White Heart: The Prophecy (The Blackened Souls Series Book 1) Page 2

  The dungeon was slightly dark with only the moonlight illuminating through the cell bars stretched around the upper walls. It was filled with multiple circular cells closed in by floor to ceiling iron bars that trapped one or two prisoners within them.

  While most of the prisoners were sleeping, some were awake and sitting up, standing, or crying. Each face that I passed as I jogged by was downcast with sadness and sorrow. Some were even trying to display a defiant expression, but I could see the pain in their eyes.

  Their loneliness and fear weren’t hard to read.

  I knew that they were the enemy, but it was hard to look at so many despairing faces and not want to help them. At the end of the day, they were just elves. The only difference was the makeup of their blood, but just like us, if they were stabbed, they’d bleed red. So, we couldn’t have been that much different.

  I ran down to the end of the first row before heading down the last column. Halfway to the end, I slowed to a stop and faced the cell on my left. Curled into a ball inside was a Light Elf around my age, dressed in rags with long straight white hair that stopped at her bottom.

  Her name was Takana Telerie, the youngest daughter of General Telerie, and strongest child warrior to ever fight in the Light Elf Army. Rumor was that she was the spawn of a demon that only enjoyed bloodshed, but from my point of view, she was the kindest person anyone could ever meet. It was hard to believe that she faced off Nerul and managed to live. Sometimes, I wondered if her innocence was what made him hesitate to kill her.

  I looked from left to right to make sure that there were no guards around before I got down on my knees. All that were watching me were the Light Elves, but they wouldn’t say anything because I was helping one of their own. Their beloved Takana.

  “She’s been waiting on you, Calen,” the old woman in the next cell said. “She couldn’t even hear her own stomach growling through all her worrying.”

  I slightly smiled. “Sorry I couldn’t get down here sooner, Ms. Arkana. Seri had been having me train for my duel, and I couldn’t get away.”

  “Oh?” Her eyebrows furrowed. “And how did you do this time?”

  I lowered my eyes, imagining Nerul’s glare as he towered over me. “I lost...”

  “Don’t worry,” a soft, tired voice croaked. “Just a little more training, and you’ll be the best warrior they’ve ever had.”

  My heart ached when I turned to watch Takana steadily push herself into a sitting position. Her head drooped with her long hair hanging over the sides of her face, and her arms slightly shook. That’s when I noticed the dark marks on her pale skin.

  Again?

  After apparently killing so many warriors on the battlefield, a lot of the guards here took revenge by beating her mercilessly. Surprisingly enough, she never let them break her. Takana remained hopeful that things would get better and encouraged me to be hopeful as well.

  The day that she was dragged in by several guards through the front doors, she was crying and fighting back. We only made eye contact for less than a second, but in that moment, as I was walking by with Seri, it felt as if time had slowed.

  I wasn’t sure what had me so drawn to her, but that night, I couldn’t sleep. Seeing her so afraid made my chest ache, and I wondered if it was because the same thing could happen to me someday. How would I feel in her position? Would all the Light Elves see me as a demon’s spawn even though I was just carrying out my duties as a Dark Elf?

  I didn’t want to think of the answer, but I knew that helping Takana would ease my mind, so I started bringing her food. I guess after months of visiting, we had formed a close bond. Besides Seri, she was the only person that’s ever really been kind to me.

  I smiled half-heartedly and held out the bread from my vest through the bars. “I know, Takana. Someday, I’ll be just as strong as you.”

  Takana turned, revealing the glow of her golden eyes, and slowly took the bread, then she sat with her legs crossed and began taking small bites. After she swallowed, a slight smile came to her lips. “You don’t want to be as strong as me. Just strong enough.”

  I got down on my bottom and crossed my legs. “But with your strength, maybe I could become as strong as the mixed breed in the prophecy and help her stop the war.”

  Takana chuckled and took another bite. “You’d need mine and an entire army’s strength. It says that she’ll be almost as powerful as a god.”

  I raised a brow. “Then I’ll become as powerful as an entire army and help her.” I sighed and lowered my eyes. “Then we could get you out of here.”

  When Takana chuckled and smiled, I looked up. “Don’t worry. The gods will get me out of here long before that. You just focus on getting strong enough to help stop the war.”

  I stared at her in curiosity, wondering how she was always able to be so positive in her position. She was the merciless general’s daughter from the Light Elf Kingdom. Even if she wasn’t executed for the blood she’s shed, she’d still be executed for being a general’s daughter, and most of all, a Telerie.

  In the Light Elf Kingdom, instead of the current royal family being given magic, the king only gave the Telerie’s magic sealing stones in exchange for their undying loyalty and services as warriors. The Telerie family was practically what everyone considered to be the royal family, but because the king wielded the actual Stone of Light, he and his family remained safely in the palace.

  “Hey,” Takana said softly. “Stop looking that way. I’ll be alright.”

  I sighed and forced a smile. “Yeah. I know.”

  Takana gazed into my eyes, reading me with ease. She was somewhat like Nerul, only younger. Still, the two of them had this look of knowing, like they’d seen almost everything there was to see and couldn’t be fooled. It was kind of sad.

  “Do you think she will come though?” I asked. “The mixed-breed? Do you think that she’ll finally stop all this pointless fighting?”

  “She has to, or else…” Takana sighed and looked down at her remaining bread.

  Sometimes, I didn’t know why I looked forward to seeing her. Our visits always made my chest painfully ache, like my heart was sore or bleeding. There was nothing better that I could do for her other than to bring her food, and the thought always left me upset. I wished that I could do more.

  “Or else this will go on for eternity,” she continued. “And I’d rather not have to fight until I die.” She looked up at me. “I want to go live life. Not take it away.”

  I bit on my lower lip, dreading the day that I would have to take a life.

  “Me too,” I said, pulling my knees to my chest.

  “You two could always run away,” Ms. Arkana suggested. “Go and live in the snow mountains. No one would ever look for you there.”

  Takana and I both chuckled.

  “What?” I asked. “No way. I hate the cold. Anywhere but there.”

  “Yeah.” Takana smiled. “Same here. I’d rather go somewhere hot.”

  “Well, you have the Hot Lands,” Ms. Arkana chuckled.

  “The Hot Lands?” My eyebrows furrowed.

  Takana shook her head. “It’s surrounded by volcanoes and lava. It’s so hot, that when we once met for battle, we all retreated. No one was willing to fight there.”

  “Exactly why you two should run away to that place,” Ms. Arkana said.

  “No way,” I shook my head. “But I’ll find somewhere for us.” I turned back to Takana. “Or when you get out, you’ll search the world and find us a special meeting place.”

  “Yeah…” she smiled.

  I bit my lower lip, reluctant to end our time together, but I had to get to bed. I had learned the hard way of how a lack of sleep could affect my performance during training, and if I was going to get any stronger, I couldn’t keep missing out on rest.

  I had to get strong for my family and for Takana. It was the only way that I’d be able to help stop anything, and we really needed this war to end if we were ever going to experience tru
e happiness.

  “It’s time for you to go,” Takana said, her smile slightly fading.

  I stood to my feet. “Yeah. Sorry, I couldn’t stay longer.”

  Takana slowly stood, holding herself up by the bars. “No, it’s alright. I understand.”

  I sighed and wrapped my hand around hers. “I’ll see you again soon.”

  “Of course. I’ll wait for you.”

  My chest ached but stopped when she wrapped her other hand over mine.

  “I’ll be fine,” she reassured. “I promise. I’m strong.”

  “I know. I just hate leaving you here. I want you to be free. You don’t deserve this.”

  Takana didn’t respond, but I could see in her piercing eyes that she didn’t think the same. She has killed after all.

  “Hey, how about you show me some magic before I leave?” I asked, offering a smile. “It’ll make us both feel better.”

  Takana slightly tilted her head to the side, then pulled away and stepped into the center of her cell. She then raised her palm to her lips and blew a light breath of air over her hand where purple and blue butterflies formed and fluttered in my direction.

  I smiled as the butterflies spiraled around me and down to my feet before flying back over to Takana where they spiraled up to her head and disappeared into thin air. I knew that her magic was stronger than that, but since she was so weak, she could barely use any. Still, what she could do was beautiful.

  Takana lowered her gaze to mine. “Goodnight, Calen.”

  Reluctant to take my eyes from hers, I slowly turned and started walking away. “Goodnight, Takana.”

  Chapter Four

  Daylight shined through the palace windows as I walked though the back hall towards the dining room.

  I knew that my mind should’ve been focused on training and getting stronger, but after the other night, I couldn’t take my mind off Takana and her current condition. I had never seen her so weak before and had the faintest feeling that she was near her end.

  I never thought that I’d grow to care for a Light Elf, or that the thought of one dying would ever terrify me. What scared me most though, was the thought of never seeing her again. To never hear her soft laughter or watch her use magic…

  I gazed out the window to find that it was pouring rain outside in the courtyard, then drew my eyes to the wilting blue flowers that bobbed up and down from the heavy droplets. They drooped in front of the Great Warriors Monument, possibly sad about the fallen warriors as well.

  I hadn’t even noticed Nerul standing behind those flowers as he stared down at the golden names engraved in the tall rectangular black stone. His arms hung at his sides, and his head slightly drooped, making it hard to see his face with his long hair in the way, but I didn’t need to see his expression to know that he was upset.

  The woman that he loved…her name was engraved in that memorial, and below that name was his best friend’s. I didn’t get the chance to meet those elves, but I was thankful that at one point in time, Nerul had loved ones that made him happy.

  Seri told me about the times that Nerul used to laugh, smile, and talk about his dreams, but that was a long time ago. Now, he keeps to himself, never really building relationships with others. I always thought that he just didn’t like to be bothered, but seeing him now, it was obvious that through all his armor, he was heartbroken.

  Maybe he was too afraid to love anyone else? That would explain his distance from me.

  As if sensing my presence, Nerul raised his head and turned to face me.

  I froze in place, never before seeing my brother’s eyes so blue. His expression was blank, but his eyes were glistening with sorrow, and I wondered what had gotten into him. I wanted to run to him and tell him that him that everything would be alright. I was only used to Nerul displaying strength. Now that I was seeing him this way, I didn’t mind his cold attitude. It hurt me less when he ignored me.

  I swallowed, but then released a breath when I spotted Seri walk over to him from the other side of the courtyard. The two of them talked in front of the monument for a moment before I caught a slight smile come to Nerul’s lips.

  The sight made me smile myself, then I continued down the hall to meet for breakfast.

  I may not have been able to make Nerul happy, but as long as he had Seri, everything would be okay. As long as there was someone that could make him smile, if for only a moment…

  ~White Heart~

  “You know, I don’t need to be tucked in, Seri.” I smiled. “I’m not six anymore.”

  Seri chuckled while continuing to tuck the covers under me. “What? You’re never too old to be tucked in by your big brother.”

  “I really can be,” I giggled. “You won’t tuck me in when I’m old and gray.”

  Seri stood upright and raised a brow. “Are you sure about that?”

  The two of us held a stare off until we couldn’t hold back from laughing.

  “Sleep tight, baby sister,” he said before placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

  I always acted as if I were too old to be tucked in, but to be honest, I loved it. It was the only time that Seri and I could be alone and ourselves instead of always having to put on a hard act. Sometimes, it was just nice to let loose.

  “Goodnight, Seri. I love you,” I said as he turned to walk away.

  “I love you too.” He stopped in the doorway and looked over his shoulder with a slight smile. “Oh, and Nerul said goodnight as well. I think he was pleased with your performance during training today.”

  When my eyebrows furrowed, Seri chuckled and shook his head before leaving the room, slightly closing the large wooden door behind him.

  I sighed and let my head sink into the thick pillows. Nerul was pleased with my performance? Did that mean that he was proud of me? I worked hard during drills and combat training, but I knew that I needed a lot more work. I guess I was starting to show progress, especially after my last visit with Takana. Before I met her, I worked hard to please my family and represent the Sunstar’s, but now all I really wanted was to help Takana, and in a way, Nerul.

  It was my dream to help stop the war, just for them. Maybe then, the two of them wouldn’t always look so sad.

  I took in a deep breath and pushed the covers from over me, then slipped out of bed and grabbed a few pieces of bread from the top drawer of my nightstand before tip-toeing out of my room.

  Checking from left to right, I was relieved to find that there were no guards, but I still had to watch out for my brothers. Being in the more personalized part of the palace, there was a high chance that I could run into someone, and there was no way that I’d be able to explain myself if I were caught. Especially not to Nerul. He’d see straight through my lie.

  So, I quickly and quietly ran down the cold dark halls with the only sounds being my feet slapping over the marble floor. I made it through most of the palace without having to avoid being caught when I heard a familiar angry voice ahead of me. It was resonating through the large entrance of the throne room, which was a room that I had to pass in order to get down to the dungeon halls.

  “You can’t be serious!?” the man yelled. He sounded frustrated, but his voice was laced with passion. “There has to be another way. We can’t just kill them off!”

  I slowly walked towards the opening with the bread pressed against my chest, then peeked around to find that the man yelling was Nerul. He was standing under the moonlight in the center of the circle while facing our father, who sat calmly on his throne.

  Our father glared down at Nerul through piercing green eyes with both hands clutching the arm rests. He may have been a man in his fifties, but he was still intimidating and incredibly powerful. “They are the enemy, Nerul. It must be done.”

  Nerul balled his fists. “Can’t they be made into slaves? Can’t we find any use for them? Why do we have to kill them?”

  Father sat back in his throne with a smirk. “Would you rather them sit in their cells and rot?”
>
  Nerul didn’t answer and lowered his head, thinking.

  I swallowed, wondering what they were talking about until my father finally spoke again.

  “Nerul, I can’t appoint you as the next king if you still sympathize with these savages.”

  “I don’t sympathize with them, Father. I just think we could use them instead of slaughter them.”

  I gasped and covered my mouth, then pressed my back against the wall. Slaughter them?

  The thought made my stomach turn, and for a moment, all I could picture was Takana’s smiling face. Those soft golden eyes…

  “My word is final, Ne ―”

  “What about the girl?” Nerul blurted. “She’s young and could be useful to us.”

  “You mean the one you spared? Takana Telerie?” Father paused, and it was silent for what felt like forever before he finally said those dreadful words. “She is practically the Brightstone princess, and let’s not forget, a monster. She will be the first to be executed.”

  “But father ―”

  “Like I said before!” Father boomed. “My word is final.”

  I clenched my teeth, tears suddenly streaming down my cheeks and over my hand. They were going to kill my best friend. The nicest elven girl in the world, and someone that I deeply cared for.

  I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I wanted to break Takana out and set her free, but I didn’t know how. How was I supposed to help her when I was still so weak?

  When I heard Nerul coming, I sniffled and ran back down the hall, dropping my piece of bread in the process. Before I could even turn down the other end though, I caught him in my peripheral and saw him watching me through glistening blue eyes with the bread in his hand.

  When I thought that he would say something, his eyes dropped down to the piece of bread, then he turned around and walked away, disappearing into darkness.

  Chapter Five

  That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept trying to think of ways to help Takana, but every plan that I came up with had failed. I was practically trying to come up with a way to commit treason.