Hey y'all, this concept has been swimming around in my head for a while now so I thought I'd give this story a shot. Feel free to leave me a review if you want to see more! - S.S

The coppery smell of blood shoved its way up Anirah's nose, causing her throat to burn and tears to well in her eyes. But she didn't move from where she hid. Marion had ordered her to stay in the cupboard until she came back, and not to move a muscle, no matter what she heard.

And she had heard a lot.

Heard the soldiers busting down the doors, the clang and scrape of their swords against the marble floor. Heard the screams that pierced the air as they pillaged the castle, ripping it apart piece by piece. And then, she heard nothing. The silence was almost worse.

She had been in her bedroom when Marion shook her awake, and she was half asleep as the nursemaid led her along the servants passages by the wrist. Through sleep-fogged eyes, she barely registered the flames that had started to creep up the countryside through the open window, and it hadn't dawned on her that something was amiss until Marion had shoved her into the kitchen cupboard, with the instructions to remain as quiet as possible. Anirah had kept her promise to stay hidden and silent, crouched in that cupboard for what felt like hours and hours.

And Marion had still not yet returned.

She was beginning to grow cold. Anirah could see the condensation of her breath in the air before her, and huddled closer within herself. Had Marion forgotten about her? Surely she should have come back by now. Anirah bit her lip to keep it from trembling. And what of her sister? She had not been in their bed when Marion had come for her. She'd been too paralyzed by fear to ask any questions earlier, but now she wished she had.

Where was Aelin?

Anirah was just about to venture out of the cupboard to find her sister when she heard a noise just outside her hiding spot. She froze, her heart kicking up a frenzied beat in her chest. Someone was moving around in the kitchen, their steps even and light, unlike the crashing gait of the soldiers.

It was then that Anirah began to pray, invoking all the gods she knew of that this stranger wouldn't find her. There came slight rustling noises as they stalked through the kitchen, as if they were looking for something.

At that point, Anirah couldn't help it - a slight whimper escaped her lips. The intruder stopped, and for a moment, there was complete silence.

Then the cupboard door was flung open, and a Fae warrior crouched before her, utterly still and silent. Such power emanated from him that Anirah recoiled, her fear sour on her tongue. Shining silver hair framed his harsh face, and eyes of brilliant green were peering at her in surprise.

"It's alright," He said, the gentleness in his voice catching her off guard. "I am not going to hurt you." Anirah pressed herself closer into the wall.

"Where is my sister?" She whispered, her voice ragged.

The warrior paused. "I don't know," He said. There was something like pity in those sharp green eyes. Her lip began to tremble, and it was all she could do to hold back tears. "I was sent to take you away from this place," The warrior continued softly, inching closer. "My queen will see to it that you are well cared for."

"W-Where are you taking me?" She did not want to leave. This was her home, where her family had dwelled for generations. She had heard of the rest of the continent - how it was ruled by a wicked king. Where magic was banned, and had all but disappeared.

"It is called Wendelyn. A place for people like you and me," He assured.

Despite her fear, Anirah set her jaw, lifting her chin just a bit. "I will not leave. My nurse said to wait here until she came back."

The fae warrior loosed a breath. "She is not coming for you." His tone was clear enough. Marion was dead.

Anirah couldn't breathe. The only thought that made it coherently past her muddled brain was no, it couldn't be true.

A sob ripped from her throat. No.

Then the warrior was gathering her up in his arms, tucking her head against his chest as she wept. He carried her through the castle, shielding her eyes to keep her from seeing the carnage. "It's alright," He murmured into her ear, his breath warm against her freezing skin. "You're safe. You're safe." He repeated it over and over.

She didn't believe him.