The Nightshade Prince

The Nightshade Prince

He sat atop a great throne of bone and sharpened steel. A vision of malicious beauty, he sat with that of the poise of nobility, hair of silver streaming over strong shoulders, a shirt of black silk hung open and unlaced at his neck, his booted feet stretched out in front of him whilst hands rested easily upon the sides of his throne. But even then his face was hidden by the shadows. Housed in nothing but the darkness and the cold empty hall of decades-long familiarity, he sat there, waiting. Always waiting.

In his grasp he held a circular object, a mirror, but this was no oridinery mirror. A slender pale hand caressed the rustic baroque edges, fingers tracing the once silver edges now stained by the hands of time.

Inside the opulecant glass a bright light illuminated, violet in colour and as bright as the sun. The most light that his castle had seen in many a century. But the light did not sting his eyes nor did it burn him instead he meerly watched the scene that the magic mirror depicted all the while his cold heart filled with rage.

It was that of a dream that he could never escape or more accurately an eternal nightmare that he could not escape. A symphony of pain and anguish as he watched before him the battle that had taken her from him. The battle that had cost him his mortality.

Even now as he watched as the army of the nightfall lands cut down his crimson knights he felt nothing as to how the sting betrayal on the battlefield had stung him. All his years as a the Prince of the shade lands fighting corrupt wars and inflicting death upon all those who dared to cross him was nothing compared to the betrayal of the heart. And she had Wounded him greatly.

Allana. His once betrothed promised by the king of the night lands himself, sworn by a blood oath, warrior woman turned her sword on him intent on cutting him down.

But he had stopped her. Ad nd while at first he had not realized who he had cut down admist the blood mist of war, it was only the sight of her trembling body arched on the end of his long sword, eyes wide as she stared at him did he understand what he had done.

And oh how his heart had broken. How encumbered by rage had he felt at the notion of her betrayal. But he had not shown it even though he had felt it. He could only withdraw his blade and catch her as she crumpled to her knees her last words echoing around the great hall;

"I never loved you! You are an evil man!"

And with his heart shattering in pieces admist the raging battle and his eyes burning from with white hot rage from the mocking smirk that had crossed over her features he cried a battle cry, Animalistic, gutteral and trusted his sowed into her gut once more ending what was to become his undoing.

The sound of heavy wooden doors being thrust open sparked his attention and the song of the armored footfalls that accompanied the urgency forced him to lean ever so slightly forward in his seat, the sudden noise had jolted him from his memory and he tore his eyes away from the glowing mirror the light ceasing to exist with the turn of his eye. still cloaked in shadows he could see from atop his throne a figure clad in sharp armor, the bat helm atop its head, a sigil of recognition. He drummed his fingers against the bone arm rest, feeling there the smooth round curvature of the skull that adorned his seat of power.

"My Prince," a distorted voice addressed the silver-haired prince, bowing low, heavy armor rattling as he knelt. For a long moment, silence filled the great hall. The giant beings' voice taking up space above the castle's rafters. The Prince sat still upon his throne in contemplation before he spoke.

"What news?" he questioned, still staring down at his commander. The great being lifted its armored head and the prince looked at the red eyes that bore up at him. The armoured being rose to his feet then before speaking again.

"The Intruders have made themselves know my lord." the being spoke.

This news intrigued the silent figure.

"is that so?" he purred, a pale slender hand reaching up to rest on the edge of his chin. "and what has become of them?"

"alive." the great beast grunted. "they fled from our attack, took to the hills. Took refuge at a local village."

The Prince released a silent sigh and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

"well what are you waiting for? Go and find them," he spoke bordely. It had become a custom for the people to try and infiltrate his homeland. Even more so was their feeble attempts to try and assinate him in his sleep, but he was always one step ahead. He had to be.

The great figure in armour rose to his full height as he rattled again to its feet but he did not attempt to move.

"is there something else?" Velimir questioned almost impatient wanting to be left alone.

"no my liege." the armour knight growled. He turned on his heel and began his descent back to the the stone doors.

Velimir sighed. Aggrivated that he had been disturbed. Still feeling the cold metal mirror in his grasp he began to think of all the bloodshed that he had witnessed. All the war mongering. All the endless battles that he had fought in order to keep the shade lands at peace. But no matter the endless wars he had fought it was never enough to ease his own twisted mind. He was too warped.

And then it hit him.

As if sensing his masters sudden thought the armoured Knight ceased his foot falls and turned back to look at the silver haired Prince. He had risen from his throne now and was slowly descending the stairs, a vision from an alluring nightmare. Purple eyes pierced the darkness first as his form approached the great creature. His face was unreadable. And when he finally spoke even he could hear his own malice within it.

"Bring them to me." Velimir commanded. "alive,"

Yes he wanted the pests to be brought to him alive. He was sick of having his Knight destroy the cockroaches on his bidding. He had hidden in the shadows too long. If they wanted to face the wrath of the nightshade Prince then he would give them what they wanted. He would show himself and destroy them himself. And he would relish in their blood as they took their dying breath and he would smile and he would say,

I am Velimir Von Dak. And I am the bringer of death.

Yes. He liked that.