This is what I have for the prologue so far and part of chapter one.
Prologue
Shelly sat in front of the fireplace, staring off into the orange and yellow flames that danced between the logs. Occasionally wiping the tears from her face, She sat silently, concentrating on the dancing flames. There was something about the fire that calmed and soothed her whenever she was upset. Time seemed to fade away, irrelevant to the present. The room appeared to have vanished, and the crackling sounds from the fireplace softened as she continued to stare into the fire. The dancing flames had ended, and the mantle became a blur.
She was elsewhere, deep in her thoughts, not in the present but in the past. She was transported to a place where she was happiest and didn't feel as lost, back when she was little, and everything was simple.
Once again, she wiped the stinging tears from her rosy cheeks and let her long auburn hair down from its bun. She hung her head and sipped her tea as she recalled the story her mother would read to her when she was a young girl. As she stared back into the flames, she envisioned herself as a child around six years old. Her red curls swayed at her waist as she headed over to the bookshelf to decide which book she should ask her mother to read to her.
Shelly grabbed a dark brown leather-bound book from the bookshelf in the tea room and eagerly sat next to Sibil, who was sipping her favorite English tea. She brushed the tiny strands of her reddish-brownish hair from her face and turned her attention to her daughter. Shelly's angelic, freckled face looked up at her mother with emerald green eyes as she placed the book in her lap.
"Tell me a story, Mama?"
Sibil smiled and accepted the small task little Shelly had asked her. "Alright, but which story would you like to hear?"
Shelly thought for as long as a typical six-year-old possibly could until she finally decided on the story she wanted to hear. She brought her finger up to her face, and as she began to think, she tapped her finger on her cheek and smiled innocently.
"Hmmm. How about the story about the king and queen? The one who had to hide their baby from the bad men?" She inquired.
"Ah! This is one of my favourite stories to tell. Alright, sit back, and I'll tell you the story," Sibil instructed.
Shelly excitedly squirmed and wiggled her bum to the back of the settee, and Sibil wrapped her arm around her. She opened the book and flipped to the story's first chapter, and Shelly leaned her head against her, waiting for the story to begin.
Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Stone Ridge lived the vampire King Richard and his elvish queen Natalia. For many years, the royal couple tried to have a child to fill the halls with joy and laughter. But alas, they needed help because of the difference in the bloodlines. Not only was the different bloodline the cause of infertility, but Purebloods couldn't procreate with different species. If somehow nature were to find a way to create a pregnancy, war would break out in the land. Some creatures didn't agree with combining the bloodlines, an abomination they called it.
One day, when one of the queen's ladies was dressing for the day, she informed the queen of a healer called Agatha. She had helped others in the village conceive children and thought the lady thought perhaps she could help. Later that night, the queen discussed her lady's suggestion. At first, the king was against it. After all, dark magic and witchcraft were forbidden. After a little persuasion, he finally agreed to seek the healer the queen had spoken of.
A few days later, the king and queen, escorted by their royal guards, left the kingdom and found Agatha's cottage deep in the forest. When King Richard and Queen Natalia asked Agatha for help, she was more than willing to whip up a potion, but for a price. The price to pay would be a vial of the infant's blood if they only had one child, and if the queen should deliver a twin, the firstborn would also be given to her. When King Richard and Queen Natalia refused to give her one of their children, the healer reluctantly accepted only the infant's blood in return for her help. Agatha explained the magic in the infant's blood would keep her young and alive for several years, and all she needed was a drop of blood a day to do so.
Agatha wrote out a contract and handed the parchment to King Richard, and he read it over to Queen Natalia. They discussed the payment and agreed this was their only hope of having a child. The royal couple signed the contract, and Agatha cast a spell upon the parchment to seal the deal. Afterward, Agatha handed the queen the tiny vial containing the potion, and the queen quickly drank the liquid.
In six months, the queen delivered twin girls to the realm. The sound of thunder cracked outside the castle, lightning returned the thunder’s call, and the rain poured heavily as their tiny princess was born. The royal couple named her Scarlett to resemble her fuzzy red hair.
For twenty-six days, the princess brought joy and happiness throughout the realm. What should have been a happy occasion turned into despair for the royal couple. The princess had fallen ill, and her parents didn't know what to do. She had a fever and sweats. The tiny princess lay frail in her mother's arms.
The king and queen sent for the royal enchantress, and she tried every spell and every potion for the infant's symptoms, but nothing worked. She grabbed her book of spells and ran tests on the infant's hair, but all the tests indicated nothing was wrong.
"A rare blood disease," the enchantress declared. "You can send for Merlin, the wizard. He has helped a lot of people throughout the land. Surely, he will know what to do."
"Why didn't I think about Merlin? He cured me of a wolf bite when I was young. Certainly, he can help!" Natalia blurted out.
Out of desperation, the king sent a parchment by raven, asking the wizard for help. For two whole days, the couple waited for Merlin to appear.
Many moons and suns have passed since Natalia saw the wizard last, and when he appeared, he wasn't at all what the royal couple expected. He was much older now. He wore a long dark blue tunic, and his disheveled hair hung to his waist. A long, scraggly beard matched his greying colour hair. He was an elderly man, but his watery blue eyes seemed to hold wisdom in them, and his rosy cheeks told the couple there was a warmth to his soul.
So frail the tiny princess lay. She wheezed as she took each breath of air. The queen laid the baby on a nearby table for Merlin to see. He smiled and looked at little Scarlett, who barely made a sound. He listened to her chest and her heart. He waved his staff around her little body, and his smile quickly turned solemn and he looked at the king and queen sternly.
"This is what happens when you play around with dark magic! Agatha is not one to go to for help! You should have come to me!" Merlin said angrily. "This child doesn't have a rare blood disease! The bloodlines are fighting within the child. Vampires were never supposed to procreate with different bloodlines!"
"Purebloods conceive children, and I am a pureblood!" Richard snapped.
"Purebloods cannot conceive with Elves!" Merlin shouted in return.
"My Lunarius ancestors conceived with a pureblood! I found it written in one of the scrolls when I lived in Sylenor," Natalia added.
Merlin looked over at Natalia in disgust. "Just look where that got them? They're extinct! None of the moon elves survived the attack of the nightwalkers and Lycans."
"We're sorry! We didn't think,"-
"Never mess with dark magic," Merlin warned, "All magic has a price and the results are never good. I can heal her, but it will come at a cost.""
"May I know what is your price?" asked Richard with curiosity.
"Silver and gold mean nothing to me. My only demand is that when the princess reaches the age of marriage, she must wed one of my descendants in order to fulfill the prophecy. The land is being consumed by darkness, but when the princess joins her powers with those of one of my descendants, only then can the darkness be vanquished," explains Merlin.
The king and queen discussed Scarlett's fate and agreed that this was their only hope and the only thing they could do to ensure their daughter's survival. Reluctantly, they accepted the wizard's terms.
Merlin nodded, leaned his staff against the wall behind him, and returned his attention to the frail little princess.
The wizard reached inside the pocket of his tunic and pulled out a vial of red liquid and a small pouch of glittering dust. He opened the small vial of liquid and put a few drops on his index finger. He then smeared the liquid that was now on his finger across Scarlett's forehead in one swift motion.
"I call upon the blood of the Sylenore ancestors. I need your help to save this poor innocent girl from death," Merlin shouted.
The wizard opened the small pouch and grabbed a handful of the glittering dust. He sprinkled the dust all over Scarlett's tiny body as he chanted. "Principissa minima Vampire, Lunarian, et Faery, lux mediam vitam, corpus, et animam. Tenebrae te non habet potestatem. Sequere sonum vocis et redi in lucem. Lumen et sanguis Imperat tibi Lunarium;."
"What did he say? Richard whispered.
"He said Tiny Princess of the Vampire, Lunarian, and Faery, let light center your life, body, and soul. The darkness does not have power over you. Follow the sound of my voice and come back into the light. The light and blood of the Lunarians command you," Natalia explained.
When the spell was finished, Merlin reached down and laid his hands on Scarlett's chest. Suddenly, a shaft of light radiated from his hands and moved into her body. The little princess then let out a gasp and whimpered a little.
The king and queen quickly ran over to their daughter. Natalia held her tightly as she wept with joy. Tears streamed down Richard's cheeks as he stroked his daughter's hair.
"The Princess is unique, possessing not only the gift of Sylenor's ancestors but also the gifts of Lunarius's ancestors and Fae. Due to her exceptional abilities, she will need protection from dark creatures who may seek to use her powers for nefarious purposes. Should they succeed, the realm will face certain doom."
"We will keep her safe," Richard and Natalia said in sync.
"You have my word," Richard said.
Merlin grabbed his staff and waved it in a circular motion in front of him. A gray fog circled around him as he said, "If you need anything else, you know where to send a raven." The king and queen thanked the wizard, who disappeared into the fog.
The kingdom was peaceful and calm for several weeks, and the realm was happy to hear that the princess was healthy. Four months had passed since that night, and everything remained quiet in the land. However, one night, when the queen was putting Scarlett to bed, a loud noise outside the castle interrupted them. The queen wondered what The commotion was about when King Richard suddenly burst into the room in panic with his guards. The castle was under attack, and they had no choice but to find a way to escape. Sir Marcus quickly opened one of the wall panels, and the royal family fled to the castle's old halls to escape.
"Would one of you please tell me what's happening?" Natalia demanded as she swaddled Scarlett.
Lycans have breached the castle, Your Majesty. The realm has been completely overrun by the creatures. We must evacuate you and your family to safety," Sir Malcolm informed.
The royal couple navigated through the tunnels and embarked on the ship they had kept hidden for emergencies like the current one. Once everyone was aboard, they set sail towards the Mystical Grove to seek out the enchantress, Aasiyah, who had been exiled from Sylenor many years ago.
The royals discovered a grove and dropped anchor. Accompanied by their guards, Sir Malcolm and Sir Marcus, they headed to the shore where Aasiyah was already waiting. They explained what had happened at the castle, and she agreed to help them, but with one condition: she would reside there when they should return. The king accepted her terms, and in return, Aasiyah opened a portal for them to escape to a foreign human village.
After they arrived in the village, the royals changed their names and took on the professions of peasants in hopes they wouldn't be discovered. King Richard changed his name to Daniel and Natalia to Sybil.
Upon their arrival in Willowdale, the King and Queen changed their names to Daniel and Sybil Bradford.
"What shall we call Scarlett? Surely we can't use her real name, can we?" Natalia said in a hushed tone.
"Certainly not. We'll call her Shelly, short for Michelle. No one would ever know her real name," King Richard whispered. After roaming the village for hours, the couple finally landed a job. Richard got a job as a blacksmith, making decent money, and Queen Natalia became a seamstress. Once they saved enough money, the family moved into a home large enough to house the three of them and two of the guards. With their hectic schedule, they worked out a deal that in exchange for home and gardening chores, the guards could also dwell there with them.
There they remained, happy and comfortable for fifteen wonderful years, hidden among the mortals.
Chapter - 1
The horses trot along happily down the dirt path as they pulled the carriage behind them. Shelly glanced out of her window and noticed the royal guards gathered in the front and back of the carriage as they escorted her to the cathedral. A crowd of nobles formed along the dirt path, and they waved and cheered as the carriage passed by them. Shelly sat back in her seat and her stomach began to turn. Was she feeling sick? She placed her hand on her forehead to check for a fever, but there wasn’t one…not even a drop of sweat. The sweating sickness and flu were both ruled out and she didn’t exactly feel sick. She then took several slow, deep breaths and realized she wasn’t sick at all. It was that pesky nervous feeling she would get a lot by worrying about things that didn’t need to be worried about. Her mother had always referred it to as butterflies or jitters.
Lady Edith placed her hand on Shelly’s, “Is everything alright, Milady?”
“I’m just a little nervous, but I’m alright,” Shelly replied.
Lady Edith smiled sweetly. “There’s nothing to be nervous about, Milady. The Prince simply adores you. You know that."
The carriage came to a stop, and Shelly looked out of the window to take in the astonishing scenery that awaited her outside. The cathedral was beautiful, and the marvel of architecture, craftsmanship, and construction of this old English Tudor Gothic style was magnificent. The main entry was arched and had within it, two large doors that were arched as well. Above this entrance, was an exquisite stained-glass rose window, imported from Bloodstone Keep, all covered by a gabled roof with some lintels and sills at the ends, and topped with a cross. Enclosing this remarkable entryway were twin columns on either side that rose above the roof and were surrounded by brick piers at each corner. The footman opened the door and extended his hand to Shelly and her lady soon after. Shelly smiled and accepted his hand in return. She exited the carriage where her father, Daniel awaited her.
Daniel hugged Shelly tightly and placed a kiss on her forehead, “Sweetheart, are you ready?”
Shelly smiled in return, “I am. I have been waiting for this day for a long time. I can’t believe that it’s finally here!”
Tears of joy welled up in Daniel’s eyes, but he remained calm and extended his arm to his daughter before they entered the cathedral. The inside was far more beautiful than Shelly had expected. The entry level was fabricated using taupe concrete cinder blocks with arched windows and concrete lintels that united them with the arched entry. Gorgeous blue curtains with silver designs hung from every window and navy-blue banners with silver lions draped delicately on the concrete walls.
The guests rose from their seats and the musicians began to play their soft music as Daniel and Shelly stepped through the double doors of the church. A cascade of flowers and happy faces greeted them as Daniel walked his daughter down the aisle to meet Prince Jeremy. Upon finally arriving at the back of the church Daniel placed Shelly’s hand into Prince Jeremy’s and gave him his blessing.
“Who gives this woman to this man?” the Priest called out.
“Her father does,” Daniel replied and took a seat next to Sybil who was in the front row.
As Shelly stood at the altar to face the guests, their faces became a blur. A bit concerned there could be something wrong, she gazed towards her future husband, Prince Jeremy. A few strands of his thick black raven hair escaped under his crown and brushed against his forehead as he turned towards Shelly and took her hands into his.
“Is everything alright my love?” Prince Jeremy whispered; a bit concerned.
A sudden sadness came over Shelly as she looked out towards the guests to find two empty seats in the front row where her parents should be sitting. The only face that stood out amongst the guests was a young man, no more than maybe nineteen years of age. His dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail tied just above his shoulders, and his slightly muscular chest barely fit into his suit. The young man gazed up at Shelly with his loving dark blue eyes and gave her an encouraging smile to keep going with her vows.
As she gazed into the Prince's eyes, she felt something sharp and pointy graze the top of her toes, followed by something wet and slimy. Shelly jumped up, and wondered what that was, but shoved that thought to the side because she was about to marry the man of her dreams.
She visually imagined Prince Jeremy standing at the altar and quickly fell back to sleep. His hands slid around her waist and Shelly couldn’t help herself and gazed into his eyes and the Priest began to speak again.
As the priest spoke, Shelly felt something, nibbling, nudging, and scratching her toes. She tried her best to pay attention but to no avail. Something was at her feet, distracting her thoughts. She looked down and there was nothing there but the train of her gown.
The Priest smiled and said, “You may kiss your bride.”
Prince Jeremy’s exquisite vibrant blue eyes locked on hers as he gently wrapped his arms around her. She coiled her arms around his neck and closed her eyes as he leaned in for the kiss. His lips felt tender and warm as they met hers and he firmly but lovingly tightened his arms around her.
The guests stood and applauded after the Priest announced the royal couple as husband and wife. Prince Jeremy took Shelly's hand and they quickly ran down the aisle. The royal couple made it back to the carriage with their guests on their heels who were tossing birdseed over their heads. The footman closed the door behind them once they were inside and took his place next to the driver. The coach took hold of the reigns and commanded the horses to head towards the castle.
The churchbell tolled in the distance, signaling morning was upon them. Shelly blinked once and closed her eyes again. She rolled over towards the window and heard something moo like a sick cow. She opened one eye and didn't see anything in front of her and closed her eye again. Before she knew it, she had drifted back off to sleep.
The golden sun shined bright over the dooryard and beams of light from the sun peeked through the curtains.
Shelly’s eyes peeked out of her heavy lids as she turned over groaning, and quickly pulled the covers over her head to block out the offending light the morning sun had brought.
Suddenly, she felt something sharp digging into her toes again. Frustrated, Shelly tossed the blanket around her waist and quickly sat up and looked to see what was by her feet. She looked down and noticed her dog, Starling sitting by the foot of her bed.
“Stupid dog,” Shelly grumbled.
This sucked. Shelly had never been in a relationship before. Sure, there had been a few love interests in the past, but her feelings weren't reciprocated. Dreams were the closest thing she could get to a love life at the present time, and just when she married the man of her dreams, the stupid dog decided to nibble on her toes.
‘I’m not sure what’s worse. The dog nibbling on my toes, or the church bell with all of the annoying noise it brings every morning,’ Shelly thought.
“Shelly! Time to get up!” she heard her mother yell from downstairs.
Shelly rubbed the sleep from her eyes and yelled in return, “I’ll be down in a minute!”
This is what I have for the prologue so far and part of chapter one. Prologue Shelly sat in front of the fireplace, staring off into the orange and yellow flames that danced between the logs. Occasionally wiping the tears from her face, She sat silently, concentrating on the dancing flames. There was something about the fire that calmed and soothed her whenever she was upset. Time seemed to fade away, irrelevant to the present. The room appeared to have vanished, and the crackling sounds from the fireplace softened as she continued to stare into the fire. The dancing flames had ended, and the mantle became a blur. She was elsewhere, deep in her thoughts, not in the present but in the past. She was transported to a place where she was happiest and didn't feel as lost, back when she was little, and everything was simple. Once again, she wiped the stinging tears from her rosy cheeks and let her long auburn hair down from its bun. She hung her head and sipped her tea as she recalled the story her mother would read to her when she was a young girl. As she stared back into the flames, she envisioned herself as a child around six years old. Her red curls swayed at her waist as she headed over to the bookshelf to decide which book she should ask her mother to read to her. Shelly grabbed a dark brown leather-bound book from the bookshelf in the tea room and eagerly sat next to Sibil, who was sipping her favorite English tea. She brushed the tiny strands of her reddish-brownish hair from her face and turned her attention to her daughter. Shelly's angelic, freckled face looked up at her mother with emerald green eyes as she placed the book in her lap. "Tell me a story, Mama?" Sibil smiled and accepted the small task little Shelly had asked her. "Alright, but which story would you like to hear?" Shelly thought for as long as a typical six-year-old possibly could until she finally decided on the story she wanted to hear. She brought her finger up to her face, and as she began to think, she tapped her finger on her cheek and smiled innocently. "Hmmm. How about the story about the king and queen? The one who had to hide their baby from the bad men?" She inquired. "Ah! This is one of my favourite stories to tell. Alright, sit back, and I'll tell you the story," Sibil instructed. Shelly excitedly squirmed and wiggled her bum to the back of the settee, and Sibil wrapped her arm around her. She opened the book and flipped to the story's first chapter, and Shelly leaned her head against her, waiting for the story to begin. Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Stone Ridge lived the vampire King Richard and his elvish queen Natalia. For many years, the royal couple tried to have a child to fill the halls with joy and laughter. But alas, they needed help because of the difference in the bloodlines. Not only was the different bloodline the cause of infertility, but Purebloods couldn't procreate with different species. If somehow nature were to find a way to create a pregnancy, war would break out in the land. Some creatures didn't agree with combining the bloodlines, an abomination they called it. One day, when one of the queen's ladies was dressing for the day, she informed the queen of a healer called Agatha. She had helped others in the village conceive children and thought the lady thought perhaps she could help. Later that night, the queen discussed her lady's suggestion. At first, the king was against it. After all, dark magic and witchcraft were forbidden. After a little persuasion, he finally agreed to seek the healer the queen had spoken of. A few days later, the king and queen, escorted by their royal guards, left the kingdom and found Agatha's cottage deep in the forest. When King Richard and Queen Natalia asked Agatha for help, she was more than willing to whip up a potion, but for a price. The price to pay would be a vial of the infant's blood if they only had one child, and if the queen should deliver a twin, the firstborn would also be given to her. When King Richard and Queen Natalia refused to give her one of their children, the healer reluctantly accepted only the infant's blood in return for her help. Agatha explained the magic in the infant's blood would keep her young and alive for several years, and all she needed was a drop of blood a day to do so. Agatha wrote out a contract and handed the parchment to King Richard, and he read it over to Queen Natalia. They discussed the payment and agreed this was their only hope of having a child. The royal couple signed the contract, and Agatha cast a spell upon the parchment to seal the deal. Afterward, Agatha handed the queen the tiny vial containing the potion, and the queen quickly drank the liquid. In six months, the queen delivered twin girls to the realm. The sound of thunder cracked outside the castle, lightning returned the thunder’s call, and the rain poured heavily as their tiny princess was born. The royal couple named her Scarlett to resemble her fuzzy red hair. For twenty-six days, the princess brought joy and happiness throughout the realm. What should have been a happy occasion turned into despair for the royal couple. The princess had fallen ill, and her parents didn't know what to do. She had a fever and sweats. The tiny princess lay frail in her mother's arms. The king and queen sent for the royal enchantress, and she tried every spell and every potion for the infant's symptoms, but nothing worked. She grabbed her book of spells and ran tests on the infant's hair, but all the tests indicated nothing was wrong. "A rare blood disease," the enchantress declared. "You can send for Merlin, the wizard. He has helped a lot of people throughout the land. Surely, he will know what to do." "Why didn't I think about Merlin? He cured me of a wolf bite when I was young. Certainly, he can help!" Natalia blurted out. Out of desperation, the king sent a parchment by raven, asking the wizard for help. For two whole days, the couple waited for Merlin to appear. Many moons and suns have passed since Natalia saw the wizard last, and when he appeared, he wasn't at all what the royal couple expected. He was much older now. He wore a long dark blue tunic, and his disheveled hair hung to his waist. A long, scraggly beard matched his greying colour hair. He was an elderly man, but his watery blue eyes seemed to hold wisdom in them, and his rosy cheeks told the couple there was a warmth to his soul. So frail the tiny princess lay. She wheezed as she took each breath of air. The queen laid the baby on a nearby table for Merlin to see. He smiled and looked at little Scarlett, who barely made a sound. He listened to her chest and her heart. He waved his staff around her little body, and his smile quickly turned solemn and he looked at the king and queen sternly. "This is what happens when you play around with dark magic! Agatha is not one to go to for help! You should have come to me!" Merlin said angrily. "This child doesn't have a rare blood disease! The bloodlines are fighting within the child. Vampires were never supposed to procreate with different bloodlines!" "Purebloods conceive children, and I am a pureblood!" Richard snapped. "Purebloods cannot conceive with Elves!" Merlin shouted in return. "My Lunarius ancestors conceived with a pureblood! I found it written in one of the scrolls when I lived in Sylenor," Natalia added. Merlin looked over at Natalia in disgust. "Just look where that got them? They're extinct! None of the moon elves survived the attack of the nightwalkers and Lycans." "We're sorry! We didn't think,"- "Never mess with dark magic," Merlin warned, "All magic has a price and the results are never good. I can heal her, but it will come at a cost."" "May I know what is your price?" asked Richard with curiosity. "Silver and gold mean nothing to me. My only demand is that when the princess reaches the age of marriage, she must wed one of my descendants in order to fulfill the prophecy. The land is being consumed by darkness, but when the princess joins her powers with those of one of my descendants, only then can the darkness be vanquished," explains Merlin. The king and queen discussed Scarlett's fate and agreed that this was their only hope and the only thing they could do to ensure their daughter's survival. Reluctantly, they accepted the wizard's terms. Merlin nodded, leaned his staff against the wall behind him, and returned his attention to the frail little princess. The wizard reached inside the pocket of his tunic and pulled out a vial of red liquid and a small pouch of glittering dust. He opened the small vial of liquid and put a few drops on his index finger. He then smeared the liquid that was now on his finger across Scarlett's forehead in one swift motion. "I call upon the blood of the Sylenore ancestors. I need your help to save this poor innocent girl from death," Merlin shouted. The wizard opened the small pouch and grabbed a handful of the glittering dust. He sprinkled the dust all over Scarlett's tiny body as he chanted. "Principissa minima Vampire, Lunarian, et Faery, lux mediam vitam, corpus, et animam. Tenebrae te non habet potestatem. Sequere sonum vocis et redi in lucem. Lumen et sanguis Imperat tibi Lunarium;." "What did he say? Richard whispered. "He said Tiny Princess of the Vampire, Lunarian, and Faery, let light center your life, body, and soul. The darkness does not have power over you. Follow the sound of my voice and come back into the light. The light and blood of the Lunarians command you," Natalia explained. When the spell was finished, Merlin reached down and laid his hands on Scarlett's chest. Suddenly, a shaft of light radiated from his hands and moved into her body. The little princess then let out a gasp and whimpered a little. The king and queen quickly ran over to their daughter. Natalia held her tightly as she wept with joy. Tears streamed down Richard's cheeks as he stroked his daughter's hair. "The Princess is unique, possessing not only the gift of Sylenor's ancestors but also the gifts of Lunarius's ancestors and Fae. Due to her exceptional abilities, she will need protection from dark creatures who may seek to use her powers for nefarious purposes. Should they succeed, the realm will face certain doom." "We will keep her safe," Richard and Natalia said in sync. "You have my word," Richard said. Merlin grabbed his staff and waved it in a circular motion in front of him. A gray fog circled around him as he said, "If you need anything else, you know where to send a raven." The king and queen thanked the wizard, who disappeared into the fog. The kingdom was peaceful and calm for several weeks, and the realm was happy to hear that the princess was healthy. Four months had passed since that night, and everything remained quiet in the land. However, one night, when the queen was putting Scarlett to bed, a loud noise outside the castle interrupted them. The queen wondered what The commotion was about when King Richard suddenly burst into the room in panic with his guards. The castle was under attack, and they had no choice but to find a way to escape. Sir Marcus quickly opened one of the wall panels, and the royal family fled to the castle's old halls to escape. "Would one of you please tell me what's happening?" Natalia demanded as she swaddled Scarlett. Lycans have breached the castle, Your Majesty. The realm has been completely overrun by the creatures. We must evacuate you and your family to safety," Sir Malcolm informed. The royal couple navigated through the tunnels and embarked on the ship they had kept hidden for emergencies like the current one. Once everyone was aboard, they set sail towards the Mystical Grove to seek out the enchantress, Aasiyah, who had been exiled from Sylenor many years ago. The royals discovered a grove and dropped anchor. Accompanied by their guards, Sir Malcolm and Sir Marcus, they headed to the shore where Aasiyah was already waiting. They explained what had happened at the castle, and she agreed to help them, but with one condition: she would reside there when they should return. The king accepted her terms, and in return, Aasiyah opened a portal for them to escape to a foreign human village. After they arrived in the village, the royals changed their names and took on the professions of peasants in hopes they wouldn't be discovered. King Richard changed his name to Daniel and Natalia to Sybil. Upon their arrival in Willowdale, the King and Queen changed their names to Daniel and Sybil Bradford. "What shall we call Scarlett? Surely we can't use her real name, can we?" Natalia said in a hushed tone. "Certainly not. We'll call her Shelly, short for Michelle. No one would ever know her real name," King Richard whispered. After roaming the village for hours, the couple finally landed a job. Richard got a job as a blacksmith, making decent money, and Queen Natalia became a seamstress. Once they saved enough money, the family moved into a home large enough to house the three of them and two of the guards. With their hectic schedule, they worked out a deal that in exchange for home and gardening chores, the guards could also dwell there with them. There they remained, happy and comfortable for fifteen wonderful years, hidden among the mortals. Chapter - 1 The horses trot along happily down the dirt path as they pulled the carriage behind them. Shelly glanced out of her window and noticed the royal guards gathered in the front and back of the carriage as they escorted her to the cathedral. A crowd of nobles formed along the dirt path, and they waved and cheered as the carriage passed by them. Shelly sat back in her seat and her stomach began to turn. Was she feeling sick? She placed her hand on her forehead to check for a fever, but there wasn’t one…not even a drop of sweat. The sweating sickness and flu were both ruled out and she didn’t exactly feel sick. She then took several slow, deep breaths and realized she wasn’t sick at all. It was that pesky nervous feeling she would get a lot by worrying about things that didn’t need to be worried about. Her mother had always referred it to as butterflies or jitters. Lady Edith placed her hand on Shelly’s, “Is everything alright, Milady?” “I’m just a little nervous, but I’m alright,” Shelly replied. Lady Edith smiled sweetly. “There’s nothing to be nervous about, Milady. The Prince simply adores you. You know that." The carriage came to a stop, and Shelly looked out of the window to take in the astonishing scenery that awaited her outside. The cathedral was beautiful, and the marvel of architecture, craftsmanship, and construction of this old English Tudor Gothic style was magnificent. The main entry was arched and had within it, two large doors that were arched as well. Above this entrance, was an exquisite stained-glass rose window, imported from Bloodstone Keep, all covered by a gabled roof with some lintels and sills at the ends, and topped with a cross. Enclosing this remarkable entryway were twin columns on either side that rose above the roof and were surrounded by brick piers at each corner. The footman opened the door and extended his hand to Shelly and her lady soon after. Shelly smiled and accepted his hand in return. She exited the carriage where her father, Daniel awaited her. Daniel hugged Shelly tightly and placed a kiss on her forehead, “Sweetheart, are you ready?” Shelly smiled in return, “I am. I have been waiting for this day for a long time. I can’t believe that it’s finally here!” Tears of joy welled up in Daniel’s eyes, but he remained calm and extended his arm to his daughter before they entered the cathedral. The inside was far more beautiful than Shelly had expected. The entry level was fabricated using taupe concrete cinder blocks with arched windows and concrete lintels that united them with the arched entry. Gorgeous blue curtains with silver designs hung from every window and navy-blue banners with silver lions draped delicately on the concrete walls. The guests rose from their seats and the musicians began to play their soft music as Daniel and Shelly stepped through the double doors of the church. A cascade of flowers and happy faces greeted them as Daniel walked his daughter down the aisle to meet Prince Jeremy. Upon finally arriving at the back of the church Daniel placed Shelly’s hand into Prince Jeremy’s and gave him his blessing. “Who gives this woman to this man?” the Priest called out. “Her father does,” Daniel replied and took a seat next to Sybil who was in the front row. As Shelly stood at the altar to face the guests, their faces became a blur. A bit concerned there could be something wrong, she gazed towards her future husband, Prince Jeremy. A few strands of his thick black raven hair escaped under his crown and brushed against his forehead as he turned towards Shelly and took her hands into his. “Is everything alright my love?” Prince Jeremy whispered; a bit concerned. A sudden sadness came over Shelly as she looked out towards the guests to find two empty seats in the front row where her parents should be sitting. The only face that stood out amongst the guests was a young man, no more than maybe nineteen years of age. His dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail tied just above his shoulders, and his slightly muscular chest barely fit into his suit. The young man gazed up at Shelly with his loving dark blue eyes and gave her an encouraging smile to keep going with her vows. As she gazed into the Prince's eyes, she felt something sharp and pointy graze the top of her toes, followed by something wet and slimy. Shelly jumped up, and wondered what that was, but shoved that thought to the side because she was about to marry the man of her dreams. She visually imagined Prince Jeremy standing at the altar and quickly fell back to sleep. His hands slid around her waist and Shelly couldn’t help herself and gazed into his eyes and the Priest began to speak again. As the priest spoke, Shelly felt something, nibbling, nudging, and scratching her toes. She tried her best to pay attention but to no avail. Something was at her feet, distracting her thoughts. She looked down and there was nothing there but the train of her gown. The Priest smiled and said, “You may kiss your bride.” Prince Jeremy’s exquisite vibrant blue eyes locked on hers as he gently wrapped his arms around her. She coiled her arms around his neck and closed her eyes as he leaned in for the kiss. His lips felt tender and warm as they met hers and he firmly but lovingly tightened his arms around her. The guests stood and applauded after the Priest announced the royal couple as husband and wife. Prince Jeremy took Shelly's hand and they quickly ran down the aisle. The royal couple made it back to the carriage with their guests on their heels who were tossing birdseed over their heads. The footman closed the door behind them once they were inside and took his place next to the driver. The coach took hold of the reigns and commanded the horses to head towards the castle. The churchbell tolled in the distance, signaling morning was upon them. Shelly blinked once and closed her eyes again. She rolled over towards the window and heard something moo like a sick cow. She opened one eye and didn't see anything in front of her and closed her eye again. Before she knew it, she had drifted back off to sleep. The golden sun shined bright over the dooryard and beams of light from the sun peeked through the curtains. Shelly’s eyes peeked out of her heavy lids as she turned over groaning, and quickly pulled the covers over her head to block out the offending light the morning sun had brought. Suddenly, she felt something sharp digging into her toes again. Frustrated, Shelly tossed the blanket around her waist and quickly sat up and looked to see what was by her feet. She looked down and noticed her dog, Starling sitting by the foot of her bed. “Stupid dog,” Shelly grumbled. This sucked. Shelly had never been in a relationship before. Sure, there had been a few love interests in the past, but her feelings weren't reciprocated. Dreams were the closest thing she could get to a love life at the present time, and just when she married the man of her dreams, the stupid dog decided to nibble on her toes. ‘I’m not sure what’s worse. The dog nibbling on my toes, or the church bell with all of the annoying noise it brings every morning,’ Shelly thought. “Shelly! Time to get up!” she heard her mother yell from downstairs. Shelly rubbed the sleep from her eyes and yelled in return, “I’ll be down in a minute!”