Finally, everything was quiet and as time ticked she thought maybe they’d left. Maybe she’d waited it out. Then the hatch to her hiding spot flung open with a crack. She flinched and shook, too scared to look up.

  “Sorry. Sorry. I didn’t mean for that to be so loud”. A deep but quiet voice insisted. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He swore. The voice had her cautiously turning it sounded so reassuring. When she saw his face though she flinched and tried to get away. He’d tricked her once before with his unintimidating act. “I won’t hurt you.” He promised and he sounded so genuine, but she knew, knew it had to be a lie.

  “The last time you killed me.” Broke from her throat in a sob that radiated with her magic before she could stop it. For a moment he sat mouth open just a bit. Giving her time to search for an escape. She tripped when she watched horror cross his face, grief even.

  “The tower Sorceress.” He offered in a release of breath. That had her fear pushing her back out as she ran past him. Of course he caught her easily after all the only magics she was able to manage at this point was basic portals to allow her friends to come and go, and without them here at least at this time she wasn’t strong enough. She also though wasn’t strong enough to risk them.

  Arms wrapped around her tight enough to suffocate her… No, not quite tight enough.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He breathed. “I didn’t… I didn’t… I’m sorry.” He repeated over and over. “I regretted it.” He breathed. The words didn’t make sense. Why would he regret it?

  “You wanted my power.” She guessed in a hiss. He only regretted it because he couldn’t use what he’d wanted to. He shook his hair his hair brushing against her cheek. He stood causing her heart to pick up pace.

  “I only saw the shadows you had around you and the beings appearing out of nowhere. But you were a kid. You were just a kid.” His voice broke. “I thought I was going to be the one to find one of the sorceress and convince them to ally with us. I just saw we were surrounded and I was scared and I swung and you were just a kid.” He repeated as if it was a fact that weighed on him always. He looked at her with layers upon layers of pain.

  His hair was as ashen as the stories of the Imperial blood, and his eyes were a vivid red but even up close he didn’t radiate even close to the same energy she’d felt from the Emperor at a distance.

  “Do you know who you are now?” He asked her softly. Azale looked away knowing what he wanted her to say.

  “There are too many answers to that question.” She offered in a grumbled. Her fear calming down just enough to find annoyance.

  “Drenit.” A voice boomed far louder then Drenit’s and she flinched. Azale felt a hand press her cheek gently into Drenit’s shoulder. “You found the child?” The voice asked closer and not as loud. She needed to go, maybe she should attempt the spirit portals, she’d been practicing enough to at least be sure she’d get through.

  “None of us will hurt you. It’s alright.” Drenit promised turning her so she could see the Emperor and the man who’d caught her. The Emperor stood with an unwavering authority cultivated with many, many, many years’ experience. In person his power was far more palpable. Maybe if she’d been promised less potential of power she’d be quivering more but instead it set her on edge like a fundamental part of her didn’t know whether to run or brush aside any thought that this man was more powerful than her. If she did the later though she had no doubt she’d die.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The one that caught her, came into view vibrated with visibly more nerves then her despite looking to the Emperor and Drenit like they were his life-line. The Emperor’s intensity wavered when he saw Rabbit’s nerves and the energy in the room eased to the point that breathing was possible. He softened his face until it sharpened again when his gaze cut somewhere else. Azale caught sight of Aunt Penolina standing looking, disheveled tears staining her face.

  “What is her name?” The Emperor asked a radiating command that held no energy to it but still left no room for argument. Her Aunt’s mouth popped open and Azale saw her start to panic. Because Azale’s name had never been a thought, why would it when they could simply write Antrope in quick disgusted writing emulating their hate for the one who birthed Azale and her family.

  For no other reason then her Aunt was the only person who bothered to do the barest of minimum’s for her and had the least mean and even sometimes constructive letters she left for Azale, Azale decided to save her this little bit.

  “My name has been, will be forever in time Azale.” She offered the power of the truth of order threading through her words with as serious if not trained energy as the Emperor held. There was natural power behind each of the names given to the ancient seven. Gifted by their rolls in the Pact of Order. The Emperor looked to Drenit.

  “She is a reincarnation of one of the Ancient seven.” He admitted. The Emperor face filled with an understanding looking at his son. While Aunt Penolina’s eyes grew staring at Azale.

  Really how else would she have survived this long?

  “You are from the tower?” He asked. Azale glared at him.

  “You can’t have my friends. You can’t have the spirits.” She told him shoving hard and Drenit who’s eyes grew as she fell from him and hit the floor with a thud. All three men started toward her but she skittered through them and summoned the portal ready to risk it.

  She stumbled back though when Mother stepped out of the portal. Azale’s hand flittered behind her back looking at the imposing form of many, many lives far more then her or her sisters could claim. If the air was hard to breathe with the Emperor she couldn’t find any air when Mother was simply present. No Anger. No emotion at all ever radiated from mother. Mother had never cared to visit, the hand full of times she did it was to gain an understanding of how they were affecting the world and then disappear.

  Her meanest visit though was the last time they were all together. When Mother standing with Azale’s sisters asked her to use her spirit powers to end their cycles, to leave her alone knowing she couldn’t follow them.

  Mother looked at the Emperor for all intents and purposes someone with a much younger power then the one Mother inherited with a tilted considering head. Well to him it might not look like a head so many images juxtaposed onto one visage.

  Arms scooped her up and she wiped to look at the Emperor who was holding her protectively against him looking at Mother knowing exactly the threat she was. An echoing hum filled the air.

  “The creature that birthed my daughter this time around summoned us she wanted all of the souls but didn’t know Azale’s was the only one left in a cycle of rebirth. She wanted to syphon all of our power into a child that would give to you claim a place by you side.” Mother echoed showing no reverence or disgust. No care at all. “Don’t worry I took care of her.” Mother informed him.

  The individuals around her looked as scared as she had looking at them looking at Mother.

  In that moment at least Azale was equal to them.

  “They have no intention to harm you… At the moment. Bloodlines are enough for basic protections.” She informed Azale stepping forward and touched Azale’s forehead with two fingers and with as little emotion or cared her Mother took away her last hope that she wasn’t alone as all the concepts magic’s fell on her shoulders.

  And then Mother stepped back and disappeared.

  After that Azale just wanted everything gone, even if it did kill her.