Secret Filled Stars

The hardest thing, for her, was when her memories began fading into dreams.  The innocence of her youth seemed so far away in the midst of her immediate corruption. Boundaries of her history were clouded, the cruel sparkle of frost hiding them from view.  How she longed for her childhood when everything had been so pure and carefree. Time spent playing hide and seek with her brothers and chasing shades through the trees and dancing with faeries in the meadows. The fleeting memories she still held onto brought her joy like no other. Her heart filled until it felt as if it'd burst and, when they faded back into the recesses of her mind, she felt empty once more. They gifted her hope that the girl she once was still lingered somewhere in her soul, that everything she had once been hadn't been lost to the darkness.  It had been centuries since she'd last skipped along the paths, searching for her once beloved friends. Would they remember her?  Would they still accept he...

Stand up straight, fix your hair. Smile but not too wide. Laugh but not too loud. Embody grace, personify perfection. Back straight as you dip low. Offer insults laced with the sweetest of words. Bring honor to your family, your name. Your life is for them, no one else. Hide your scars, cloak your pain. Choose your mask carefully. There's no escape in reality. Slip into your dreams. Scream it out, break the mirror. Shatter the faces that you hold dear. Silence the mocking, bind the fear. This is your kingdom, you are the Queen. They split your flesh, break your spirit. But here in the shadows, you'll find your worth. Take His hand and walk the darkened path. Follow his steps and embrace your destiny. The flash of fangs, the scent of blood. Whisper sweet nothings, hold them close. Give them their sweet release. As they stare into starlit eyes.

"You're an embarrassment!" the deep voice bellowed, echoing throughout the Manor.   "What did I do to deserve a disgrace like you?"  The tall figure loomed over her, blue eyes hardening into something sinister as he glared down at the crouched form at his feet. "I'm sorry, Father. I'll try harder next time, I promise." she whispered, words lifting as she gathered up the pieces of the shattered teapot. "It was an accident ." "We should have let you die." he hissed, leaning forward to grab her chin, forcing her to look at him. "I wish you died, I prayed for it; I still do."  Shoving her face away, he grabbed his glass and threw it on the floor.  The glass exploded, sending shards flying.  The man turned on his heel, leaving the room as he called over his shoulder. "Clean up this mess."  Once he was gone, she let out a shuddering breath and buried her face in her hands, trying to contain her emotions. Sh...

"Do you need anything else, Lady Nyssia?" asked the young house elf, Marya, as she laid out the older woman's hooded bathrobe. "That will be all.  Leave now and don't let anyone enter." the brunette replied, waving a petite hand.  She waited until the girl was gone before stepping into the hot bath that had been poured for her.  The water soothed away her aches and pains, a soft groan leaving her lips.  Sinking in up to her neck, hair pulled up in a curled mess on the top of her head, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth for a moment. A blind hand reached for the crystal quartz laying next to her, placing it on her forehead. Allowing herself to relax slowly, Altheorn's face appeared in her mind's eye and a small smile curled on her lips.  The familiar cold wrapped around her clothed body and she opened her eyes, moving towards the wolf. The soft crunching screamed out against the silence as she walked quickly to the sleeping creature.  She s...

"This is your fault, you little wench!" hissed Alynsa, gray eyes darkening as she glared at the brunette. "This is the last straw.  When Jeresh hears about this, he'll have you shipped off immediately."  She had been waiting for this, the moment her brother's wife found something they deemed worthy of sending her off to Ta'Nalfein. They had been threatening this for years but it seems her most recent adventures into the astral plane were her final undoing. Starry eyes gazed calmly back at the infuriated woman, pale pink lips pressed into a thin line. "My brother won't return for three days.  You know this as well as I do, Alynsa." she replied, head tilting and eyes flashing in the light. "However will you manage to survive?"  Her fingers twitched and the woman stumbled back, gasping softly. "You're a curse on this family, Nyssia.  You're worth more to them dead." the blonde hissed again, this time to hide her ...