“You could have said yes to at least one of them.”

“Don’t feel like dancing.”

She huffed a chuckle. “Then come up with a better excuse.”

“It was the-”

“Truth? Hardly. What teenager wants to hang out with their parent during a party?” She leaned close, bumping my shoulder and pointed. Following her finger I saw a boy standing looking over. When he realized we were looking he ducked his head. “One day, Maki, one day people will understand.”

My cheeks warmed at her meaning but how did she-

She smiled knowingly and my blush darkened. “At least wave to him or go talk.” She whispered.

I looked up seeing he was already looking my way. I knew him. He was Goven Dew, Sharlet Dew’s little brother so we saw each other sometimes in the castle. He was a nice guy yet we never shared anything more then a formal hello. Taking a breath I waved and it looked like the stars had shone for him as he quickly waved back.

“See that wasn’t so hard.” Mother teased.

She had no idea.

Even if BrightEarth didn't openly say it was wrong, many people still thought it.

We looked up as a shadow stopped in front of us.

My knowing smile grew when I saw who it was. Victor Eldest, the proud owner of the Kingdoms deli, he was a nice caring man and I knew he fancied my mother and though she wasn't open about it she was falling for him as well.

“My dear Queen, would you humble this old fool with a dance?” He asked a blush coloring his cheek.

Mother hesitated. “I can-”

I bumped her shoulder cutting her off. “Come up with a better excuse.”

She giggled as a blush painted her cheeks. “Oh of course Victor.” She said standing by her childhood friend.

“See that wasn’t that hard.” I teased.

She rolled her eyes. “Maki, I'll be right back. Simon, Cast.”

They nodded, stepping forward.

I watched as they joined in on the fun. Victor spun her slowly and I saw her smile as the tempo of the music built. I clapped along with everyone as we watched the merry couples dance. Their brightly colored clothes streaming around in the dimly lit street lights like bright lights of the glowbugs.

The music began to reach its peak as a weird feeling caused me to look behind me and that's when I saw him.

The stranger from the gate.

Their clothes instead of white were now a dark grey. They were about a few feet away, staring straight at me with their odd icy gaze. I watched shocked as the person pointed at me then to them and slowly drew their gloved finger across their neck.

I swallowed. Glancing at Simon and Cast but they had moved forward just a few steps in front of me caught up in the dancing.

I tried to call out that they shouldn't be here- that they weren't allowed. But my lips were sealed as if glued, my whole body was stiff no matter how much I struggled. The music built.

The stranger stepped forward, their focus locked on me. My eyes slid close against my wishes as I begged that someone anyone could help me. That someone would notice what was happening and stop it.

Help me. I begged. Please someone-

Abruptly their hands slipped around my throat tightening, their grip cold like the years first snowfall.

My mind went blank. I couldn't- wouldn't black out, someone just needed to look my way. My eyes struggled open and found my mother's smiling face as she danced amongst our people. The music swelled.

The stranger leaned down and whispered. “Don't panic my pet, I'll make it painless.” The voice was even colder then their hands. It was gravely almost as if the person was having trouble forming the words.

“Please- what do you want?” I managed to gasp.

“Your death.” They whispered almost gleefully. “You’ll pay for her crimes.”

Her crimes? My eyes closed against my will as it became hard to breathe.

“Painless.” They cooed their grip grew tighter still. The music began to grow quite- softer.

I'm going to be choked to death.

No, come on fight it!

I tried to move my body but to no avail. Come on think. The grip tightened making me gasp out for air. It was getting hard to think. I thought, slipping into the numbness.

No! I mentally shook myself. STOP! I suddenly yelled out.

The hold on my throat fell away as if burned, allowing me to open my eyes just in time to see the townspeople grab their heads in pain and confusion, the glass lights around the town blew out like little fireworks and a few windows cracked and or shattered.

The music had stopped.

Everyone began looking around in confusion as mother pushed her way past the guards and to my side.

She gripped my shoulders and shook me once.

“Maki? Maki?” She asked, breaking whatever spell was on me. “Maki, what did you do?”

I felt sick seeing the worry on her face.

Her eyes grew. “No… no you didn’t. Maki tell me you didn’t.”

“What? What wasn’t I-”

A loud explosion rumbled through the town. Mother and I turned to the Earth and Water gates that now had plumes of smoke rising into the sky.

Mother stood facing the gates as another explosion went off, people screaming in the distance. Over the chaos I could make out their words. “Demi's! Demi's are in the Kingdom!”

Demi's in the Kingdom? But how?

I looked down at my hands. Did I-

“My Queen we must move and get you to the safe room.” Simon said, taking her hand.

Mother turned back to where she had just been dancing, I did too but I didn’t see Victor, just a mass of confused people running with no direction.

She closed her eyes with a sharp nod as another gate this time the Fire one went up in smoke.

“Simon clear us a path!” Kotof ordered suddenly at our sides with Maralah. Simon rushed forward after summoning an earthen shield.

Cast turned to me just as more townspeople rushed us from behind. Our hands reached but I was shoved and hit away from them and away from the castle.

“Prince!” Cast called.

“Maki!” Mother yelled, reaching for me.

People rushed every which way pulling me further from them and I let myself be swallowed as no one knew where to go. Everyone running blindly and mixed among my people were cloaked figures and those dressed the same as the one that choked me. And now I knew who they were Demi's- Dark Wielders- whatever you called them they were all the same. Monsters- killers.

They ran through the streets cutting down anyone they could- men, women, children, even animals.

Abruptly everyone stumbled to a crashing halt as a bright green flare shot into the sky. I knew what that meant we all did. Emergency fall back to The Primordial Tree.

All those around me turned and headed to the castle. The Demi's confused stood still and in the confusion a few of our Knights broke free of the rushing crowd and engaged them, they fought back the Demi's allowing the people to run past even a few of the castle guards came forward helping direct people to the castle.

Everything was in utter chaos, but my hope lifted as the castle came into sight. A hand grabbed my shoulder spinning me around.

“Found you!” Cast said his relief clear in his voice. “Simon!” He yelled. “I found him!”

People parted a bit and Simon wrestled his way free of the crowd and came over to us. “Thank Gerfn! We need to get you to the safe room now!”

They both took hold of one of my hands and we rushed to the castle.

“Wait what about mother? Wasn’t she with you?”

“Kotof and Maralah have taken her ahead of us.” Simon said as we cleared the castles main doors and broke free of the crowd and down one of the branching halls. These halls were made to be impossible to get through, unless you were a part of the royal guard for my family.

Behind us and mostly muffled by the distance between us I heard the people that made it into the castle give up a cheer.

“The Demi are retreating!”

Cast slowed but didn’t stop running. Was it really that easy?

We entered a lit hallway and as we neared the only room here I couldn’t shake this feeling that something was wrong.

Simon slowed bringing us to a stop.

“Simon… where are the Knights that are supposed to be guarding the door?” Cast whispered.

Simon released my hand and drew his spear, Cast doing the same.

Cautiously we went forward and the feeling grew, my skin prickling uncomfortably. We came to a stop a few feet from the door and I saw that it was left ajar but as I took a small breath a weird smell hit me making my thoughts come to a disbelieving stop.

Ignoring Simon and Cast I rushed past them throwing the door open.

No, no, no! This couldn’t be happening!

Behind me they gasped and I think Cast threw up but I didn’t pay them much attention as I ran on weak legs to her side.

“Mom!” I stumbled barely catching myself. No, no, no! That couldn’t be her! “Mom!” I fell to my knees staring at her, my hands hovering.

No this couldn’t be happening….

Blood. There was so much blood. It was pooling under her, painting the side of her green dress black, staining the dirt ground a dark wet brown.

Why? The walls were splattered with blood and it was impossible to tell who's. The Knights lay dead scattered about the room as if blasted by a strong force. Kotof lay in front of mother, where he ultimately had failed. There was just so much blood, the smell growing stronger twisting my stomach.

Carefully I lifted her limp hand in mine, it wasn’t warm. “Mom? Mom open your eyes- please!” I shook her praying for anything even just a flutter in her eyes- anything. “Mom please!”

There had to be something I could do. I looked her over, seeing many wounds but I couldn’t tell which was the fatal blow but the one over her stomach was still bleeding.

Before I could even attempt to stop the bleeding my hand was grabbed.

I looked up seeing Simon. “P-please, is there anything…?” I croaked out fighting tears.

He gave a small shake. “She’s-

“No! No!” Yanking my hand away I tried to stop the bleeding myself. I turned to the door. “Help! Help!” My cries echoed down the hall.

“Maki.” Arms wrapped around my waist pulling me back.

“No! Let me go! We can save her! Let me go!”

Simon turned me around and into his chest holding me tightly. “Shh, shh.”

There was a loud commotion then the doorway was filled with more Knights and Travis.

Travis looked to me first then to the room. “Simon, Cast take the Prince.”

Simon escorted me out and to Cast’s side who looked sick and pale when I heard it.

“Those blasted Demi! They killed our Queen.” One of the Knights said in disgust and grief.

The Queen was dead…. Mother was dead…. 

And the dam that I was struggling to keep broke, my tears ran free and a wail rose from me. My legs gave as I all but collapsed. Simon and Cast came down with me and just held me as I fell apart.