This is a book that I had started writing with a former friend of mine, as we are no longer friends we have since stopped writing this book but I wanted to post the chapters that I have written. We both had a main character and we would trade off chapters from their point of view so I will not be posting the chapters of the other main characters. That being said here are the first two chapters.
Chapter 1
You can not defeat a God.
As he stared into the black cloud of nothingness, he finally built up the courage to summon the ever-so-captivating eyes of the demon he’d been watching for years now. The blue eyes that reminded him of the depths of the sea and darkness of night were connected to the face of an angel, who knew its beauty didn't do justice to what it was.
He knew that upon his arrival he would be coming face to face with this demon-like creature that has haunted his nightmares for several years.
Chapter 2: Galene
I don’t think anything could prepare me for the torment of the gown my mother is trying to shove me into at the moment. Its blush-colored laced bodice flared out into a ball gown tattered in ruffles. The tool scratched against my legs as Mother pulled the ribbon of the corset tight enough to push all the air out of my lungs. How I was going to breathe throughout the night was still a mystery to me.
Stationed on the pedestal, I glanced at my reflection in the three-way mirror. The smile on mothers iridescently skinned face told me enough that I didn’t comment on how outrageous I thought I looked. Though this pink color was in great contrast to my dark blue, almost black, hair that was pinned in a crown around my head.
“Gorgeous.” Her eyes met mine in the mirror. Her black hair, similar to my own, hung in waves down the back of her baby blue sleek gown, its style better than mine.
You could still see the fresh bruises littering her arms and neck that my father's fist left in their wake. I frowned. I couldn't save her from his wrath unless I wanted the same treatment. My father, the Duke of Onver, has laid a hand on me in years because of Finn. But in a fit of rage when my brother was away, he threw a glass bottle at my head which shattered against the wall behind me. Pieces of the glass ricocheted off the wall slicing my neck; which now scars, a little deeper than my skin color, lay.
“Thank you, mama, I look lovely.” A lie.
“You really do, don’t you?” Once she was done admiring her work I stepped off the stool, walking to the window. Outside the guards and stableboys could be seen prepping the horses for tonight's travel. I grimaced at these nights, ones where we have to be the perfect obeying family for the Gods. What dreadful creatures they are; having an enormous ceremony just for their arrival to the lands, as if we had never seen them before. These ‘balls’ -as my mother likes to call them- are just another excuse to show that we are lesser than the Gods; as if we don’t know already. The Gods and Goddesses usually come down from the heavens every half year, for which they hold a meeting with the King and sometimes the royal family. To what is said at such a meeting I would not know, as women are not allowed to know of such matters no matter your place in the hierarchy.
“Must we attend every ball the Gods hold Mama?” I said from my place at the window. Twilight was setting outside the manor, so she lit candles about the room as she talked.
“Yes Galene, we must, for your father is the duke. We are to represent him at every ball he wishes to attend,” Once she had lit every candle in the room, gracefully, she turned to me, “I know you despise the balls darling, but we mustn't upset your father.”
My eyes jumped to her arms, and in the moment I knew she wasn’t trying to manipulate me into being joyful for the ball, but a reminder of what he had done and what she didn’t want to happen to me. I took her in my arms and whispered I love you in her ear.
Once I released her I heard a giggle from down the hall, that brought a smile to my face. I knew who that beautiful little giggle belonged to, my favorite person in the world, Amora. She came skipping into the room all smiles and giggles without her dress on, as she should have. In its place, she had on one of my ratty old tunics. Her deep violet hair and eyes reflected her fathers at times, but never her mother. My mother smiled at me before turning around with a stern face having seen Amora didn’t keep her dress on that the maids had rangled her into. Said maids were rushing into the room a minute later looking out of breath.
“I am so sorry Dutchess Morley, we tried to keep it on her but had no success,” Enova said to my mother. Her skin was darker than Amoras brown skin, but just as beautiful under the glittering candles. I smiled at the sight of my friend's tight curls of black hair clinging to her face with the little sweat it took to keep Amora under control.
“Amora, what have your father and I told you about leaving your dress on until after the ball?” Mother was stern but not impolite as she talked to her grandchild. Amora liked the balls just as much as I did, my brother blames his daughter's behavior for the balls on me. Saying that she copies me too much; that my blatant disregard for policies shows too much in her. I don’t believe that to be true but for her to have a personality too big for my baland brother to handle at times; and given that she has only become the age of five, he has a lot of years of this ahead.
“Grandma that dress is scratchy and I don’t like it. I cannot run in it,” she said in her sweet as-candy voice. She tries the pout but I think Mother is immune to it at this point. But I am not, so I offer to help Amora dress while Mother finishes readying.
“And ladies are not to run around in dresses at balls.” Mother says before exiting my chambers.
Envoa giggles as soon as Mother is out of sight. “Galene, thank you for the help.” She says trying to catch her breath.
Amora doesn’t object when we help her back into the dress, although her dissatisfaction is clear on her face. I could see why; her grandmother had given her an equally outrageous dress as she had me in. But the one Amora wore now was lilac, lighter than her hair to set off her rich brown skin. She mumbles something about wanting candy for her work. Her eyes spark in thought about sweets before saying she is going to find her father in hopes of getting that candy. I don’t think he will be pleased about giving her sweets before the ball but he will anyway to consolidate her.
“I don’t think Finn’s almost two hundred years of life could have prepared him for taking care of her. I should be saying thank you to you. As much as I love Amora, I could never help Finn care for her as you do.” I say, walking to the window beside my bed.
Enova followed a step behind. “Please, it’s a known fact that I would have done anything for Amora's mother. I loved Noelle. And I love Amora, she's a spitting image of Noelle, much to my dismay at times.” Outside, the guards pull the carriage to a stop before the manor doors, waiting for our family to fill it.
“She was a lovely female. I wish I had more time to get to know her, truly.” I say looking toward her, “ The thank you remains, no matter what you say.”
I grimace as she glances out the window, making her smile.
“Don’t even ask, Galene. You already know the answer; even if I wish for you to stay so we could discuss the news I heard this morning.”
My eyes go wide. “News? What news did you hear?”
“I will tell you once you come back. Now go before they send someone to come and get you.” She says, sweeping out an arm in the direction of the door. Before leaving I embrace her quickly. But as I do my eyes catch on the glittering diamond on my hand, gifted to me by my dreadful husband-to-be, and I still. She pulled back enough to see what caught my attention. Releasing a puff of breath she hides the ring with her own hand.
“Be strong, Galene, do not let that court tear away your self-worth.” With that she strode out of the door. Regaining my senses, I look out the window to see Father walking to the carriage.
I lifted my dress to check that my dagger, hidden from my mother, was still strapped to my thigh. She didn’t like me keeping a dagger or sword on me at all times; said that it was unnecessary. But I thought otherwise, so there it lay, pressed against my thigh in the case of need. I dropped my dress back to the floor, took a deep breath, and with a wave of hand water doused the candle-lit flames, extinguishing them with a sizzle. Then began walking out the door of my bed chambers to meet with my fiance's ass once again.
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