Chapter 1: Protector

I...I...I have done things, terrible things. For these things, no one has ever wanted to accept me.

When I was young, one hundred and twenty-two years old, just after I reached puberty, I began experiencing extreme mood swings and began having trouble following any instructions given me, a behavior that became worse when given an order by any male and even more so when I was near my mother.

My parents married young, at the wish of their parents. Despite both being younger children, it was considered a good match as my mother's older sister was only Blood and Deera, my mother, wore the White. While both my mother and father were from very minor branches of the ancient Hundred Families, my father, Kian Dante, was from a very wealthy aristo merchant family, quite a catch for my mother.

From what little information I have been able to gather, I have found that, contrary to most arranged marriages, only my mother cheated. My father tried to make the marriage work, and was faithful to Deera. I didn't have to be told what she did, I saw it often enough as I was growing up. She paraded her lovers around as if they were trophies, cuckolding my father in front of all the aristos in Hayll. I never understood why Kian put up with her infidelity until he sat down with me after I came home from yet another trip, having spent the time trying to find answers about myself.

"Kyrie," he said, lifting a crystal wineglass filled with an old white. I had vanished mine and refilled the glass with beer. "I'm sure you have a few questions for me, true?"

"Why did you put up with Deera's shit for so long?" I demanded. He was silent for a long time, gazing at the pale liquid in his glass. When he answered, his voice was soft and full of sadness.

"I loved Deera very much," he finally said. "But we were married very young, and against our wills. I understood her revulsion towards the situation and let her do as she wished. It was not so much that she wanted to hurt me as she was seeking to fill some empty space in herself. I understood that and because I did, I knew why she rebelled."

"But…" I stopped to organize my thoughts. "She was so…blatant about her affairs!"

"Deera thought that by being unfaithful she could provoke me into divorcing her. Which, obviously, didn't work."

I thought a lot about what he said over the next few years, but I could not accept why Kian had been so easy going with her.

I had no remorse over my mother's death; she had gotten what she deserved. The only guilt I felt was when I saw how much it hurt Kian. I had done it to protect the only person who understood me, who loved me unconditionally, so the guilt I felt was minor compared to the satisfaction I felt in ridding our family of her. However, when I removed her and, in doing so made sure my beloved sister would be safe, I drove away the only person who loved me…

It was a bright spring day, perfect for skipping classes and exploring the forest near our home. I spent the morning in the woods, relishing the silence and peace, where no one yelled at me or resented my existence. When the sun was high, I returned home, hungry and eager to find my sister and drag her outside.

I heard the raised voices as I approached our two-story brick townhouse. Deera and Kaeterine Rose, my sister, were often at each other's throats, as Deera thought Kaetie Rose should be more than perfect, as if to make up for my failings. My Kaetie Rose resented Deera's meddling, she felt Deera should have no say in our lives, as Deera had abandoned any pretense of being wife and mother and was rarely at home, appearing only when she either needed money or was between lovers.

"You are a lazy excuse for a witch!" Deera was screaming as I passed through the front door. I winced as glass shattered. Following Kaetie Rose's angry scent, I found them facing off in the craft room. Kaetie Rose was facing the door, fists clenched, gold eyes flashing as she faced off with Deera. She was so beautiful, my Kaetie Rose, as perfect as a china doll, small with soft golden skin and raven hair that hung to her waist in straight sheets. Her face was that of an angel, and I loved to watch the expressions she could produce. She was my lifeline, the only person in the Realm who cared for me as me, and did not think I was some kind of abomination.

"At least I'm not a whore, spreading my thighs for any man who looks at me. Oh, wait, you are not a whore, whores are paid for sex. You are a worthless slut and I never want to see you again!" I stifled a laugh and leaned against the doorjamb, watching with amusement. Kaetie Rose was very flamboyant in her anger and I knew she would not do anything stupid like attack Deera. But their arguments were always fun to watch.

"Shut your mouth, you stupid bitch!" Deera screamed. "You are…"

"I hope you rot in Hell," Kaetie Rose sneered. "Go back to your lovers and your lies, you aren't welcome here. Wait, I forgot, your lover kicked you out! What happened, you weren't a good fuck? I'll…"

Her words were cut off as Deera's hand smacked her across the face. Her head snapped back and she fell to the floor.

Everything seemed to slow down, my vision went red and I zeroed in on Deera, who raised her hand to strike my sister again. I cannot tell you what exactly happened, but I was at the killing edge in less than a second. My skin registered the temperature plummeting, but I did not feel the cold. I did not even realize I had made a Descent until the power of the Sapphire filled me.

Before the second blow fell, I was standing before Kaetie Rose and caught Deera's fist. I twisted upward and forced her to her knees. I kept up the pressure until the bones cracked. Deera's cry of pain was music to my ears.

"Never raise your hand against my sister again," I snarled, using my Jewels to strengthen my grip. I mercilessly broke every bone in her hand, taking extra pleasure in grinding the metacarpals to tiny bits. "Never."

"You bitch!" Deera screamed, tears flowing down her cheeks to mingle with snot. "You damn son of a bitch! My hand! Kian! KIIIAN!"

A sadistic pleasure filled me as I snapped a Sapphire shield around the room. There was not anyone in the Province who could match my Birthright Jewel, and only a few in the Territory of Hayll. I had no qualms about leaving off a sound shield. Let the bitch scream.

"Yes, scream," I laughed as I caught her other hand and proceeded to crush those fingers to dust. "Scream; no one can help you."

"Just wait, I'll make sure you are broken so hard you won't even be able to do basic craft," she sobbed. I laughed and pulled her close, leaning down so my face was inches away from hers.

"I'd like to see you try, bitch."

"Valkyrie, stop!"

I jerked back, dropping Deera. Kaetie Rose had gotten to her feet and was watching me with wide, frightened eyes. I backed away from the whimpering, crying woman on the floor, wrestling to get my temper leashed again, fighting the urge to destroy the thing that was frightening my sister…me.

"Kaetie, baby, I…"

"That's enough, Valkyrie." Her face was horrified and her scent drenched with fear, but her voice was calm and collected. I clung to it, allowed her gentle tone and firm words to engulf me and leash me again. "You have done enough, Sister. I am alright. Leave her."

"I…" Shuddering, I forced myself to release my power and step away from the killing edge. When I had myself under control, I stepped over Deera and gently touched her face, running my thumb over the angry, red handprint. Kaetie Rose flinched, but she held her ground, allowed me to touch her. I needed the contact desperately, needed to know she was alright.

"She hurt you," I whispered, hating how childlike my voice sounded but unable to do anything about it. "I should have protected you."

"You didn't know what she was thinking," she soothed, lifting herself to the tips of her toes to kiss my forehead. I started shaking, the full import of what I had done hitting me. I glanced at Deera's whimpering form and fought the urge to gag.

"I…I…"

"BITCHES!"

Deera's shout shocked me and I whirled, just in time to catch whatever spell she shot at us. I gasped as my own arm snapped and instantly I was at the killing edge again. I snapped a shield around Kaetie Rose and myself and tore into Deera's mind, smashing her inner walls to bits and filling her mind with Sapphire power until t burned and she was burned out. Then I ripped her heart out and burned it with witchfire. When I knew she was dead and burned out, her Jewels empty, I threw a ball of witchfire at her and threw up another shield around the burning corpse. As the smell of burning flesh filled the room, the part of me that made me a Warlord Prince howled in triumph.