Trails of Grace

A gash of radiant light burst through the cauldron-black sky. Even the clouds seemed morose.The army of Selendelle was mangling and gashing their serried ranks against the inhumane deadly puppets.People were chocking and snarling as the ground became greasy with gore.The effluvium of death was all around them.The battlefield was baptized with blood and the bitter mordant perfume of corpses eliminated from it.

''Listen to m- me *cough* carefully Lune,Someone is waiting for you in the forest- *cough cough* y-you have to go'' *cough* A thick line of blood trickled down from the corner of Catherine's mouth staining her pale face and the cold ground.

''Mama I- I can't leave you h-here. Let's go t-together. we still have time. p-please.. your wound is bleeding let's go.. stand up let's go'' Luana sobbed.

''we don't have time Lune -'' Catherine's eyes widened as she heard some footsteps from afar. ''well well your majesty~, where are you hiding? Aren't we too old to play hide and seek ?" A dangerous voice came following the footsteps .

''Luana run''

''M-Mama I told you I can't.L-Let's go together .Lune said while sobbing .

''Queen Catherine~ Where are you? '' The same voice came from afar .

''Lune Run . y-you must survive ''cough cough'' You are the heir of Selendelle , you are the moon princess .you must survive , Ru-run away .. someone is waiting for you inside the forest .her name is Marianne.''cough'' I love you Lune '' Catherine kissed Luana's forehead , her lips were cold as if she was a dead person.

''go GO RUN LUNE'' *swish* Catherine casted a spell on Lune which made an invisible force drag her into the forest.''We love you Lune , your mum and Dad loves you the most''Catherine whispered under her breadth as she stood up.

''My oh my~ ,we met again M'lady'' The owner of the dangerous voice appeared behind Catherine.

He wore a splendidly horsed full black suit and held a bloodstained sword in his left arm.He wore a silver ring with an Emerald studded onto it on the middle finger of his left hand.His right shoulder was wounded. Blood kept dripping from his shoulder.He had a cruel cunning grin on his face which gave chills even to the dead.

His Emerald-green eyes which perfectly matched with his ring had a sharp gaze.His crescent of eyebrows were thin and narrow . His angular cheek bones slanted toward his sculptured jawline. .His hawk-like nose completed his splendid look which bewitched noble ladies.

He was none other than Mallus Dellacroix the inhumane murderer, the blood-thirsty demon king which took innocent lives with no mercy. The Satan of sycophants who turned peaceful kingdoms into ruins,sacred temples into tombs.

lightning cracked the sky sending signals to hell.The cold-dry wind swept Catherine's pale face.Catherine's white gown fluttered in the cold-breeze.Her brown crystal melancholy eyes shined under his fluttering lashes. Thunder rambled across the sky making storm clouds dread and and dark.

Her mind was restless praying Luana a safe future.

''Dellacroix if you think I'm afraid of you, You made a big mistake'' Catherine hissed.

she acted like a flash. She got her dagger out and attacked Dellacroix on his right shoulder which was already bleeding. .

'' Aargh'' Dellacroix yelled in pain and grabbed Catherine by her neck.

''Don't worry darling your everlasting so called kingdom is nothing but a fallen kingdom now. Acting brave in your last seconds of life wouldn't do anything good. Go tell your loving husband that I enjoyed killing him'' Veins pulsed on his neck . His lips curled in a dangerous way . A green smoke wrapped his sword as he stabbed Catherine.

A cold wind twirled around Catherine's thick shiny Dark-brown hair as to soothe her soul...

''I-I love you Lune '' Catherine whispered under her last breadth.

...

Cold wind swept Luana's face. Her eyes were tired, Every step she took broke her heart. Her mother, her father ,her kingdom ,her people , all the people who loved her was gone.

She knew that they won't come back but she hoped that was just a dream. A terrible nightmare … Little did she know that she couldn't escape the reality. All she wanted was a warm hug and someone to wake her up from this nightmare .

Her legs were trembling. Her eyes were red and swollen . Endless trails of tears escaped her eyes leaving stains on her soft face . For the first time in her life she was all alone with no one to keep her warm . Her eyes searched someone named Marianne in the cold dark woods .She walked and walked until her legs were sore.

Her whole world was starting to fall apart. It was too much pain for a little seven year old girl who only started to get to know about the world.

''Pa, where are you? what about our pinky promise ? You promised you will never ever leave me *hic* p-please come to me. Mama *hic* I need a hug ''Luana cried

She felt like she was falling through an endless pit . It felt like her innards were being replaced by some kind of black hole. Then nausea crept from her abdomen to her head and the world went pitch- black.

...

The fresh scent of warm blankets and light breeze woke Luana up.

''Ugh where am I? Why does my head hurt? '' Luana mumbled

''Oh my god M'lady YOU ARE UP!!! '' A woman who was in her mid 20's squealed with delight.

''huh, Are you .. perhaps-''

''Yes I am M'lady, I am Marianne''

''How did you find me ?''

''I was searching the whole forest and I found you lying on the ground unconsciously,so I brought you here'' Marianne said . and suddenly her cheerful face dropped.She hugged Luana tightly.

It was a warm hug. Tears streamed from Luana's eyes.

''I can't ask you to stop crying- but be strong M'lady''Marianne said

'' I know , I won't cry . I'm strong '' Luana replied.

She wiped her tears. *sniffle*And took a deep breadth.

''M'lady I won't be able to address you as M'lady in public anymore. in order to protect you I have to address you as Luana '' Marianne said

''oh uh okay.. *fidget* Umm then can I call you Mari?'' Luana asked

''yes certainly'' Mari said.

Marianne seems like a good person.So that's why Mama... Mama - she's.... gone *throb*

''Get some rest Luana, we'll be heading somewhere soon'' Mari said.

''Huh ? but where?''Lune asked.

''You'll find out.'' Marianne winked at Luana.

Luana smiled at her sweet behaviour. She knew that Marianne was trying to cheer her up. Pleasant fragrance of coverlets and flowers made Luana sleepy. Her jeweled brown eyes closed under her fluttering long lashes. Comfy blankets hugged her as she drifted to sleep.