Athena blinked her big, glassy eyes open. She had warm green eyes and small wavy black hair. She was back in her old bed. The one where she dreamed ponies pranced with Queens and Kings. The one where war and blood was a mere myth.

  She dragged one slippered foot off her bed, before realizing she was in her old nightgown. She seemed like she was three again.

  As if it wasn’t weird enough. Someone walked in. He had a thick beard, and was almost as tall as her doorframe. He had warm green eyes, and his voice was soft.

  “Theres my little lily,” He outstretched his arms.

  Father.

  Athena shook, her eyes swelling up with tears. She immediately ran to him and curled her fingers into the back of his shirt. He laughed.

  “Bad dream again?”

  Athena remembered this night. She had exactly one week before the attack. Maybe one week, to prepare, or to warn them!

  “Father!I’m scared of the BloodRots–oh I had the most horrid dream!” She sobbed into his shoulder.

  Her father wore a puzzled face. “Little lily, what in the name of the ‘Ancients' are you talking about?BloodRots, what kind of make-believe creature is that?”

  This was new. Athena stared at him wide-eyed. “Wha–?The BloodRots!The-the faceless monsters in the Avaler!”

  Her father turned to the door. “Eudoria! Come here!”

  Her mother rushed in. Her stunning face was calm, with icicle blue eyes and a porcelain face.

  “Little lily claims to have a nightmare about BloodRots?Monsters that roam the Avaler.” He chuckled.

  Her mother pressed a gentle hand to her lips, letting out a quiet laugh. “My dear, the only scary thing in the Avaler is the huntsmen, the one your father pays,”

  Athena shook. No!No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no..NO! She wriggled out of her fathers embrace. Before a plan came into mind. Just act like they're right, this is her chance to find out secrets. Athena wiped her tears, putting on her best act.

  “You’re right, just a nightmare.”

  ---------------------------------------------

  Exactly one month passed. Not one BloodRot in or out of the Avaler. Athena had turned just four.

  Not even in the world. Athena had thought she’d gone back in time, but no, she was in another world. Universe maybe.

  The halls held memories, mostly good ones. Andi was only a medic’s apprentice. Quinton’s sister was alive. Orion was a normal civilian with his father.

  Everyone was fine. Ysmara was only eight. Everything was weird, here.

  The satin curtains that held down these halls were shining crimson through the bright sun. Paintings were on the walls as well.Of noblemen, ladies, priests, family. And many more.

  A curious thing Athena was.

  She now had a chance to discover hidden secrets. Athena was making her way to the attic, countless corridors she passed. She wore buckled black shoes with long white socks. A periwinkle purple dress with a white collar flowed past her ankles.

  In the other world, after her parents death she was immediately caught up into royal duties and more. Never a chance of a real childhood some would say.

  She had messy black hair with frilly ends poking up in every direction. She raised a white gloved hands as she dusted her dress. Murmured conversations were heard from ahead. Heavy footsteps stomped on the ground. With panic, Athena tried to find a hiding spot. She spun her head around, looking for a little nook to burrow in, just for a minute perhaps. Without hesitation she hid in a long cabinet a couple feet in front of her. She quietly closed the door, listening in on the conversation.

  “Did you hear about what his majesty said?” A deep voice whispered.

  The sound of metal clicking together was louder than the silence. It must be the knights.

  “No, what did he say?” A higher voice asked, it sounded like a female.

  “After the princess’s appointment with the medic and his apprentice. It turns out, she's not..normal,” The first guard muttered.

  Athena pressed her ear to the door. What did he mean? Athena had been to no appointments lately here? The second guard laughed.

  “That's a lie,” As the second guard stopped, the first guard continued.

  “Nope. I was there, the medic said she didn’t have one, but four hearts.” He murmured.

  Athena peeked through the little crack in the door. The second guard smiled warmly.

  “Of course, that's how kind she is.” The voice became more familiar.

  Quinton's sister.

  “General Elizabeth, are you not concerned?” The first guard sounded shocked.

  “Why should I be?You're making it sound like she's a monster?” Elizabeth dismissed the guard.Elizabeth had curly dark blonde hair, with cold brown eyes and tan skin.

  As the guard left. Elizabeth shifted her gaze to the cabinet where Athena was hidden. She lifted an eyebrow, but luckily walked away. After a couple seconds, she peeked through the crack.

  No one.

  She opened the door and ran to the attic doors.Her shoes pounded on the ground until she found the doors. They seemed like they were twice her size. She turned her head over her shoulder slightly, just to make sure she wasn’t being followed, then entered the doors. A staircase led upward, with a dim shadow cast behind it.

  Athena began to make her way up the stairs, curiosity tainting at her naive mind.

  Dust flew airborne, sunlight was dim through wooden boards and battered curtains. Black widows crawled near the cracks and webs of the cobblestone. She dragged one foot after the other, and swung open the attic door. It seemed like millions of paintings were in the old room. Pictures of eons of ancestors and relatives.

  One was a girl with blue eyes and brown hair. One was a king with black eyes and red hair.

  Books were scattered in every direction. Mysteries in brown leather. She crouched and picked one up. Diary of Ann Buldwich.

  Who was Ann Buldwich?Was she related to Joseph? Athena flipped through the first few pages, as she read the entry.

  ‘ Dear diary, my name is Ann Buldwich. Heir to the throne. My mother has been preparing me for this moment for ages. Yet I feel uneasy. I believe it is common.

  My younger brother, JJ, shows jealousy to my reign. I feel more uneasy with his comments, towards my reign.

  Yet, I have many fears. I fret there is a danger, deep within the Avaler. I have yet to discover what. Though I feel it could break the very world we walk on.

  JJ too, has been unwell.

  Every time I pass his room, he's talking to someone?Or chanting something. When I walk in to check on him, no one is there.

  Maybe it's my mind playing tricks on me, but they say we only know as much as we see.’

  The rest of the pages seemed normal. Royal laws, meetings, and more. Except for one page. It was a drawing and some words?

  ItS ReAL…

  It FeeDS frOm Us…

  The drawing was even more disturbing. It was a single eye, with sigils and patterns around it.

  RuN!

  H?????u?????b????r????i????s?????,???? ????a????n????d??? ???J???o???s???e???p???h??? ???a???r???e??? ???o???n???e??…

  That was Ann’s last entry.

  What was so terrible that she discovered?And what was JJ up to? Athena had a bad feeling about the sigil and patterns. It looked like it was from some, ritual?

  Even looking at the sign felt terrible. Something was created from this. Something, deadly, sinful.

  Athena was still on her search for answers, so she continued to look for more journals, diaries,notebooks, anything that could provide her with answers. She remembered the guard's words.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Four hearts.

  For a split second, Athena rested her hand to her chest. Nothing.

  She rolled her eyes and got back to work.

  ---------------------------------------------

  There was only one more diary. It didn’t seem as old as the others. Only, three or two years? The name was small in the corner.

  Ares GrovSkervi.

  Athena flipped the continuous pages of the diary.

  Dear diary, my name is Ares GrovSkervi. My father bought me this because a lot of things have been changing. Like–my new sisters, twins! I hope they like the name I requested!Octavia , it reminds me of an owl, my favorite bird! Her hair kinda reminds me of an owl, it's so messy and spiky. And Esther, I just like that one! Right now I’m eleven, so my father says it's an eleven year-age gap. I’ll write again after I see them!

  Skeptically, she turned the next page.

  Dear diary, Ares here.

  Grief has folded over my town like a black blanket. One of my twin sisters didn't make it. The one with messy, spiky hair. Octavia. Mother was actually going to name her Octavia, I was happy. Mother says she's happy now, with the ‘Ancients. I hope so. Esther– the other twin, was almost identical. Same hair, same eyes. But Esther was more quiet. She almost never cried.Mother didn’t like the name Esther though, said it reminded her of Octavia. So she named her Athena. I think Athena didn’t even realise she had a twin. Mother and Father said we won’t ever tell her, for her own sake.I personally don’t understand. She needs to know, who else will pray to Octavia?!

  Athena stared in shock at the ink words. Tears swelled in her eyes. Dripping down on the paper like rain. She wiped the tears, continuing to read the next entries.

  Dear diary, Ares here again! Athena just learned to crawl, how exciting!She's very curious. One time, she tried to sneak into the kitchen to steal pastries. Mother scolded me for going near Athena once, even though she almost fell out of her crib! I don’t understand what’s so wrong with me. I was born with albinism. But my veins were black, I always thought it was cool, so did father!Until next time, Ares.

  Athena stared at her arms, the ones that once had black veins pulsing through them. If Ares was her brother, where was he now? Why had she not known about Octavia?And what secrets were her parents hiding?

  Athena blinked her big, glassy eyes open. She had warm green eyes and small wavy black hair. She was back in her old bed. The one where she dreamed ponies pranced with Queens and Kings. The one where war and blood was a mere myth.

  She dragged one slippered foot off her bed, before realizing she was in her old nightgown. She seemed like she was three again.

  As if it wasn’t weird enough. Someone walked in. He had a thick beard, and was almost as tall as her doorframe. He had warm green eyes, and his voice was soft.

  “Theres my little lily,” He outstretched his arms.

  Father.

  Athena shook, her eyes swelling up with tears. She immediately ran to him and curled her fingers into the back of his shirt. He laughed.

  “Bad dream again?”

  Athena remembered this night. She had exactly one week before the attack. Maybe one week, to prepare, or to warn them!

  “Father!I’m scared of the BloodRots–oh I had the most horrid dream!” She sobbed into his shoulder.

  Her father wore a puzzled face. “Little lily, what in the name of the ‘Ancients' are you talking about?BloodRots, what kind of make-believe creature is that?”

  This was new. Athena stared at him wide-eyed. “Wha–?The BloodRots!The-the faceless monsters in the Avaler!”

  Her father turned to the door. “Eudoria! Come here!”

  Her mother rushed in. Her stunning face was calm, with icicle blue eyes and a porcelain face.

  “Little lily claims to have a nightmare about BloodRots?Monsters that roam the Avaler.” He chuckled.

  Her mother pressed a gentle hand to her lips, letting out a quiet laugh. “My dear, the only scary thing in the Avaler is the huntsmen, the one your father pays,”

  Athena shook. No!No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no..NO! She wriggled out of her fathers embrace. Before a plan came into mind. Just act like they're right, this is her chance to find out secrets. Athena wiped her tears, putting on her best act.

  “You’re right, just a nightmare.”

  ---------------------------------------------

  Exactly one month passed. Not one BloodRot in or out of the Avaler. Athena had turned just four.

  Not even in the world. Athena had thought she’d gone back in time, but no, she was in another world. Universe maybe.

  The halls held memories, mostly good ones. Andi was only a medic’s apprentice. Quinton’s sister was alive. Orion was a normal civilian with his father.

  Everyone was fine. Ysmara was only eight. Everything was weird, here.

  The satin curtains that held down these halls were shining crimson through the bright sun. Paintings were on the walls as well.Of noblemen, ladies, priests, family. And many more.

  A curious thing Athena was.

  She now had a chance to discover hidden secrets. Athena was making her way to the attic, countless corridors she passed. She wore buckled black shoes with long white socks. A periwinkle purple dress with a white collar flowed past her ankles.

  In the other world, after her parents death she was immediately caught up into royal duties and more. Never a chance of a real childhood some would say.

  She had messy black hair with frilly ends poking up in every direction. She raised a white gloved hands as she dusted her dress. Murmured conversations were heard from ahead. Heavy footsteps stomped on the ground. With panic, Athena tried to find a hiding spot. She spun her head around, looking for a little nook to burrow in, just for a minute perhaps. Without hesitation she hid in a long cabinet a couple feet in front of her. She quietly closed the door, listening in on the conversation.

  “Did you hear about what his majesty said?” A deep voice whispered.

  The sound of metal clicking together was louder than the silence. It must be the knights.

  “No, what did he say?” A higher voice asked, it sounded like a female.

  “After the princess’s appointment with the medic and his apprentice. It turns out, she's not..normal,” The first guard muttered.

  Athena pressed her ear to the door. What did he mean? Athena had been to no appointments lately here? The second guard laughed.

  “That's a lie,” As the second guard stopped, the first guard continued.

  “Nope. I was there, the medic said she didn’t have one, but four hearts.” He murmured.

  Athena peeked through the little crack in the door. The second guard smiled warmly.

  “Of course, that's how kind she is.” The voice became more familiar.

  Quinton's sister.

  “General Elizabeth, are you not concerned?” The first guard sounded shocked.

  “Why should I be?You're making it sound like she's a monster?” Elizabeth dismissed the guard.Elizabeth had curly dark blonde hair, with cold brown eyes and tan skin.

  As the guard left. Elizabeth shifted her gaze to the cabinet where Athena was hidden. She lifted an eyebrow, but luckily walked away. After a couple seconds, she peeked through the crack.

  No one.

  She opened the door and ran to the attic doors.Her shoes pounded on the ground until she found the doors. They seemed like they were twice her size. She turned her head over her shoulder slightly, just to make sure she wasn’t being followed, then entered the doors. A staircase led upward, with a dim shadow cast behind it.

  Athena began to make her way up the stairs, curiosity tainting at her naive mind.

  Dust flew airborne, sunlight was dim through wooden boards and battered curtains. Black widows crawled near the cracks and webs of the cobblestone. She dragged one foot after the other, and swung open the attic door. It seemed like millions of paintings were in the old room. Pictures of eons of ancestors and relatives.

  One was a girl with blue eyes and brown hair. One was a king with black eyes and red hair.

  Books were scattered in every direction. Mysteries in brown leather. She crouched and picked one up. Diary of Ann Buldwich.

  Who was Ann Buldwich?Was she related to Joseph? Athena flipped through the first few pages, as she read the entry.

  ‘ Dear diary, my name is Ann Buldwich. Heir to the throne. My mother has been preparing me for this moment for ages. Yet I feel uneasy. I believe it is common.

  My younger brother, JJ, shows jealousy to my reign. I feel more uneasy with his comments, towards my reign.

  Yet, I have many fears. I fret there is a danger, deep within the Avaler. I have yet to discover what. Though I feel it could break the very world we walk on.

  JJ too, has been unwell.

  Every time I pass his room, he's talking to someone?Or chanting something. When I walk in to check on him, no one is there.

  Maybe it's my mind playing tricks on me, but they say we only know as much as we see.’

  The rest of the pages seemed normal. Royal laws, meetings, and more. Except for one page. It was a drawing and some words?

  ItS ReAL…

  It FeeDS frOm Us…

  The drawing was even more disturbing. It was a single eye, with sigils and patterns around it.

  RuN!

  H?????u?????b????r????i????s?????,???? ????a????n????d??? ???J???o???s???e???p???h??? ???a???r???e??? ???o???n???e??…

  That was Ann’s last entry.

  What was so terrible that she discovered?And what was JJ up to? Athena had a bad feeling about the sigil and patterns. It looked like it was from some, ritual?

  Even looking at the sign felt terrible. Something was created from this. Something, deadly, sinful.

  Athena was still on her search for answers, so she continued to look for more journals, diaries,notebooks, anything that could provide her with answers. She remembered the guard's words.

  Four hearts.

  For a split second, Athena rested her hand to her chest. Nothing.

  She rolled her eyes and got back to work.

  ---------------------------------------------

  There was only one more diary. It didn’t seem as old as the others. Only, three or two years? The name was small in the corner.

  Ares GrovSkervi.

  Athena flipped the continuous pages of the diary.

  Dear diary, my name is Ares GrovSkervi. My father bought me this because a lot of things have been changing. Like–my new sisters, twins! I hope they like the name I requested!Octavia , it reminds me of an owl, my favorite bird! Her hair kinda reminds me of an owl, it's so messy and spiky. And Esther, I just like that one! Right now I’m eleven, so my father says it's an eleven year-age gap. I’ll write again after I see them!

  Skeptically, she turned the next page.

  Dear diary, Ares here.

  Grief has folded over my town like a black blanket. One of my twin sisters didn't make it. The one with messy, spiky hair. Octavia. Mother was actually going to name her Octavia, I was happy. Mother says she's happy now, with the ‘Ancients. I hope so. Esther– the other twin, was almost identical. Same hair, same eyes. But Esther was more quiet. She almost never cried.Mother didn’t like the name Esther though, said it reminded her of Octavia. So she named her Athena. I think Athena didn’t even realise she had a twin. Mother and Father said we won’t ever tell her, for her own sake.I personally don’t understand. She needs to know, who else will pray to Octavia?!

  Athena stared in shock at the ink words. Tears swelled in her eyes. Dripping down on the paper like rain. She wiped the tears, continuing to read the next entries.

  Dear diary, Ares here again! Athena just learned to crawl, how exciting!She's very curious. One time, she tried to sneak into the kitchen to steal pastries. Mother scolded me for going near Athena once, even though she almost fell out of her crib! I don’t understand what’s so wrong with me. I was born with albinism. But my veins were black, I always thought it was cool, so did father!Until next time, Ares.

  Athena stared at her arms, the ones that once had black veins pulsing through them. If Ares was her brother, where was he now? Why had she not known about Octavia?And what secrets were her parents hiding?