My Dear Savior

Lightning streaked across the sky, flashing with such brilliance that I almost had to shield my eyes from the single combat challenge before me. Zephraim’s blade made deadly contact with Dae’s side, and the resounding thunder covered the cry of pain that came from his opened mouth. Panting heavily, he fell to his knees in a deep puddle, using his sword to keep himself upright as his hand pressed firmly to his wound, trying to stem the constant flow of blood. This was a traitorous wound that Zephraim had caused using my insider knowledge of the weaknesses of our people’s armor so that we might finally end this all-consuming war and save future generations from being raised in this endless, meaningless warfare that consumed lives in every possible way. “Just finish it, damn you!” He choked out between clenched teeth, wheezing at the effort, blue-blooded spittle wetting his lips. His face contorted with pain, and even from where I was standing, I could see the opal eyes that were unique to our royal bloodline zero in on mine as Zephraim leveled his blade at Dae’s throat. Very abruptly, the rain stopped pouring down and the harsh, critical light of an unforgiving sun shone down on us. I was suddenly caught off guard by such an intense pain in my chest that I almost doubled over. I loved this man, my brother. I couldn’t imagine being in a world without him. What the hell were we all doing? I saw him for the first time in a long time. Saw the man instead of the regal mask he wore. A mask we were both forced to wear because of our people. His beautiful dark mahogany hair fell gracefully around his handsome face- a face I knew it better than my own. A face that was present in almost every one of my memories since childhood. A face that was now terribly splattered with the vibrant red blood of my husband’s people. “How the hell did we get here?” I whispered as tears sprang to my eyes, too shocked to manage anything more. For a moment- just one immeasurable moment- the clamor died away and I was transported back to a battle similar to this one and yet so very different…