Backstory Blogs Pt. 8 - Zyro

SPOILERS

By Mel E. FurnishPublished 3 years ago • Updated 2 years ago • 6 min read

SPOILERS

Part One, The Prophecy

Prologue: The End of the Life Before

pages: 13-15

Rapidly a series of echoing rushed footsteps erupted from beyond the doorway. “EVA!” cried a young boy’s voice. “EVALEANA! Where are you!?” he screamed. Ritalia darted to the door and saw the boy from her vision. He was Eva’s age, nine years, with messy black hair. He bolted inside past the queen and bowed to Eva.
Ritalia raised an eyebrow as she examined the moment. The boy’s short sword dripped with a familiar fresh, sticky crimson liquid. His black leather boots were drenched in mud and blood, leaving a messy trail behind him. His face was pale, and his amber eyes were wide with utter fright. Ritalia sharply inhaled as she knew what was to come. As she sauntered over to interrupt their conversation, loud explosions rumbled through the castle.
“Zyro,” she called. The young boy turned to face her with intensity. He quickly straightened up. Ritalia smiled as she knelt to whisper in his ear. “I need your bravery. Now, more than ever. You must get her out of here. Take her as far as you can go. I know I ask a lot of you—”
“I will do anything you ask, My Queen,” he swiftly cut her off. “You need me to protect her…” He frowned as he lowered his head and his voice. “You’re not coming… are you?” Slowly he lifted his glossy amber gaze from the floor to lock onto her eyes.
Ritalia tried to smile as she fought back the tears flooding her eyes. “You’re a clever young boy; I need you to be strong for her. Please,” she begged. “Promise me.”
Zyro nodded. “I will always protect her with my life.”
Ritalia felt a rush of gratitude as she kissed his forehead. “Take the dumbwaiter, get outside the castle through the gardens, and get as far away from here as you can,” she swiftly instructed quietly. Zyro dipped his head as he speedily directed Eva. He walked her over to the tiny hidden lift in the corner of the large bedroom. He glimpsed back as Eva started to question what the plan was.
“Wait, what?” she demanded. Evaleana stood away from Zyro as she glared at her mother. “What’s going to happen? Are you coming with us?” she demanded.
Ritalia bit her lip as she quickly curbed her overwhelming emotions. Her gut twisted in knots as she met Eva’s rageful, confused, and fearful glower. “This can’t be how we speak for the last time…” Ritalia’s heart sank. “Zyro is going to lead you out of here; he will protect you…” she paused as she braced herself to lie to her daughter. “I will be right behind you.”
“Promise?” Eva pressed.
Queen Ritalia forced a smile. “I will always be with you.” Eva still looked unconvinced. Everything had gone silent. Ritalia felt chills form on her skin. An eerie cold submerged her body into an icy atmosphere full of sheer terror and emptiness.
“Go,” Ritalia beseeched. Evaleana’s eyes scurried between her and Zyro. Ritalia gave Zyro a look and entered his mind. “Get her out of here… now!”
He rapidly grabbed Eva’s hand and pulled her toward the dumbwaiter. Eva reluctantly crawled into the small wooden box and huddled inside. Eva started to panic again. “Where’s father?” she quizzed.
Abruptly, loud and heavy footsteps echoed and rang into the queen’s strained ears. Her blood ran cold. “The man from my vision… he’s here…” Her body started to quiver as anxiety enraptured her.
“I-I don’t know, honey,” Ritalia stammered. She couldn’t hold her composure much longer. “I can’t feel Traven’s presence… h-he can’t be dead…” Ritalia’s heart shattered, and she couldn’t hide it anymore. “I can’t tell her… she won’t leave if she knows she is about to lose both of her parents...” The queen mentally snapped as she hurriedly ushered Zyro to enter the lift too. She lost complete control over herself as she started to cry.
“Mother?” Eva whispered. Ritalia glimpsed at her daughter. Trying to take it all in one last time, she froze. Her long blonde curls, her bright blue eyes, her tiny hands, her button nose, her beautiful face. “I wish I could see her grow.”
“Thee will,” Vitality’s voice whispered. The goddess’s presence suddenly gave Ritalia a newfound strength. The young queen stood tall as she spun around to stand her ground. Eva tried to stretch for her, but Zyro held her back. The young mother could hear her daughter’s pleas, but she fought not to look over her shoulder. Ritalia barely heard Zyro struggling with the lift ropes. The footfalls grew closer and louder. Blood roared in the queen’s ears as she remained steadfast.
“Mother!” Eva screamed. Ritalia couldn’t fight it anymore. She glanced back to see Evaleana’s face soaked with tears as she continued to reach out for her. Ritalia lifted her hand towards her. Tears gushed down her face as she gathered her power. Before her magic could send the dumbwaiter down, the man from her vision stepped into the doorway.
“Face me, Enchantress Ritalia,” the man’s low voice commanded. The world seemed to stop moving as she held Eva’s fretful gaze.
“I love you,” she breathed as she flicked her wrist. An energy field of glistening blue luminance encased the dumbwaiter. Before the children were out of Ritalia’s sight, a sword plunged through her gut. She gasped as she felt the blade rip through her body.
“NO!” Eva wailed as the lift was hurtled down by Ritalia’s magic. Ritalia slowly glanced down to see her blood gushing out of her. The man yanked the sword from out of her body, sending spurts of the dark red fluid across the room.

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Zyro is an old friend from Evaleana's early childhood before everything turned upside down. He swore an oath to protect her, for she is the heir to Sotan's Throne.

To follow his story, check out this quick, fast-paced read, Healing Scars of the Past.

> Healing Scars of the Past <

> Amazon eBook <

> Audible Audiobook <

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COMING SOON...