Alaricus' POV

I clench my hands at my sides remembering the dirty way the bastard king would look at my mother. Her tan hardened complexion wasn't something most men found favourable at the time, but he had been enamoured by it. All too pleased when my lovely younger sister too had inherited the foreign traits. Although she was as kind and sweet as my mother was, she was much more fragile. Time had hardened my mother and she was the strongest person I knew including the all powerful queen pythonissam, but my sister was fragile. A determined mind, but a heart that was much too kind. She was sheltered by the both of us.

It was as if I could still see her innocent green eyes gazing up at me. At the time autism was still considered an ailment, a sickness. It was unfortunately misunderstood, and Lilium's childish innocence had been ridiculed. All the more reason for my mother and I to have to protect her, and making her even more sheltered and blind to the cruelty of the world.

Keeping those memories locked away in my mind had become a habit, but for Amara I'd travel to even the darkest parts of my mind.

Although it wasn't me that had the right to look at those memories as a tragic event for I'd caused them, the culprit shouldn't find solace in pain, but rather in punishment. It had taken place centuries ago and yet I could still remember every moment, every emotion as if I were reliving it.

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Waking up had always been difficult for me, despite the scratchy cot I lay on, my dreams weren't something I liked to leave behind to face reality. But I couldn't ignore the light calls of Lilium. As soft as her voice was her calls to awaken me were persistent.

"Wake up Alaricus, I made breakfast." She whined and I smiled under the cover of my thin blanket, reaching out to grab her little hand and tugging her so she'd fall onto the cot. She let out a little giggle as she fell, looking at me with the big green eyes. For a 14 year old girl Lilium looked to be younger, but perhaps that was only part of what made her appear so fragile.

"And what did you make little Lilium?" I ask her and she twists her nose to the side at my words. In her mind she was a warrior, and in no way little.

"Oatmeal." She says and I nod, it was the one breakfast item mother and I had taught her, but Lilium was a brilliant little chef she'd always use the little we had in the home to put her own twist to the oatmeal. At times resorting to go to the royal home to get ingredients. Although that I had strictly warned her not to do. We didn't need their food.

Her tan skin and dark hair made her look like a younger version of my mother, her green eyes though from our grandfather. Her looks won her the favour of the king. Although he didn't particularly like admitting we were his children as no respectable king liked admitting he had children with his concubine or perhaps it was the queen that stopped him from doing so. I though was unmistakably his son, our resemblance so uncanny that some foreign royal visitors would think I was the prince.

But it was his infatuation with my mother that made him dote on my younger sister. For perhaps in his twisted mind in a way, she was a result of his ownership of my mother. Although she was nothing like him. She was everything good, while he was the human embodiment of evil, a malicious old man. But he treated my sister well, in his eyes being a father meant giving gifts so he gave her what we couldn't afford to.

Although the king treated my sister like a daughter, that wasn't the way the prince looked at her. I was the first born of the king but it was the queen's children that became successors. Unfortunately they were unable to birth a daughter to take the queen's place, and although the queen loved her son, her and the whole kingdom had wanted a daughter. For women were much more powerful than men.

I allow Lilium to drag me off of my cot, and from my small room to the kitchen. She stares at me proudly as I stand over the fire, pouring a bowl for myself from the small pot of oatmeal. Blowing on the oatmeal I shovel in a spoonful, smiling at how eager she is to know if her new concoction is any good. The richness of cinnamon dances along with the light taste of the cream and peaches to make a delightfully balanced combination.

"It's great as per usual Lili." I tell her and she beams. So easily pleased.

"I made some for mommy, but she's been out all morning." Lilium mumbles frowning. We never spoke of mother's work before Lilium but she was an intuitive girl. The king's guests were to appear today and how he enjoyed parading around his dark flower. He'd often force her to dance for them.

"She'll be back soon Lili, don't worry just keep this oatmeal warm, and get yourself a bowl before I eat it all." I tell her and she immediately scowls at me. The look foreign and childishly adorable on her innocent face.

"You wouldn't dare." She says, her scowl melting to giggling as I scarf down my bowl, making animated beast like noises.

"You sound like snugly ." She says in between giggles and I give her an awkward smile at the mention of the young werewolf cub she'd speak to through the fence. She didn't know his name so strangely she'd named him snugly. A beastly little wolf, and she'd named him snugly.

The wolves were heinous horrid creatures, from far they'd appear human but upon closer inspection one could see they had canines, and strangely coloured eyes. There were packs of them, that bordered around villages and kingdoms hoping to find prey, subdued by the fear of pythonissams. They didn't dare cross the fence, unless their mate was on the other side. The males and females couldn't mate with one another, so they had mates of other species. For their mates they would do anything. Parents dreaded their sons and daughters being a werewolf's mate. The Wolves despite their relatively human like appearance were absolute primal creatures, their lifestyles were no way for a human to live. They'd force their mates to hunt upon innocent travellers and livestock young along with them. I feared for Lilium, the wolf cub was too friendly with her.

Putting my bowl aside with last night's dishes, deciding I'd do them later I press a kiss to Lilium's head. Washing up quickly I make my way out of our small home. I hurry to the royal stables, not even stopping to greet any of the people that cared to return my greetings. We were harshly judged due to my mother's occupation. As if any of it were her choosing, or any of it their business.

I make quick work of washing the royal horses, I'd been told last night the prince was coming in to ride them this morning. I despised him, as he did me. I was the firstborn of the king, and looked much like him, but he looked just like his mother and much like her was quite ignored by the king.

"You take awfully long completing simple tasks." Came a smooth masculine voice from behind me. My shoulders tensed as I turned around dreading what I knew I'd see. His blonde hair flows down to his shoulders, impeccably neat and silky, blue eyes blazing with hatred as he sneers down at me. Despite his much smaller frame he still looked down at me from his nose.

"I don't see the point of keeping you around when I begin my rule." He says casually, but his eyes flash with malice. He knew in our small town a reject of the royals was never to find another job, but it was what he wanted to see me starve, to see me jobless. Although he didn't know I didn't wish to work here anymore than he wished for my presence.

"Whatever you decide." I answer turning back to the horses. But his next words have my fists clenching tightly around the mane of the horse, making it neigh in discomfort.

"Although if you'd sell me that little sister of yours I'd reconsider." He says coyly.

"I wouldn't let you near my little sister." I answer through clenched teeth, my chest rising and falling rapidly as I struggle to breathe through the anger that courses through me.

"What a pity, it's a high honour to be a royal's little whore. Really it can be quite fun too, just ask your mother." He says and my vision goes red as I turn around, my body coiling as I prepare to lunge at him but large hands rest on my shoulders.

"He's not worth it." Seprus tells me. His large hands withered and deeply calloused from years of work in the stables, but his blue eyes kind. He was one of the few men in this place who I respected.

"Your horse is ready your majesty." Seprus tells the young prince, Inscius.

"When's your sister going to be ready for me to mount her?" Inscius asks with a lazy smirk as he passes by, and all my efforts to calm down go to waste, as I pull my arm back. Clenching my large hand in a fist I let it meet the smirking face of the prince with a loud snap. An anguished yell escapes the prince, as Seprus gasps.

"I'm not going to do anything to you, but I swear to you, I will make you watch as I take your sister. The little freak won't know what's coming at her. I'll force you to listen as she shrieks for me to stop, struggling with that delicate little body of hers as I leave my marks all over it. Abusing it till it's no longer hers, until she doesn't want it to be hers anymore." He says to me holding the side of his face and my chest rumbles in anger. The thought of his filthy hands on my fragile, pure little sister leaving an acid like taste in my mouth, an anger burning in my chest. But it's the hopelessness that is the worst of them all. Knowing he could follow through with that all, and I'd be able to do nothing about it.

"Go home Alaricus, take a day off. I'll man the stables for today." Seprus says and I turn away, my fists clenched at my sides as I make my way from the stables.

I rub at the back of my neck as I make my way back into our little home. My mother's deep onyx eyes meeting my own, her arched brows furrowing in confusion.

"What are you doing home Alaricus?" She asks softly.

"I had a little quarrel with the prince." I say and she sighs.

"He's a nasty piece of work, but we must be careful son. The king won't rule forever." She says and I nod.

"Let me cook, you look exhausted." I say and she raises a brow at me in mock offence.

"Oh Alaricus have I taught you nothing, never tell a lady she looks anything less than beautiful." My mom says, making Lilium giggle.

My eyes dart to her, not having noticed her as she sits in the corner near the fire, knitting a dress for her doll. The remaining anger fades as she beams up at me, and I have to rub at my eyes to keep from crying. Those big green eyes could loose their shine, just because her brother was incapable of protecting her. As beautiful as my mother's eyes were, as black and limitless as the night sky, they were also sad. The gaze of a hopeless woman, fallen in her own eyes. I never wished to see that in my sister's eyes.

"You always look beautiful, the most beautiful woman in the world, and there's the one little turnip." I say grinning toothily at my sister and she gasps. Getting up from where she's hunched on her knees she rushes towards me. Her little fists connect with my chest and I grab her up from her underarms, holding her away from me so she couldn't reach.

"I'm not a turnip, you're squash." She says defensively. In her mind that was a grave insult, she'd most probably apologize for it days later. She was incapable of hurting anyone, and it tormented her if she thought she had.

Setting her carefully on her feet, I tickle her under her chin as she moves towards me again and immediately her loud giggle echoes around the little home, making my mother smile. Just if that smile would reach her eyes, one day it would. I'd ensure it. I'd get us all away from this mess of a monarchy. Away from the brutish royal family to a place where my mother could be happy, and my sister could live her life in peace unaffected by royalty. Fall in love with whomever the both would please.

"I'll finish making dinner Alaricus, but could you fetch us some firewood. We're nearly out." My mother says as Lilium goes back to her knitting.

"Of course, I'll be right back." I tell her, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to her forehead, and making my way to kiss the top of my sisters head as well. She gives me a small smile in return. Her anger having already melted.

The Wolves were quite afraid of the queen, who'd created a barricade to keep them out. But sometimes rogue werewolves, knowing nothing of the pack, and not subjected to the spell would venture in. Although the prince wasn't any less than a rabid wolf either. I'd always give kisses to my mother and sister before leaving home, just in case I never came back.

I walked along the fence, choosing rather to hear the growled words of the Wolves than to receive the dirty glances of the villagers. But the Wolves were sly creatures it was why we were taught to avoid going too close to the fence as children.

"Son of the king, you look tense." Came a growled deep voice from across the fence, inhumanely greenish yellow eyes glinting at me through the fence. I frowned noticing how large the wolf was, quite possibly one of the high ranks, perhaps son of the alpha. I chose not to answer, turning myself so that I was facing away from him as I walked.

"Artemis can help, tell Artemis." The wolf growls primally, the Wolves were able to speak, but it was very little that they spoke, in their strange manner.

"Artemis hears son of the king has problems with brother. Dirty brother, looks at sister weird." The wolf says wrinkling his nose in disgust, and I tense, even a rabid wolf was better than the prince I had been literally correct.

"Artemis can kill prince." The wolf says and my body freezes, as I turn to look at the wolf, a predatory grin spreading on its face. The wolf beckons me forward and I take a cautious step towards the fence.

"How?" I asked the wolf.

"If you leave a hole in fence, Artemis can come and kill prince. Human villagers can cut fence, humans are not part of the spell." He tells me and I bite my lip shaking my head. It wouldn't be right to trust a wolf, we were taught not to.

"No." I say shaking my head, and the wolf shrugs.

"Well then other brother will take sister." He says casually, and I tap my foot impatiently before turning to leave, I'd just walk through the village.

"Dead prince is good distraction." The wolf grumbles quietly and I halt in my escape. The images of my poor mother and sister appearing in my mind, they both could be free. I could get them the life they deserve.

"How do I know you won't betray me?" I ask.

"Why would Artemis betray, Artemis wants to kill, Artemis gets to kill prince." He says and I nod.

"Fine but you must stick to our deal, you come in to the village do what you wish with the prince, and then you're back into the outlands. Don't hurt anyone else. Your Wolves must allow my family and I to pass through, without hurting us." I tell him.

"As the king's son wishes." The wolf reassures. Breathing in deeply I utter out the next words, ignoring the unease I feel.

"I'll have a cut large enough for you in the fence by sunset." I tell the wolf and he grins at me his tongue darting out to lick over his canines. Furrowing my brows at him, I give him a quick nod before walking away, making quick work of getting to the forest.

Moving aside some branches of a large bush, I find the axe I always kept here. I didn't want Lilium finding it when she was younger and although she was old enough now to know better, it had just become habit to leave the axe in the forest. My arms began to ache as I tried to hurry to chop the firewood, before hiding my axe once more. Tying together the logs I hoisted them over my shoulder, beginning my walk back home.

My mother stood in the doorway, her onyx eyes filled with worry until she'd caught sight of me.

"Alaricus you're home." She mumbled, getting up on the tops of her toes and yet she was still too small so I leant down to allow her to press a kiss to my forehead. Dropping the logs, I ushered my mother in, back to the house.

"Mom, get your stuff and Lilium's packed up, we're going to leave tonight." I tell her and she frowns in confusion. I didn't have a lot of time to explain to them, we discussed leaving very often, this wouldn't be too surprising.

"I've made arrangements but we must hurry, stay packed, only what we will be able to carry." I say, and my mother haphazardly nods. Her eyes seeming to brighten a but before they dim.

"But I don't understand what arrangements, do you have any idea what could happen if we are caught, or worse preyed on by the Wolves." My mother says, and both of us turn to look at Lilium as she lets out a sniffle.

"Mom please trust me, I've taken care of it just be packed please." I plead with her and she gives me a wary nod. I crouch down in front of Lilium, opening my arms to her and she crawls in. Resting gently against me, her newly dressed doll pressed against my chest.

"Listen Lili, we're going to go far away to a better place, where the other kids won't be mean to you. Mommy will be happy there and so will you." I tell her and she looks up at me through those big green eyes of hers.

"What about you, will you be happy?" she asks innocently bringing a small smile to my face despite my nerves and I nod at her.

"I'll be very happy my little turnip." I say and she smiles ignoring the name.

"Okay then we'll go." She says and I huff out a laugh.

"I'm glad I've got Fairy Turnips consent." I say and she bows her head royally making me chuckle.

"Eat with mom, and take care of her, I'll be back soon to get the two of you." I tell her and she nods, wrapping her thin arms tightly around my neck before letting me go. I press a kiss to her head, getting up to see my mom still watching the two of us, her dark eyes watery.

"Don't worry, we're gonna get out of here." I tell her.

"I know, it's just, it's my job to protect you two and here you are protecting me." She says sadly.

"You're a great mother, and I love you, both of you. I'll be back for you and we'll all be happy together." I tell her pressing a kiss to her head, before I make my way out of the cabin.

I make my way to the far side of town, to avoid suspicion I couldn't carry any large weapons with me. I'd simply have to make do with the small knife I always kept on me. Finally getting to the one place I knew no villagers would come, the supposedly haunted shack. The superstitious people truly believed it was haunted. I myself though had used it many times as an escape during my childhood when the cruel judgment of the villagers got to be too much.

The knife makes a grinding noise as it works against the metal of the fence, my hands near trembling with the power inside of that plain looking rusting fence. Humans weren't included in the spell, but we could still feel the power. The queen was a very powerful pythonissam. She was a magical legend, but her love for the king was slowly ruining her. Building an angst inside for her that the magic couldn't manifest along with. Magic needed stronger emotions, a motivation. The king's lack of feelings for her was making her loose motivation, her emotions weren't strong enough to conjure strong magic.