My death was inevitable, but even I didn’t think my life would come to an end this soon. 26 years of serving Queen Eva hand and foot. Years of beatings because of the High Kings longing glances. Followed by years of shaving my head in hopes the king would long for his wife instead of me. All to no avail. The only reason I had endured it all was for my family. To keep a roof over their head and food in their bellies. After the queens recent murder, I’ve been named the sole suspect, and am now headed to trial, where the king will decide my fate. It might as well be a death sentence. ‘Well if I’m gonna die anyway.’ I think to myself before I gather up all the courage I can muster and shout “Why am I the only one accused?!” Even as I’m being lead to my execution, I stand tall.

I could see a hint of shock flutter across his face. King Arelys eyes then locked on mine. I was merely a few feet away from this colossal being. He was, in truth, enormous. He stood towering at 6’7. Muscles rippling through his majestic silks. As my eyes drifted down his body, his clothing caught my attention. He wore a deep red vest with intricate design. Under his blood red vest was a black silk billowy tunic. Not to mention the black leathers to complete the ensemble. When my eyes made their way back to his face, I could feel my breath escape my body. I never realized how utterly beautiful this immortal was. His shoulder length hair was straight and raven black, with a few pieces that curtained around his oriental eyes. Eyes of brilliant gold, which were now piercing through my soul. Whatever was left of my soul.

As I was inching ever so close to him, It took every ounce of strength in me to show no signs of weakness. No matter how small I now felt, I kept up my act. I had to. I am innocent. Even with as much as I hated Queen Eva, I would never murder her. She deserved so much worse. But I will not go down for crime that I didn’t commit.

When I finally reached my destination, two guards appeared on either side of me who then grabbed ahold of my arms and forced me down into a kneeling position. One of the guards grabbed a fistful of my hair at the nape of my neck and wrenched me back so he could sternly say “When you are in front of his majesty, you ALWAYS kneel.” The guard then shoved my face into the cold hard marble floor below.

My bones felt like they had shattered. I could feel the blood gushing from my head, and from the way my face landed, I knew I had a fat lip. Just as I was starting to gather my thoughts, the guard yanked me back upright to face him once again.

Through blurred vision and bloodied hair, I glare and spit a mouthful of blood and what felt like teeth, in his direction. “This is how you treat innocents?!” I shouted.

**Alerys flinched in mild surprise, before delicately swiping a finger over the blood on his face and lazily dragging his tongue over it for a taste. My eyes widened at his response. ‘Did he really just do that?!’ My mind screamed. **

**Before I could react, the guard slammed my face against the marble floor once again. I could feel my bones crush as he pulled me up, ready to slam my face down again, something deep within me roared. Something so eternal and vibrant that it could no longer be contained. Within moments, a blinding golden, fiery light escaped my throat with the most guttural and deafening screech. **

**Then it was as if my body were not my own. Like I was on the back burner and something else took over entirely. Then words that were not my own, echoed from my lips. “I AM A HUNTRESS. MY VOICE IS STRONG. AND NOW IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO BELIEVE.” **

**I then succumb to darkness.**

**Inspiration lyric - “We are hunters, voices strong and I know I believe.” By HUNTRIX from K-pop Demon Hunters**