Page 6

A gasp ripples through the crowd.

The captain has never sentenced someone to the dark creatures that lurked in the woods beyond the village.

Usually, the “guilty” party is hanged or run through with a blade.

Sometimes, they simply incinerate them with their ability, as most of the soldiers stationed here are fire wielders.

If the accused proves to be most troublesome, the soldiers will decapitate the person out of spite.

Afterwards, they place their head on a spike near the entrance to Aurelius as a reminder of what happens to traitors.

As for the creatures in the woods, they remain in the misted shroud of their dark haven.

Rarely do the creatures venture into the village to terrorize the locals.

Two armed soldiers come up on either side of their commanding officer, taking hold of Mallie.

They bind her hands and legs in chains enchanted with an element that diminishes her capacity to wield her own ability, making it impossible for her to escape the clutches of the creatures that find her.

The light gray sky is slowly darkening, which means the creatures will soon stir from their alleged slumber.

My heart falters as one of the soldiers levitates Mallie’s flailing body into the air, escorting her to her death.

Her wails slowly fade the further they are removed from the village square. It is only then that the captain turns his attention to those of us still watching the cruelty that just unfolded before our eyes.

“May this be a lesson to those of you bearing witness this day. Anyone that defies the commands of our illustrious king will be punished by either the sword or the creatures. The choice is yours, but I suggest that if you encounter anyone with an ability stronger than healing, you report it to me immediately,” he commands.

As he scans the crowd, the villagers avert their eyes, nodding.

He seems delighted in their compliance—that is, until he catches sight of me boring holes into his face.

I am sure my fury is written all over my features.

Logically, I should be the one to cower and look away, but I don’t.

Day after day, he tortures and kills innocent people whose only crimes are being a gifted or harboring a gifted. He has gone too far this time.

He orders the villagers to disperse, and—like ants scurrying to retreat from the rain—they find somewhere more useful to be.

Cara tugs on my arm, nudging me forward.

That is until the captain’s voice stops us in our tracks.

“Stay where you are,” he calls out.

Like a predator analyzing its prey, he moves toward us.

I don’t break eye contact as I watch the cruel man.

My anger is so palpable that I can taste it and the retribution I wish I could subject upon him and his soldiers.

The captain is tall, with dark wavy hair and deep onyx eyes that compliment his complexion. His face is covered in scars from his many years of service, I’m sure. I might have considered him a handsome man, were it not for his wicked nature.

Or that I loathed his very existence .

He stops a few inches from my face.

“Do you have something to say?” he asks coolly.

Cara’s eyes widened, full of panic, waiting for me to respond.

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Nothing that you’d desire to hear, Captain,” I retort, spitting his title out of my mouth as if it were a curse.

His nostrils flare as a flicker of a flame dances behind his irises—his ability desperate to come out and play.

“Careful, girl,” he warns in a low voice. “Your mouth might get you in a lot of trouble one of these days.”

His gaze rakes over me as if I’m something he desperately wishes to possess.

Unfortunately for him, I’d rather snuggle with a beast of the wood than ever spend time in his company.

My temper simmers over as his unwanted glances reach the peak level of my discomfort, causing me not to think much on what flies out of my mouth next.

“Well, it’s a good thing that the only voice in Aurelius that you allow to speak is your own. Otherwise, it’s unknown what I might say if given the freedom,” I reply, snappily.

What is wrong with you? I internally scold. Silence is a virtue, Maeva.

Obviously, the captain didn’t find my little comment at all humorous, because, in one quick motion, he roughly grabs me, tugging my face to the side. He pushes back my hair to expose my neck.

I know what he is looking for, but he’ll never find one.

After all, I’ve never had a signet tattoo.

Finding no tattoo, a nefarious grin quirks the corner of his mouth.

He leans in just a breath away from my ear. “For someone without an ability, you have a lot of gumption,” he whispers.

Then, he releases me with a small shove.

“This is your only warning. Show open disdain for me again, and I will make what happened today look like a nice afternoon picnic in comparison to what I do to you… after I have my fun,” he says sardonically.

“She understands, Captain,” Cara says, her eyes not meeting his gaze. “We best be on our way. I apologize for all the trouble. My sister sometimes speaks without thinking. It won’t happen again. ”

“We will see,” the captain replies, moving out of our path.

Without another word, Cara pulls me away from the wicked man.

“How in all Celestae could you be so brainless?” Cara hisses, once we’re out of earshot. “Do you not realize that he could have killed you right then and there?”

“Someone needed to stand up to him. He has taken his authority over Aurelius too far. Mallie was our classmate. She never would have done something so reckless,” I reply.

“You do not know that, Maeva,” Cara scolds.

“You’re right! I don’t know that, but what else could I do?” I ask.

“Hmm, here’s an idea. Perhaps keep your head down, and not openly challenge the captain to a staring contest?” Cara snaps. “You acted rashly.”

It’s then I feel the smallest of tremors where her hand meets mine, and it is enough to suppress my mounting anger. After all, it is something I can force down easily after years of practice.

Well, until today, that is.

His cruelty is a daily occurrence in our village, so why would today set me off to this degree?

Perhaps exhaustion is making me more irritable and irrational today.

Regardless of my emotions, she is right.

My actions not only could’ve gotten myself killed, but the rest of my family, too.

The captain isn’t above punishing an entire family for the indiscretion of one member.

“You are right, and I’m truly sorry. I promise I won’t allow myself to be overrun by emotions again,” I say apologetically.

“I sure hope so because now the captain will be watching our every move,” Cara replies sharply.

As we round the corner to exit the village, I feel the heat of someone’s gaze on me. I glance behind to find the captain watching us, and my stomach sours at the realization that I just made us a target.

The rest of the walk is quiet, minus the wails echoing from within the woods.

If Malvoria had not been drenched in the ominous mist that surrounds the entire kingdom, I am sure Aurelius would look more charming than harrowing.

It is a small village with brown cobblestone streets that are lined with quaint houses and businesses of all different shapes and sizes.

The buildings are constructed of deep brown stone with thatched roofs that crescendo into tall points.

The entryway to each home or business is beautifully designed with curved archways and unique detailing that adds a bit of eccentricity to the architecture.

In the center of the village is a small fountain filled with dark, murky water.

It is said that villagers used to throw coins into it and ask for their deepest wishes to be granted.

Of course, the wishes didn’t necessarily come true, but it was the wonder of the tradition that the villagers loved.

Now, they try to avoid that part of the village due to the soldiers that lurk in the shadows.

While I don’t remember what Malvoria was like before King Tiernan and the Drakhul, I still remember the stories that the Elder told children before it was forbidden to speak of Celestae’s history. However, this didn’t stop the Elder from teaching us in secret after the decree.

“In the beginning of time, there was only the god of Celestae, Siorai,” Her voice would drone on.

“ After eons alone, Siorai became restless. He desired to have companions with whom he could share his knowledge and power. So, Siorai created the four kingdoms: Malvoria, Briezius, Abeautrox, and Zulgalros. Each kingdom was given a special portion of Siorai’s abilities to wield.

Malvoria, the Kingdom of Light and Vitality, was gifted the abilities of fire, mind-warping, emotions, healing, helping the landscape to flourish, and the very rare ability to wield starlight. They were also given one thousand years of life .

Briezius, the Kingdom of Winds and Tides, was gifted the ability to manipulate the waters and weather, as well as speaking in the native tongues of all creatures within the depths. They were given five-hundred years of life.

Abeautrox, the Kingdom of the Mountain Haven, was blessed with large stature, brute-force strength, and the ability to manipulate the grounds by forming mountains and canyons. Siorai also gave them five-hundred years of life.

Lastly, Zulgalros, the Kingdom of Shadows, was given the ability to wield shadows, have control over nightmare-like creatures, and even to shapeshift. They, like Malvoria, were also gifted with one thousand years of life.