Prologue

There I was standing on a battlefield poisoned with the blood of innocence and evil alike. Beside me king Derek of Dralic a strong and loving man, his purple eyes so much like my own symbolize our royalty. His dark hair moves with the wind as it carries the stench of war. I am queen Elaine of Dralic, a proud and noble land.

Opposite us stands the evil horde of Alicia, the biggest battle the human race has had to face. Six months of small battles with neither side gaining ground has brought us to this point, we stand facing each other for the final battle. The battle to end all suffering the battle to determine if the world of Dralic is to remain peaceful or if it is to be twisted into the horrific underworld Alicia wishes to turn it into. We cannot lose they must not reach gradkail the city that has held Dralic's power for centuries, for if they do all will be lost. If they reach that power they will be able to destroy Dralic within days and nobody could stop them. They must not wield it.

Knowing this I turn to my beloved husband he stares into my eyes the scar across his check won in a battle long ago reminds me that our race is not as invincible as we once were as he asks

"are you ready to end this my love?"

I nod blood lust in my eyes, blood lust for those who wish to destroy all that I hold dear.

"Let us rip them to shreds and put their heads on spikes for the world see that we protect Dralic's power and no one shall take it from us or they will suffer the wrath of it."

He laughs

"you always had a way with words. Let it begin, what we do today determines the future of Dralic."

Here he raises his voice to reach those lined up behind us, an army all dedicated to the power of Dralic and us their king and queen. Many support injures won in these last few months but still they remain faithful to Dralic never allowing their spirit to leave their faces.

"Today we make history, these traitors will never take the power from our grasps. Many of you will die but you will die knowing that you were protecting the essence of Dralic. Those who live will know you fought on the side of good and you will live with the pride of knowing you helped protect the power that makes Dralic your home."

Here he paused then roared.

"Let us leave no one alive, take no prisoners they all must die for what they have done and the treason they have shown in rising against Dralic. Show them that this treason will not go unpunished. They will pay for the crimes they have committed against us. Today we end this forever, today we send them back to the hell they came from, Today we write history."

Our army erupted into a chorus of cheers raising their various weapons and shields, those of our kind roared with the promise of blood shed.

With anger towards our enemy both my dearest love and I turned towards the army before us, roaring with a battle cry we plunged into battle, both armies hit with the force like no other, with each enemy cut down another replaced them, theirs seemed endless.

As the battle raged on many from both armies dropped in death their bodies adding to the already bloodstained battlefield. I saw my beloved down all in his path giving our warriors strength with his presence. We were outnumbered by thousands, it seemed Alicia's army would never end.

Finally just as a body dropped no longer supporting a head downed by my sword, it was replaced by none other than the she-devil herself, forever tearing her way through the light that was Dralic. Standing before me with her eerie red eyes to match her flaming red hair her forehead supported a chain of red rubies was the evil witch Alicia. She smiled the sweetest smile her mouth a thin line of confidence, growling I lunged into a powerful attack that held no mercy for she was not deserving of it. Jumping back she smiled

"now Elaine is that anyway to treat your future queen?"

I growled again

"you are no queen, the power of Dralic will never allow it. You die here, now and by my power"

I prepared to lunge again however her laugh stopped me.

"I seem to recall the power of Dralic has denied you already,"

she laughed again.

"What a pitiful creature you are, no matter I have come prepared."

"What are you talking about?"

She pointed,

"Look over there and you will find out."

Following her finger I stared across the battlefield to see Derek held in the arms of Nate with a dagger to his throat.

I shook my head,

"No I don't believe it, it is a trick."

Alicia motioned them closer. As Nate maneuvered Derek through the crowd the battle stopped in their wake, everyone turning to see their King captured. It was at that point that I knew we had lost.

Spinning back to Alicia I spoke through gritted teeth,

"You will pay for this you witch. We are not beaten as long as there is breath in our lungs and the power remains unusable."

Calmly Alicia faced Nate and ordered

"kill him."

Over my own scream I could hear that of a child's voice, my child's voice, Sarri. It was then within that few seconds many things happened as if in slow motion. First I watched as a beam of light threw Nate away from Derek, and then a portal erupted in thin air. All I could do was watch as those of Alicia's army were sucked through the portal missing all that were against her evil the wind pasting them harmlessly.

I watched as Alicia sprung forward with such speed I did not think it possible. Intending to kill Sarri, however just before the sword struck, my love of all loves, jumped in the way. I screamed as Alicia was sucked through the portal with Derek king of Dralic still impaled by her sword.

Suddenly the hold on me that had stilled my movements broke as I reached to save him from being pulled into the abyss. However it was not necessary for the same power that created the portal closed it as the last of Alicia's army went through and just as Derek was still in this world. Both of us ran Sarri reached him first.

"Papa I'm sorry I didn't know what to do they had you, I couldn't control it."

Reaching his side I pulled him onto my lap.

"Derek please don't go. You are still needed here my love."

He smiled, in his eyes I saw death it's self. He laid a hand on Sarri's face and one gripped my own hand.

"Sarri my love you did the right thing do not blame yourself for my death, I died knowing I kept you safe that is all that matters."

I heard Coran the bastard son of my husband, kneel beside us. Derek looked to Coran,

"Take care of her."

Then he looked to me,

"Take care of them both my love they will need your strength and guidance. As will our people, lead them well"

I nodded as he brought his hand to my face. His last breath gone his hand fell away.

Suddenly tall a burst of light erupted into the sky.

"NO!"

I heard Coran exclaim as we watched the power of Dralic separate into four pieces then fly off into the distance. I looked to Coran in horror.

"It is gone all hope is lost."

He shook his head to deny my words but I knew them true. I again looked to the body in my arms that was once my husband and as this dreadful day sunk deep within my soul I no longer saw him.

In my grieve I melted away into myself. No longer was I able to function; no longer was I in control. As I melted I felt another replace me and I could not stop it I had not the strength to fight it for that strength had just been torn away with our last hope of survival. It was in that moment I knew the Alicia would be back and that I had no way to warn anyone for I was no longer in control but had been replaced by another.