Forced to be blinded by the dangers that lurk outside this palace is driving me insane. No I’m not eager to rest my eyes upon the evil that fills this world, but eventually I’m not going to have a choice. Wouldn’t it be better to learn of the harshness of the world now rather than be blindsided by it later? Especially now, when obviously I’ve become a part of something dangerous, although my father tries so hard not to reveal his fear. I yearn to approach him.
My mother is terrified. I can see the fear in her eyes whenever she rests them upon me. I have seen the fear in my parents’ eyes before, but seeing such shrill terror in them now petrifies me. Just what is going on within this kingdom, and what does it have to do with me?
I have not seen Aaron since that day in the library. Honestly, I think he knows that I was a witness to it. To me, Aaron has always been a gentle, playful man that would give me all the time in the world just to make me smile. I’ve always known that he must have been a ferocious warrior, just by the stories and rumors that are passed around throughout the kingdom, but I never really listened to them. I sincerely thought that I knew who Aaron was and what his intentions were.
But what if he is right, and that man had intended on assassinating me that day? He had just been a normal commoner… what would motivate him to do something as dangerous as that, and so close to the palace? I am unsure of what to do, and even more so I am just unsure of myself. I am not fit to be an empress.
After these thoughts traveled through my mind, I decided to search for my mother in her chambers. Exiting my room, I entered the hall and slowly made my way down it. It was strangely empty and my bare feet clapped loudly upon the stone floors. The rhythmic sounds echoed ghastly and I started to feel as if something was horribly wrong. I attempted to brush the feeling away, blaming my paranoia, but instead it only intensified.
And when I felt the rough hand of some unknown being clamp tightly against my mouth and begin to drag me away, I knew that Aaron had been right. I screamed so loud that my lungs felt as if they would rip apart, but they attracted no one’s attention. I prayed to Luna that my mother or father would step out and discover me, or Aaron would race down the hall with his mighty sword brandished.
But no one came for me, and when I felt the heat of the sun on my skin I knew that I would never become the new empress of Vastland. I would be dead.
Empress of Vastland 