Chapter One –

Sorenica sat bolt upright in her bed, after having another nightmare. She had them often, and they were all about the same thing: the death of her mother. It had only been five years since the events of that day, but the memories were fresh in Sorenica’s mind. She reached out and ignited the candle on her nightstand. Her birthday was approaching in a week, which meant she had to leave; fast. She had planned on escaping her servitude later today, but figured that this would be the best time if any.

Sorenica crept out of bed and gathered her things. All of her necessities fit into one bag that slung over her shoulder. She reached into her nightstand and took out a brown book with the initials: EIA engraved on them. It was her mother’s diary from when she was a child and all through her teen years.
       
        Putting it in her bag carefully, Sorenica tiptoed to her heavy door. She was afraid to open it, fearful of the loud creaking it would make. Sighing, she pulled at the handle and opened the door just enough for her to slip through. She shut it as quietly as possible, but a creak cranked from the hinges. Her heart was beating incredibly fast, her adrenalin pumping.

She scampered down dark corridor and down a flight of stairs. The castle was huge, and daylight was coming soon. She started to take the quickest route to the front entrance, but soon remembered that it would be guarded. She took a left and went in the opposite direction towards a back entrance to the castle that few knew about. Her mother had told her about it once right before she died. (“If you ever are in any trouble or need to escape, use this passage. It’ll lead you straight onto the grounds,”) she had said. It left little Sorenica utterly confused, but she was glad for the information tonight.

Two flights of stairs, three rights, and two lefts later, Sorenica came to a dead end wall. Sighing, she racked her brain for what to do next. (“Here, take your palm to the stone. Burn an imprint onto the wall. There that’s it,”) the wall morphed into a wooden door! Nodding to herself, Sorenica mimicked what her memory told her to do. The stone came to life as it were and became a door. She hurriedly stepped through and found herself in the northern eastern grounds. The jungle of thorns and vines was in her sight, and she quickened her pace towards it.

“Where are you going Sorenica?” A low voice called out behind her.

She halted in her tracks, and slowly turned around.

“Taran…”

He was Taran Rothrock, descendant of a great warrior. She had had a child-crush on him when she was thirteen. He gave her, her first kiss (a sloppy and embarrassing one too). They liked each other, everyone knew. But he distanced himself from her after the kiss. Not speaking a word to her unless he absolutely had to. She never knew why.

“How do you know about this entrance?”

“Your grandfather told me about it a little over a year ago. I’ve been guarding it every night since then.”

She let the words sink in.

“You know I’ll have to take you back. I’ll forget all about this if you come quietly.”

“Why do you have to be this way? If I leave now I’ll have a about an hour’s head start. You can say that you didn’t see me or that I went another way; anything you want but please, let me go,” she pleaded.

“Your palm print is still on the wall. He’ll know you came this way; and if he finds out I let you go, he’ll kill me. And I don’t know about you, but I value my life. I have my family honor to uphold.”

“Is that why you stopped talking to me: your honor?”

“That, and a few other things…” Lights were being ignited in the castle, signaling that he was awake and searching for her.

“If you ever felt anything for me, you’d let me go!” She continued to plea.

He flinched at her words; it was a low blow for him.

“You’d like that wouldn’t you? To cloud my judgment for feelings that I lost long ago. It’s not going to work.” He scoffed. The lights got closer and closer to the ground floor.

“Don’t make me do this.” Tears formed in her eyes; she didn’t want to hurt him.

        He stood rooted in his spot.

        Sorenica closed her eyes and let her energy move through her, the heat building inside of her. She focused on his left arm, the arm that held his shield, not his sword. It erupted in flames and he cried out in pain.

        “I’m sorry…” She turned around and ran into the forest of thorns; hoping to never see these grounds again.