The Legend

This story is by Janna Zuercher and was part of our 2016 Winter Writing Contest. You can find all the Winter Writing Contest stories here.

Then I took one step in the portal and all I could remember was when I first met Semias. ‘Am I dead, I feel dead’ I thought to myself as I looked back on Semias and my collision with evil.

It all started with a beautiful princess named Lucinda born in the kingdom of Tabrinida. That little Princess was me. As I grew, I was told that I was royalty and was going to be the next ruler of the kingdom.

Cassandra, my little sister, was born soon after I turned twelve and as sisters we became inseparable. Then five years later, my mother took me aside, her face pale.

“Please, Lucy, sit down,” she seemed sad, yet calm, perhaps too calm. “as you know I will pass my throne down to you next year on your eighteenth birthday. Well, it pains me to say this but the Oracle met with us today, and she had a vision that under your reign, the kingdom would be consumed by chaos. So we decided your sister, Cassandra, will become the next ruler. I’m so sorry Lucinda.”

I slid my hand from her grasp. I couldn’t look at her any longer, and so I ran. Nothing would ever be the same for me or the kingdom. Because I would ruin them.

The world isn’t always beautiful and good. I turned against my kingdom and ruined them with the help of my so-called master, Semias. Semias came as a regular boy and had a little brother. Soon he turned evil and so the good and evil in the world was created. Ever since then all he wanted was for everyone else to suffer the same fate and that is just what he did with me. I couldn’t stop crying because my sister would become the next ruler instead of me. Soon, that sorrow turned into rage and I wanted revenge.

“COME!” a loud voice shouted, I was startled I knew from my training I had to act brave so I calmly asked, “Who’s there?” The real question was where was it coming from more likely than not. I sat there waiting for the voice to respond to me but instead I heard a slight chuckle in the background.

“It’s just not fair, is it? I mean, you’re older, you are fitter for the throne, and should be next in line,” said the mysterious voice.

“Who’s there?” I asked again. I wanted to prove him wrong, but I couldn’t help agreeing with him. I mean, I really thought I deserved to be the next ruler of Tabrinada. My mind was in turbulence.

“I am the answer to everything. Come with me and I’ll make it right,” the voice said.

“You mean you can fix all of this?” I said and stood up with a slight smirk. “Yes! Now come. Hurry, before anyone else sees us,” he said. So I ran, wondering how this strange disembodied voice could help me with all my problems.

“Let’s get started!” he shouted as a form appeared out of nowhere. He had blond hair with a jagged strip of black down the right side. His eyes were blue and he had bat wings tucked into his cape as if ashamed of them. I felt a strange tingling. Something was happening to me! I blacked out.

‘Am I dead? I feel dead.’ I thought to myself. Then, I woke up. Semias told me he killed me and made me immortal and with that strength, I could take down Tabrinida and the rest of the universe.

“Wait, what’s going on?” I yelled as I started floating. Power burned through me like an explosion.

“Control that magic.” the mysterious boy said.

“Did you just give me this magic?” I inquired.

“No. It was in you the time hidden away. Your so-called family knew you had these powers, but hid them from you so you could never rise up and show them as the frauds they really are.” He replied with a wave of his hand. I stared in awe of my new powers as we trained. Time flew by faster than imagined. Soon ten years flew past. Then the announcement went up on air.

“Reporting here on Tabrinida news, the queen has passed this morning. Now, I am announcing that Princess Cassandra will be crowned in 3 days on her 16th birthday. Thank you for listening to Tabrinida news.”

Then master yelled, “Why are you just sitting there? Your sister’s coronation is right around the corner and you’re just going to sit by and watch it!?”

“No, sir!” I shouted.

In three day’s time, I woke up to the early alarm. It was coronation day, the day I took over! I gathered the army to check the plans then got them suited up.

“Do you, Cassandra, honor and hold the responsibility of the ruler from now unto death to protect the kingdom everlasting?” I heard through the walls. I quickly sent out the cue to attack.

“I do,” Cassandra replied. I started the invisibility and teleportation spell. Once I got in, I opened the gates. Then headed to the room where the ceremony was taking place. They had no idea what was going on… until…Queen! There’s been a breach in the palace!” Cassandra turned to leave, but I stood in the way. “Don’t think you’re going anywhere, Sis,” I said. Cassandra looked at me, puzzled. My invisibility spell wore off. Great, just great.

“Then I’ll fight the old fashioned way.” I showed off my magic. “Lucinda, please don’t hurt me. I missed you so,” she tried so disgustingly to say.

“SILENCE!” I screamed, cutting her off. We looked at each other straight in the eye. Cassandra nodded. We both agreed neither of us was going to change our minds. Then she knocked me down. She turned around. Let me tell you, that was a big mistake because the moment she turned around I got up. Then in one last blow, I knocked her down. Then I recited my speech. ‘You were always one step ahead. You were always better, smarter, and most importantly, more loved. Ha, ha, ha. But now, but now it’s my turn to take the spotlight, to shine. I’ve been in that corner for too long. It’s time I get a chance to break out of my shell and I won’t get that chance with you around. Goodbye, sister.” Then I took my sword and stabbed it right through her heart. She was dead! I showed no emotion. All I did was rip that bloody crown right off Cassandra’s head and put it on my own. I wanted to cry but for some odd reason, I couldn’t. It wasn’t me who did this. Then everything went black.

“Where was I, how did I get here,” I asked myself? Then master Semias came in. I didn’t understand any of it and before I could say anything he explained it all. Apparently, when I was born he planned to get revenge on the kingdom. He just needed another sibling to start the plan. He paid the oracle money to make Cassandra more powerful. Then he turned me evil because of my jealousy toward Cassandra. He trained me in using magic for evil. Eventually, he used me to kill the new queen and take over the castle. The whole time his plan was to use me to get into the castle and then he threw me in a dungeon to die. When I heard this news I was saddened by the mistrust. “Why did he do this? Why did he pretend like he cared if he was going to throw it all away?”

Finally, a part of the wall was broken and a helping hand was there to get me out. At first, I didn’t recognize him. Then my memories came flooding back as if they were there the time. His shaggy brown hair and blue eyes. His handsome smile and sense of humor. It was Marco, an old friend of mine. The moment he got me out of trouble we heard the alarm. We knew it was us so we ran. The guards saw us, so we tried to get to our safe zone but Marco tripped. I couldn’t free him. He kept on telling me to leave but I tugged to pry him loose. Then the guards came. He looked at me straight in the eye and yelled at me to get out of here. Then the guard took his sword and killed him. I wanted to stop and cry but I knew Marco wanted me to run, and save myself. So I did. The moment I made it to the portal I looked behind me and had one last glimpse of my home. Then I took one step in the portal and all I could remember was when I first met Semias. ‘Am I dead? I feel dead,’ I thought to myself as I looked back on Semias.