Prologue


The old woman's voice rasped against the room's elegant, pristine white walls. A colossal fireplace roared with life, which cast an eerie glow over the hag. If one were to look closely, they could see only a few yellowing teeth remained within her mouth. Her hair was as coarse as hay, yet hidden beneath a crisp white cloth befitting of a King's servant.

"Long ago, before the rulers of Elohn built our might city, there was a Goddess." The woman began, taking a seat beside the large soft bed that dominated half of the enormous room. "This Goddess's name was Pathraza. The mortals thought her to be gorgeous, even Din found herself envious of the grace and beauty Pathraza possessed. Sadly, Pathraza was merely a lower Goddess and therefor a servant to Din. She was given demeaning tasks not worthy of her stature-"

"What's demeaning mean?" An excited young voice interrupted, the old woman glared at the pair of eyes watching her from beneath the covers. "Sorry." The girl fidgeted beneath the heavy blanket.

The old woman took a deep breath, she despised it when anybody interrupted her story telling; everyone in the castle knew it.

"Then, one day..." The woman continued again. "Din sent Pathraza down to Earth, forcing her to complete another task Din was unfit to do herself. That is where Pathraza met Ibo." The old woman smiled faintly, another set of eyes appeared from beneath the covers, watching timidly while the other bounced with excitement. "Ibo was a kind man, there was never such a loving and kind soul as he. Pathraza fell in love with him, and he with her, unaware that he was in love with a goddess."

"This is the saddest part." The bouncing bundle whispered, but the woman wasn't as deaf as she was blind. She waited for silence again. "Sorry." The girl said again. The old woman couldn't help an amused smile that crossed her toothless face.

"When Din discovered the affair, she was furious. The sky boiled and stormed with her anger, she was horrified that a mere mortal could catch the attention of her servant. In a blind rage, Din cast a curse over Ibo, a darkness came over him and he consumed all the energy from those around him, they all withered into blankness. The ancient kingdom, who's name we've forgotten, fell into ruin. Pathraza was horrified by what became of her lover, but did not give up hope to restoring him to his former self. Before she could seek the help of the Hero Of The Goddesses, neighboring kingdoms came to kill Ibo. In a last effort to keep her love safe, Pathraza sealed him deep within a mountain where nobody could find him. Din cast Pathraza out, taking away her beauty and leaving her to the humans." The woman sucked in a deep breath, satisfied that she had told it correctly.

"What happened to Pathraza after that Uma?" The little girl couldn't hold in her excitement any longer, bouncing red curls sprung up from beneath the covers and her face was covered in freckles, bright green eyes filled with excitement.

"You asked me this last time Fovi." The old lady drawled, standing to stir the fire. "I'm sure Duvaine remembers, why don't you ask her?" The woman suggested, there was a small whimper from beneath the covers.

"Do you remember Duvaine? Won't you tell me?" The redhead demanded, pulling the covers back until she revealed the second little girl. Her short white hair blended with the sheets of the bed, and her eyes were clouded, murky white clouding her pupils mysteriously.

"Uh- She- she... I can't remember." Her voice was as small as she was, white eyes flickering between the woman and her friend.

"Pish posh my dear." The woman straightened her hunched back. "The royal family is supposed to be related to the Goddess, and yet you don't remember where she went?" The woman shook her head and the little girl shied away from her gaze.

"Sh-she disappeared, but she had a baby first..." The white haired girl stuttered, hiding her face behind the thick covers.

"That's right." The old woman, Uma, smiled. "And it's told she watches over us all from wherever she may be."

"Do you believe she does?" Fovi asked the nanny, excitement filling her eyes all at once. "I'm going to find her one day-!"

"I'm sure you will." Uma said dryly, "But for now you must go to sleep."

Fovi's face fell, she sank back into the bed beside the quiet Duvaine and pulled the covers around them.

"Goodnight Princess." Uma rasped, as she closed the door quietly behind her.

Unfortunately for Duvaine, Fovi was wide awake.

"Do you believe the story?" Fovi asked beneath the covers. Duvaine looked at her for a long time, expressionless.

"If you do, then so do I." She whispered back.

"Forget about me princess, what do you think?"

"Don't call me that Fovi, you know I don't like it." Duvaine shrank deeper into her pillow, voice getting smaller and smaller.

"Oh stop it, scaredy cat. Nothing can hurt you while I'm here!" The redhead snorted, and scooted closer to her friend. Fovi tugged gently on a long strand of Duvaine's hair, who held very still.

"So pretty. I wish I had hair like yours." Fovi pouted.

"It isn't pretty, it's strange." Duvaine whispered back, afraid the dark may hear her. Fovi's disbelief was potent.

"Just because people look at you strangely, doesn't mean you are strange." Fovi assured. Duvaine didn't feel much better.

"I can feel it, they think I'm strange. They're disgusted sometimes." Duvaine said sadly.

"There is nothing strange about a shy little seven year old girl." Fovi announced, as if everybody knew that. "They've just never seen such a beautiful princess before." The girl chuckled, and Duvaine blinked with a frown.

"Stop it Fovi. You're going to get into trouble." Duvaine warned, not wanting anybody to hear.

"Psh, no I'm not. I'm three years older than you, which means I can't get in trouble." Fovi said smugly. "I'm practically an adult."

"I don't think so..." The girl's voice trailed off quietly.

Fovi yawned enormously, and snuggled deeper into the blankets as the cold night air began to waft through the curtains. Duvaine knew she would fall asleep quickly now that she had released all her thoughts.

"G'night... D'vaine..." Fovi slurred, eyes closing slowly as she drifted off into sleep. It wasn't soon after that Duvaine could hear light snores coming from her friend.

"Goodnight Fovi." She whispered to the dark room.

I had this posted a while ago, but I hated it. So, here's the new and improved version! Enjoy!

Read and Review! I may have chapter one posted sometime tonight!