The palace of Candra was cold and white. It blended into its surrounding city in the dark winter but stood out from the ash stained buildings during the nightless summer. No one knew why the palace had stayed clean of the ash from the numerous forges and seemingly endless volcanic activity, but it did.

It had once been a symbol of hope for those who saw it. The Nevarian royal family had been loved and respected. As the capital city, it had been believed to be impregnable. But it had not been able to withstand the legions of demons that had been summoned to its gates. All it had taken was someone on the inside to open those gates.

Since that night eleven years past, Candra was no longer hopeful. The furnaces were burning all through the long summer days and the city was covered with more ash than before. Rain no longer washed it away. And despite the warmth of the never-setting sun, the city was always frigid. The demons that roamed the streets stole the warmth and the light. Those who were unable to leave the city for warmer climates, lived as though it were winter.

It was here that Selene and Hekate dwelt. Here they ruled. Here they had overthrown the king and taken control of the capitol. And with control of the capitol, came control of the entire country of Nevar.

Eleven years they ruled uncontested. No other country wished to intervene for the sake of the Nevarian people. And why should they? The Nevarian people were not being oppressed. They were free to come and go as they pleased. They could work and carry on their lives as they could before. No other country cared if the people were cold or if they were constantly ravaged by demons. And they especially did not want to intervene when those demons were being controlled.

No one had suspected it possible. No one knew that by combining the powers of Selene, a master lumomancer, and Hekate, a master necromancer they could be controlled. And no one knew that these two, who had shared their mother's womb, would have the connection needed to exploit that power.

Hekate and Selene sat in the throne room. The immense white throne seemed to envelop Selene and tower Hekate who sat beside. The hall was filled with people, all mancers. They were a mixture of spies and thieves, all people who were on the payroll of the new Nevarian rulers.

Selene stood and the hall went silent.

"I am certain you have all heard the news that was brought from Suditi. So there can be no wonder as to why I have called you all here. Githinji!"

A burly, armored man entered hefting a chest. He set the chest at the feet of Selene who kicked it open. The chest was filled with chunks of gold and silver.

"To the man that can bring me the head of the child they call the One True Ayer."Selene sat again on the throne.

A man in the crowd laughed.

"The great Demon Queen is afraid of a child?"

Selene smiled at the man and responded, "Do you not believe the sight of the oracle?"

The man shrugged.

"It doesn't matter that I believe it, but that you do! Because if you do, that means that you are afraid. Of a child! Why don't you just send your demons after it?"

Selene sighed.

"You are correct. Not about being afraid, but about sending my demons. I thought that I would give you all a fair chance. But now..."

The hall began to fill with demons. Corporeal ones came through the doors, others rose from the floors or walls. Soon the hall was crammed with a mass of demons and humans.

"... the offer is still on the table. If one of you humans can kill the child before my demons, you will get the gold. You can thank your friend for the change in stakes."

A few of the nearby mancers pulled out their weapons and struck the man down. He screamed, but none helped him. The room erupted, demons and humans surged out of the doors all racing toward the same goal.

As the room emptied, Hekate stood and leaned over to whisper to her sister.

"Do you really believe that one of them will find her before our demons?"

She smiled and shook her head.

"No. But our spies are becoming less valuable and are more likely to betray us. We need to rid ourselves of them. With money and competition, there will come death. Most of them will kill each other off before any of them get near the girl."

"You didn't tell them it was a girl." They laughed.

"If they're as good as they think they are, they don't need to know that now." They smiled maliciously at each other.

"We should ask the oracle. To see which will kill the child first. Human or demon."

Selene smiled and nodded. She motioned to Githinji at the door who left promptly. The guard returned a moment later, followed by a woman draped in black robes. Her hair was white, though her appearance was young. Her eyes were completely black.

"Tell us sage, will the girl die at the hands of a demon or a human?"

The oracle raised her gaze to the two. She spoke in a melodic voice that echoed through the hall.

"The One True Ayer will return to claim their throne..."

"We know all that!" Hekate interrupted, "And we also know that time is not set. Time will be altered if the child dies."

The oracle lowered her gaze.

"If the girl you seek will die, it will not be by the hand of a beast or demon, but by the hands of a human.”

Hekate and Selene smiled. Selene motioned for the oracle to leave. Outside the palace, demons, thieves, and spies hurried from the castle, each of them hunting for the same child: Elowyn.