Chaos and tragedy were running wild through the realm. Just how she had planned.

A few hours earlier

Marissa gazed out the slit of a window she was given in her stone-cold prison.

She could see the rooftops below her, the flood of towers spanning out as far as one could see.

The land that was once hers. That could be hers yet again.

If only she could be free.

She moved towards the window, but the heavy chains around her wrists and ankles held her back.

They clanged to the floor with a harsh bang.

The chains scratched at her raw wrists. They had been damaged and pulled for the years she had been locked in the tower.

All because they were afraid of what she could do.

She hadn’t ever used her powers. Yet they locked her up when they foresaw what she was capable of.

Marissa had been holding on to her power day after day after day.

Each day the churn inside grew stronger and stronger.

They should be afraid.

They locked her up for a good reason.

But one day Marissa was going to show them her worth. Show them what they should be afraid of.

And take back the land that was hers.

The first step was to escape.

The guard came in around noon. Marissa was going to have one chance, so she would have to make the most of it.

She knew that she was strong enough for this.

As soon as the guard unlocked the door, Marissa started churning up her powers. She felt the pull and she managed to reign it in-but not for long.

She closed her eyes and pulled her power from the darkness all around her, then she willed it to reach the guard.

In an instant-he was dust.

Marissa smiled.

It had been a long time of waiting.

She let out a sheer whistle and in seconds the raven was in front of her.

Her raven.

Without an order, the raven started eating through her chains.

She was so close to being free.

When the last chain was broken off, the raven came to sit on Marissa’s shoulder.

She slowly walked out of her tower, stretching her limbs for the first time in years.

Every guard tuned to dust as she passed.

No one was going to stop her.

Marrisa headed to the grand balcony. The one going around the whole castle with a view of all the lands.

The lands that were rightfully hers.

She stared out at the land. They were all going to pay.

Marrisa felt for her power deep inside and let it grow.

Grow stronger and stronger and stronger until she couldn’t hold back.

In a sudden blow, it spread out all over the land and she felt at peace.

At peace while all the land suffered.

Her order was restored.