Ember in the Dark

His body is still warm.

His eyes wide open and still. His face a mixture of surprise and anger. The bleeding is finally stopped. My face is covered in his blood, a mixture of gold and crimson. I looked at his soulless body scared. His still eyes on me, I know he is dead but I'm still scared of him. His voice still echoes in my mind, his shrieks and his last words. Each and everything he said to me. The blazing fire in his eyes and his words like venom still linger inside my mind.

"I curse you, filthy mortal. I curse you that you will never sleep peacefully. I curse your soul that it will stay hungry for blood and that your hands will never be of any color but red. May death will be your salvation and peace. I curse you" but before he could say anything I crushed his skull with the rock.

"Fuck you. I've been sleepless since the day my family was slaughtered at the altar." I spat at his soulless body.

I gathered all my strength, holding the handle of the knife I closed my eyes. Even just by touching it is making the pain grow wild. My skin throbbing with pain but I can't stay here. I should get away from here before another elf finds me. I've been on the run from three months. My family was slaughter right in front of me as a punishment for me as a lesson for the thing I haven't done. Elves are considered as the purest soul of lights and holder of peace in the court of spring but they are vicious, cunning and clever just like the night court.

Their beauty is ethereal. Pointed ears, tall, long hair, skin pale, lips red like blood, long hands and feet, faces full of life even dead would wake up to see them. And on the top betrayer. They are known in all kingdoms for their betrayal after the great war. My mother used to tell me the stories of the war and world before war. She used to say that the world was filled with joy and happiness. There were no territories, no kingdom, everyone was free. The Gods were happy and the world was at peace until the darkness came ruining the peace of world. That's when greed was born. No one knew who was defected or engulfed in it until the victim turned into a monster. The world was becoming something that no one had never seen. Monsters who can fly and spit fire. Monster like human who feed on human and mankind. Shadows looking for a body to stay in.

The good days were gone. Everyone was a puppet in the hands of greed. Some were greedy for power, some for love and some for their hunger. The high priest believed the Gods were angry and this was their punishment for disgracing their Gods. When the people gathered around in the court of Gods they asked for mercy. But the Gods ignored their plea. That's when Zaria, the princess of Elves stepped ahead and sacrificed herself to the Gods. The Gods were happy and agreed to help. They divided the world into five lands: 1) The land of spring 2) The land of Night 3) The land of Sea 4) The land of Humans 5) The land of Zaria.

The land of spring was given to elves, faeries, unicorns, goblins, golems, centaurs, griffin, dwarves, Pegasus, hippogriffs. The court was named The court of spring. The land of Night was given to witches, vampires, werewolves, medusa, demons, trolls, orc, imp, gargoyles, dementors, serpents, chimera. The land of Sea was given to sea creatures, mermaids and sirens. The land of Humans to humans and, the land of Zaria was for everyone.

My father was a farmer and was a solider. He used to teach me tactics, tricks, politics and sword fight rather than girly things. He believed that a good woman knows everything, though other might deny it and would see us as weird but my father never stopped teaching me. At the age of eight I knew how to sneak around without making any sound and how to climb and jump like feather. By ten I had my own knife that my father carved out from a stone. The knife was small but carved better. It had a small holder made of rusted gold and some uneven purple crystals were embodied in it. My father didn't believe my mother stories but I believed in them. The stories were interesting and they made me feel like that I would one day save the world. That one day I would have the power and guts like princess Zaria to sacrifice and there will be a land in my honor too but I was nothing but coward. A coward who saw her family slaughtered and their head cut down. I was a coward. I thought I was strong but I was never. My mother was so happy when the high priestess told her that this year she was going to be blessed and will be given an opportunity to be cleaned of her crimes by my sacrifice. My father was happy too that Gods have choose me for the sacrifice. For once my whole family was proud of me for something but I failed them.

The day was coming close and I was given respect and everything that I haven't had before maybe my greed came in the way or was I just foolish to think I was brave but nothing more than just a coward. The city was decorated with flowers and lights. My name was written on walls and everyone was singing songs of my name. The feeling was euphoric and I was gay for once in my life I thought I was ready for it but when the time came I wasn't. I was scared. I was scared of giving my life without even knowing if that was what Gods wanted. Why would Gods need a human girl with no royalty? I was no royal or beautiful. I was just Verena. A normal girl.

The thought was simple yet it was storming my brain away. Making my mind nub and making me question my beliefs in Gods. Were there even Gods or just people were satisfying themselves.

I ran away from my home scared and horrified. After two days when I decided to show up in the city the soldiers got me and the king decided to punish me by slaughtering my family in front of me. I saw it all happening in front of me hopeless and helpless. I can still see the disappointment in my father eyes and my mother's still eyes looking me for the last time. I see them every night in my dreams covered in blood looking at me the same way. Slaughtered right in front of me continuously. I left the city and even the lands of Human. I wanted to go away as far as I can and the only place I could think of was the land of Zaria.

I've been sleeping on the trees, tying my legs with its bark and holding the knife close to my heart. I've escaped death right under its nose for several times but today it felt like it had got me when the elf attacked me. I struggled for my life and eventually I had to become the monster I feared the most. I became a murderer but it felt good. I can feel it in my bones the feeling making gay and I can feel my blood pumping, each and every cell in my body. I tucked my knife in my boots. I steal the elf clothes, warm and cozy. The fabric is soft against my skin and warm. Its winter and freezing cold. I have been covering my body with leaves, using fire to warm myself but abandon it as I sense someone's presence.

Eating strange fruits whose taste is euphoric and makes mind wild. The fruits are sweet and juicy but bewitched with magic. I've seen elves and faeries eating them and staying normal but for human it plays lethal hallucinations more like sweet poison. A single drop of juice causes hallucinations and everything looks good and funny. I've seen many humans here being slaved by faeries and elves. Some are captured and bounded to slavery against their will and some are willing to do which I suppose is the after math of eating too much of fruit. I've talked to few of them and know about some fruits that are not poisonous and don't cause hallucinations.

I heard a rustle as I rose up. The throbbing is making it hard for me to stand. I know someone is watching me and know that I'm weak and easy to attack but is still hiding knowing what I can do to it. I heard another rustle behind me but before I could do I was dragged into darkness with a ringing noise my ears.

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TO BE CONTINUED........

Humans are never happy and I'm pretty sure about it.

You might think we are better than other creatures but humans are as bad as I've told you about elves. But one thing that other courts don't have and really envy humans is for their nature to stay calm and lie on the face of death.

Elves are blessed with beauty and mind, faerie can't lie, vampires can't walk in the sun except the members of royalty, witches are nothing with hands and werewolves are bound to moon but humans they are free. They manipulative, cunning, cruel, liar, beautiful and strong too. It's not easy to stay alive when death is always on your door. I've heard my people saying people being abducted and to force do bad things. People being manipulated to betray their own kind for power, the kind of power that will bless them a place near the heroes and Gods.

But one thing that humans can't get rid of is greed.

Greed for more.

They never get satisfy of what they have. They just need more and more of things and never get tired of it. If it's hot they'll ask for cold, if it's cold they'll ask for hot, if it rains they'll ask for sun but they never ever get satisfied for what they have and maybe that's what is keeping them from not falling apart.

They name this as hope.

Another word for greed.

People don't want others to know about their greed so they call it hope. Explaining it as they want something to happen but all they are doing is hiding their true nature behind the mask.

I felt the cold breeze on my skin as I was dragged out of the vehicle. My eyes are blindfolded but I can sense it. I can sense it that I'm in the deepest part of forest. A place known to be beautiful in all the lands, where rivers never stops flowing water so sweet that honey would feel tasteless. Trees so high that you might feel that they are connected to the realms of Gods and Goddesses. Flowers of different kinds blossoming through all the year and their smell enchanting the forest and bringing dead to life which I'm sure is just saying because you can't expect flowers to bring dead to life if they do, this forest is much more be the first priority of all the lands to attack first and get their blessed trees and flowers to cure their greed.

Birds are chirping in every direction but I know they are not real birds but enchantments to keep the forest safe for any human to get in and to go out for those who are slaves. We stop. I can hear them talking to each other in their language.

The language of Gods.

It is written in books that elves have learn the God language from Gods as they are the closest to them of all the lands and are also blessed with immortality. I am dragged again but this time force and now I can feel the tip of sword behind my back. I am forced down on knees still blindfold.

"Your majestime sina hilde has passed i court lúce astan ar does vamme belong ana anime héru. Emme also found a fírina soldier, skull crushed ar emme osán- sina hilde did -yes. Mana should emme care- -o her?" says the elf who is standing beside me. I have learned a few words of elfish language and I can still make a sensible sentence out of their conversation. The soldier is telling the king that he had caught me in their land and the dead body.

There is a pause and I can't remember after how many minutes I felt movement around me. I felt long fingers behind my head untying my blindfold but my hands are still tied behind my back. My head feels lighter but the brightness is making me squint my eyes and I can't help but to close them before blinking them many time until they are settle down to the brightness.

When my eyes are adjusted to the light of the sun, I look around. The hall is huge, long pillars made of wood surrounding the hall and creeper flowers surrounding them. There is no roof or ceiling but the lanterns are hanging in the midair, their shape is of star and I bet in the night you might think they are stars. One side of the hall leads to the castle while other side shows a magnificent view of the whole forest and Cablouria mountains covered in snow.

The throne is in the center of the hall made of wood and flowers but the back of throne is made of pointed thorns that seems like knives coming out of throne and behind the throne stood a gigantic tree of golden bark and green leaves with red and pink shade flower that I've never seen in my entire life.

"Rise Human." The king finally speaks, his voice more like a command than request. The king is tall even though he is sitting I can still see his long legs, broad shouldered, long white blond hairs that touch his hips braided to the sides of his face. Sharp nose and upturned eyes of emerald, sharp jawline and ears with pointed ends.

He is wearing a green robe that reaches his ankle. The fabric is designed with different flowering patterns of gold and gems are embedded on the neck line into fine design that shows elegance. His sleeveless cape touching the ground, his fingers long and he is wearing a big ring with huge apatite stone. On his heads sits the royal crown made of stag horns but with embedded red stones in between it twisted design.

"How dare you came in our lands and kill one of our kind?" his voice is calm but yet daring. I dare not to look him straight in the eyes. I'm nervous, my body is shaking from inside but on the top of that I'm scared yet I'm calm.

"Your Majesty I was passing by when the elf attacked me and in trying to save my life I ended up killing him." I speak keeping my voice calm and not showing how much scared I am right now.

"And you want me to believe you though your kind is nothing but liar and manipulative." There is strange bitterness in each and every word he spat.

I scorn, "You talk about betrayal and lies when all you have done is lie, betray and manipulate other land. You think my wearing nice clothes and speaking God language you have become a better kind than others but here is the truth you are not. You are as filthy as every other kind trying your best to take over all others court. Look around you what you are doing to my kind, keeping them from their own will and torturing them using them as your slaves." I spat on his face.

His expressions turned into a mocking grin, "A fierce one. I see. There is something you can do for them." The king rise from his throne and made his way towards me. His cape being dragged behind him, the guards looking towards me with nothing but hatred.

The king stop right in front of me looking down at me. I'm not short my height is average a woman have but by tall back then I meant this. He takes out his knife and place it on my chin, his eyes looking right into my soul and sending chills down my nerve.

"What if I free these all human slaves if you are willing to do one thing for me?" the king has a nasty grin on his face as he raises my face with the tip of knife meeting my eyes. "A small piece of work which I am sure only you can do given a little help."

I did not response or say anything. I am lost in my own thoughts. I know elves are not to be trusted but a part of me wants to free all these humans. I have seen them eyes full of nothing but sadness and longing to be freed and getting beaten or tortured and used for bedding against their will. Maybe this is my chance to become something that I have hoped all my life. Maybe this is one thing that Gods might like about me and name a land after my name and give me place right next to them.

"I agree." I say still not sure but keeping my whole self-calm and not to show any signs of fear. The king sneer and turn around going back to his throne and sitting down.

"Fine and how are you going to make sure that you are loyal to me." The king sneer again, I can see what he is trying to make out of this conversation of ours. "How can I trust you?"

One thing about elves is true that they are bound to honor and with honor comes great sacrifice. They are the only creature who follows the ancient rules and cultures of the world. I know it may sound weird or you might think I am insane but I know what I have to.

The king's knife is right next to me and now I know why he has leave it here in the first place. I took it and look around. Everyone is watching me, my every move I hold the knife tight in my hand and look at the corpse of the elf right in front of me. His eyes still open and his words again echo in my mind. I take a deep breath and cut a line through his chest. As the knife cut his skin, deep red blood ooze out of his chest. There are gasps in the hall. People are looking at me in shock thinking I am mad.

I throw knife and with trembling hands I dig my hands into his skin. His skin is cold under my warm touch, soft but cold. I push my hand inside ribcage as more blood drip out of the cut. I am about to gag but I swallow it. I can feel his heart in my hand, no beat, no pounding just still. I rip it out as blood drops all over my face and my clothes. There is more gasp from people, there are cries too but I ignore them. I have never ever imagined myself doing such things. Taking life of an elf and then doing this to prove my loyalty.

I take the heart in my hands and look towards the king, he seems no less than an arrogant man with annoying grin on his face. I look him straight in the eyes without breaking eye contact bringing heart close to my lips. I can smell the blood, the foul odor of it. I can feel my stomach churn up but I keep myself calm. With a sigh I bite the heart, it tastes of iron, salty and bitter, blood dripping from my mouth as I chew it down.

I can feel my stomach stir and this insane feeling of disgust, I am about to throw up but as I look towards king with his sneer and amusement.

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TO BE CONTINUED........

I can still taste the taste of blood on my lips, bitter and sour.

I can still feel my teeth dipped deep into soft muscles of the elf's heart. Thinking about it is still sending chills down my spine and something makes its way up to throat. I run to the bathroom and sink down the floor in front of the sink. I vomit nothing but water, my stomach churns and I feel knives in my throat as more water comes out of my mouth. I feel burning sensation in my mouth the acid making my mouth sour.

After I am done, I lay there on the cold floor looking up the ceiling painted in black and little white stars like lanterns illuminating the room. I looked around the walls plain and floral gold patterns. I had never ever in a house like this. We were poor but happy. We were proud of as we were but I still sometime felt bad for myself when I saw other girls in nice clothes of flowery patterns, bright colors, jewelry made of stones and gold wires, them talking about how they say no to things they don't want to eat. Unlike them I used to stay hungry for days until we finally had some food at home, war days were easy for us. Father was also a part of royal army so he was given gold for his service.

I get up and go to the room where a king size bed is placed in the center, long drapes surrounds the bed just as I have heard in the stories. I open the closet filled with dresses of different shades each one beautiful than the others, jewelry made of gold wires and gemstones embedded in them.

It was king's order to provide me a good house as I have proved my loyalty just to survive. He told them to take good care of me and that I was one of them no. First I was bathed in hot water and then with milk and flowers which I can still smell on my body. Then I was dressed in a bright purple gown, the fabric following my body curves and fitting perfectly. The sleeves long and patterns made with different colors f stones and dried butterfly embedded to the neckline.

My hair was braided to my sides and flowers were tangled in each turn of the braid. I was completely surprised seeing myself in the mirror. There stood a woman as beautiful as elf goddess Zaria, blazing red hair, protruding blue eyes like deep ocean, roman nose, soft angled eyebrows, ears sticking out, heart shaped red lips and pale skin.

I never thought that I would look this beautiful but here I was looking at myself. There is a knock on the door before someone comes insides. A tall elf with dark long hairs braided to his back, muscular, almond eyes, aquiline nose and natural lips. His features alone are average but combined he look ethereal and handsome.

He is wearing a white shirt and black pants tight enough that I can see his leg muscles too and long boots that reach his mid thighs. He comes close towering on my height. I look up to meet his eyes. "You must be Verena. I'm prince Maěl. My father told me about you and asked me to teach you our traditions and how to be one of us." He says softly but I can sense how wisely he is choosing and staying his self-calm.

I know that elves hate human and how they want us to be dead or slaves for themselves and me being here in the royal quarters and given royal house is one thing that is top on the list they will loathe. A human girl commanding the elf and goblins is an honor in our lands but elves and goblins or other creatures of spring court find it insulting.

But I can't still place my part why the King has given me everything and is making a big deal out of me and what are his motives. What is he planning on doing with me? One thing is for sure I can't trust anything they say or they do and I must not let my guard down.

"Your Highness," I bow down though I hate doing so.

He eyes me up and down, looking at me as I am something he is going to buy or I'm someone he is going to have a paid sex. "You don't seem so strong." He cocks his eyebrows.

"Trust me I can slit your throat and you won't even notice it." The words slip out of my mouth before I could stop them. I know I don't want him or any of them to notice that I am weak and scared on the top of it but seeing the prince in front of me being an asshole makes my blood boils. For a second I even considered taking my words back but his smug smile makes it impossible for me to step back.

"Fierce type. I like it but I'll like it when you are under me and begging me to fuck your beautiful face." He says leaning forward, "Better try to put your all in or I'll really crush you." I look in his green eyes as he smiles. I want to punch on his face so hard that he won't be able to smile again.

"I challenge you for a fight. Beat me and I'll grant you anything." He holds my chin and I look him in the eye anger boiling inside me. He brings his face to my ears biting one. I can feel his warm breath on my ear. I can smell his scent, vanilla and mixture of lavender stroking inside my nose. "Loose and you'll be mine for eternity. Your body will be mine to touch, your soul will be mine to fear, your lips will be mine to kiss, your moans will be mine and most of all your heart will be mine to break." His voice is raspy and deep, and he focuses on the last words. When I look at him, he has the same smug smirk on his face and with that he leaves me there, dazed and thunderstruck.

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TO BE CONTINUED........