The power swirled around me, I could feel it gathering from my feet and flowing up to my hands. It had taken a surprising amount of time for me to master just the basic gathering technique, but by the smile on my tutor's face, I must have been performing the final assessment well.

In this quiet moment in the training room, the vials and flasks of various rainbow-colored fluids had faded into soft, fuzzy lights as my vision gave way to the raw power I was drawing. It had taken nearly six years just to master the first step in sorcery, but I had been assured that once I could successfully raise power, the rest would come swiftly. Still, six years felt like a lifetime to an impatient teenager.

“Good, Toria,” my trainer, Busby's, gruff voice said garbled through the barrier of magic around me, “you may release it back into the world.”

With a crackling pop, I swiftly lowered my hands from above my head and shunned the power away from me. My skin tingled and briefly went numb as all the sensation was driven from it as well. It always tugged at my heart a little bit to feel the power go, often it felt like the only thing I could truly rely on and trust.

“I think we can call that part of your training concluded, how does it feel?”

My trainer was an elderly man with one eye and a gnarled back. At first it had been difficult for me to believe that anyone in his condition would have much to teach me, but now that I could sense and harness magical power, I could feel it constantly radiating from him. I often wondered if his disfigured appearance was actually a glamour and he looked completely different. I was not yet powerful enough to see through any guise he may have been maintaining, but it was one of my secret goals.

“Seems like I'm never going to finish my training at this rate,” I complained.

The left side of his face curled into a smile and he let out a low, gravely chuckle.

“It is always the way with the young, so impatient and without perspective.” He motioned for me to follow him over to the only two chairs in the training room. He often seemed to need to sit when possible from some sort of unseen pain. “You have just mastered the basis for all magic. From now on, everything you learn will just be a manipulation of that power.”

“It better be much faster from here on out. I started this as a child and now I am almost a grown woman.”

“You are still a child to me,” he laughed. “Ah, to be young enough to think that any point before your third decade is grown. It is no matter, you will not listen to me, nor understand until you are my age.”

He liked to muse about how young he thought I was. It was a if I was a tiny, toddling child that just so happened to be taller than he was.

“Anyway, tomorrow we will start training your focus and your ability to manifest power into tangible uses.”

“How long will that take?” I asked with a groan. It certainly didn't sound quick.

“Oh, that will depend,” he answered simply with no further indication that he would add to it.

“Depend on what?” He was truly exasperating at times, even though I had grown a fondness for him during our long years together.

“Oh I think Evonia would have my head if I let any more slip. Just trust me and go let your grandmother know that you are ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“She will know, now no more questions, child.”

Annoyed, I left him in the training room. I hated when people talked in riddles and vagueness. I was a future queen, I needed people to trust me with information and be compelled to spill their guts. I supposed that it would be something I would gain with time and force.

The castle seemed quiet today, the warm spring day outside the walls inspiring many of the servants to find reasons to be out in the sunlight. I could not blame them, if not for my training, I would have joined them. It had been a long, bitter winter that seemed like it would possibly never end. It was luxurious to even feel the warm ways through the windows on the way to the throne room.

“Ah, hello child,” Evonia greeted me from her typical spot on the silver throne surrounded by fawning admirers. “Your training has ended early today?”

While her glamour had not changed over the years, she seemed more tired lately. Her eyes not quite as wide and bright as they once were. I often wondered just how soon I would need to take over her place on the throne.

“Busby says that I am ready, whatever that means.”

A large grin spread across her face and she slowly rose to standing, holding her arms out to me for an embrace. “I am proud of you as if you were my own daughter. I knew you had it in you to be a sorceress, at least I hope you do. I am so excited for you to be ready to take the next step.”

I released from the embrace and huffed. “Yes, everyone seems like they enjoy speaking to me in riddles, what exactly is next?”

Her smile did not fall and she turned her head to the side to study me. “So ambitious, I wish that I would be able to see you upon the throne, you will do great things,” she said wishfully. “No matter, tonight I will show you your destiny if you choose to accept it. I will have a servant bring you an appropriate outfit before nightfall. Do not worry about dinner tonight, we will feast elsewhere.”

With that, she sat back down and signaled that our discussion was over. Her presence and demeanor did all of her commands for her. As for gaining clarity, it was still incredibly vague, but at least she had given a timeline.

I spent the afternoon practicing gathering and releasing power, though it seemed like a useless task at this point, I had already passed my test. I couldn't imagine doing nothing though, especially since my entire days since coming to the castle had been filled from sunup to sundown with training. It felt very strange to have free time before dinner.

For the first time in a long time I took a long look at my room. Usually I only came in after dinner, exhausted, and uncaring about what anything looked around me. Magic had been immeasurably hard to grasp at the start and never really stopped being a drain until recently. There was a long period of getting used to not only using magic, but it using you.

The room had not changed much since I had first arrived. I had always viewed it as temporary lodging as I knew my future lay in Evonia's queenly bedroom. It was strange now to look around and have it cross my mind that Rela grew up here as a child. I could not imagine anyone else inhabiting the space, though the decorations were certainly more floral and light that I would have preferred.

I hardly thought of the woman who was once my mother anymore. In the beginning she had seemed to haunt my dreams, her betrayal replaying over and over in my mind, but as with most things, time had faded the painful wound into an aching scar. I would never forgive, nor forget, but I could not let the anger cloud my ability to grow stronger so that I would be able to deliver the justice deserved.

A knock at my door signaled the arrival of my outfit. I had been wearing the same red training tunic almost every day, something about having the focus off of my attire and style helping with magical intent. I supposed that it didn't bother me other than it did not feel very royal. I had been accustomed to elaborate dresses that were the envy of everyone else. It had felt strange to be in a similar outfit to the servants, though none had dared to bring that particular fact up in front of me.

The outfit was a simple red bra-let with a strap that barely rested on my stomach and a flowing red skirt with a long slit up the right side. It was certainly much more daring than anything I had worn before. For a moment, I hesitated putting it on, something about my early upbringing in the doomed kingdom told me that it was inappropriate.

Clenching my jaw against the absurd guideline, I changed and immediately felt free. I finally fully understood why Mari and Evonia wore such outfits. Not only was it nice to feel the cool room air against my skin, but for the first time I felt like I could truly move in any which way I wanted. Plus, who would dare say anything negative to me about how I dressed, I could have their heads one day.

When I would typically cease training for dinner, I made my way to the dining room. Evonia had not told me where to meet her, so that was my best guess. I appeared to be right and both women were waiting for me just outside the dining room entrance.

“Are you ready?” Mari asked, a smirk on her face.

“I don't know what to be ready for,” I said with a shrug, “so, I guess so.”

“You are ready,” Evonia confirmed, giving my new look a pleased smile. “You certainly look the part as well. Come now, we have a ritual to perform.”

“A ritual?” I asked in shock. I had only just now mastered the basics, they had stressed that trying to do too much too fast could be potentially fatal.

“Do not worry, Toria,” Mari assured, “the ritual is mostly on us. We just need you there.”

I let out a held breath and indicated that I was ready to follow them.

They led me down to the dungeon of the castle, my skin prickling at both the cool, damp air and the hum of magic that seemed to resonate from the walls. I had never really had a reason to explore this part of the castle and I was now glad that I had not. The crackling, spiking power from the walls around me would have probably been terrifying before I knew how to keep it at bay.

Near what had to be the very lowest part of the dungeon, there stood a solid iron door with a large padlock that held it closed. It seemed extremely menacing and out-of-place. Certainly there was nothing else like it within the castle walls. Whatever was within was not meant for anyone but those ready. It was a shame that I didn't particularly feel ready anymore.

With a wave of her hand and a hushed word of power, Evonia willed the lock to clang open and drop loudly to the stone floor. The door swung open with a creak revealing a pitch black room. With another word of power, hundreds of black candles lining the floors and walls flickered to life, illuminating a strange, arcane symbol on the floor. It looked to be like a mixture of a pentagram and some profane symbol I couldn't quite wrap my mind around. Whatever it was, it was not something that exuded goodness and purity.

“Speak low within this room,” Evonia said quietly as she sinuously made her way to the bottom point of the pentacle.

Mari mimicked the slivering movement and took her place directly opposite her sister. Evonia pulled the small silver dagger that she always kept in a hilt on her left hip and without much ceremony, extended her wrist and slashed across it. Crimson blood flowed like a river, splattering onto the dark stone. I wasn't sure if it was a trick of my eyes or some kind of intense dark magic, but the blood seemed to pool and seep directly into the inlaid symbol on the floor.

“Awesome creatures of the dark, we call to thee,” Mari chanted in a voice that seemed like it shouldn't be exiting her mouth. “Accept our offering and hear our call.”

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled to attention as the power rose in the room, both women epicenters of magical pressure blossomed beyond anything I had been able to manifest. The feeling was glorious, but also made me feel extremely dizzy, like the room was spinning with intent. I lost control of my ability to stand and I felt myself list to the side, yet I did not fall over, but instead hovered, held aloft by the shear magical energy.

Almost as soon as the torrent of power had been raised, it abruptly stopped and I found myself plummeting to the floor. Instead of hitting hard stone, I landed on something vaguely squishy and warm. It was obvious that we were not in the same castle anymore.

“Open your eyes,” Evonia commanded.

It was easier said than done, a small part of my consciousness felt like I would not be ready for what I was about to see.

“Come now, don't be rude, we're guests here.”

With the knowledge that others were potentially watching me, I opened my eyes and saw that I was laying on some sort of thick moss with tiny purple flowers so deeply pigmented that they appeared almost black. Shifting my vision, I could see that the symbol that had been inlaid on the castle dungeon floor was now instead constructed of blood-red moss that had a sheen like it was covered in actual blood.

“There we are, up to your feet.” Mari stepped away from her position to bend and help me onto my unsteady legs.

“S-sorry,” I managed to stammer. My tongue felt swollen and almost foreign in my mouth, like the air where ever we were was not something I was used to.

“It's okay child, you have fared better than others before you,” Mari assured, helping to brush off the little bits of moss that had clung to me.

“Where are we?”

A cursory glance revealed that we still appeared to be in a castle of some kind, one that was just much more humid and warm. The room was still as dark and small with similar looking candles to the one we had left.

“This is the source of our power,” Evonia explained, “all will be revealed to you tonight and you will make your choice.”

They kept referring to some type of choice with no further explanation. I realized that it was probably in vain to try to get them to expand on that idea at this point. It seemed like nothing was ever revealed before its time, no matter how much it annoyed me.

The similar iron door that sealed this room as well swung open to reveal two servants wearing red tunics in the same style. These servants at first glance seemed like any others, aside from their different colored attire, but there was something about them that was off. Their mere existence seemed to excite my magical senses, if I had to guess, they weren't quite human.

“Mistress Evonia, we have been anxiously awaiting your arrival.”

Their voices held a strange accent that I had never heard before. It sounded much more high-class and refined than I would expect from any normal commoner.

The servants lead us back up through what appeared to be a mirrored layout of the House Yser, except with a darker color scheme and moss hanging from every crack and crevice. The structure itself gently pulsed with a magical heartbeat. I was no longer even certain if we were in the same land or perhaps even dimension anymore.

Not needing any guidance to find our way, Evonia dismissed the servants and led us directly to the grand dining room. She threw open the doors with a smile curled upon her face to reveal a male-dominated royal family with looks of amusement upon their faces.

“Evonia, you never turn your back on a chance to make a grand entrance,” said who I assumed to be the leader.

He was a dark-haired man with eyes so deep that I felt they might indeed be completely black. His skin was lightly tanned and features sharp, looking entirely unlike what I had been accustomed to. He and his family looked exotic, giving off the same pulsing magical aura as the rest of the castle.

“Rafe, you know me, I have a flair for the dramatics.”

“Of course, and Mari, lovely to see you again.” He took Mari's hand and sensuously kissed the top of it. “And is this the lovely young lady your heir?” He turned his gaze to me and I felt my heart skip a beat.

“Yes, this is Toria,” Evonia introduced.

He took my hand and kissed it in the same manner, sending shivers down my spine. Just his touch was electric.

“It is lovely to have you in my kingdom, I hope that both of us will leave tonight on good terms.”

I was sure of it, I knew better than to be on anything but my best behavior. I was pretty sure that he would be able to blow me completely out of the water with whatever magic he saw fit and I would be absolutely powerless to stop him. Even from just his hand clasping mine, I could tell magic for him was as essential as breathing.

“I think this is only the beginning to a grand alliance,” Evonia proclaimed, not needing an invitation to take a seat at the grand dining table.

The king pulled out a chair next to Evonia and motioned for me to sit. I accepted his invitation and for the first time focused on the others at the table. There were several men and boys ranging from what appeared to be a bit younger than me to a bit older. One in particular caught my eye, I guess he was about my age and by resemblance alone, I assume that the king was his father.

“It's nice to see that the Yser's have finally brought someone new along,” he commented with a sly wink. “As you may be able to tell, we're quite lacking in female company.”

Suddenly, I was again keenly aware of my less than demure outfit. I wondered if this had been Evonia's plan all along. She never missed and opportunity to push her agendas. I supposed that it wouldn't be the worst outcome if the purpose of the night was a courtship.

“We have made sure to make tonight a grand feast for such an occasion,” the king bellowed and took a seat at the head of the table. “We had almost given up on Evonia being able to find a suitable heir.”

“Pah, you should have known better, Rafe,” Evonia gently scolded. “I would not rest until I found someone of the right blood.”

“So I am to assume she has passed the first trial?” his voice turned serious, as if the answer to follow would guide the rest of the evening's events.

“Yes, she has the talent. She has passed even though she started her training late.”

“How late?”

“She did not start until she was ten.”

Rafe's eyebrows shot up in surprise and gave me an approving look.

“Very impressive for a human,” he said.

Any other time I may have found an insult in the words, but his facial expression gave away that he sincerely meant it.

“It's only the first part,” I muttered.

“And yet very few are ever able to make it that far,” Mari chimed in, patting the top of my hand reassuringly. “It is a night of celebration, don't waste time belittling your accomplishments.

I nodded in agreement, though it felt silly to be celebrating something that felt so small in comparison to the sheer power these men were naturally radiating.

As the dinner progressed, quite an impressive feast, I began to relax and enjoy myself. The young prince, who I now knew to be named Laric, seemed to be paying special attention to me. I took little effort to dissuade his interest. After all, he was my age, powerful, and handsome, a combination of traits I was finding it rather difficult to come by back at the castle. I was beginning to think that I was willing to overlook the fact that I was quite certain that these people were not human.

“Not to ruin a good time,” Rafe said once the after dinner drinks had been served, “but I believe we should talk business before the true merrymaking clouds our judgments.”

My ears perked up and my stomach felt a little sick. I knew that whatever it was, it had to do with me. I wasn't sure if I was even ready to make any kingdom-wide decisions, if it even turned out to be a decision at all.

“For decades we have enjoyed our pact with the lovely Evonia, but all things, even good things, eventually come to an end,” he said with a serious tone. “However, it doesn't have to end with one reign. I would be happy to speak on behalf of the House of Drak and offer a pact of power to the new head of the House of Yser when she ascends.”

I furrowed my brow in confusion. A pact of power? That sounded like a big deal, but I had no idea what it really entailed. Though, I supposed that if Evonia had agreed to one then it must have been a good idea.

“Let me explain to my granddaughter a bit what that means for her,” Evonia interrupted. She put down her glass and turned to me. “This is a pact that I originally made to begin the ascension of our house to power and my lineage to be destined to be sorceresses. Though I think it is a worthy pact to forge, it is not something to hasten into lightly. Gentlemen, if you wouldn't mind dropping your glamours for a brief moment.”

My eyes focused back on the men who were now revealed to be large, red, winged creatures with vicious looking talons and teeth. Each must have stood twice my height and the pressure from their immense magical power felt like a large boulder sitting on my chest. They were exactly how I would imagine demons to be.

“Now you see what you are truly making a deal with.”

“Are they demons?” I asked, still in shock.

“Of course,” answered Laric, “we are true power overwhelming.”

“He is right,” Evonia added, “they are the reason why we have the ability to wield magic. This pact would not make you a 'good' ruler by any stretch of the imagination.” She wore a wry smile as if remembering the day she made her own pact. “If... when, people find out, don't expect others to accept your decision.”

Though I hadn't thought about it for a long time, my mind wandered back to the one, lone night in the inn in my father's kingdom and Mari's lesson about how “good” people lived. Since coming to live with my grandmother, I had been living a lavish life in an “evil”-aligned kingdom. Even the servants lived a much better life. I couldn't see very many plus sides to denying myself the obvious gains.

“May I propose my own condition?” I asked once I wandered out of my own thoughts.

Rafe's face, which had once again morphed into his human glamour, curled up into a mischievous grin

“That is a bold move, to make demands of a demon king when he is the one offering the world to you.” He chuckled lowly. “We may have much in common after all. Go ahead, give me your terms.”

I shivered at the idea that I was making demands of a demon. My mind screamed at me that I was being a fool, but a much larger part of it felt hopelessly empowered.

“I am the rightful heir not only to the House Yser, but to my father's kingdom, the Kingdom of Alan,” I began to explain. “My claim to his throne was wrongfully stolen from me and given to a newborn usurper. While I know that I am still young and unprepared to wage war, I desire to eventually raise an army and take back that which is mine.”

The room went quiet, even the whispering servants glanced at me in surprise. I wasn't aware of proper demon etiquette, so my stomach turned over at the idea that I had just insulted them in some way.

“You want a promise that we will help you raise an army against a human kingdom to take it back as your own?” Laric asked, his grin widening.

“Yes,” I replied. Suddenly my voice had become meek and timid.

Starting as a low, growling sound, the table of men seemed to awaken from their stunned silence into a chorus of laughter. They looked to each other in what I interrupted to be disbelief. Evonia and Mari both gave me a set of approving glances.

“Instead of a demand, you present us an opportunity,” Rafe chuckled, extending a hand across the table to me. “I will gladly accept the terms if you accept mine.”

His hand hovered in front of me, everything I'd been dreaming on literally within reach. I could be a powerful sorceress queen commanding my own demon army to enact revenge on those who stole my kingdom from me. No amount of knowing that it was “evil” or the “bad” thing to do could prevent me from shaking his hand.

The deal sealed, we ate and drank long into the night. Exhilaration ran through me as I could feel the pact's power surge my own burgeoning magical abilities. I no longer doubted how quickly I could advance my magical skills now that I could feel the additional source of power coursing through my veins. I would be unstoppable. I would make everyone regret the day they stole my future.