"Is it true?"

The voices of ancient ones whispered among themselves, speaking in languages that would be forbidden to utter in the years to come. Eyes flickered to each other, instinctively trying not to pay attention to the child that was cradled in the basket, sound asleep.

They hid below a cave, a tribe that had seemingly removed themselves from the rest of the world. An underground kingdom that humanity nor immortals have seen. They were a different breed, a tribe crafted from demons and monsters and perishers. A tribe with no mercy for anyone else.

Immortals of all kind gathered around the small wooden table, the leader sitting on his wooden throne bejeweled with gold, beady eyes filled with fire and wicked plans.

"The war has ripped apart the last pieces of Crojesian" a voice spoke, his face hidden underneath the dark hood he wore. Shadows danced around his face, the grey sunlight dancing among his pale cheeks. "Everyone that should be dead is dead" he uttered, shaking his head.

"Including them?" a rather demanding voice asked. The hidden figure nodded, licking his lips. "Yes. Queen Eshara Aneymi Kaslibieth and King Aries Talgran were brutally killed by a group of mortal assassins in the middle of the battle, their blood signifying the end of the war and their abandoned child the only connection to it all."

A cruel laugh escaped out of the leader's lips; his eyes locked on the sleeping infant. Her eyes were closed, her fingers dancing on the blanket that swaddled her. Her curled hair fell in her face, lips pulled into a frown. Beside her basket laid the Kasligran Sword, a weapon designed by both of her parents using the blood and tears and ash of their own enemies to forge it.

It was made when Eshara was pregnant with her child and was planned to be a gift to her for her first birthday. Unfortunately, those plans were cut off too short.

It was a beautiful, glorious weapon of destruction. A mighty sword crafted with diamonds and steel and sharpened by the blades of assassins. The head of the sword was gold, a dragon intertwining around the left side of the head while a phoenix intertwined the right side. Their tails plaited together in the middle, a symbol of their family crest.

And in the middle of it all, the epitome of what gave this sword such specialty was the large, blood red ruby that was centered in the middle of the head of the sword. It was large, made from a blood ruby that contained the blood of Eshara, Aries, and their daughter. Whoever was stabbed with it was bound to rot from the inside out and die.

It was also what made their daughter so precious. A beauty raised with two monsters to call her parents.

It almost seemed humorous.

"Seems as if Aries wasn't destined to have a family at all," the leader said, smirking at the child. "His first child was kidnapped and slaughtered as his wife bled to death and now this. His life taken at the hands of his family, abandoning their precious child behind."

Pressing his lips together, the leader rose from his throne, stalking over to the sleeping princess. He stared at her with beady eyes, watching the rise and fall of her steady breathing pattern. He reached out to stroke her cheek, her soft skin against his calloused fingers. Almost immediately, a gold magic illuminated her skin, stinging him.

A curse escaped his lips, pulling his touch away as he stared in fascination. Magic danced under her skin, illuminating her in brilliant colors. She didn't seem to notice and slowly, the magic grew dim until it was no longer traceable, leaving the child in her vulnerable state once again.

"She is protected even though their death by her magic," he said, disgust coating his voice. "How convenient."

His eyes rose again, meeting another hidden figure, a woman with ebony skin who stood there, her white hair falling from her black hood. "How destroyed was Crojesian?" he asked, his eyes glowing. "Is there still a possibility for an uprise?"

The woman smiled, her green eyes telling no lies. "While the kingdom is now a wasteland of rotting dead bodies and blood running through the rivers, it still has one of the strongest, ancient magic running underneath its roots. Even as the trees die, their magic seeps underground, nourishing the land and in return the entire kingdom. If time was against us and this princess rose, knowing who she truly was, there is a possibility that Crojesian can rise up again."

Those words were not favorable to the leader, who cursed under his breath a million times before speaking again. "We can't destroy the land?" he asked, raising his brows. The woman nodded, folding her arms. "It's impossible to do so."

"Then we have to hide her. Make everyone believe that she perished along with her parents" he said, staring at the princess once more. "The other tribe leaders cannot know of her existence. She needs to be raised under the impression that she is not who she truly is."

He paused, hesitating on his next words. "I can't continue hiding the tribe underground for long. My son, Rheynoak will soon return from his journey and claim his rightful position again. I will have to leave soon." His gaze turned to the woman once more, nodding at her.

"I am entrusting you with her life. Please, raise her. Take her somewhere far away from this kingdom. Somewhere where no one will look for her. Once she is old enough, she will be initiated into the tribe." His request was heavy. It held the fate of Asxairo in its hand. It was a task even the king and queen of hell wouldn't be able to accomplish.

But nonetheless, the woman accepted the challenge, looking over at the young princess. "It would be my honor," she said, bowing her head. She walked over and gently lifted the princess out of the basket. She was still swaddled in the blanket her mother had made for her, her head leaning against the woman's chest.

"Sweet princess," she said, cradling her. "What danger you will bring in the future."

The tribe leader smiled, looking back over to the man that stood next to her. "You arrange plans to escape these two from the inner circle. They need to reside in a mortal kingdom where nobody will recognize her."

"Yes, master" he replied with respect, disappearing down the long hallway the cave carved for itself. The woman sang an ancient lullaby to the princess, already growing a connection to the young thing. "Sweet immortal, what is her name?" she asked, raising her eyes to meet the tribe leader's gaze.

He paused, fear clouding his eyes, before breaking into a smile.

"At her crowning ceremony, her parents graced her with the name Onouxia Ravenur Ashrevion Kaslibieth-Talgran," he said, taking a breath. "But with a name like that, it would strike too much attention," he said. The woman nodded, toying with the sleeping girl's fingers.

"Then from now on, she shall simply go by Onyx," she said, kissing the girl's fingers. "Onyx Ashrevion."

A/N: And that is the beginning of The Septic Curse!

So I totally forgot to publish this part of the book before publishing the first book! Forgive me! But hopefully, you guys learn a bit more about Onyx and her family! The big reveal of her true nature is nearing us in the upcoming chapters.

And all hell is about to be unleashed!

HEHEHEHE! CAN'T WAIT! 

Thank you guys for all your constant support. It means so much to me that you enjoy this book. I enjoy writing it and to hear your feedback always makes my day!

So tell me what your thoughts are on this chapter and don't forget to comment down below and vote if you liked it.

Until next time Lovelies!

With love, May