Long before the Gods left, the Desert Gods warned that a dark energy was lurking beneath the sand in Arla. A powerful energy, ancient and mysterious, that poisons everything in its path. Something felt but Unseen. Forced to fight it alone, those four Desert Gods managed to capture the dark energy and lock it away into the Forbidden Realm…..at a steep price.

And unfortunately, innocent minds can too be deceived to open locked doors.

***

After the war meeting, Prince Jaho stomped back to his personal chambers and packed a bag. He packed enough clothing to last two weeks, a jug of healing water purchased from Thalassia, and five cursing relics. In eight days, the moon was set to bleed, marking the beginning of the triannual Black Affliction nightmare. Packing cursing relics and healing water was a precaution.

As he packed, he could hear his sister Jannar yelling at their father.

“Send Jaho!” She screamed. “Mesyla is his to please.”

“Your brother has something much more important to attend to.” He responded back calmly.

“You just want me to suffer!” She yelled, loud enough for the entire hall to hear.

After a long moment of silence, Jaho zipped up his bag and headed to the door. But when he opened it, he found someone already on the other side. His wife-to-be, Lady Larella.

Her face was painted in different hues of orange and white. Together, the streaks of art formed a fox. The artwork complemented the cream colored mermaid gown she was wearing.

“Lady Larella.” Jaho enunciated slowly. “What brings you to me?”

Larella nervously bit her lip as she stood awkwardly in the doorway. Her heart raced as if she had been running up and down the stairs since dawn. She had rehearsed this moment in her mind countless times, but she still couldn’t meet his eyes.

“Your Highness.” She said, voice low. “I’ve come to see if you would like to join me for a quick dip in the oasis and tea.”

At the back of the palace, there was an oasis where the royal family liked to spend their time during the hottest days. Jaho had secretly brought Mesyla there countless times.

The young prince looked back at his bag then back to his soon to be bride. He noticed that she wouldn’t meet his gaze. It made him anxious. As a descendant of House of Hunu, Jaho didn’t really trust Larella. She was darkness and mystery. Secrets and sin.

But his opinion didn’t matter. The wedding was set. Larella was to be queen and mother of the next heir. Their marriage would help stabilize the desert, his father argued. At the betrothal party, he loudly proclaimed:

“House of Sfin welcomes House of Hunu. May harmony return to the Desert.”

As Larella stood there, Jaho noticed that she kept flexing her left hand. He gracefully took it and gently squeezed it. Larella slowly raised her head. When their eyes finally met, a small smile formed on her face.

“Can I put a pin in this?” He asked softly. “My father is sending me away.”

Lady Larella’s eyes narrowed. “Is something wrong?”

“It’s training…..” He mumbled. “Or that’s what he says.”

Larella nervously bit her lip again. If she bit just a smidge harder, she would draw blood.

“Can I come?” She whispered.

Jaho removed his hand from hers.

“As the future Queen, I should also learn these ways.” She continued. “I should train as I would rule alongside you.”

Jaho frowned.

“You’ll rule under me….” He said harshly. “Not alongside me.”

“My apologies.” She responded quickly. “I just thought we should also start spending time together if this is my fate….if I’m stuck here in the Sandhills.”

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Larella looked down at her shoes. This was not going the way she planned. Jaho eyed her suspiciously.

“Did my father send you?”

Larella shook her head.

“I don’t believe you.” He responded, then opened the door wide enough for her to enter. “But by all means Lady Larella, be my entertainment before I’m set to depart.”

Larella raised her head then strutted further in the room. Her walk betrayed her temporary false confidence. As she made her way to the bed, Jaho noticed a tiny tattoo on the back of her head. That looks familiar, he thought to himself. He cursed himself for not paying attention in school.

When he closed the door, he didn’t know what to do. This was the first time the two were alone together in the palace.

She took a seat on the edge of the bed. Jaho followed.

“May I ask where you are going?” She asked shyly.

“Siré, Itra, and Aridisa.” He answered quickly. “A trip around the Desert.”

At the mention of Aridisa, Larella whipped her head in his direction.

“But darkness is near.” She said, a hint of concern in her voice. “The moon will bleed soon and affliction will begin.”

“I’m aware.” He responded, unfazed. “I’ll be protected.”

Larella let out a huge sigh.

“May I ask why?”

Jaho angled his body towards her.

“Why?”

“My apologies.” She stuttered. “It’s just….”

“Just what?”

Larella closed her eyes and took another deep breath. Her body suddenly felt so stiff and tense.

“Your father sending you instead of the commander makes me think that things are not alright here….” She explained, voice shaky. “and I don’t think I should be out of the loop since we’re getting married only weeks from now.”

Larella didn’t want to anger the prince. She knew the palace was unkind to women. And the recent isolation of the current queen meant she had to tread carefully….if she wanted to succeed.

Jaho noticed she was flexing her left hand again. Maybe it was an omen….or she was just nervous. Jaho couldn’t decide.

“Do you want to know the truth?” He asked.

Larella nodded.

“I don’t actually know why I’m really going to Itra and Siré.” He revealed. “Father says he will explain when it’s time to leave.”

“But you know why you’re going to my home?” She asked quickly. “Aridisa.”

“I do.”

Larella angled her body towards Jaho. The two, now facing each other, took each other in at close range. Jaho noticed a tiny smidge of orange paint was on her bottom lip. Her lips were much smaller than Mesyla, he recognized. Her eyes were also a different shade, much lighter.

As his eyes traced the lines of the artwork painted on her face, the words of his father kept replaying in his head,

You must marry Desert blood.

Desert blood, the only way.

A fox cannot reproduce with a mountain bred.

“You should be careful.” Larella said suddenly, snapping the prince back to reality.

Jaho grunted.

“I’m not afraid of the darkness.” He huffed, then stood from the bed.

Larella rolled her eyes.

“I need you to be serious.” She insisted.

Jaho turned back towards her, a deep frown plastered on his face. “I am serious. Or should I be concerned?”

Larella’s mouth opened and closed as she tried to find the words. Once she did, she said,

“In East Siré, the sand speaks again. It seeks and the people shriek. It rises and it devours. Do not enter when the moon bleeds…not until the 49th hour.”

Jaho bursted into laughter.

“Are you serious?” He laughed. “That’s from the old tale of the old days….what the Gods used to say.”

Larella folded her arms across her chest. “It's not just a tale.”

“Those pesky reclaimaints have begun using that story to invoke fear in us.” He countered. “They want my father to fear them….me to fear them.”

“And what if they are not lying. What if it has returned? What if the door was opened?” She rushed out. “Siré is a cursed graveyard.”

Jaho cocked his head.

“If it comes to it,” He said slowly. “…we’ll take care of it again.”

Then it was Larella’s turn to laugh. She stood from the bed and slowly made her way towards the door.

“I didn’t dismiss you.” Jaho said angrily.

Larella immediately stopped walking.

“It took all four gods to defeat it last time.” She said over her shoulder. “And now the moon bleeds and we pay the price.”

Jaho made his way towards her and softly placed a hand over her right shoulder. He knew they needed to be on better terms.

“If it’s back, my father would have felt it and told me immediately.” He said. “You shouldn’t worry.”

Larella slowly turned around and folded her arms across her chest.

“And you’re sure about that?”