Empress Uprising

Prologue

My name is Thea. I was not granted a family name due to not being worthy of one in my covens eyes. I am five foot three inches tall with tanned skin and very curly auburn hair that I keep trimmed to just below my shoulders so it is easy to tame into a bun so I do not get any extra attention for my less than normal looks. My eyes, my best feature, in my opinion, are a pale green. Others say they look like seafoam green. I am athletic in nature and long ago found running to be very enjoyable. My father, Theo, is married to the coven leader, Kora. We are one of the largest covens that still exist. There has been a war to eradicate supernaturals going on for years now. Sixteen years to be exact. I am not Kora's daughter. I am a product of infidelity in her eyes.

My father went on a voyage seeking the seer when his firstborn, Hilda, was born. Theo, a half-breed warlock and werewolf, and Kora, a full-blooded witch,  were married in hopes that my father's dormant werewolf genes would become active when coupled with a powerful witch's genes. My father had hopes that the seer would inform him if it was successful or not. On his voyage, he met my mother; his destined wolf mate. I was created at this time, but Theo did not have strong werewolf genes and therefore choose to stay with Kora instead and forsake the mate bond. When news of his infidelity got back to Kora the war started. Not from humans like many think, but from Kora.

Kora attacked my mom's pack in revenge for seducing her husband. She found my mother all but ready to give birth and deiced that she would demolish the pack but keep my mother until I was born. Once I was born she planned on killing my mother. Fate did not give Kora that satisfaction as my mom had only lived thus far due to having me inside her. Once Theo broke the mate bond my mom could not go on. She only hung on because she thought I deserved a chance at life.

After Kora took out my mom's pack the werewolves thought that it was humans and started attacking mercilessly. Soon after the war hit its stride and all supernaturals were fighting with humans and some even with each other. Very few knew who, how, or why the war started. I only know because Hilda told me one day when she was trying to make me upset. She has always tried to make me believe the war is all my fault. Hilda is not always mean like that. We are not close, but we do have a stable relationship and look out for one another when it comes to Kora. We also have a younger brother Luca who we both protect.

After the war erupted counsels were formed; both within each supernatural community and one that has a member from each different supernatural community on it. Of course, Kora is on both being one of the most powerful witches still living. The high council, the one with one of each supernatural member on it, is meant to help diminish the fighting between supernaturals and ban them together against humans. Then there is one for each supernatural community due to the fighting between supernaturals. Very few people care what happens to humanity. What no one yet realizes is that without humankind there are no supernaturals either. As we were all made from humans at one time or another by the grace of the god and goddesses. Each supernatural made with different purposes of course. Now, every year around spring there is a recruitment phase to enlist more fighters. In my coven, they always send the less than desirable members of society.

That time is upon us again and I am now 16; the legal age to be a recruit. There is a two-year training period so that there is a better chance of having worthy fighters. It is said that this training camp helps the recruits to utilize whatever god/goddess-given powers they may possess. I am three-fourths werewolf and one-forth witch and have never been allowed to even see what powers I may have. Kora spelled a silver bracelet to lock in any powers that may try to come forth when I was a baby. She attached it to my wrist and it has been there ever since. Thankfully she also spelled it to grow with me.

  Once the community leader announces who will be sent that year there is a party honoring the selected. Like the selected have a choice or even want to do it. Like it is something to be proud of or that your standing is actually increased because you were chosen. It never happens that way. Half the selected don't even make it back from the training. Very few make it back from the war, and those who do are always seriously injured. The announcement ceremony and party are scheduled for tomorrow.  I know I will be one of the selected from our community.