Snow and Silk: Sacrificed to the God’s

Protector

{Arabella’s POV}

As I walked into the ballroom, I could see my four kings in the balcony, with Arcanum behind them. He was massive, about 10 feet tall, his long white hair flowing around him, he had golden colored eyes, and wore a smug expression. I decided to go up and say hello, knowing he’d see it as a form of disrespect. I bowed to my kings, before looking up to him. “Your highness’, it’s a pleasure to see you all this evening.” I smiled up at them.

The kings nodded back, while Arcanum stared at me with disdain. I smiled back up to him, and bowed again. “Your majesty, I’ve prepared a song for you, if you’d allow me a chance to entertain you.” I smiled.

He looked as though we were pondering over it for a moment, before he nodded. “Why not, entertain me human.” He said, pointing to the floor.

I walked to the center of the ballroom, and began playing my song. I let all of the pain, the fear, the hatred pour into it, dancing around the room, allowing myself to let loose, and feel the music. I danced, and held back the tears that threatened to fall, as I captivated those in the room, all eyes were on me, and I was going to make sure they stayed that way.

As the music faded around me I held out my bow in one hand and the violin in the other, bowing up to the four kings, and to Arcanum.

Sickening silence was all that was left, until a slow, deep clap filled the room. I looked up, seeing Andromedus standing on his feet and clapping. His eyes burning into me, as a smirk appeared on his face. Behind him I could see Arcanum seething, his anger practically rolling off him. His golden eyes glaring down at me, I knew he wanted nothing more than to kill me, instead he did the unthinkable. His stature grew, and soon he was 20 feet tall, towering behind the kings. His large hand backhanded Andromedus knocking him from the balcony where they sat and sending him flying across the room. Shitari stood, beginning to rush to his brother’s aid, but was grabbed by Arcanum. “Who said you could stand!” He sneered, throwing him down and knocking him into Andromedus.

I rushed to their sides, looking to Shitari. “I’m okay..” he said, sitting up.

I looked to Andromedus who had blood coming from his ear. I grabbed his head gently and pulled it against my chest. “It’s okay.. it’s okay.. I’ve got you..” I whispered.

Arcanum stomped down from his place on the balcony, towering over us. “Move human filth!” He sneered down at me. “It’s time I teach my sons a lesson.”

I stood up, holding my arms out to my sides and sheltering Shitari and Andromedus behind me. “Stop this! They didn’t do anything wrong!” I snapped, glaring up at him. “His highness was simply enjoying the music I had prepared for you, and his majesty only wanted to help his brother, something that you should respect! Having sons that care for one another is a good thing!” I shouted. “All you do is bully, and intimidate, it’s why everyone here is so afraid of you! You don’t scare me your highness! You’re just an abusive father, just like mine!” I shot at him.

He gritted his teeth, and glared down at me. “You dare talk back to me? I am the god Arcanum! I am the ruler of the Fae Realm, and the king of all gods! You are worthless, and petty, nothing but a stain and yet you dare to talk back to me?” He snapped, his hand swatting me, and knocking me across the room. I flew backwards landing hard against the wall, before falling at least fifteen feet straight down, slamming onto the ground. The world was blurry, but I couldn’t let him hurt them.

I crawled across the floor, making my way back to them. He raised his hand again, and I stood to my feet rushing to stand in front of Andromedus and Shitari, adrenaline the only thing keeping me standing. His hand made contact with me again, this time flinging me across the room and into a window. The window shattered, as I fell to the ground, glass falling around me, stabbing into my flesh.

I cried out, whimpering as I tried crawling again, my head throbbing, my whole body aching, a pain shooting through my abdomen. “Don’t touch them!” I coughed. “You bas****!”

His attention snapped back to me. “You dare to call me such a thing, the god of all? You truly must have a death wish!” He sneered, making his way to my side and shrinking down to his usual ten feet tall. “I would ki** you now.. but seeing you broken and bloody, it’s filling me with a sense of joy that I haven’t felt in many years. So instead, I’m going to let you live, but my son is forbidden to help you heal, he must let these wounds mend over time, only offering minimal help. I’m going to enjoy your suffering until the day that you di*.” He smirked down at me, grabbing me by my braid and lifting me up in the air. “I’ll see you in two months, and two and a half weeks.” He said, dropping me back to the floor.

He grabbed his cloak, and turned disappearing completely in a puff of smoke. Finally, I could rest. I laid my head down, pain filling every inch of my body.

“Arabella!” Andromedus shouted I saw him and Shitari rushing towards me, and felt hands carefully lifting me up.

“Leave!” Theluun’s voice boomed through the room, and I watched as everyone vanished from the room.

Soon the four kings were surrounding me, as Andromedus lifted me into his arms. “Y-You.. you protected me..” he said, looking down at my broken and battered body.

I smiled softly up at him. “Of course I did..” I whimpered. “You clapped for me..” I chuckled, before a cough erupted from my throat, and I felt as though I were drowning.

Blood dripped from my mouth as I coughed some up. “What’s happening to her? Where are you hurt?” Andromedus asked, looking over me.

I moved my hands away from my abdomen, the place I’d been holding, and a large jagged piece of glass stuck out from my skin, piercing deeply inside of it. “I-I think I’m hurt.. but I can’t feel anything anymore..” I whimpered, coughing up more blood. “It doesn’t hurt anymore..” I smiled up at them. “I’m okay now..” I said softly.

“No.. no.. no..” I could hear Feryn in the background. I looked to the side seeing her standing beside NymKarna with her hands over her mouth, and tears sliding down her cheeks.

“It’s okay Feryn.. I’m okay now.. it doesn’t even hurt..” I smiled to her, holding out my hand which was covered in blood.

She rushed over, taking it in hers. “Don’t leave us Arabella!” She cried, kissing my knuckles.

I chuckled, feeling more blood dripping from my mouth, then my nose, as it dripped down across my face. “Never..” I said softly. I felt blood dripping from my ears, as I laid in Andromedus’ arms, and I couldn’t help but think how beautiful the night sky is outside of the broken window. “It’s beautiful..” I said, staring up at the sky. “Thank you.. for making my life beautiful.. even if only for a little while.” I whimpered, before I felt blood filling my throat, I couldn’t breathe, suddenly the world was dark. No sound, no sight, no smells, just an endless void to keep me company.