White Heart: The Prophecy (The Blackened Souls Series Book 1) Read online

  Nerul sighed, his eyes glistening in the sunlight shining down on us. For the first time in a while, he looked worried. Sad even.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked.

  Nerul reached over and planted his hand on my shoulder. “No, I was just thinking of how you will be a wonderful queen one day.”

  My lips parted in shock. I had never considered ever being a queen since that was the heir’s duty, but Nerul never had any children. He never even married, so of course I would be the next in line.

  Nerul gave my shoulder a squeeze. “So, you have to come back. I’m counting on you.”

  I reached over and placed my hand over his. It hurt to see him look at me this way, like he was afraid that he’d never see me again, but it hurt even more to know that he wanted me to take his place on the throne.

  It was my goal to end the war and bring peace among the light and dark, which meant that I would be against everything that Nerul stood for. Sometimes, I even feared that I may be faced against him. There was no telling when the prophecy would take place or how it would be done, and at times, I hoped that it wasn’t in my lifetime. That could possibly leave my brother in danger and losing him would surely break me.

  “I love you, Nerul,” I said softly. “I always will.”

  Nerul gazed into my eyes, never responding with words, but I could see in his expression that he loved me too.

  I smiled inside. I guess knowing that he loved me was enough.

  “Goodbye, Nerul.”

  ~White Heart~

  Stones Divide.

  The place where an invisible line was drawn between the light and dark elf kingdoms. The only way to know that I’ve passed over it was by using the large white stone in the center of the battle as a landmark, and once over it, I would be in enemy territory, but looking down from Zaos, that didn’t really seem to matter.

  Below me were Petty Dwarves, Giants, Orcs, Ents, and Elves. Fighting for both sides were the Petty Dwarves, the Orcs, and of course the Elves, but we had the Giants on our side, and of course the eagles.

  The battle was ferocious with blood already soaking the grass. The Dwarves fought with their swords, and the Giants and Ents clashed into each other, creating sounds of thunder with their power. The Orcs fought savagely, swinging their axes, spiked bats, hammers and sickles, and the Elves fought using their weapons, hate, and rage.

  “Are you ready, Calen?” Zaos asked.

  Looking over my shoulder at the rest of my squad, I sighed. I honestly wasn’t sure. Takana and I had never fought on the same battlefield before, and I found myself worried about her and my men. I knew for a fact that they couldn’t handle her, and as a Telerie, Takana had to do her duty by killing as many of my warriors as possible. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do in this situation.

  As I turned to face forward again, I noticed a blue butterfly fluttering by for only a second when I spotted a large golden dragon up ahead of me, accompanied by several others.

  Takana.

  I clutched my reigns when I spotted Takana sitting upon her golden dragon as she led her own squad. Her piercing eyes were locked on mine at a distance, making my heart feel as if it would explode. Even in the midst of battle, she managed to captivate me like no other.

  She cut her hair again.

  Unlike the last time I saw Takana, her hair was even shorter, but it looked amazing. Both sides of her head were cut low, but the top was longer and brushed forward with some hanging over her forehead like a bang. Golden earrings dangled from her ears, and she wore golden beads around her neck, looking even more like a royal warrior than before. I also noticed that she wore leather pants instead of a loincloth this time.

  “Calen?” Zaos said, snapping me out of my trance. “What shall I do?”

  I swallowed, noticing that the long-haired woman flying beside Takana looked exactly like her, only a few years older. That’s when I realized that she was her older sister, Takera.

  Neither of us wanted to fight each other, but with Takera watching us, we had to or else I’d end up being killed and Takana would end up being put to death by her own father.

  “Light up,” I said softly.

  Instantly, Zaos’ feathers ignited in blue flames, leaving me warm but unburned. Once an eagle has bound to an elf, they could not hurt their masters. I had always found that fascinating…

  My eyes locked with Takana’s one last time before she nodded.

  She understood.

  I whipped out my sword, instantly filling my blade with the magic of my stone. “Attack!”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Takana was right in front of me for only a split second before Zaos dipped under her dragon and flipped over so that their bellies were facing each other. Once passed her, Zaos began shooting multiple fire balls from his mouth at the dragons ahead. He was fast, so he managed to hit two hard enough to weaken them, but they weren’t going to go down easily.

  As Zaos flipped right side up, one elf led his dragon straight towards me. Once close enough, his dragon spit yellow flames from its mouth just as Zaos ejected blue.

  When I looked over my shoulder, I spotted another dragon headed in my direction and waited just long enough for it to get close before dropping my body weight to the left and guiding Zaos to flip out of the way.

  The dragon behind me ran head on into the first dragons’ flames and went spiraling down to the ground.

  Immediately getting on my guard, I noticed Takera coming right at me from behind, but she didn’t use her dragon to fight me. Instead, she smiled and raised her hand before ejecting a powerful beam of light in my direction, too fast for me to completely avoid.

  When Zaos saw the blow coming, he blocked it with one of his wings. The impact sent us twirling through the air uncontrollably, and to make matters worse, Takera’s dragon was blowing flames at us as we went down.

  “You’re going to have to jump, Princess,” Zaos said through his mind. “My wound is bad.”

  I clenched my teeth and tightened my grip around the reigns. Did you forget who you were talking to?

  Steadily reaching out, I placed my hand over Zaos’ wounded wing and guided my magic into him, just as Nerul had taught me. Instantly, Zaos was able to gain control, turn around, and blow flames from his mouth and wings at full force.

  Takera’s eyes widened before her dragon blocked the flames with its belly, but the impact still pushed it back a significant distance.

  “Now, lets go help our men!” I yelled.

  “As you wish,” Zaos replied before shooting towards the ground. Once close enough, we leveled out over the battlefield.

  I readied my sword as we flew towards an Ent that just had half of its face smashed in by a giant. It stumbled back and was about to retaliate when it saw me coming through its one good eye, but before it could brace itself, I sliced my sword through its neck and removed its head. Upon impact, black energy exploded from my sword and lingered behind like smoke from a fire. The entire Ent turned black before falling to the ground.

  “Get lower,” I ordered Zaos.

  Zaos took us lower where I sliced and slashed through my enemies, leaving blood mist and black energy behind. I tried not to think of how I was taking lives and continued to help protect my men. Some I knew, and some I even cared for, so I had to do everything that I could. Killing was one thing but watching your friends die was another. I’d rather have them by my side in the end.

  “Again,” I said before Zaos turned us around, but just as we did, an enemy Orc wearing a golden shoulder plate leaped onto Zaos’ side and tipped us over.

  I nearly fell off when I caught myself by dropping my free hand onto the Orc’s shoulder. The Orc frowned and was about to attack when I quickly plunged my sword into its eye. In only a few seconds, its entire body turned back and slid off Zaos.

  “Princess!” Zaos yelled.

  In alert, I straightened myself, then grabbed onto the reigns before Zaos took off. Just as we did, Takera’s dragon
spit flames at us. When it missed, it killed many of her own men instead, but she didn’t seem to care. She just continued her attack and aimed beams of light at me through her palms.

  “I can’t fight her at a distance,” I yelled. “I need you to get me close to her.”

  “Of course!”

  Zaos shot up into the air and above Takera before doing a backflip over her head. This time, I let myself drop from his body and landed on the dragons back.

  Takera wasted no time in aiming for my arm with her dagger, but I simply dropped my shoulder and blocked it with my black shoulder plate. When she tried again, I blocked with my sword, then threw a hard punch at her jaw.

  Surprisingly, she smiled back with blood covered teeth before her eyes turned a bright white, and I found myself remembering how Takana’s did the same. This only happened when their true power awakened. It was something in me I haven’t yet awakened myself.

  I thrust my sword at Takera in a hurry, but she blocked with ease, deflecting my power and sending me flying through the air. Midway to the ground, I did a backflip and landed on my feet, sliding backwards until I finally stopped.

  I found myself in the middle of an Orc fight, which still might as well have been giants to me, and ducked just as one swung his hammer up at the other. With a fierce impact, the hammer knocked the Orc’s head off with a smash.

  Dropping my eyes, a Petty Dwarf dressed in golden armor attacked me with his sword, but I blocked and countered with a quickness, stabbing him through the heart with ease.

  The Dwarf grimaced before falling into me, and I almost pushed him out of the way when I noticed Takera’s dragon aiming flames at me. Without thinking twice, I dropped to the ground and let the Dwarf’s armor shield my body as the fire made impact.

  The force of it was crushing enough to cause me to let go of my sword, but when I thought I couldn’t take anymore, it stopped.

  “I’m here, Princess,” Zaos thought.

  I pushed the Dwarf’s body from on top of me to find Zaos blowing flames at Takera’s dragon through his mouth and wings. It was more than I’d ever seen in years, but he tended to tap into his true strength when I was in danger, so it was no surprise.

  Cautious not to leave my guard down for too long, I flipped over the ground and grabbed onto my sword, then came back to my feet and plunged the blade into an oncoming Light Elf.

  I froze when my widening eyes met a pair of soft golden ones, then I slowly looked down at my sword going through her stomach. Every part of my body screamed with panic, like I was going to drop dead from shock, but when I looked up again, I didn’t see Takana’s face. It was someone else.

  The Light Elf warrior’s eyes widened as they welled with tears, then she slowly looked down at my sword penetrating her stomach. “I’m not ready,” she said to herself. “My children are expecting me…”

  “I―I’m sorry,” I said as I pulled my sword out of her.

  She dropped down to the ground, still alive, but only for a few seconds before the light in her eyes disappeared.

  I zoned out as I stared down at her blackening body for only a moment when I heard the sound of thunder. At first, I thought that it was just the Ent’s and Giants, but when I looked up, I witnessed lighting crash down onto the battlefield, creating an explosion of dirt.

  My eyes widened when I looked up into the sky only to notice that dark clouds were beginning to form with lightning flashing through them. A lightning storm…

  Zaos!

  “I’m here!” Zaos swooped down just in time for me to leap onto his back, then he flew a few feet into the air.

  “Retreat!” I yelled over the battlefield. “Retreat!”

  Multiple lightning strikes crashed down onto Stones Divide, killing many instantly.

  When I looked up, I noticed Takana commanding her troops to retreat as well. It was Takera who only sat on her dragon and watched through her white eyes in amusement. She really was as evil as Takana described in her letters. Her own men were dying, and she didn’t even care.

  “We should leave now, Princess,” Zaos said.

  Once I noticed that my troops were beginning to retreat, I nodded. “Let’s go.”

  “Back to the palace?”

  “No.” I grabbed the reigns and turned to Takana, only to find her watching me. “Head North.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Is it safe to go in there, Princess?” Zaos asked.

  I nodded to Zaos before looking back at the cave over my shoulder. “It’s one of the safest places that I could be right now.” I turned back to Zaos and placed my hand between his large eyes. “You were amazing out there, old man.”

  “I was only doing my duty, child.”

  The two of us chuckled.

  “I will keep guard out here. Should I be expecting anyone? Anyone in particular?” Zaos asked.

  “Maybe,” I said softly. “Maybe Takana will come.”

  “Maybe she will.” Zaos nodded.

  I gave a slight smile before turning around and walking into the cave, then went deep enough to start a small fire.

  With no food to fuel my body, I decided that I could use rest and removed my cape and armor, then I laid back on the ground next to the cave wall.

  Hopefully by the time that I awakened, Takana would be here.

  ~White Heart~

  When I opened my eyes, I thought that I was dreaming, but after raising my hand for a purple butterfly to land on the back, I smiled. This was no dream, but if I was wrong, I never wanted to wake up.

  Blue, purple, and pink butterflies fluttered around the cave just as I remembered…

  “Takana,” I whispered to myself.

  “Calen.” Her voice was familiar, and yet, unfamiliar, reminding me of how much time had passed between us. It was somewhat deeper.

  Takana’s soft hand slid over my cheek and warmed my cold my skin before she guided my eyes to hers. She was sitting beside me with her armor removed, leaving her in a brown top and leather pants.

  My heart fluttered. Up close, she was even more breathtaking than before, and surprisingly, after all these years, I wasn’t nervous to be around her. We were finally together in a place that I could feel her warm touch. No longer did I have to imagine what she looked like, and she didn’t have to yearn for my smile anymore. To make matters better, I didn’t have to pretend to be her enemy while we were alone. For now, I was free to love her.

  I smiled. “You never told me that you cut your hair. I barely recognized you out there.”

  A hint of a smile pulled at Takana’s lips. “I wanted to surprise you.”

  When Takana began caressing my cheek with her thumb, I placed my hand over hers and exhaled. No one had ever touched me this way, and yet, it felt normal for her to do it. “I wasn’t sure that you would come.”

  Takana’s lids lowered. “I knew where you were going as soon as you took off. I just had to get away from Takera first.”

  A frown slowly formed over my face at the thought of her. “Takera. She ―” I sighed, picturing how she watched as her men were being killed in the storm. She didn’t really seem to stand for anything but death.

  “I know, but I don’t want to talk about her right now. I want to enjoy the time that we have together.”

  My chest ached at the thought of separating from her again. “Okay.” I sat up while moving Takana’s hand from my face and held it in my lap, afraid that if I let her go, she would leave me forever this time.

  Takana’s expression softened as she looked me up and down. “You’ve grown beautifully.”

  My cheeks warmed. “And you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  My heart fluttered when Takana smiled, then she curled her fingers over mine. “I’ve missed you, Calen. It’s been too long. I don’t want this night to end.”

  I chuckled. “Well, we can always extend our time together.”

  “And how will we do that?”

  I tilted my head to the side. �
�We can go far away from here and forget the war even exists.” A part of me was only joking, but then the other part wanted nothing more than to run away, and I was sure that Takana felt the same.

  Takana drew her gaze to our hands in my lap. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.” She drew her eyebrows together, thinking, or maybe upset about my playful suggestion.

  “What are you thinking?” I asked. “I was never able to read you.”

  Takana raised her eyes back to mine. “Just about how happy I would be if I could be with you. You’re all that brings me joy.” She gently pulled her hand from mine and reached out to tuck a few strands behind my ear, leaving us only inches apart. “You’re all that I can ever think of.”

  My lips parted, and I inhaled a shaky breath. With our closeness, I yearned to be touched, held, and loved. I wanted to replace the ache in my heart with happiness.

  “I love you,” I whispered. “Ever since we were kids. Even when I didn’t know it.”

  “I love you too.”

  For only a moment, it was as if time had slowed. The glowing butterflies around us became nothing more than blinking colorful lights, and the two of us were frozen, both hesitant to do what we’ve been thinking for quite some time.

  But we did.

  Takana slowly inched forward and gently pressed her lips against mine. In reaction, I slid my hand up her cheek and into her hair, taking in all the love that she could give. Through the night chill, she was surprisingly warm, and the caress of her lips were softer than I could have imagined. I would’ve never thought that kissing her would feel like this.

  Time instantly snapped back into its natural speed, but I could care less about what was going on around me at this point. As Takana leaned into me, guiding me with her lips to lie on my back, all I cared about was her.

  ~White Heart~

  Takana slid her leg over mine as she faced me with my black cape draped over her lower body and placed another soft kiss on my lips, causing my heart to flutter.