Prologue

The Vision

Snow, that was what the dream had shown her, she was in a place covered with snow, the trees were green and alive but covered with snows the flowers bloom but it was covered in snow, the grass is green but yet again it is covered with snow the sky are grey and the snow is heavily pouring, yet why I the trees and the grass and the flowers are alive? Why is the river nit frozen?

Laughter? She hears laughter! Looking around the place she didn't see anyone but herself, covered in crimson blood from head to toe, only then she realized that there were bodies lying down at her feet, their bloods are slowly re were bodies lying down at her feet, their bloods are slowly covering the white ground.

“Sister?” She heard another voice “Sister, look at me” She knows who owns that voice “Sister over here! Look” She turned around only to come face to face with a giant tree. It’s massive and its root are sticking out from the ground, its branches expand to a large portion of the place. In summer it could offer shade, in the dessert it could give relief, but in winter it brings death. The color of its trunk and branches and even its roots and leaves are ash, like the color of when someone is burned to ashes. But it’s fruits a weird looking one, it’s red as an apple, no perhaps redder than an apple but its shape resembles the pear. What is it? Could it be eaten? To those who are starving, yes it could be eaten, but for those who aren’t it can be poison. What is this tree?

She then looks at the ground and noticed a flower sprouting from one of the dead bodies, it is weird one with its color redder than blood and on its middle is a speck of gold, she wanted to pluck it but was distracted when she heard an infant crying. It was as if the cries of the infant are woman who’s mourning, why was a new born mourning? Who did it lose? Then the wind whispered in her ears “Forgiveness, it is not easy to give, but when you learn to forgive only then shall love sprout within your heart. And when you let love sprout, only then shall freedom be truly yours”

“There are new flowers in the meadow sister. Please let me go with sir Borington.” Lena sighed when her younger sister climbs into her lap to distract her from her duty. Her green eyes were big and innocent, it’s like a flower that grows in the middle of a place covered in ashes, her green eyes symbolize life itself.

“Crystal, I can’t allow you to go. Father would not agree. You know that.” She said running her finger through her sister’s long curly white hair “But sister.” Her little sister’s eyes pleaded with her and Lena could give in at any moment with those green eyes, hers and her sister’s eye shape where the same, but the color of her eyes is a darker and fiercer shade while her little sister’s eyes is lighter. “No Crystal, and that is final.” Her sister pouted at her, it’s dangerous to be in the meadow right now so she couldn’t allow her to go. But she couldn’t help but smile when her sister pouted again, her cute face is enough to make her day, with those chubby cheek and lips that is red as the berry. “Why are you even here?” She asked her “Weren’t you supposed to be playing with the other kids?” Her sister shakes her head, her curly white hair following her every movement. “No, they kept calling her me weird because I have white hair and white skin and that I was a cry baby. Am I a cry baby?” Lena frowned, her sister is different from all the pure blood, her and their other sister have raven black hair, while Crystal shocked everyone when her mother brings her to the palace for the first time.

“No, you aren’t a cry baby” Her sister grinned and nods her head before she pays attention on the paper scattered on Lena’s table. “Are you doing boring stuff again sister?” Lena shakes her head and chuckle at her sister. “This is called paper works.” Her sister shakes her head and points the papers before looking up at her. “ Lysandra and Leo told me it’s boring stuff that only you and Father do. Why is that? Was it because you’re going to be the future queen?” Lena nods her head at her sister’s question. “Leo can’t speak he’s your pet cat, and yes, it is because I am the future queen.” Her sister was about to speak again when their mother came in.” There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere” Their mother walks closer to them and carried her sister. Lena stood up and show courtesy “My Queen” She greeted her mother who gave her a curt nod. “Your father wants us to move in from one of the manors, is everything alright Lena?’ Her mother asked keeping her light green eye trained to her, she and Crystal have the same eye color.

“The werewolves are forming alliance against father, even the castle is not safe” Her mother’s eyes turned weary “Would you be safe here with your father?” Lena nodded; her gaze fell down upon her sister who was rubbing her eyes that seems to fight her sleep. And then her gaze went back to her mother, the manor in the west is the safest place for them, no one knew about it except about a few members of the family.

“I am a warrior mother, do not worry I’ll be there on Crystal’s birthday” With that being said her sister seems to be energized again. “I’m turning six” She exclaimed showing her seven finger, Lena chuckle and shakes her head. “That’s seven.” She said, Crystal quickly corrected her mistake. “My Queen the carriage is ready” One of their guard said, “Well we must leave now, See you in five days.” Her mother kissed her forehead while her sister waved at her with that charming smile before they disappeared from her sight.

3 DAYS LATER

“Father you called for me.” Lena said when she saw her father, he also had a lot of paper work on his desk, her father is a tall and large man, though she was as tall as him he still bigger than her with his hand large enough to cover her whole face and break her into pieces. He may be fierce and all but he is soft when it comes to his mother and even Crystal, everyone is baffled when he would give in to his youngest demands when everyone knew that he is a strict man and was very against the idea of spoiling his children, but who could deny anything from the youngest? Even the maids are caught by her charms.

“Yes, there are rumors going around the from village to village about a group of nomadic werewolves. People said they must be about five hundred members. Sir David and his men have confirmed that they are rebels, they were last spotted in the east near the border.” Lena raised her eyebrow. “Five hundred is still small for a land dominated by us. They will not survive if they attack, we should capture them and put them in cages where they belong.” She could see her father’s eyes lighten with pride. “Yes, but we must be cautious dear, they could raise more doubt and rebel” Lena hissed in annoyance. “They always doubt you father, maybe it’s time for you to show them what you can do? You are the king after all.” Her father shakes his head in disapproval.

“No, it’s not my time, my reign of terror is over. Maybe you should show them what power you have, what kind of ruler you are. In the hundred years of your existence my dear I’ve showed you what it takes to be feared and a true leader, I’ve taught you how to shove fear down your enemy’s throat. Now what I want for you is to is to show me what you’ve got.” She could see that her father is now ready to step down and gave her the crown, if he did that, she would be the youngest monarch to take the crown only at the age of one hundred two, while her father took the crown from his brother at the age of three- hundred seventy-five “Are you sure father?” She asked him “Are you doubting yourself?” He asked back. “No, I don’t” Her father then nod his head, he was about to speak again when suddenly a soldier barge into his office looking out of breath and scared. “My King! News have just arrived! The manor in the western side is under attack by werewolves” At that moment fear creep into Lena’s bone, there is only one person that comes into her mind. “Crystal!”

With their horses they traveled to the east west with warrior behind their back, even from afar Lena could hear her people’s cries and the howl of the werewolves. Upon arriving she saw half of the manor being burned down, there are no wolves at sight only bodies scattered into pieces, without second thought Lena raced into the burning house, at the entrance she saw her mother lying down with a small dagger in her side, she was badly beaten.

“Crystal, you need to save her…she runs towards east side of the house.” Her mother said even though she was struggling to speak, Lena didn’t think twice as she runs toward the place. “Crystal?! Where are you?! Crystal!” She didn’t hear anything, but amidst the smoke that almost covered the place a very familiar scent reached her, it was sweet and fresh she followed it but as she grew closer to the scent, she realized that it was covered with unmistakable scent of copper. She stops in front of a door and upon opening it her knees weakened and she fell down on her knees

Blood was scattered all over the room, claw mark has covered the wooden floor and there was a pool of blood and in the middle of it is her sister’s body, there on the ground with her body cut into half, her arms and legs were missing her face was barely recognizable because it had been clawed. Lena at that moment is hopeless, she didn’t know what to do, she couldn’t hold back the tears that started to pour from her eyes because she saw her sister’s eyes wide open and lifeless, she couldn’t imagine the pain she had to go through before death swallowed her. She doesn’t deserve it, she’s too young, Lena’s heart was filled with pain and that pain turned into hatred and wrath, she slowly stood up and walked to her sister standing over her corps.

“Your pain shall be felt by those who have murdered you, every single one of them shall know how it feels, I will punish every kin and descendant they will ever have, your pain shall be felt by the very last of them