Briar- Book 1

Dominion - Chapter 4

Dialu's POV

A few hours after passing out, I was laying in the hospital room, ashy and red. The walls had been burnt.

"They got Ashba. But he was long burnt to death before they got there." The nurse said.

"Was anyone else there apart from Ariaru, Tatl and Seena?"

"No. Just those."

I relax my head against the table. The reason I asked, was to see if Tatiani was there. The night she was born, my dad came into her bedroom and drew a symbol on her arm. He was a fortune teller, and foresaw that she was purified, and set Briar to how it was before.

I sat myself up, and went to the pool to wash away my burns, before leaving for the surface.

I smelt ash again, and thought it was me. Then I heard the screams of the town.

"Where have you taken my daughter!? She isn't at home!" One screamed.

"She's by the graveyard! I swear! Underneath the Phantom Grave!" Another replied.

Phantom Grave?

"STOP IT! YOU'LL KILL THEM!" A girl cried, facing the Queen.

I managed to get behind the ruins of a building to hear closer.

"And who are you. Another slave with all bark and no bite?"

"Nope-" She takes off her hood but her head is obstructed with part of the building. I want to move but then I'd be seen, so I then turn into a wolf and jump forwards.

Tatiani's POV.

I heard a growl and switched my head to the side. A wolf stood infront of me and I pulled my hood back over my face. He bit mother's leg. Tatl and Seena held my arms, dragging me backwards. Mother fell backwards, and the wolf grew to be Dialu.

"Dia-" I shout, before Tatl slams her hand over my face.

I grab her hand, and dig in my nails. "THAT'S IT!" I scream, punching my 13 year old sister in the face. I then twist around to kick Tatl.  They both grabbed me and threw me into the air. I flail around until Dialu catches me. I elbow him in the face and then proceed to kicking Seena into a wall.

"Lady Mesmerelka will hear of this!" Tatl shouts.  I get lifted up into the air, and I feel my bones cracking and shifting in my spine. "Tatl please! You're killing innocent people! Remember Tael? Your twin sister? She wouldn't have wanted you to do this! Especially after her running away to here!" I shouted, feeling my entire torso with a burning sensation. She threw me halfway across the town, but luckily she gave me a running start.

I ran through burning buildings, guards, and people who recognized me. I ripped the hood off of me so I could run faster. I had a thin brown dress on and running boots. "COWARD! DO NOT RUN AWAY FROM ME!" I hear, I spin my head around and see mother with her hands pulling back an imaginary bow. A black arrow flew from her 'bow', causing my arm to give way for bleeding. "Mother what are you-" I shout, seeing her walk towards me slowly.

"Stop running away from me! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST STAY PUT! CANNOT YOU AGREE WITH ME! WHY ARE YOU NOT MY DAUGHTER ANYMORE!" SHe shouts. The bun at the back of her head falls out, and her hair becomes split. Her eyes pale in colour, then turn white completely.

"I'll make you come home with me. I will never let you be with the slaves. I want our family to be whole again. After Ashba and Cosbt died...(Ashba and Cosbt had died months before the fire in the cave) I've lost you. And now you're mine forever." She said, her hair flaking from her wonderful brunette to white. I could feel my body going numb, in a last desperate measure. I reach my hand out and shout, "STOP!"