The Serpent and the Maiden Fair Chapter 1

Thirteen years ago, West Nubar* Castle

The screams and grunts of the Queen were heard all over the castle. She was now on the process of giving birth yet she decided to stay in the von Heinrich's castle instead of the Royal Palace. They were in the middle of war (she and her husband went into hiding as they were being hunted by his son's followers) and her son Phobos successfully usurped the throne and as what her visions of the future have predicted, she will die tonight, after childbirth with her husband and the von Heinrich household. Their only hope right now is the baby that she is carrying; the rightful heir to the Meridian throne. After another painful scream she sighed as she heard the loud cries of her new born baby. Too bad she won't be able to raise her yet how can she? After a few moments she'll die. She inhaled deeply, pain was all over her body and her lower half was covered with blood.

"Your majesty, it's a girl." The physician said while offering the baby to her. She glanced at the beautiful baby she just gave birth to, she was tempted to take her and cradle her in her arms but she pushed it away instead.

"Take her away." She said and turned her head away. Her friend Lady Agatha von Heinrich looked at her confused, as well as the physician and her handmaidens who were with her. "Take her. I- I can't bear to look at her after all of this." She cried. It was hard and painful and it crushed her heart as she can't bear to look at her daughter; her beloved daughter, her only hope and the future light of Meridian.

"But your highness..." Agatha said. Weira shook her head, her eyes filled with tears, she can't do it, she can't say goodbye to her daughter. Without any more questions, Lady Agatha went outside with her baby with the physicians and handmaidens, she was tempted to stop them and take the baby to hug and kiss her. She then turned to the other two people with her in the room; the captain of the guards. They bowed towards her before moving closer to the bed she is in.

"A-alborn, M-Miriadel. I give you the responsibility of protecting my daughter. B-bring her to a place where Phobos can't reach her." She reached the magical seal from her pocket and put it on the hands of Miriadel, who was also sobbing while kneeling in front of her. "Treat her as your child, and when the time comes, tell her the truth. She must save Meridian from her brother." She said in between pants. The two nodded and was about to go out when she grabbed Miriadel's arm.

"Take Avery with you. Take this to wipe her memory. She mustn't stay here; I don't want her to suffer at my son's hands. She must find a man worthy of her love." She said and gave them another vial that contains the Leryn solution, a potion used by their ancestor to wipe memories; it was for her goddaughter Avery, the girl who was promised to his son. With another nod, Miriadel and Alborn were gone and she was left sobbing and she blamed herself for the downfall of Meridian.

It was her fault that the kingdom was lost, she was the light of the country, the heart, the most powerful being yet she was not able to protect it.

She then heard a loud noise outside and the door sprang open, revealing her son Phobos, he was still eighteen years old yet he now looks like in his late twenties, it was because he discovered that he had the ability to drain the life force of others and convert it to power, after he usurped the throne, he started draining the life force of the nearby town thus he was able to make himself age a bit. If it wasn't for his long straw hair and familiar emerald eyes, she would think that it was a different person standing in front of her and not her firstborn.

"S-son." She said as soon as she saw him. She managed to crook a small smile at him.

"Queen Mother." He replied, his expression was dark. He was looking at her, the kindness on his eyes were now gone and were replaced with hatred and disgust. "Where is my sister!?" He demanded as he stepped closer towards the bed.

"She's gone with Avery. They'll be in a place out of your reach. You'll never find them." She struggled to say. She knew that taking Avery away was a bad move; the girl was Phobos' only hope to redemption. There was no one Phobos ever adored or loved more than her. Yet she was unsure if keeping Avery in Meridian would really save her son from evil, so she decided to send her away, far from the clutches of her son, so that she can be safe and can find a man who will love her.

"You took Avery too? Where is she? I demand you tell me!" He angrily said; the hatred on his eyes was replaced with pain. She reached for his hand but he shook it away; her breathing rugged. Her time was now near. She'll die in a matter of seconds but she wanted to apologize to him. For making him suffer the path of the Escanor men, the path where they could never name themselves kings as the throne was only meant for the female members.

"I'm. Sorry. I. Love. You." She said before everything went dark.

Present day, Heatherfield...

Avery had that dream again.

She was sitting on the throne and was enclosed by blood red roses and vines. She struggled as the vines slowly surrounded her hand to keep her in place. On the foot of the throne, she saw a lot of people, no, they were monsters, and they were smiling at her. She looked at her side and she saw Elyon, sitting on the same throne, surrounded by dark veins. She₃ was glowing but was shrieking in pain. She tried to struggle again to break free from the vines and help her sister but she can't. Tears fell from her eyes. It was hopeless, she can't free herself.

She shouted for help but the monster people were just laughing. Then she saw them again, two men who always invade her dreams;the two men without faces. They were standing in front of her, they both have long hair except that the one had a long blonde hair tied in a ponytail and the other had a long straw-blonde hair. She can hear the man with straw blonde hair laughing but the other man, he was wiping her tears! She tried to pull away to avoid his touch but something felt so familiar about him.

Then a blinding light suddenly came out of Elyon's throne. She called her sister, trying to ask her₃ if she₃ was okay but Elyon wasn't answering, after a few seconds the light died out and Elyon wasn't there. A black rose sat on top of the throne. Avery gasped.

"No!" She wailed as she witness the horrifying scene.

"All hail Queen Avery." The straw blonde man said before placing a crown, it was the same crown as Elyon, on her head then she felt a tingling sensation all throughout her body, her long blonde locks were replaced with pastel blue, shiny scales started growing on her arms and a tail came out of her legs. A girl with short blonde hair without a face then drew a mirror in front of her; her eyes widen when she saw her reflection. She was glowing or somewhat emitting light like bioluminiscent fishes. She shook her head. This wasn't happening. This isn't real. It was only a nightmare. She needs to wake up from it.

"No!" She screamed as she woke up from her nightmare. She was panting; her nightgown was wet with perspiration, her knuckles white as they clutched the blanket tightly. Her chest rose and fell as she caught her breath. It was the dream again. The nightmare she had been dreaming after her seventeenth birthday but what does it mean? She saw the two men again, for some reasons they look really familiar and they have been hunting her dreams since she was young, yet she can't remember meeting them.

The alarm clock rang making her return to reality. She sighed, whatever it was, it was just a dream and how come it will happen? Firstly, she wasn't a princess and then the medieval period is over. She quickly rose from her bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower. Hopefully she will forget about the dream, she just needs to keep herself busy.

After taking a bath, she quickly put on a simple attire, a teal t-shirt, black pants and sneakers. She looked at the mirror and started combing her hair. For some reasons, she found it hard to believe that she was related to her parents. Her mother had a red hair and blue eyes, while her father had brown hair and brown eyes; her sister Elyon had a straw blonde hair and blue eyes like their mother's.

Elyon's features are also kind of different but then they might have far relatives with straw blonde hair but in her case it was weird. She had a long silver blonde hair and her eyes; it was colored violet; which was weird considering that her parents claimed that they were a native of Heatherfield. Violet eyes are a rare case and usually people who live in cold areas or Albinos have that kind of eyes. Yet she wasn't from those areas or an Albino. She always asked then if she was adopted then they will flash a positive DNA test in front of her but still she wasn't convinced. There was really something fishy about it like her parents have a secret.

She quickly went down stairs to find her parents and sister already at the dining table. She smiled at them and sat down besides Elyon. She ate silently while her sister was talking to their parents about what happened to school, about Cornelia and etc. Sometimes these kinds of discussions annoys her but she tried to maximize her patience as she was the older one, she should be more understanding of her sister, besides she was also like that when she was young. Perhaps. That was another thing that's weird. She can't remember anything from her childhood.

She asked her mother and father but they said that she fell from the stairs causing her to have an amnesia but amnesia was supposed to be on a shorter length of time. Then why can't she still remember anything? Everything was just confusing her. She chose to shove away the thoughts from her mind. She knows that it wasn't healthy to doubt her parents. If she may be adopted then she should be thankful that she found wonderful and understanding parents who raised her, yet a part of her yearns to know where she came from and who her birth parents are.

After finishing her breakfast, she quickly went back to her room to get her backpack and followed Elyon outside. It was another day at school and she had an upcoming exam, which was enough to keep her busy from thinking about weird thoughts and dreams. Elyon on the other hand seems no to mind these unusual things about them or she was just naïve. Well, Elyon was still 14 so she can't really blame her. As they were about to go out of their gate, a car stopped in front of their house.

"Hop in!" The window on the driver's seat opened and revealed a guy with blue hair. Peter Cook and on his side was Matt Olsen, her best friends, they were both smiling at her. She smiled and opened the backseat and signalled her sister to go inside. On the corner of her eyes, she saw Elyon blush; she then remembered that Matt was Elyon's crush.

"Hi Elyon. Hi Ave (Eve)." Matt greeted the two of them, Elyon was froze on the door and just looked at Matt, and her cheeks formed a faint blush. She sighed and playfully pushed her sister inside and followed, locking the door behind her and putting on her seat belt.

"Hey Pete, hey Matty boy!" She said as soon as she was done. Peter just gave her a playful salute while Matt turned his back on her, frowning.

"Stop calling me Matty boy." He said, she and Elyon giggled. He was cute when he is pissed and frowning, this was the reason why he was considered one of the handsome students in Sheffield Institute, aside from that he was famous for being the lead singer of the band, Wreck55. He was good looking and talented, yet she does not feel anything for him or maybe it was familiarity that came first. They were friends since she they were twelve years old and she just likes Matt as a brother.

Peter on the other hand was a new guy, he just moved in Heatherfield a year ago with his family and sister Taranee, who was also Elyon's friend. Peter was one of the cool guys, has a nicely built body and was athletic, yet she also does not feel something special about him. She just treats him as a friend but then she was knowledgeable that the two guys in front of her have feelings for her.

Not that she was speculating but then the two have confessed their feelings for her, which she gently declined, saying that she only love them as brothers and that she does not have romantic feelings towards them. The two seem to have respected her words and didn't bother her anymore and were trying their best to act as normal as before. She knew that because of this many girls in Sheffield are jealous of her; she had the two famous men in school wrapped around her fingers.

"What's your plan later Ave?" Peter asked; he was glancing at her through the rear view mirror.

"Uhmm. We'll have a slumber party at the new girl's house, you know Will right? Mom said to that I need to go with my younger sister." She said, remembering her mother's request last night. Although she does not really want to go as she was three years older than her sister and her friends, she still finds their company fun and cool, so she said yes. She likes hanging on with the funny kid, Irma and the jolly one Hay Lin. Aside from that she is not really that close with others aside from Cornelia maybe.

She considers Cornelia as a younger sister as Corny often stays at their house whenever her parents and sister were out of town. Although they often get into argument as they were both oldest children and sometimes she teases her with boys and secrets she gets from eavesdropping, not that she does that often but it was fun, she still likes her.

"Aw. Too bad, Wreck will have a practice at Matt's garage, was hoping that you could come. You know." Peter said while scratching his head. She would love to go but then hanging out with boys and you are the only female is not really that fun but that then that was the reason why the cool guys hang with her, she was not a typical girly girl. She was almost boyish. She likes men stuff and does not really care about fashion at all, she wears whatever clothes she picks and does not care if it looks good on her or not. Her choice of music is also different, she likes Wreck's songs which are mostly rock.

"Next time maybe." She said before slipping out of the car, they were now in Sheffield. Elyon waved goodbye as soon as she saw her friends but before running off she gave a flirty smile at Matt, which caused Avery to giggle. Matt on the other hand seemed not to notice. The three of them were at the same class so she and Matt, waited for Peter to finish parking before entering the school.

The day passed quickly and she now found herself inside the Vandom's house, sitting next to Irma and Hay Lin. They were all in their sleeping clothes and they just finished eating dinner when Will distributed some kind of paper. She was staring weirdly at it having the same expression as the other girls.

"Will, when you invited us to the party, you didn't mention a pop quiz." Irma shrugged, who somewhat read what she was thinking as she was also about to say that.

"Yeah. We are supposed to watch videos or braid each other's hair." Hay Lin added. She chuckled. The complaints were almost childish but then she found the quiz interesting and started answering some. Will on the other hand was on her feet and circling the living room, thinking deeply, like she was having some sort of problem.

"And telling me how many boys like me!" Cornelia then exclaimed and gave out a dreamy sigh.

"What are best friends for?" Elyon added nudging Cornelia's shoulder and the two then giggled. She smirked. Cornelia was on it again but she was used to it as Cornelia often comes to their house and her talk was always about herself and boys.

"Here comes conceited Corny." She whispered to Irma but then it was loud enough that everyone heard it making them all laugh. Cornelia glared at her but she just stuck her tongue out like a kid. Then Will stopped walking, her face was a mixture of worry and a little bit of fear.

"Well, I sort of kind of volunteered to be in charge of this year's spring carnival." Will then exclaimed; gaining a chorused "What" from the other girls including Avery.

"Do you know how much work that is?" Taranee asked, her forehead was furrowed. Will sighed and sat down besides Hay Lin who was looking at Will, having the same expression as the others.

"That's why I also signed you guys up to!" She₁ added trying to be cheerful. Irma jumped from the sofa.

"We have been sleep over jacked!" Irma exclaimed, Avery nodded, she was busy with her projects for the following days and there was no way she'll help in the spring carnival.

"Time to go." She stood up and rolled her sleeping bag, the others followed while muttering their disappointment.

"Principal Knickerbocker said that all the cool kids do it." Will said, trying to stop them from leaving. She was now standing on the sofa, her hands spread wide, and she almost looks funny.

"The same Knickerbocker who wraps the morning announcement?" Avery asked. Will nodded. "Sorry not sorry but I'm busy with school work. You can take my sister instead." She said pushing Elyon in front of Will.

"Hey!" Elyon grouched at her. She just snickered.

"Okay fine. I know that I'm lame but I need a carnival theme by tomorrow." Will said. Before anyone else could express their disdain, the doorbell rang followed by a "Pizza!" shout from someone outside.

"At least she ordered food." Hay Lin expressed her expression lightened at the mention of food; Will went to the door, saying that she didn't order pizza collecting confused looks from others.

"Or maybe my mom ordered a-nerd." She₁ said as soon as she opened the door, standing outside was Martin Tubbs, the school photographer and a nerd who has a big crush on Irma. He was wearing a blue pj's and some bunny slippers on.

"I'll be your official party crasher; I brought pizza and my favourite board game." He announced as he entered the house, his bunny slippers squeaking while he walks. On his left hand was a pepperoni pizza and on the other was some kind of medieval age's board game; he then handed it to Irma, who looked at the items suspiciously.

"Martin, get your bunny slippers out of here!" Irma and the others glared at him. A flash of light then caught them by surprise. Martin was holding a camera and took a photo without their permission.

"Wait until the guys see this!" Martin exclaimed while trying to position the camera to take another picture again. Nope. The guys must not see it and won't see it. She won't let that happen. She doesn't want people to ogle at her almost racy form. She was wearing a night gown that hang above her knees, showing her long flawless legs and she wasn't wearing any bra for some sort.

"Let me handle it." She said and stretched her arms. She stood in front of Martin, her arms crossed, her expression was dark. "You know, I don't like guys crashing a female slumber party." She said before dragging Martin out of the room and taking his camera from him. She threw him outside and immediately locked the door. The other girls gave out a sigh of relief after that.

"He sure does like you a lot." She whispered to Irma who scowled at her. She just laughed and went to the table to open the pizza and grabbed one slice. The others gathered around the table, taking one slice each while Will was checking out the board game.

"Knights and Knaves?" Will's forehead crumpled as she read the name of the game.

"You know. Games that dweebs play." Irma mumbled as she bit into the pizza. Will's face seem to brighten, like an idea struck her head.

"And they are about to play it in the school parking lot!" Will excitingly said.

Present day Meridian...

The artist sat down on the chair and started hitting the brush against the blank portrait; he does not have any idea what kind of painting he would do. He glanced up at the wall full of paintings, most were the faces of the prince while some were paintings of places in Meridian, others are paintings of weird monsters and creatures in Meridian like the Naga, Jorōgumo*, other shape shifter and nymphs. His eyes caught a portrait on his left. It was a painting of a young girl, whom he estimates was on her teens. She had a long bouncy silver blonde hair and her eyes were piercing violets like those of Lord Cedric's. She was very beautiful. Is this the Prince's sister? He asked himself but it was impossible. The prince's sister was thirteen years younger than the prince, the prince never meet her when she was born and there was no way that the Prince just randomly asked his past painter to paint some random girl and post it in his private gallery. His eyes looked down and saw the label. Lady Avery von Heinrich. It says.

He tried to remember who the girl was but then he can't. He knew that the von Heinrich's were one of the most powerful noble houses in Meridian. They were the right hand of Queen Weira during her reign, yet after Prince rose to power; all the members of the von Heinrich household were assassinated for helping the Queen and the Consort escape. He stared at the painting for a long time and he didn't notice that the prince entered the room.

"Hideous. Very hideous." The prince said, he winced as he heard the prince's voice and stared back to his painting. "I like it." The prince then added and he sighed in relief. The prince slowly walked towards a big painting showing the town and inspected it. His eyes were now glued on the man sitting on the stairs of a house, who seem to be crying or something.

"I detest art that is beautiful and firming, it tends to bring hope to the rebellion. The last time my old artist tried painting a cheerful scene. I imprisoned him in his painting for eternity." The prince said pertaining to his last painter. He gulped, then he should focus on some hideous scenes instead but his eyes were caught again at the painting of the beautiful lady and he wasn't able to stop his curiosity.

"S-sire. I-if I may ask who this girl on the painting is?" He asked; his voice was just as loud as a squeak. He was afraid that he might offend the prince and be punished. The prince turned to him, his eyes now fixed at the smiling face of the silver haired girl. The painter swears that he saw pain on the prince's eyes. His heart pumped rapidly while waiting for a reply.

"My betrothed; Lady Avery of house Heinrich; she was only sixteen when they took her." The prince said, there was a hint of sadness in his tone, it seems like he was fond of the girl or maybe in love with her as he was not like this to others. He was famous for his foul temper and vile attitude. Yet this was the first time that he saw the prince, emotional and somewhat vulnerable. Without any more words, the prince quickly went out of the room, leaving the artist alone again. He sighed and went back to work.

*Chapter contains scenes from Season 1 Episode 10: Framed

*underlined part- As I really have no idea about Phobos' real age, I based this on a theory from: ( journal/TDQ-How-Old-is-Prince-Phobos-461138072).

*West Nubar- I took this name from the T.V series (season 2) and I'm not sure if it was Nobear, Nober or Nubar, sorry.

*She₁ - Will. (Will be using some subscripts so that you won't confuse the pronouns)

*She₃- Elyon

*Jorōgumo- a Japanese term for a spider who can shape-shift into a seductive woman. Will use this term to label Miranda's shape-shifting ability.

So how was it? Will do my best to update soon. :)