Chapter Twelve

Symon had dreamed of seeing Lanos since he was a child, now that he was here though, it held no appeal. he made his way through the bustling streets towards the castle. Knowing he would not be granted admittance, he found a group of servants heading to work and followed them into the castle.

Once inside Symon had no idea which way he was to go, he wandered around for what seemed like hours, till he finally found the throne room. Outside of the room two guards stood watch. He stood around the corner and watched, trying to decide how he was going to get inside. As he was deciding his next move a guard was ushering a group of prisoners into the throne room, Symon joined the group and tried his best to blend in as they walked past the guards and into the throne room. Nothing could have prepared him for what happened next, once they were all inside, the doors closed behind them and the king and his men surrounded them, in one quick move they attacked. Each of the kings men taking a prisoner and feasting upon him.

Amidst the chaos Symon was able to steal a sword and make his advance on Tristan. He had no real plan,  just saw the opportunity to attack and  took it. As soon as he lunged towards Tristan, he felt like he hit a wall and was thrown back slamming into the wall. Tristan and his men had finished with their kill, and they advanced on Symon. He got to my feet and stood his ground, With a motion of his hand Tristan's men stopped, and he alone came to face Symon.  Symon held his sword between himself and Tristan, realizing that it was a futile move when Tristan drew his sword. In one quick move, Symon's sword lay at his feet, and Tristan's sword was pointed at his chest."Who are you, how did you get in here?" Tristan demanded. "I came here to kill you. To avenge my parents"  "I've killed quite a few peasants. You'll have to be a bit more specific"  "My parents owned the farm you had burned to the ground" before Symon could react, Tristan swung his sword intent on killing him where he stood. Symon moved just in time, so instead of killing him, the sword slashed across his face. He hit the ground as pain blossomed across his face, holding the side of his face as blood streamed through his fingers, Symon scrambled to his feet, but with just a flick of his hand Tristan sent him flying out of the room, slamming into the stone wall outside. The last thing Symon saw as his vision faded was the evil smile on Tristan's face.

Chapter Eleven

Symon was taken to the once prosperous land of Arda where he was raised as a farmer as his father before him.

When he was just a child Tristan became king. He had sent one of his nobles, Marius, and his wife Cecily to rule over Arda. Marius announced that they would still be permitted to farm their land, and would be given a part of the harvest to keep, The rest would be sent to Lanos.   They farmed, the soldiers came at the end of the harvest to escort father to the town center, where the harvest was prepared to be sent on to Lanos, he was then given their portion of the harvest, which was inadequate to say the least.

And so life went on, for Symon the same as he'd always known, hunger and hard work.
His Mother made sure that he knew the history of Arda, how they used to be free. Father did not approve of her telling him such things, saying that this is how it was now, forget about the past, it would just get them in trouble.

Days before his sixteenth birthday, everything changed. A messenger arrived at their door one morning as they sat eating their morning meal, bearing a letter. Mother brought the man inside and asked if he had been followed, to which he replied no. He handed mother a letter, which she quickly scanned the looked towards Symon. Just as she was about to say something the messenger saw the soldiers,as he had been watching out the window,  he turned back to Symon and his parents white as a sheet, and told them that he had been followed after all. Mother quickly took the letter into the kitchen where she threw it into the stove fire. Symon was concerned, trying to ask what was going on. Father had gotten up and went outside to meet the soldiers. Mother grabbed a bag and shoved some of his clothes into it, along with some food. She shoved the bag at Symon and said "Run, go as fast as you can, and no matter what you hear, don't come back." Symon ran out into the field, hiding a ways from the house, he peeked out to see what was happening. He saw the soldiers enter the house, then heard his mother scream. Symon wanted nothing more than to run to her, but knew his mother had a reason for him to leave. Some of the soldiers came near to his  hiding place, so Symon quietly snuck away, into the woods where he ran as fast as he could, not stopping for anything. He ran far enough that he was sure he hadn't been followed. Symon hid in the woods till the sun started to set, then made his way back home.



Nothing could prepare him for what he saw, his home was nothing but rubble, they had burned it to the ground. Hisparents lay in the yard, neither one moving. Symon knew before he got to them that they were already gone. He wanted nothing more than to stay and grieve for them, but I knew that I had to leave, He would not let my parents death be in vain. Symon spent the night burying his parents and the messenger that had led to their death.



Once he had said his goodbyes, he headed to Lanos intent on getting revenge on the King.

Chapter Ten

Tristan became a ruthless king, punishing people for the smallest infraction, those that once hailed him as a savior, now feared him. Just as Cecily had been forced into marriage, Tristan forced Emma and Juliana to marry as well, marrying them off to others of his kind, all three of my girls had been taken to different lands. Lands that Tristan had conquered and given to the most loyal among his kind.

I tried to do what I could to help my people, using what influence I still had to free those who had committed minor infractions from the jail, all in a effort to undermine Tristan.

My efforts were in vain, as Tristan found out. I was forced to watch as he publicly killed the man I had freed. Announcing to all who were made to gather there that he was king, and I had no more authority, upon his decree, everyone bowed acknowledging his authority. My power was gone, I had to find a way to stop Tristan.

For many years now, Tristan has sat on the throne. The kingdom is in ruins, the people need their TRUE king. I fear you are the only one who can save us. Your time has come...

Chapter Nine

Tristan had stripped all of the nobles loyal to Merek of their titles and lands, banishing them from the kingdom. He then bestowed the lands to those that here loyal to him. Since the demons did not eat, the lands they were given were not farmed, and a famine settled across the land. Since the people did not have enough to eat, pestilence soon followed. I begged Tristan to have mercy on the innocent people, and after many months of death, he agreed to save the people, since they did not know he was the cause of the famine, they hailed him as a savior when he provided food again. He did so by taking over the neighboring land of Arda, thereby expanding the borders of Lanos, and having a readily available source of food for the people.

On the day Cecily turned seventeen, Tristan called her and myself for an audience, informing us that a marriage had been arranged between Marius, one of his kind and Cecily. I was in shock, Cecily just looked from Tristan to me and back, as the tears welled up in her eyes. I took a step  towards Tristan, he forced me to stop, freezing me to that spot. He then brought in Marius, the man Cecily was to wed. Controlling Cecily, he joined their hand and performed the marriage rites himself, as tears streamed down her face.

When Tristan was finished, Marius led Cecily from the room. I was furious, demanding to know what gave him the right to force his sister into marriage.  Being king gave him that right, of which he was quick to remind me, his anger sending me slamming into the wall. I was her mother, yet I could do nothing to protect my daughter from the tyrant that was her brother.

Chapter Eight

Tristan left the village with Lucian, his father, they traveled to Lucian's home where Tristan was raised up in the ways of his kind. He was told of his royal birth, how he was firstborn and rightful heir to the kingdom of Lanos. He was taught to use the powers he was born with, to embrace his thirst, how to use his powers to get whatever he desired. Though all he truly desired was revenge. Revenge on the father who wished him dead, revenge on the mother who had let him go. Revenge on the siblings that had the life he should have had. When the time was right, Tristan made his way back, in the guise of a noble merchant from a distant land, here to trade goods with the kingdom of Lanos.

In the months following Tristan's takeover, he sent for Lucian and the rest of his kind to join him. I was ordered to be locked in my chambers, and be kept under guard at all times. Tristan knew I was hiding something, and spent many hours trying to pull the secrets from my mind. It took all my strength to resist him, but I knew for my son's sake I must not let his existence be known. The girls were kept in their chambers as well, far on the other side of the castle. I knew not what Tristan had in store for his sisters, and I feared for their safety.

The only time we were all together was during our weekly family meal. Tristan would send for us, and we would sit around the table in some twisted semblance of family. Tristan was seated at the head of the table, with me to his right and Lucian to his left. I  would look into those glowing eyes across the table from me and try to understand why. Why me? Why had he chosen to visit me that night? The girls were seated around the table between the others that had come here with Lucian.

Chapter Seven

Mine and Merek's relationship got better after birth of our son, He was a great father, constantly doting on his son, even inviting the girls back to court, Cecily had come of age and the suitors were trying to out do one another in order to win her hand, I knew she had no intentions of marrying just yet, leading her suitors along, enjoying all the attention she received. He was everything a little prince should be, and very well natured. 

Shortly after Symon's birth, everything changed. We had a visitor, a traveler from a distant land, with a strange accent who requested an audience with Merek and I.

He was a very young man, not yet eighteen. I knew I had never met him, yet there was an air of familiarity about him, and when I looked into his eyes I knew why. It was Tristan, come back from the dead, I looked at Merek, he didn't recognize Tristan. I tried my best to keep my composure while they talked. I wanted nothing more to run to him and embrace him, I was full of questions, how was he alive? where had he been? Why was he back? As I locked eyes with Tristan, I caught glimpses of him as a child in my mind. Was he doing this? I saw him and Alice, her death, then him and the demon that wast most surely was his father. I didn't realize I was shaking until Merek asked if I was alright.

I excused myself, as soon as the coast was clear, I ran towards the nursery. I didn't know why, but I knew that I had to get my baby out of the castle as fast as possible. I bundled him up after giving him a sleeping draft, gave him one last kiss before handing him off to his nanny. Just at that moment I heard screaming coming from the throne room, I urged the nanny to go as fast as she could, out the servants entrance, and away from here. I trusted her and knew she would care for my baby boy.

 I rushed back to the throne room just in time to see Tristan pull a bloody sword from Merek, who was lying prone on the floor in a puddle of blood. Tristan then calmly walked over and sat on the throne, the guards came running intending to avenge their king, but with just a motion of his hand, Tristan sent the guards flying out of the throne room, slamming the door shut behind them.

 I was now alone with Tristan, in fear of my life. He had powers, the likes of which we'd never seen. We stayed locked in that room, for the better part of the day. He had many questions that needed to answered, as did I. I told him of his birth, how I begged for his life. He told me of his life, how Alice raised him, until her death, How his father had saved him, and taught him to embrace what he really was.

Chapter Six

Three years had passed since Emma came into this world. Merek had granted my request to spend the summer with the girls, taking Juliana, my third born daughter with me. Cecily was five now, and Merek was already trying to secure a betrothal for Cecily, which was another reason we had to keep up appearances. No one would pledge their son to the daughter of a disgraced Queen, for there sake I kept up appearances. I spent the next five summers with my girls, they were the best times of my life. 

As much as had grown to hate Merek, I still did my duty, praying that this time I would bare the son he so desperately wanted. I found that I was with child soon after, The child I was carrying truly was the last chance for Merek.  Part of me blamed him for not having a son yet, I gave him one, though it was true Merek was not the father, he still could have claimed him, no one would have needed to know other wise, yet he threw him away, and now asked for another.  I gave birth after a long and difficult labor, my trusted midwife brought my second son into this world. Merek was thrilled, for the first time in years, he looked at me with love in his eyes. Our son was given every comfort, and wanted for nothing. As I sat rocking my son, my thoughts drifted back to Tristan. He would have been Fifteen, just becoming a man.

Alice did what she could to raise Tristan, though the older her got the more apparent it was that he was different, he could no longer consume food, making himself sick if he tried. He has a craving that couldn't be explained, nor could it be satisfied. Cradling her crying ward, Alice soon found out what exactly he was, when he snuggled close and sunk his teeth into her neck, not stopping despite her screams, until he had drank his fill. When he realized what he'd done, he sat down next to Alice and cried until there was nothing left to cry. The smell of her blood had attracted something worse than all the animals of the forest that had gathered outside. The man entered the house, heading for the boy, seeing the features that were so like his own, Tristan went willingly and the two of them left the village.