“Okay Amaris, listen closely” he spoke softly, I felt calmness from his voice.

“Many millenniums ago, this empire was full of trees, water and creatures, it was a beautiful place full of energy from the earth and from the magic in the air”

“One day the first human approached this land, it was a women named Evelyn, she was a kind and beautiful person, she lived her life to help others and create a place where people can live freely”

“Soon a young man named Martes found this sacred land and wanted to take it for himself, but instead he found Evelyn sitting in the lake talking to the animals. He stood for a while amd watched how the energy flows around her”

‘Hmmm Evelyn, why does that name ring a bell?’

“At first he thought she was a witch and was going to take her life, but something in his heart stopped him, the way she moved and spoke drew out feelings he didn’t know he had, after making a subtle noise, Evelyn turned to face him, instead of fear she smiled brightly and held out a hand to him, this was the beginning and the end”

“A couple months later Evelyn found out she was pregnant with his baby, they were both so happy and overjoyed but they forgot Martes had a contract with the God Apophis”

“Apophis, was they a bad god?” I asked 

“Yes, They caused chaos to those around, he wanted to even prevent the sunrise.”

“They must have been very lonely” I commented, this made father chuckle slightly.

“Anyway, Apophis grew angry that Martes didn’t need him anymore and loved a women as pure as white, so he turned his heart black and made Martes murder the women he loved” 

“Oh no that’s so sad” I pouted at the thought, father patted my head before continuing.

“In the end Martes killed himself before cursing the god, this ended up making the land full of sand, no life can grow here due to the curse” 

“What happened to the baby?” I ask.

“In the end there was twins, so the goddess Aphrodite came down and raised the children, they possessed the ability to make contracts with god and that’s how we are here today”

“Wow so that was our ancestors?” I asked brightly, father nodded in response.

“I feel sorrow for Martes” I muttered, father stopped for a moment before asking me why.

“It’s just even though at first glance he wanted to take her life, but he opened his heart to her and wanted to become good, but Apophis wouldn’t let him and took everything from them both” I spoke softly.

“You have a very warm heart my darling” Father smiled, even though he looked big and scary he was very sweet towards me.

‘Oh yeah I almost forgot’

“So father, why can’t I see anyone?” I pout at him.

‘I hope this works’

“Oh Amaris, I’m sorry for keeping you away” he sighed, he looked so sad.

“It was fine when you and Altan was babies, but now he’s formed a contract with a god I had to keep you away in case it killed you, and it almost did even being this far away” he mumbles, now turning to face me, he grabbed my chubby cheeks and looked deep into my eyes.

“When you form a contract you can come back and see everyone I promise” he spoke sincerely. I placed my hands over his before smiling.

“Okay father, I will try my hardest” 

…..

“Aenon” I yawned, I was now laying on my overly large bed while getting fanned by some servants.

“Yes princess, what would you like?” He asks politely, I rolled over to my front while placing my chin on my hands.

“Will you be able to get me some books on how to make a contract with a god please” I asked, he bowed before leaving my room. After that I asked everyone to leave.

Now laying on my open bed I took a breath to rethink everything that happened.

“Save and protect everyone dear to you”

‘I don’t understand what that means’

‘Save them from what’

As I pondered on the words I slipped into sleep.

….

Opening my eyes, I was now standing in a dark forest surrounded by trees.

‘Where am I? Am I still dreaming?’

Looking around I noticed an opening in the middle, slowly taking a few steps I stopped. Now looking in front I notice three women, one standing to the left holding what looked like a key, one to the right placing a flame in their hand and then extinguishing it repeatedly and finally one was sitting on a boulder in the middle while holding a beautiful purple dagger towards the floor.

They all had black veils over their faces so I couldn’t see what they looked like.

“My child you have arrived” the one in the middle spoke, this made me jump slightly as I could feel her eyes on me.

“Don’t be afraid, please come forth”.

Even though I thought I would be more scared in this situation, I felt calm and warmth in my heart. Walking towards them I stopped about three meters away.

“Do you know who we are?” she asked softly, I shook my head in response, she smiled lightly.

Removing her veil, a beautiful face appeared before me. She had long dark hair with white eyes and a black Sclera, her complexion was somewhat red with freckles. Looking further I noticed she had beautiful tattoos around her neck and arms.

‘Wow’

"Our name is Hecate, we are the triple goddesses” she smiled softly.

‘Triple goddesses, I think I remember reading about them’

“I’m grateful to be in the presence of such an amazing god” I bowed my head before them, it seemed so natural to do this.

“She’s so cute” I heard another person speak loudly.

“Wow, so now we’re forming a contract with someone because they're cute !” Another voice snarled.

“Oh come on, look at her!”

I raised my head and looked at who was speaking. On the right with the fire was a beautiful woman with soft straight brown hair, her eyes sparkled red and she had a crystal embedded into her forehead, she waved at me and smiled brightly.

To the left was the woman with the key, she had wavy red hair followed by red lips. Her eyes were fully white and she had a tattoo of a snake across her whole body, watching carefully the Tattoo moved as if it was alive.

“Child, we are all one, we are all a part of each other and make the triple goddess, we possess the power of all sorcery, we are magic itself. The moon guides us with its whispers and holds our hearts.”

I looked in admiration, these goddesses are beautiful and powerful, will I be able to make a contract?

I took a brave step towards them all which startled the key as she was sill unsure, starting from the right I placed my hands on either side of her face and softly put my forehead to hers, I felt her energy of fire enter my soul it felt so warm and happy, I could feel everything she felt.

Now moving to the middle towards the one with the dagger, I repeated the same thing. I felt the darkness of the goddesses, all the pain, suffering and evil, but I wasn’t about to give up.

Finally moving to the left towards the goddess with the key, I bowed in front of her,

“Please accept me, I shall never let you down and always protect you as much as you protect me”

A moment of silence before she sighed,

“Well if they decide it’s okay I guess you can’t be that bad” she pouted like a child, I moved towards her and placed my hands, causing a slight blush to tint her cheeks, carefully placing my head to hers I felt all the worry and fear, I pushed through and smiled deeply at her.

Taking a step back to my original spot I spoke softly to them,

“Thankyou for letting me inside your hearts and soul, please will you form a contract of bond with me” I bowed once more, a moment went by before the slight sound of a violin started to play, lifting my head. I noticed the three were now circling me in a beautiful dance.

They moved like the wind and flowed in time to the music, hair flowing all around and their dresses dancing with them, the way they all moved in sync was amazing. I felt my heart burn with warmth, they made me feel safe. Finally the fire approached me first and spoke,

“I shall consume you in my flame child” she bowed before raising her hand, quickly flinching at the thought of getting burnt, I opened my eyes after a moment to notice the fire surrounding me wasn’t burning me at all, but was showing me all the happiness in the world, everything that made my heart warm.

Looking more deeply I could see all my past lives flashing before my eyes.

“Wait you knew I had other lives” I asked shocked, they smiled without a response, now taking away the flame she moved to the right and froze like a statue.

Now the key moved in front of me, slowly humming a song with her elegant voice which enchanted me, she placed the key between my eyes and turned it as if she was unlocking something, suddenly I felt a large amount of energy followed by fear, she showed me everything I feared and was scared to lose, including everyone I lost, this caused tears to prick into my eyes.

“Thankyou for showing me them again” I mumbled as tears dropped down my cheeks, she smiled while wiping away my tears, she moved back to the left and froze.

The last one with the dagger continued to circle me, it was almost hypnotic. She started to show me the darkness in the world and those who have done wrong including myself, all the sins I have made and all the wrongs I did, guilt, sadness and darkness echoed.

“There will always be darkness in the hearts of those who believe in the good” she spoke as she kneeled in front of me.

“Now child, pierce your heart in the acknowledgment of the darkness” she said, now holding the dagger towards me and bowing her head.

‘I can do this’

Taking the dagger from her hands, I felt its energy crawl across my skin, now slowly holding it with two hands and placing it in front of me, I breathed the words,

“Can I see you again?” She smiled and replied.

“We will be with you always”

‘One, two, t-

I stabbed the dagger into my heart which sent a burning feeling through me, I instantly woke up in my bed, the feeling of my skin crawling and burning was rushing up and down my body, I couldn’t breathe.

Grabbing the rope which was attached to the bell I rang it hard and instantly servants and Aenon ran in.

“Princess what’s wrong! We need a doctor!” Aenon screamed while grabbing me into his arms.

“I sighed a contracted” I muttered before I fell into darkness.