Chapter One

Tick, tock, tick tock rang the clock. It was the only thing keeping Lilith from running upstairs to her mother's side. She was only about seven years old and they told her she was still too young to experience what childbirth was like. Normally, she wouldn't have argued but every since she had that dream about a month ago, she had been worried about her new sibling. She could see it all in her head, as if it was happening right at that moment:

The air was cold and everything in the night sky had disappeared except the moon. It was tainted a bloody red and horrifyingly ugly creatures loomed in the darkness. Looking down, she could see that she was wearing a white dress long dress. I never liked the color white, she thought, it never matched my black hair and blue eyes. A sound of a shrieking baby caught her attention and without thinking she started to run towards the cries.

Laying on a bed of grass was a beautiful baby boy with blonde hair and eyes so green you would think they were precious jewels. She came closer to the boy and his crying seem to stop for a moment and he looked up at her with wonder. A small smile formed his face and he reached out to her. A warmth filled in her heart and she went to pick him up when suddenly the ground fell from under her and she was falling into the abyss.

The next thing she saw were flames everywhere. Buildings burning, dead bodies stacked in piles being burned. The sickening smell of burning flesh filled her nostrils and she resisted the urge to gag. Again, the baby was crying only this time he could be seen up on the steps of the castle. It was then Lilith realized that this was all the Kingdom of Spades. All the faces she saw were friends and family she held close to her. They all perished in the flames. It was all too much. She couldn't bear the thought of all this happening. She forced herself to concentrate on the boy and only him.

The demons were closing in on the baby and I fought hard to try and get to him. Why were they after that baby? What was so important? She didn't know, nor did she care at the moment. "Don't you dare touch him!" she growled at the demons. She felt her arms tingle but ignored the feeling as she raced up the steps and lifted the baby up into her arms. She curled around him protectively and shut her eyes. If this was the end, she wasn't about to let those demons hurt this precious child.

The scent of lavender caused her eyes to reopen and she looked around only to see fields of the flower that spanned out into the horizon. She looked down and the boy was sleeping but shock ran through her as she noticed her body. Her arms were covered in a black design only forged from magick. It seemed to decorate her entire body, since she could see it on her legs as well.

A small chorus of voices started to whisper in her mind. All different yet the same. Keep him safe until it is time. You must protect him they cried out to her. "But how? How can I protect him? I'm only a little girl! she said, tearings running down her face. "We will guide you. You will know when the time comes."

A scream broke her away from reliving that nightmare. Ever since, she had the sinking suspicion that it was her brother in the dream. He looked different from her family and she didn't know why. She was smart for her age so she went around trying to find different stories through the kingdom. She came to a sinking conclusion that she hoped was wrong. That her brother was to be born as part of the Spades royalty and they he would be in great danger if they stayed where they were.

"Lilith! Lilith! Come quickly!" cried the nurse maid. Without a second thought she ran upstairs and into her mother's room. Her mother was asleep on the bed, it was then she realized the screaming was a baby's cry and that she completely missed it. The nursemaid was smiling affectionately at something in the baby crib and she beckoned Lilith forward.

Slowly, she made her way to the crib and looked in. A baby with blonde hair like the sun was lying in the crib. His eyes were closed and she prayed to the Heavens that this wasn't the child in her dream. "I'll be back. I must go inform your father." she said. Lilith said nothing to this and continued to stare at the baby. Once the maid was gone, his little eyes opened to show his beautiful emerald green eyes,... and she knew.

Something was going to happen that will shatter her whole life in this small part of the Kingdom Of Spades. Something that would caused, what she believed, the Queens of the past to send her a message. One that said a great evil will befall this Kingdom and their goal is the magic that lives in this land. One that not even the Jack could protect him from. She would have to protect him until the time was right to reveal that he was part of the royal line. Only one thing left to check.

She carefully unrolled the blankets on the baby and saw the Mark of Spades plainly over his heart. Somehow, this surprised her more than anything. So, my brother is supposed to be the Queen of Spades? No wonder he looks so different from us. she thought.

A faint sound could be heard from behind her and she quickly put the blankets back on the baby. "Lilith is that you?" said a faint voice. "Yes, mother." she answered turning to face her. "Ah, I see you've met your baby brother. Have you come up with a name yet?" she asked. A moment of silence passed before she spoke. "His name will be Arthur. Arthur Kirkland.