Announcement

Blood, sweat, and tears

That's what it was like every day

The experiments and the tests. The painful procedures, the operations on my body. And so today Talberon brought me to test out a new spell. The markings were laid out on the ground and of course, again I had to stand in the middle of it, with chains on my wrists. But today felt different. The spells were getting used to my body and its effects were fading.

The warlocks surrounded the outer circle and used hand signs to begin the spell. Darkside was laughing in the back of my mind as she looked through my eyes.

"Why isn't this spell working on her?!" Talberon yells as he stabbed a warlock.

"Really now, another warlock? You must really be desperate to have me," Darkside smirks taking over me.

Talberon turns and glares at me. He storms to the outer circle. He knew better than to step inside a death trap. A trap that could wound him terribly.

"What's the matter? Scared of your own spell?" She taunted and glanced at the chains sighing.

"You're all lucky I'm in the body of a ten-year-old. If I was in my original body," She looked at them as some of the warlocks trembled. My eyes had turned golden again. "Then every single caelestian will have to say goodnight," she made our voice low and deadly. It was so easy for Darkside to emit fear into their souls. Even if she was in my body, the body of a child.

"Oh Daddy dearest finally came to pay us a visit," I looked up at the staircase to find the king standing there with his scrutinizing glare.

"Oh don't you worry Father, we won't hurt you," Darkside smiles. A sick twisted smile.

Just wait till I pull her back here, I'll kick her. I could only huff in my mind.

His Majesty ignored me completely and turned to Talberon. "There will be a ceremony held soon, make sure she is prepped and proper like a princess of Obscurum."

Talberon bowed, "yes we shall have her ready at once,"

Darkside snickers, "Oh so now you want to parade us around, really now father, you came all this way just to tell us that? This ceremony must be truly special if you need the crown princess to attend,"

Nobody ever dared to talk back to him except my Darkside. It stunned and shocked caelestians and placed a newfound fear in their eyes.

"Well Tablet lacky, whatever your name is," She mocked Talberon, "let's get this going shall we, we shouldn't keep your king waiting," Darkside removes her chains and rubs our wrists.

Sweat ran down the warlock's faces as they trembled. A sudden black whip appeared out of nowhere and Darkside just stepped back dodging the whip.

"Yeesh that was a close one, you almost got me there," she playfully replies toying with them.

"Princess Serah, make your demon return at once or there will be consequences for you. She dares to insult his majesty, and for that, you will be punished. You are being disrespectful towards your king." Talberon threatens

"Woah woah hold on," she puts her hands up. "You are mistaken, he is no king to me,"

And then there was silence.

"Why should I bow down to someone that's beneath me? Why should I bow to a king that isn't even supposed to be the king of this kingdom? Why should I call him a king when he disregarded his own family? His flesh and blood?"

Darkside steps out of the circle as the warlocks part way for us. Every question was directed to everyone present as I knew I was now thrown into a deeper problem.

"All you ever do is experiment on us, throw us into your wars, make your daughter become an assassin, I wonder what else is new for this-"

That was when I suddenly coughed out blood. I fell to my knees as I felt my chest get tight. Black chains with markings appeared on my wrist. Darkside glared at them.

"Hmph never expected to see this again. So which fallen God did you make a wish to get these chains?"

I could feel my strength draining and Darkside returned to her domain and I was pushed out. The chains weakened me as I looked at them. My father just stood there again. The only thing I could wonder was why?

Why was I treated like this? All I wanted was to please him as his daughter, I wanted to make him proud. I wanted to escape, I wanted to run away. But how could I leave this place when I'm always trapped?

•°•°•

I was dressed and ready in a simple black fluffy dress. Eduarda had healed me but the new cuffs remained on my wrists. I felt lonely again as I couldn't feel my Darkside at all. I pulled at the lacy material, it made my skin itch and I wanted to rip it out.

A scent of a flower wafted through the air as a spider lily was suddenly in front of my face. I looked beside me to find Daemeon holding the red flower. He placed the flower behind my ear.

"You look really pretty Iracia," he smiled and bowed slightly. I was utterly surprised at this and I didn't know why my face was suddenly feeling hot.

"Thank you," I smiled and we went to the throne room.

The council had watched my every move, it was the first time they hadn't put chains on me or dragged me around. Talberon then beckoned me to stand next to my siblings. I didn't want to go. I winced as an electric current burned me, and the chains burned my skin.

I obliged and quietly went to stand next to Skythe. My brothers had gotten older and taller in these last few years. Even my younger sister had grown. Zecane had begrudgingly came to stand next to me. In such a short amount of time, everyone had grown older so quickly.

"Oh so you have arrived," Queen Athena struts up the stairs to the throne carrying a bundle wrapped up in her arms. My eyes widened, it was the first time I had seen her carry her child. So this is why they're having a ceremony, to welcome a new child to the royal family.

Before the Queen could tell me something, the King had told her to be quiet. She glared at him and rocked her baby. The King ignored her and turned to the council and he sent out a declaration to the rest of the kingdom.

"Greetings to the kingdom of Obscurum. The royal family has gathered here today for we are to announce the arrival of a new baby, Princess Aremiah."

The baby cooed and stretched out her little arms at the sight of the king. At least she will get the love and attention she deserves. My heart felt heavy. I wasn't welcomed, I didn't receive love from my father and I never knew my mother. This must be what they call jealousy.

Zecane then came closer to me, "you should be prepared little sister," he whispered with a smirk.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked ignoring him as he chuckled and looked away. That felt more like a warning to me.

"And now for the next declaration, I have decided that the crown princess shall protect and be the crown prince's close aide in these times of war." The King proclaims.

All heads turned to me and I stood there gazing at my father's back. He wanted me, his daughter to protect an illegitimate sibling of mine?

"That is a splendid idea your majesty," Athena rocks the baby as the council murmurs the agreement.

After a few more announcements, the court was dismissed for the refreshments. I just stood there frozen. My father wants me to be a bodyguard and he announced it to the whole kingdom.