I sat in the armchair of our library with a book in my hands. Sorin sat to my right, napping in a very odd position. I was just about to wake him then the doors opened and a head of red curls popped in. Accompanied by another with pinstraight brown hair.
Sorin's pale blue eyes slid open and he lifted his head, his golden hair a mess.
"There you are Nesrin. My dear cousin. Drastan has been looking for you. Apparently you're supposed to be training with your sisters and brothers," my cousin, Xanth, said with an annoying grin. His friend beside him looked just as smug. If I remembered correctly, Maleth, was his name.
"Leave me alone, Xanth. Go find Darcio to bother."
Sorin watched Xanth and Maleth with a reproachful look. Sorin had been friends with Darcio since he was sixteen and my brother was fifteen. Darcio was twenty-eight when I was born and Sorin had been there.
"Uncle would be very displeased to find you in the library instead of training." His eyes slid to Sorin then. "And what are you doing in here? You are friends with Darcio, correct? Not Nesrin. Unless you fancy her."
I seen the irritation in Sorin's face but he kept his tone friendly. "Nesrin is as much my friend as Darcio "
I snapped my book shut, gaining everyone's attention. "Get out, Xanth."
His gold eyes shone with amusement as he turned to his friend.
"Her father has this amusing idea to beat my father in getting the title of High Lord. He stole magic from others. From Queen Tatania, from High Lady Leilani, from High Lord Drazen, and High Lord Jarek."
"He didn't steal it. He asked Queen Tatania and she allowed him her magic along with Spring and Summer. And he talked Jarek into it," Sorin retorted, sitting up straight.
Maleth and Xanth both seemed to be enjoying this.
"When does Drastan expect to unleash his small army on Cadoc? That's what you all are, right? That's why he had so many of you. Darcio is a lost cause to him. His only child without his powers. But you. You're the oldest one with it. It diminished with each child, but you have the most."
He and his friend were snickering now. I wanted to throw my book at his face, but my uncle would likely punish me for it.
"Get out," I ground out.
Xanth and his friend turned and strode out, still laughing. When we were alone, Sorin turned to me.
"Nes, are you alright?"
I shook my head. "I don't care about what they say. I can ignore that. But no one but this family knows how my father really is. They're right. He only had us for weapons. Not because he loves us. Maybe to an extent. He shows affection to Sarnai and Sahar. He completely hates Darcio. And he is hard on me. He-"
Sorin's eyes narrowed. "What did he do? You've acted weird all day. You've been walking weird like your back is hurting you."
I sat there for a moment and then stood, leaving my book in the chair. I turned so my back was facing him and lifted my shirt just enough so he could see the burn on my back. I heard him suck in a breath.
"Everytime I disappoint him, I'm punished. Last night, I didn't do as well as he wanted me to with my magic. So he took a hot poker to my back. My mother tried to stop him and she got a matching one. I healed hers, but not mine. No, I want to keep this scar to remind me that magic makes people selfish."
I let my shirt back down and the library doors slammed open. I flinched, knowing exactly who it was.
"You. I've been looking everywhere for you. Why aren't you training with your sisters and brothers?" My father demanded.
"I don't want to train anymore," I said in a small voice. I finally looked up at him and he was staring back at me blankly. I knew what was coming.
"Leave us Sorin," he commanded calmly.
"Drastan, let me take her punishment," Sorin pleaded.
"No, he's right. You need to go." I hung my head.
"Nes I-"
"Get out of my house you worthless summer scum," my father spat.
Sorin looked torn as he trudged through the door. He looked back at me once before he was gone.
My father went to the fireplace, picking up the poker and my hands began trembling.
"Father, please," I whispered.
"I'll teach you to be obedient."
I shot up in bed, gasping for air. The summer sun beat in through the window and I threw up my hand to cover my eyes. I was drenched in sweat and my sheets were tangled around me like I had been kicking and thrashing.
That day in my dream was the last day I saw my family.
I reached under my shirt and my fingers brushed that circular scar.
I should have been out with my siblings. At least then if I couldn't have saved them, then I would have died with them.
I got out of bed and went into the sitting room, but Darcio was already gone. Probably to sell the deer skin.
I slipped on my worn out boots and stepped out into the heat. At least the house was typically cold. Courtesy of me and my Winter magic. That's how we could keep the fireplace going all the time. Because I also had fire magic. Thanks to the Summer Court.
I headed down to the town with a bag of coins and a few loaves of bread. I did this a few times a week. Offering what we could to the people who were suffering. Like Owen.
I got to the heart of town where most people congregated and traded. There were plenty of hungry people here, desperate to get anything from anyone.
I heard a woman weeping and when my eyes found her, my blood ran cold. It was one of Owen's sisters. Luciana I think.
"Have you seen my brother? His name is Owen. He has curly brown hair and brown eyes. He's about this tall," she was saying to people. Most ignored her.
I tore my eyes away, guilt clawing at my heart. I know he tried to kill me. But I still felt terrible about killing him. Knowing he had a family.
It still bothered me when I was heading back home a few hours later.
I was approaching our house when I heard a crash. I raced forward immediately and threw open the door.
"Darcio!"
Two pairs of eyes shot to me. One pair were the same gold as mine. The others were like liquid silver.
I noticed his pointed ears and withdrawn sword before anything. I could feel him peeling away my glamour and a grin spread across his face.
He had to be powerful to have stripped away my glamour so easily. I didn't recognize him though.
Flawless, sun-kissed skin, sharp, defined features, a full mouth, silky ebony hair that brushed the tips of his shoulders, half of his hair pulled back into a ponytail. His clothes looked like they were made from darkness itself.
I narrowed my eyes and took a cautious step forward.
"Who are you?" I demanded
Darcio tried to move towards me, but the man pressed his blade to his throat without taking his eyes off of me.
"Nesrin, daughter of Drastan and Haizea. You are the last of your father's little army. You're supposed to be dead."
Darcio looked horrified. "How do you know about that? Who else knows?"
The man turned a murderous look to Darcio. "You do not get to ask questions. You are not in the position to. King Cadoc felt a surge of power here. You can thank your sister. I was sent to retrieve you. If you do not shut your mouth and come back with me, the secret about your sister is going to slip."
Darcio stilled completely.
The air around us picked up and the fire in the fireplace danced viciously.
"You are not taking my brother anywhere."
I caught a gleam of teeth as he flashed me a feral grin. "Now Nesrin, let us be smarter about this situation." He closed his free hand and every shadow in the room swarmed me and I was enveloped in darkness, unable to move.
I knew who he was at that moment.
"Kaius," I growled. "Cadoc's lapdog. His favored son. High Lord of the Shadow Court."
"I'm so very glad you caught on." I couldn't see him but I was sure that stupid grin was plastered to his face.
"I will hunt you down and kill you. Just like I will do to Cadoc," I threatened.
"Sounds like I will be seeing you soon then," he replied and then I was standing in the warm light of the house.
Kaius and Darcio were gone.