Free for a day

There it was, the silence. A silence of a massacre. The war was over as I stood amongst the thousands of corpses. So this was what war was... never-ending bloodshed. Crimson red stained the battlefield. Well, it didn't seem much of a battlefield when they had no chance to fight back.

"Darkside... why? How could I kill all of these caelestians?" I trembled as I lost count of the bodies.

It was too easy...

I looked at my blood-stained hands. There was a pool of blood under my feet and I took a step forward only to slip and fall into the puddle. I gasp and quickly stand up backing away from the puddle.

"You've done well princess," Sir Talberon says clapping his hands walking towards me.

"I...I... can't..." My chest began to seize as the air couldn't go into my lungs.

Black dots filled my vision and then Talberon grabbed me by the shoulders.

"My dear princess, you have just murdered thousands of innocent caelestians." He enunciated each word slowly to make it sink in as I frantically shook my head.

I had listened to them. Listened to my father the king. They wanted power, to rule the realm. And the cost of that power was my sanity.

"No... please... no more... I can't..." Everything was falling apart. I tried pulling away from him but he dug his fingers into my skin as I winced from the pain.

I punched his chest, it didn't make a difference to him but I couldn't take it anymore. It was overbearing. My body, my mind, and my heart... Thousands of innocent caelestians were murdered for my father's victories. Their cries are haunting me and they're happy.

"Well, princess let's return to your kingdom. Your father, the king will be pleased to know that his enemies have been vanquished." He pulled my hand to walk with him and I then cried out at his words.

Back to the castle, all I did was cry as I was drenched in my sins. The way their bodies twisted in the air as my miasma surrounded them. Some had a swift death while the others had an agonizing death. I couldn't feel my legs at a certain point as I was dragged back to the castle and into the throne room. There awaited the council along with the king and queen.

"Congratulations on winning the war my king," Sir Talberon says as everyone bowed to him.

But I couldn't bow to him. I couldn't bow to a man that allowed his daughter to massacre thousands of innocent lives.

"Princess, you should know that you're being disrespectful," Eduarda says stepping forward.

"It is quite alright," The king says as Eduarda steps back.

"What is it that you want my child," my father looked at me and I went closer to him. A few feet away from the throne and I clasped my hands together in front of my chest.

"Please..." I shook my head as tears fell freely.

"Please kill me... I can't live like this... I can't do this anymore..." I pleaded with him as the room had gotten quiet.

"I'm afraid we cannot kill you just yet. You are too valuable to lose your life so quickly," Queen Athena steps forward.

"Even though we cannot kill you, for you are the crown princess, what we can do is reward you, what do you think my king?"

Everyone then looked at my father. "For one day, I'll grant you the freedom to do as you please."

Gasps filled the throne room as Caelestians threw their words around for the king to take back his decree.

"But your majesty, such a reward, she will surely try to run away." The queen quickly retaliates to his words.

"Freedom... for one day... is that some sort of trap Father?"

The council had quieted down again and my father and I stared eye to eye. He sighed and stood up as the chains disappeared but the shackles remained on my wrist. I felt my eyes water and I bowed to him. What else was I supposed to do than accept this simple gift? This so-called freedom. Freedom for a day.

I turned and ran out of the throne room. Even for a day, I would be free. That alone brought me so much joy. I ran and ran until I reached the courtyard at the furthest part of the castle. I had to go to him. I had to apologize for what I did. I pushed the maids and guards out of the way as they yelled at me for making so much noise. But I was determined to find him. For four years we were separated and at least for one day, I'll get to see him and say I'm sorry.

"Iracia?" I stopped running when I heard that familiar voice. I felt the tears well up in my eyes and I slowly looked up to see my best friend. But when I looked at Daemeon, his eyes only showed hatred. He had gotten taller but he still looked the same. In the blink of an eye, his hatred had disappeared from his eyes, as it glowed brightly.

"Is it really you?" He whispered and I slowly nodded.

"It's me Dae Dae," I didn't know if I should hug him or not. I was still covered in blood and grime from the battlefield but I was overjoyed. I didn't think clearly when I came here, I just wanted to-

My thoughts were cut short when I felt him pull me into a tight embrace. I looked at him and I began to cry and hug him tightly.

"Daemeon I'm so so sorry... I never meant to hurt you. I only hope you can forgive me. I'm so sorry," I mumbled and I felt something fall on my cheek. I sniffled and looked at him. He was also crying and shook his head.

"Don't be silly Ira, I already forgave you. I just missed my best friend so much." He pulled me again into his chest. I couldn't feel my legs, for the strength had gone from them as I collapsed hugging him and we stayed there for a while just holding onto each other.

I guess I needed this. Some normalcy in my life before I lost the battle and became a slave to my insanity. Being here with him has taught me one thing that there is still hope in this cruel damn world. I couldn't do anything for now, after all the power I have is too powerful alone for me.

But I'll wait for tomorrow to return to that prison and then I'll learn to control my power and Darkside. For now, for today, for the rest of the day, I'll spend it with the one person that hasn't given up on me.