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Prinz der Dämonen

Part One

Metamorphosis

I

The Colossus

Thera

You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I'm solid, hey, I'm steady, hey I'm true right down to the core
And I will always do my duty
No matter what the price
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice
Oh, and I don't want to die for you
But if dyin's asked of me
I'll bear that cross with honor
Because freedom don't come free

American Soldier - - Toby Keith

The war had been going on for too long. It began long before I was born. I do not think even my father, King O'Kelny, even knows the true reason the kingdoms of our world fell into chaos. He is a very straightforward and stubborn man. I would not go so far as to call him simple-minded, because he is very smart, but he is only a king, and royalty tend to not see the world through eyes of complete clarity and unbiased.

He has not shed his formal attire in exchange for plain clothing and walked the streets of out capital city. He has not been among the commoners, who are not 'common' at all. He does not see the complexity of their lives as I have. He was bred, as I was, to see them as ignorant peasants who would have trouble surviving without the constant needling of the kind.

Unlike my father I have had the courage to step outside the castle walls and I have seen their hearts. I have been shocked time and time again, because I was taught to believe that, too, but when you meet people like Willem - - the black smith - - this idea is easily shattered. He has seven children and sometimes goes hungry for days just so they may never have to feel that empty pain.

The nobles, especially my father, could never understand this because they have never had a hardship in their lives. I used to wonder how they missed the greatness and honor that lived inside many of our so-called peasants. Then I understood it must have been a matter of pride. For nobles to feel superior they must have someone to call inferior, so the poorer folk can never be considered to have the same kind of grandeur that we nobles have. Yet I have realized that true superiority comes from the depths of his heart, not from his change purse.

My father frustrates me when he judges in this manner. He does not even seem to want to move beyond the old stereotypes and stigmas. He is always talking about the new beginning he will create, the peace he wants to bring to our lands. He still does not see how harmful the ancient thinking is, how the old traditions will reach up and destroy us and any hope left.

Was it not our ancestors that started this who deadly charade in the first place? The 'cleansing' war they called it, a stupid mindless conflict that could have been avoided - - should have been avoided at all costs. The bloodshed has been great, so great that I am expecting to see a crimson river flow through middle lands very soon.

No one, as I have said before, really knows how this fight got started. There are many tales that sound of street gossip, but I will tell you one widely accepted that you may understand the reason for my own story.

Generations ago new beings began to arise from within the core of mankind. They possessed powers and traits that were considered inhuman in nature and were not befitting of gentle folk. As their populace grew they become known as freaks, abominations, the outsiders.

There are two sides and sometimes more to every story, as it is with this. Who struck first has been lost in years of lies, and misinformation, but the certainty is that there was a movement set forward to police these creatures. They looked at it as enslavement and eradication. Thus these beings, that seemed to have a kinship to the magical forces, fought back. In other accounts made the world a slaughterhouse with their mad ambushes.

Since then the struggle between us and them has grown. The debate is still raging. Defense or offense? Were they monsters who took it upon themselves to destroy humankind or were they just protecting their right to live a normal life? That, however should not be the real question. What we should wonder is this : what are they now?

I have not had the unfortunate luck to meet with many of these insurgents - - for that is all they are I believe - - but the ones I have seen have been nothing more than common thieves, assassins, and terrorists. If there are any good ones left they have disappeared off our radar. Some claim they want peace, but it is a high-held notion they are only trying to lull us into a false sense of security.

Still, the idea that peace could come between our races is a great dream, especially to one such as me, for all I want is for this to be over. I do not desire to see any more pain, any more death. I am tired of seeing weeping widows in the streets, and blood-bathed knights proclaiming glory, when in reality there is no true grace in death and murder.

Perhaps that is why I decided to visit him this day in the confines of our dungeon holding cells. One of the outsider prisoners was to be executed today on the charges of treason, high crimes against the crown, and thievery.

He had worked on the castle grounds doing hard labor for a while. He had always been kind to me and had treated me like any normal person, but with great respect. He had even prevented some very unseemly fellows from harming me on my way back from one of my excursions into the city. Not only that, but he had kept my secret, too.

Therefore it was a shock for me to learn this nice, gentle man was a spy for one of the most notorious and awful creatures to find his way into middle lands. The Prince of Demons.

We were unable to gather any information from him about the whereabouts of the devilishly sly and horrible marauder that had been terrorizing our kingdom for some time. I had heard he was fearsome and I could not understand why he kept all he knew about his fiend to himself. He only released his own secondary name: Colossus.

Perhaps I felt grateful for his silence in my own discretion and was returning the favor, or maybe it was my need to try and do something to stop his punishment from commencing today, that led me down to the dungeon. It was early when I made my presence known. The sun had only begun to peek over the eastern horizon. Being the King's daughter it was easy for me to get passed the guards. I stepped down carefully on the cold, damp, stone stairs, making sure my fine golden velvet dress was not dragging; father would have a fit if even a penny of his money was wasted.

I made my way down the long narrow corridor to find Colossus already awake. He was leaning back against the wall, appearing to be preparing for events of the day. His death. It saddened me. I did not want to see this man die.

I had pleaded with my father to spare him, but he was so angry of Colossus' silence that he refused me, saying the only way he would even consider relinquishing his sentence was to get something productive out of him. Otherwise we would make him an example as a traitor.

"Good morning." I said, my voice thick with unshed tears I had not noticed.

"Do not weep for me, my princess." He replied softly, revealing two bright blue eyes that carried an immeasurable amount of warmth and gentle affection. Despite his peril he still held no hatred toward me or my father. "When all is done you will know why I to do this."

"Foolishness!" I cried. "Please do not do this. I know you are a good man, I can see it! Why do you pledge your allegiance to such a monster!?"

"I pledge my allegiance to freedom. If that isn't worthy enough to fight for then I ask you tell me what is?" It was not a question, but a statement.

"Freedom! What are you talking about? You had freedom, you had a life here, why do you insist on this insanity?"

He shook his head. "You still do not understand. You cannot see that this is bigger than you or me, and much more important than my own single life."

I gaped at him. My god, he was so disillusioned! Suddenly he rose and came to the door. I knew he could have reached across to me and easily have choked the life from me, but I was unafraid. I knew he would never harm me. "If my life is to end then I ask that you do me a favor."

"Of course." I stammered. He would not let me save him, so the least I could do was carry out his wishes.

"Make sure my family gets this." He slipped a sealed letter into my hands. "It explains everything so that they will know. A messenger of ours will come to get it, and I ask that you allow her to pass safely."

"Yes. I will do this for you." I stuck my hand through to take one of his. I smiled sadly, but gently. "I only inquire one thing. May I know your real name?"

He looked surprised, but it quickly melted into a smile of his own. "Piotr," he said softly, "Piotr Rasputin."

I took a deep breath and bowed my head respectfully. "Thank you, Piotr. I wish circumstances would have been different."

"Perhaps one day they will."

I did not understand what he meant, but I had no time to think on it. The sun had risen completely and I heard the guards coming to take him away. A tear rolled down my cheek as I gazed into Piotr's eyes.

"Farwell, my friend, may the Fates find you in their good graces."

This is the first installment of "Prinz der Damonen." In a way it is more than just a story. It's a look into the ideas of freedom and life. It's set in a fantasy world, an alternate universe. (A digi-cookie to anyone who knows who King O'Kelny is, but by his name I don't think its that hard to figure out.) Each chapter will switch point of view. This one was of course Thera. The next will be Kurt.

I made Princess Thera as an in-between character. She sees the "outsiders", mutants and humans in an "us-them" situation. As the story progresses she will come to see the truth and perhaps change her outlook. Well, I'll let the reader take from it what they see. I want it to have depth and meaning. Hopefully it will. I cannot even begin to describe the point I am trying to make in the story.

Next Chapter: Execution at Dawn. What will happen to Piotr? And how will the appearance of assassins after the king effect the outcome?