Grasping Fate

Prologue:

*Edited 25th Nov. 2025

Flames licked the ebony sky, as thick billows of smoke wafted through out the air. Some houses were already scorched to the ground. Some were still burning. The heat crackled along the walls, catching onto trees and grass; continuing to wreck havoc on the small town. Crops were destroyed, memories were destroyed, lives were destroyed.

Painful screams struck through the air, screams of agony permeating the night sky. Mutilated corpses littered the ground, some burnt beyond recognition, some torn to shreds.

The village was harbouring a criminal, and it was the Royal Guards duty to ensure that they were found by any means necessary. Their operation was to search and destroy, and that's exactly what they were going to do.

Death-defying roars echoed around the ruins, blood curdling cries and crunches marred the surrounding as another life was lost. Beasts that stood on two legs, over seven feet tall, shook the town on its axis. Their sheer ferocity and power was enough to leave a full grown faery crawling at their feet. Those who lived long enough to tell the tale spoke of their overwhelming sovereignty and lethal aura. They say that their presence is enough to make your feet crumble and hands shake. The strength of their ambience is enough to make you nauseous, queasy and downright insane. This however, was overlooked by their beauty, prestige and tremendous wealth. Shimmering balls, crystal chandeliers and an army strong enough to take down an entire country was enough to intimidate their neighbours and let their potential for chaos rain down. Taking what they saw fit, including mates, or as they call them: inamorata.

They are tailored specifically for your chosen half. To fit each other, compliment each other, to love and cherish till death do them part. It is not usual to feel a connection on the first encounter, however the chance to find one's mate is so rare that most often dismiss the feeling to a temporary obsession. Only once skin has been touched can a beast determine its counterpart. Once the possessive creatures' find their destined, they will never let go, killing anyone who dared to step in their way no matter the cost.

A small girl stands in the wake of the destruction, clutching a tattered bear to her chest, tears streaming down her innocent freckled cheeks. A cut on her right cheekbone streams with crimson blood, dribbling down her neck to soak her night-gown. She cries not out of fear- but of agony, for friends and town who now suffers in destruction. She is too young to know of the story of the beasts, but old enough to feel the agonising fear of losing everything you hold dear. Her eyes are still puffy from sleep, her pointed ears twitch at each roar and scream, each loss of life still heavy in the air like the smoke heaving from her eradicated home. Where she was born, where she'd had her first steps, said her first word, cast her first charm.

She knows that there is no use of crying out for her parents, her friends, for she could already feel their aura slip away.

Her soot covered hands rubbed her eyes slowly, covering her forehead and cheeks in dirt. The cut still drizzling blood from the wound. Her cat-like pupils expanding to observe her darkened surroundings, the only light from the remains of the burning buildings around her. Small sobs racking through her chest made her body convulse and shake uncontrollably, her tiny knuckles going white as she clutched the teddy bear to her chest.

She dropped down, covering her knees and clothes in gooey mud and dirt. She was crying so much she failed to notice the beast looming in the shadows around ten feet behind her. It's blade-like claws dripping in crimson blood, sooty fur matted with dirt and claret with the stench of death surrounding him. Its jaw was clamped shut, eyes glowing a rich golden in the night like two fallen stars.

Elijah stood in the obscure shadow, fighting everyone of his instincts. He wanted to comfort her, tell the small girl it wold be alright. He knew he couldn't, not like this. Not covered in the blood of her people. He quickly shook his head, slicing his claws into his hands before they reach out for her. That night, his mission was to find Grinnah, they were his direct orders. He'd always been one to follow them, that is after all is how he'd climbed the ranks, easily becoming one of the most efficient killing machines in the entire fleet. He had earned countless medals, a seat with the council and an actual say it what was considered a good opportunity for the kingdom. And how? By leaving his emotions and getting it done. Disconnecting from himself to achieve the best result. So why now did they decide to sneak up on him? To make him feel an ounce of guilt.