Help.
She was running. She ran as fast as she could. Her heart was tearing her chest apart and her breath made her voice unable to scream out a word.
Help.
The words got stuck in her chest and hot tears began to come to her eyes. She was running away. She ran away, but still felt the breath on her back. The quiet roar of impending danger. She couldn't understand how such a huge creature made no sound. She was completely alone, with no chance of survival.
Help.
Help!
Her feet led her up the high staircase that curved around the lowest levels of the palace. Her bare feet had long ago gotten rid of their decorative shoes to at least confuse the beast. Yet the creature still smelled her, a skin colour as pale as the insides of its eyes and mouth. The girl started to run to the higher areas of the palace, hoping that the guards there would quickly realise the danger and her heart would finally be able to stop dancing its merciless dance. However, the unfamiliar corridors of the palace led her to darker areas, full of closed heavy doors. As elegant as those in the residential parts of King of Arevamora's manor. Demon Coyotes were creatures of destruction and have been associated with the Lord of Cataclysms for centuries. They appeared as portents of great disasters and wars. A cold sweat ran through the woman's body as her head imagined the pantome fangs biting through her skin to the very depths of the energy core that was sunk deep into her chest. That's what they were here for. The beings of darkness have hunted the Fae and related Beings for centuries, only to pluck from their battered bodies the gleaming, silver core that was the foundation of their allegiance to a great bloodline.
Flare Leivalie was the unfortunate victim of that bloodline. Not endowed with energy that was supposed to help protect loved ones, families and her own life. Her core wasn't strong, she couldn't feel it these days, and she wasn't sure if the creature, when it would finally tear her apart, would find what it was looking for. A roar pierced her insides, her ears got pierced by an incapacitating shriek that knocked her to the ground.
However, one thing Flare was good at was running, and she knew that if she didn't get up, she would lose. Her legs were strong and her body agile, and she could find a way out any second. Her head led her ahead, where soon exotic plants began to grow on the walls and the door to the underground gardens was open.
Flare knew it was a closed road. However, she had no choice, she started running as fast as possible towards the door behind which a bright glow was beating. When she reached the door and ran into the garden, she didn't have a chance to admire the winding plants or the waterfall. Her body slammed against something hard, and as she spun over her shoulder, brightness danced in her sapphire eyes.
Her heart fluttered as that brightness faded into the haze of her nightmares. The creature reached up to the ceiling, and in its parted mouth and deep-set eye sockets a glow shone, at which the girl squeezed her eyes tight. Trying to get out of the creature's range, she moved as quietly as possible. Coyotes were blind when they went into trance mode. The bright glow was as damaging to them as it was to their victims. Flare, seeing the way out, got up as fast as she could and headed towards the corridors leading to the exit. Her escape was thwarted, when her body slammed into a stone carving. Flare muttered something under her breath as black spots danced in front of her eyes. The girl, not giving up, tried to get up, but the creature pinned her body to the floor and her chest sagged under the weight of its foot. Without thinking much, Flare tried to break free from the creature's clutches, but it made the decision to tear her body apart. The claws of the creature did not appear sharp, caked with goo and oozing slime. However, Flare was aware of how much pain they could cause when they plunged into the victim with the intention of bringing death.
Flare braced herself to meet death in silence. Her body relaxed to such an extent that she had the impression that it merged into one with the garden that reigned around. She felt a strange sense of elation, the tips of her fingers twitching unpleasantly. And not a second later as the creature swung at her, Flare's eyes widened and they flashed with the same light as those of the creature. However, the discharge that came through her hand sent the creature flying across the garden, and shattered it into the dust. The blast thundered across the entire basement, then slammed into the walls and escaped through the ceiling.
The girl, trying to get up, felt a stream of blood flowing down her mouth. Flare wobbled dangerously. She had no idea what had happened, but she knew that the Energy that flowed through her, saved her life. Flare leaned against one of the nearby statues and bent her head so as not to let the blood run down her throat. Her head ached unpleasantly and her body felt as on fire. Her heart was strangely still, painfully bound by the adrenaline of today's events. Everything seemed so peaceful, another year of Unification of Ebraxas' Celebrations and another outstanding feast. Flare had only heard of Demon Coyotes from her father's stories about how dangerous they were and how hard it was to kill them. She had heard stories of the many deaths and misfortunes that the God of Calamities' coyotes had wrought upon all the people of Ebraxas.
Gathering her strength, the girl decided to go in search of a way out. She had no idea that schoolwork would bring her such adrenaline and fear. Her legs thumped as her feet touched the cold marble of the palace's main level. Its bright interior made Flare's body relax a bit. Flare had always wanted to visit the palace, she had always associated it with something elegant and beautiful. Rooms full of expensive wallpaper and walls filled with paintings that dated back hundreds of thousands of years. Huge windows overlooking the palace grounds let in the light Flare loved. The sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, leaving behind a pink and orange sky and rays that caressed the girl's face in the most pleasant of ways. Finally, she felt calm.
Her character quickly began to attract attention. Her bare feet and dishevelled hair were unusual in Aravamora, especially in the house of the emperor.
"What are you still doing here, girl?" The voice of one of the employees caught her attention. The sun was pleasant, and it didn't want Flare to let her gaze off. "You're one of the students from The Adiscone University, aren't you?"
Flare just nodded, not too eager to answer. Fatigue began to enter her body. A tall woman in neat clothes grabbed her arm and told her to go. The girl obediently followed the manager, whose task was to ensure that each of the tasks entrusted to the students was fulfilled. It was a little tradition established between the schools in the Ebraxas area and the main palace in the capital. In this way, students at some stage in their lives could sneak into the most interesting places of the palace and learn secrets that were closely guarded. A tour to the palace was looked forward to by every student over the age of twenty.
Then, people according to the law of Aravamora, became of age and could go unaccompanied on a flight to the capital of Ebraxas. Visiting the huge gallery and botanical gardens was Flare's dream, they were not available to see on a daily basis. Even the expensive entrance cards covered these areas on certain dates. In this way, protecting the relics and portraits that were collected in the capital.
Now, Flare had to go to the main mansion, where her class was probably waiting to see her and confirm their fears. No one should allow Eyphar to come close to the other kins. Flare understood their concerns, but at the same time rolled her eyes at any nasty taunt. It wasn't her fault that her Sorceress mother had married her Aurenil father. Admittedly, both might have expected their mixture to produce a Half-Breed, but both were probably praying to all the listening Gods that the child that would be born would have fair hair, tanned skin, and sparkling eyes. A beautiful picture of the Sun Messenger, but in place of the wonder child, a girl was born. With a lock of dark hair, fair skin that resembled the light of a demonic coyote, and a pair of icy blue eyes.
Flare was a Mixture, and though many considered her a misfortune, her intelligence dragged her to the medical university in the heart of Ebraxas. Exactly, which was why her lecturer was staring at her with a shocked expression. Closely examining her appearance, Flare could see her speechlessness and she could guess the words that pressed against her parted mouth.
"What has happened to you?" Flare smirked and replied with slight amusement. ''I would like to know myself. I must have hit my head and lost consciousness."
It wasn't entirely a lie, nor was it entirely true. Something light so that her dear lecturer wouldn't have to worry too much. The lecturer only waved her hand lightly, and this time no one dared to comment on her attitude or behaviour. Flare followed the rest of the group, but her eye was caught by a group of dark blue-clad guards. The Sapphire Roses were the most recognized lodge guarding the Ebraxas' regions. Each of the eleven kingdoms had its own, which guarded the safety of the inhabitants, the emperor and all the cities. The commotion that the girl's shrewd eye had picked up had arisen around the back of the palace, where blue eyes had spotted the broken roof of one of the skyscrapers. Pieces of broken sculpture lay on the ground.
"What happened?" Flare asked one of her passing coursemates. Girl with long white hair said in a whisper. ''Didn't you hear?! Apparently something exploded in the underground crypts and everyone was evacuated. That's why everyone was looking for you. You should listen to the warning alarms, you stupid girl."
Flare pushed her hair back from her face and tried to somehow improve her view, one of the Sapphire Roses passing by glared at her. Without breaking eye, Flare held her black gaze until their bodies passed each other. Flare sped up to reach the group as quickly as possible and hide among them. She felt dirty, and even if the city was well-kept, she had no desire to walk around barefoot.
"Young lady?" Flare knew the guard was addressing her. No sane person would pass up an opportunity to ask what had happened to her. Especially a guard that is paying bills by tracking down criminals. ''Everything's all right? Were you injured in the explosion?"
To Flare's surprise, there was a rustle behind her and a gentle hand rested on her shoulder. The girl didn't even turn around, still staring stiffly at the Kingdom's Guard. Her eyes said she wanted to know more, and there was no way Flare was going to get through the courtyard gates any time soon.
''Flare, your head is bleeding. For the sake of the Avalorian, how you didn't feel it!'' The girl, curious about the discovery, touched the back of her head and indeed, she could feel a slight oozing on it. At the same time, finding twisted locks already dried with blood.
"I'll take her to see a medic, when she's safe I'll drive her home." The ranger offered, to which Flare made a slightly sour face. No one wanted to go with the Sapphire Roses, no one even wanted to be in their presence. Just looking at them could make you doubt your own innocence.
The visit to the doctor did not take long. The wound on the head, despite the enormous bloodshed, was superficial and did not threaten her life. The girl was aware of this information, but allowed the older woman to examine it and then seal the wound. Her twisted locks formed a nest of blood and antiseptic. Deep down, she felt the current of fear. Meeting the captain of the Sapphire Roses was not the easiest thing to do. There were many rumours about him that were hard to take seriously when the young face looked at you with an appraising pair of exotic eyes.
As an elegant clatter echoed through the room, a young girl who couldn't be older than Flare slid into the room. Leivalie immediately recognized the intern's attire and breathed a sigh of relief. Her journey won't be so hard, and she'll be able to put together a simple, uncomplicated story while she goes for a meeting.
Flare didn't have many things with her, her handbag and shoes had been abandoned when the beast laid its eyes on the brunette for the first time. The girl thanked the doctor, then followed the young intern. The blonde-haired woman didn't say much, only giving a name and the department she was from. Flare didn't answer, just followed the woman. As she walked through the streets of the palace, her eyes fell on the main courtyard, which spread its wonderful wings several metres down.
The kingdom shone with millions of lanterns, ornate garlands decorated the sidewalks and courtyards. Children happily ran from stall to stall admiring decorations, jewellery, and toys. Young women tried on decorative hair pins. The courtyards were full of flowers and petals whirling in the air. Joyful laughs accompanied the dancing couples, the elderly sat at the tables and enjoyed the prepared food and wine. The palace courtyard was full of wishing lanterns, cotillions, and flowing ribbons. Emperor prepared the festival in extravagant style as usual, allowing the people of the entire kingdom to meet in the capital of Aravamora and, through the Scarlet Festival, to plead to the ancient Demons of the Apocalypse to keep order between the world's borders as the gates of the Necrosolium with the first ruby moonlight distorted the space.
The young woman brushed aside the red ribbon and looked ahead, the light of flaming torches and lanterns on the surface of the nearby river swirled in her eyes.
''The Lake of Remembrance looks gorgeous tonight." Lady Emery whispered, to which Flare nodded in agreement. Scarlet Night was one of the most dangerous nights in their world, but the kingdom of Aravamora was ablaze with love, happiness, and joy. The nearby towns were filled with laughter and conversations. There was no end to the dances, but the shouts of joy at one point were filled with screams of pain, anger, and terror. They didn't last very long, as the terror-carrying Beings moved on. The sky began to turn red with the rising moon, but the wonderful red quickly turned into a storm-purple. Bolts of Lightning began to hit the nearby surroundings, which forced women to leave the high pier and move towards the palace together with the guards surrounding them. As they ran into the lower courtyard, the white stone turned red. And Flare feared it wasn't wine.