Chapter 1
"This is not what we agreed upon! You dare show up to our court and try to deceive us?" The Queen of the Fire Faes shouts.
She looks to the left of her to make eye contact with her betrothed, her king. Through their 200 year old marriage, they have mastered the art of silent communication.
The King was an imposing man to be a fae. His broad frame looked statuesque on his jeweled throne, with vines woven around the base of the chair, and the plush velvet fabric that seemed to be the most vibrant shade of red. He nodded his head in agreement with his queen.
The man standing before the King and Queen had anticipated the royal couple would not appreciate his rebuff. However, they were fools if they truly thought he came alone, or even alone in this room, for that matter.
His reinforcements are patiently waiting in the forest surrounding the Fire Fae Castle, ready to tear their opponents down, at his command.
"Just so that all parties involved are clear, you are refusing?" The Queen clarifies. The man standing before her smirks, "That's precisely what I am doing." He says calmly.
"Very well," the Queen speaks up. "Seize him," she commands.
To the King and Queen's surprise, none of the guards move to capture their traitor. A sly smirk spreads across the man's face.
"It's amazing how fast your own kind can turn on you for the promise of mere jewels or the escape of imminent death." The traitor taunts the King and Queen.
The King and Queen finally let their fear creep in, "What is the meaning of this? Have you no decency? Word will spread; our kingdom will not stand behind you." The Queen states stoically.
The Queen's words only amuse the traitor further.
"It's still not clicking is it?" The traitors muses. "There won't be a kingdom left; well not the kingdom as you know it. I will rid the world of all of you fucking fire faes. Anyone who dares to stand behind you will surely meet their demise."
With the finality of his words, he sends the order to his army, and they breach the forest walls.
Shifters, of all kinds, begin to descend on the castle and the fire fae kingdom. For the King and Queen had truly underestimated the threat before them.
They had been betrayed before; they had faced various opponents wanting their throne and kingdom, but this opponent was different. However, they still would not go down without a fight!
Before either one of them has an opportunity to react, iron cages fall down upon them, and warriors instantly move in on them with iron batons ready to strike them if need be.
"You won't get away with this. You cannot just kill the King and Queen of the Fire Faes. Every fire fae will lose their magic, without us. You will condemn a whole species!" The King shouts.
The traitor smiles, with malicious intent. "Then so be it, and who said anything about killing you? My new castle needs pets, and lucky for me, I have two caged animals right here." He laughs.
The King lunges forward, trying to grab the traitor, but the iron burns his skin.
"Sebastian!" The Queen screams, and it only delights the traitor more.
The King gives her a look of shame. "I am sorry my love; I have failed you."
"As sentimental as this, you are boring me, and you don't need to worry about the fate of the fire faes. You will be the last of your kind!" The traitor says, before shouting: "KILL THEM ALL!"
When the castle was seized, no one noticed the fire fae warrior that had been late to his post. No one noticed when he quietly snuck away, before he could be detected. He took the opportunity to escape and warn all that he could.
Deep in the forest, the fire fae warrior runs through alerting all that he can.
"WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! EVERYONE FLEE, RUN!" He repeats over and over again.
Fire faes begin to flood the forest, leaving their belongings behind. Panic and fear are thick in the air, as many fire faes try to flee to the portal. Chaos ensues, as a war cry bellows out in the distance.The faes know they don't have long before an army is upon them.
The Sacred Elder of the Fire Fae works frantically to open the portal. Once he has it open, fire faes begin to pile over one another trying to get through.
"Slow down, we cannot rip the veil. We must not destroy the portal!" The Sacred Elder shouts. He stayed near the opening to ensure order. Many of the fire faes are able to flee, while others are panicking at the sound of the enemy approaching.
As a young fire fae mother pushes her children into the portal, an arrow pierces through her body, before she can climb in.
A scream comes from behind her, as her body falls backwards, landing with a thud on the forest floor. Having to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the vale that connects all other realms, the Sacred Elder seals the portal off, and a slaughter ensues.
Blood sprays along the trees and forest walls, as fire faes are struck with iron swords and knives. Vampires jump from fire fae to fire fae as they pierce the skin of the fire faes and release their venom, slowly killing their targets. Dragon shifters search the sky, looking for any fire fae that may have escaped. They alert their allies on the ground, who make quick work of the escapees.
The stench of blood is high in the air, as the traitor walks amongst the forest, taking in the carnage. Bodies litter the forest floor, but he simply walks on the bodies, as if they don't matter.
Taking in the brutal massacre before him, he is happy with himself. He has rid his world of the selfish and conniving fire fae. He had found many rejected shifters that aligned with his cause, and he amassed an army. He was their leader now, their king!
"Sir," one of his warriors calls out to him. He glares at the warrior. "Forgive me, your highness, I forgot!" The warrior bows.
"What is it?" The faux king sneers.
"I believe many of the fire faes were able to escape. There was a portal open when we approached. Once I killed the first one we saw trying to escape with an arrow, an elderly fae closed it." He reports.
"Where is the old fire fae now?" The fake king and traitor asks of the warrior. "He is dead." The warrior responds.
"So, we have no idea what realms these fucking fire fae disappeared into?" The fake king bellows.
"No, your highness." The warrior answers.
"Well you better track each and every one of them down, or I will end you!" He threatens.
The warrior blanches, fearing for his life! "How am I supposed to do that?" He asks the traitor, now turned king.
"Figure it out." Is all he responds with.