Page 1 of Cages and Crowns
Prologue
“Nora!” She screamed into the vast emptiness. Darkness had fallen, yet she still wasn’t able to find the little princess with the raven-colored hair. Her eyes struggled to adjust to the lack of light as she peered through the endless tree trunks and foliage. “Elaenor!” She called out again, her voice hoarse. Her slippered feet slid over the rocks as she trekked through the dense trees.
Elaenor loved the forest,lovedto explore, but she never disappeared without letting anyone know where she was going, especiallyhere,so far fromhome. The trees shook in the wind, raining leaves down around her in slow, billowy movements as if time itself slowed down.Goosebumps spread along her bare arms, but it wasn’t the cold causing her senses to tingle.
This forest wasalive, she felt it every time she entered, but could never understand why.Could never understandwhatit was that was watching her. Shecould see the shadows. See them creeping around the trunks, moving as if they were living beings ready to devour her whole.
She took a slow, deep breath as an orb of silver light formed in her palms before breaking off into five equal pieces and shooting out in all directions. The orbs illuminate the trees as they fly by, temporarily causing the shadows to scatter. She could feel it in her bones, in hermind, as the aether searched for the girl. She sensed as it reached something, or someone.
Someone not as pure as the child she was looking for.
As if on command, silence blanketed the woods. The trees stopped moving, leaves stopped raining down. No sounds could be heard besides that of her thundering heart. She stood still, listening, waiting, but she knew who was approaching. She spun around and faced the woman standing behind her. Silver light dripped off her hand like liquid before absorbing into the forest floor as she took in the threat.
“Amaya! What are you doing out here?” She bellowed as she rushed over to her friend, light dissipating. Amaya’s golden hair was coiled tightly around her head in a coronet, her gray eyes deep and lifeless. A large, swollen belly strained against the silk of her dress. She was too far along to be wandering in the woods, especially without the guards who usually swarmed her like locusts.
“Sybil, I can’t find the boys.” Amaya responded; her voice deeper than normal. Ancient power brewed underneath, waiting for its moment. Sybil swallowed down the fear pooling beneath her skin, the shadows that tried to find a home in her veins pressing in on her. “Have you found Nora yet?” She asked as she reached up to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. Something was different, her skin pale and her eyes dark as if she was losing an internal battle, a battle she’d been fighting for over a decade.
Sybil shook her head, a confirmation that the children had run off, probably together. “She said she was coming out here to play with the boys, but I didn’t expect them to be out this long. We must be returning soon, Viktor will worry.” She explained, confusion and concern crossing her features. But herconcern was not for the children, instead it was for the darkness that bled out from her friend’s skin as if it was a living being, as if it was swallowing her whole. Too many years have passed since the last time she was well – since the last time the darkness was controlled. “Amaya, how are you feeling?” She scoffed as she took in her friend's tone.
“I am fine, you mother hen, just ready to give birth already.”She deflected, her hand coming up to rest on the bump straining against her gown.
“Kassius will be arriving in Chatis soon, maybe it is time for you to see him again.” Amaya didn’t respond, she just stared. The darkness and silence were near suffocating as they stood face to face, a challenge gleaming in Amaya’s eyes. This wasn’t her, this person in front of her just wore her face, but it wasn’t her friend, hersister, staring back. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a shrill scream echoed around them. Both women jumped and turned towards the noise as the little princess and the young princes ran through the trees.
Elaenor’s curly hair was tangled and filled with leaves and twigs; her pale dress caked in mud. A small welt was growing on her rounded cheek as she threw her arms around her mother’s waist. One of the princes, Tobias, had a look of mischief brewing in his stormy grey eyes, almost rivaling his mother’s. Theo, the younger of the two, looked concerned, worried, as he stared at the small girl clutching her mother’s skirts. He watched her as if he felt her pain and her fear.
“My little love, what happened?” Sybil asked, as she knelt down in front of her daughter.
“Toby pushed me down a hill.” Elaenor whimpered, her fingers clutching the hem of her dirty dress as she looked up at her mother.
“Tobias!” Sybil scolded as she stood, grabbing Elaenor’s hand. “How many times have we told you to be gentle? She isn’t as strong as your little friends in the village.” The young prince rolled his eyes and left without responding, heading back towards the palace. His attitude was always astonishing, always sounding alarms in Sybil’s head. It was all too familiar, too much like someone else…
“Theo, how many times have I told you to watch out for Nora when you take her into the woods?” His mother snapped. Theo’s blue eyes were lined in silver as he tried to plead his case, but Amaya brushed him off without remorse, ignoring him entirely. “Come here, miracle.” Amaya crooned to Elaenor, reaching for her. The little princess grasped her hand, the latter swallowing her tiny palm whole. “What did I tell you last time this happened?” Tears welled up in Elaenor’s eyes as she looked up at the queen. Sybil shifted nervously as she watched her daughter and friend interact. Something was definitely wrong with her; she could feel it. Feel the presence of something dangerous pressing in all around her, waiting to strike.
“That princesses shouldn’t be–” Elaenor started to speak.
“That princesses shouldn’t be running amok in the woods. Now why have you disobeyed me?” Amaya cut her off, her eyes glaring holes through the small child's face.Elaenor trembled and took a step back, but the queen held her hand tightly, preventing her from getting too far.
“Amaya, she is just a child. She is allowed to enjoy all the same things the village children do, all the same things yoursonsdo.” Sybil’s hand wrapped around Elaenor’s arm as she pulled her away from Amaya’s grip, tucking her into her side.
“How do you expect her to be queen when she can’t even keep a dress clean?” Amaya’s snide response had followed a scoff, one of disinterest and irritation.
“I don’t want to be a queen.” Elaenor whispered, looking up at her mother.
“Little love, I know, but it is your destiny.” Sybil responded as she wiped tears off her dirty cheeks. “You have no idea what life has in store for you. You are going to be so powerful, Nora. So powerful, and strong, and you will be so happy.” Elaenor’s blue eyes sparkled with unshed tears, mimicking the stars that she loved to fall asleep staring at.
“Not as powerful as my son.” Amaya quipped as she looked at the smallgirl. “He will be your ruler and to whom you must answer to. You are–”
“Amaya!” Gray and blue eyes clashed as the silence dissipated. The trees once again came alive, the wind once more rustled the leaves.
“I am tired. You should return to your home.” Amaya commanded, turning away from the Chatisian royals. Theo’s eyes darted between his departing mother and the little princess before running after her.
“Mama, is she angry because the baby doesn’t want to be in there anymore?” Sybil tore her eyes away from her friend, the shadows following the queen, and looked down at her daughter.
“Malathea isn’t ready to come out yet, little love. But she will soon and then you’ll have a new friend to play with.” They started to walk, following after the others.
“How do you know it’s a girl?” She asked as she held her mother’s hand.
“There are some things I just know. One day when you are older, you will know things, too.” Sybil gripped Elaenor’s hand tightly before they disappeared into a cloud of silver mist.
