~Chapter 1~Being Alone~
I woke up not knowing where I was. I screamed.
"LEXI!"I screamed at the top of my lungs. No answer. I put my head down and began thinking that I would never see her again.
I was wandering and I thought I thought that I saw Lexi and her mare, Forever More, walking. I thought that they had found me. I was about to call out to her when a band of Warlords seemed to come out of the blue. I hadn't heard them make a sound, not so much as a broken twig, they had been waiting for us. Alexian's mouth dropped open, I could see the recognition in her eyes. I turned to run to Alex, but as soon as I got my feet moving one grabbed me.
"RUN, LEXI! RUN LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW!" I yelled, crying from fear that the next time that I saw my cousin we would be demon dead.
"Ran Alex, ran like there no tomorrow!' I was crying a fear of that my cousin would meet me on the other side to quick.
"If we can get a hold of them there will be no tomorrow for them," a Tiger Eye Jeweled Warlord sneered. They moved in closer to me, making escape impossible.
"BEATRICE!" Alexian screamed as she rounded the corner of the path in front of me. I lunged against the Warlord that held me, watching Forever stop mid step and I felt the Gray Jeweled shield go up around Alexian.
"NO!" Alexian screamed as she clawed desperately at her throat. She pulled off a necklace and threw it as hard as she could towards me. As the necklace skidded slightly across the dirt I knew that it was going to be the last time I saw my Lexi, my sis, the only thing I had left to live for in this life. It was unfair, they had taken my parents and now they were taking the one last thing that I had left to hold on to, be my crutch in life. I didn't even know why they were doing this, why they were ruining my life and the lives of the ones I loved. Forever spun around and took off with Alex, taking her to what I hoped was safety.
A Warlord bent down and sneered in my face, "If your mother had never had you, you wouldn't be in this mess, little Elf." His grin was repulsive, "There won't be any more StarDragons when we're done with you and your cousin, kid." He picked me up by the scruff of my neck and held me so that my feet dangled a few inches above the ground. He laughed, a horrible sound, and I prayed to the Goddess of Elven religion to save Alexian and me. He threw me down, disgusted; as I fell I reached out and grabbed the necklace. The necklace was simple, the crescent moon of our family in dark blue with a silver star connected to it. It meant a lot to me, that value made me clench my hand together so that I would never lose it.
I stood, an Elf full of dignity, not a bruise in my ego, and a warrior's fierceness in my eyes. A Warlord ran straight at me with a sword drawn and raised over his head; the sunlight reflected off the blade, making it look more like a decoration than a weapon. I spread my arms and said goodbye to my cruel life...
~* * *~
I woke up, disoriented. I pressed my hand against the surface I was laying on. It was a bed, granted not a luxurious one, but nonetheless it was a bed.
"Is this heaven...?" I muttered. "If it is, it feels just like home." I looked around slowly, taking in my surroundings. There was no one there. As I observed the house I was in I felt somehow stronger than I had before. I glanced to the nightstand beside the bed, a note.
Alexian had taught me how to read not long before I lost her, luckily. I picked up the note and read aloud to myself, sounding out words I didn't know.
Child,
Rest, eat, and drink as much as you can and you want. The room is already paid for at the front desk. No one will ask questions about your being here. You have five months to rest up here, and then I will come and see how you're doing. There are some clothes in the wardrobe for you, and I've left some clothes that should fit you. Don't hesitate to use the weapons I've left for you on the chair in the corner. In the mean time, lay low, child. I have sent someone to look for you. I'll be watching you from afar, child.
Angel
Angel, I wondered. "Whatever you say...Angel." I shook my head in disbelief and to get my silver-gray hair out of my face. "As long as I find my cousin and kill the Warlords that have ruined my life." I laid gently back down on the bed and drifted back to sleep.
~***~
Five months passed rather uneventfully. As promised this... Angel, had left me clothes and an assortment of weapons, ranging from a sword, a bow with a quiver full of arrows, to several knives, and a crossbow that would fit nicely on my arm. What fascinated me was the shield with the StarDragon family crescent moon printed on it and all done by hand.
One morning, just over five moths at the apartment of sorts, I put on the crossbow. It hadn't been that long, but it had been long enough for my arm to grow into the bow. As I adjusted it I noticed a crescent moon with a knife laying over it on my hand. I immediately took off the crossbow and ran to the adjoining bathroom to try to wash it off. I scrubbed and scrubbed at it until I had gotten my skin raw. It was printed onto my skin, there was no way to get it off, it was even more than skin deep.
Alexian had once told me that the eyes were the portals to the soul. The soul made up the Self that all Blood dearly protected; many Inner Barriers protected the Self. Alexian had said that the soul hides nothing and reveals nothing, unless you know what to look for. She had been gifted in that, she'd always been able to tell whenever someone was lying. She had never gotten the chance to teach me that, but I had no problem living without it. I figured that this...tattoo was just like the eyes, a portal to my soul. I still didn't like the idea of having something that could so easily identify me that was so visible. But Alexian had taught me to accept myself for who I was and not what others wanted me to be.
I walked slowly back out into the apartment living room and sheathed my knives, pulled on my quiver and attached both bows to it, and belted the sword to my side. The owner of the apartment had been to see me earlier today and my time here was up. I packed up what little I had and vanished it before leaving the place I had called home for the last five months. I smiled half-heartedly at the receptionist at the entrance to the building and left my key on her desk.
I threw my shoulders back, and with all the arrogance of a seasoned warrior, I waked out into the cruel world that I had avoided for so long. I knew that I could trust no one, not even the man called Angel, who had provided so well for me, and whomever he had sent to find me.
~***~
I was sitting on the steps to a shop, one that was nearly abandoned, watching for the Warlords that were looking for me. Ever since I lost Alexian I had been on my own, and that made me cautious. I never knew where I was going, half the time I didn't know where I had been, I didn't know what was waiting in my path. It was terrifying never knowing what roof... or tree... I would sleep under tonight, where my next meal was coming from, but most of all what was waiting for me around the next corner. Sometimes I had to steal to survive, I wasn't proud of it, but it had to be done. I had been known to get arrested just so that I would have a roof over my head. I had been adopted many times; so many that I didn't even remember the first couple.
I didn't glance up as a shadow settled over me. "Hello, are you okay?" a young man asked, his black hair was long enough to fall into his eyes as he bent over. He was tall and handsome, but weren't they all...?
I barely glanced up, "Yes, I'm fine." He watched me intently, giving me a look that indicated that he thought I was lying. I tucked my silver-gray hair behind my delicately pointed Elven ear. I tilted my head the rest of the way up so that my midnight blue eyes were locked onto his.
"What are you doing here? You look like you were going to jump that Warlord over there, or something," he shrugged, gesturing to a rather disgusting Warlord. "Is that what you were planning or something?" he asked when my eyebrow accidentally rose, indicating my intentions. He sat down beside me. I knew he was trying to be nice to me, something rare in Terreille, but I found him rather nosy. He was beginning to push all the wrong buttons...
I shrugged slowly, "I like sitting in one place for a while, watching people as they pass by and go on with their own meaningless lives. I wonder which ones are related, you know, Brothers and Sisters, true Blood. I guess that I'm looking for someone, someone that's important to me, and is supposed to be in my life." I gave a very vague answer, evading the actual question all together. I chewed lightly on my lower lip, "Before I go on with this... conversation, what is your name?" He smiled and tried to keep from laughing.
"It's Van (pronounced like Von, or Vaughn), may I ask you, what is yours?" He struck me as one of the aristo Blood, especially by the way he talks, I decided.
I thought of something that Alexian might have said. "Yes, you may," I replied with feigned innocence and sincerity. I knew he was waiting for my reply, but I wasn't sure if I was supposed to wait until he asked, or just answer right away. I didn't know the guy; he was a strange Warlord, if not a Warlord Prince, with my luck. I swallowed hard, "It's Celeste StarDragon."
He smiled again, "Cool. So, how long are you going to be here?" I took a deep breath and convinced myself that this was the last question I would answer.
"Why are you asking so many questions?" I asked, tilting my head slightly to the side to assure an answer... no one can resist a little girl who's as cute as me. "Are we playing 'Who can find the most out about who first?'"
Van shrugged lightly, "No. Why would you think that?"
I smacked my forehead against the heel of my palm. "Because no one is this nosy about anything here in Terreille. Usually when people look at me they just keep walking by, but no, not you. If you don't mind I'm going to the pub," I snapped as I rose and threw my shoulders back.
Van raised an eyebrow, "How old are you? Aren't you underage?"
I gave him my 'what, are you stupid' look before replying. "See, there you go again with all the damned questions. For your information, yes, I'm three. I can but there is always some drunk dumb ass that will buy a kid a drink. Bye." I stared down the steps towards the pub across the street, and he followed me. I paused outside the door wondering when this guy would leave me alone. I spun around and found myself looking up to meet Van's gold eyes. My stomach sunk, but I forced some steel into my spine. "What?"
"I don't want to leave you on bad terms," he replied shortly.
"What does it matter? It's not like it would make a difference, I'm not gonna see you again. I don't stay in one place."
"How do you know that?"
My voice took on a dangerous edge, "Because if I see you following me I will be forced to kill you."
He smiled evilly, "I think you like me."
I rolled my eyes and muttered several curses under my breath in Elven. "One... two... ten." I was ready to kill him. "Oh, that's right," I half yelled sarcastically, "I like you. You figured me out. Oh I want you, oh baby, oh baby!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
He whipped his head around, as if afraid that someone had heard me that wasn't supposed to. "Keep it down, would you?"
I had snapped and now I was on a roll. "Why? When someone likes someone else I've always believed that they should let the whole Goddess damned Tree..." I paused for a split second, "I mean town!" Now everyone was looking at me, I had only known of Elves to call their towns trees. There was a Warlord walking straight for me, mystery and rage filled his eyes.
I bolted. I ran as fast as my small legs could carry me. Alongside me I heard the even rhythm of a horse cantering up to me. The sound reminded me of Alexian, of Forever. But when I looked back over my shoulder it was Van on a black stallion. He pulled up the horse and reached down with his hand, one holding onto the silky black mane. His hand had the same symbol as mine, but at the moment it was unimportant. I grabbed on as tight as I could, he hauled me up and gave me a second to get a good grip so that I wouldn't fall. I held on as tight as I could and we raced through and out of the town.
I woke up not knowing where I was. I screamed.
"LEXI!"I screamed at the top of my lungs. No answer. I put my head down and began thinking that I would never see her again.
I was wandering and I thought I thought that I saw Lexi and her mare, Forever More, walking. I thought that they had found me. I was about to call out to her when a band of Warlords seemed to come out of the blue. I hadn't heard them make a sound, not so much as a broken twig, they had been waiting for us. Alexian's mouth dropped open, I could see the recognition in her eyes. I turned to run to Alex, but as soon as I got my feet moving one grabbed me.
"RUN, LEXI! RUN LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW!" I yelled, crying from fear that the next time that I saw my cousin we would be demon dead.
"Ran Alex, ran like there no tomorrow!' I was crying a fear of that my cousin would meet me on the other side to quick.
"If we can get a hold of them there will be no tomorrow for them," a Tiger Eye Jeweled Warlord sneered. They moved in closer to me, making escape impossible.
"BEATRICE!" Alexian screamed as she rounded the corner of the path in front of me. I lunged against the Warlord that held me, watching Forever stop mid step and I felt the Gray Jeweled shield go up around Alexian.
"NO!" Alexian screamed as she clawed desperately at her throat. She pulled off a necklace and threw it as hard as she could towards me. As the necklace skidded slightly across the dirt I knew that it was going to be the last time I saw my Lexi, my sis, the only thing I had left to live for in this life. It was unfair, they had taken my parents and now they were taking the one last thing that I had left to hold on to, be my crutch in life. I didn't even know why they were doing this, why they were ruining my life and the lives of the ones I loved. Forever spun around and took off with Alex, taking her to what I hoped was safety.
A Warlord bent down and sneered in my face, "If your mother had never had you, you wouldn't be in this mess, little Elf." His grin was repulsive, "There won't be any more StarDragons when we're done with you and your cousin, kid." He picked me up by the scruff of my neck and held me so that my feet dangled a few inches above the ground. He laughed, a horrible sound, and I prayed to the Goddess of Elven religion to save Alexian and me. He threw me down, disgusted; as I fell I reached out and grabbed the necklace. The necklace was simple, the crescent moon of our family in dark blue with a silver star connected to it. It meant a lot to me, that value made me clench my hand together so that I would never lose it.
I stood, an Elf full of dignity, not a bruise in my ego, and a warrior's fierceness in my eyes. A Warlord ran straight at me with a sword drawn and raised over his head; the sunlight reflected off the blade, making it look more like a decoration than a weapon. I spread my arms and said goodbye to my cruel life...
~* * *~
I woke up, disoriented. I pressed my hand against the surface I was laying on. It was a bed, granted not a luxurious one, but nonetheless it was a bed.
"Is this heaven...?" I muttered. "If it is, it feels just like home." I looked around slowly, taking in my surroundings. There was no one there. As I observed the house I was in I felt somehow stronger than I had before. I glanced to the nightstand beside the bed, a note.
Alexian had taught me how to read not long before I lost her, luckily. I picked up the note and read aloud to myself, sounding out words I didn't know.
Child,
Rest, eat, and drink as much as you can and you want. The room is already paid for at the front desk. No one will ask questions about your being here. You have five months to rest up here, and then I will come and see how you're doing. There are some clothes in the wardrobe for you, and I've left some clothes that should fit you. Don't hesitate to use the weapons I've left for you on the chair in the corner. In the mean time, lay low, child. I have sent someone to look for you. I'll be watching you from afar, child.
Angel
Angel, I wondered. "Whatever you say...Angel." I shook my head in disbelief and to get my silver-gray hair out of my face. "As long as I find my cousin and kill the Warlords that have ruined my life." I laid gently back down on the bed and drifted back to sleep.
~***~
Five months passed rather uneventfully. As promised this... Angel, had left me clothes and an assortment of weapons, ranging from a sword, a bow with a quiver full of arrows, to several knives, and a crossbow that would fit nicely on my arm. What fascinated me was the shield with the StarDragon family crescent moon printed on it and all done by hand.
One morning, just over five moths at the apartment of sorts, I put on the crossbow. It hadn't been that long, but it had been long enough for my arm to grow into the bow. As I adjusted it I noticed a crescent moon with a knife laying over it on my hand. I immediately took off the crossbow and ran to the adjoining bathroom to try to wash it off. I scrubbed and scrubbed at it until I had gotten my skin raw. It was printed onto my skin, there was no way to get it off, it was even more than skin deep.
Alexian had once told me that the eyes were the portals to the soul. The soul made up the Self that all Blood dearly protected; many Inner Barriers protected the Self. Alexian had said that the soul hides nothing and reveals nothing, unless you know what to look for. She had been gifted in that, she'd always been able to tell whenever someone was lying. She had never gotten the chance to teach me that, but I had no problem living without it. I figured that this...tattoo was just like the eyes, a portal to my soul. I still didn't like the idea of having something that could so easily identify me that was so visible. But Alexian had taught me to accept myself for who I was and not what others wanted me to be.
I walked slowly back out into the apartment living room and sheathed my knives, pulled on my quiver and attached both bows to it, and belted the sword to my side. The owner of the apartment had been to see me earlier today and my time here was up. I packed up what little I had and vanished it before leaving the place I had called home for the last five months. I smiled half-heartedly at the receptionist at the entrance to the building and left my key on her desk.
I threw my shoulders back, and with all the arrogance of a seasoned warrior, I waked out into the cruel world that I had avoided for so long. I knew that I could trust no one, not even the man called Angel, who had provided so well for me, and whomever he had sent to find me.
~***~
I was sitting on the steps to a shop, one that was nearly abandoned, watching for the Warlords that were looking for me. Ever since I lost Alexian I had been on my own, and that made me cautious. I never knew where I was going, half the time I didn't know where I had been, I didn't know what was waiting in my path. It was terrifying never knowing what roof... or tree... I would sleep under tonight, where my next meal was coming from, but most of all what was waiting for me around the next corner. Sometimes I had to steal to survive, I wasn't proud of it, but it had to be done. I had been known to get arrested just so that I would have a roof over my head. I had been adopted many times; so many that I didn't even remember the first couple.
I didn't glance up as a shadow settled over me. "Hello, are you okay?" a young man asked, his black hair was long enough to fall into his eyes as he bent over. He was tall and handsome, but weren't they all...?
I barely glanced up, "Yes, I'm fine." He watched me intently, giving me a look that indicated that he thought I was lying. I tucked my silver-gray hair behind my delicately pointed Elven ear. I tilted my head the rest of the way up so that my midnight blue eyes were locked onto his.
"What are you doing here? You look like you were going to jump that Warlord over there, or something," he shrugged, gesturing to a rather disgusting Warlord. "Is that what you were planning or something?" he asked when my eyebrow accidentally rose, indicating my intentions. He sat down beside me. I knew he was trying to be nice to me, something rare in Terreille, but I found him rather nosy. He was beginning to push all the wrong buttons...
I shrugged slowly, "I like sitting in one place for a while, watching people as they pass by and go on with their own meaningless lives. I wonder which ones are related, you know, Brothers and Sisters, true Blood. I guess that I'm looking for someone, someone that's important to me, and is supposed to be in my life." I gave a very vague answer, evading the actual question all together. I chewed lightly on my lower lip, "Before I go on with this... conversation, what is your name?" He smiled and tried to keep from laughing.
"It's Van (pronounced like Von, or Vaughn), may I ask you, what is yours?" He struck me as one of the aristo Blood, especially by the way he talks, I decided.
I thought of something that Alexian might have said. "Yes, you may," I replied with feigned innocence and sincerity. I knew he was waiting for my reply, but I wasn't sure if I was supposed to wait until he asked, or just answer right away. I didn't know the guy; he was a strange Warlord, if not a Warlord Prince, with my luck. I swallowed hard, "It's Celeste StarDragon."
He smiled again, "Cool. So, how long are you going to be here?" I took a deep breath and convinced myself that this was the last question I would answer.
"Why are you asking so many questions?" I asked, tilting my head slightly to the side to assure an answer... no one can resist a little girl who's as cute as me. "Are we playing 'Who can find the most out about who first?'"
Van shrugged lightly, "No. Why would you think that?"
I smacked my forehead against the heel of my palm. "Because no one is this nosy about anything here in Terreille. Usually when people look at me they just keep walking by, but no, not you. If you don't mind I'm going to the pub," I snapped as I rose and threw my shoulders back.
Van raised an eyebrow, "How old are you? Aren't you underage?"
I gave him my 'what, are you stupid' look before replying. "See, there you go again with all the damned questions. For your information, yes, I'm three. I can but there is always some drunk dumb ass that will buy a kid a drink. Bye." I stared down the steps towards the pub across the street, and he followed me. I paused outside the door wondering when this guy would leave me alone. I spun around and found myself looking up to meet Van's gold eyes. My stomach sunk, but I forced some steel into my spine. "What?"
"I don't want to leave you on bad terms," he replied shortly.
"What does it matter? It's not like it would make a difference, I'm not gonna see you again. I don't stay in one place."
"How do you know that?"
My voice took on a dangerous edge, "Because if I see you following me I will be forced to kill you."
He smiled evilly, "I think you like me."
I rolled my eyes and muttered several curses under my breath in Elven. "One... two... ten." I was ready to kill him. "Oh, that's right," I half yelled sarcastically, "I like you. You figured me out. Oh I want you, oh baby, oh baby!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
He whipped his head around, as if afraid that someone had heard me that wasn't supposed to. "Keep it down, would you?"
I had snapped and now I was on a roll. "Why? When someone likes someone else I've always believed that they should let the whole Goddess damned Tree..." I paused for a split second, "I mean town!" Now everyone was looking at me, I had only known of Elves to call their towns trees. There was a Warlord walking straight for me, mystery and rage filled his eyes.
I bolted. I ran as fast as my small legs could carry me. Alongside me I heard the even rhythm of a horse cantering up to me. The sound reminded me of Alexian, of Forever. But when I looked back over my shoulder it was Van on a black stallion. He pulled up the horse and reached down with his hand, one holding onto the silky black mane. His hand had the same symbol as mine, but at the moment it was unimportant. I grabbed on as tight as I could, he hauled me up and gave me a second to get a good grip so that I wouldn't fall. I held on as tight as I could and we raced through and out of the town.