Chapter 1:Crossroads of Time

1,000 years ago:

The sky above was dark and foreboding, the rumble of thunder echoing through the ruins around her. The air was thick with the scent of death and destruction, and the once-beautiful palace was now little more than a pile of rubble.

Amidst the ruins stood a lady, her beautiful face and body now soaked with tears and blood. The rage in her eyes burned like a fire, and her body trembled with the force of her anger.

Dark forces circled her, their presence palpable in the air. Lightning crackled in the distance, casting an eerie glow on the ruins around her.

The royal lady sat on her throne, her expression twisted with rage and heartbreak. Her once-beautiful kingdom lay in ruins, destroyed by those she had trusted most. She looked out at the desolation before her, tears streaming down her face.

"I trusted you," the lady spat, her voice shaking with fury. "I gave you everything, and this is how you repay me? With betrayal and treachery?"

She paused, her eyes blazing with anger. "You think you can take what is mine? You think you can destroy everything I have built?" Her voice rose to a crescendo, filling the air with power and anger.

"Very well then," she said, her voice now a low growl. "If you want a war, I will give you a war. But know this: I will not rest until you have paid for your betrayal. I curse you and your children and your children's children. May your hearts be as broken as mine, and may your kingdom lie in ruins, as mine does now."

"You have betrayed me," she spat, her voice choked with emotion. "You, my people, who I have loved and cared for, have turned against me. And for what? For power? For greed? For the sake of your own selfish desires?

I curse you all," the lady cried, her voice echoing through the ruins of her once-great kingdom. "This land was once mine, and you have betrayed me.I curse your kingdom for which you have done all this. May your people suffer as I have suffered, and may your land lie in ruins, as it does now."

Her eyes blazed with fury, and the force of her anger was palpable in the air. "You have taken what is mine, but know this: I will not rest until my vengeance is complete, and the land is returned to its rightful owner."

With those words, the lady raised her arms, her body pulsing with dark magic. A bolt of lightning shot from her fingertips, illuminating the ruins around her and casting a sinister glow on her face.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, it was over. The lady fell to her knees, her body spent from the force of her rage. Her eyes were still ablaze with fury, but there was also a sense of resignation in them, as if she knew that her fate was sealed.

As the dark forces around her dissipated, the lady let out a final, anguished cry. And then, there was only silence, broken only by the sound of the wind whistling through the ruins.

Time stands for no one.She died but her curse was still there waiting to complete her vengeance .

PRESENT TIME:

"Emi, wake up! This girl is such a nuisance. Emi!! Mamma is cooking right now. Do you want mamma to come there to wake you?"

In dim lighted room with morning ray of sun falling on the gracious face of a young beautiful girl with long, flowing hair that cascades down her back like a waterfall. Her almond-shaped eyes like a deep shade of brown that seem to sparkle in the light. Her skin is smooth and flawless, with a natural glow that makes her look like she is lit from within.

"Nooo.... I am awake. Just five minutes, Mom," replied Emi, still half-asleep.

"Wake up right now. Emi's mom ( Ms chen)shouted. "Your five minutes are up. Get ready ASAP. I have to drop you off at college before going to the office. I don't have the entire day for your dilly-dallying."

With anger in her voice, Emi replied, "I have told you thousands of times that you don't have to drop me. I am an adult now. I can take care of myself."

"I know exactly what you are capable of doing. Just get ready. I don't want to argue with you again over this topic."Ms Chen shouted.

Emi went into the washroom to freshen up. Emi was not a rude girl. She used to be very chirpy and bubbly. She was also loved by her parents. But after her parents' divorce, everything changed for Emi. The court gave custody to her mother, who started trying to control her. She wanted to keep an eye on her every step. Her father married someone else and started a new family. Her mother also married and had a child with her new husband.

After all this, Emi started to feel worthless. She started having feelings that there was no one for her. Everyone had their own life, and she felt like it didn't matter if she was there or not.

It was not that her stepdad or stepbrother didn't love her but just she thought that everyone's life was better without her. Above all, her mother's controlling nature made her feel unwanted and strangled.

After the divorce, the relationship dynamics between Emi and her mother completely changed.Even a little mention of her dad by Emi used to rile up her mom.Her mother's love for her changed into worry that Emi wanted to be with her dad and not with her and slowly it made her paranoid. She didn't want others to say that after a new marriage, she couldn't take care of her daughter properly.She just wanted to keep Emi tied to herself and make her forget about her dad. But while doing so, she pushed Emi so far away from herself that she became a stranger to Emi. Apart from being just a legal guardian, she lost her emotional connection with Emi.

Emi turned on the shower. While showering, tears flowed from her eyes. She broke apart. The sound of water covered up her sobbing. She cried thinking about her past.

No one had actually seen Emi crying. Not even when she was sick, beaten, or fell, or when their parents divorced, or even when her parents left her alone and got busy with their new families. That's why everyone thought that she didn't care about anything and was happy. But Emi was someone who didn't want others to see her emotions, who didn't want anyone to see her weak side. She never showed her inner feelings to anyone. From the outside, you could find her carefree, but inside, she had a turmoil that no one had seen, not even her parents. All the beautiful memories came like a rainbow in a dark sky, remembering the days when she was a princess to her family and now no less than a burden. With each droplet of water falling on her face, washing away all the sweet memories she had in the past.

She calmed herself down, wiped her tears, and got ready, then came downstairs.

"Here's your breakfast. Eat it. I am taking out the car."

"I don't want to eat."

"Why? Are you on a diet? Whom do you want to impress?"

"I just don't want to eat. If you want, you can drop me off at college. If not, I can go by myself."

"You ungrateful thing. You are just like your dad. No matter what I do, you will never be satisfied."

Hearing those words made Emi lose her mind. Her eyes became red with anger. "All right, if I have become such an eyesore for you, then why aren't you leaving me? Just leave me like you left my pa. Anyway, you are happy with your family."

"Ooh, right. That's what you always wanted. You wanted to go to your father. But don't forget, even your dad has married. He doesn't want you. Do you think you will be happy there?"

"Do you think I care whether he wants me or not. I just wanna be alone."

"You..."Ms chen wanted to say something but was interrupted by Mr Jackson.

Mr Jackson was Emi's stepdad. He is a very loving and kind man. He also loves Emi very much.

"Why are you shouting at my princess so early in the morning?"

"Ask you dear daughter yourself. She is just impossible"

"Your mother daughter little fights are never gonna end. Emi ,aren't you getting late for your college. Let me drop you."

"Thanks Mr Jackson." Emi never called Mr Jackson as her dad. It was not like she didn't knew that how much he loves her but she just wasn't able to call him dad . She also cared for him and her stepbrother but she wasn't able to show it.

"Emi, come."Mr Jackson called her.

"But I was going to drop her." Ms Chen said.

"It's ok. Anyway I am going to send Avi to school. Let me drop her along the way."

Mr Jackson headed outside and so did Emi.