Page 27 of Scars and Burns

She’s in shock. Not sure how to process what is before her. I wonder how King Elio will play this. I wonder how he will explain her Mother’s appearance.

She walks slowly over to her. Glancing at King Elio as she does. Her mouth is gaping open. Eyes scanning her Mother’s body. She kneels down next to her. Dropping her blades. Her eyes are moving at rapid speed taking it all in. Her nostrils flaring. Trying to fight back tears.

Her hands are resting on her knees. I think she is about to break down into tears, but she closes her eyes and whispers something.

“What?” King Elio snaps back.

“Did you kill her?” She says, louder this time.

“Oh for goodness sakes Dinalia, speak up.”

Her hands curl into fists. As she closes her eyes even tighter. Taking a few deep breaths. In an instant she grabs her blades. Standing and twisting around. Her magic flares.

My eyes boggle. It’s white. Her magic is a white flame but it’s not completely pure. It has purple and blue streaks in it. The same combination as her eyes. Stepping closer I see sparks bursting out of it.

Sparks of starlight.

Her flames coat her blades and swirl around her as she whips towards King Elio. She’s tiny. At least a foot shorter than him. Buther blades are pointed directly at his throat. Coming together at a point. Forming a triangle with her arms and chest. Rage filling her eyes. Anger spilling out of her. She’s ready to kill him.

He just glares down at her.

“Did you kill her?” She asks again through clenched teeth.

“No,” He says with a straight face. He steps away and leaves the room.

She watches him leave. Lowering her blades. Her magic dwindles. She turns back to her Mother. Walks over to her and kneels down again.

I see the tears swelling in her eyes. Some have already begun to spill over. Rolling down her cheeks. Gathering at her chin.

She places her hand over her Mother’s heart. Right where she was stabbed.

Sobbing, I hear her say through tears, “I’m sorry Mother. I trained for years. Developing my abilities. Ensuring I wouldn’t be nothing in the face of danger again. Promising myself after that night I would grow and be able to protect us. I failed. I failed you. I am nothing. I am no one.”

She cries for a moment more. Then stands. Still looking down at her Mother. She gives her head a little shake. Maneuvering her hair over her shoulders to her back. That’s when I see it.

Her Goddess mark. Right on her sternum. It’s complete. Vibrant like a fresh tattoo. Black as her hair. I thought her sister, Princess Saphrina, had a complete Goddess mark. Maybe they both do? That wouldn’t surprise me with the amount of power I just witnessed from their Mother.

Much has been said about Princess Saphrina’s mark though. Blessed since birth. Said to be the one mentioned in the Goddess’s prophecy.

It was known that Queen Freya’s first born had magic. But other than that no one really cared to explore more.

I take my eyes away from her chest. Looking back to her face. She’s still looking down at her Mother with sorrow. But then something changes. The sadness slowly starts to switch to anger. Her face twists. Nosing scrunching. Mouth snaring. She clenches her blades. Releasing her head up. Letting out a blood curdling scream. Flames blasting out from all around her.

Her Mother was right.

There is a darkness inside of her.

20

Dinalia

We’re gathered in King Elio’s study. He summoned Saphrina and myself here early this morning. Why he couldn’t have even given us a day to mourn is beyond me.

We stand side by side in front of his obnoxiously large desk. He hasn’t even arrived yet. Arrogant pig. Requesting us here when he couldn’t bother to be on time.

I’m not sure what he intends to discuss, but has to be about our Mother. It is the only common denominator we have.

He finally arrives from a side door. Pausing briefly as he shuts it. Taking us both in.

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