The Shaded

Chapter 1: The Beckoning

She stood gazing out her chamber window to the white-tipped waves of The Ivory Sea. The sky was a lovely shade of lavender as the sun rose from behind The Whispering Peaks and cast shadows across Ivorasis. Lucianna had been awake for hours. Sleep had evaded her for days, chased away by nightmares. Always the same.

Thick, black fog circling the towers of Deamonne Castle. The smell of smoke and seared flesh burning her nose, bringing tears to her obsidian eyes. A voice, low and sultry, whispering to her.

"Amitte te ipsum. Dare in ad me." The language is foreign, yet she understands. "Lose yourself. Give in to me."

She's searching for the source, but only sees fog. Suddenly, a shadowy figure emerges, reaching a hand out to her. She stands perfectly still, like a statue, paralyzed with fear. Its long, almost translucent fingers inches away from her wrist...

Lucianna had spent many nights trying to sleep through the fear, but to no avail. Every time she would awaken in a cold sweat, her silk negligee clinging to her alabaster skin, her raven plaits matted. She feared she was losing her mind, so she kept it to herself.

As Lucianna continued to watch the sunrise, she heard a light knock on her door.

"You may enter," she stated tiredly.

"Good morning, your highness," her lady-in-waiting, Xela Fernfallow, proclaimed as she bounced into the room.

"Your highness?" Lucianna grimaced, which prompted a melodic giggle from Xela.

"Yes, your highness.." Xela mocked until her eyes met with Lucianna's. "You seem unwell, have you been sleeping alright, Luci?" A look of concern quickly swept over Xela's face.

Xela Fernfallow, beautifully intelligent and obnoxiously chipper, was Luci's dearest friend. She and her twin brother, Alex, had grown up in Deamonne Castle with Luci. Their Father was in King Azriel's army and their mother was Queen Isidore's seamstress. Their family came from a long line of Nomages, those born without magic. Although Xela possessed no magic, she never once showed any sign of jealousy toward Luci.

Luci was born Shaded, possessing both dark and light magic. Her father, King Azriel Deamonne, a Shadow mage, possessing strong dark magic and her mother, Queen Isidore Deamonne, a Radiance mage, possessing strong light magic. Most Shaded possessed weakened abilities of both magics, however Luci's abilities started strong and continued to grow, becoming uncontrollable.

Luci would have visions of The Pitch whenever she practiced her magic. She wasn't entirely sure how else to describe it. An intensely thick fog would overcome her vision, the smell of burning flesh and smoke would fill her nose. A voice would call to her, beckoning her to give in to madness. It would frighten Luci, and rightfully so, as it reminded her of a story she'd been told her entire life. The story of Queen Ophedaiya Blackthorn, the last Shaded Queen to sit on the throne of Ivorasis.