out a frustrated groan. His whole body seems to shake as he does.

Just as I am about to leave, she comes bursting through the doors.

I’m stunned. I’ve never seen her in this light before. Blood devouring her features. She’s still in her sleepwear. Not bothering to change .

I see her breasts peeking out. The dark brown color of her nipples are showing through the thin white fabric. Her hair is down. I’ve never seen it down before. Always pulled into a braid descending down her back. It has a slight curl to it that I didn’t notice before. Her hair falling gracefully over her shoulders. Laying perfectly along her features and lean figure. It’s long, flowing, and wild.

My dick twitches at the site of her. Causing a bulge and strain in my trousers. I adjust myself as I take her all in.

She’s in shock. Not sure how to process what is before her. I wonder how King Elio will play this. I wonder how he will explain her Mother’s appearance.

She walks slowly over to her. Glancing at King Elio as she does. Her mouth is gaping open. Eyes scanning her Mother’s body. She kneels down next to her. Dropping her blades. Her eyes are moving at rapid speed taking it all in. Her nostrils flaring. Trying to fight back tears.

Her hands are resting on her knees. I think she is about to break down into tears, but she closes her eyes and whispers something.

“What?” King Elio snaps back.

“Did you kill her?” She says, louder this time.

“Oh for goodness sakes Dinalia, speak up.”

Her hands curl into fists. As she closes her eyes even tighter. Taking a few deep breaths. In an instant she grabs her blades. Standing and twisting around. Her magic flares.

My eyes boggle. It’s white. Her magic is a white flame but it’s not completely pure. It has purple and blue streaks in it. The same combination as her eyes. Stepping closer I see sparks bursting out of it.

Sparks of starlight.

Her flames coat her blades and swirl around her as she whips towards King Elio. She’s tiny. At least a foot shorter than him. But her blades are pointed directly at his throat. Coming together at a point. Forming a triangle with her arms and chest. Rage filling her eyes. Anger spilling out of her. She’s ready to kill him.

He just glares down at her.

“Did you kill her?” She asks again through clenched teeth.

“No,” He says with a straight face. He steps away and leaves the room.

She watches him leave. Lowering her blades. Her magic dwindles. She turns back to her Mother. Walks over to her and kneels down again.

I see the tears swelling in her eyes. Some have already begun to spill over. Rolling down her cheeks. Gathering at her chin.

She places her hand over her Mother’s heart. Right where she was stabbed.

Sobbing, I hear her say through tears, “I’m sorry Mother. I trained for years. Developing my abilities. Ensuring I wouldn’t be nothing in the face of danger again. Promising myself after that night I would grow and be able to protect us. I failed. I failed you. I am nothing. I am no one.”

She cries for a moment more. Then stands. Still looking down at her Mother. She gives her head a little shake. Maneuvering her hair over her shoulders to her back. That’s when I see it.

Her Goddess mark. Right on her sternum. It’s complete. Vibrant like a fresh tattoo. Black as her hair. I thought her sister, Princess Saphrina, had a complete Goddess mark. Maybe they both do? That wouldn’t surprise me with the amount of power I just witnessed from their Mother.

Much has been said about Princess Saphrina’s mark though. Blessed since birth. Said to be the one mentioned in the Goddess’s prophecy.

It was known that Queen Freya’s first born had magic. But other than that no one really cared to explore more .

I take my eyes away from her chest. Looking back to her face. She’s still looking down at her Mother with sorrow. But then something changes. The sadness slowly starts to switch to anger. Her face twists. Nosing scrunching. Mouth snaring. She clenches her blades. Releasing her head up. Letting out a blood curdling scream. Flames blasting out from all around her.

Her Mother was right.

There is a darkness inside of her.