Throne of Burden

Prologue

The plants painted myriads of color on the canvas that is Vesta Noir; the flowers tell a tale of its beauty. The waterfall is music to ears that are willing to find rhythm in it. The air smells of life and prosperity. Thysera listened and in the silence, she could hear the fluttering of butterflies, and the sounds that the animals made, most of all she enjoyed the beauty in the quietness her newly found power brought her. Her lush hair waved in the breeze as she lifted her chin to feel more of the cooling air, and in the peaceful quietness, she could sense the shift in the air.

A female voice cracked as she hissed desperately, her voice thickened with fear; she must have been calling for help for a long while. Without thinking twice; paying no heed to the warning of her mother. No, she didn't even remember her mother's words telling her not to venture far.

Her tiny body dashed in the direction of the cries, but she lost her momentum and skewed away from the track. The branches slapped her across the face as she came to a halt abruptly.

Her blue eyes narrowed as she strained to get the direction the cries were coming from. Turning left she whizzed in the opposite direction, unknowing that the cries were farther than she thought.

She stood behind a huge tree, its branches concealed her in its shadow. Gradually, her eyes turned into green slit as she watched three vampire elders brandish their claws at a girl who was far too young for them to look upon. Her chest felt congested and fire spread like molten magma in it.

Her green eyes reminded Thysera of her own mother, and her blond hair shimmered down her back. Although her green eyes glistened in tears, they never fell and her defensive stance stayed even though she was surrounded by them. Her clothes were tattered from the numerous tears, and the blood from the healed wounds painted her white skin. She was a sight to behold; her weak beauty was a contrast to her strong resolve.

One of the vampires with brown hair smirked before wiping his left claws against her face leaving behind a gash that was quick to heal. His eyes widened in joy seeing the marring he left behind on her flawless face. She stumbled back a step and her eyes narrowed in stubbornness but her resolve was weakening and the smell of her desperation thickened in the air.

He raised his hand again to claw at her and Thysera's small body trembled in fury. Such bullying in Vesta Noir, she would not allow. She did not know that she had long stepped upon another's land and Vesta Noir was far behind.

Without warning a hiss left Thysera's lips and she dashed in their direction almost immediately, catching them off guard. Her eyes darkened as the demon in her took control; she was out for blood, their blood. With precision, she brandished her claws at them and their body fell with dull sounds.

Her chest heaved heavily and her demon remained unsatisfied even though the enemies were dead. Her claws remained and the slit eyes looked around without lowering her offensive stance.

The girl with blonde hair trembled in horror, her mouth agape as she stared at the girl far younger than herself who had done what she was unable to do. The pent-up fatigue swallowed her and her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

Thysera's body stiffened as her dark side receded to the back of her mind. She glanced down at her b****y hands and the scene before her, and her lower lip trembled in horror. She had become the monster she had promised herself not to become. Her body swayed and along with her consciousness, the nightmare faded into nothingness.

With that did she lose something vital; something that cost her half of her soul.