Part One: Crimson

A cool breeze caresses my skin as the scent of verbena and rose fills my chamber. Hugging the silky sheets against my bare form I bury my face into the crook of my arm.

"I told you she was still in bed," Camellia purrs, "well aren't you going to wake up?"

"Why should I?" I mumble trying and failing to merge myself into the bed. There's tugging at my feet then a yank follows along with a tsk, tsk, as the sheets pull away revealing my bare form.

"Why must you sleep this way?" Da-Xia asks the scent of jasmine and mint now mingling with that of rose and verbena. "Why can't you be civil?"

I reach for the sheets which to my dismay are far out of reach. Stretching like a cat I open my eyes and find neither wears their usual attire.

"What is this?" I wave a hand at them as I sit up, I shouldn't have had that last sip of honeysuckle wine but it was so sweet. They look at me expecting me to figure out what's going on.

It is Jia who speaks, "Today is the day of Tamara's union to the eldest prince," she moves towards the bathing chamber her simple honey color gown glinting where the sun hits it.

"I don't see why this should warrant such ruckus," I follow Jia into the bathing chamber finding she's already tossed in night blossom and fuchsia the purplish-red flowers so similar to my hair. "Tamara will just become another addition of his harem, not even a head concubine. Bai is his only wife and daughter of the Koi Clan. Who would dare risk that?" I step into the cool bathwater finding it helps my throbbing head.

"Tamara is the daughter of the Siren Queen," Camellia says as she and Da-Xia take a seat at either end of the pool.

"They didn't fight in the War," Da-Xia adds as I submerge myself into the cool water.

Images of blood and ash fill my find followed by the screams of the fallen. The Witch Wars cost us much leaving Camellia, Da-Xia, Feng, and myself as orphans, therefore, making the Dragon King our guardian. Yet not many were as lucky an either died of starvation or continue to fend for themselves. I was only twelve and yet the images are still clear drowning my sorrows in great uncle's wine is easier. Per the rules of my now forgotten kingdom, we were required to fight and so I was the youngest general.

Feathery hands reach for me pulling me out of the water, "You need to stop doing that," Jia mumbles as she lathers my hair with a honeysuckle tonic, the scent making my head throb more.

"I was only thinking," I say as she rinses out my hair and hands me a washcloth, "Why must I attend?"

"We are members of this court," Camellia says, "and she is your cousin."

"Of sorts," Da-Xia adds as I scrub.

Having fought in the Witch Wars only Da-Xia understands why I refuse to acknowledge any true relation to the Siren Tribe. At that time Camellia wasn't even born and even though we have explained it about a thousand times she's still too forgetful. I submerge myself into the now foamy water before making my way towards the fountain that fills my small pool and pouring clean water over myself.

"What am I wearing?" I ask as Jia hands me a warm bath sheet.

"We figured you'd forget," Da-Xia says as I ring out my hair, "so we made arrangements."

And arrangements they made, the gown laid out before me consist of red-magenta lined with black lace from the waist up in the form of a spider web tiny stones of obsidian and jasper are embedded within the folds of the skirt.

"What in the world," I murmur as I run my fingers over my mother's dress.

Da-Xia smiles like the hound she is her canines glinting in the light as she says, "It's a Royal wedding."

"Indeed."

They help me dress as we're pressed for time. Camellia arranges my hair into a curled plait holding it in place with a hairpin designed into a spiderweb of amethyst and pink tourmaline with eight tiny stones meant to symbolize our lineage to the flame, darkness, winter, water, mortality, the hound and dragon clan and my own now forgotten. What Da-Xia intends is quite obvious, all eyes will be on me instead of the new concubine and it will drive her mad. No one has laid eyes on a Shadow Queen in over Millennia the last being my great grandmother Morana destroyer of worlds and the ultimate balance.

Camellia applies a light powder of shimmering red that enhances my labradorite eyes the red-violet in them shining like the very gem. She doesn't bother to powder my face she knows I hate such things, instead she dabs crimson tint to my lips. They step back as Jia who left as they began to prepare me for the wedding returns with a small bundle.

"Mistress this was delivered to your palace earlier."

I take the delicately wrap bundle and opened it to find a shawl of the finest silk resembling a fuchsia, delicate vines embroidered onto it.

"Who's the sender?" Camellia asks.

"And old friend," I say placing the fabric over my head so that it falls like a veil.

Da-Xia arranges it so that the hairpiece I wear is visible yet my face remains cover. "Exactly which one of your old friends would this be from?" she asks.

"I'm sure will soon find out," I say stepping towards the only mirror in my chamber. The fabric is designed so that I may see through it but not the other way around. What a sly wolf?

###

After having helped me dress Camellia and Da-Xia slipped into their gowns. Camellia's gown is a mixture of red and snow white just like her hair and namesake. While Da-Xia's is a deep purple with a silver lining around the waist that resembles thorns. Being as forgetful as I am, they ensured that Jia had a dress of similar coloring to my own but with less detail. Their maidservants too wear dresses like Jia's only with their mistress colors. While Da-Xia and Camellia reside in my palace they both have their respective tribes.

Da-Xia is the daughter of the last Shadow Alpha while Camellia is the daughter of a feline clan long extinguished. Even though we ride in the same carriage, it's as if we were each in our own. Silence our true companion. I ponder will he truly be here will the others come. How will this night end? My palace is the furthest from the festivity hall and so we are amongst the last to arrive.

"Greetings Princess," one of the noble men's wives greets her curtsy hardly noticeable. I walk past her as if she was non-existent one of the ladies with her gasping as if it were a grand insult.

Many within the Dragon Realm have forgotten what power the Shadows can will. As we near the steps to the festivity hall I spot three familiar males. One of the three has his back to me not that I need to look at him to know those honey-green eyes flecked with gold that crooked grin and keen canines.

"Who are they?" Camellia asks as we near the hall.

"The tallest of the three is the Winter King," Da-Xia answers before I can, "the one between them is one of the twelve Vampire Lords."

"What about…

I speak before Camellia can finish her question, "The Dark King," just as I speak, he turns. A smile plays in those honey-green eyes, no other could notice and that hunger.

"Crimson greets your Majesties," I incline my head if only because I fought in battle with every last one of them and thus have earned my respect.

"No need for formalities," Alexander the youngest of the Vampire Lords greats. His emerald green eyes almost as piercing as the Dark King's.

"I agree," the Winter King smiles the blue lining his amber eyes intensifying.

"What are you up to?" I ask my gaze shifting from one to the next all still as alluring as the first time I meet them.

"Just here to enjoy the festivities," the Dark King's voice is as bittersweet as pomegranate wine.

"Well then," Da-Xia interrupts and for that I am grateful, "we best be joining the festivities we're already late."

We turn away from them and as I take the first of the four steps send, "you timed it didn't you?"

"What if I did?" she sends back.

Camellia just looks at us aware there is something we're not telling her. Truth be she is rarely included in our telepathic discussions being as she is only ninety-seven and requires much explaining of our past.

As we enter all turn towards us, we lower our heads to the Dragon King before making our way to our banquet table. The Siren Queen puffs up like a pufferfish all eyes lingering on us instead of Tamara. Tamara avoids looking in our direction instead her head remains lowered.

"Greeting old aunt, may we drink to you?" Da-Xia asks the moment her maidservant fills her cup. If the Siren Queen puffed up before now it's as if she was ready to burst even her eyes bulge like a bullfrog.

"How dare you…

I lift my veil causing her to stop mid-sentence, "We'll Galicia, may Princess Da-Xia drink to you or not?" excluding the Dragon King and our three acquaintances everyone else is in a state of confusion.

"We didn't travel this far to not drink?" the Dark King says lifting his jade cup towards the Dragon King his companions and us. Without another word downing his wine.

Not wanting to insult him all follow. The Dark King might be younger than the Siren Queen but he is stronger and of higher ranking. Having fought in just as many if not more wars then I have he's earned great merit. The Dark King fought even when not required of him and reached ascension into an Ancient at fifty no one's been able to surpass him. He is now eight hundred and twenty-eight.

"It is a great honor to have you here," my voice like sweet venom, "and I suppose it's lovely to see you too Galicia."

"Now, now this is a joyous occasion let us forget the past," Minister of Finance says lifting his cup.

The ruddy-cheeked man beside the minister lifts his cup just as Da-Xia speaks, "To any who did not fight in the Witch Wars forgetting the past would be easy. Wouldn't it?"

There is a boom in the northern wing followed by a third and fourth in the southern and western gates. Assassin's fall from above the festivity's hall erupting into chaos.

"Protect the King!" a guard shouts as I throw out a wall of shadow.

"What is this?" Camellia whispers as Da-Xia and I move into defensive positions. The Dragon King already holding his blade out, a warrior until the end.

"Well if I had to guess I'd say an assassination attempt," Da-Xia answers her as an assassin lunges at her.

"Who would be this stupid?" I ask summoning twin blades of shadow frost.

Galicia rises just as an arrow bearing the emblem of the Koi Clan pierces her right eye. Whatever poison coats the arrow takes quick effect burning a hole where her eye used to be. The Siren Queen screams blend in with Tamara's who is now officially an orphan and a widow. Eldest Prince lies in a puddle of his blood. The Siren Queen and Tamara's screams' having burst his eardrums.

With a flick of his hand, the Dark King lets out enough power to blast everyone back. I fight the urge to pull at the darkness that radiates from him like iridescent light. More assassins replace them, I plunge my blade into one throwing the second blade towards Camellia who uses it to gut one of the assassins that got too close to her. Her knowledge of battle is limited to what Da-Xia and I have taught her yet she doesn't fumble. She lets out a low growl as the blade disintegrates and she takes her jaguar form.

Anywho near the Winter King combust as he stops their blood cold in their veins while causing their hearts to shatter. Alexander moves in a blur, decapitating all who near him blood drips down his jaw and onto his now exposed chest. Someone tore it open yet that doesn't stop him from draining his next victim. How easy it would be to cave into the hunger but like with Ryan's darkness I hold back.

Having had enough of this madness I call to the Shadows lettings the hounds that rest on my left leg free then Silver and Ash the twin Shadows that wrap around my left forearm and thumb. I debated pulling at the darkness but chose against it less it compromises everything. Rising above them I let out a burst of shadows just as Ryan sends out a wave of darkness. Finally ending the bloodshed.