"None of this makes sense." Said Flora. "What does it mean?"
"I can't tell you, because I don't know." He said. "All I can do is remove the mark, if we hurry we might finish before the dinner feast."
"But I need to know!" She said. "Why is the mark black?"
"Only your past can answer that question, not your future."
"You're making no sense."
"I know." He said. "Go get Morgana, I'll need help to remove the mark. Meet me here when you're ready."
He stood from the wooden bench.
"You do know." He said sadly. "You will die, even if but a moment. Are you ready for that?"
Flora nodded, watching him walked away.
It felt as if there were more questions than answers, Flora was angry none of them were being answered. She desperately wanted to know why the mark was black, she'd never used magic before, let alone dark magic.
She put those questions out of mind for the time being, hoping to solve them after the mark was removed.
She went to the room Morgana was staying, once there she knocked on the door.
Morgana opened it. "What?"
"I need your help." She said.
"With what?"
"I need your help removing the mark." Flora answered.
"How?"
"By killing me."
There was a moment of silence. "Okay."
Morgana stepped out of the room to follow Flora.
On the way to the garden, Flora asked Morgana a question. "You seem very willing to help me after I said I would die, why is that?"
"You annoy me." She answered. "I've killed people for less."
"Then why help me on my quest?" She asked.
"Didn't I tell you already?"
"I don't think you did." Said Flora.
"Because..." She found it difficult to form the words. "Because you remind me of myself, before I became a bandit."
Morgana looked down sadly. "Before Matheus."
Flora felt sympathy in her heart when she heard the sorrow in Morgana's voice.
"You want to save your sister, and I'm helping you because no one helped me save to mine."
It wasn't until then that Flora remembered Morgana talking about her before.
"How did she die?" Asked Flora.
"I'm not going to open up and share my life's story." Morgana said. "As far as I'm concerned we've still just met." Her tone fell bitter, her eyes filling once more with despair. "I probably would have left you and your quest already if I'd had something to return to..."
"I'm sorry."
"I don't want your pity." She wiped the tears from her eyes trying to conceal them. "Let's just get this over with."
"Get what over with?" A voice asked.
They stopped walking and turned around to see who'd spoken.
Davon appeared behind them.
"Flora is going to kill herself." Morgana answered.
"What!?" Davon asked, concern present in his voice.
Flora shot Morgana an angry look, annoyed that she'd told him.
"It's alright." Flora said. "I'll be fine."
"What are you doing this for?" He asked.
"Flora was marked by a Demon." Morgana answered.
"Shush!" Flora angrily shouted.
"I see..." Davon said apprehensively. "I now understand what it is you are doing, but if you're not careful you might not come back, there's a chance you'll remain dead."
"I know." Said Flora. "Valor is helping me."
"Valor!" Davon shouted uneasily.
"Yes." Said Flora. "Is that a bad thing?"
Davon was silent for a moment... "My uncle has been alive for many of my family's generations, and all who lived to tell me warned me to be cautious of him."
"I have known my uncle ever since I can remember, and I've learned he cares little for anyone but himself. If he offered to help you, it's clear he wants something from you. Or maybe he plans to kill you."
Flora didn't know who to trust, the old man who seemed kind.
The young man promised to her sister.
Morgana who had little reason to help Flora.
She didn't know if Davon spoke the truth, but she needed the mark gone.
"I must go through with this." She said.
"I must accompany you." Said Davon. "I'll do my best to protect you if something goes wrong."
"Why should you care?" Morgana asked cautiously. "Why would you help her?"
""It is my duty to protect my family." He answered. "My hand is promised to Hannah, so as far as I'm concerned she is my family now."
Flora held back a smile.
"I don't trust you." Morgana said.
"Nor I you." Davon smiled.
She frowned.
The three of them left for the garden, there they found Valor waiting next to a wooden table, two potions in his hand.
"Davon." He said. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to help." He answered.
"Well, with Morgana here I don't see why we'd need you."
Davon was silent, he exchanged a guarded look with Valor.
"Alright." He said. "As long as you don't get in the way."
They gathered around the wooden table.
"What do I do?" Asked Flora.
Valor smiled. "You just lie on the table."
She did as she was instructed.
"Now I must ask you something." Said Valor. "In my left hand I have a poison, it will kill you and you will feel no pain, but the poison will remain in your system and there is a chance you won't wake up."
"And the other?" She asked.
"This one will kill you, and it will hurt as if your body were on fire, but your body will burn out the poison and you will return without flaw."
"Does it work efficiently?" Davon asked.
"I have never lost a soul to this poison." He answered.
"How many people have you poisoned with that?" Asked Morgana.
He ignored her. "I leave the decision to you princess."
She looked back and forth at the poisons. "The one in your right hand."
He smiled before handing the poison to Morgana. "Give this to her."
"Why don't you?" She asked.
"Because I am untouched by the impurity of dark magic, if I were to kill I'd lose my light."
"Forget I asked," Morgana handed Flora the potion. "Here."
"Drink my dear." Said Valor. "I will restart your heart once the mark is gone."
She accepted the poison and drank from the bottle...
For a moment she forgot where she was, the garden reminded her so much of the one in her home, where her Grandfather would always be.
The taste in her mouth was bitter.
Her body felt as if her blood was made of acid, her skin was on fire. She screamed in agony, it was more painful than anything she'd experienced before.
In a few seconds it was over.
The light of the sun above her faded into darkness, and she could no longer feel anything.
There was nothing.
Then, a light.
She found herself in a garden, but not the one in Stonebrush. She was back home, but she thought everything had been destroyed, except it was as alive as the day before the Demon came.
"My dearest daughter." A kind and familiar voice called.
She turned and saw her father. He stood in the garden, a bright smile upon his face.
"Why so grim?" He said.
She ran to him, embracing him in a hug.
His laughter was filled with joy.
"How is this possible?" She asked, her eyes began to form tears of happiness. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
"Oh my dear, I am delighted to have this moment with you." He squeezed her tightly. "But just as all good things, this will fade."
"Why?" She asked. "I want to stay here with you."
"No... No my dear." He pulled her away, peering into her eyes. "Your time is yet to come, then, when you are ready, we will meet again."
"I can't do this without you!" She cried.
"Oh my sweet flower, you are strong, stronger than anyone I know. But you are also fragile." He brushed his thumb over her cheek.
"It has brought me joy raising you and your sister. I was never complete until I became your father, and I wouldn't have chosen to live my life any other way."
Tears streamed down her face.
"Save your sister, return home, and when that is done, know I have found peace."
"Don't go!" She cried.
"I love you Flora."
He began to fade away.
"I love you father."
He was gone.
She was alone, crying in the garden.
...
"Wake!" Shouted Valor, he'd shocked Flora's chest with lightning from his hands.
When her eyes opened and she took in her surroundings, she knew she was back in Stonebrush.
"Flora!" Davon said. "Are you alright?"
She wiped a tear from the corner her eye. "I'm fine."
"Did it work?" Asked Morgana.
Flora looked at her chest. As Valor promised the mark was gone.
"What did you see?" Asked Valor.
"I saw... My father."
There was a moment of silence.
"What did he say?" Asked Valor, he seemed almost worried.
"He is at peace."
"How do you feel?" He asked.
She was exhausted, her body was weak.
She sat up from the table. "I'll be fine."
Silently, a Stonebrush guard approached them. He spoke only two words. "Sir Valor."
Valor looked at the guard, "I must attend to tonight's dinner preparation." He said. "Sunset is nearly upon us, and with it the feast, I suggest you prepare for it."
With that he followed the guard out of the garden.
"I don't like that guy." Said Morgana.
"He's a bit eccentric." Said Davon.
"A bit?"
They traded a smile. Realizing what she'd done Morgana turned away. "I'll see you there Flora."
She left.
"I must go prepare." Said Davon. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me."
"Thank you Davon." Said Flora. "You are very kind, my sister is very lucky to have you."
"Your words are too sweet." He said. "I'll see you at dinner princess."
With her father gone she felt more alone than ever before.
Flora had lost track of time, unaware of how long it'd been. She remained by herself in the garden, listening to the silence.
She felt empty, as if she had no purpose.
"Princess Flora." Called a woman's voice, Helena's. "The dinner party is about to begin. I've been sent to escort you."
"Okay." Flora rose up from the table, devoid of emotion.
"Are you alright princess?" She asked.
"I'm fine." She answered.
Helena rolled her eyes, "I know fine, you are not. However I will not press on the matter, we are requested at Valor's feast or whatever thing." She forced a fake smile.
Flora didn't know what to think of her.
"So come along, this way please."
She followed her to the great hall where many of Stonebrush's residents sat at long rectangular tables. On the other side of the room was the royal table, it rose three steps from the floor.
Davon, Silo, and Valor were already seated there.
Helena approached the royal table and sat down. Flora found Morgana at the table below it and joined her.
There were an array of different foods on the table in front of her, meats, exotic plant foods, and many drinks too.
"My family!" Shouted Valor. "It is with great honor that I introduce to you the lady of the hour, princess Flora."
His voice echoed throughout the great hall.
"To our joy she has found her way to us."
"Shouldn't we wait for King Elton and Oberon?" Asked Davon.
"We need not bother with them now." Answered Valor.
Flora stood up.
"I was promised an audience with your king!" Shouted Flora. "Yet I do not see him here, where is he?"
"The king is indisposed at this time." He shouted.
"Convenient isn't it?" Morgana shouted.
"Valor!" Shouted a guard who had just entered the room.
There was a pause. "I am to make a speech, would you please join me sweet Flora?"
She was hesitant.
"Don't worry, trust in me, this will be over soon."
She knew something was off, yet approached him all the same.
"Flora's arrival marks a new era, not only for Stonebrush, but for all of Nirmal." His words carried throughout the hall. "Times will change, and with change will come a new King of Stonebrush. A king who will lead us through the darkness."
He reached out for her hands and took them, his touch gentle.
"My dearest Flora." He said. "I cannot grant you an audience with King Elton."
"Why not?" She asked.
"Because my dear, he is dead."
His words shocked the people, as if they hadn't heard his hushed voice.
"Yes! King Elton has fallen!" He shouted with a smile. "And although I cannot grant you an audience with Elton, I can show you the new King, for I am now King!"
He forced a pair of handcuffs over Flora's wrists with unnatural speed.
"What are you doing!" She shouted.
"I, my dear, am leading Stonebrush through the darkness. It will rise above all of the world!"
"You've gone mad!" Shouted Davon.
"I've been mad for quite some time my boy, you just haven't noticed."
He looked back at Flora, his hands holding her tightly, preventing her from escaping.
"The Demon you hate so dearly, he demands royal blood, he is here, and I will feed you to him."436Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGGgWBe9sr
