Page 76 of The Heir

“Did you and my mother come with him?” I asked, realizing that surpassing all reason and doubt I had felt earlier, I believed that story, and I needed to know more.

“No, sweetheart. Your mother and I weresentencedhere many years before your father arrived. Our family was blessed hundreds of years ago to haveAncient sight. Humans called us;keepersandseekers.We once lived to help guide the people. Sorra was one of the last kingdoms to stand firm with the Ancients. Still, corruption eventually took over our kingdom, too. After darkness and corruption had spread throughout all the lands and kingdoms, and after we, like your father and so many others, fought for the melodies and for the ancient ways, we were thrown into the dungeons after one horrible and gruesome battle.”

“Just like in her storybook.”

“Yes. However, we believed that because the Ancients had saved our ancestors from the darkness of the traitor from thepast, they could save us again.” She looked at me and a tear dripped down her face.

“I—Mary, this is so–so crazy.”

“I know, dearest,” she said, pulling me into her arms. “Terra is a beautiful place, even with the horror of the corruption, but many escaped over to this realm through a portal. The Ancients who remained on Terra in order to help us opened that portal, and Many Terran’s came here to escape the darkness, but the prophecy foretold that Terrans would be called back someday, and that we would have to answer the call to save Terra. So your parents and I, we waited, went on with our lives here. Your mom and dad told me that if they ever died, you would be in great danger. Your melody is one of the strongest melodies that have ever been heard, Emma. It is like a beacon to everyone around you. Your parents heard a rumor, years ago, about a dark prince from Terra who has been searching for strong melodies and stealing them. Your father and mother were able to shield your melody and keep you from him, but Ryker and I don’t know exactly who he is, but we believe this dark prince killed your parents to make it easier to get to your melody. If he was to ever find you–” She paused and cleared her throat. “Your father and mother did a wonderful job of shielding your melody, but without them, it is nearly impossible to shield it fully. And without them, you are vulnerable to the Dark Prince; he can find you.”

“Find me?” I said, feeling terror ripple through me.

“Yes, you can save us all Emma. Your parents told me that I should show you this and tell you of your birthright if they passed,” she said pointing to the letter she handed me still on the bed.

“Birthright—” I asked with a squeak, feeling the letter in my hands.

“Yes, Emma–royalty from your father’s side. You are an Ancient Heir of Terra, and that has great power and meaning.”

“Shad said that he thought I was,” I whispered.

“What?”

“He said that he was an Ancient Heir of Terra, and maybe I was, too.”

Mary moved from me and stood from the bed.

“No–no, it cannot be.”

“What is it, Mary?” I asked.

“How can that be? It cannot be him, can it? Ryker said he had a melody, and I heard it myself. We would know if he were soulless.” She started pacing the room.

“What’s wrong?”

“If he is an Heir of Terra, Emma, what that means is that he is royalty.”

“So–”

“So, the Dark Prince–he was not supposed to have a melody. It was said he was soulless.”

“Shad has a melody; he cannot be this Dark Prince person,” I said softly. “Right? The Dark Prince could not be as good as Shad. Shad is good, Mary. There is no darkness in him.”

She stopped pacing and nodded. “Yes–yes, of course; that is true. You are right; I heard his melody, sorry. I am just–it’s all terrifying that someone wants to hurt you.”

“Mary–”

“I will let you read that letter now.”

My head was spinning. While I was confused, there was a part of me that understood it because within my soul–it still, as unbelievable as it sounded, itfelttrue.

Me, a princess?That is just insane.

But it is true.

I unfolded the paper in my hands and smoothed it out. It was a short letter, which was a disappointment. I browsed over the page; then I read:

Dearest Emma,

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