Authors Note: this is my first LWD fanfic, hope everyone likes it!! the prologue is kinda vague (ok, REALLY vague), but the ideas r still forming in my head, and i'm sure it'll start to make more sense soon. the prologue has nothing to do with derek or casey, but it will soon. so yea hope u all enjoy my attempt at a fantasy fic!!!!! and PLEEEEEEASE review, if i dont get any reviews, i wont continue with the story. so yea, R&R!!!!

Disclaimer: i do not own life with derek or any of the characters. the only thing i own is he plot of this story.

Prologue

The moon glimmered overhead on the inky blue sky, tiny white twinkling stars surrounding it. A hyena howled from somewhere in the midst of the dark, uninviting forest, as the woman with long, thick brown hair and sharp green eyes made her way, via horseback, through the dense forest to the little cottage. She stopped in front of the cottage and shivered, wondering why her sister had asked her to meet her there. It was far away from the palace in the East Woods, and everyone who valued their life knew that the East Woods were the most dangerous woods in the kingdom of Drovin. Dangerous animals roamed the forests, as did creatures that could scar one's mind forever. Yet Zarria had insisted that she meet her there.

"What is it that you need to talk to me so urgently about?" she had asked Zarria earlier that morning.

"I must talk with you about something that can only be said when the sun has set," Zarria had answered vaguely.

"Well, whatever it is, surely you can talk to me right here in the palace," she had insisted, but Zarria had been unusually stubborn that morning. Usually she was very passive.

"No. Meet me at the cottage in the East Woods."

"The East Woods?!" She had never set foot in the East Woods before.

"Yes, the East Woods. Don't worry," Zarria added. "Nothing will happen. All that mythological crap about the place must have gotten to you. The East Woods are the most beautiful woods in Drovin. Now, listen. Do not tell anybody that you are meeting me there, as I have something to show you that doesn't require anyone else. Just enter the woods. Make the first left and you shall see a rundown old cottage whose windows are shattered. It is old, yet harmless. I will be there, waiting for you."

"Er…all right…" she had answered, feeling uneasy. And now, here she was, in front of the cottage, tying the old horse against a nearby pole. The horse whined, as it sensed the dark forces engulfing the cottage. "Don't you worry, darling," she whispered to it. "I shall be back before you even know it. Just stay, okay?" She then walked up towards the cottage and knocked three times on the old wooden door.

"Who is it?" she could hear Zarria's voice coming from somewhere inside the dark old cottage.

"It is me, dear sister, Izella," she answered nervously.

"Enter," Zarria's voice came out as harsh and raspy.

Shivering under her brown cloak, Izella entered the cottage. "Zarria?" she called through the vast darkness. "Where are you?" As though by magic, a lantern flickered on. Zarria was sitting on an old armchair, holding the lantern, a murderous look etched on her otherwise beautiful features. "Zarria, I am here, as promised. No one knows I am here. They all think I am at Cousin Leanne's. Now…what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Zarria smirked as she slowly stood to her feet. She was a good head taller than Izella was. She had long, thin, jet black hair and the darkest eyes Izella had ever seen. Her skin was flawless, yet pale. Her demeanor was expressionless, except for her eyes, which portrayed pure loathe. "Zarria," Izella gasped, feeling oddly overwhelmed by the look on her sister's face as she took a step back.

"Izella," Zarria said with a cold laugh. "Do take a seat, darling!" she added, motioning towards the rickety armchair. Izella stumbled towards the chair and sat down. "Yes, indeed, I have something interesting to discuss with you," Zarria continued as she towered before Izella, still grinning maliciously. "Something terribly interesting. It is called love." Izella looked up at Zarria, blinking confusedly.

"Whatever do you mean?" she whispered. Zarria's expression changed, as hurt shone in her eyes.

"Love," her voice trailed off. "I wish I knew what it is like to be loved."

"Zarria, don't be ridiculous! You are loved dearly at home! Father and Mother adore you, you mean more to me than anything else in the world---" Izella began, but Zarria cut her short.

"Don't you dare lie to me!" she cried angrily. "DON'T YOU DARE LIE TO ME!" Izella stared up at her sister, taken aback by the spontaneous yelling from Zarria's part. Zarria had never shouted at her before.

"Why do you sound so…angry?" she hissed. Zarria laughed bitterly. "Angry? That is an understatement! I am traumatized! Traumatized by the very fact that my own family doesn't give a damn about me! Traumatized by the fact that my parents don't care about anything if it doesn't involve you! Traumatized by the fact that no one in this world would care if I DIED! You know why? Because Izella is the perfect one! She has perfect hair, a perfect body, perfect EVERYTHING! So, as you can see, I am neglected ALL THE TIME! Do you know what it feels like?" Zarria was hysterical at this point, sobbing fanatically. "Do you know what it feels like to know that no one in this goddamned world cares about you? DO YOU? Do you know what it feels like to be christened: 'The ugly princess' next to your sister? Do you know what it feels like to have people mock you and jeer at you because they think you are mentally retarded, despite your desperate attempts at making friends?Do you know what it feels like to have your own sister MAKE YOU FEEL TERRIBLE about your own existence?"

Izella slowly stood up and put her arms around her shaky sister. She had never known Zarria had been carrying this burden for quite some time. She had always thought of her sister as a happy girl, satisfied with just about everything. "I care about you. If I didn't, would I be here?" Izella said, her tone soothing, as she hugged Zarria tightly. "You are jealous of me. Don't be! You are a wonderful character. I will help you make friends and---"

"STOP!" screeched Zarria, hyperventilating profoundly. "That is not enough! I want more from you! I want the man you are madly in love with, the man who recently proposed to you!" Izella jumped back, startled.

"You mean Jon? You---?"

"Yes," cried Zarria. "I have loved him far before you even set your damned eyes on him! I have always loved him! And now, thanks to you…" she broke off, collapsing on the armchair, her head in her hands, her shoulders sagging.

"Darling," whispered Izella, ashen by the news. "I never knew…or else, surely…"

"No," Zarria looked up coldly. "You wouldn't have done a freaking think if you had known earlier! You get everything, don't you, Izella? You get Jon as a husband, you get to have everyone dote you…you get to rule the nearby kingdom of Allia once you get married to Jon…perfect life…"

"I do not have a perfect life," Izella said firmly. "If I did, my sister would be happy." Zarria jumped to her feet.

"You know what would make me happy?" she asked quietly.

"What?" Izella asked, curiously.

"I would be so happy if you were to drop dead before my eyes, this very minute." Izella stared at Zarria, in a state of utter shock. She had never heard anyone, let alone her own sister, say that to her before.

"I…" she broke off, but collected herself very quickly. "You are being simply ridiculous. Come, let us go home and---"

"Yes, indeed. I would be so happy if you could just die. I wish you could! I want you to die! But you wouldn't commit suicide for me, would you?"

"Zarria," Izella said warningly. "Don't you dare---"

"But I can take care of that," Zarria said, laughing wickedly, as she turned around, whipped out a sword from what seemed to be out of nowhere, and turned back around so that she was facing Izella, the weapon pointed directly at her chest.

"Zarria," Izella whimpered, backing away. "Please, don't---"

"Not so happy, now, are we?" Zarria exclaimed. "So now who's in the weaker position, me or you? The answer is YOU! I have been dying to do this for eons but never got the chance. I will finally have the privilege of seeing you DIE before my very eyes!"

"Zarria, please," groaned Izella. But it was too late. With a surge of energy, Zarria thrust the sword into Izella's chest. With a scream, Izella fell to the ground, quivering in pain, her eyes wide with terror. Zarria stood before her sister, watching her slowly die and wither away from existence. With a final gasp of breath, Izella stopped moving, for she had lost too much blood. Zarria burst into laughter. "YES! I killed you! I didn't want to kill you, but I had to! Hopefully, you'll forgive me!" Zarria screamed, between her icy laughter. Outside, all was still. The hyena was still howling triumphantly, encouraged by Zarria's howling. The moon was hidden behind grey clouds. The sky was suddenly overcast. An owl flew off into the distance, as the night's atmosphere gave it the impression of impending death…

there ya have it, the prologue. remember to review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!