Night Chaser

Chapter 1

Violet was fleeing through the woods as the sun was setting. She ran as fast as she could; her grandfather would not tolerate for her to be late at the bal held in honour of his birthday. Luckily, being a Half-Elf, she could run fast for miles and miles. Ten minutes later, she reached the northern, tall, stone door of the wall surrounding the the main city of the Mages, Sunchester. As the castle was situated in the middle of the capital and she would have to go through the immense crowd waiting to get in the main doors or the busy kitchen of the castle, she chose to create a portal leading to the bottom of the stairs of the Royal family's apartment tower. She hurried up the stairs, entered her bedroom and took a quick shower to wash off the smell of the forest that she knew her grand-father hated.

    " I have fifteen minutes left, I can do this," she breathed, looking for a nice dress to wear.

    Violet opened her closet, looked through her collection of dresses for special occasions, and settled on a long, olive green dress. She sat at her dresser, applied some eyeshadow and lipstick, both gifts from her best friend, and tied a small part of her light brown hair at the back of her head with a leather band decorated with some white flowers. The 18 years old girl put on her high-heeled shoes and hurried to the ballroom.

    Her mother, step-father and half-siblings were waiting for her at the door.

    "Vi, you are almost late, again. You knew today was your grand-father's birthday reception; you could have made an effort," whispered her mother, Evangeline, in her ear as she hugged her.

    "I did! I am not late, which is better than usual... Anyways, late or not, grand-father will find a way to scold me," replied Violet.

    Evangeline gave her a disapproving look, but did not answer, knowing it was true. He had a very hard time accepting Violet, as she was part elf, the enemy of the Mages. The woman knew her daughter suffered from that situation. She also saw how much her grand-father adored the twins, her children from a human man, which for sure did not make the situation any easier for her eldest daughter.

    The little party finally made their entrance in the giant reception room. Usually almost empty but for a few plants, tables and chairs, the room was crowded with human Mages, Witches and even some fairies. A gold chandelier made out of diamond now illuminated the large space. On the left, people were serving themselves at a buffet. In the middle, people were dancing to the music played by a chamber orchestra situated on the balcony. All around other were discussing and admiring the event. On the other side of the room, on a throne, sat Violet's grand father, the king of Sunchester, Evan the second. He was wearing a traditional royalty Mage tunic over his dark blue suit. His magical staff was resting on his lap. He was twisting his grey beard that nearly reaching his belly between his two fingers, a sign that he was very concentrated in what the tall, dark-haired man in front of him had to say, that as until he saw his daughter

    "Evangeline, my dear!" exclaimed the king as soon as he saw her.

    He got up from his throne, laid his sceptre on it, and greeted Evangeline and her family, completely forgetting about the man with whom he was conversing.

    "Happy birthday, Father. I hope you are enjoying your night."

    "I am," he replied. "And look at my two favourite grand-children! Mara and Elan, come hug your old grand-father."

    "Happy birthday Grand-pa!" simultaneously answered the 6 years old twins as they tightly hugged Evan.

    "Happy birthday, Grand- father," smiled Violet as the old man detached himself from the two kids.

    "Thank you child," he smiled back before turning to Karl Kovras, his daughter's husband. "And how are you Karl? We will have to talk later about opening a new school down in in Braedon, since more and more children from there move in the Capital to study Magic."