Kingdom of Shadows - The Crimson Eye

Prologue My life ended the day she died, left with a shattered father and a baby brother that always cried. I was only four, but the memory of that day was burned into my mind as if it were only yesterday. As if it were only yesterday that the city of Salencia closed its doors to a man in desperate need of help. Only yesterday that the pain of hunger screamed so loud a father was forced to leave his children to find food. The fear of a woman who lay dead in the ground, stronger than our neighbor's sense of morality. Content to watch her children go hungry as long as they felt safe. Safe from the demon-eyed enchantress who once dwelled in the caves. But my mother was none of those things, and neither was I. I was just a girl forced to raise a brother and watch as her father withered away. Now, seventeen years later, we were still here, no thanks to them. Chapter One The orange and white glow of sunlight cascaded across the wall of my room, waking me from another night of restless sleep. My hair stuck to my sweat-covered forehead and wound around my neck several times. I let out a low sigh as I unwound myself; another nightmare. I sat up in bed and pushed my covers to the floor with a groan - I was late. I could not afford to be late today of all days. We had a very rare request from a high-paying client to see to - and she needed it before the palace celebration. A low knock sounded on my door. Papa was always such a quiet knocker. "Yes, Papa?" "Neema, your brother left nearly an hour ago." "I'm almost ready" I called through the closed door. I jumped up and grabbed my clothes from the small wooden chest on the floor. "I made you both something to eat. It's on the table" Papa said. Even now that we were grown, he couldn't stop trying to take care of us. He had been trying even harder since he hurt his knee last year and me and my brother kicked him off the boat. If only his meals weren't so awful. I giggled to myself at the thought of what might await me and Lucas for lunch. I pulled on the only pair of pants I owned and my pale green buttoned top before I rushed out the front door. The small sack of surprises in hand. The rising sun peeked over the endless ocean as I reached the top of the hill and made my way down to meet my brother at the docks. I could see the entire city from up here with its small white sandstone homes clustered together around the city's market square; The King's castle looming over the ocean in the background. The call of birds floated through the warm salty breeze that passed over my face as I took in the scenery. For many I was certain this view was breathtaking: but to me, it was like an endless blue and green prison that stretched as far as the eye could see, only made bearable by my brother and father. The rest of the city hated me and made it known. There wasn't a week that passed that I wasn't spat at, or worse, and the thought of living out the rest of my days here as my mother had, feared and hated was hard to bear, but this was my life, and there was nowhere else to go. A sigh left my lips as I started down the dirt path that led to the rock-lined cove below. The wooden docks were filled with boats of every size stretched out into the clear waters. Everything was the same, except for one thing. It had been three days, and the place where the King's ship usually was, was empty. The Prince and his guard must have been off playing sailor again; and though I had never seen him, from what I'd heard, he fancied himself quite the adventurer. That was laughable, of course, since our guardsman had never seen anything more than an angry shark or a streetside quarrel. I don't even know why we bothered with them. "Your late Neems!" Lucas yelled at me as I hopped onto our sailboat. His dark wavy brown hair was pulled into a small tie today, making me swallow down a laugh. His warm brown eyes made it hard for me to see him as anything other than the boy I'd raised, but the gawking girls across the dock told me the heat might not have been the only reason he chose to go shirtless today. He was the young image of my father. His copper skin and dark hair allowed him to fit in perfectly with the Salancian people, and he had been quickly growing a female fan base this year that was hard to ignore. I, on the other hand, was the image of my mother. Her green crystalline eyes were both a blessing and a curse. "You knew we had to get an early start today" "I know, I'm sorry, last night was awful." "Another nightmare?" "Yes, they seem to be getting worse. But don't worry I brought something to make up for my lateness" I giggled as I tossed him father's lunch sack. He caught it mid-air with one hand. Not the slightest flicker of complaint on his face. There was no way he didn't feel the same way I did about father's cooking, but Lucas never forgave himself for our mother's death. No number of reassurances ever seemed to ease his guilt over it. How many terrible meals would he eat with a smile as penance? "You don't have to pretend you like it" I joked. "Get the ropes, we don't have time for this. We have to hit the barrier before anyone else is out there." "Fine." I hurried to the back of the boat to push us off from the dock while he worked the front bowline. His annoyance wouldn't last long. My brother never could stay mad at me for more than a few minutes. The blue and white sails had caught the winds and pushed us into the sea in no time. The magical barrier coming into sight marked by the sideways water current just before it. Supposedly it was placed here by the gods almost three thousand years ago after the great war; but we knew there was no magic. Crossing merely took good timing and a bit of skill. Yet, many people had died trying. This was dangerous and forbidden, but hunger was a powerful thing, and the decline of sea life within the barrier had left people desperate. So whether Lucas and I got paid to take fishermen across, or if we went fishing ourselves, our days were spent risking lashings or something much worse, father finding out. He would have been devastated to learn we were putting ourselves at risk. Today was more than worth it though, as our high-paying client was willing to pay double the cost to have the stones in time for tonight's annual homage to the gods. The sea was no choppier than any other day; but the further out you go the bigger the waves, but we had no choice if I planned to cave dive. Lucas would spearfish while I dove down to the caverns for the prize of the day. Rainbow crystals. I'd have to swim deep inside the volcanic cavern where the oysters nested in the hot sands. Some, not all would hold pieces in their closed mouths. Doing the work of a thousand jewelers, they would give birth to smooth rainbow stones. Some with purples and others with red fire gleaming inside. A rare gem that would keep us fed for a year. "Be careful. If you aren't back in twenty minutes I'm coming down" Lucas said. "I can almost last thirty now, don't worry." I laughed and threw the bundle of rope from the anchor at him. A wide grin passed over his face as he shook his head at me while he secured the lines. We never understood how I could do it or why the hot cavern waters didn't bother me, but it was useful, and if I was able to find even one of those gems we would be set. I may even be able to buy another pair of pants. I dove deep. The blackness of the cave swallowed me as I went inside but it would only last a short while because before long the cavern walls were illuminated with specks of neon blues and greens that lit my way. I reached the back of the cavern in no time. It was the perfect season. There were thousands of oysters just waiting to be plucked. I filled my bag as fast as I could. What didn't hold gems would go straight to Harriet's orphanage. Father, being an orphan himself, never protested to me giving food to them when we could. Not to mention, they were the only people who treated me normal in the entire city. I was in and out with no problem grasping the bag of oysters in my hand as I swam out of the cave. I kicked off the bottom hard, my head breaking the surface much farther from the boat than I’d meant to. I couldn't even see Lucas. He must have been spearfishing and let the boat drift. I called out to him, but a wave of sea crashed over me and into my mouth. The salt stung my eyes and burned my nose as I coughed it up. "Crap," I said, flipping on my back to rest a moment before I made my way towards the boat, but something strange caught my eye. Floating pieces of wood were scattered in the waters… and something else. A person seemed to be clinging to one of them. I kicked hard against the waves pushing myself through them towards the black floating dot ahead. There couldn't be a person out here, could there? I was nearly there. A bright white and black bobbing body clung to a piece of broken ship. Oh, my gods, please don't be dead, please don't be dead. I reached for him, grabbed his shoulder, and was met with big dark eyes. We both screamed. "Oh my god, what are you doing out here!" I called over the wind and waves that crashed against us. "You've got a boat?" He said. "Yes. Come. Follow me." I waved at him and swam beside him to pull him with me. He was exhausted, his muscled arms struggling to hold onto the floating boards as the relentless waves pounded us. I wasn't sure how long he had been out here, but I had to drag him with me. I could tell it bothered him; every time I tugged him forward, he fought to stay at my side, letting out a growl of annoyance each time he fell behind. "Come now women, how far is this boat," he said. Spitting water from his mouth as we went. "Were nearly there, look, see the sails?" He nodded, but his body sank beneath the next crashing wave forcing me to drag him up. The sack of oysters slipped from my grasp and sunk to the bottom. I cringed a moment at the loss. "I've got you, come on kick, we're nearly there." We finally made it to the edge of the boat and grabbed the rope hanging from the side. Our faces were inches from each other as we caught our breath. His dark eyes gazed into mine, making my stomach knot in a way I wasn't used to. I shifted my eyes away to hide the flush of my cheeks, but his hand held my side steady next to the boat, turning me towards him. "Does my lady rescuer have a name? '' A slow grin pulled up at the corner of his mouth. Before I could answer my brother surfaced right in front of us with a White Stripe hanging off the end of his spear. Lucases eyes bulged at the sight of the man by my side. "Prince Rainier!" Lucas gasped. "Lucas," he replied with a nod. "Prince?" My mouth fell open. "So you must be Neema then? I should have known. His finger traced the side of my cheek lightly." We looked at each other, my eyes wide trying to wrap my mind around everything. Then, as if from nowhere, my brother plucked me from the water with one arm. I hadn't even noticed him go aboard. His spear lay on the reddish-brown deck beside me, with the fish still attached to it. I closed my eyes and leaned back against the wooden seat, catching my breath as he helped the prince aboard. He rushed about the ship readying the sails and didn't look towards me or the prince, who sat by my side. "What happened to you?" "Our ship was destroyed. We ventured too close to the barrier by mistake." "What of the crew?" "It was dark when we hit the barrier. When I came to, I was alone. If you hadn't found me" His voice trailed off. "But why sail so far? There is nothing out here but sea? " "Neema, leave him alone. He's the Prince. It's not your business where he sailed to" Lucas snapped. My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I'm sorry." I don't think my brothers ever talked to me like that before. I crinkled my eyebrows at him, but he just looked away, steering us through the barrier. "Come now, Lucas. She is merely curious is she not" the prince said, before flashing me a sly grin. We pulled into the dock and I helped my brother get us tied in as fast as I could. As always, I secured the stern of the boat while my brother worked on the bow. The prince at his side. They talked in hushed voices making me fight the urge to eavesdrop as I watched them. The prince pulled his shirt over his head from his back, revealing a bruised and muscled body as he headed straight for me. I had to turn to hide my red cheeks. I crossed my arms over my stomach, ready for whatever was about to happen. He knew we were past the barrier, and I am certain he did not think it was by mistake since my brother had a barrel full of White Stripes on board. This had to be the reason my brother was so stressed. I gave a half kneel as he came before me, ready to offer an excuse, but he pulled me to my feet. "Please, there's no need. If it wasn't for you I'd be at the bottom of the ocean right now." "I'm glad we were able to help. I wish we had been there for the others as well." "It's a terrible loss, My Lady. " "My Lady?" I tried to stifle my laugh but failed. "You do know who I am?" "I do." "Yet you still speak to me?" He tilted his head to the side, his eyebrow raised ever so slightly. "Do not paint me as one of the commoners. I am educated enough to know that just because you are fair-skinned and have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen does not make you dangerous." I stood frozen to the spot, not sure what to say. My mouth fell open; I closed it quickly, remembering myself, but he just turned and walked away before calling over his shoulder with a grin. "You'll both join me tonight at the Palace of course" It wasn't a request.