Wake Up

CHAPTER ONE

The Middle Ages
Alternate Earth

It's cold. Not a Popsicle on a hot day cold. Death cold. Why is it cold you ask? Because The Land Of Death wasn't called that for nothing. I should probably introduce myself. My name is Corrine Blake. I'm 16 years old. And I am the daughter of Death.
Not the Greek god Hades Death, more like a Grim Reaper Death. But there's quite the odd twist: Death is my mother. She seduced my father and she had me. I am considered a halfling and impure by the others. Others as in the other Spirit children, born from two Spirits, not a Spirit and a Human. Spirits like Honesty and Hate.
I was locked away from the world all my life because they said the world was too cruel. They as in my parents. But they lied. I was trapped in my own mind, with a lovely life. But I hated it. It was far too perfect to believe; but finally a week ago someone finally woke me up from my nightmare. You're probably wondering how I knew. The fake world was so perfect, it glowed. Although, it was more shimmery, everything was haloed in a lovely shade of pink.- Please note the sarcasm-. Anyway, back to what I was saying. Have you ever been scared out of your sleep? That's exactly how it felt. My heart stopped it for a moment and I gasped. I hadn't the faintest idea where I was. I was terrified. It was dark and I didn't know what to do. And the glow was gone. A slight shiver of excitement ran down my spine. Nothing was pink anymore. I guessed I was on a bed but I didn't know how high up I was. I gingerly placed a foot toward the floor. A few seconds later I felt cold stone. I placed my other foot on the floor and stood. I tettered to the floor and lay there for a moment. I'd been asleep much longer than I thought.

***
After orientating myself with the room, I crawled over to what I believed was a wooden door. I had quickly assessed that the room was about 4 by 3 feet, with only a bed and the door. I sat up and reached for the handle. I scooted backward and pulled at the door. It didn't budge. Great. Just peachy. I banged on it a few times before I realized someone form outside could make me fall asleep again. I shuddered. I couldn't think of anything else so I searched the room for something to defend myself with. In the farthest corner of the room, under the bed, a loose stone hid a jagged dagger, the worst kind of dagger, with my name engraved on the hilt. A note was strapped to it. As I unfolded it, I heard whispers. Kill them they chanted. I shook my head violently. The note read: Lay waste to them. Darkness will reign. My heart started to race. Those last words scared me more than I could make sense of. I needed the dagger. I took a deep breath. I couldn't feel the pins and needles in my legs anymore and I hoped that meant I could walk. I could. I held the dagger to my heart. The leather hilt was cold against my palm. I placed my free hand against the door. Something moved behind me. I swiftly turned and held the dagger out in front of me. "Who's there?" Silence. Something moved in the corner of my eye. I turned again. There was a shadow, covered in a black tattered cloak. I stepped back and It was gone for a second, then I was staring into the black abyss it had instead of eyes. Bottomless nothing. I screamed, then, nothing. I guessed I passed out. I just really hoped that thing didn't just kill me.


CHAPTER TWO
My head throbbed and my heart raced. I opened my eyes. Aging cobblestones looked back at me. I was still in the room, holding the dagger. I turned. Red flecks spotted the wall. I turned all the way around. Laying in the doorway was the thing I saw earlier, soaked in a puddle of blood. 'That thing wasn't human. How the hell does it have blood?'

"Because I'm a Trocador," it said. I jumped back. I hadn't said that out loud. It glowed for moment then a boy my age, laid out where the, whatever it was, laid before. He had a gash in the middle of his chest. I blinked a couple times.
"Well don't just stand there! Help me!" I didn't like his tone. It was far too condescending for a someone about to die from blood loss. "First, I'm sitting. Second, say it nicely and say please."

"What the hell's wrong with you? I'm about to die! Freaking help me you bloody halfling!" I chuckled a bit when he started his little rant but once the words 'halfling' slithered out of his sniveling mouth I grabbed my dagger and held it to his neck, threatening to slit it.
"You wouldn't."

"And why's that?"

"You don't have it in you. You were raised too well."

"How would you know?"

"Your parents didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"That you have a step-brother." I hesitated. He took advantage of that moment flipped me over, forcing my wrist (and my dagger) toward my neck. "Not so fun on the other side blade eh, sis?"

"I'd never be related to a sniveling wench like you."

"Oh, is that so? Then you probably know that your Father's has eight names."

"How did you know?" I wasn't too sure whether or not he was lying, but just in case. He chuckled. He rolled onto his back and winced.

"Father never had eight names nor shall he ever. You've been out for quite some time haven't you?" I glared at him. "Are you helping me or not?"

"I don't have to, you know."

"But you will." He smirked and hummed smugly. Unfortunately for my pride, he was right. I'd feel awfully guilty if I left him there to die, even though I wanted to. I sighed and took off the case from the pillow and held it against the wound.

"Do you have anything for it?" He pulled a small vial from his pocket. Now that I wasn't fighting with him, I could get a good look at him. He had chocolate brown hair and pale blue eyes crowned by long lashes, making him look a bit feminine. I chuckled. He looked pale, but that was because he was losing quite a bit of blood. He had small lips and a pointed nose. His ears were a bit pointed and I guessed a bit of elvish ran in his blood. "Father is elvish."

I took the vial and poured it over the wound. He winced then sighed. "Is he now?" His eyes fluttered before he replied. "Quite. Full-blooded too."

"Interesting. What's your name anyway?" I asked.

He chuckled.
"Haiden. What's yours?"

"Corrine."

"Lovely."

"How did you get up here anyway?" His wound had stopped bleeding and I ripped the bed sheets in half for him to use as a makeshift bandage. "I took the stairs." He pointed toward the open door which did indeed lead to stairs. There was an awkward silence. "Are my parents alright?" I choked out the word 'parents'. It felt a bit weird to say.

He sighed. "...Well... I don't want to alarm you, but no, I'm afraid Father is dying. And as for your mother, she disappeared a few years ago." I swallowed the growing lump in my throat. Why did I feel bad? They trapped me in my own mind for Spirits' knows how long! But knowing that almost made feel even more terrible. "Corrine? Are you alright?" He looked quite concerned. That almost made me feel better. I nodded and took a deep breath. My mind was a mess. Things were happening too quickly for me to comprehend it all. I needed it to stop. Just for a moment. I stood. I wanted to run. I wanted to be alone. I wanted to- "Corrine!" I had taken a step toward the stairs before I collapsed into Haiden's arms; he'd gotten up in the nick of time. I was just glad I didn't jar my head against the floor.

CHAPTER THREE

Behind my closed eyes I knew the sun was out. It was giving me quite the headache. "Too bright." I mumbled, still half asleep.

"A nuisance you are, dearest sister." It got darker. I relaxed. I couldn't remember what had happened. My eyes flew open and I sat up, too quickly I might add. I gingerly laid my head back on whatever it was that I was laying on. "What? Where-? Where am I?"

"In an horse driven cart. Heading to Rhuben."

"What?"

"Great Spirits above girl! Are you that daft?"

"Hey! Be nice to her. Spirit knows what she's been through."

These voices were different than the first. One was deeper. The other sounded childish. Memories of the day before rushed over me. "H-Haiden? What are-? Where are you?" I opened my eyes. There was a horsetail a distance away, no, it was actually quite close. I sat up slowly and I turned to look at who I'd been laying on for so long. He was the most handsome man I'd ever seen and I had half a mind to kiss him, then and there. He had brown hair that seem like it glowed in the dim light. His eyes were a shade a blue I never imagined possible that tickled me pink. He had a small nose and his lips, oh his lips! I could kiss them forever! Suddenly he leaned in and his lip brushed against my cheek.

"You're staring." His breath was actually quite cold for some odd reason. I flushed red and looked at the horse's tail again. Haiden, I guessed, had superficial hearing and split his sides laughing. I noticed he was the one on the horse. This was going to a very long ride.

***

"My name is Thomas O'Hare. This is my Uncle Henry. And that handsome devil is Prince Richard Alucard Hans-"

"Thomas. Caution your tongue or I will," the Prince warned.

"Oh hush," Thomas replied. The Prince glared at him but he continued. "The Prince is elfin and his people have this...effect on other races." He lowered his voice and whispered into my ear. "I've, um, felt the effects first hand." He shifted uncomfortably and stared at his lap. His cheeks were on fire.

"You mean-?" I didn't dare finish my sentence. A bit of a curse it was for something like that to happen.

(A/N: I personally have no problems with LGBTs but for the sake of a good story, bear with me)

"Yes," he whispered.