A Faery Tale

Prologue

Avdi hefted the short sword in his hand, enjoying the unfamiliar and deadly weight. He worked to keep his excitement under control, as well as his breathing. Seven imps were walking with him, heading for the royal estate, their shadows barely visible in the pale light of the crescent moon.

They cleared the entryway easily; he had worried that they would have trouble with the guards but they were no match for his quick blade and the imps' massive claws. With the guards out of the way, what resistance would they find in the rest of the palace?

The answer was a handful of elderly guards—no doubt kept on to preserve their dignity—and some younglings who had never before seen combat. Avid could barely contain his zeal; this was too easy! It was like they had been begging him to come and upset the balance of the realm.

The first room they found was the nursery. Quickly so as not to alert the parents with any cries, he sliced through the delicate neck, decapitating the infant. Not so much as a peep. Next was the massive master suite, where King Oberon and Queen Tatiana lay in slumber, their blood-red wings curled around each other.

Wanting to relish this moment, he gestured for the imps to turn on the mirror stream before pulling the rulers out of bed. He licked his lips with anticipation; everyone would witness this monumental moment; he had already made sure that his mirror would stream on every single channel, broadcasting to every single home and estate. Lazily he walked into view, his eyes taking in the sight of the disheveled couple. Tatiana's ebony hair had fallen in front of her face, her single white streak the same color as her fear-bleached skin. Oberon was wild-eyed, searching for his guards no doubt. There would be no help for them. They had been unopposed in their rule for several thousand years now, and it was coming to an end.

Turning to face the mirror, he put on his most cordial smile. "Good evening everyone. What you are about to witness is history in the making." He paused and then chuckled slightly. "I'm a bit nervous, you see. It's not every day that you get to be the center of attention to so many. I wonder how many of you have gotten out of bed to watch this. I apologize for the late hour." He stepped to the side so that the viewers could have another look at the royal couple. "These are your rulers: King Oberon the Brave, and Queen Tatiana the Just. Well, they were your rulers."

Without blinking, Avdi slashed at their throats, killing them both with one slice. He imagined the reactions of the viewers, hearing the phantom gasps and cries of disbelief. It was too bad he couldn't see his audience; it would have made the experience that much better. He moved to stand before the center of the mirror again.

"People of Fae, please do not be alarmed. I am here to tell you that your rulers, and their son, are dead. They were killed because their way of ruling was obsolete; they had no business lording over us simply because they were pure blood! How archaic." He smiled again, a caring and gentle gesture. "The Royal House is now under my control, but I will not rule you from it! Instead, I will become the High Manager of the kingdom, and the ones who will answer to me are the Managers of the 12 Centers."

He could feel his wings quivering behind him from his intense emotions; they betrayed his calm demeanor and he silently cursed them. Keeping a slight smile on his face, he gestured toward his audience. "So once again, hello people of Fae. I am Avdi of the House of Violets, and I am your new High Manager. Have a good night."