“Right. As you wish my lady.”
The two of them continued walking, as they did he looked to her curiously. “So, mind me asking you some questions to get to know you better?”
“No not at all, ask away.”
“So you’re half demon, half angel right?”
“Mhm, I am.”
“Do the blood of the two ever fight for dominance inside of you?”
She shook her head no before speaking up. “I don’t know a lot of demonic spells, so it’s not as strong as the angelic blood inside of me. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever get stronger demonically-mainly cause I refuse to go back to the place I was supposed to grow up in.”
“Really why not?”
“I hate my father and demonic elder sister. They are *s and lying scheming pieces of * that can’t be trusted. I hate them with all of my small teenage heart. As much as I’d love to get to know my uncles and cousins-it isn’t going to happen. I’m never going to see them again and that’s that.” Reyna said with a sigh
“Do you ever think they’d repent?”
She scoffed. “That’s funny, they’ll never do that. If the goddess of the demons ever saw what had happened with me and how my father treats me-she’d be *ed as *. No doubt my father has been going against all teachings of a demonic ruler”
“Why do you say that? What has your father done that would have *ed off a goddess?” Hyun asked confused
“His reasoning and decision making is *. He isn’t fair or just, his logic is complete garbage. Not to mention he has a favorite out of my elder demonic sister and I, who seems to enjoy torturing me when I already feel out of place there.”
“Wow, what a *. So you said before you have a dragon in Militia yeah?”
“Mhm, she’s an acid dragon. She’s a beautiful black dragon with green eyes. Hyper as all *-but she’s an amazing friend and a trust worthy person.” Reyna said with a smile
“I do hope that our journey lands us in a place where I could sit down and chat with her. I'd love to be able to meet her.” Hyun said with a grin
“That may take a while since she’s rather possessive of me...then again you two may both do that. I don’t know how that’ll play out or if she’ll be kind to me since I had left her behind without saying goodbye to her. I didn’t want her coming here with me. I didn’t want her to get hurt...I ended up taking a young ice dragon by the name of Shyla here with me instead of her. I didn’t want her to end up getting harmed.”Reyna said sadly
Hyun nodded his head in agreement before it was silent for a bit, their travels took them many days. Hyun would always turn into his dragon form at night to keep her warm at night when she slept and give her cover during snow storms when they would rage around them. He wasn’t going to let her get hurt-he would protect her if it was the last thing he did. When the duo finally got to the area where they felt the warmth go past them, they soon saw a jolt of thunder in front of them and a seven foot tall male wearing dark robes over his face held a mace in front of him. “What’s the code?”
Reyna looked down at her sword. “Goddess Ryse we’re here.”
Her sword glowed and the female stood between Hyun and Reyna. “William dear, nice to see you again.”
“Mother? What the * are you doing inside of a damn sword? I was told you died”
“No, I made a trade that was worth the risk. For my life I could make a sword that would help the woman of prophets.” Ryse said with a sweet smile. “She’s the woman of prophets. She holds no ill intent.”
Ryse then looked at Reyna. “Dear show your angelic wings.”
Reyna nodded her head and shut her eyes as her wings showed, the male took his hood off showing his pink hair and his pink eyes were widened in utter shock. “Well blessed be, it’s been centuries since someone has been given that blessing!”
Ryse nodded her head. “She has been blessed by Bryce, Tina, your father and I.”
William looked at his mother in shock before he placed a hand on his chest as he shut his eyes. “I will allow her through and be her guide mother.”
“Good little boy, I’m happy to see you well after so long. Maybe we can catch up one day.”
“I would like that mother.”
William looked at Reyna. “You have much to do here princess, sorry for the harsh tone. I could smell the stench of my ex from you-I don’t really get along with her. I apologize for that.”
“It’s fine, I don’t really care for my demonic side right now...or my angelic side. I just wish to be liked and wanted somewhere.” Reyna said sadly
“That’s fair. Follow me.” He said before he turned on his heel and walked towards the highly lit kingdom.
Reyna and Hyun caught up with him quickly as Reyna placed her wings away, when they got to the kingdom people were staring at them which made her feel self conscious about herself.
“Um..why are we being stared at?” Reyna asked
“I don’t usually escort people, but you have my mother around your waist in a sword. I haven’t seen my mother in centuries since she made that sword for you. You are precious and cannot be harmed. I will forbid that. Without you around my mother cannot get out of that sword and I will be without her once more. I swore I lost her many centuries ago-but that’s not the case at all. So I will do what I must to keep my mother safe.”
“I see...so how many children did your mother have exactly?”
“Well let me think here, since I know you’ll end up meeting up with them sooner or later-I’ll tell you. There’s me-I’m the eldest of her children, Tina the creator of the wraiths, Toni the creator of the dark dragons, Bartos the creator of the incubus and succubus, Yasmin, the creator of the tree people-call them anything else and she’ll go crazy on you and Adam the creator of the vampires”
“Wowies, you have a lot of siblings.” Reyna said shocked
“Happens when my parents love each other so much. Though I should warn you to watch out for a few things..or should I say people. Amara, otherwise known as the ‘reaper of death’. He isn’t to be toyed with or faced by you. He will kill you. Bryce won’t be able to help you come back if you get near him.”
Reyna blinked her eyes a few times but nodded her head. “Okay, noted who else?”
“On the middle lands there are people in dark cloaks darker than my own that are out to kill those with mixed blood and you. I implore you to make as many allies and build a defense around you as much as possible if and when you go there.” William said seriously
“I never knew people were out to kill me, I’ve never spilt blood my entire life.”
“You are as innocent as I thought you were when I first looked into your eyes, princess, you truly do have what it takes. Mother chose right and I’m thankful for that. You may not wish to spill blood but others wish to spill yours for what your end goal will do will ruin what they want in their greed.” William said seriously before he stopped at a large staircase.
William then looked at her seriously as he crossed his arms. “Keep close to me and do not speak until spoken to.”
She nodded her head and the three of them walked up the steps together, as they got to the top of the steps they were stopped by two guards. “Lord William, what purpose do you have here with two strangers?” One of the guards asked
“I am here with the woman of prophet, I wish to speak to the queen and king about having her go through the elemental trial-to see if she’s truly worthy to be named woman of prophet.”
The guards let them in but kept an eye on Hyun and Reyna as they walked past them. Once they got to the throne room where two people sat on thrones and on either side of them were their three kids. One female and two males. William placed his hand on his chest where his heart was as he bowed to them as Reyna and Hyun followed in suit.
“Lord William, why is there a disgusting angel in my castle?” A strawberry blond female asked irate
“This female is the female of prophet, with her is the sword that holds the woman who birthed me. She has been blessed by many gods and goddesses as it is, two of them being my proud parents. Allow her to take the trial to see if she is worthy enough to become what is claimed. If she cannot do so then I will personally strip her of anything that was blessed to her.”
The strawberry blond female went up to Reyna and pulled her up. The female's pink eyes staring straight into her green eyes. “You aren’t fully angelic, I didn’t see that before, the slits in your eyes mean you are part demon. Interesting blood indeed you have inside of you. I will allow you in the trial if you can answer me this one question dearest.”
Reyna raised an eyebrow at the elder woman. “Yes my queen?”
“Where does your heart lie?”
“Not with my demonic or angelic side. My demonic parent has forfeited any type of hold on me as my angelic parent has been overruled by envy and pride, as well as kicked me out due to having high arc wings which were blessed to me for being a pacifist.” Reyna answered
The female hummed a bit and smiled. “You may take the trial, but like all others you will go with one of my children. You may choose who you may go with, I will warn you that my eldest Minerva and my second eldest Austin have a lot of experience within the trial.”
Reyna looked at all three of them before her eyes went to the youngest, a male with red hair and pink eyes. He was looking down ashamed, Reyna went up to the youngest and placed her hand out to him. “I would like you to come with me young prince, will you accompany me?”
The male’s pink eyes widened in shock as he looked at Reyna. “You wish for me to be the one to take you through? I have no knowledge of that place.”
“That doesn’t matter to me, I pick you. Please? It’ll be an experience for both of us.” She said happily
He placed his hand in hers and stood up, she noticed that he was a bit taller than her but not by much. “Very well princess, I will be your guide through the trial. My name is Zeph Salvage.” He said as he placed his right hand on his heart as he smiled at her
“My name is Reyna. I don’t want to be known as either one of my parents so I won’t go by either of their names.”
“That’s all well and fine. Let’s get going, your dragon companion will have to come with us.” Zeph said as he went to grab his spell book from the side of the room.
Reyna nodded her head. “Very well, I don’t think he’d mind.”
“Not at all princess.”
“Best of luck princess, may Tyche be with you.” The queen said before she sat down once more. William got up and he looked at Reyna.
“You will be on your own thus forth until you get out of the trial with or without the mark of their people. I cannot defend you properly without that mark, so do your best.”
Reyna nodded her head before she left with Hyun and Zeph, Zeph had taken the duo to a dark hole on the outskirts of the kingdom. “This is where we will begin, there is another tunnel we will come out of either together or me carrying you out because you can’t handle what you will face."
“I’m ready for anything Zeph, let’s get this over with.” Reyna said before she jumped down into the hole
Hyun followed after her which quickly made Zeph follow them. When the two males got to the bottom they saw that Reyna had glowing orbs around her lighting everything around her. Four of the orbs around her went around the boys before she looked around. “So which way, Zeph.”
“We go straight from here on out.” Zeph said as he pointed north.
“Right then, lead the way, prince.” Reyna said with a nod of her head
They walked a mile before the first challenge arose, they were faced with doppelgangers of themselves. The first to speak was Zeph’s as their pink eyes turned dark.
“You will ever amount to anything, you aren’t anything like your elders! You are weak! You are useless! No one will ever want you!”
Next was Hyuns who’s eyes went completely black. “You are no protector, if you were a proper protector you’d still be home. You’d be able to stand up to the queen. YOU’RE A COWARD!”
The last was Reyna’s. “We meet again, you have more doubt in you, when will you stop ignoring me and take what I say to heart. You’re useless, you aren’t ever going to do what you need to. You will fail! You aren’t strong enough!”
The two males looked down ashamed unlike Reyna who stood proud and tall. “I may not be strong, I may not be what people want. But I am me, I have two very loyal dragons who I care for deeply plus an unbreakable bond with the wraiths. Nothing you say will make me quit, I can become strong. I can become a protector and a pacifist, I don’t need your doubt or your stupid mind games. I will not bow down to weakness!”
Zeph and Hyun were stunned to hear the words that Reyna said and knew she was right. Zeph and Hyun stood at her side holding one of her hands before they spoke up. “You aren’t going to get us down. We’re stronger together.” Zeph said seriously “I may not be like my siblings but the princess sees something in me and for that I am thankful.”
“I may not have the back bone now to talk back to the queen but at least Reyna is safe and she still needs me to protect her. My job is to her-not to the kingdom.” Hyun said seriously
The three shadows disappeared before Reyna smiled at the two boys. “Very good boys. Let’s continue, yes?”
They nodded their heads before they continued walking, never once letting go of her hands. Once they got to the next trial they were up against a large elemental rock that changed element. When it saw Zeph it changed to water instantly and laughed, Reyna looked at Hyun. “Let’s downsize this bully!”
“Of course princess!” Hyun said before he went into his dragon form as she jumped onto his back.
Reyna went onto the elementals back as it turned from water to fire, Reyna’s clothes burned but she let her demonic blood take a hold of her as she used a shrinking spell making it become the size of an infant. When it realized it was small it screamed in fear before rushing off. Zeph was surprised that she wasn’t burnt.
“My gods...that was brilliant princess.”
“Thank you, I am half demonic so fire doesn’t hurt me as it does angels.”
“I see, I never knew that of demons. Interesting.”
“There’s a lot about me that you’ll find out prince.” she said with a smile
He nodded his head before he noticed that most of the clothes that covered her torso were completely burnt, which made her soul mark appear. His pink eyes widened in shock. “Princess...that mark.”
“I’m well aware you have that same mark, let's finish this before we talk about it.” She said before she walked off.
Hyun sighed as he turned to his human form. “You’re not the only one with that mark, let’s just meet up with the princess.”
When they did, she was staring upwards. “Is this the way out?”
“Not completely, this is only the beginning.”Zeph said shaking his head
They went up to the next level and dealt with two more trial tests-one was a trial specifically for Zeph and his water magic. He had to show that he was able to do the highest level of water elemental magic which would have allowed him to control a water sphere in mid-air and place it back in its place within a statue that had the five elements in orb form. The other trial was for Hyun to show what he can do as a smoke dragon.
He had to inhale the smoke that filled up a room before releasing it as magical energy, clearing the space out enough for them to be able to walk through without a problem. When he finished with his part of the trial they were met up with another ladder going up to the last level, and part of the trial. Going up to the last level of the trial they met up with William who was alone with his mace.
“You three show promise, but this next part is just for the princess. Boys stand down.”
They backed away from Reyna as she looked at him seriously. “Give me your worst, I won’t back down Lord William.”
“I hope not, you hold my mother in that sword of yours. Wield it as if it was your life, you must fight me to win your way out with the mark of partnership. I am the only one who deems those worthy to have the mark.”
She slipped her sword out of it’s place before she held it above her right hand. “Very well then, I’ll give it my all Lord William.”
“Come at me princess if you dare!”
‘My son is weak from behind and on his left side, it’s always been his weakness.’ she heard Ryse said in her mind
Reyna shut her eyes before she went straight for him only to use her demonic wings and fly above him and strike at him from behind only for him to groan out and fall forward, he was quick to get up and go straight for her only for her to strike his left side making him tumble over to the side and stay down for a moment.
“Do you give up Lord William?” Reyna asked placing the tip of the sword against his chin
He chuckled a bit. “My-my, you didn’t land a scratch on me yet you made me fall to my knees not once but twice. I’m impressed princess, you will make things right I can just tell by how you fight.”
He then stood up and he placed his hand upon her bare right shoulder. Upon that shoulder was a pentagram which was black and blue that had two crescent moons on either side of it.
“Congratulations princess, you've established the unthinkable.” He said before he took the three of them out of the tunnel.
As they were outside of the tunnel the queen, king and the elder two children saw that William came out first and he proudly stood firm in front of the exit with his mace in front of him.
“Queen and King Salvador, I present to you-your newest contract bound princess, Princess Reyna. She has fully completed the trial with your youngest son Zeph Salvador with flying colors.” William said before he motioned for the three of them to leave the tunnel
Austin and Minerva both looked at their younger brother shocked as they saw him leave the tunnel with the princess and dragon beside him. The queen and king were most impressed with what they’ve seen. It was the King that went up to the three of them. First looking at Reyna with a very sincere smile on his face.
“Young princess Reyna, you have done the unthinkable. Not only do you hold the marking of the Elementals of this very kingdom, but you also hold the marking of the wraiths on the other side of the world. Not just anyone can do such a feat princess, all of the kingdoms have been told of a woman of prophet that will do such a feat-a woman that picks pacifism over genocide and will be able to right the wrongs of those who have been tainted. As of right now, you are on the right path, and for as long as you need-you will have sanctuary here with us. That mark tells all that you are worthy of respect as an angelic being.”
She bowed her head and smiled at the king. “Thank you, your highness.”
The king then went to Hyun who stiffened. “I usually don’t like dragons, but you have a great partner who has our respect, so you will have the same respect, dragon male. As long as you are here in the name of peace you will be allowed in your dragon form. To fly and do as you please as long as my people are not harmed.”
“Thank you, your honor.” Hyun said bowing his head respectfully
Zeph was then looked at by his father and he looked down at his spell book. He didn’t know what would be expected of his father. What stunned him was getting hugged by his father as his head was patted. “F-Father?”
“I am so proud of you son, you’ve done well to have taken all of the lessons you’ve been given with your siblings to heart and study as you have. You have shown that even though you’ve just begun to understand your role as an elemental prince, that patients will win in the end. You have a very bright future ahead of you and I am proud to call you my son for what you’ve accomplished son.”
Zeph teared up hearing his father speak before he dropped his spell book and hugged his father back with tears in his eyes. “T-Thank you so much father, I promise I will not let you down. I will stay at the princesses side for as long as it takes to help her achieve her goal no matter what it takes.”
“That’s my son. Now go on and celebrate with the princess and her dragon. I will see you in the castle tomorrow.”
“Yes, of course father.”
His mother just stared at Reyna for a moment before shaking her head and walking off pulling her two older children with her. Once it was just Reyna, Zeph, Hyun and William. William smiled at the trio before he crossed his arms. “Seems like my mother was right to have placed her faith within you Princess, but you had spoken before about you no longer taking the last name of your mother and you don’t wish to be known as your fathers kin either...so what do you want to be known as?”
“Just plain old Princess Reyna. I see no reason to have a surname until I wed whomever I end up marrying at the end of all of this.For now I walk the path between the light of the angelic race and the darkness of the demonic race, in the road of midnight where things are grey and allow me access to both angelic and demonic race that I wield within my body."
Willam chuckled. "So be it. I look forward to seeing how it plays out for you princess Reyna. Now the kingdom's largest town has made up a celebration for you, the prince and your dragon. Follow me and I will show you where you three are expected.”
The three of them followed William to one of the towns they had passed by before, before they were allowed in through a magical barrier that separated the town from the rest of the kingdom. Reyna’s eyes lit up as she felt a sudden warmth go around her body, she was taken by two females to get a change of clothes as a male went up to Hyun and Zeph to have their clothes changed as well. The boy’s changed quicker than Reyna did, they wore lightweight but cold resistant clothes that were black and dark blue that covered their arms and legs and were given different shoes to wear with their clothes. When they saw Reyna come out of the changing area, she was wearing something completely different, and was able to have her hair down. Her outfit was a short black and dark blue outfit that made her shoulders be exposed, exposing both of her marks. Both males looked at her stunned and shocked to see just how she looked. She had her hands together as she smiled at the two males. “How do I look, boys?”
“You look beautiful.” Hyun said with a smile
“I have to agree, you look better in those than what I first saw you in. They suit you much better.” Zeph said with a nod of his head
“Thank you, I’m glad you two think so.” She said happily “I was told that the three of us are to stay together for now. So while we do...I must talk with the two of you about the marks we have on us that binds us to one another.”
Both males nodded their heads as they looked at her. “Of course.” They said in unison
Reyna placed her hands together as she smiled at the two of them. “I want to first say that you two aren’t the only ones that have the mark that we share-there is one other. Hyun has been told about him but doesn’t know him by face, only by name. He is the only one I had thought I was born to be around. But the Goddess Ryse has told me otherwise. You three are bound to me and I have to choose between the lot of you. At this point in time, I am only emotionally and mentally tied to that male.”