Ascension (Unbound Prophecy Book 1) Read online

  “Planning to take a bouquet with you to meet the prince today, Violissa?” he said, walking up behind her.

  “I don’t see why you need me there. You’ve never needed me in the past. It’s all formality anyway,” she replied, continuing to look down at her flowers.

  “Honestly, Violissa, do we really need to have this discussion again? We’ve been over it a hundred times…”

  “And each time I’ve informed you of my decision,” she finished for him, standing to face him with her arms crossed, the emerald of her eyes sparkling with the sunlight.

  “And so you have, but if I remember correctly, this is not your decision.” He looked at her with a stern brow. “You know you have no choice, so why do you fight it so?”

  She looked up at him with those eyes and the expression in them cut deep. He hated making her unhappy, and this definitely made her unhappy, but rules must be followed. The fate of their realm rested upon it.

  “I am not some show toy you can pull out when it’s convenient for the realm. I don’t give a damn what some ancient prophecy says about me, and I won’t be forced to marry a man I’ve never even met, let alone a Darkbearer!”

  With that she stormed off toward the castle, the sound of her skirts along the ground emphasizing her disdain.

  He sighed, rubbing his auburn beard in frustration.

  “Here we go again,” he said as he ran after her, his white cape flouncing hastily in the breeze as he moved. He was getting too old for this, he thought as he caught his breath.

  “But you will have met him after today,” he said, grabbing her shoulder and turning her toward him. At least she hadn’t shifted, that would have made it a lot harder. “And you will marry him. The prophecy clearly states it.”

  “The prophecy can kiss my…” she began to say.

  “Violissa!” a loud, authoritative voice boomed behind her. If she hadn’t sensed his presence first, she would have jumped out of her skin.

  “Anwell, are you here to bully me as well?”

  “Look, we all know your position on the subject, my Lady, but prophecy aside; you are required to attend the meeting today. To do otherwise could offend the Dark King and cause a war. You assume the throne in an official role in a short while, and it is time you know the protocol that comes with running the kingdom. One does not lead a realm on flowers and meanderings. It’s time to grow up and take on your duties. Your people deserve a queen who knows how to govern!”

  She looked at him thoughtfully. He’d struck a chord as he always did. One thing Anwell excelled at was the fine art of lectures.

  “Fine,” she pouted, “but I go only in that capacity. I will not be a showpiece to be strutted around in front of that spoiled devil of a prince. And do not think for one moment I’ll enjoy any of this!’

  “We wouldn’t think of it.” Daneele answered sarcastically.

  “I’ll be down in a short time; I need to clean up.” Giving them no chance to answer, she shifted.

  “This will be tougher than we imagined,” Anwell said to Daneele after she’d gone.

  “I’m afraid we’ve raised her to be a bit too independent and self-thinking. Not a good thing in times like these,” Daneele replied, giving Anwell a look of serious doubt and concern. “The peace between our realms lies on a thread, a very weak one at that. Her eventual union with the prince is the only thing that’s keeping it in place.”

  “If she keeps down this path, Daneele, I doubt we’ll even have that to hold it in place. If the prince is anywhere near as powerful as I believe Violissa will be once she ascends, then the boundary will no longer stop him from crossing into our realm. Let’s hope this works today, for all our sakes.”

  Two

  Violissa stood in front of the window, looking down at the two men as they talked. She knew what they were saying. She would be the destruction of her own people because of her stubbornness. It was all so frustrating. Daneele was right. She was a free spirit and fiercely independent, and she hated the idea of anyone forcing her hand. The thought that her fate was decided, that she had no control over her own destiny, shook her to her core. This was her life, and she should be able to decide who was worthy of her heart. How could the Fates know what she needed? Even if this prince were her true love, she should be the one to decide. Her Council had raised her to be self-thinking and to let her experiences shape her. She couldn’t throw all of that away for some dusty old prophecy.

  She watched as Daneele and Anwell consulted with the rest of her Council. She knew they only meant well. They were Lightbearers, as people called them, and hence their nature and their power were inherently good. Lightbearers were immortal men with power unlike any others in their world, other than the immortals of the Dark realm who were known as Darkbearers. An immortal was rare, one was born only every ten thousand years or so, and they were always men. An immortal would only come into his powers when a current Lightbearer was ready to return his life to the Fates and give up the body that bound him to this world. Upon the appearance of his powers, the Council would collect the child from his family and take him to the Castle to be reared and trained in their ways. The Cirillian King had Lightbearers as his Council since as far back as history had been written. The same was true for the Darkbearers of Tenebron, but unlike Cirillia which had lost its last king so long ago, Tenebron had always been ruled by a king. All immortals vowed celibacy for their king. It was a tradition that had always dictated the lives of immortals in both realms and would do so for eternity. There was nothing they wouldn’t do for Violissa and nothing she wouldn’t do for them. They were her family, and she loved them, but she knew how much faith they had in the prophecy. They had spent their lives preparing for the day when Violissa would be ready to fulfill it.

  She rested her head on the window and closed her eyes. Just thinking of the Darkbearers of Tenebron sent chills down her spine. Their realm was so different from hers, and they lived by a completely different code. While Cirillia lived by the laws of the Light, which were based on love, gentleness and grace, the leaders of Tenebron followed the Dark ways. They ruled by fear, torture, and hatred. In Cirillia, the Lightbearer Council currently ruled; it had for over ten thousand years and only upon Violissa’s ascension would they turn over that rule to her. Legend had it that the last king declared rule by the Council until the day the chosen Light child from the prophecy was called forward. It was said he resigned his throne, returning his spirit to the Fates who left him to stand guard in the Hidden Realm to protect the prophecy. That is why today was so important to her Council. Today would affirm all their work. Today was the day she, the chosen Light child, would meet the other player in the prophecy, the Dark Prince Sinow.

  She sighed then left the window and walked over to the full-length mirror hidden in the corner of the room. She rarely used it, never one to be concerned about her appearance, and so had to remove the layer of cloth covering it. She took a long look at herself. She was unique; there was no doubt about that. Long golden hair with loosely coiled tresses that hung to her waist, skin smooth as alabaster, and a body for which clothes were fashioned. She had an air of delicate fragility yet at the same time, an aura of strength. But it was the eyes that drew you in. A green like no other their world had ever seen. Greener than the brightest emerald and the greenest pastures, an endless well that enchanted anyone with the strength to hold her gaze. Yes, it was the eyes that defined her. Every inch of her was unlike any in the realm or the Dark realm for that matter. Her people were all very similar, light brown or auburn hair and blue eyes. The people of Tenebron were distinctly opposite but still nothing like Violissa. They had the trademark black hair, as black as night, and dark brown eyes. Their ruler’s eyes were even darker, if such a thing were possible. Some described them the color of coal. It was said that if you looked into the prince’s eyes you would see nothingness in its pure form, no soul to be found beneath them. If you l
ooked long enough, it was said you would even lose your own soul.

  Violissa chuckled to herself. She knew very well these were only rumors, just as there were many out there about her and her ability to enchant men with the sound of her voice. She thought about the prince as she had many times before. She’d never met him, indeed today would be the first. Her Council had spoken of little but the prince and the prophecy for as long as she could remember. Though she had never divulged it to them, she had frequently thought of her impending union. How could she not with all their incessant talk? She’d tried many times to envision herself with one of her own, but the thought had always been unappealing. It was as if something about even the thought of him called deep down to the core of her soul. She felt the color rise to her cheeks as she thought of him now. She shook her head to clear it. Any thought of being with a Darkbearer should have been unsettling, but something about the prince stirred her blood. Besides the story of his soulless eyes, she’d heard he was awe inspiring to see. It was said he was more beautiful than any man before him. She attributed that to rumors as well for no one from their realm aside from her Council had ever seen him. The border the late king’s Council had created to protect their people from those of Tenebron was impassible. Rumors or not, she could not fathom any man from the Dark realm appealing to her sense of beauty.

  “I guess I’ll find out today,” she muttered to herself, combing her fingers through her hair. “Not that it will make a difference.”

  Her decision was made. No matter how curious she was, she would not play by the rules of some ancient prophecy anymore. It had dictated her entire life, and she was tired of it. This was her life, not the Fates’.

  Damn that prophecy, she thought. It haunted her dreams. It had been set in motion for over a hundred thousand years or at least that’s what the scholars thought. No one really knew for sure when it was written, but it had consumed her people’s lives through time.

  The prophecy was the foretelling of the fate of the Cirillians and the Tenebrons, and it apparently all rested on Violissa. It was the story of her life and the choices, if one could call predetermined decisions a choice, she would make. From the day they’d created her from their own power and that of the Guardians, Violissa’s life had only been about the fulfilling of that prophecy. She had not been born from a womb, but from the magic of that night. Even her own existence was a result of the prophecy. At the birth of the Dark Prince, her Council had drawn all their power and that of the Guardians to bring her forth as the prophecy had said. Prince Sinow had been born with power, instantly marking him as the Dark force within the prophecy to whose soul the chosen Light child was bound. Immortals grew into their powers; it was never the other way around, except with Sinow and Violissa. His birth signaled the calling forth of that chosen Light child, Violissa.

  “With birth of power shall be

  The calling forth of the true light.

  The chosen one of light shall unite

  With the dark to bring everlasting peace.”

  Or so the prophecy read. It should have all been simple, but it was so much more complex. Violissa was her own spirit and did not want to have that spirit or her freedom reined in by any man right now, let alone a Darkbearer. The mere thought of it made her stomach turn. They were a hard, dark people who killed without remorse. Had burned, raped and pillaged her people long ago. The border separating their realms was a result of such brutality, the only way to protect her people. Granted that had been well before the treaty her Council and their king had created. If the prince’s people were capable of such things, it stood to reason that their most powerful ruler in history could be as well. She couldn’t imagine marrying someone like that or, for that matter, bringing him into her realm to rule with her. What completely baffled her was the idea that according to the prophecy, she would fall instantly in love with him and he with her. What a ridiculous notion; everyone knew “love at first sight” was a story told to little girls in fairy tales. It never really happened. But that was the way of the prophecy.

  She looked back up at her reflection and, tucking a stray curl behind her ear, opened her mind momentarily to think about the prince. Her heart leapt in anticipation at the very thought of him. She always hated that reaction. It was so instinctual, so ridiculous yet deep down she knew why it did that. Deep down, when she let herself truly think about him, she could feel the yearning in her soul for him. It had always been there before she had even understood what it meant. She rarely let her guard down about the idea of a union with him, for when she did, she longed for him with an ache so deep that at times it could seem unbearable. How could she feel so strongly about someone she didn’t even know?

  “Blasted prophecy,” she whispered. Shaking her head to clear the thoughts away again, she took a deep breath knowing she couldn’t leave her mind open to them today. She had a goal and nothing would sway her from it. She was going to prove to the Fates and her Council that she could shape her own destiny. She hoped the Fates were enjoying themselves because she would ensure they wouldn’t for long. Not after today. She pulled her cloak over her head and shifted to meet her Council.

  Three

  When Violissa and her Council arrived at the meeting grounds, the Dark King was waiting, his Council alongside him. The sun, at its full peak cast their shadow deep behind where they stood. The effect managed to make the Dark King appear even larger and more menacing than Violissa had imagined. Based on the king’s appearance, she shuddered to think of how terrifying his son would be.

  “It’s an unusual day when any of you arrive late,” the king greeted them in a harsh tone that demanded an explanation. “I hope our wait was worth it.”

  “Where is the prince?” Lann, one of Violissa’s Council, questioned, pulling his hood down as he stepped forward. “Apparently, we’re not the only ones you wait for, King Drostan.”

  “Always quick on the observation, aren’t you, Lann.” The king gave an amused sigh. “Yes, you are correct; my son has not yet arrived. As to his whereabouts, one can only guess. He will arrive shortly, no doubt. Now, all formalities aside, let me see the girl.”

  “The girl will be seen when it pleases her, and she will not be referred to as the girl but as princess, thank you,” Violissa stated as she defiantly moved out from behind Daneele. She’d heard enough with that one statement to understand that Daneele had been right in telling her she needed to prove her authority. She was the first woman ruler and with that came the assumption that she was somehow inferior to her counterparts.

  She stood squarely in front of the king and let the hood of her cloak drop. The reaction was everything for which she’d hoped. The king’s Council inadvertently took a step back as the king stood entranced, mouth open. The reaction was always the same. Her unique looks and natural beauty, enhanced by the aura of her powers caused men and women alike to gape in awe. She didn’t quite understand it, and she’d never before used it in this way, but on this day, it turned out to be very rewarding.

  “Now, if perhaps you could give me the respect my Council and I give you, your majesty, then we may be able to proceed with the business of addressing the treaty concerns.”

  “Quite feisty, isn’t she?” the king replied, regaining his composure and looking past her to Daneele who was now standing behind her.

  “I find it useful in times like this,” she answered for Daneele. “Now, I believe there are a few matters at hand that need discussing. Whether the prince is present to partake or not is of no concern to me. Gentlemen, shall we?” She looked at the king’s Council then confidently strode to her right where an oversized ornate granite table shimmered into sight. As she walked, she gave a subtle glance to her surroundings. The large glade was encircled by a plethora of trees so tall that one might think they touched the sky. She imagined those trees could spin many tales to her if she had the time to sit and talk with them. She could tell from their size and underst
ood from their history that they were ancient. They had born witness to many meetings here for hundreds of years, but none as important as today’s. As she walked, the tall grass moved around and under her dress, grazing softly against her calves. A slight breeze blew through her hair, caressing her cheeks. Violissa closed her eyes for a moment to savor the peaceful feel of the glade. The irony of such a delicate place being home to such powerful actions as these meetings struck her. She wondered silently why this place had been destined to play such an important role in the prophecy.

  The meeting grounds had been created when the boundary was erected. It was an enigma as it was the only place immortals from both sides could pass. Daneele, as Keeper, was aware that this spot had been purposely left exposed from the magic of the border by King Viliren and his Council for this specific purpose. They knew the boundaries were not able to be crossed without the magic of both a Lightbearer and a Darkbearer, something they know would be impossible until the prophecy was realized. So, they’d left a pocket unguarded by the powerful magic of the boundary but with enough magic that neither side could penetrate through the surrounding border that guarded the other’s realm. How they’d come to choose this spot and what kind of ancient magic they’d used had always been a mystery. There was only one Council who’d been present during King Viliren’s time and that was Cyric who had been so young at the time that he didn’t know how it had been accomplished. All they knew was that this spot would allow peace to begin and flourish until the time Violissa and Sinow took reign and united the realms.