The higher I climb the frostier my heavy breath gets. Keeping my eyes forward, I take every stone step one at a time, passing by steel pillars and beams. Behind me, the clacking of steel armor rattles echoing around. Turning the last corner, the light ahead blinds me. Blinking, I push past the doorway, pulling my fur cloak tighter around me. 

It's supposed to be the season of flowers and honey, but winter's claws have sunken deep into this year's weather. The cold would have been tolerable had the welcoming rays of our sun Caelifera not been blocked by thunderous dark clouds. This morning they were but a dot in the sky, now it's grown large enough to take over Wardurn Prairie. I'm positive at the end of the day, the storm will completely encompass all of Malkuth. 

I have to hide any of my nervousness from my associates and knights behind me with a cold stony face. I lean over the ledge overlooking my entire city. Miles and miles of buildings upon buildings of millions of different cultures forming communities. At this height, I can see all five walls, each protecting our land like an eggshell. My palace has three large oval walls and a magical link from this palace to the sister palace on the other side. This place is the hub of civilization and the strongest point of defense against the horribleness that is Malkuth. My sister Allures and I have worked hard to keep this place safe, and the result is this. A metropolis in a world not meant for us. If only my sisters could see this land... 

 "Tell me, Sky-Reader is this a sweep?" I ask my voice as cold as the air I breathe.

A nervous voice quivers, "The Sky-Reading council believes so Your Highness Allures. Um, they sent me to confirm with you..." He shuffles to and fro holding a round object called an Anemoneter. 

I don't know much about those round anemometers but I do know that the Sky-readers use them to detect the difference between a regular storm and a Sweep.

He shuffles forward keeping a distance from me while still able to lift his scaled hands in the air and watch his magic tool. He fidgets pulling his hood over his long lizard snout that curls in surprise and bewilderment. "Um.... well... this isn't... good..." He steps back down pulling and tugging at a few things. "Um... I don't know how to... explain this but I'm being told it's a Level Eight Sweep." 

I tighten unable to hide my surprise, "Level Eight? I've never heard of that?" 

He bubbles nervously, his entire body shaking nearly dropping his Aneoneter, "I mean, we always had some theories of Level Eight to Ten, but I don't think we really thought it would happen...." He tugs his hood forward, "Your Highness Allures may I leave and report my findings to the council!" 

I sharply wave him away. "Amanda," 

A brutish woman towers over me, her dark sky-grey azul full plate of armor shifting as she kneels before me lowering her head. Her face is hidden behind a deep teal blue long snout helmet decorated with metal tattoos. Her voice isn't like a human, or elf, or dwarf, but this hissing twisting lisp, "Your Highness Allures?" 

I take a long deep breath, "I want to put the city on Code Red. Go and spread the word." 

Amanda stands up slamming her orange flame-decorated guntlets against her chest. "I will do so, anything else?" 

I shake my head, "Not for now. Send for the other protectors, I have tasks for them." 

"As you wish." She briskly jogs back down the tower stairs. 

A level eight sweep... what is going to happen? A level seven sweep nearly destroyed our outer southern wall and allowed a horde of Uraqurs inside. A lot of people died. If a level eight is even worse, I don't want to imagine the damage it will cause. I have to make sure my people are safe. No matter what I have to do. 

"Urik..." I spin my cape fluttering after me, "Prepare the Gem of Protection, I will use its powers." 

Urik a great man of unparalleled wisdom rushes over to me trying to sway, "You cannot! Please allow a priest to do so!" He's a human like me, with blond hair and shocking blue eyes. He came from a place called Earthea where he was an artifact keeper at some museum. He's in charge of the core artifacts we have gathered from all the Towers we have destroyed. "If you do this..." 

I interrupt him, "If I do this, the protection will be able to cover all of Paplio. A priest can only cover so much." I snap my fingers, "Knight, send word to my protectors to meet me  in the prayer room." Ignoring the pleas of my other advisors I head down to the depths of the palace floor. 

A long time ago, during the Time of Unity, a woman Alice Allures used her wisdom and magical powers to scale a Tower and claim the item called Gem of Protection. It chose her as its vessel, promising to be hers no matter who or where she was reborn. My sisters and I are all Alice Allures, and she is us. 

The two huge wood doors stand tall and proud, carved masterfully to appear like a windfall. There's a puzzle box in the middle. Reaching inside I push and pull and rub specific sides in order until there's a click and the box opens revealing a set of keys. One key is a lion, the other an elephant. Both in hand, I pushed them into each door and turned. There's a click and the doors rumble open. 

The prayer room is simplistic. Comfortable rugs, and tapestries of oceans and forests. A round orange ball with black stripes rests in the middle of the room. I close the door, placing the keys back into a drop box. Only my protectors know how to enter. 

Kneeling, I pick up the ball rolling it around. Left, right, left, left, a push on top, right. It split into two falling to the sides, inside a pinky size rosy diamond glitters. Gently I pick it up, cradling the gem to my heart. "Please grant me the power to protect my people." 

A whispy voice soothingly brushes my cheeks, "Allures. It has been so long, I have missed you." 

"I miss you too." 

It flashes a deep bright pink, "I can sense the storm above, its strength will harm all of Papilio... Are you willing to give me everything?" 

"I will do anything if it protects my people. Because I am Allures." 

"Yes, yes you are." The gem wiggles and pulses like a heartbeat. " Then close your eyes, let me in." 

I'm a bit nervous, I haven't done this since the day I was chosen. I have to trust in the gem, trust in my ability. I take a long breath closing my eyes. 

The world around me fades away. There is only the Gem and myself. It wiggles sweetly like a pea about to hatch, then painlessly it digs into my hand. I can feel my blood dripping down my elbows.

"Focus Allures, what do you feel?" 

I widen my mind, and it shifts out of focus. Like an out-of-body experience my sight shifts from the prayer room and out to the castle, then even further out until I am watching all of Papilio. 

The citizens run around like little bugs gathering tools to board up homes and strengthen rooftops. Several of them point upwards and cheer loudly. They must be seeing the barrier. My vision shifts back into focus to me, as I can sense my seven protectors rushing to the prayer room. 

"How much of them should I take?" The Gem asks curiously. 

"Don't take much, I am willing to pay the price." 

"They are your protectors, they are to give first?" 

"And I ask you to take from me instead."

"But Allures..." It whispers in my ear, "I want you to be with me for a long time. I hate having to look for you." 

"Think of it as your price. I will be back, there is always an Allures." 

There's noise by my body, as my protectors rush in. Amanda, Blake, Ara, Dybesh, Skatoun, Ganwalin, and Chammish. 

Amanda knees before me, "I have brought the others, and alerted the entire city of Code Red. News has been sent to Ailanthus, Adon Blue, and Litogala."

I whisper to the Gem, "Do you know how long until the storm breaks?" 

"Two to Three hours." It says. 

"Blake, go to Ailanthus and have them evacuate into Papilio. Dybesh you will head to Adon Blue, and Skatoun you will go to Litogala. I permit the usage of the transport gates. Have those who cannot leave enter bunkers. Ganwalin and Chammish I need you two to stay and take over my duties. I will tend to the orb. Ara..." 

Before I can give her an order she kneels behind me wrapping her arms over my shoulders, "Let me be used, Your Highness." 

"No, this is my price." 

Ara brushes my hair between her elven fingers, "I ask because you are our Highness. The people need you, and as your protectors, it is our job to take the brunt of the price. Please, allow me to do my job." 

My other protectors rose in agreement begging me. 

I want to close my eyes, but I cannot. I can only watch them as they were willing to sacrifice everything for me. "Fine, but I won't allow  you to die." 

"All I ask is you keep your heart safe," Ara says lying in my lap allowing my blood to drip onto her face. I hesitate, worried for my friends. They have been my protectors since the day I was chosen as Allures. I rely on them all... 

I place my palm over her mouth, allowing her to take my blood. Her sense of self shifts and flows upwards wrapping around me like a protective blanket. 

"Let us protect our home." I declare to them all.