Prologue

I held my doll against my chest crouching down on the floor. My back pressed against the wall far away from my bedroom door, hiding my tiny frame in the corner of my wardrobe. I closed my eyes and cry for the horrifying screams to stop.

The sound of the blaring bombs quakes the castle ground and the sound of my door handle often tries to creak open. My hand went to my mouth trying to keep my muffled voice locked in my throat.

My eyes were glued to the door constantly watching at the terror that may come through the locked door at any moment. I broke out in tears when my bedroom door burst open. I yelled out in horror. When I saw that it was my mother. I immediately stood up. "Mother," I called coming out of the shadows. I quickly ran into her embrace. She looks around the room scanning for any signs of danger that may come when she is sure that everything is safe she then leans back down into me holding onto my shoulder.

"Ok, Amora, do you remember the drill that we always practice?" I nod holding onto my little white lamb tightly to find comfort. "It's the same drill as always following the lights, don't look back and find Luna. Ready?" She said, I nod. A tear slipped past her eyes as she went up to my forehead and kissed me. She held my hand and smiled. "Go."

I didn't.

Instead, I held her hand. Something isn't right. "Mother, come with me."

"I'll be behind you," She assured me.

BANG!

"Go!" She yells letting go of my hand. I ran without thinking, embracing the words of my mother believing that she'll be right behind me and I'll meet all of my siblings outside. I followed the drill like we always have practiced following the lights. It'll lead me to the back entrance of the castle. There was a burning stench of dead bodies that filled the air and the smoke clouded the halls. I dropped my doll but I won't go back to it. It's all part of the drill. I can come by and get it later when this is all over.

I breathe and keep calm in this situation. It was just the usual drill. I reassured myself just this time there is more drama. When I reached out of the exit I ran through a crowded area finding the same pair of blue eyes and blonde hair women that go by Luna. It wasn't long when I felt a hand coming out of the dark alley pulling me inside the darkness with a hand clamped around my mouth tightly keeping my scream locked inside my throat.

"Shhh!" a voice came out. "It's me, Luna."

I breathed and relaxed at the sound of Luna's voice as she held me tightly in her arms as several foreign soldiers scouted the area. "Come with me," she said and I listened. I looked back to see if my brother or any of my sisters would come this way, but I guess they haven't made it out yet. I followed Luna through many shortcuts till we came by a shop. We went inside and she took me up the stairs. There were empty halls with many doors and each had numbers on it.

She opens up one room with a key in her hands 114 and leads me inside. "From now on," Luna spoke with authority. "You're no longer Princess Amora Lorn, but Valencia Logan, you'll be a knight in training and you will become my niece."

"What about mom, dad, and my siblings?" I asked. Though I knew that was a dumb question.

"The Aeyesian Empire had attacked us. Novaria has fallen. Amora," Luna's voice softens as her eyes fell flat to the floor. "They're gone."

I placed a hand at the throbbing pain on my chest as the other traveled to my eyes. I didn't want to believe it. "No, please, Luna," I begged. My fingers clenched tightly against her dress. My knee fell to the floor as Luna kneels to comfort me. "Tell me this isn't real?" One tear drops then another refusing this cruel reality to slide in.

"I'm sorry,"

All hope vanished from within me as I screamed at the top of my lungs. Puddles of tears began to pour out of my eyes. My heart felt like it was tearing itself apart screaming to get out. I shook my head violently. Mom. AHHHHHHH! It took a while, but soon I accepted the reality of things.

My family is gone!

The Aeyesian Empire has won and the once-powerful Novaria Kingdom has fallen.

I cried to sleep that night in Luna's arms and the next day I pleaded for her to let me see my family member one last time. Dressed as a commoner I watched the Aeyisian Empire place all my family members inside all five guillotines for a child, I watched as death took all family in a split second.

My name is Amora Lorn and I am the last heir of The Novaria Kingdom.