1 Midnight

"Dusk, Dusk wake up. Shade's voice echoes in my head.

"Just 5 more minutes!" I plead as my soft bed pulls me back in, "Just five more minutes."

The covers swallow me as I turn my head from him. His laugh echoes off of the walls of the room as it fades. Mission accomplished, I can sleep more. I drift back to the coziness of my bed when a sudden sloshing noise nags my confusion. Why is there water in my room?

His laughing stops. "It's time to go, sorry sister.

Sorry for wh- A bucket of ice cold water slams into me and drenches my whole head. I sit up, startled, water dripping from my hair.

"What the hell was that for? I say almost screaming at him.

"To wake you up, he shoots back barely keeping the laughter out of his voice. Only my brother could possibly get away with making me angry like this. I glare at him for a few seconds until I realize what time it is.

"What the heck are you waking me up at 7 in the morning for?

He contemplates his thoughts for a moment looking at me crazy. He'd always been a bit insane when it came to family, but his face was a whole new level. What was wrong?

"Well it's dad's birthday today, he says murmuring. "I kinda wanted to surprise him.

I blink. How could I have possibly forgotten dad's birthday?

I'm up in a flash sprinting to get my stuff together. I tell him to make some food while I change, as I scramble to find some clothes. I look down. My pants and shirt are covered in water thanks to Shade but that's not even the worst part.

I walk into the connecting bathroom to the left of my bed, as I glance at my face in the mirror. My hair had been in knots before but was nothing compared to what I saw on my head. My arms rush to the cabinet under the wash table when I find it empty. My right arm squeezes to the back of the cabinet as I latch my hand around an object.

"Please let it be something to get rid of this mess. I whisper to myself. I pull out of the cabinet as I pull the object in front of my face.

A hair tie. I frown. The brush had been in there yesterday, and why it wasn't here now was beyond me. Only a idiotic slug like me could lose something as simple as a hair brush. I finish tying my black hair into braid, and find some clothes on the floor. I pick them up, and realize their my pajamas. I put them on before sauntering back into my room.

I look around. The window is open when the cold air flies in. It's dark outside, but always will be. The dark is what we live in, all day and all night. The Shadow Realm has its perks, darkness being one of them, but not to outsiders. We see in the dark with perfect clarity, while only the outlanders see pitch blackness without some form of light.

I walk downstairs, the smell of something burning sifting through the air. I sigh. Never trust a 17 year old boy to cook. I scold myself. How could I judge him? If I'm at all honest, I'm worse at cooking than he is. Stupid as I am however, I had decided to take classes that could benefit my future as a wife when my father marries me off. I had felt like a stuck up in the process, but I knew eventually I would be married off to have children for my family. These thoughts had wandered through my head the day I had chosen my classes. That first day of highschool, I had determined I would take home economics. It was for the best anyway, even if I wouldn't enjoy the rest of my life after getting a husband. Cooking, cooking, and more cooking is what my life would turn into. Like hell, I'd best enjoy the time I have now before everything starts to slip through my fingers.

I scurry down the stairs my bare feet smacking against the hard rustic wood steps. The smoke is nowhere in sight, but there Shade stands across the hall, a bowl in his hands mixing pancake batter. I cross the walkway to the kitchen in front of me noticing how worn down our house had become over the years. The black walls throughout the house and not just in the kitchen had begun to peel. The wooden dining table had about rotten away to nothing, and probably any other wood like structure in this home.

I come out of focus and realize I'm still here, in the kitchen, on dad's birthday. I start to flip pancakes, when my brother sighs in relief. Lazy males I think, chuckling to myself as the tan mix turns to solid brown circles of batter. I scoop the pancakes up with the black spatula shining brand new, and place them on a golden plate for my father. I draw a 'Happy Birthday Father!" in cursive out of syrup on the pancake, and begin to walk up the 6 flights of stairs to my father's room. As I touch the door handle, I'm startled to see my brother when he shows up beside me. I place the tray in his hands, when his eyes widened. "It was your idea I whisper to him, a smile hidden under my face. I look down at the cake again pulling my hand out in front of me. Fire sparks on my index finger as if I had lighten a match. The tip of my finger lights as I dip it onto the wax of the candles. My brother smiles at me like he's almost glad to see me using my magic. Maybe he knows how jealous I get of him, and is glad to know I'll still have magic left in me after I'm married. But that's not what rattles me at his grin. It's the fact the he pities me for being left out. I realize that when that when his knowing beam written across his face turns to a sad smile. I don't need him to think of me like that. I don't want him to think of me like that. That may be my reality, but I don't have to think of it like that.

When his idea of what it will be like for me clicks, he'll know how I will feel which is what I'm afraid of. He will try and protect me and keep me safe and feel sorry for me. That statement in itself is exactly what I don't need. I simply don't and never will need someone to look after me.

Shade turns the knob as we walk into my Father's room. Every time I'd entered, it had startled me to think how there could be so much shadowstone in one room. The rest of the house apart from my bedroom was in ruins. We strictly believed against having servants so we made the best with what we had. Repairs were made frequently, but I was the only one of us really knew what we were doing since apart from me nobody one had taken any sort of design class in high school. Shade's bedroom however was a whole other horror story. It was literally in better condition when it was in ruins I had thought when I had first seen it.

My father, a middle aged man in his 40s, lays sprawled on the covers on top of the bed. He finally sees us and stops, embarrassed. A smile begins to bloom across his face when he chuckles nervously, moving into an upright position. "Wow somebody actually remembered my birthday," he moves the tray to the side and hugs Shade and me. "Ahh and there they are, my beautiful children!" Joy coats his face, his wide grin stretching from check to check. "Time to enjoy the feast!" My father bites into the apple on his tray when he looks back up at us, questions written across his face. "You made this?"

"Yes… kind of… no." My brother says breaking into a laugh. My father's mocked surprise all across his face as he turns to Shade then me nodding a sign of approval. " Alright then." He lifts the tray back up again placing it on the bedside table. "Now don't you have lessons?" he begins, bringing down the mood.

"About that…"

I cut him off. "Father, did you forget lessons start an hour later today?

"No," he responds, "I meant Shade's kendo lessons."

I look over at him. He skipped lessons for this? Under the small glow of the lamp I manage to glimpse his face turning slightly red. "I took the day off to spend it with you."

I huff under my breath. Of course he has an excuse for everything. He will be a good king, I think. Kind and considerate. I reach down to hug my Father as the thoughts race through my head. Bitterly, I think about my future.While he gets to be a king, I just get to have children for my family.

"Thank you." I manage to make out under Dad's breath. He is a good father though. How could he not be? He's cared for us thus far, why now would be any different I'm not sure. I've always known I'd be the unlucky one anyway. Being born second and a female tends to go that way. He would have all the ideal treasures and lifestyle anyone one could dream of, while I stand on the sidelines watching it all play out in front of me.

The present I'm making suddenly comes to mind. My hopes begin to drop as the feeling of worry fills me. Will he like it, what if he hates it?

Breaking into my thoughts, My father's voice caves into my ears. "I have to get to a conference. He checks the time on his watch, and rolls out of bed heading for the bathroom next to us.

I nod, turning to Shade."well are we going to go to class?"

Shade groans and my father softly chuckles from the bathroom, when we walk out of the bedroom as I head for mine. I reach the end of the upstairs hall that leads into my room Shade's own to my right and down the connecting hallway.

I pull on a my white t-shirt from yesterday, and dark pants I find on the floor. I grab my boots sitting by the door when I shoot a glance at myself in the mirror.

I should go, but then I look in the mirror Still damn flat I think and unconsciously kick a chair. Whoops I think as my rage dissipates and I pick up the chair and place it back at its place in the table, Well nothing I can do about it, and I walk down the 6 flights of stairs to the main ground. A grand floor opens up before me when I reach the end of the stairs, along with an entrance hall and a banquet hall for guests behind it. The room is mostly kept for impressions and occasional parties and gatherings unlike the rest of the house. Typically when we have guests the upstairs is off limits, and no one ever stay at the palace overnight which turns out to be a good thing.

I exit the the room to the outside world marveling at the size of the doors as normal. They're way too big I think as I pass them and enter the gardens in the front of the palace.

I stroll through the gardens noting the brimming of the purple and black flowers. I turn my gaze toward the town in front of me behind the gardens. There are no lights throughout the buildings, while the entire place is surrounded in a constant night. Some special types of flowers react to our home differently and have begun to glow over the years. The luminescent garden always seem to strike me with awe as I pass by. The only servant working at the palace is the gardener who always makes it beautiful in so many different ways. His payment is well over a good amount only because my father believes that servitude is wrong, and he should be paid for the work.

I brush past my favorite type of flower in all of the Shadow Realm, as they swirl with patterns of glowing blue and purple, that gives off a soft hue.

The gates to our palace are huge and they are built so magic cannot penetrate it. A magic barrier lies around it, warding off anything unfriendly. I smile in pride and remember how I had given the idea to design it. Back in the times when we had been at war with the Water Realm, and were worried about their final attack. I thought that we would need some sort of protection in case of the attack. The hard days of making circles around the wall had eventually paid off when they had struck their final blow. Unintentionally, I had blocked the light coming in through the rift, and after 2 years of fighting straight we had finally defeated the water realm soldiers.

I pass through the gate and the blurr of our home disappears, and my eyes adjust to the light coming through from the outside rift. I don't like the rift because it makes it a murky darkness and it lets some heat in. Majestic pegasi fly in from the sky kingdom, right, the meeting is today I think.

I can see people lining up to protest the coming of their leader. Scoffing, I turn to the left heading into town and walk to the private school I am taught at. My steps glid me inside as I am greeted by bowing. This is so uncomfortable I think as my brother rushes in behind me with his aloof attitude. He had no trouble making friends when we had just started going to this school. People love him, and he is the master of kendo at our school I think. While that is a position not many can attain, it is treated with little honor as in a fight it is not much use. I wave aside the offers of carbonated water and say in a neutral tone "This isn't necessary, I want to be treated the same as others."

People instantly start complaining when I tell them to stop, they think the princess can't do anything on their own I think. As the crowd disperses and I walk to my locker, the Daughter of the Minister of Defense comes up to me. Dammit I think as she comes nearer, and then she's right in front of me.

"So the pwetty pwincess doesn't like all the honor?" she says in her taunting voice. "Little Dusk all alone, without any choices for her own." her words grow increasingly louder as if she's yelling it to the whole school.

My face turns to a peachy red when my eyes reach hers. She only hates me because I'm better than her, I remind myself. Being naturally gifted with an enormous supply of mana meant I was able to practice magic at home. I got better and better until I was the best at the school. Trying to be as nonchalant as possible I respond in a neutral tone sag, "Hello asshole ,That's my name don't wear it out, how are you?" She seems surprised and doesnt answer for a while. More hostile, I start again. "Well? Don't you want to talk, or should I stop wasting my time here?" The words flow out of mouth before even realizing what I said when my brother grabs my arm and pulls me to the side. Shade tells me to calm down and enjoy today for dad's sake. Ignoring him, I roll my eyes yanking out of his grip on me.

Cool as a cucumber I quickly shoot in one last insult. "Fair enough, no need to get angry at a second rate bitch like her." I walk away continuing to my locker when I risk a glance back. As my eyes cross hers face, I see her looking dumbstruck. I smile and turn back ahead in front of me.

I unlock my locker 56… 43… 30… I hear a faint click as the locker opens, and my neatly organized stuff is inside. I open the crafting binder and grab a couple of pens. I shut the locker and walk down the long hallway for the crafting class. About halfway through I see a pink gem encrusted locket and pick it up. I could have sworn I saw this somewhere before I think, as I take a detour to the office to place it in the lost and found.

As I walk in the school secretary says "Hello My lady, what brings you here today?"

I respond uncomfortably "Please just call me Dusk, I don't like the formalities."

She is shocked into silence so I continue softly. "Somebody dropped this in the hallway and I was just trying to give it back."

Duty mush have shaken her back to her senses and she nervously said "why of course My la- err… Dusk." She looks at me suddenly afraid before continuing, "We will put this in the lost and found."

"Thank you." I respond leaving her dumbfounded I exit the office Every time I think So frustrating, and I continue to my class. As expected my argument is already the topic of the school, and I slip into class unseen.

I walk into the room and see my project from last time still unfinished. As I resume my work on it I begin to hear snickers in the back of the classroom, I turn around and see the same girl from earlier with her group of friends. When I turn around they all start to sneer at me while she sticks her tounge out at me. I shake my head and turn around thinking to myself I don't want dad to be stressed, just a couple more hours and I can go home. I focus and the magic in me slowly activates the runes shaping the stone to any form I desire. We are trying to make a copy of a picture we were shown. I visualize the picture in my mind and the stone slowly shifts its shape to the picture. As it finishes I cut off my mana and the runes fade to the black chalk they were written in.

Suddenly I lurch forward and a feeling of throwing up. What the hell, this has never happened because of mana use before I think as my vision gets blurry. I see a fire raging at my house and all around me, all that I hear is a ringing in my ears for a few seconds and then I start to hear explosions in the distance. The explosions intensify and the castle starts to crumble as the wood burns away and I'm almost crushed by a flaming beam. I start to feel a tug on the back of my shirt as I start to get lighter. Before I lose consciousness from all the smoke I hear Shade screaming my name as I am lifted up into the air. Panting I wake up in the infirmary with the nurse looking worried. I look around and take in my surroundings, a green cot below me, white walls, a messy desk. I try to calm myself down. It was just a dream, just a dream I think as my heart rate slows down.

The nurse comes over and says "you passed out in class, and your eyes were purple until you woke up. I'd never seen anything like it she looks worried as she says this.

Huh that's strange my eyes turn purple when I use magic I think as I shakily say "Did you contact anyone?

"No," she replies. "Your brother might know though, word travels fast around the school."

Thank god I breathe a sigh of relief because she didn't tell my father, if he found out he might have left the meeting, and if the sky realm see it as my father ignoring them they might declare war. Once I get out of the nurses office I realize that school has been over for nearly an hour! I run as fast as I can so I can meet up with Shade at his kendo lessons and tell him to not tell dad about me passing out.

When I arrive shade is clad in sweat against a masked warrior from the sky kingdom. The dojo is otherwise empty. He stops the fight and gets a shorter kendo sword and a long kendo stick. Damn he's getting serious about this I think, then I remember he hadn't gotten his most powerful ability out yet. The Kamigami no me, or god's eyes. The first time he used them it was when he was losing a fight against the best student in the school. Then one of his eyes turned black and seemed to glow and his reactions improve tremendously.

I was so caught up with the past I missed the first part of the fight. It looked even as shade blocked and counterattacked but it soon became evident that shade was outclassed. His only advantage was being able to block and attack with the dual swords. His opponent started to learn how to counter it so shade started fighting with his entire body. Even with my impressive eyesight I could barely tell where the next blow was going to come from. Shade's opponent, he or she? I thought as I squinted and saw the outline of breasts, was seeming to have trouble. Then the person's eyes seemed to glow red and she suddenly pushed back against Shade's unique fighting style. Shade gritted his teeth and went on the defensive and my eyes widened as I saw a familiar black glow in his right eye.

"Stop", I yelled and Shade whipped around and saw me there. He ran up to me and hugged me and then with a worried look on his face asked the sky warrior to leave. She turned but I caught a faint blush on her cheeks. So you've made a friend eh brother. I'll interrogate him later I think.

Then Shade turns to me voice full of concern "are you ok? People said you just collapsed. He then goes on, voice full of worry and says "should I tell dad about this?

"What, no I respond furiously. I pull him aside and start to talk in a whisper so that the girl can't hear what I'm about to tell him. "Look, don't tell anyone about this ok? I've been having weird flashbacks ever since mom passed, the thing is, they mostly happen while I am asleep. This is the first time that I've had one while I'm awake. During these precognitions I see things, things that seem like they could happen but never do. I don't want you to worry about this because since none of the past ones have ever happened this one probably won't either.

Shade's eyes widen as I tell him this and when I finish he nods his head. Then in a louder voice I commanded "let's go home brother we shouldn't make father wait. He hurriedly agrees and then we leave the dojo. As we start the walk home I furiously shout-whisper "why the hell did you almost use your kamigami no me.

He shrugs and says shyly "I thought it was worth it and I felt I needed to beat him.

"Not him" I shoot back, "her", his jaw drops and he stutters and tries to come up with something to say. Taking advantage of this I press on "you know the consequences of using it. Would you really want to use it on dad's birthday?

"No" Shade says and hangs his head shamefully.

"Now do you have a present for dad I ask him and he gives me a startled look. "I'm taking this as a no, come on I just need a couple of things for mine." Once we reach the jewelry store, I look for three bracelets for my gift. "Shade go find a gift at one of the other stores I'm going in here. He shouts something about a sword shop and then he leaves. I look around and see bracelets necklaces and jewelry galore. I look for something elegant and meant for a king but my personal tastes lead me to a set of three silver bracelets each with a clasp made of gold. I marvel at their simplicity, which was their beauty. I take them up to the cashier, who gives me a weird glance.

"Is this all princess?" he asks, seeming surprised.

"Yes." I curtly respond and after pay I quickly leave the shop. I find shade is waiting outside for me. We walk home.

"So," Shade inquires, "what do you get?"

Carefully, I take out the bracelets. He simply stares at them.

"Is that it?" he asks, clearly expecting something grander.

"Yes Shade, this is fine craftsmanship which I am sure that boys like you wouldn't understand. Not everything a king wears must weigh 30 kilos. The beauty is in the simplicity." Dumbstruck, he looks at me then turns to the road.

Once we reach the house I walk up the stairs to my room. Thank god Shade hadn't disturbed it this morning, I think as I enter my room. I walk over to the closet and move some boxes off of the magic circle I had been drawing. For a week now I had worked on this in secret and it was near completion I closed the circle and drew runes in the double circle. I finished up with the second circle of runes and then drew triangles like compass needles coming out of the circle. It was done I placed the bracelets in the circle and then I slowly started to cast the spell. The runes glow purple and begin to exhaust my mana at an alarming rate as they slowly show up in glowing purple on the bracelets. They seem to be moving in slow motion and I feel like passing out. Just a few more seconds I think and command my mana to continue. My vision goes hazy and I fall on the floor.

Just as I am about to pass out my mana useage cuts off, Did it- no it must of. Exhausted I lay down sprawled out on the floor and become painfully aware of the purple gem around my neck. How could I be stupid enough to forget this I furiously think as I absorb some of the vast ocean of mana stored in it. It was a gift my father had gotten me when I first learned how to use magic. He had told me to store what I could of my mana in the purple gem. I learned that precious metals are the best for mana storage later in school.

I feel refreshed as I absorb what I can from the gem, but my head is still ringing. I shakily stand up and walk over to the bracelets, and lean down to pick them up. At my touch the glyphs glow purple and suddenly from two of the three bracelets transmit my heart rate. It worked I think as I walk downstairs to wrap the two that aren't mine. I then transfer all the mana in the purple gem to the bracelet. Always better to have one magic item then two I think, less chance it can get stolen that way. Then I walk to the kitchen to make dinner the males in this house really need to learn to cook I think. The grandfather clock chimes four times telling me I should have an hour give or take.

"Shade, Shade" I call, there is no response "SHADE" I yell at the top of my lungs. This time I hear a startled yelp and he comes walking down the front stairs.

"What" he calls back

"I need you to go to the store and get a cake" I tell him "oh and you can pick out the flavor" I finish. He zips out of the house and I am left alone. I pull out mom's old recipe book and go to the steak and peppers on rice. Next I get all the ingredients, it's a pretty simple recipe, and put it in a wok. Next I turn the stove on and wait for it to get to a good temperature then put the wok on the fire. I mix the steak veggies and rice, then I open a small vial of teriyaki sauce and I empty it on the mix. Once it finishes cooking I put it in three bowls and then I put the rest on simmer to keep it warm. Just as Shade arrives I finish setting the table. The clock chimes five times and we hurry to the kitchen to put the cake down. We scurry back to the front door and wait for my father.

A couple of minutes later he walks in with a scowl on his face. I tentatively ask him "What's wrong"

My father starts complaining about the "damnable Sky kingdom" And how they "wanted only advantages." When he finally calms down he starts to tell us what happens he gives us a general idea. "They essentially wanted us to be a vassal for them, all we would do would be giving them shadowstone for armour, and our mages would be used by them in their conquest." Then he spits "they wouldn't even let us have anything, they said their protection is something to be grateful for."

I respond cooly hiding my shock "Why don't you come have dinner, we have gifts… and dessert." My father perks up He never could resist the temptation of cake I think. We enter the dining room and Shade and dad sit down. "I'll go get the food" I smoothly say and enter the kitchen. Today was supposed to go smoothly, I think, and then as I pick up the food, a thought hits me. No, No, No, No nothing like the vision I think worried. Then I reach the door and come out a smile plastered on my face. "Food's here" I call as the two men look at the plate of steak and peppers. They gorge themselves on the food, and I look on having only eaten a little bit. Interrupting the feeding frenzy I chime "boys remember, there's dessert." I feel so humiliated, it's like I'm a housewife already I bitterly think, as I go to get the cake. I bring the cake out, a classic chocolate cake, my father's favorite. I feel mortified, so this is is what being a housewife feels like I think as I place the cake on the table. The men proceed to eat half of the entire cake and once stuffed Shade finally brought up presents

"Father we promised three things, food, dessert, and presents, so let us present them to you," Shade presents majestically. He then brings out a sharp steel sword with no jewels, just a iron hand guard and a brass pommel. It has a blue sheen to it and it seems as if it is ten times sturdier than a normal sword. It is a work of art, and even I can see it.

My father looks at it in awe and then draws in a quick breath and says to shade "Did you get this custom ordered from the blacksmiths in the fire realm."

Shade responds with pride "Yes, and fortunately it came in today." He continues on "you should open Dusk's present not just marvel about mine."

My father grabs the present from the table behind us and then pulls the wrapping paper off the set of bracelets. He stares, and then looks confused, seeing two in the bag.

"Try one on I urge, and as he does, I can see the look on his face change from one of confusion, to one of awe, to one of happiness. "One for shade, one for you, and I already have mine."

He then says his voice shaking with awe "does this do what I think it does" and I feel a pang of excitement inside my head. That means they are working I think, as pride sweeps over me. Again my father looks at me in awe, grasping what I have accomplished.

Pridefully I state "Along with the heart rate of the other two wearing them, they also transmit truly strong emotions to the people in the link." I continue "say for example if a person feels strong fear then it translates to the others in the link." Headstrong I continue "The same if you feel an emotion like love or hate."

My father is awestruck and I get the second bracelet and give it to my brother, and his surprise joins the link. He appears to sense my pride and my fathers awe, and complimented me vigorously. I wait for them to calm down and then I wait for my father's response.

He slowly appears to find the right words and then says prideful "This is one of the best gifts I could have gotten" Then he turns to my brother and shows him the sword. He states "this is a work of art even for the fire kingdom."

While the men start to talk about swords I quietly excuse myself and head to my room to do all of the class work I missed. Sighing I turn on the radio and start to work. An hour later I finish all of my work, and then I lay down on the soft bed. Sighing I start to read, but my mind wanders. The girl Shade fought, She was clearly a tomboy but I could tell from a quick look at her face that she was beautiful. She had a face like an elf and she was- suddenly I cut myself off. What am I thinking I furiously scold myself, me jealous? I fall back in bed and my favorite song comes on the radio.

I relax as the song starts to lull me to sleep. Country roads, take me home, to the place, where I belong… My mind goes blank and I slowly fall asleep. When I wake up my world is on fire.