CHAPTER ONE

As the Queen lay in bed in pain, the midwife leaned in closer and whispered, "Push a little harder, Your Majesty... You can do this."

The pain was excruciating, as if it were tearing her apart from the inside out. But the Queen was determined to see this through, no matter the cost. A prophecy had said she would die that day, but she refused to let that stop her from bringing her child into the world.

"I don't think I can go on," she gasped, struggling to catch her breath.

"You can do this, Your Majesty," the midwife replied, her words providing a flicker of reassurance and courage. "Just try. I believe in you... Do it for your baby."

Beads of sweat ran down the Queen's forehead as she summoned all her strength to push the baby out. Her vision grew blurry as she weakened by the second. It was almost impossible to continue, and she felt as if she were slipping away, the doors of heaven opening just for her. But then, a faint smile appeared on her lips. She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and made the decision to give it one more push.

Summoning every last bit of strength and power within her, she pushed with all her might, determined to bring her baby into the world no matter what. Her screams of terror filled the air, and after what felt like an eternity, the cries of a newborn echoed through the room, a sound so beautiful.

The Queen took a deep breath, filled with different emotions, before collapsing back onto the bed, her body drained of energy as she tried to catch her breath. It was a moment of pure joy.

But then, as the midwife took the newborn, something changed. The midwife's once joyful expression turned to horror as she stared at the creature before her, her hands trembling with fear.

"Monster!" she cried out. "Vedan!"

Unable to contain her fear any longer, the midwife dropped the baby into the cradle and ran out of the room, screaming in terror. The Queen struggled to stand, her legs weak with exhaustion from the birthing process. She made her way to the cradle, her heart beating very fast with concern for her newborn.

As she looked into the cradle, she gasped at the sight before her. Her daughter was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen, with skin as white as snow and hair as soft as white cotton. She was ethereal, very otherworldly in her beauty, and the Queen couldn't help but be entranced by her.

But as the baby stirred, fluttering her eyes open, the Queen's joy was replaced with confusion. She saw what the midwife had seen and understood what scared her so much. Her daughter was a Vedan, a creature feared and hated by her people.

A Vedan was a beautiful creature, with hair as white as snow and skin so pale. But as beautiful as they were, they were evil creatures. They would kill men for fun and devour their souls to grow stronger. They haunted the people of Konica for many years until a powerful sorceress named Marcella finally came to them with a solution. She used a powerful gem named Amelia to cast out the Vedans from Konica. However, she warned them that any baby born with white hair and pale skin should be immediately sacrificed to the gods because the Vedans would try to enter Konica again by being born of human. Any Vedan born of human was automatically immune to the Amelia gem, so it was best to kill all newborns with white hair and pale skin to prevent them from growing and turning into evil Vedans.

Despite her own confusion and fear, the Queen could not deny the beauty of her child. She reached out to cradle her in her arms, playing with her tiny fingers and toes. And as she held her daughter close, the Queen knew that she would do everything in her power to protect her, no matter the cost.

The Queen tenderly traced the contours of her newborn's face and noticed something peculiar while staring into the baby's eyes. "You are blind," she muttered under her breath, her eyes focused on the helpless infant.

"Jamari," she whispered, her voice a hush as she stared into the baby's sightless eyes. "I shall call you Jamari."

Turning sharply, she was met with the sight of the sorceress Marcella standing behind her. The Queen's grip tightened protectively around the infant as she looked at Marcella with suspicion.

"You cannot keep her, Your Majesty," Marcella said with a straight face. The Queen's heart started racing, and she felt a sudden urge to run with her child.

"How did you learn of this child so quickly?" the Queen asked, eyeing Marcella warily.

"I am more powerful than you realize. Hand over the child," Marcella ordered.

The Queen's heart sank as she looked down at the precious newborn, feeling nothing but protectiveness and love. "This child is mine," she muttered.

Marcella's face twisted with anger. "The child is a grave threat to konica and must be destroyed. Give her to me at once."

But the Queen refused to be intimidated. She had suffered through the pain of childbirth and would not give her child to anyone, especially not to a sorceress who saw her baby as a threat. "I endured so much pain to bring this child into the world. I will not surrender her to you,"

Marcella's eyes blazed with fury as she glared at the newborn in the Queen's arms. "That child is a monster!" she growled, her voice filled with venom.

The Queen's voice trembled with fear as she spoke, "My child is not a monster."

Marcella could see the terror on the Queen's face, but she knew she had a duty to fulfill. "You are carrying a Vedan baby, Your Majesty. It must be killed," she insisted.

The Queen's heart shattered into a million pieces as she clutched the infant tightly to her chest, desperately pleading for her child's life.

"My baby is not a Vedan. Vedans are evil, and my baby is not. Please, do not take her away from me," she begged, her voice breaking with emotion.

Marcella's expression softened slightly as she remembered something important. "The prophecy, Your Majesty," she said gravely, "you are destined to die today."

The Queen's face turned pale with shock as she realized the gravity of the situation. Her mind raced as she contemplated the fate of her child, her heart heavy with the thought of her own death.

Marcella felt pity for the Queen at that moment, but there was still one thing she could do to help. With a deep breath, Marcella took a step forward and placed a hand on the Queen's shoulder. "There is one way you can save yourself, Your Majesty," she said softly, her eyes locking with the Queen's.

Marcella's voice was gentle as she explained the Queen's options. "The gods have given you a choice, Your Majesty. You can choose to save your own life, but it will come at the cost of your child's. Her heart will be pierced with a blade, and her blood will soak into the white silk that cradles her. The silk will be set ablaze, and the flames will reach the gods."

The Queen's mind raced with the horrific image of her baby being sacrificed in such a brutal manner. She gasped, unable to hold back the tears that flooded her eyes.

"And what if... what if I choose the baby?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"If you choose the baby, Your Majesty, she will be safe from harm, and you will give up your own life instead," Marcella replied, her eyes filled with sadness and understanding. "You will die in her place, and your soul will join the ranks of the gods."

Queen Marie gazed down at the tiny bundle of warmth nestled in her arms, marveling at the perfection of her little fingers and toes. Her small chest rose and fell with each breath, unaware of the sadness in her mother's heart.

She tore her eyes away from her precious daughter to look at her reflection in the mirror before her. The Queen's face was filled with worry and fear. She had seen many Vedan children like her daughter killed, and it was a horrific scene. She couldn't bear the thought of her daughter going through the same thing while she stood back and watched.

"The King will be here soon, Your Majesty. Make your decision," Marcella reminded her, making her panic even more. She had never imagined that her baby would be chosen to be sacrificed to the gods. It was shocking because she had never expected her first and only child to be a Vedan.

She held her baby close to her chest, her mind racing with different thoughts as she looked at the door, knowing her husband and a few others would burst in soon. She then turned to Marcella, struggling to make a decision.

There was a long, uncomfortable silence before Marcella finally broke it, asking, "What is your decision, Your Majesty?"

Tears rolled down Queen Marie's cheeks, her heart aching and her hands tightly clutching her daughter to her chest. She wondered why the gods would put her in such a horrible situation, but there wasn't much she could do at that moment besides accepting her own fate.

"Marcella..."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Marcella replied, her voice soft and comforting. The Queen looked at Marcella for a moment, both of them sharing eye contact, before she slowly extended the child towards her. Marcella smiled and gently took the baby.

"Wise decision, Your Majesty," Marcella murmured, feeling sorry for the Queen. She knew this was a tough decision to make but also one that couldn't be avoided. "I will have it prepared for the sacrifice."

"No, Marcella, take care of the baby," the Queen said, shocking Marcella to the core. The smile on her face immediately faded as she stared at the Queen, confusion written all over her face as she struggled to comprehend what she had just heard.

"What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?" she asked, needing to be sure she had heard correctly.

"I have decided to give up my life for this child. Let the gods take me instead," the Queen stated, shocking Marcella even more. She stared at the Queen in disbelief, then looked down at the child in her hands, wondering if the Queen was in her right mind. She would really sacrifice her life for a Vedan? A creature known only for its evil and destruction?

"You are giving up your life for this monster?" Marcella asked, completely baffled by the Queen's decision, her eyes switching from the Queen to the baby she was holding.

"Her name is Jamari," the Queen said softly, ignoring Marcella's question. "I want you to hide her from her father and take care of her as if she is your own. Protect her from the dangers of the world and treat her with love. Please," she begged, placing a gentle kiss on the baby's forehead. "Do not let her forget me."

Marcella shook her head in disapproval, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She had known the Queen for years and had never seen her so stubborn in her decision to sacrifice herself for the sake of her child. The sorceress knew that the Queen's plan was both foolish and dangerous, but she also knew that there was no changing her mind.

Marcella's heart ached as she watched the Queen, and she could sense death looming just behind her. There was no reasoning with her; the Queen had made her decision, and nothing would sway her from it.

"You are making a grave mistake, Your Majesty," Marcella said, hoping to make a difference one last time.

"I will die someday, but I will be happy knowing that I am dying for such a noble purpose," Queen Marie replied, her eyes filled with tears.

"Your Majesty...?" Marcella whispered, but she could not find more words. She was utterly speechless, hoping for some miracle that would make the Queen change her mind.

"This is the reason I am sacrificing my life, Sorceress Marcella. Do not let it be in vain. Please do not disobey me. This is my last order to you as Queen. Kindly honor it," the Queen ordered.

Marcella nodded, tears streaming down her face. She knew that the Queen's sacrifice was the ultimate act of love and vowed to honor her wishes.

The Queen clutched her chest, groaning in pain. She looked at Marcella with tear-stained eyes and whispered, "Tell my husband, the King, that I love him."

Marcella used the back of her hand to wipe the tears from her face. "Farewell, Your Majesty," she said softly, filled with sorrow.

"Please take care of her," the Queen managed to mumble, her body doubling over with pain. Marcella quickly took Jamari and disappeared, leaving Marie staring at her reflection in the mirror.

Marie's complexion began to turn pale, her face contorted in agony as she struggled to remain standing. The pain became unbearable, and she collapsed onto the cold stone floor. Her body was lifeless, and every last drop of blood had been drained from her, leaving her a dried-up husk.

Moments later, the midwife, King Herod, and several royal guards burst into the room, their eyes widening in shock at the sight before them. The once-vibrant Queen lay lifeless on the floor, her body withered as if her very soul had been sucked out of her.

"Marie..." King Herod's voice called her name softly as he fell to his knees beside her, tears brimming in his eyes. He cradled her dry, withered body against his chest and wept softly, unable to accept the reality of her loss. His wife was gone.

The room was filled with his cries as he grieved the loss of his beloved wife. The scent of death in the air, and the silence was broken only by the distant sound of mournful wails from the kingdom beyond the castle walls.

The ultimate sacrifice had been made, and the once-great Queen was dead.