well i have been working on this for a long time. so here is some new stuff.

Prologue



Asmara and Maxus were playing together in the inner courtyard of the palace. Asmara was five years old and Maxus had just turned seven; Ekaterina stood quietly watching them from a distance sighing Maxus proved to be a disappointment the Ancients told her he was useless he didn’t even have a hint of Aztar blood. Soon she would send him away to live with his father for he had little value to the Camai kingdom. She heard someone approaching and quickly turned around only to see what she had been dreading a white messenger was heading her way.
This meant Asmara was being summoned before the Ancients. They can’t do this now she thought, Asmara wasn’t ready. “Fair and noble Empress I am here on behalf of the Ancients, they have requested an audience with princess Asmara.” The messenger bowed and held out the order for Ekaterina to read.
“Very well you may tell the Ancients we will be there shortly. Maxus will be leaving us soon; I want Asmara to have a little more time with her brother.” The messenger acted like he couldn’t hear her and said.
“They request this audience now; Empress the Ancients shouldn’t be kept waiting.” While the white messenger and Ekaterina were talking; Asmara and Maxus found a fish in the pond and began poking at it with sticks much to the horror of their nurse. “Little Lady Asmara please don’t touch that it’s dirty and you’re getting your beautiful gown all tangled now come here.” Asmara was extremely will full for a little girl and she didn’t like being told what to do. She was about to pick up a handful of dirt when she heard the cool voice of her mother.
“Asmara what have I told you? little girls who are about to inherit the throne do not play with dirt. Now come here and let me have a look at you.”
Asmara didn’t like people telling her what to do, but when it came to her mother she knew better than to disobey. She let go of the stick she was holding and tried to walk as calmly as she could to her mother. Once in front of Ekaterina, she began fixing her hair dusting off her gown; once Ekaterina was satisfied she took Asmara by the hand and led her away.
“Mommy where are we going; why did we leave Maxus behind?
Ekaterina sighed how was she going to explain to a five year old that she held her mothers life in her hands.
“Don’t worry about your brother he’s leaving soon you know that. Were going to see some very important men right now; you need to keep up with me now.”
Asmara didn’t like the tone in her mothers voice it was anxious and hurried. She began to weep, she didn’t want to it’s just that she was scared. Ekaterina stopped walking and knelt down and tried to comfort her daughter.
“Asmara please don’t cry I know this is a little frightening; but you have to be strong for me, you have to be a big girl today. The men you’re going to see don’t like crying little girls.” Asmara stopped crying wiped her tears and continued to walk along side her mother; picking up traces of gossip here and there.
“Oh there goes Little Lady Asmara being summoned already? Isn’t she a little too young?”
“The boy already proved to be a failure I wonder if Ekaterina will have better luck with this child? You know Helena would be better suited for the throne. Don’t you think?”
Helena was Asmara’s age and if Asmara wasn’t chosen to be the next heir Helena was next in line. Her blood came from the second vampire Orillia Helena’s mother Daphnia had become hopeful that her daughter would take the throne; since Maxus was no longer a threat and this little one didn’t seem to have any regal bearing at all.
Ekaterina of course knew what Daphnia was waiting for she was waiting for Asmara to fail; so that her little brat would take over, but that would never happen. Asmara was too busy looking at all the scenery around her to be interested in what the adults were saying. She was looking at all the Empresses that ruled before her mother had. They all looked graceful and powerful.
She then looked up at her mother and wondered where her picture was; she didn’t ask though her mother looked like she was focused on something else. Asmara looked ahead past the man in white and saw a huge stair case with what seemed like a million steps.
“Mommy pick me up; my feet hurt do I have to climb up those?” her tiny figures pointing upwards. Ekaterina looked at the staircase The Place of a Thousand Steps, she wanted to carry Asmara because she thought that would be easier; but she knew Asmara had to walk.
“Asmara I’m sorry but you have to walk with me I can’t pick you up now come on.” Ekaterina sighed and began walking up the steps with little Asmara holding her hand. I’m sorry Asmara please bear with me; just a little longer. Ekaterina walked up the steps in silence remembering the time when her mother brought her in front of the Ancients barely even Asmara’s age. She remembered being frightened and excited at the same time and even though she could barely talk then she knew her life would never be the same. Now it was Asmara’s turn to walk these steps to feel fear and excitement. She wondered if her daughter understood what was about to happen.
Asmara walked side by side with her mother even though the steps were steep and hard to climb somehow she was managing. The steps were made out of ivory and the hand rails were carved out white gold with an inlay of blue diamonds. Asmara was mesmerized by the beauty of them. They finally reached the top and the messenger that had escorted them went in ahead to announce them. As soon as he was out of sight Ekaterina turned around faced her daughter and said.
“Listen to me Asmara you must be brave, you must not cry, never speak unless spoken to, and don’t ask too many questions. Can you be strong for me? You have to be a good girl for me.”
“I’ll try but I’m scared where am I going? Why do I have to go in by myself?”
Ekaterina knew she didn’t have much time to encourage her daughter she knew she would be called soon.
“Asmara please try and be brave you mustn’t cry anymore. Things are going to be different after this you just have to be strong.” Just then the white messenger appeared and started walking towards Asmara; Asmara began shrinking back, then she remembered what her mother had said and she decided to stand her ground.
“Come Little Lady Asmara please take my hand; don’t be frightened I won’t bite.” Asmara wasn’t sure he wasn’t going to bite; but she had no choice. So she took the strangers hand and looked ahead. She wasn’t sure what she should’ve been feeling. All she really knew was that she was about to meet extremely powerful men that even her mother who was the toughest person she knew. Even she couldn’t say no to them.
“You shouldn’t be scared little one if you’re lucky the Ancients will choose you.” Asmara was puzzled she wasn’t sure if she liked what the man said; but her mother warned not to ask questions so she kept walking forward.
“Wait here little one I’m going to tell them that you’re here.” He left her at the entrance of the Home of the Ancients the doors to their council chambers were massive made up of a hundred ebony trees; with gold metal inlay and huge stone dragons standing guard.

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