Chapter One: Youth

    "It's been seven long years. Hasn't it, sir?"
    A group of soldiers stood at the peak of a gorgeous set of mountains. The tops almost seemed to touch the rising sun, and looked to challenge even the mighty gods.
    "Seven long years indeed."

 ~,~

        An empty room filled with soft thumps. Each one made seemed to be a challenge of power to the specks of dust floating in the sun lit room. A small woman stood in the center of it, her fists were raised before her face, and her breath came out in short pants. She quickly extended a tight fist, and brought a powerful hit on to a hanging bag of flour. Her white tresses were held in a crumpled heap atop her head, and her blue eyes were glowering slits, staring at her makeshift enemy.
        The woman raised her leg high up in to the air, and leaped twisting her body around, nailing bag with two powerful kicks from both of her legs. She slid back from the force, she landed, and ran towards her enemy going in to a barrage of punches.
"I would hate to be your enemy," A low rumble persuaded throughout the room. The woman slowed down her onslaughts, until they stopped. "Valeena."
Valeena looked at the man taunting her and gave a cocky smile. "Matthew." Valeena breathed      out and ran to hug the boyish brunette.
        "Woah!" He stumbled back from the sheer force of her body landing on to his. He placed a hand on her lower back while steadying them, and returned her hug. "Mistress, you shouldn't show such affection to me." He whispered.
        "Oh shut up!" She leaned back to smack his arm, then went back to cuddling into his chest. Matt closed his eyes, and relished in the feelings of the woman who he was holding. He could smell the sweat radiating off her body, and the mix of herbs with it.
        "Oh!" Matt perked up and pushed Valeena back by her shoulders so he could look in to her eyes. "You will never guess what I have discovered," whispered in excitement.
"Let me guess, a way to make that cock of yours actually appetizing," Valeena teased, wiggling her eyebrows in a suggestive way.
        Matthew blushed brightly, and tried to hold himself together. "You would have liked it anyway." He mumbled looking off to the side. "But no! Come with me!" He dragged the pale girl out of the room, and into a peaceful hallway. Maids walked to and from, carrying different items for different reasons. Each one the duo passed by
 gave them a confused look, but otherwise continued on with their business
        "Matt! I can't I have training to do!" Valeena argued, and tried planting her feet to stop them from moving.
        "Oh come on Valeena! I know you're just drooling from curiosity." He pressed and grabbed the woman's dainty hands between his own masculine ones.
        "Matthew. Valeena." A voice interrupted the two.
        They both froze in fright, and looked up to see an elegant woman dressed in a long white dress. The sleeves slid past her hands, which were folded in front of her. Her long white hair flowed past her feet and dragged behind her. Adorned on her forehead, was a beautiful tiara which dangled a blue gem between her eyebrows. Her piercing blue eyes were  complemented by beautiful features, settled in to a stoic look.
        Besides her stood two maids. Each had blonde hair, and beautiful green eyes. The one on her right held a stack of papers, while the one on her left, held a tray with a ravishing, delicate tea set .
        "M-mistress." Matthew stumbled out and quickly stood up, straight as a board.
        "Mother."Valeena bowed before her mother, and dragged Matthew to follow along with her.
        "Where are you going?", soft padded footsteps were heard throughout the dim hallway. Shadows of a woman could be seen crawling along the floor, from the large window against the wall, "you have training to finish."
        Valeena struggled to find words, but was interrupted when Matt answered for her. "I apologize mistress, I have come down with a terrible case of diarrhea, and have asked Valeena to come and bless me at my home."
        Valeena shot a hand up to her mouth, and struggled to hold back a long string of laughter. The best excuse Matthew could come up with, was diarrhea? Priceless!
The fair woman, stumbled back to avoid the "sick" boy. She held a hand to cover her nose, in case the illness was airborne, and looked away. "A-ah, very well, "she looked at Valeena, "Then please take her with you, we wouldn't want an epidemic to spread. But make sure she doesn't get sick!"
The two stood up to look at the mistress with serious faces. "Yes ma'am." They both responded at the same time.
        "Very well... I'll be on my way." The elegant woman, struggled to move past them, and avoid them at the same time while trying not to seem rude. Eventually she disappeared around the corner, and left the two in the empty hallway.
        "Diarrhea? Really?" Valeena turned on Matt with an amused smile.
        Looking ashamed he responded, "Yes, well at least you've been excused from your training.... Now come on!"
        Matthew and Valeena quickly rushed through the quiet, wood halls. Their feet made soft padded sounds with each step they took. Eventually they reached the doors leading to the outside world. Swiftly, Matthew pushed them open. Light from the sun blinded their eyes for a moment, eventually they readjusted to the beautiful morning sun. Walking outside, Matthew and Valeena dodged the citizens roaming around to and fro. They were wandering through a town square of some sort. The ground was covered in beautiful, red bricks creating an interesting design for the people to walk on. They were surrounded by giant brick buildings, reaching up to the sky. On the streets, people chatted amongst each other, enjoying the cool morning air.
        Matthew and Valeena traveled between two buildings to a private area, that was filled with food stands of many kinds. Vendors shouted out sentences, trying to bring in different customers for business. Others argued with small children who were disrupting their business.
        "Where are we going?" Valeena talked over the many voices coming from the citizens.
        "My secret hide out!" Matthew responded
        Valeena rolled her eyes, while Matthew continued to excitedly pull her towards an unknown location. Matthew came to an abrupt stop in front of an alley, forcing Valeena to run in to him. He ignored the sudden weight, and looked around to make sure no one was watching them. When he was certain, no one wasn't, he dragged her into the cramped space. Stopping in front of a well, he motioned to a ladder hidden by a shadow, "just go on down, I'll be right behind you." Matthew ordered.
        Valeena followed his instruction, and threw her legs over the side of the well. Getting a good foothold, on the ladder, she carelessly slid down it to the shadowy depths. When she landed, on the ground, her feet kicked out from underneath her and she fell on her back.
        "Damn! That hurts!" She mumbled while sitting up and rubbing her throbbing butt.
Matthew, landing beside her, held back a snicker and helped the injured woman stand up on her feet. "I forgot to mention that the ground was slippery." He barely choked out.
        "Thanks for the forewarning." Valeena hissed in frustration.

        Walking, through the dark tunnels, Matthew haphazardly dragged Valeena along with him. From time to time, the two would feel mice and rats rub against their ankles. They struggled not to gag in response to the hideous creatures. And the lack of light, was proving to be quite difficult. Difficult enough, to the point, that Matthew and Valeena would stumble upon Cracks in the ground. Cracks that if there was any semblance of light, would be easy to avoid.
        “Matthew,” Valeena whined after stepping on the feces from the rats, “Are we there yet?”
        Matthew stepped in front of a wall, and carelessly waved his hand before it. The brick wall began to morph and move in front of them, and opened up a path into a dimly lit room.
        Inside sat three, very familiar, figures chatting amongst themselves. When they heard the door open, they looked up and gave happy howls at the small woman standing in front of them.
        "Valeena! Beautiful as ever I see!" A loud brutes gushed out in pure glee. His strong arms hung over the back of a couch, he was sitting on. His eyes danced with different colors from the dim light. Black hair sat atop his head, cleanly cut and slicked back, while a thin shadow was beginning to form on his face.
        "oh shut up Daniel!" A teenage girl screamed. "My sister is never known 'not to be beautiful.'" The young girl shook with fury, causing her white pixy hair to move with her. Piercing blue eyes turned in to cold slits, and glared daggers at the man. She stood up and threw a measly punch at the brute. Once satisfied, with his irritated look, she sat down pouting at the wall painted with mildew.
        "Snarky little brat," Valeena slapped the young girls head and sat next to her. "Respect your elders Adalyn."
        "Shut up..." Adalyn whispered a small reply.
        Matthew shook his head,with a small smile, and clapped his hands to gain everyone's attention. "Alright, alright everyone. Fun and games are over," he drawled out as a grim look passed over his face, "the guardians have been sending the inner groups, reports of outsiders landing on the island." A tense silence passed over the group at the information they received.
        Outsiders? But how, how could they find the island? The island had been hidden by magic for centuries, and since then no outsiders have ever landed on the island. Surely this was a messed up joke. A very messed up joke.
        "Oh," Adalyn piqued, "how would a russet, like you, know? Only the pitch receive reports from the guardians."
        "It's rude to judge people by their hair color," Matthew shook his finger at Adalyn "and anyway," Matthew tilted his head toward Daniel, "he told me."
        Valeena clicked her tongue in slight vexation. "My training was interrupted because of this, Matthew?"
        Matthew snickered awkwardly. "Yes?"
        "This is an easy job! One slit to the throat would be enough." Valeena gripped, standing up. She attempted to make her leave when Matthew grabbed her hand. “The last time any humans came here, they tried to bring us into their petty wars. Let them die. They wouldn't be able to find this place anyway. They're likely trapped in the spell cast over the island.
"Well you see," Matthew whispered. "It sounds like it would be fun, you know?”
    Valeena stared at Matthew with apathetic eyes. She swiftly turned on her heal. “I’m leaving.”
    Matthew briskly chased after the woman. “Valeena! Wait!”
    “What?” Valeena seethed.
    “I’ll take you on a date.” He offered.
    Valeena felt her anger face while a rose tint kissed her cheeks. She looked away trying not to smile. “If you insist….”
    “Then let’s go,” Matthew peaked his head around the corner to stare into the dainty room, “Chop chop, little mice. We’ve got a job to do.”

Considering this is a pretty new site, for English viewers, I'm not usurp how I feel about it. The set up is a little weird and I don't like how you can't change the fuants. Along with editing chapters. I had to split the first chapter so much just to fit the "pages" seriously, 800 characters? That's not enough room for me. Anyway comment, fav. I don't know how this site works! I'm too used to fanfiction and fiction press. *sigh*