Prologue

“Tell me the story, daughter.”

“But Father-”

“No arguments, child,” he held up a hand to quiet her complaints. “I am aware of your knowledge. Now tell me the story.”

“Great-grandfather, many years ago, partook in a war. He started the war, to be more precise. He wanted to rid the world of demons that were raping and pillaging and killing the neighboring towns and were getting ever closer to our own city. A great many lives were put on the line, and a great many were lost, but in the end, we came out victorious. The demons that were left begged for their lives, and great-grandfather granted them use of our villages, as long as they took the sacred vow to maintain peace and order, and to never claim a humans life again. He granted them all a second chance and a chance at a good, respectable life. And so it became how it is now, I would assume. Demons and humans can walk on the streets together with little animosity towards one another, and some are allowed to be guards of the castle even, and protect us, or great farmers of the lands, or warriors.

“But there were, and are, of course, troublemakers, who were not happy with the outcome, and tried, and still try today, to cause problems among our peaceful kingdom and community. They are the ones who are punished greatly. They are the ones who are thrown in the dungeons and forced to live out the remainder of their long lives there. All others have almost the same rights as the humans they live in peace with.”

The King put his hands together, and a small smile touched his lips. “And what are the exceptions to those rules? I mean to say, what are the laws that demons follow that humans needn’t worry about?”

“Only things that humans are incapable of. Demon babies that are born with blades in their arms must get them removed, wings must be clipped so ones with wings cannot fly and learn of violent ways once again, and vampires’ fangs must be filed down and a spell laid over their eyes so that they cannot charm their victims and kill them, then claim that they were willing because of the power their eyes carry.”

“Why is this story important?”

“Because everyone should know what a great man my great-grandfather is that he has caused a great time of peace among humans and demons, even if his own life was cut short because of it. It is important to know of the achievements of the past, so that its actions are never repeated in the future.”

The King nodded once, and a small smile was aimed at his young daughter. “Very good. I believe we are finished for the moment. You may go to the garden if you wish.”

As the sun set his children came out into the garden and sat across from him at the table. His eyes were almost far away, as if his mind were on other matters. They both knew what was coming tonight. “Tell me the story,” he said to them.

One girl looked to the other, deciding which one would tell the story this particular night. They nodded, and one began. “Three generations ago, the great-grandfather to the princess had a wife. She had an affair with a demon that was her guard, and was impregnated by him. When her husband found out of this, he had the unborn child aborted, so as not to see what may result from such an unholy coupling. As a result the mother died of blood loss. This drove him to hate demons even more, and he decided that he would say that they were massacred. He had the doctors killed that had aborted his wife’s child to support his façade.

“He attacked the demon villages, forcing them into a war they didn’t want. So many were killed, and what was left was a wreckage of wounded and young. They forced them into compliance. They would live in the villages, but they must take a vow never to kill or hunt any living creature. Now when a child is born with a blade in its arm it is immediately put into surgery to extract the blade, a bone, from that child. When a child is born with wings, they are clipped so the child cannot fly away to experience life outside this prison. Vampires’ fangs are filed down at birth, and many are stricken blind because they cannot control their powers of seduction and charm over humans. Good men are forced into servitude by threats on their wives or children. They are treated as lesser beings, when they should be treated as equals. Everyone should be treated as equal…” the child’s voice trailed off.

“Why is this story important?” their father asked.

“Because it explains why we are here, and why we must live the way we do. It tells us of the spitefulness of humans, and what their ill-founded hatred can do to a people.”

Her father nodded and smiled weakly at her. “Very good, child.”

“Thank you father.”

In his eyes he held a great sadness that he was running out of time. “You have both done very well tonight. Now, unfortunately, I am out of time. I apologize. You still have the remainder of the evening to play, if you wish.”

He stood and walked away. As he did, the soft somber expression held in his eyes changed, hardened into the gaze he held for the King that held him captive.