I sat near the window, my newborn daughter fast asleep in my arms. The leaves were blowing in the slight breeze as clouds rolled in, obscuring the sunlight. I felt a hand on my shoulder and nearly jumped out of my skin until I looked up and saw it was my brother, Alastar, standing behind me. He was tall, taller than me and my sister even though we were older than he was. Alastar looked much like our father in his younger years even though he inherited our mothers red hair and he shared the same blue-green eyes as our sister.
"Seraphina, you realize that Mother has been calling you for the last five minutes," he said, a small smile on his face.
"I did not hear her," I admitted sheepishly. Putting my daughter in the cradle that was placed by my feet, I stood up and drew my shawl tighter around myself. Alastar sat down in my place and said that he would watch his niece. Thanking him, I walked out of the parlor, my heels clacking against the hardwood floors of the castle.
It was built of stone, the wooden double doors leading to the outside shut tight as the natural light shone in from the windows. The maids had drawn open the curtains earlier that morning. I allowed my gaze to wander, mostly focusing on the paintings that adorned the walls. Someone cleared their throat and I stopped in my tracks. Standing a few feet away was my mother, Karena. Her long, red hair was down and loose, hanging over her shoulders as several strands were gathered and braided, tied together behind her head. She was a slim woman of average height with tan skin. Her light purple dress was almost the exact same color as her eyes, which were narrowed.
"Seraphina, you must stop daydreaming." She didn't raise her voice but her tone was stern. There was a reason why she was the queen and this was it. Everyone knew better than to argue with her, and that included my father.
I bowed my head towards her. "I am sorry, Mother."
Her stern expression softened as she sighed. "It is not your fault. All of us are tense and worried. Your father and the others should have come home by now."
The others. I knew she was referring to my husband, Liam, and brother-in-law, Andrew. I was about to say something until everything began spinning. It felt like I was falling and I felt someone grab my arms. Shaking my head, I saw my sister, Iris, was the one who grabbed me. "Sit down." She said, guiding me over to a nearby chair. "You must take it easy, sister."
"I know, Iris." I said. I knew why she was worried. I had just given birth a couple of days ago and I was still weak from it. The sound of giggling reached my ears and I noticed Alastar had made his way over to us, his niece cradled in his arms.
"Someone woke up from her nap already," he said, placing her in my arms. I cradled her close to my chest and she reached up, grabbing a lock of my hair in her tiny fist. Smiling, I leaned down and kissed her forehead. The doors creaked as they opened and all of us looked up in time to see two young men walk in. The first appeared to be in his mid-to-late twenties, but the power that was radiating from him suggested that he was much older than that and he was tall, taller than my brother. He was pale skinned, making it seem as if he didn't see the sun very much. He also had the same whitish/silver and reddish-gold eyes that I did.
The other was my age. He was of average height and build, his messy black hair hanging over his eyes which were a dark blue, the same color of the night sky. His face lit up when he saw me sitting there with our daughter in my arms. Liam came over and knelt down in front of us. He gently placed his hand on my cheek and I leaned into his touch. He looked down and smiled when he saw her.
"What is her name?" He asked as I handed her to him.
"I did not name her yet," I said, folding my hands on my lap. "Since you were not here for her birth, I thought you would to be the one to do it."
He nodded. "Sierra," he said, gently rubbing his thumb against her cheek. "Her name will be Sierra."
I smiled at them until I saw father walk over to Iris. I knew something was wrong when I saw her expression. "What happened? Where's Andrew?" She asked.
Father put his hands on her shoulders, his face grim. "I'm sorry, Iris. We were in the middle of battle and when an attack was coming, Andrew disappeared. We haven't found him yet but we're going to keep looking."
Iris stepped back and put her face in her hands as she sobbed. Alastar went over to her and hugged her, whispering something in her ear. Liam put Sierra back in my arms and turned to my father. "Lord Ezekial, I will help join the search for Andrew."
"Are you sure you want to to do this, Liam?" Father asked, his hands folded behind his back. "You have a wife and a child now. Your duty should be to stay here with them."
Liam nodded. "I know, sir, but Andrew is a close friend. I was there but I was unable to do anything."
Father was about to argue but I stood up and shook my head. He sighed and nodded. "I understand. You may go."
Liam turned around and kissed Sierra on her forehead before doing the same to me. "I will return home as soon as I can, Sera."
I smiled, not surprised that he was still calling me by that nickname. "We'll be waiting, my love." He turned on his heel and walked out, the doors closing tight behind him.
Dinner that night was quiet, neither of us saying throughout the entire meal. As the maids were cleaning up, we all decided to retire to our chambers early. Sierra had fallen asleep shortly after Liam left and I put her in her crib, gently tucking her blanket around her. "Goodnight, princess," I whispered. Changing into my nightgown, I slipped under the covers and laid down, facing the glass doors that led out to my balcony. The dark sky was full of stars and the moon shone, a perfect circle overhead. Closing my eyes, I drifted off to sleep.
I was awoken by the sound of Sierra crying. Sitting up, I got out of my bed and went over to her, picking her up in my arms. I gently rocked her and that's when I smelled it. Smoke. Holding Sierra tight against me, I hurried to my door and threw it open. I yelled and jumped back as the flames entered my room. The fire wouldn't hurt me but it would kill Sierra. I ripped the bottom of my nightgown and soaked it in the water basin. Silently glad that the maids didn't empty it that morning, I wrapped it around my daughter and made sure that she wasn't exposed to the flames or smoke.
"Iris! Alastar!" I screamed as loud as I could for my younger siblings but there was no response. Fear and dread washed over me as I ran, barefoot, to my parents chambers. I grabbed the door handle and tried to pull it open but the door wouldn't move. Gritting my teeth, I slammed my shoulder into the door even though it hurt. I did it again and this time I heard the hinges start to creak. Backing up a little, I used all my strength and slammed my body into the doors one more time. They opened!
I staggered into the room, my eyes watering from all the smoke. Sierra started crying again and that's when I heard Father's voice. "Who's there?!"
"Father!" I yelled, maneuvering my way through the flames and debris. There, I could see them. Mother was kneeling on the floor, her hand over her mouth as she coughed. Father was next to her, keeping her against him. "Father, Mother, we must get out of here!"
Father looked up at me and for a moment, I thought I could see fear in his eyes. "No. Take Sierra and run!"
"Father, please!" I begged him, taking another step towards him.
"I SAID RUN, SERAPHINA!" He roared and raised his hand and the flames in front of me reached towards the ceiling for a moment. I stared at him in horror for a moment. His expression softened and he picked up something that was wrapped in a black cloth and threw it to me. "It is too late for us, my daughter. Our people will need you to guide them one day. I am proud of the woman you have become, Seraphina Aradia Williams."
My eyes widened as I caught it and I could recognize it even though I couldn't see it. "FATHER, NO!" I screamed. He smiled one last time as the smoke became thicker and the flames obscured everything in sight.
