Chapter 2
When the sparkling veil was pulled over Altolia there was no sign of Amaranth. There was hardly even a rustle in the forest in the nights to come. Sirenia tried to find solace in the place that was once her own, but there was an empty void inside of her that she couldn’t come to face. This place had become theirs, but there were no more long nights gazing up at the stars, no warmth of a beating heart next to her. She was alone once again in the ever-growing shadows.
Sirenia had trained herself long ago not to cry, but as time swept by it brushed away her walls. It was one solemn night when the moons ceased to exist to the naked eye that everything around her crumbled, even herself. She hadn’t even made it to the spot on the hill when her legs grew weak. Dropping to the cold earth, her bony knees thudding upon impact, she let out a cry of misery as she realized she would never see Amaranth again.
Sure, she might see her standing on the high balcony in glorious dresses and tiaras, but she wouldn’t be with her. Secret words would never be spoken again. The only friend she ever knew had vanished into the mist just as fast as she had appeared to her.
Pulling her knees up to meet her chest, she slouched against a tree and wept. Was this weakness? Heartache? She was too young to understand. Water beads dribbled down her face like a downpour of rain and soon she was choking on her own tears.
A child’s despair is the worst scene in the entire world no matter what the cause. Perhaps you know a pain greater than such, but in the mind of a child one may not think to crawl over the obstacle standing in their way. A tree too grand had fallen in her path, too large for her to move on her own.
There had never been anyone to protect her. No warming arms to embrace her tattered soul and tell her it was alright. Those are things a child needs to hear, but not even the trees would whisper tonight. Emerald eyes grew heavy as a deep sleep overtook her under the black velvet sky.
She dreamt of shadows. Of swirling shades. Black like a raven’s wing. Red like the spilling of mortal blood. Birds too dark to recognize danced among the shades, their wings reflecting shimmers of luminescence.
Amidst the swarming birds of black emerged a figure cloaked in the shadows itself. Somehow Sirenia knew that She, this dark woman whom she had never met before in life or dreams, was the source of the lightless landscape. All emerged from Her essence giving life to these swirling shades and shadows, but who was She?
The Woman held a hand out towards her and instinctively Sirenia reached out. There was no fear, only hope. Hope for a loving embrace away from the blinding light to a place that felt like home. But as soon as she made contact the shadows began to fall away. Cracks of white light appeared around them and shattered through the illusion. The Woman was gone.
There was a burning sensation along her skin and as heavy eyes lifted, they met the bright disk in the blue sky. Still entranced by the strange dream that teetered on the edge of nightmares, Sirenia rubbed her face and yawned. Then it dawned on her: it was morning.
Her feet had never traveled so quickly across the land. She gave no mind to the confused onlookers as she darted through a crowd, almost running into a man carrying a box of goods. She had no breath within in her to even apologize.
Coming to a sudden stop in front of the Foster Quarters, Sirenia took a deep breath. Standing at the top of the stairs was a middle-aged woman, hair already turning gray in streaks. Ignoring a cold stare and crossed arms, the red-head ascended the stairs ready for whatever punishment came. It was inevitable.
“Miss Aida.”
The words barely had a second to leave Sirenia’s lips when the woman grabbed her roughly by her hair and pulled her inside, slamming the door behind her like a rumble of thunder.
“By the Gods, child,” Miss Aida scolded, “where have you been?”
“Out,” the child grumbled, rubbing at her head.
“Out? Without my permission?”
A handful of heads peeked around from different corners of the room, some snickering while others pointing fingers. Her foster siblings. She never knew them for long. The older woman snapped her head around and ordered them to mind their own business which sent them scurrying off like roaches in light.
Sirenia kept her seething silent as attention was directed back at her.
“Speak when you are spoken to.”
“You aren’t my mother.”
She grabbed the child by the chin, fingers digging into bone.
“Thank the Gods for that, but don’t you dare think that gives you the authority to disrespect me, child. Understood?”
Silence.
“Sirenia. I won’t ask again.”
“Yes, Miss Aida. It won’t happen again.”
Lies. Everything she told that woman was a basket of lies, but she never knew. Ten years in that hellhole and Miss Aida thought she ran the place with an iron fist. One day Sirenia would come back and teach her a lesson. One day. At least that’s what she told herself. She had given up trying to win her affection years ago. A warm bed and food were the only reasons she hadn’t run away.
“Now go wash yourself up. You’re absolutely filthy. Maybe if you opened your eyes you could realize why you’ve been here for over a decade.”
Hurtful intentions slid off her tongue like a venomous snake, but Sirenia was immune.
*
There was no escaping the clutching walls of the palace, not now at least. After a drawn out interrogation with their daughter, the King and Queen had come to find out that Amaranth had been sneaking out into the depths of the night without their consent. She had known very well that the consequences would be substantial if she was ever caught. She was right. There were guards everywhere she turned and at night Darius was put on patrol in front of her room.
“It’s for your own good and well-being,” the Queen reassured her after what Amaranth would have called a fight.
“For me to be a prisoner?”
This had gotten their attention. Her father raised his brow and marched over to her.
“Prisoner? We’re keeping you safe. Have you no knowledge of what lies in the shadows? Have we taught you nothing? What happens if a Vampiric were to get a hold of you? Or the Elves? You’re so naïve, my child. You have no idea what dangers are out there.”
“But why won’t you let me see Sirenia? I don’t—”
“That child is bad news,” the Queen scolded with a tone she used only on occasion, “You are to stay far away from her. Understand?”
“Yes, Mother.”
Amaranth had nearly memorized all of the stories she had been told. She knew very well that if she ever came across a Vampiric, they would have her life in a heartbeat, for Altolian blood was more precious to them than any mead in the entire land. However, there hadn’t been a Lilitu worshipper in over a decade, so why would they venture to Altolia now?
The three realms hadn’t been in conflict for three centuries. In fact, one might say that this was the most peaceful era in all of Nyxalia. The forbidding Vampirics remained in their cave to the North after the two kingdoms had reached a consensus; it was an easy agreement: out of sight, out of mind. But the realm of Obscuria was never out of mind. It was a flaw of every Altolian except for a few. To this day Amaranth only knew of one: Sirenia.
The princess admired her friend’s valor; she would make a great knight if she ever wished to take the oath, but after the events with the King and Queen it would be a surprise if she ever dedicated her life to them.
She had to see Sirenia again. She had to tell her that her parents were keeping her locked up at the palace, but how? What if she never saw her again? Or worse…what if Sirenia hated her?
As the days swept by she fell into her ordinary routines again. Lessons. Prayer. A stroll through the gardens. She hung onto the nights as long as she could staring up at her ceiling and pretending that there was grass beneath her and stars above, but nothing could replace the moments she spent with Sirenia.
An obscure tapping started from the other side of the room. At first she thought it was someone at the door, but when she stood up she realized it wasn’t coming from that direction. The tapping came again and she turned her head to her balcony. Was it Sirenia? Had she climbed up somehow?
Opening the windows to the balcony, she was greeted with a surprise. A white dove flew into her room like a lightning bolt.
“Hey!” she shouted in a hushed tone and began to chase after it only to watch it land on top of her wardrobe out of reach, “Come on, you. Get out of here!”
It cooed at her in response, and tilted its little head.
Grabbing the nearest object, she waved it at the bird which finally caused it to stir. With a smirk, she jumped up and nearly whacked the poor thing, but it was too fast. Wings outstretched, it pushed off the wood and headed towards the window, disappearing as if it was merely the wind. With a relieved sigh Amaranth proceeded to close the window. It was when turned back around that she noticed that the door to her wardrobe fell open as if on its own.
“Stupid bird,” she muttered to herself and went to close it, yet she did just the opposite. Instead, she found herself pulling the door wider to expose the endless array of clothing within. An idea sparked in her mind like a tiny flame and it unleashed a flame inside of her so strong that she could only help but grin.
Tonight was the night. She would see Sirenia again.