Sineater

I didn’t want the scene to keep going.

“A noble speech.” The golden Elf raised his sword and pointed it at my mother. “The King and Queen are dead, as is your husband.” Regent Arkun spread his arms like he was offering her a hug. “Put down your sword and join me as my queen. We can rule this…”

“You’ll never rule as long as I’m alive.” My mother growled as she attacked.

I was amazed by her swordsmanship and grace. And her ruthlessness. She wasn’t trying to disarm or incapacitate the Elves. She was slaughtering them. It was also almost impossible for them to wound her. Any attack that got through her guard and cut her was transferred to the next Elf in her path.

After nearly a dozen Elves lay dead on the docks, it was just Regent Arkun left. My mother looked like a momma bear as she advanced on him. The Regent was smart enough to know when he was bested and turned tail and ran.

My mother sheathed her sword and hurried over to pick up the younger princess.

“Sectum, I need you to help me untie this boat.”

The younger me bent down and started undoing the knot.

My mother hit her knees.

“No!” I couldn’t hold the word back. I tried to grab her, but my arms went through her. The princess put her hand on my shoulder as my mother fell on her side, an arrow through her back.

“MOMMY!” Younger me ran over to my mom.

Tears were streaming down my face as I looked around for the culprit.

“YOU IDIOT!” Regent Arkun slapped an elf holding a bow. “I SAID SHOOT HER NOT KILL HER!”

Younger me was holding the dagger with both hands as the pair approached. “Stay away from my MOMMY!”

“Useless child.” The regent backhanded the younger me, knocking me down. “Tie him up until I … WHAT DID YOU DO? YOU USELESS..!”

I watched the Regent pull the princess out of my mother’s arms. The star-tipped arrow sticking out of my mother’s heart had pierced the Princess in the stomach and now she was bleeding out.

“Get that boy over here!” Regent Arkun snapped his fingers as he pointed at the younger me.

“You can’t expect someone so young…” The other Elf had the younger me’s arm, but wasn’t moving me. “It’ll kill him!”

“I need one of them alive to take the throne.” Regent Arkun glared at me. “That one is useless. Now get him over here and save my throne!”

The other Elf pulled the younger me over and pushed me in front of my cousin.

“Heal her.” The traitorous Elf grabbed the younger me’s shoulder and shoved my face into my cousin when I didn’t move fast enough.

“I don’t know how.” Tears were freely flowing down both versions of my faces.

“Just put your hands on her like this.” Regent Arkun clamped my hands over the wound. “And think about how you want her to feel better.”

Younger me screamed as the wound began to transfer. As I relived it, the shock and the pain had overwhelmed me. It had been like someone had poured hot oil directly into my stomach. I watched the younger me fall over, barely breathing.

The regent checked the wound and all that was left was a six tipped white scar. “I’ll say it’s a birthmark…” The regent began talking to himself.

“What do you want me to do with the bodies?” The other Elf looked down to find the dagger the younger me had dropped in his chest.

“I’ll put you all in the bay.” The Regent began humming to himself as he pushed the Elf who’d killed my mother into the cold water. “In you go.” The traitor kicked my younger body into the water. “The sharks are going to eat good tonight.”

I was stunned as I watched him kick my mother in after me. I had nothing but rage to fill the void that this loss had caused. I’d wondered where I’d actually come from, but Garm had always said he’d tell me when I was old enough and he was drunk enough. Now I knew why.

“You’re him.” The princess cupped her hands on my face. “You’re Prince Sectum.”

My response was cut off as the entire scene vanished into darkness and Alessa was yanked away.

“SECTUM!!!” Her scream seemed to echo around the void.

“ALESSA!!!” I didn’t know what to do or where to go. While I was trying to figure out what to do, a wave of cold water hit me.