Chapter I.
Dreams were always the same. And the scent which reminded her of her mother. She would feel the warmth of her hand in hers. Hand which led her through dark streets while it rained. And she could feel the solitude of the great city mixed with the sound of their steps on the sidewalk. And with each moment the darkness around them grew thicker. And with each moment she wanted to turn back. She wanted to say to them to stop but somehow it was difficult to find the words. They fought to break free from her mouth but were not allowed. Her heart started beating faster. Mother's hand had already slipped from hers. Wet from sweat. She made herself look towards the sky. She was only a child in that dream. Maybe four years old. A child who didn’t understand the world around her. Skies were hidden by the darkness.
Stars were not there to show her the way. Maybe even the moon hid that night. There was fear in her heart even though she knew that her mother was still there. She tried to take her hand more strongly but it slipped away again. That hand which became colder. That hand which stopped moving. She stopped and stopped aware if she make another step she would fall. Something was in front of her. A body she used to embrace and hide away. She didn’t have to see a thing. Her heart knew. Her soul had felt.
Even though everything around her was in darkness she understood the coldness of the hand she refused to let go. She understood the silence of her mother, who didn’t respond to her calls. She understood the heavy smell of blood. Because when the cold winter wind chased off the clouds she looked at her own hands and saw it was blood. Blood of a mother who wasn’t there anymore.
She didn’t want to look around. She didn’t want to look away from the stars in the sky and see the broken body lying next to her. But she was cheated by the smell of her skin. She was cheated by the wind playing in her dark hair. She sat on the wet sidewalk. With a trembling hand, she pulled away the hair from her face, afraid of what she was about to see. She didn’t know how or when, but they had killed her. Darkness had taken her.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. She wanted to lie next to her and pretend it wasn’t true. That soon she would open her eyes again and look at her. Smile. Say her name. Tell her it was time to go back home. But it was all behind her now. She couldn’t return to it all. There was someone coming. In front of her was the darkness which terrified her. Behind her she saw the blade of the sword coming closer. It shone in the moonlight, decorated with drops of rain. She saw the darkness in front of her. And something more than just darkness. Like it became a shape. A person. A warrior. A child trapped behind two walls. Two worlds. Two cruelties. Which of them will bring an end to her?
She opened her eyes, aware of where she was. Warm tones of her chambers provided comfort. Gold wallpapers on the walls and the scent of roses brought her back to reality. By the soft light of candles, all the darkness was gone. She stood up from the bed and pulled the silk robe around her. Glass doors were left open, letting the sounds from the main gate invade her space. She had to know what was happening. She had to know about her father's plans and intentions. It was always so between them. As his youngest daughter, she didn’t have a right to any information. So she had to learn to come to the truth herself. She stepped to the stone terrace, aware that after her last dream she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep again. It was always like that when the darkness would disturb her dreams. She looked at the courtyard, which was lighted by torches. New warriors were arriving at the fort for almost a week. Her father would greet many of them and take care of their comfort in the fort. They would have private conversations in the library and hidden offices into which she would never get invited. Even her brother, Davon, was excluded from all the events. He hid his plans. But she knew they were serious. She expected many changes to come. Something important was approaching them. And she was ready to do anything to find out what and when.
She returned to her bedroom and sat down. A part of her wanted to get down to the lobby and try to enter the library. If someone new had come while she was sleeping, for sure they would choose that place to talk. But she knew the ways of her father. He was still waiting for his main guest. She noticed each time when a new warrior would be on his way. His face would be intense. Almost afraid. But as soon as the warrior arrived, it took one look at them for everything to disappear. As he was disappointed. His main guest has not arrived yet. But something told her his time was getting closer. It was only minutes and hours holding them apart now. And then everything can begin. What ever was planned or meant to be. It could finally start happening. She worriedly looked back at the terrace but she didn’t dare to get out again. She would love for Davon to follow their father's rules little less. But even little he knew he refused to share with her. She was still a child in his eyes. And she wouldn’t be able to understand their decisions. But they didn’t know her. She trembled from the icy wind which invaded the room. The light of the candles followed her in fear. Before she had a chance to get up, candles betrayed her. One by one they surrendered her to the darkness. She was still afraid. Now she was left sitting surrounded by her enemy. Followed only by the sound of her own heart beating in her chest. She knew the warrior had arrived. Darkness was his escort. He came to kill her.
