Chapter 1 Page 2
Emptiness is just an emotion that shouldn't expect. That what the ebony black and red hedgehog thought, love and longing was also an emotion he never seemed to have or desired to have.
However he felt something missing, he had felt it for a while now, ever since he felt something wrong. He answered his servants to check to see if anyone had stolen anything, he didn't even want a single tableware uncounted for. Of course everyone obeyed his command, because he was the king. Many called it hell, while he called it home.
His name was Shadow, King of Saitia Kingdom. The citizens of Saitia loved and feared him, he was the most suitable for being king, yet he was the most powerful and fearsome one. He could kill you in one move, if you had gotten on his bad side. He would even torture his enemies for days, making his enemies pled for death. However he had a few close allies that annoyed him constantly. He hasn't killed any one of them, yet.
Just as he was thinking of calling in one of his servants, one had slowly opened the golden double doors, reddish orange Phoenix's were carved and painted onto the golden door that shined almost as bright the sun. Sparkling with such cleanliness, the door had lead into the great braziers that enclosed each of the six travertine columns light up the lower levels of the throne hall and their light wraps the hall in a warm radiance. The marble stone of the bowed ceiling dance in the flickering light while sculptures look down upon the wooden floor of this majestic hall.
An orchid rug runs in a circle around the room, with two paths at the throne and the main entrance while embattled banners with ornate crowns swing gently from the walls. Between each banner sits a shrine-like ornament covered in candles, none but a few have been lit and in turn illuminate the artistic portrayals of the late kings below them.
Immense, stained glass windows of heavenly mosaics are hidden by draperies colored the same orchid as the banners. The curtains have been adorned with gold leaves and intricate embroidery.
A stately throne of gold sits beneath an impressively decorated baldachin (canopy) and is adjoined by Two equally lavish seats for the king and his Queen, only one remained empty.
The throne is covered in hallowed inscriptions and fixed on the backside is an abstract ship. The modest pillows were a light orchid and these too have been adorned with adorned fringes.
A purple bunny who was dressed as a maid came into the throne room and bowed her head, ever so gracefully. "Speak.." The king spoke as his seemingly terrifying red crimson blood shot eyes stared at her with an intense glare. "Your Grace, all of the kingdom items were accounted for, I have everything listed here" she spoke holding a book worth of papers in her hands. Shadow only stared at her for a moment, taking a look at her appearance. "Raise your head" he commanded, this made the female bunny flinch in surprise, however she did what she was commanded to do. He stared at her so he could remember her, just in case she was lying to him. However the maid took it as a sign that he fancied her appearance. Her cheeks slightly began to burn as she stared into those bloody red eyes. It was making her feel hot and oddly uncomfortable yet she wouldn't have minded if he had pushed her down and wanted to take her right on the throne room floor.
As the delirious maid thought this, the king growled"Leave.." He spoke annoyed. The maid flinched once more, abit dumbfounded as he simply told her to get out of his sight"B-But what about-" she looked down to see the papers that were once in her hands now gone and were in his hands.
While she was fantasizing about him he used his power to bring over the documents to him. He could already tell by looking at her that she was thinking about him in a way he didn't want to know. "I Won't repeat myself again" he spoke making her jump with terror as his eyes glowed into a neon red and his voice deepened almost sounded threatening. The bunny quickly ran off, blushing at the thought of how attractive he looked when he growled at her.
The king was now alone once more, he rubbed his temple as he felt a headache slowly approaching him. He sighed and closed his eyes, he was getting more exhausted these days. Especially when the council was breathing down his neck about finding a queen. He didn't have time for such matters, especially for offsprings. He wasn't very fond of children, and he knew they didn't take a liking to him either. As he thought this, his mind began to wonder off, slipping into an unconscious state.
A breeze suddenly brushed past his face, the touch of grass beginning underneath him and the fragrant smell of roses made his crimson red eyes shoot open, he quickly sat up as he looked around him. He was in a slight panic as he was completely taken by surprise. He didn't sense any sorcery being used on him, let alone transport him away. His sharp red eyes looked around, it appeared he was in a garden maze. The tall hedge walls were engulfed in red roses, he was lost as to why he was in an unfamiliar garden. His ears perked up as he heard light humming. He turned to his right and followed the voice as it was getting more clear. He realized that it was a females voice, he rushed towards the voice as he wanted to find the person who brought him here before they stopped singing. He was going to punish the one who dared kidnapped him. However he couldn't help but think how calm yet sad she sounded as she hummed. He finally reached what seemed to have been the heart of the maze. Her humming stopped as he was slightly blinded by the sunset, he covered his eyes with left arm. It took him a short moment to adjust to the light, however it took him much longer to process what beautiful creature was in front of him.
Her small frame could be seen as her red strapless dress hugged her figure nicely, she had a red rose that was attached to a black belt chocker. Her pink quills were tied up in a pony tail, in her quills were a red rose. Her forest emerald green eyes shined as they stared at him and only him. He was surprised, more like awestruck as he didn't expect to see someone so gorgeous. He flinched when he saw the sad smile on her face"You've died too huh?" She spoke softly as if she was tying not to wake someone. He was now confused"Died?" He questioned snapping out of his dazed expression. She slowly walked up to him, he took a step back but then looked down to see her holding a rose in her gloved hands. His body wouldn't move as she approached him. It was like he was spell bound, she leaned in towards him and placed a rose in his quills right next to his ear. The unknown pink quilled hedgehog in front of him smiled sweetly at him.
They both flinched as they heard soft music being played. They both looked around, shadow looked at the mystery girl who was smiling as she looked up at the sky. She began humming and twirling slightly, he let out a chuckle. He must of have been going crazy, the pink quilled female looked at him with a questionable look. He held out his hand as he smirked at her"May I have this dance, milady?" He asked slightly bowing. He grabbed her hand gently and brought her hand up to his lips. He placed his tender lips on the back of her gloved hand, giving it a slight perk as he closed his eyes for a moment then looked up at her. He smirked at her blushing face, her face was written with embarrassment. He found this expression cute as she shyly looked down, his crimson eyes watched as she nodded.
As she gave him permission, he pulled her close to him. His warm body pressing up against hers, he wrapped an arm around her small waist as she placed a hand on his shoulder. Their hands held one another, they both looking into each others eyes, his crimson red stared into her emerald green eyes. He had seemed to be searching for something as he looked into her eyes but all he could see was how angelic she looked. Shadow chuckled, she dared to look straight at him, he liked that. She seemed different, she wasn't afraid of him and he never saw such fierce eyes look at him with such a gentle expression. He started to lead as he took the first step in dancing, ballroom dancing wasn't easy to learn but she seemed to have been following him with ease. The two danced with such grace and elegance, their movements were in complete sync. He smirked at her as she looked away from him, she seemed to have realized that she was staring at him. He chuckled at her adorable reaction, she looked at him with a pout. "I appreciate it if you wouldn't laugh at me" she spoke embarrassed that he noticed. However he didn't mind, he was staring right back at her.
In a swift moment he twirled her and dipped her back, his large hand supported her back as she had her hands on his shoulders. She had a surprised look on her face which he smiled at. He found her very interesting" I can't seem to stop, seeing how interesting you are" he leaned in and whispered in her ear as he smirked. He looked to see her ears had quickly turned into a cheery red color. He lifted her back up, they rocked themselves, dancing to the music playing from what seemed to have been from the now starry night sky itself. "Tell me.." He spoke narrowing his eyes at her with wonder. He stopped the dance, speaking seriously "Who are you~" he asked her placing his large gloved hand over her right cheek. She avoided his gaze as she was hesitant, he gently placed his finger underneath her chin and brought her chin up to look at him. He forced her to look up at him, their eyes meeting once more. His eyes glowing a neon red color, her eyes responded in glowing a bright emerald neon green color "My name...?". She spoke softly "My name is-" a loud crash echoed as the ebony hedgehog shot his eyes open. He jolted up, he began panting as he rested his head into his palm.
The king seemed to have been back on his throne. He looking around him, his sharp eyes scanning the room, there was no music, no garden, and especially no sign of her. He glanced to see that it was raining and he sighed, while staring at his gloved hand, he couldn't help but think in all his life he never acted like that before. Let alone dance with anyone like that, the way she felt and the place itself, felt real. He remembered it too vividly, the way she smelled of strawberries and her warm touch on his body. It seemed too real to be a fantasy, he thought he would never obtain, he groaned and combed his hand through his black and red highlighted quills.
He paused as his hand made in contact with something, his eyes widened as his hand brought down the red rose the mysterious female had placed in his quills. He stared at the rose in his hands intensely, twirling it around as he repeatedly replayed the dream in his mind.
He smirked, he was now interested in her more, he was now intrigued. His eyes glowed its neon red as a lighting bolt struck down by the King's window, thunder following right behind it. "You've gotten my attention now little rose, let's see if you can pay the price for it" he spoke smirking down at the rose.
~ˡⁱᶠᵉ ʰᵘʳᵗˢ ᵃˡᵒᵗ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ᵈᵉᵃᵗʰ~