Two Hundred Years in Slavery is all the people of Xathania have known. Toiling and dying for a kingdom that has only snarled at them. Not until hope surfaces as a story in the wind and the flames of a spirit long forgotten resurfaces to face the g...
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Flames of onyx and blood red filled Cora's dreams.
The flames came from within her and burnt true but it did not harm her. Her bones did not become brittle and her skin did not fall off or melt. She felt no pain. She felt nothing.
A voice cooed behind her, causing a chill to crawl down her spine. 'So, it is true.' A thick dark fog crept towards her. 'He has found you.'
Cora said nothing.
She didn't dare.
'You're as beautiful as always,' the voice said. 'It would be a pity if he lost you again.'
'Who are you?' Cora demanded and the voice laughed.
'The question should be who are you?' The voice snapped. 'Princess Cora of the Lost Kingdom of Xathania and the Isle of Opir, third in line and bearer of the Phoenix's fire. He is drawn to you for a reason. We all are. Every woman in your family has been a part of the Phoenix's core but you, my dear, are that core and you will be mine.'
The fire around Cora turned orange and red. A raging shriek erupted from behind her, jolting her awake. The sky above was dark. Samael was asleep beside her but not for long. He woke up too, checking on her in an instant.
Her nightmares had come to her every night. Each one different from the last but as real as the sky above her.
They had been in Xir for three weeks without worry or rumors of the Welkamian army marching for them. She slept relatively well, asides from the nights when her nightmares proved turbulent and knocked her out of sleep.
The voice from her most recent one still echoed in her mind, still forced her skin to crawl. Samael had been an anchor on most nights, had assured her that she was awake and that she had nothing to fear.
He did the same on this night but instead of going back to sleep with him, she spoke this time.
'Who is my mother?' Cora asked with a steady voice.
Samael was not taken aback but he kept his face serious as he said, 'You will find out at The Mount...'
'So you know her then?' Cora demanded.
Samael answered with a nod.
'Who is she?'
'I will break my parents' laws if I...'
Cora got out of the bed before he finished his statement. He followed her. She had not expected him not to but she needed to walk about and control her breaths. She did not want to wake up the Lord and Lady of Xir or worst of all the children.
Samael knew.
He had to know. Who her parents were, who she descended from.
