And the best foreshadowing song of the year award goes to…
I'm sitting here in this moist stone cell, the incessant dripping of water echoing in my ears, each drop piercing the silence like a clock ticking down my last moments. To the ordinary, it would drive them mad, but I had come to embrace the noise. I had seen worse—endured worse—during my time with Luco Detti, the ruthless Italian mafia leader. The methods he employed to ensure loyalty were as cruel as they were effective. The water dripped steadily, a countdown of impending doom, just like the shadows crept longer in his dark, smoke-filled rooms.
A guard ambled past my cell, his laughter a bitter sound. "One more day, you wretched bitch, and you'll get to say hello to that god of yours that you always pray to." His cruelty wrapped around my thoughts like a thorny vine. I barely registered the woman's soft prayers next to me at first, her voice barely a whisper against the stone walls, but it drew me in—a nostalgic song echoing from my past life.
I focused on her words, seeking their warmth. I had once stood beside strong figures, choosing the path of chaos over the divine light, yet here I was, relegated to a depth of despair that I had once avoided. Her faith, unyielding and tender, flicked at the embers of something long extinguished within me.
Just then, I felt a surge—a familiar energy swirling inside me.
—-
In the brightly lit interior of The Wolf Den Hotel, that was located in the capital of the Windsor kingdom, chandeliers of polished wood illuminated the faces of scattered patrons beneath the stained glass windows. Dehya stood at a sturdy oak table, her vibrant purple eyes reflecting the colors of the glass, as she anxiously tapped her fingers across the surface. Her purple hair cascaded around her shoulders, framing her agitated expression. Orion, Zains spirit cat, curled lazily on her shoulder, his black and gold fur shimmering as he swayed with her movements. "Patience, Dehya," he purred, glancing sideways to see if he could feel Zain's presence near by.
Across the room, Viscoff raised his metal tankard, sloshing mead upon the table while Gimola and Gimli roared with laughter at his latest hymn, their boisterous camaraderie filling the air. The towering voice echoed through the stone hall, celebrating. Despite the jovial atmosphere, anxiety gripped Dehya.
"Where is Zain?" she wondered, unable to disguise the quiver in her voice.
"Dehya, you should put trust in that boy" Orion suggested, tail twitching lightly, still linked to Zain through their shared consciousness.
Just then, Viscoffs voice rang out louder.
In the cell where shadows fall,
A man awaits, behind the wall,
His spirit fierce, his mind a blaze,
Planning paths through secret ways.
With chains that bind but cannot break,
His heart, a storm, begins to wake,
For in the dark, his vision clear,
A kingdom's fall, he holds his dear.
Oh, rise, oh rise, from chains unbound,
To take the throne, to claim the crown,
With stealth and strength, the night he'll roam,
To bring the hidden kingdom home.
In whispers soft, his plans unfold,
Of hidden paths and tales untold,
A silent force, his will, his might,
To challenge shadows in the night.
Through secret halls and guarded gates,
He moves unseen, defies his fate,
For in his eyes, a fire gleams,
To shatter darkness with his dreams.
Oh, rise, oh rise, from chains unbound,
To take the throne, to claim the crown,
With stealth and strength, the night he'll roam,
To bring the hidden kingdom home.
So sing, oh world, of his bold quest,
Of battles fought and trials best,
For in his hymn, the light shall grow,
An evil kingdom overthrown.
Oh, rise, oh rise, from chains unbound,
To take the throne, to claim the crown,
With stealth and strength, the night he'll roam,
To bring the hidden kingdom home.
The last line of the hymn is heard echoing through the main room of the hotel. A shiver runs down everyone's back.
—-
The next day came slowly, light filtering through the grating of the narrow sky window, illuminating the damp stones of my cell. Shadows danced as water dripped steadily in the background. A cacophony echoed down the hall: chains rattled, the sound of authority mixed with the clatter of armored boots.
"Bitch, get your ass up in those cuffs!" one of the royal guards barked, his voice a whip crack that broke the stale silence.
I listened as a woman reluctantly rose from her cramped quarters, her chains clinking softly against the walls. They dragged her past my cell, and in the fleeting glare of sunlight, I caught a glimpse of her face. It sent a bolt through me; she looked remarkably like my mother from my last life. No, it was uncanny—she looked exactly like her. Confusion swelled within me. What were the odds?
Without hesitation, I focused my thoughts, reaching out to Orion, *Come to me now*, I sent to him, my heart racing.
Moments later, a shimmer in the air announced his arrival, and the feline leapt onto my lap, purring softly against me. His presence provided comfort as I formulated a plan.
"Orion, we need to help her," I whispered urgently, drawing on the magic that thrummed between us. I looked back at the guards, their backs turned as they laughed at the woman's plight. "Tonight, I will escape this prison." A surge of resolve washed over me as I realized that my past—my mother—was somehow intertwined with my fate in this world. The chains of my own existence could be broken. I tell Orion my plan.
——
The dampness of the underground jail cells clinging to my hair as I listened intently. Above me, the muted footsteps of the townspeople echoed, their eager murmurs spilling over the urgency of the night. They had come to witness the execution of the woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to my mother from my past life. The weight of destiny hung heavily on my shoulders. I couldn't let it happen.
I closed my eyes and sent a mental message to Orion, "It's time."
In a flash, he was gone, darting through the shadows with the agility of a whisper. I envisioned him navigating the narrow corridors, slipping past the distracted guard, who's eyes were glued to the stage preparation above. My heart raced— I needed this to work for my epic plan.
Moments later, Orion re-entered my cell, his silhouette outlined against the minimal light, key set swinging from his maw. He dropped them in my palm, and as I fumbled with the rusty lock of the cell door, I open it, the hinges emitted an agonizing squeak. I cursed under my breath, praying it wouldn't alert the sentinels above.
With that final click, I stepped into the corridor, the roar of the crowd growing louder in my ears. I walked toward the back of the jail, where a small vent promised escape. As I channeled my magic, the bolts unscrewed in seconds, and Orion and I wriggled our way through, each second stretching like an eternity.
When I finally landed in the alleyway, the moonlight spilled over my comrades: Dehya, with her vibrant purple eyes and those striking locks; the stoic Viscoff wielding his axe; Ben, poised with the red phoenix bow; and the dwarf twins, Gimola and Gimli, ready with their kukri blades.
Dehya stepped forward, her expression fierce yet compassionate. She handed me my dragon sword. "We don't have time to waste, Zain. Let's save her," she urged, the group nodding in unison.
——
The atmosphere of the Windsor kingdom was electric with anticipation. The crowd surged like a living sea, their cheers merging into a cacophony that danced in the night air. Above them, the dual moons—one a brilliant blue, the other a fiery red—cast an otherworldly glow across the white stone buildings, stark contrasts that seemed to punctuate the event's dark narrative.
I stood in the shadows, my heart racing with the vibrations of the crowd as Archbald ascended the stage. The glint of a blue-bladed sword drew me in like a moth to flame. a guillotine to his left, ominous and foreboding. His voice boomed over the din, amplified by magic, "Tonight, we take revenge on the woman who poisoned our king!" The masses erupted, fueled by anger, their spirits lifted higher than the midnight moon.
Slightly behind the stage, cloaked in the obscurity of the night, a wooden magic cart stood ominously. The dark blanket covering the cage was thick enough to shroud whoever lay beneath, but the quiet chants from within the cage pierced the ambient noise. I felt my heart constrict. Orion sitting on top of a building to the side of Ben.
"Get ready, Plan Double O Seven is in effect," I instructed him mentally, my thoughts awhirl. "In ten, we make our move."
With each count, tension coiled tighter within me. At the count of one, I charged toward the cage just as two royal guards lifted the blanket. The jingle of keys sent a thrill of urgency through me, and seconds before disaster could unfold, two blunted arrows pierced the night, fleeing by each side of my head instantaneously, thudding into both guards.
Ben's marksmanship was unparalleled; he perched high above on a distant rooftop, silent as the grave. I didn't look back; the soothing prayers from within that cage continued to envelop me, guiding my resolve as I gripped the blanket and lifted it.
*see I told you, he can use magic to increase his eyesight*
My breath caught. Before me lay a woman with long teal hair that shimmered in the moonlight, her vibrant emerald eyes mirroring those of someone Of my past.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice a lullaby amidst chaos.
"Please take my hand and come with me," I managed, the words heavy with unspoken emotions.
At that moment, chaos erupted. Four more guards thundered towards us, But before they could lay a hand on us, Gimola and Gimli, sprang into action. With grace befitting their stout stature, they gagged the guards, securing them in a matter of seconds.
"Viscoff!" I shouted, my heart racing. The towering man stepped forward, ready to take the lady from my grasp. "Time for me to finish up. Get her to the Wolf Den Hotel," I instructed.
Dehya, our elven ally with her incisive purple eyes and ethereal presence, was already beneath the stage, vines creeping up from cracks in the stone. She smiled at me subtly, a shared understanding passing between us.
I handed the lady over to Viscoff, feeling lighter, but time was short. Sprinting back toward the stage felt like running against the tide of the roaring crowd. Archbald was still unaware as I neared the back of his stage, his eyes fixed on the captive audience.
With a flick of thought, I conjured bolts of lightning to surge through my boots. In an instant, I was behind Archbald, who turned, shock washing over him. His expression morphed from smug confidence to disbelief as I met his gaze—one eye now purple and the other a regular brown.
"Your wicked hold on this kingdom is going to be over soon," I spoke, Dehya's magic amplifying my voice so the audience could hear. "I'll be taking what's rightfully mine. I was the one who pulled it from the stone."
A surge of power coursed through me as I drew the blue-bladed sword from his grasp. The blade felt like an extension of my very being, vibrant and alive. Pressing the edge against his throat, I relished the power it granted me. "I could kill you right now for trying to frame me—but instead, I'll show everyone I'm not who you say I am."
With deliberate slowness, I sheathed the sword back in the all-white leather sheathe. The collective gasp of the crowd reverberated through the night as I stepped away, leaving Archbald speechless, disarmed, and utterly defeated.
As lightning crackled beneath my boots once more, I darted off the stage, my heart pounding not with fear or uncertainty, but with the exhilaration of liberation. Tonight was not just a night of revenge; it was a night of rebirth.
*i swear he's a fortune teller*