RIONA POV

The air was filled with the pungent smell of blood as crows gathered around feasting on my once lovely kingdom. 

It was cold, stiff, and numb. I've been at this for hours now at least, laying everyone down into their eternal slumber while I remain behind..

Another familiar body in my hands. The knell's constant ring reminds me that they're all gone. *She* was gone, never to return. The last gift she gave me now rests in my hands, a red ribbon, her *white* ribbon. Now tainted by her blood. I close my eyes, turning away from her, trying to run from my guilt. I tie my hair up with the ribbon as the ghost of a memory haunts my mind.

Not too long ago, we were all running around without a care in the world. Audrey, Vincent, and I. 

“Come on, we’re going to be late!” Audrey nagged as we hurried along the sunflower field as I held her warm hands.

“Stop nagging so much,” Vincent mumbled, as always walking behind us.

“Well if anyone spots us together it could be bad,” I reminded Vincent trying to reason with him in his grumpy mood.

Later that day, we sat under a tree, as we looked up at the clouds. Vincent and Audrey sat next to each other closely. They were a cute couple despite the fact it was forbidden love between an elf and a human…

If only I could turn back time…

 The breeze felt colder than usual. Was anything still the same?  I suppose not. Everyone was dead because of me. I was a naïve fool to think humans could be trusted. 

I was alone with a broken kingdom. Every time my heart beat the agony grew alongside the guilt. The once colourful world I loved and adored had suddenly become so dark and sombre.

The human army’s footsteps grew closer. Yet I was still there. It was as if my feet were anchored onto the floor. I glanced up at the sky, dark clouds covering it as far as the eye could see; it looked like it would rain for hours. Perhaps the rain would hide my tears and wash away my guilt. The cold breeze disappeared and everything was silent. It was as if the world was frozen in time, meaning I would spend eternity alone in the silence.

The humans marched closer toward me. The animals ran away, scared, but I decided to stay there. I didn't want to leave Audrey. His shadow hovered over me as our eyes met. His dark eyes stared at me as he remained silent, he glanced at Audrey’s body.

“Vincent, you bastard!” I yelled as he came closer.

He looked at Audrey’s body and remained silent. Looking at his ebony eyes I couldn’t understand what was going through his head, I never was able to. He slowly extended his arm reaching out for Audrey as all his face refused to betray a single hint of emotion. His eyes were no longer carrying the eyes of the Vincent that I knew. Or did I ever know the real Vincent? He was the actor who wore many masks to cover his true emotions and I was simply the idiotic audience fooled by him. 

“You bastard, don’t even think about touching her!" I warned him as my grip on Audrey’s body tightened yet my hands were trembling. Deep down somewhere in my heart, I was afraid of my best friend who hated being covered in the slightest speck of mud, now standing before me drenched in the stench of blood. The blood of my fellow eleven people. 

He froze in place and just stood there it seemed as if he was lost in his thoughts.

“Vincent, how could you betray us, I-I-“ my voice wavered as I felt a lump in my throat, and before I knew it tears were running down my cheeks. 

He turned to his army, finally speaking “Capture her and burn the kingdom and that down,” he ordered.

Suddenly, I felt stuck. I wanted to move, I wanted to stop him. So why couldn’t I? He was joking, right? By ‘that’ he didn’t mean Audrey?

But he was serious…

His guard approached me but I couldn’t move. My heart was too heavy…

“Vincent I swear on my life I will be the death of you,” I uttered before being shoved into a dark cage.

There was a small crack through the cage but it was big enough for me to see my world being burnt down…

Not long after I became a slave that was traded from master to master. I would say they put me through hell but at the same time, I don’t think I can feel anything. All the colours disappeared and now the world I see is just bland 

I finally saw the true colours of the world…

After 3 years, I was taken to an auction house. 

There were many humans gathered as they sat down, laughing. But you get used to it. Humans are greedy and such sad creatures benefiting and finding pleasure from other's suffering. Perhaps humans are devils in disguise. 

Dragged across the hard concrete fall skinning my knees as I bled trying to withstand the pain clenching my teeth. I was going to be sold to a filthy human and suffer once again. It was quite funny, the last Elven Princess was reduced to a mere slave, pitiful indeed.

“This is quite the catch!” Exclaimed the owner as he inspected me putting his filthy hands on me.

But then again I was used to that feeling…

I was placed into a cage and brought out into the spotlight, the bidders started shouting.

“10 silver!” Shouted a disembodied voice.

“50 silver!” shouted another. 

The uproar had begun, and as they all placed their bids I sat there thinking “Maybe I should just die?” 

As the bidding neared the end, someone shouted “50 gold!”

It was strange no one had bid anything more than 100 silver. Was a slave like me worth that much? Perhaps he was going to do something strange to me. His voice was loud and he had a northern accent. As I searched for his voice I noticed a figure staring straight at me. I wanted to know what colour his eyes and hair were. But my world was black and white just a dull pitiful world.

After the documents and transactions were completed he took me to his house. Obviously, he wasn’t any ordinary person. His house was grand and big, His servants hurried along the corridors sneaking glances at me, an unidentified person covered with dirt and ragged clothing, being escorted by their master. It was quite busy and lively. 

He escorted me to a room just us alone. “Sit down,” he ordered as he glared at me and of course I had to. I had no choice but to listen due to the slave branding which still stung.

“What do you want, did you pay 50 gold for me to serve you as a mere slave?” I asked while glaring at him. 

He walked towards me, closing the gap between us. He was very close. His face was barely 3 metres away and I could feel his warm breath on me. He stood before me while he kissed my hand pressing his soft lips on my hands then said “You are no mere slave but the Elven Princess, Riona Eleni Gia” he said confidently smirking.

“Who are you?” I was confused. So far no one had known my identity since I became a mere slave.

“I am the Northern Duke, Adonis v Astor.” He told me as he continued to stand close, I was confused and my mind pondered.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked, clearly bewildered.

“Your family helped mine many times, now I will help you. Of course, I have my own goals.” He answered.

“Then help me take revenge,” I said without a second thought. That was ridiculous there was no way he would agree to this. There was no way he would commit treason to help a family that had been wiped out.

But, to my surprise, he nodded and said “If that is what you wish for I will.”

This was the beginning of my revenge…