Chapter One: Somnus

It was still night when Elizabeth woke with a sudden fright, sitting up in her bed gasping for air. She quickly looked around her room to scan for any abnormalities, and it was only when she felt that she was alone did her breathing finally even out. She was drenched in sweat, her hair sticking to her forehead and along the skin of her back and her nightdress feeling much too heavy on her. It was, for the most part, quiet in both her room and the world outside. The only sound she hears are the clicks from a small, but beautifully crafted, pendulum clock hanging off her wall. She doesn't know how long it had been since she had awoken, just that it had been a while as she remembers having heard said clock ticking and tocking for what felt like ages. It almost began to feel like torture. So, Elizabeth releases a breath that she didn't realize she was holding in and slides her legs off the side of the bed. It was a quarter past four in the morning.

She takes a moment and finally stands, walking over to the large, glass double doors in her room that lead to a small balcony outside. She had her hands at the handles, ready to close the doors but found that a mischievous, light breeze taunted her when she felt it hit her face. Elizabeth couldn't help the small smile that lifted at the corner of her lips and decided that a quick minute outside probably wouldn't do any harm.

There was a small bench on her balcony near the edge of the rails that she was rather fond of. She sat there many a times to enjoy the sunrise, sunset, the occasional cup of tea, and a chat with a friend every now and then. She decides against sitting for this brief moment, however, and closes her eyes when she feels the wind kiss her face.

Most nights are like this. She wakes from night terrors occasionally, usually arising from her fears and her failures. She tries not to let her mind dwell on her nightmares, though. So just as quickly as the memory of it arises, she lets it leave with the gentle breeze that so playfully enticed her before and she returns to her room, closing the doors behind her. Elizabeth begins to sort through her closet until she finds a robe that she quickly slips on so that she could walk through the palace with decency. She will not be able to go back to sleep for a while, so she strolls through the palace, wandering around from hallway to hallway until she reaches a library as grand as the palace itself.

It is here where she often loses herself and escapes her life. In daydreams and fantasies, Elizabeth reads until she can't anymore by either falling asleep or reading so late into the morning that her duties awaited her. This is how she learns of the world, her only source of life in a sense. She reads of other races and their lifestyles. When she's feeling rather whimsical, she'll read a romance or two because what lady does not dream of a spellbinding romance? She thinks to herself as she picks up a novel in said genre.

She doesn't recognize when another arrives in the library some time later until she hears the graceful, enchanting voice.

"My dear daughter, you've awakened so early today." Elizabeth looks up to see her mother gently smiling at her with warm eyes. Her mother, the Supreme Deity herself, looked just as beautiful as one would think she would. Long, flowing curls adorned her heart shaped face. Her eyes as blue as her own and her lips red as the spider lilies I've seen in textbooks. A long, golden dress hugged tightly to her curves until past the waistline where it flared until it reached the floor. And, of course, her beautiful ten wings that graced her back. The status of her power.

Once upon a time, Elizabeth had looked up to her mother and had desired to become a powerful presence like her in the world. Elizabeth smiled back at her mother, "Sleep escaped me tonight, mother. Good morning."

Her mother had crossed the library to the sit by her on the soft sofa. She turned towards her daughter and cupped Elizabeth's face firmly between her hands, "Sweet daughter of mine, that bad habit of yours is something that we should address," There was worry planted in her eyes, Elizabeth could tell, but whether her mother worried about her daughter's health or her future endeavors being interrupted remained a mystery for the time being. Elizabeth kept her worries to herself and smiled, looking away from her mother as if she were afraid that she could read into her very soul through her eyes.

"I was eager to finish a book, mother. That's all." Elizabeth felt her body tense when her mother turned her head back to meet her eyes. Her mother smiled but Elizabeth noticed that it didn't reach her eyes. "I hope it does not continue. We have your future to think about. A young lady should not lose sleep over silly things like this."

Elizabeth swallowed, "Mother," A finger to her lips interrupted any further protest from Elizabeth. "My daughter, you nearly reach maturity. You will soon take a suitor, he will not fancy these habits of yours."

Just like that, Elizabeth's will shattered and she lost motivation to continue her thoughts. "Of course, mother." Her mother's smile widened, and she planted a kiss to Elizabeth's cheek. "What a thoughtful daughter I have. Now, let's begin your morning duties."

With as much strength as she can muster, Elizabeth forces a smile and nods.

As one would figure, the duties of a princess never really end, and her mother had made sure to keep her busy these days. She tries not to dwell on it, tries not to think of how perfectly laid out her life is. During her tutoring lessons, she daydreams of flying with fairies much to her tutor's dismay and she promises she'll pay better attention. She ends up frequently apologizing throughout the lesson anyway as she can't help her wandering mind.

After morning lessons, Elizabeth has lunch with her mother and a few others to discuss the state of the world and the probability of going to war with the Demon Clan.

"I heard those rats have created a group of elite warriors with the Demon King's very own son leading them."

"They wouldn't dare start conflict."

"Your majesty, we should—"

Elizabeth had started tuning the conversation out. There was a time when she used to listen keenly to these talks and times when she would even voice her concerns to her mother. She was swiftly reprimanded for those acts—

Cold eyes settled on Elizabeth, "Sweet Elizabeth," her mother's voice purred as she hovered above Elizabeth on the bed. Elizabeth sobbingly begged her mother to stop, she cried apologies for speaking out when she didn't know any better. She felt burning, searing pain across her arm and legs, and a warmth tricking slowly down her limbs. "Forgiveness is earned, my child, as you shall learn."

—"Elizabeth," she quickly turned her head up in attention to her name. One of the higher-ranking goddesses sitting at the table had called out to her. Ludociel, as he was called, had sought her opinion over the matter in regard to the probability of going to war against those of the Demon Clan. Ludociel was shrewd and evil, his question an obvious taunt.

Elizabeth gave him a quick smile, "I cannot say, Ludociel. However, I feel relieved in knowing my mother's righteousness will always persevere whatever the case. All who know her should rejoice in her will." Elizabeth had chosen the right words because her mother had given her one of the proudest grins that she had ever seen.

Following the lunch meeting, Elizabeth and her mother walked around their sanctuary with arms linked around each other, occasionally waving to groups of goddesses whose eyes sparkle with joy at seeing their queen and princess. "I have been thinking, sweet Elizabeth," My mother started, "I feel the world is so deprived of such a beautiful and bright woman. I feel sorrow that the world will never have the joy of laying their pitiful eyes on you."

Elizabeth looked to the ground and smiled, "All I wish for mother is your happiness and the prosperity of our people." Her response earned her a gentle pat on her head from her mother, "I raised you well." When Elizabeth said the right things, her mother became overjoyed and praised her, often saying things like that. "Despite having to weed out a few bad quirks and habits of yours, you have grown to be nearly perfect, dear. All that I do, Elizabeth, is for you." Those were the final words of the day. The afternoon sun had begun to set on the world and with it, Elizabeth's ease.

She's back in her room now, the clock on her wall chiming that the night had come. She laid in bed, as she usually does, and stares at her ceiling and just waits for sleep to consume her. More often than not, however, she lingers in her thoughts until her mind is so exhausted that sleep comes.

Elizabeth doesn't remember when she had grown to hate the night. Once upon a time, as a child, she remembers that she had loved the evening. She remembers her father fondly and remembers him reading her a book to bed, or watching the moon rise in the night sky and counting the stars in the world until she fell asleep and her father carried her back to bed. She remembers her mother being kind. She's often lost in this ocean of memories from her childhood, from a happier time in her life that she wishes she could relive for a brief moment.

This is how she usually spends her nights and why she couldn't stand to live through them. Despite appearances showing otherwise, Elizabeth feels trapped in a seemingly perfect world. Despite trying her best, she realizes it would never be enough to distract her from the heavy reality that glooms over her shoulders. The world, Elizabeth had learned, was not as kind as it was in the novels she would often escape to.

Her father had died nearly eight years ago, and Elizabeth could say that her mother probably did, too, around the same time. Lost in her grief, her mother mourned the death of her love to the point of rage. Gone was the kind and gentle soul sang quiet lullabies and lovingly braided her daughter's hair. Only in appearance did Elizabeth's mother remain true to the figure in her memories.

It hadn't been obvious to the world, but her mother had drastically changed. In appearance only, she was virtuous and benevolent to her disciples and her people. She was worshipped by all who are graced by her holy presence.

It was different for Elizabeth, though. The first time her mother had laid her hands on Elizabeth was for running around the halls as a child and accidentally bumping into an important guest of her mother's. That had earned Elizabeth a bright pink spot on her cheek from the slap her mother had given her later that night. The shock ran so deep through her that moment that she hardly registered the pain.

"You will learn to not to bring shame to me."

From there on, any time Elizabeth had acted out, the punishments had gotten worse. Her mother written them off as conditioning— all in the name to raise the perfect daughter in her eyes. It was shameful for Elizabeth to say that it had worked.

The last time Elizabeth had acted out some time ago, she had spoken out of line during one of their lunch excursions. Later that night, her mother had come into her room with a frown on her face and dark, icy eyes. The fear that she had felt then was so real. Elizabeth had quickly apologized and begged for forgiveness. Despite her desperate attempts, her mother had grabbed a letter opener on the edge of her dresser and made her way to her distressed daughter.

And the rest was something she never liked to relive even in memory, so she closed her watery eyes and turned to her side, begging Somnus to take her despite knowing her memory would continue in her dreams.

She's jerked awake by hand, a voice urging her out bed. "My lady, please awaken! We must go!" Elizabeth lazily opens her eyes as she's pulled up by one of the maids.

"Yue? What's going—" She hears a loud explosion outside and she swiftly turns her head in the direction of the noise.

"Wha—" Her glass doors suddenly shatter and both girls scream as they take cover, Yue shielding Elizabeth from any flying shards. Before she could react any further and ask if she was alright, she's suddenly pulled upright by Yue and they start running out of her room into the hall. There are more sounds of explosions outside, along with voices screaming in the night. She sees servants and maids panicking and running through the hallways, soldiers flying in another direction towards the many different noises.

Panic surges through Elizabeth's body as she runs along with Yue and she feels her breath escaping her too easily from realization that they are under attack.

"Her majesty is fighting them off along with the soldiers," Yue calls back to Elizabeth, confirming her suspicions. "The Demon Clan has come."

Elizabeth cannot help the wave of fear that crashes into her, the overwhelming feeling enough to draw out a cry from her. A sick, nauseating feeling builds in her stomach and the urge to vomit is enough for her to suddenly snatch her wrist from Yue and stop for the moment. Her knees buckle and she falls to the floor, her hand on her mouth.

Yue falters in her run and turns back to Elizabeth. She crouches down next to her, placing a hand on her back to try and soothe her, "My lady, I know this is overwhelming but please get up! I am to get you to safety!" She looks at Yue and takes a deep breath in through her nose and exhales.

As Elizabeth tries to stand back up on her wobbly legs with help from Yue, the walls of the hallway suddenly explode, debris flying in every direction and the force of the explosion knocking both Yue and Elizabeth to the other wall, having her breath knocked out of her from the collision.

Before Elizabeth had time to react, she heard a wail from the girl beside her. She averts her eyes to her direction, and they widen in horror. As the dust settled, she sees a sword had impaled the maid in the abdomen, her eyes now devoid of life as blood poured out of her body. Elizabeth cries out and quickly stands to grip the handle of the giant blade. Despite her best attempts to pull the sword out, she fails. She wasn't strong enough to remove the sword wedged between her poor maid and the wall.

Distressed, she keeps trying to pull at the blade, hoping it would budge even a little bit. Her vision is blurred from the tears falling down her face and she hopes that those are what give the illusion that Yue's life is gone. "Yue," she cries out, "We need to go, get up!"

Elizabeth trembles, no longer able to hold in the sobs that she finally lets out. Yue had tried to get them to safety. It was Elizabeth's own inadequacy in handling the situation that had slowed them down in the middle of the demise, and it had cost her life. Before had time to think and grieve, she's shoved aside and off the blade and onto the floor.

The figure of what looked like a small boy grabbed the handle of the sword and, with what Elizabeth found to be a mortifying squelch and crunch, pulled the blade from the body of her poor maid. She imagines this boy would be the owner of the blade that had brutally murdered Yue and with wide eyes, she regards him with fear, her body shaking so violently. He had turned to look at her with dark, empty eyes that rivaled and instilled the level of fear her mother's own eyes gave her during a terribly, silent night. He had wild, blonde hair and there was a black crest crowned at the center of his forehead, and she suddenly remembers reading about a crest like this in one of her books.

Elizabeth, run! Run you coward! But it was all the strength she had left in her to just sit there and shake and cry. When he starts to step towards Elizabeth, she pushes her feet into the ground to slide her body back in a feeble attempt to create any space she can between this creature of death and herself, her heart crashing in her chest. He regards her impassively, now holding his sword over his shoulder as he continues to approach her.

He's going to kill me!

He's going to kill her.

He'll kill her.

…She'll die.

Elizabeth suddenly stops and so does he.

In that sudden moment of stillness, everything is quiet. It's as if time had stopped. Elizabeth lowers her eyes from the person in front of her and gazes back at Yue's corpse. And it's like she's a different person.

Elizabeth looks back up to stare into the eyes of the last person she would probably ever see, and she smiles. It takes the boy aback, seemingly. She thought she saw his eyes widen a bit, a sliver of surprise in them, but she can't bring herself to care about anything else anymore.

How ironic, she thinks.

She had asked, quietly prayed for this most of her nights and here it was, ready to deliver. And she forces most of her thoughts of her head in these last few moments, focusing only on this.

Elizabeth takes in this boy, giving him one last look, and for a second, she thinks he is rather handsome for a god of death.

She closes her eyes, whispers a barely audible 'thank you' to the world, and waits for her eternal sleep.

Somnus, Yoko Shimomura from FFXV.