Prologue

Lilith:

You can try all you like, but a witch has never survived a trial.

I could hear the screaming crowds gathering around the village square where I was to be burned.

I was to be executed at sunrise.

It is funny, to hear what people believe is witchcraft. People will believe all sorts of things. Everyone who possesses the power to heal, is a witch. Everyone who survived a sickness there should be no coming back from, is a witch. Anyone who is different, anyone who stands for something else. They are all considered witches, and so am I.

"Ready to burn? Anything to confess, witch?" The king's stern voice caught me by surprise as I stood and turned toward him. He was the reason I was here, trapped in this dungeon and sentenced with treason.

"I'm not a witch," I scowled at him, "and even if I was capable of magic, why do you hate it so much?" He tensed at the question.

"That is my own concern." The king's voice croaked in the answer but still somehow managed to appear stern and strong.

I stared into those cruel eyes of his. There was no mercy in them, only anger, as if he had been hurt so significantly, he could never feel trust or love for anyone else ever again. Rumours say that he is really a demon in disguise, hiding his horns with a spell. It wouldn't surprise me if those rumours turned out to be true.

"I just wanted to see you one more time before you die. I'm getting a head start on my journey back to Lanson. The smell of burning witch can travel a long way," he grabbed my chin through the bars "and I would hate to have that smell up my nose for my journey home." He yanked his hand down from my face and turned to walk away. A stabbing pain shot through my jaw and I banged onto the bars, grabbing the king's cape from behind him.

"You're going to pay for this. I didn't do anything. I'm not a witch. I'm not a witch. I'M NOT A WITCH!" I screamed to him, yanking his cape so hard he smashed backward into the bars,

"Restrain her," he yelled, somehow calm in spite of the situation.

Gloved hands grabbed my wrists and the creak of the cell door sounded through my mind as a blow struck my head. I fell to the cold ground and my eyes fluttered. Everything was dark and blurry.

My eyes fluttered shut.

The King:

"Your highness I am terribly sorry that happened," Lord Rowan Writingham walked at my side as I made my way to the stables. "My guards will be punished for not being there to aid you fast enough."

"Do not punish your guards, Rowan. No, you should execute them after the witch. That ought to teach them a lesson." My shoulder throbbed, the girl did have some strength on her. I'll give her that. I might even have a bruise on my arm where I collided with the bars, but nothing I couldn't just sleep off. "On my next visit you will have taught your guards how to do their job properly. Is that understood?" The Lord nodded his head.

"Your horse my king." A shuddering voice sounded from behind me, a paige boy stood there holding the reins to my horse.

"Boy," I held out my hand for him to pass me the reins of my steed, "Next time you will address me as 'Your Highness' or you to can say goodbye to your precise little life." Terror shone his eyes.

"I'm sorry your highness." The boys passed me my reins and ran off.

I mounted my horse and steadied it as I commented one last time before my departure. "Train your guards, Rowan. Once I arrive back in Lanson I want word that you have done as such."

I grabbed the lantern hanging on the outside of the stable and kicked the rear of my horse.

Lilith:

The sun blinded me as I was dragged from the dungeons. Three months down there had been no good to my eyes.

The cheering got louder as I was slowly dragged into the square. The people were furious at me. 'Witch,' 'Bastard,' 'Traitor.' All the words thrown at me. They were throwing food and stones and whatever they could find at me, the guards struggling to hold them back.

My head ached like nothing I had ever felt before, I was still recovering from the blow I suffered last night when I had been dragged from my cell. The noises of the crowd slowly started to dull as I tried to block my mind of the people gathered and shut my heavy lids. It was the last bit of sanctuary I could find before my execution.

My back hit something hard and a sharp cough burned my chest as I snapped my eyes open. I calmed my breathing and guards tied my hands behind me. I was standing on the platform in which would be burned. I scanned my eyes over my surroundings, the crowds were still cheering and I noticed that the platform meant for hanging was set for two, and making their way up the stairs were the two guards that had been on prison duty last night. The king must have ordered their execution after they failed to keep his royal highness protected from me.

"QUIET!" A scream so loud it screeched painfully in my mind came from a man standing on another platform before me.

It came from Lord Rowan Writingham.

"QUIET!" He screamed again and finally the crowds stopped their screams. "Today we have gathered to watch this witch. DIE!" The Lord pointed his scrawny fingers at me and the crowd started cheering again. Screaming, like a pack of animals. "Any last words witch." He said over the screaming.

"My name is Lilith Kingsley," The crowds once again halted their screams and let me talk. "I have dedicated my life to healing the sick. And I'M NOT A WITCH!" That set the crowd fuming, I tried to block out the noise and closed my eyes and thought about all the days that had been the happiest days of my life. Then I reopened my eyes and the guards threw their torches onto the logs and sticks surrounding my platform.

The King was probably long gone now.

The flames slowly began to grow, the heat on my face more painful as the flame grew bigger around me. The Fire grew intensely. Flames danced a routine around me, it was outstanding, but it was also anguish. But through the gaps in the flame a hooded figure caught my eye. It was a man, sitting atop a beautiful white stallion. Everything seemed to almost freeze as the man removed his hood, locks of gold fell and covered his shoulders, this was not a he, this was a she, and she was beautiful, so very beautiful. Only, a long scar marked her face, cutting along her cheek and up her nose.

I snapped back into reality as the reds and the blues and the golds of the flame encased me. Continuing to dance so ferociously around me. Although it was painful, it was so beautiful, hypnotising.

"Lilith" A voice in my head called in my head, "Lilith." It was with flame calling for me, and I would answer.

A sudden burst of golden light blinded the world.

I heard screams and the pressure on my wrists disappeared as my restraints burned away. What was going on? The heat from my face was gone. I blinked vigorously, I still couldn't see after the blinding light had hit.

Slowly my vision started to repair itself, with every blink the more I could see. A strong smell filled my nose, an unusual smell. Oh no.

It was ashes.

There was nothing but ash as far as the eye could see. What had happened? Pain shot through my arm and I flung it up to look at it. Flame was circling it's way up it, I clenched my fist in agony. Pain shot through my other arm, the flame was twisting around it too. The fire danced around my arm, pain getting worse as neared closer to hands. I gritted my teeth. This was agonising. I screamed out in pain and dropped to my knees, cursing to the sky.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The pitch of my voice was high, But there was so much pain, like thousands of knives stabbing me all at once. "HELP ME!" My throat was raw and tears formed in my eyes. I Lifted my hands to wipe the tears away out of habit, instead as my hands neared my face, my eyes scorched.

I whipped my hands away quickly and widened my eyes. Along my arms, a swirling tattoo marked where the flame had circled them, and resting in my palm. A small, bright flame was burning.