A Most Enticing Temptation

Chapter one: Execution

When I woke I expected to be showered in my mother's kisses and envelope in my father's comforting embrace while Loren mocked me for falling asleep after my transition, instead I awoke on a cold metal floor. In a cell that smelt horrible. While my wings had retracted my back was still extremely sore and I could barely see straight. What happened?

I couldn't think of a plausible reason why I was tossed into a cell after my Awakening. Shouldn't the Court be happy? Having two Angels awoken in a pureblooded angel family was a miracle. Shouldn't they be celebrating the possibility that families with multiple children might not have to put all but one into the ground?

My wrists were raw, indicating I had been chained up awhile. I was definitely cleaned after my Awakening or else I would be covered in dried blood. I was in pitch darkness. There was only one prison in Ivernote that was concealed so thoroughly that not even the light could touch the prisoners. I was in Jaggracot. But why? Why? Why? Why?

I had tried multiple times to use my magic to get the shackles off, or at the very least numb the pain in my arms and back but I was exhausted. When Angels transitioned their powers reshaped and molded into one specific skill. Some could control the elements. Others formed unbreakable bonds with nature. Some were gifted with tangible skills like weapon crafting or combat.

I might not even get to know mine if I'm kept in this cell for a few more hours. Just as I had managed to make out the outlines of the handcuffs the prison door swung open letting light flood in. I was momentarily blinded. A large guard trudged into the cells, his armour glittering in the sunlight and a scowl painted on his face.

He opened my cell and pulled me off my feet. I was so thirsty, so hungry and in so much pain I didn't even fight against the hand gripping my arm. He dragged me for a few minutes and I slipped in and out of consciousness until I was thrown to the ground. My shackled hands took most of the fall impact. "You, Lenora Bright, have been brought to the Court in shackles due to your mother's horrific crimes."

A shiver crawled up my spine when I recognised who's voice that was. Supreme Court Leader Lena Victrous. I heard a muffled scream followed by a thud before my mother's limp body was dragged into the court by yet another generic looking guard. I had never before felt fear like I did the second I saw the guard plunge a long, jagged blade into my mother's chest. She squirmed for a handful of seconds, gurgling sounds coming from her mouth and tears streaming from her eyes. Then she went motionless.

I screamed bloody murder as the same guard that tossed me to the feet of the Court leaders held me back.

One of Lena's fellow court members chanted a healing spell and brought my mother back from the brink of death. She sat up with a start her pale blue eyes darting around the room until they fell on me. "I'm so sorry, Lenora. It's all my fault. I didn't-" she was cut off by Lena's cold voice, "Quiet."

My mother's mouth snapped shut. I turned my petrified gaze onto the woman who personally trained me in all things war. Lena was like my second mother, and now she wouldn't even look me in the eye. She stared over my head at something behind me when she said her next words, "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted," she glared viciously at my mother, "Lenora Bright, you have been brought in shackles to the court because of your mother's horrific crime. Neviah Bright has been charged with the crime of interbreeding with a deomon. My final gift to you is letting her tell you all of the truth before you are both executed."

I gaped at the revelation my mother was even involved with a demon let alone interbreeding. It couldn't possibly be true. Even if it was, how could the Court possibly have found out if her own child didn't know? Lena's expressionless face contoured into one of sick amusement, "You, dear child, are the result of her crimes against the Court."

My previously racing heart stopped beating all together. I looked at my mother praying she would jump to her feet and deny it. But instead she averted her eyes to the ground guiltily. No. It can't be true!

"Tell them the truth, Mum! Tell them that it's not true!" My mother shook her head, "It is true, Lenora. My marriage with Seamus was as arranged as a marriage could be. We were never in love."

My entire body felt as though it were on fire. It was almost as if I could feel the blood rushing through my veins, "And eighteen years ago," she choked on a sob, "during a visit to my sister I crossed paths with a demon. One thing led to another and I found out I was pregnant with you."

Her mothers eyes were red and begged for forgiveness, "When I found out that I was pregnant I came back to Ivernote and managed to trick Seamus into believing you were his baby." The guards chuckled, "Well f**k, I guess the witch b***h wasn't lying about the intensity of the truth sirum." Anger and frustration wrapped around my heart like a fist.

That's why she'd always forced me to wear so many charmed objects. Demons were known for their temperamental behaviour. Their emotional meltdowns quiet literally melted mountains and evaporated oceans. My mother had told me to wear the charms because I was her only little girl, she 'wouldn't know what she'd do if something happened to me' yet she brought me into a land that hated half breeds more than demons.

"I hoped you wouldn't survive the Awakening. I didn't even know if you'd have one because you have demon blood in you. I didn't know anything about hybrids so I thought I could have a few selfish years of your life." My mother cried and cried and cried yet I couldn't summon any sympathy for her. I was consumed by unrelenting insensate.

She was the person I loved most in the world and she hoped I'd die so that her sins wouldn't be revealed to the Court.

"I couldn't stay with the humans because my entire life was here in Ivernote. Your brother was here." So that's why she raised me in a land I would surely have been slaughtered in? Because of Loren.

"That's enough, Brianna." With Lena's order my mother dropped dead. Her lifeless body laid on the floor of the Court bleeding out. "Now that you know everything, you must understand our need to....exterminate the problem?" Lena questioned exuberantly. I remained silent trying to process everything. The more I replayed what my mother had said the angrier I got. Something horrible was about to happen. I'm apparently a demon, who's borderline murderous and I'm not wearing any charms that would possibly stop me from demolishing the most important building in the kingdom.

The palms of my hands started to tingle and the entire building began shaking. My wings protruded from my back and my eyes burned. "You idiots didn't put her in the suppressive chains!" a Court leader shrieked terrified. I closed my eyes and the image of my mother confessing played over and over again Before I realised what I'd done there was a loud bang. When I could lift my eyelids I was surrounded by flames. My shackled were gone and I was covered in blood. Rubble was heaped in piles on top of dead bodies.

I was suddenly unbothered by the sight of expelled oragans and scattered limbs. A small part of me even enjoyed seeing the destruction I was capable of causing. "What have you done you monster?" I heard someone slur. I twisted my head in the direction of the noise before approaching a very injured Lena. She was trapped under large slabs of concretes and blood gushed out of the large gash on her forehead.

"What I've done is have fun. You wouldn't know what that means now would you?" Where was this all coming from? I would have never in a million years spoken to her like that. "You won't get away with this. Look. The warriors are already on their way." I snuck a glance over my shoulder at the quickly approaching winged, armoured angels.

I smirked at Lena's struggling form playfully, "Watch me get a way with it." With a flap of my wings I was speeding into the clouds. I would kill whoever got in my way because I was not ready to die.

Especially not at the hands of people I, minutes ago, trusted with my life. This was the first time I had seem my wings. They were a charcoal grey and darker shades were scattered about the silk-like feathers. I'd always thought plain white wings to be so inexplicably boring, and I never really looked forward to having something so plain.

As I zipped through the sky, the ound of clinking armour became more and more drowned out. I had lost them. But I'd also lost my home and family and my mother.

It was only when I had landed in a deep part of the Brazin Forest did I realise the extremity of the situation. My mother was dead. Despite her selfishness concerning my life I was devasted she was dead. Any child would be. Especially one who's mother had never before appeared to be anything but a beacon of light and strength to anyone around her.

I dropped to my knees, completely drained, and cried. I heaved sobs so heavy my entire body shook. It was only when I'd run out of tears did I realise it was raining. I didn't have the energy to move so I laid there, staring up at the sky wondering what I'd done to be worthy of such unforeseen punishment