It all happened in a flash.

One second, the joyous laughter of children, the chattering and bickering of the women and whistling of men hard at work were replaced with cries and wails. The soldiers' bodies on the battlefield were too many to count. The vile creatures that came from hell were winning. Kalista was falling.

The sky was red as the blood spilled on the ground and one woman who stood proud on the castle summit with a clear view of the battle landscape with a young infant in her arms smiled. 

Her eyes, like the indigo ocean, were pools of iridescent blue, the color of the crown on her head. Strands of molten silver tumbled out of her scalp, cascading down her back like a waterfall. Her skin was soft and pale, flawless. She truly was a beautiful sight to behold.

The feeling of utter dread and hopelessness she felt and drew from the people was delightful and overwhelming. She felt ten times stronger than she was before when she drew from the people's happiness. He had been right after all. 

"Sister, what treachery is this? Why did you betray our people?"

A man covered with sweat and blood pushed open the doors, barging into the room of his sister. His curls were silver as the moon and his eyes were dark brown, framed by graceful brows. His skin was tanned. He had prominent cheekbones and a well-defined chin and nose and in his hands was a sword he had used to fight his way up to this point. He was weary and beaten, but for what he was going to do, he needed all the strength he could muster.

The woman took her time in facing her brother. She knew that if she told him, he wouldn't understand. He was still in belief of the old ways. The baby in her arms started to cry as if aware of what was going to happen. 

"I do not wish to fight you, brother," her voice weighed with emotion. She had already seen how this fight would end. 

"You should have thought of that when you betrayed us," he took his stance, his sword raised facing his sister. He ignored his niece crying. Both had to die.

"You wish to kill us both," she gasped. Among all the futures she foresaw, she didn't see her child getting hurt. Had it been wrong?

His resolve stayed unshaken but he was perturbed. Her powers were never able to pass his walls before. "You have exposed her to dark magic. She is tainted."

"But, she's your niece. Your own kin," she pleaded as she thought of a safe haven for her child. She knew of only one place, but it wouldn't be an easy place for her child to live in. 

"It is the law."

He sprinted to her, charging with a mighty cry. She dodged to the side in one fluid movement. Her brother swiveled in her direction. His menacing, but sad eyes were a blazing red, the signature look of all of their family when it came to fighting.

He swung his sword again at her and she evaded it. She feared for her child's life and the more she thought of it, the little time she had left. She threw a barricade of energy around her and her brother was left trying to break through it.

She unwrapped the cloth covering her baby and brushed her cheeks as she stared at her daughter. Eyes replica of hers looked back. They were happy to see her and yet, knowing what was going to happen.

She cried as she kissed her daughter on her forehead, whispering the forbidden spell. She tightened her hold on her baby but found herself hugging her own body. She was gone, her light and darkness gone. The source of power for Kalista.

The distant sound of the shield cracked open, and the woman looked up with blurry eyes at her brother as he brought down the sword to her neck.

A/N

So, that's it. I know. It's horrible. I rewrote this for many days and got tired so this is what you guys got.

Please, be kind enough to drop some comments and votes if you like it. And constructive criticism will be welcomed as well.. ( not too much though).

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Tori