"Dude, that's ridiculous. Of course she's into you. She asked me for your number." I paced across the bedroom, stepping out onto the balcony and enjoying the fresh spring morning. It was a beautiful day, the sun shinning brightly and warming my face.

"But how do you know?" Dan'Tel, my best friend, said over the phone. "She could be lying."

"True, but I doubt. You're a rising Senior, the best wide receiver we've got, and you're nice. You're a catch, bro." I looked out over Crystal City, leaning my hands on the crystal guard rail. My city. I would rule this Empire before the year was out and add to our history like every Crystal Emperor before me.The sun glinted off the multi-colored crystals, scattering rainbows over everything, and peace filled me. I took a deep breath of the sweet air as Dan'Tel worried some more.

"She said she wanted to 'meet up'. What the fuck does that mean?"

"You're stressing too much, Dan'Tel. It'll either work out or it won't. And if it doesn't, then it wasn't meant to be." A knock sounded from the door. "Enter!" I called, putting on my best Emperor voice. Old Lady Ilto entered my room, pushing a tea cart before her.

"Good morning, prince." she said in her frail, shaking voice. "I've brought your tea. Your Father requested you drink it and wear this for the ceremony today." The old lady produced a pristine white dress with gold embroidery. I frowned, a little confused. Normally, one of the younger maids would bring my morning tea. Maybe they were all busy getting ready for the Ascension Ceremony. I gave the elderly stewardess a kind smile. "Thank you, Ilto."

"Is that Ilto?" Dan'Tel asked, his voice small and mechanical in my ear piece. "Tell her I say hey."

"Dan'Tel says hello." I told Ilto. She smiled at me kindly.

"Tell the young Lord I say hello as well and to keep his nose out of trouble." I laughed and repeated her message. Dan'Tel made noises of indignation and I took a sip of the tea. My face screwed up as the overwhelming flavor of lavender settled on my tongue. There were hints of spice underneath and some other flavors I couldn't decipher, but it wasn't bad persay. With a smile, Ilto backed out of the room, leaving the white gown on one of the couches. I continued to drink my tea as Dan'Tel worried about his date. I knew he'd be fine, though. That boy has a good head on his shoulders and a kind heart. I got lost in thought, my head swimming a little. I yawned, covering my mouth with a hand and putting the white dress on. It wasn't really a dress, more like a long robe and was the traditional garb the Emperors wore for ceremonies. It was flow-y, ornate, and extremely soft. My eyes began to close a little, a sudden bout of tiredness overcoming me. Maybe I could take a quick nap before today's ceremony.

"Mök'Tal?" Dan'Tel asked.

"Hm? What's up?" I responded, coming out of my stupor. The crystal railing slipped in and out of focus as I tried to hold onto consciousness. Something was definitely wrong. I became aware of Dan'Tel calling my name.

"What? What'd you say?"

"Damn, dude, you're really out of it. Get some rest, brother. You've got a few hours before you become Emperor. I'll see you after the ceremony."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

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"For the last five years, our people have suffered the worst drought we have ever seen!" A man cried out. The voice was loud in my ears and I tried to shift away from it, but my body wouldn't move. A dull roar covered the man's voice and I missed his next words. The crowd or the blood in my ears (it was kind of hard to tell the difference) finally quieted and I could understand the speaker again. "... and children have died from lack of water!" Another roar, this one angrier. I could feel the people's rage and frustration towards whatever was happening. I blinked, trying to clear my vision and come back to my senses, but everything was so white and my head lolled to the side. I couldn't quite process what I was seeing. I saw the Crystal Emperor in a stark white gown not unlike my own, his hand glittering and flashing in the sun as he spoke. My brow furrowed. Wasn't I supposed to be by his side for this one? Today is the day he announces my ascension to the Crystal Throne.

"We have suffered long enough!" The Emperor said, turning towards me. My brain raced against something, trying to wake me up. It didn't work and I watched as Father loomed over me. I became aware of the cool crystal under me, sucking the warmth from my body and the top of the temple peeking into the corner of my sight. What is happening?

"In accordance with the scriptures," Father said, "we offer a sacrifice to the gods, that they may bless us with life giving rain!" Did he say 'sacrifice'? Who are we sacrificing? There shouldn't be one today. There was a huge roar from the crowd that drowned my thoughts. Father raised his hand to the sun and it glinted in the daylight. Time seemed to slow when the Crystal Emperor looked down at me. I saw sadness in his dark brown eyes and the familiar smile lines around them were absent. "Forgive me, Mök'Tal."

"Gods in heaven!" he called, still looking at me. A tear slipped from the corner of  v bvcwq32his eye though his voice remained strong and clear. "I offer this sacrifice in your honor. Take my son and grant us life!" The Crystal Emperor's hand fell and I felt something tug against my stomach, but there was no pain. At least, not at first. There was a slight tingling when Father reached into my stomach but nothing I'd describe as painful. I still couldn't feel anything, even when he grabbed my heart. My heart struggled to beat against his hand as it squeezed, and then the real pain came.

Father squeezed my heart and pulled, tearing it from my chest. My eyes shot open and my chest surged upwards, trying to keep my heart in place. Of course, it didn't work. I was either too slow or Father too strong, and I watched as he held my bleeding heart above his head. Panic seeped into my brain and I struggled to breathe. I could feel my mouth flapping, trying to suck oxygen in, but it wouldn't come. Fear followed almost immediately and I stared at the Crystal Emperor who stared back at me. Tears feel openly and he knelt by my body.

Something changed. All the pain and fear disappeared in an instant. I sat up and swung my legs off the crystal altar. Father was still kneeling by the altar and I stood, my mouth falling open. I was still on the altar, the pristine white of my gown spattered with my blood. It was disgusting, seeing my own blood pour from my open stomach. The panic grew as my hands and feet started to disappear, and then I began to fade, my body dissipating into mist. I reached out for Father, but he didn't react. My hand went through his shoulder, and I knew. I was dead. Thousands of other souls appeared next to me. Some fresh, some pure shadow, most a combination of the two.

"Join ussssss." they hissed into my ear. Cold hands grabbed at me, trying to drag me down with them. I forced them off, growling at the shades and moving closer to Father. My body resolidified a little and Father turned towards me, his face unbelieving.

"Mök'Tal?" he asked, reaching out for me but just as mine hand, his hand went through me and his lip quivered. "I am sorry, son. Please forgive me."

I stood there, emotions raging in my dead, unbeating heart, no longer fighting the fade overtaking me. The last thing I saw was my Father's tearful face, and I left my world behind.