Excerpt: Atika and the Bladed Garden

As the moon raises once again on the lands of the Eternally Damned the Dark Ones wake greeted by the cloaked red swans that had tended the house, all eagerly awaiting their masters to partake of their coppery nourishment.
Hidden in her chamber a large ebony cat with a delicate pattern of spots as black as the coal stretched her body over an elaborately adorned bed fit for the princess she is. Gently she flickers her ears sitting elegantly on as she lifts her head in pride the gold chain securing the vial around her neck containing the crimson life of her betrothed. Her father Lord Armond also known as The Samurai of Flesh blessed this betrothal to Derek one hundred and forty nine years before as he earned the title of Prince Derek at that time, the strongest of all Armond's lieutenants having offered his crystal of life to Atika in proof of his love. Her betrothal quickly approaching the wedding day Armond had agreed that Derek would have the hand of Atika at the end of one hundred and fifty years to prove his loyalty and love.
Looking towards the door her acute hearing noticing the steps approaching as they did every night, Lady Angelique nobly enters the room through the enormous oak doors. Atika sits up bringing her head high and proud immediately in the presence of her Mother and the Lady of the lands her transformation begun. Shifting among other powers granted by being the only child in history born of the combinations of such lines as the Lord and Lady both of the purest blood lines. The lightly bronzed skin became more exposed and her soft fur descending inwards. The ebony hairs form a length of wave so long it reaches the small of her back, a velvety plum robe draped over her shoulders encasing her well formed body. Respectfully she bows in reverence to the Lady Angelique mother of all damned life. a shimmering smile over both their rosy lips Angelique places a finger under Atika’s chin lifting her head so that their eyes meet, placing then a soft kiss upon her forehead as she had done every evening the past five hundred and twenty eight years. A tear sneaking from the corner of her eye as the union day quickly approaches in this the last year before she will wed the joyful and saddened tear sparkles across her mother’s face as she gracefully wraps her arms around Atika her one and only born child . She holds tightly to her with jest in her voice “that cat you must love her so”. A delightful grin appears on both their faces, as her mother’s arms float to her side in all her regal and elegant beauty preparing to depart she turns back towards the door so that Atika may ready herself to join the family.
Atika stands at her window in a daze a moment after her mother’s departure the dream still lingering as it had every night. Looking out onto the lands she spoke so softly it sounded almost as a mumble, “those eyes I have never seen them before but why do I dream of them.” Reminiscing on the dream that haunted her year after year leading her on a journey into the lights of day and the only thing visible to her are the crystal blue eyes which she had never seen. Her secrete hidden form all of her search for meaning in those eyes. With a fierce thrust she shoves the door open it creaks loudly filling the halls, of the elegant castle lane in stones black as coal signaling it to be the lord and ladies castle. Her parents the rulers of the Kindred lands of the eternally damned all life protected and at peace under her parents firm rule and no tolerance policy.
gallantly she displays her strength and pride stepping softly towards the great hall she enters as all of the coven turns she scans the room with a smile all knew to be her generosity only to those that where loyal. Delightfully the vial of her own elixir hanging from an identical chain catches her eye admiring his masculine physique brings such a glow to her trimmed face and rosy lips. As their eyes meet he sees his betrothed in a tightly woven raven leather corset and equally taut flared leather pants her elaborate boots of chain and leather buckled tightly extended to her knees. An intricate chain mail whip strapped to her side and a serpent’s bow hung carefully on her back. He noticed this night her hair had been tied and braided, her full length coat he knew hid many daggers and other small weapons as the well trained Atika never left her room without such protections. He struts to the center of the room aggressively he places his hand behind her neck, then gently placing his lips to hers wrapping the other inside the coat taking hold of the corset and pulling her body tightly to his. Derek glimpses into her emerald eyes as she returns his kiss with increasingly intense passion and runs a hand from his side up at the small of his back slowly she lets it climb still locked into the passionate kiss she begins to walk her fingers up as the hairline approaches grazing the seductively short hair. Slowly she turns releasing the intimate kiss her hand gliding to her side she steps towards the door having fulfilled her obligatory display of her union to the Prince.
Her passion and care for him are sincere not just a pleasantry to suit the to be union yet somewhere within she knew her search may one day lead them in different directions. She continued to the castle door waving her hand high in the air as if to say farewell to all she pulled the doors open with such a fierce force that it echoed through the castle and she was off to her secret place where no one dared to follow her.
What she searched for she was unsure but something within told her to seek out this same place every night for the past two hundred years and so she set out on and searched. Each night walking through these motions with pride and security and happy to be with the Prince and having her father and mothers approval for such a union, she escaped each night to her thoughts beyond the walls of the massive castle in secret she searches. Wondering down to her favorite place stepping lightly through the white birch tangled with fallen leaves the cool crisp breeze the empty branches sturdy in the wind. Making her way to the big willow like tree that grew right up from the center of the onyx pond.
This tree was one of a kind and no other like it could be found in the lands a big strong base and trunk and sturdy branches thick unlike other willows with thin wiry almost, then from the ends of each of those thick branches streamed down the long thin lines of willow style strands. A solitary leaf fell in the darkness lighted only by the soft glow of the moon its burnt color was visible as it landed sending a gentle ripple across the onyx water.
This is the place that has called to her every night for the past two hundred years although drawn here she has grown to love it her search continues , she sits on a large plank of wood hung securely from the strongest of the thick branches forming a swing. she did not come here to swing however only to sit starring into the soft rippled water as she has done over and over again her mind so misplaced as to why she chooses this spot. Silently she sat hearing only the whistle of the cold wind cutting through the shrouded pond covered by the flowing vine like branches of the strange willow. Suddenly a bewildered look appears on her delicate face as one eyebrow shifts slightly higher than the other and a confused smirk dances across her lips she cocks her head starring hard into the water. Atika stepped forward as she peers deeper and deeper into the water a set of stairs, curious and unsure of what lies beyond the steps she is compelled to progress forward.
Slowly she floated into the water and down the stairs as the chilled water seeps into her boots the leather tightening on her body as it provides a dim amount of protection from the cold. Although she doesn’t know where it leads or what is at the end she steps down thinking only of the two hundred years she has come to this place and why now why did the steps appear and where do they lead her as her mind races and all goes dark she feels as if her body is floating among the clouds her eyes close and she drifts in the darkness.