Dark Illumination

Chapter One

Serena paused outside the Room of Remembrance. It was located at the top of the tallest tower of the Onyx Palace. Only those with a gem made of obsidian taken from the deepest heart of The Dark may enter. There were three in existence. At the center of the silver circlet she wore was one such gem. It was in the shape of a teardrop and rested against her forehead. Her uncle Lucius, high sorcerer of Teare possessed the second while Katarina, the high priestess responsible for aiding in her prayers, owned the last. It was said that when the powers of all three were combined it would bring about an imbalance. Which meant only two of them at any given time could use the gems. No one had ever tested the theory, but her uncle and high priestess felt more comfortable not taking chances. Serena only used the gem to gain entrance into the Room of Remembrance for her prayers. She left the handling of the powerful forces provided by The Dark to her uncle and high priestess and the countless sorcerers and enchantresses at their disposal tasked in keeping their kingdom safe.

Of all the days, she dreaded this one the most as she concentrated on her breathing. Her thundering heart caused her hands to shake. She clasped them together, fingers intertwined. She couldn’t face the ancestors under such a trembling state of anxiety. She must calm herself before proceeding. In order to do so, she must breathe the way the Swordmaster taught her before executing a particularly complicated sword dance combination.

That day meant the end of her life as she knew it. After being chosen as the Princess of The Dark, her entire existence had been devoted to becoming a future ruler. The death of the High King and Queen meant the balance of The Light and Dark had been disrupted. The clock was ticking. She had two cycles of the moon to unite with the current Prince of Light or everything would be lost to the Void. The all-consuming presence threatened them all.

Unable to stand the sweat accumulating between her palms, Serena gave in to running her hands down the front of her white ceremonial robe. It was a breach of protocol, but she was completely alone. No one was watching. Who would know? She would, but she knew she could live with that guilt.

At the meeting of the front flaps of the robe was emblazoned the sacred heart of darkness pierced by a rapier with wings at its hilt. It symbolized the purity of The Dark from which they gained their powers. As its chosen princess, she was most in tune with the infinite force than anyone else in Teare. The weight of her responsibilities to her people settled heavily on her shoulders, made even heavier by the stifling clothing she was made to wear. How she longed for fitted britches and loose tunics and a sword in her hand. But enter the Room of Remembrance she must.

She must recite the ancient prayers of her people. Must commune with The Dark and assure it of her purity. What little balance was left must be maintained to keep the ever encroaching Void at bay until her impending union. They all had their parts to play in this complicated dance of their world. Her part just happened to be more important than most.

With a final, bracing breath, she steeled herself. All her studies, all the years of hard work she had put in were in preparation for that day. It wasn’t like she hadn’t met the prince. They had spent an entire summer together as children, made to perform the Ceremony of Introduction upon their choosing. That had been several years ago. Her heart skipped in uncertainty. All she remembered of him were his vivid blue eyes. They reminded her of the sky. What if she didn’t meet his expectations? She had been an impish child. What if he turned out to be a brute? He was a warrior, after all. What if when he saw her he would be disappointed? What if they couldn’t get along?

So many questions without answers. Yet she couldn’t run away. She owed it to the millions who counted on her to live peaceful lives to endure, no matter what came her way. Whatever challenges, she would face them the way she faced most things—head on and with no regrets. All she needed to know had been drilled into her.

With renewed confidence in herself, Serena brought two fingers to her lips then touched the gem on her circlet. When her fingertips grew warm from the contact, she moved her hand to the door without a knob. It disappeared, granting her entrance into what was considered the most sacred room in the palace.

After adjusting the robe so it sat properly on her body, she stepped inside. It was in the brightest light where a grain of darkness lurked. The Room of Remembrance was that. An infinitely white space with no windows. It could be jarring at first since it was difficult to tell where the walls began, how far the room stretched, and how high the ceiling was in relation to the ground. The absolute whiteness made everything seem endless.

Several yards above her head were over a million suspended dandelions. They represented the souls of their dead ancestors who have since returned to The Dark. Serena approached the white cushion at the approximate center of the room. She folded her legs underneath her thighs while resting her buttocks on her heels. Then she shifted so her ankles were turned outward. On her thighs, she rested her hands, palms facing up and touching the tips of her thumbs and fourth finger, creating a circle.

Blowing out a slow breath, she opened her mind to The Dark through her circlet. Tiny black diamonds sparkled as they rose off the floor, floating around her. In a deep murmur, she began reciting the prayers, beginning with the first which told about their creation.

By the time she reached the third prayer, which spoke of the first union, Serena had separated her mind enough from the process that she was able to see herself seated in the room while the ancestors hovered above her.

The High Queen came up beside her. She was as beautiful as the darkness just before sunrise. Stillness personified. Her hair of spun gold cascaded one shoulder, held in place by a circlet similar to the one Serena wore except instead of a tear the High Queen’s gem was in the shape of a star. The gem always molded to the spirit of the new owner.

“Are you ready, Your Highness?” the queen asked, amusement in her tone.

For a spirit, she was chipper, Serena caught herself rudely thinking. Then she refocused her thoughts. “Why did you have to rejoin The Dark now? Couldn’t you have waited a few more years?”

The High Queen smiled ruefully. “You know my life is tied to my love. As he returned to The Light, so must I rejoin The Dark.”

“All because he fell from his horse and broke his neck.”

“Ah, such was his life.” The queen shrugged delicate shoulders.

“But I’m not ready, Your Majesty,” Serena blurted out. Since she hadn’t been coronated yet, the title still belonged to the previous High Queen. She was no longer able to contain her uncertainty. In this astral plain between the Room of Remembrance and The Dark she was safe. Only the ancestors knew of her thoughts and concerns.

“Oh, my darling girl . . .” The queen gathered her within slender arms.

Serena allowed the hug. Having been orphaned at such a young age and made to live with her uncle, she ached for the love of a mother. The High Queen, although kept busy by her duties, never failed to show affection when she and Serena ran into each other within the palace halls. Because of the importance of their stature, they were rarely allowed to remain in the same room together. The death of both at the same time would be catastrophic.

As if feeling her fear, all the other High Queens of old materialized before them. They all reached out their right hands and touched Serena. Soon she was surrounded by energy radiating with feminine strength. Serena absorbed as much of it as she could. She knew she would need it in the coming days. The Prince of Light was due to arrive within the day. She had to be ready.

“You are strength,” the High Queen finally said, holding Serena at arm’s length so their gazes met. “The Dark wouldn’t have chosen you if you weren’t worthy of this responsibility.”

Murmurs of agreement came from the previous queens.

Serena’s gaze jumped from face to face, basking in the glow of their confidence in her. They endured the same lessons she had. They united with their princes without incident. Some matches turned to love the way the previous High Queen’s did. Others were a kind tolerance for each other. Since the princes and princesses were chosen, the current king and queen didn’t have to produce heirs to succeed them. And any child born from the union would always be given his or her own set of responsibilities. Everyone had a purpose. Everyone had a job. Serena drew further strength from this thought. She had a job to do.

“Not long ago I was in your position,” the queen continued, drawing Serena’s attention away from the others. “I was younger then you are now. Unsure of myself. My breasts hadn’t even come yet.”

This drew laughter from the queens. Serena giggled too. She couldn’t help it. In their history there was one Princess of The Dark that had barely left her childhood when she had been called to assume the mantel of High Queen. If a child could do it then so could she.

“You can always draw from our strength and experiences, my child.” The queen squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. “We are but a set of prayers away. You are not alone in this.”

She nodded. What the High Queen left unsaid was Serena had assembled around her a court worthy of any kingdom. Her uncle’s sorcerers were some of the most powerful in the land, valiantly fighting against minions of The Void. And her high priestess, though young, was one of the best wielders of The Dark’s forces known to their kingdom. The support around her was so strong it could even be daunting at times.

Within minutes of standing in the presence of those who have come before her, she had forgotten what made her nervous about that day in the first place. She was the current chosen. She possessed her own beauty and strength. She was both smart and intelligent. And she could wield a sword better than any warrior Lumeria would ever produce even if the land of The Light was known for their soldiers.

Maybe the final bit was exaggeration, but if it helped her regain her confidence, she would take it.

“Remember, we are here with you, always.” The queen smiled.

She nodded. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Walk among the shadows, my child,” she said.

“For it is within the darkness we find strength,” Serena finished. The ancient saying of their people always brought her comfort. They of The Dark would forever be shrouded in the purity of the sacred heart of darkness.

Closing her eyes, Serena returned her consciousness to her body just as she was finishing the final prayer—the prophecies of the future.

Uncurling her fingers, she opened her eyes, taking in the pristine whiteness of the room once again. She blinked several times to regain her vision. Then she shifted in her seat. Prickles ran up and down her legs after being seated motionless. When she was sure she wouldn’t stumble, she leaned forward and pushed up to stand, making sure not to step on the cushion. Once on her feet, she backed away as the black diamonds sank back into the floor. At the door, she touched the gem on her forehead and left the room.

Outside, she was no longer alone.

“Katarina?” Serena tilted her head. It was unusual for her high priestess to join her right after prayers. They usually met at the library or the throne room for her morning meetings.

Ceremonial robes of deep indigo engulfed the delicate girl whose head didn’t even reach Serena’s chin. Her light brown hair was gathered in a massive braid that fell over one shoulder, the tip of which reached her knees. In her right hand, she clutched the staff of her position. Its obsidian pommel touched the floor while at the top rested the sacred heart of darkness, the gem set at its center. A knot of concern formed on her brow.

“You’re not going to like this,” she said with a maturity that didn’t seem to match her cherubic features.

“What?” Serena’s heart tumbled. “Is the prince here?”

“More like his delegation and an envoy.”

“What?” Fear turned into righteous indignation. “What do you mean his delegation and an envoy?”

“Just what I said.”

“Are you telling me he’s not even here?”

“It seems so.”

“How dare he insult me in this way!” Serena shrugged out of her robe and threw the stifling piece of clothing over her shoulder right before she took the crystal steps down to the main floor of the palace two at a time.