Abandoned (Born From Shadows #2)

Sophia’s breath ceased as her throat clenched. It was everywhere. Thick blood poured down from the walls. “Oh my gods,” she heard someone mutter. Was it her voice? She didn’t know. Never had she seen such a horrific sight. Bile ran up her throat as her stomach churned.

“You did this,” a cold voice muttered from her side. An Elf. A guard staring at her with eyes of knives.

She was in too much shock to even think of a reply. Had her thoughts been collected she would’ve denied it and ordered a search for the murderer. Instead, she just stood with her mouth agape like a fish struggling to breathe.

“You did this!” the guard repeated throwing her body against the wall. The human guards by her side immediately pushed the elf from her body, taking all five of them to match the Elf’s strength.

She barely noticed it even happened. Her mind was still fixated on the blood. So much blood.

“What’s going on?” her mother asked, walking down the mansions’ hallway.

Sophia couldn’t find the words to describe it. How could one even explain such a thing?

“The Queen…” her mother’s voice said in realisation, now able to view the scene.

Finally, Sophia was able to take her eyes away from the sight, deciding it was best to step away. To get some fresh air and then perhaps she could breathe once more.

Her heart thumped heavily against her chest as she walked out onto the nearest balcony she could find. Even closing her eyes, she couldn’t rid herself of the image. She couldn’t help but wonder if that was what her brother looked like?

A lifeless body drenched in blood, sprawled out across the floor as if he was never there to begin with. Her disgust and shock slowly shifted to anger the more time she had to think.

Hours may have slipped by, slithering through her mortal life waiting for its time to strike. A breath left her lungs. She finally walked back inside to face the consequences of the queen’s death.

They were yelling. Elves, humans, anyone with a voice screaming over each other trying to be heard.

“ENOUGH!” one loud male voice echoed. Her father’s voice. The room fell silent just as Sophia entered making her feel slightly awkward. “Let’s be civil about this.”

Any other circumstance she would have rolled her eyes at her father’s passive nature.

“Instead of just pointing fingers around lets actually search for the truth,” her mother pleaded.

“Wouldn’t that be good for you? You get to look like a saint while we blame the wrong person that you’re ‘truth’ leads to,” one of Elf’s said. “Not only is our Queen dead, but the Princess is missing. Was it your intention this entire time to kill off our leaders?”

“Of course not, human or Elf this death should not go unpunished.”

“Yet Nik’s death did?” Sophia finally butted into the conversation.

“That’s different,” her loving father replied.

Now she was definitely angry. Clenching her fists in rage she replied back, “how!? How is that different? It was a human not an Elf? That’s the only difference I see.”

“Sophia, if you’re emotions are going to cloud your decision then leave. We will discuss this later,” her mother said.

Once again dodging her questions. She knew the Elves would blame them for the death. She had to make the first move before they did. No more waiting, at least no more hiding.

She stormed out of the dining room and made her way up towards the bird house at the top of the mansion. There she found an Avalian Hawk.

Her letter was brief but said everything she wanted to say.

Move the first piece.

Her handwriting was neat and clear. Sophia rolled the scroll up tightly and tied it to a bird’s leg telling it where to go. It was done, just like a static equilibrium reaction her decision could not be reversed.

“What are you doing here?” a female voice asked. Surprised Sophia turned and faced her mother’s drained pale green eyes.

“Sending a message,” she replied back cryptically.

“What kind of message?” Her mother furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

“How did the meeting go?” Sophia tried to diverge the question by asking another question.

“Not well, the Elves have decided to let the Prince decide the next course of action. They have gone, now answer my question,” the Queen demanded. The Princess bit down on her mouth. Nothing could stop it.

“Telling someone to start the plan,” she replied.

“What plan, what have you done?” the Queen asked frantically, looking at her daughter as if she were a stranger.

“The plan to finally give the elves the justice they deserve. No more excuses. No more of this fake peace.”

Her mother shook her head is denial. “No. You are not doing this. Have you even thought of the consequences?” her mother raised her voice in anger.

“They took Nik!” Sophia shouted back, “My brother, your son. I will kill every last one of them for that on its own.”

“Do you even hear yourself? You’re acting like a child not the Queen we have raised you to be,” the Queen replied. “You weren’t even close with Nik, why only now do you act like you care for him?”

Sophia heart clutched at her own mother’s words. “I was close with him once, I couldn’t imagine a life without him, before you split us a part. This life drove him away and now he is dead.”

“You’re hurt. You want someone to blame and that’s fine. Blame me, but don’t act irrationally. Don’t let hundreds of others lose their family all so you can fill your vendetta against the Elves.”

“I’m not just filling my revenge. I’m avenging everyone else that has lost someone. You can’t do anything about it,” she replied.

“I’m a Queen. I can always do something,” her mother factually replied.

“You think the people want to stand behind you? All you and father do is watch as so many die. I dare you to try and stop this, see where your people’ s allegiance truly lies.”

“You’re lying,” her mother replied not knowing what else to say.

“No, I’m making my stance.”

“You’ll die. If you wake-.”

Sophia interrupted her mother. “I don’t care,” she said then walked out of the room.