Sorry for not posting, but I'm trying to make a map of Nayda for you guys. Meanwhile, you can read my other story (Deadly Sweet Music). I'm not abandoning this, I'll upload a new chapter on Saturday (or earlier if you're lucky ). I love you all <3 Hugs, Sophie.
Hi guys! A new chapter will be up in just a sec, I just want to talk about some things first. My other story (Deadly Sweet Music) will be continued on Wattpad instead, here's the link if you want to read it: http://www.wattpad.com/2086482-deadly-sweet-music Why don't I update it here? I don't think that KaW has a lot of the demographic thisstory is aimed at. But the story is on Wattpad. Totally free. Next is, that I'm sooo sorry for not updating. I really am, but I wanted to get my other story started first. Besides, I introduce two new characters in this chapter and I've had a lot to do in school. Now, without further ado, here's the chapter! Hugs, Sophie.
Chapter 7. "Are you a warrior?" I asked, feeling stupid. Aranel's eyes widened for a second, then she regained her composure. "No, I am the Elf Princess Aranel. It's a pleasure to meet you, Awena. You're lucky Natur brought you in, the demon toxin had began to work." Aranel said, smiling. The Elf Princess? I quickly bowed. "My lady, I'm sorry for bothering you. I should probably leave and leave you to your..." I began. "No, Awena. You need to stay here for a while. The arrow you were shot with was infused with demon toxin, which ripped up every demon-inflicted wound on your body. I managed to close up the wounds and stop the pain, but..." Aranel interrupted, her voice fading as she went on. I looked down at my arms. They were covered with faint, white scars. "But, some of those scars were inflicted with a knife..." I said. "A demonic knife. You have those scars over your entire body. I'm sorry, but I couldn't remove them." Aranel said. "Don't worry, it's fine. Just... Am I in Celdwood?" I said, feeling very silly. "Yes, you are. Would you like me to show you around?" She said, smiling. "Aranel, I'm not sure that you..." Her father, the King, interrupted. "Father! You've kept me locked up in here for my entire life! Let me go out, because I'm not mom!" Aranel shouted. I felt uncomfortable. This wasn't something I was meant to hear. "Should I leave? I mean, this is a very personal conversation for you..." I said nervously. "No. Come with me, Awena. I'll show you around." Aranel said, turning to her father, "We'll talk later, father." She grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the room. I just followed, since I didn't want to get on her bad side. For a princess, she sure was feisty. Well, with those warrior eyes, it was to expect. Then I began to wonder. How had I recognized that spark as the spark of a warrior? I hadn't seen warriors before. Well, Fenix wanted to be a warrior, but... My heart began to ache. It hurt just to think of him or my parents. "Sorry, about that. My father can be very over-protective. It's very annoying actually. I haven't been out in town on a non-official errand since..." Her voice trailed off and her eyes filled up with longing. "Is Celdwood a big city?" I asked. "Oh? Yes, it is. Well, technically, Eládrien is bigger, but most people live here. You know, because Eládrien is closer to the Borderlands." Aranel said. "Okay, I didn't know that. I don't know any geography, I just know the names of the capitals and the regions. In my little village, no one really cared about the outside world. We tried to keep out of such matters. That kept us alive, but then..." I said, my voice breaking in the end. Aranel put her hand on my shoulder. "I know. Well, I have some friends in the city. Friends and friends... People that I talk to when I'm allowed to walk the city alone. That was a year ago, actually. He's very protective, but I already said that. Anyway, want to go see the city?" She said, smiling. I nodded and smiled. Being a princess was obviously not as great as I thought. She took my hand and we walked out of the castle. Or is it palace? Really, it doesn't matter. The city outside was beautiful. People were living in beautiful houses made of some kind of stone. They were the most beautiful houses I've ever seen. Elves were walking on the streets, happily chatting with each other. It was as if the world wasn't falling apart. Soon we reached some kind of marketplace. Aranel explained a bit about the city. It was divided into three parts. The "rich" part, the Market and the "common" part. I didn't need to ask her where her friends lived. Since we barely spent any time in the "rich" part, I could only guess that they lived in the "common" part. No one lived in the Market, Aranel had told me. Though the Market was filled with life and many items to buy, we walked through it swiftly. "My friends should be here somewhere..." Aranel muttered. As we entered the "common" part, the scenery changed. The houses were no longer made of the beautiful stone, they were made of white oak wood instead. In all their simplicity, they were as beautiful as the other houses, just... Simpler. Then a guy came rushing out of a small house. He wasn't an elf, but he wasn't human either. He was blurry around the edges of his body, like his appearance wasn't... Set in stone. His black hair was short and ruffled. His sea green eyes regarded Aranel and me with curiosity. "Visceral!" Aranel cried and hugged him. "Aranel, I've missed you. What has it been, a year? Well, I've never forgotten you." Visceral said and smiled. They pulled away from each other and he looked at me. "An who might you be?" He said. "I'm Awena Lorande. I'm 19 years old and I'm a human. Before I came here, I was in Draconia and somewhere where demons had a camp. They kidnapped me and they tortured me." I said, then I quickly flung a hand up to cover my mouth. I'd might've said too much. "Okay, Awena. I'm Visceral Goldsmith and I'm..." He began, then he fell to the ground, screaming in agony. I threw myself down beside him and grabbed his hand. Why was no one else helping him? Then he began to change shapes incredibly fast. One second he was a young, blonde boy and in the next he was a huge, black and red fox. I flinched, but I kept a steady hold of his hand. He continued to change shapes and scream in pain, as I just held his hand and hummed on a long-forgotten song. After ten minutes, he stopped changing shapes and just lay on the ground, panting. Aranel had sat down next to him and grabbed his hand too, a minute into the changing. "How are you? What was that?" I said, worry evident in my voice. "I'm kinda a shapeshifter. I'll tell you the full story later." He said and chuckled darkly. "Vis, you scared Awena! But, really, are you okay?" Aranel said, straight to the point. "I'm fine, mom." He said and winked at her. She rolled her eyes at him. "Silly shapeshifter. I'm the princess, you know." She said, smiling. "Really? I wouldn't know." He said and grinned. Aranel playfully punched his arm and laughed. All of us got up with huge smiles on our faces. Then a girl came running towards us. She had black, wavy hair and pale skin. Her lips were red. "Hi, Aranel! Hi, Vis!" She shouted at us. "Hi, Isabel! I thought we'd find you here." Aranel said and winked at her. As Isabel came closer, my muscles tensed more and more. When I could see her eyes, I freaked out. Her eyes were crystal blue, but that wasn't what freaked me out. What freaked me out was the skin around her eyes. It was inked with bloodred runes and was moving slightly. "And who might you be?" Isabel said, raising an arched brow in my direction. I couldn't answer. Only one word came up in my head. Demon.
As a small treat 'till I post the next chapter, here's a draft of the Nayda-map. Do you like it so far? Hugs, Sophie.