Keshiema awoke in her assigned room within the Elders’ Hall. Someone was lurking in the darkened corner of the room. She threw a knife at the stranger as she sat up, planting it in the wall by his head.
Dásos stepped out of the shadow with a grim expression on his face. “That was not the nicest thing to do.”
“Your aura changed.” She spoke with distrust.
“That it has.”
She waited for an explanation, but when he did not offer one, she gave up. “How long have I been asleep?”
“A couple hours. You heal remarkably fast. Most would have been out for at least a day with that kind of exposure.”
She unconsciously brushed her hand over her star. “Is that not normal for people like me?”
“There haven’t really been others like you."
'Right,' she thought. 'Medics don’t heal themselves like you do. Hell-Children don’t typically even have more than one power.'
"Your mother could explain more than I can.” He huffed.
“You know my mother?”
“Ah, I don't think I was supposed to tell you that."
“can you tell me what she's like?”
Crossing the room, he sat on her bed and took her hand. "I shouldn't." She closed her eyes as her hair darkened to black. He lightly tugged on her hand, prompting her to look at him. “But I think you deserve to know.”
His striking green eyes locked with her onyx ones. A feeling of falling into a pit of darkness overwhelmed her. It was a comforting feeling, like succumbing to sleep after a long day of training. She could still feel Dásos’s hand holding hers, like a small connection to the real world.
The world around her took shape. Many demons filled a large animal-skin hut, arguing in the Demon tongue. A small young woman holding a staff stood at the back of the hut, the obvious leader among them. Her white hair brushed against her ankles, and the black feathers braided into it fell against her shoulders. The feathers held a familiar aura. The staff was ornately carved and painted to look like a snake wrapped around it.
The small woman stood toe-to-toe with a tall, muscular man. The two argued, and although the man was easily twice her size, the woman never backed down. The man backed off and hung his head. He held his fist to his heart and kneeled before the woman. “I apologize, my Priestess. Please forgive my brutish ways. I realize I was out of line.”
She rested her hand on his shoulder, “I shall forgive you, Warrior. We are lucky to have such a passionate soul fighting on our behalf.” She turned around and walked out of the tent, leaving footprints of gold aura behind her.
Everything faded into darkness. Keshiema listened carefully and soon heard a sound that reminded her of her grandfather’s ancient television. He had called it static. But this was more rhythmic, fading in and out.
A misty ocean cove came into view. The sound came from violent waves crashing over dark, jagged rocks. The priestess stood on the beach, letting the cool ocean mist caress her face. She wore soft furs over her buckskin dress to fend off the biting chill. The feathers in her hair floated in the light breeze. The full moon hung low just above the fog line. Snow-covered dunes sparkled in the moonlight behind her. “Lunara, my friend, I’ve come to speak with you. Will you hear me?” The words were barely more than a whisper, but floated to Keshiema's ears clearly.
The waves calmed, almost as if they were replying to the woman’s question. A beam of moonlight pierced through the mist and shone down on the water’s now smooth surface. Something slowly formed within the mist. As it grew closer, the shadow took shape. A beautiful maiden walked on the ocean's surface towards the priestess. “My Lily of the Snow! It has been too long! What brings you to my shores on this night? Good news, I hope.” The moon goddess’s voice was full of genuine adoration, but it did not hide the pure power within her.
“Lunara. I am honestly unsure the nature of the news I bring.”
The adoration turned to concern. “Is it my son?”
“It is. He has decided to leave my Guard. He is curious of the life his father offers.”
“oh, Snow Lily, you worry too much! This is wonderful news! My son will do well to spend time with his father. I promise, he is nothing like the other kings. He has a gentle and kind soul.”
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“I just worry that he will garner unwanted attention from the other royal families. His power is obviously not just of the demon world. I only hope he took my lessons to heart.”
“Dearest Snow Lily, I know you did everything in your power to teach him well. He chose to leave. If he was not ready, then it is not on your shoulders.” The goddess opened her arms, and Snow Lily stepped into them. They hugged tightly before Lunara faded away.
The scene turned black again and lit back up in a familiar clearing. Snow Lily no longer wore her tribal garb. Instead, she now wore a long flowing black dress. Her staff remained the same, and she still kept the black feathers braided into her hair. The aura in the feathers, however, had begun to fade. She knelt into the luscious grass, feeling the ground for any movement. “I know you’re there, Moon God.”
A darker figure walked into the clearing from the shadows of the forest. His ashen skin and blackened wings were trademarks of the moon gods. His eyes were as red as rubies, and his grey hair fell over his chest.
“As keen as ever, Demon.”
“what is it you wish to speak to me about?” Snow Lily brushed off the god's attitude.
“my nephew has gotten himself into some trouble recently.”
“what kind of trouble?”
“you are aware of who his father is, yes?”
“Paimon, if memory serves me." There was a look of annoyance on the god’s face. His posture shifted to reflect it. “Relax, old friend, if you don’t want sassy answers, don’t ask dumb questions. You’re nephew spent many years as my guard, there isn’t much I do not know.”
"There has been talk amongst the servants that one of the Kings might be dissatisfied with the amount of authority he currently holds.”
“Those three are never satisfied.” Snow Lily scoffed.
“There is reason to believe that one of them may be attempting a power grab fairly soon.”
“If that is the case he will want as little in his way as possible. Are you saying the princes may be in danger?” Motherly concern filled her voice.
“It appears to be that way, my lady.”
“In what way do you think I can help?”
“Recently, Adramelech sent forth an invitation to his castle. He has invited all of the royal households for a feast and celebration. You have the skills necessary to infiltrate the palace during the festivities and find out if there is any truth to this plan to rule supreme.”
“What have these fools to celebrate in a time like this?”
“Plans for the Apocalypse have been set into place. Within the next millennia, the human world will belong to the demons.”
“That soon? But Adramelech does not even have a suitable heir as of yet.”
“That is another problem. It is rumored that Uvall and Botis have told him he needs a blood spell to break his curse. A curse that strong will need significantly powerful blood.”
“Like that of a demi-god prince. I accept your request and will prepare for my journey immediately.”
“I thank you, Snow Lily, as does my sister.”
As the darkness enveloped Keshiema once more, a cold dampness grew around her. The new scene held little light. When her eyes adjusted, she could see she was in a dungeon. Snow Lily sat in the corner, chained to a wall. A guard approached her cell and rattled the bars. “Good news! You’re test came back positive!” The guard smiled wickedly. “You damn ice-maidens make this so much more difficult, but we've cast a spell to keep your body from freezing the pregnancy. You’re going to give the king his next child.”
“Adramelech will never even see this child!” Snow Lily snarled.
“What are you going to do? Escape?” he laughed. “No one has ever escaped this dungeon.” The guard kept laughing to himself as he walked away.
Snow Lily rubbed her belly soothingly. “It’s okay, little one. I’m going to get us out of here.”
It took Keshiema a moment to realize the dungeon had faded and a new room had taken its place. Bloodied and weary, Snow Lily stood over a large body. She held up a sword that should have been too heavy for her.
“You’ll never kill me,” the demon on the ground sputtered out as he coughed up blood. “It’s not in you.”
Snow Lily screamed as she slammed down the sword. The blade sliced through the demon’s groin. He screamed in agony, unable to move his broken body. “You bitch!” He cried. “You’ll never escape me! My seed has been planted and my child will grow strong. He will be his father's son, just you watch!”
Snow Lily walked away as the room and the demon faded into darkness. A small cabin took its place. Snow Lily sat up in a bed, cradling a small bundle. “My Alexander. How adorable you are.” Her smile lit up the room.
“Miss Lily,” the midwife spoke with a slight worry in her voice. The Berkana mark on her forehead glowed slightly as she ran her hand along Snow Lily’s belly, checking for signs of hemorrhaging. “You should get some rest. You will need the strength to care for the young prince.”
Snow Lily’s head snapped up, anger written on her face. The midwife took a step back, realizing her slip. “How is it you know he is a prince?”
“You’re in no condition to fight Snow Lily. Just give the child to me and he won’t be injured.”
“Guardian!” Snow Lily shouted.
“Come now, we know you came alone.”
Snow Lily stumbled out of her bed, taking care to keep the baby as comfortable as possible. Her staff leaned on a wall across the room. “You are a fool if you think I’d hand my son over to you.”
“Now, now Snow Lily, you know as well as I do that Prince Stolas will be much better off living in the palace. A boy does need his father, after all.”
Snow Lily looked fierce and wild. Her anger radiated from her in a vibrant glow. She tried to step forward but fumbled, almost dropping the baby.
“See, I told you, you’re too weak to fight. You can’t even walk.” The midwife laughed. A large crash came from the other room. “What in the Hell is going on out there?”
“Seems like you were wrong, I didn’t come here alone after all.” Snow Lily crouched down next to the bed, shielding her newborn with her body as the door shattered. A large figure stood in the decimated doorway.
“It’s about time, Damien.” She winced from another contraction. Blood dripped onto the floor underneath her.
“I apologize, my priestess. But I am here now.”
The midwife stood paralyzed and speechless. Without a word, Damien threw a knife, landing it dead center in her Friskalian mark.
“Thank you, Damien, I do not think I could have fought her off in my condition. I apologize for being so weak.”
“You are not weak, priestess. You have just been through a very trying experience. You are tired and worn down, but you are not, and never will be, weak.” He wrapped his arms around Snow Lily comfortingly. The room faded away.
