Sharp, cat-like claws click-clacked against marble floor tiles as the young demon who owned them stalked along the halls of the large castle, her slim arms holding herself in some sort of mild form of comfort. Portraits were hung all around her, containing the faces of many other demons. Some looked much older, very few looked younger. She sighed, running a hand through her platinum blonde hair. Two portraits stood before her in particular, of a demonic queen and of that demons own daughter. Queen Lilith the unyielding and young Bombus the Protector.
She looked at the portrait of Lilith, sighing as her grandmothers continuously stoic face looked down upon her. Even at the age of 15, Lilith still looked as intimidating as she ever would be.
Thoughts swam around the young demon princess’s - Kiara’s -head. “Will I be as good a queen as Grandma?” “What if I mess up?” “I’m only 15!”
“Your highness!” a voice yelled, calling the young lady out of her trance-like state. A maid, out of breath due to the fact she was looking for the Princess, panted. “Princess Kiara, you have to get ready! The ceremony will be starting soon!”
The maid shoved the young demon up the stairs, despite Kiara’s many protests, towards her bedroom, and away from the portraits of her mother and grandmother, who continued to stare into her soul as she walked away.
Her claws scratching against the cold, stone floor was the only thing keeping her trek up the tower to her room from an uncomfortably long and awkward silence.
Kiara sighed, sitting on the sill and looking out of her tower window, over towards the citizens of her kingdom, Dismantera. Many of the citizens had already started filing into the throne room, hoping to get even so much as a glimpse of the kingdom’s future ruler, Princess Kiara Morner.
It had everything a kingdom needed – content, peaceful citizens, plenty of resources at the ready, and a benevolent, and fair ruling family.
She pulled her tight, light purple dress over her head, and smoothed it out. Brushing her soft hair, the thoughts once again swam through her head: “what if you’re destined for more than this life, and by doing this, you miss out on your true fate?” Her ears folded over as she was thinking.
Why was she getting ready? Well, it was the day that she was going to be officially given the title of “the Crown Princess” of Dismantera. And all of the eyes of her kingdom’s citizens would fall upon her form. She was pride and joy of Dismantera. The future of the land would one day fall into her clawed hands, whether she was ready for such a fate, or not.
“Princess Kiara,” the warm voice of a young royal guard called out. “They’re ready for you. I am to escort you to the ceremony.”
Her mother smiled warmly as she stood outside the throne room, with a pointed tail swinging behind her. Bombus’s pale purple hair was pulled back, her typical leather jacket that was usually worn over her shoulders was replaced by a dark purple cloak, over her pale lilac gown. The small black clasp in her hair was the only thing making her right, gilded, cat-like eye visible.
“Kiara, darling,” Bombus smiled, embracing her eldest daughter. “It’s your big day! Are you excited? All eyes will be on you, Princess.”
She went back, and stood beside her husband – and Kiara’s stepfather – Altor, before giving a piece of advice to her daughter.
“Just remember – look forward, at me, - and keep your head straight. Alright, little one?” Kiara nodded at her mother’s advice. “Good…!”
With that, the doors opened, and trumpets blared. A guard read out Bombus’ full title – Heir to Dismantera, daughter of Lilith and Lucien Morner, Bombus the Protector. The older demon walked forward, arm linked with Altor’s, and took towards the throne where Lilith stood, smiling gently, and continuing with her regal posture.
Kiara took a calming breath, her dear dogs – Spot and Orthos – by her side. She smiled at them, as they always knew they had a calming effect on her that very few others seemed to possess.
“Announcing, her majesty, young heir to the throne of Dismantera, first daughter of Bombus the Protector, and eldest of her siblings,” This was it. Her time to sparkle like a star in the inky blackness of night. “Princess Kiara Morner, the sorceress.”
The doors opened, and she walked forward. To her mother – dogs flanking her all the way. Head straight. Eyes on mum. She could feel the crowds gaze pouring onto her like a wave, overwhelming her. Yet, before she knew it, she stood in front of her grandmother, who smiled gently down at her – green eyes pouring into her very being.
“Princess Kiara,” the commanding voice of her grandmother took her from her own mind. “As heir, do you accept your responsibility, to protect what is right? To guide and teach the young? To defend the land and our way of life?”
“I swear,” Kiara said, bowing respectfully.
“Will you provide guidance for those in need?” Lilith took a crown from behind her. A bronze – reddish metallic colour. “And be an example of what the kingdom holds dear?”
“I will, Grandmother.” Her voice became increasingly more confident.
“Then, with this crown, comes the wisdom of those who wore it prior,” the Queen placed the crown upon Kiara’s head. “And with this wand, will you stand for the weak? For justice?”
Kiara nodded gently, and Lilith took the wand from Bombus, it changing from more of a dagger to a beautiful crystal baton. Then, the queen carefully tapped her granddaughters shoulders, and horns, with the wand.
“I hereby crown thee,” she handed Kiara the wand, smiling gently at her grandchild. “Princess Kiara, the sorceress.”
As soon as it hit her hand, it changed form. It turned from a stunning crystal baton that her grandmother wielded with confidence into a large wooden staff, with a gem floating in the crook. All of the crowd murmured to themselves. The wand doesn’t look right. It’s broken. You broke a precious family heirloom. The thoughts swam once more through, louder than ever.
From the side, she saw her half-sister, Emma, lift her hands up, and lowering them. Breathe in and out. Emma always knew some of the best ways to relax her elder sister. The two smiled to each other before Kiara turned her head back to her grandmother.
“Now, princess,” Lucien, Kiara’s grandfather, softly spoke. He put a hand on her shoulders, drawing her back from her thoughts. “Look towards your kingdom.”
“Princess Kiara, heir to Dismantera,” Lilith’s voice rang out in the throne room. “All hail her majesty, the Sorceress.”
As soon as the Queen finished her announcement, every guest bowed towards Kiara, who looked out at the sea of eyes, clutching her staff in her hand. The crystal had turned a vibrant orange hue, and glowed brightly.
The royal family walked out towards the back of the room, Kiara out front, and to the ball prepared in Kiara’s honour. All the while, they were flanked by guards.
“Darling, why don’t you go and get into a more comfortable dress for the ball?” Bombus suggested, smiling. “After all, it won’t be nearly as stressful.”
Kiara nodded, and cut off towards her tower, clutching the wand in her claws. The floor clacked as she ran. On her way, she took the small ribbons in her hair out, and giggled.
Far off, in a wonderful marble house a while away from the castle was a woman with fiery orange hair, softly curled and long. The woman slowly walked past the monuments of the hall. By this time tomorrow, the next defenders of the kingdom would find their way. And it was up to her to decide.
“Rosie!” a voice called out. “Any vision of our next team?”
Rosie sighed, shaking her head. “Not even a glimpse of them. Usually I would have seen something by now…”
The gems on the table before her glimmered in six varying, bright colours, and all were shining within the room’s dim lighting. The stones of Arentune. And it was getting close to the…
As her hand grazed over the purple gem, images flashed before her eyes: six figures, all young. The defenders of the realm. Two girls and four boys.
“Rosie!” Malcolm, a young minotaur yelled, running in to help her up. “Are you okay?”
“I need to talk to Dale. Send for Them immediately. Our new defenders have been found,” she could barely suppress the grin that found a way onto her face. “And one is the new princess.”
A large house sat alone, with a fairly well-kept garden in front. A young boy sat upon the roof, looking towards the castle of Dismantera. He chuckled to himself, and raised his glass as the fireworks were launched from the courtyard.
“Congratulations, Keeks,” he said to no one in particular. “You’re the new big shot in town. Princess…”
“Veren! C’mon!” a much older voice called out, from inside. “Aunt J and uncle Tim are here! So get down, they want to see ya!”
Veren smiled, and swiftly slid down the ladder to the roof, before walking into the kitchen. An older man who was nearly an identical clone of him (the only difference being their eye colours) stood before him – his father, Carson. The two went into the living room, where Veren’s aunt and uncle were standing.
Timothy looked like a fairly normal man, despite one key physical feature that kept him from normality: a pair of white dove wings that sprouted from his shoulder blades. He was an avian (a being that could change between two forms, human and bird, or be anywhere in between). But other than that, he did look like a totally average young man.
Jenna, on the other hand, did not look normal, in any sense of the word. To begin with, she had a tail. But, because she was a giant lizard-like creature, that wasn’t quite as odd as one would think. And yet, a bit of blue fluff sprouted from the end of it, soft like the silk used in the palace.
“Hey, Ver,” Aunt Jenna wasn’t a very formal woman. “I heard that the royal ball is going on. Besides, Madam Rosie has a special announcement for the event. Wonder what it’s gonna be…”
“Well, you never know,” Timothy draped a wing over his wife’s shoulder. “Perhaps one of the heirs is a new protector. I guess that only time may tell...”
As the adults continued their `Very important` conversation, Veren snuck off to his room. He grabbed a small piece of paper from his desk. On it was scribbled “Veren, I will always hold your hand, through the darkest times.” The raven haired male read it over a few times, smiling as he thought of his girlfriends voice speaking to him.
“But, dad, I –“ Gladius started, with his tail swishing behind him.
“No.” His father cut him off. “Gladius, you need to go to this. It’s for your step sister. Please. If not for Kiara or Bombus’s sake, then do it for mine. Please.”
Gladius sighed and nodded. He suddenly became extremely interested in his clawed feet. Altor used his tail to move his son’s face towards him.
“Thank you, Glad…” he walked out of the room before stopping to talk to his son. “And remember… I love you, son…”
Gladius nodded once more and flopped back onto his bed. This castle still didn’t feel quite like his home yet… and there was so much about himself that felt like a mystery left for him to solve.