A picture taken by my mum at Clachtoll in Scotland. Such a beautiful sunset. I think it fits in perfectly with the sunset at the end of the last chapter :D

I lie tossing and turning, debating on whether or not to tell anyone about the attacker. I don't want to cause any sort of trouble or panic. However, he could be a big threat. How did he get into our lands? Aren't they either guarded by magic or shifters? If he could get in that means others could get in. I don't want to worry my siblings. We need a chance to be young and not have to worry about war. So I again make the decision not to tell them. However, first thing tomorrow morning, I am going to Lady Indira, before anything bad can happen. Somehow, I know that this attacker is only after me. It is instinct telling me. If he can get in, so can others and that could lead to something much worse.

Morning comes and I am up long before I need to be so as to go to Lady Indira before my sibling's wake. I get into my uniform as quietly as I can then race through the corridors.

"Lady Indira, are you here?" I ask as I walk up the stairs into her office, nervousness filling my body.

"Yes, Isla? What's the matter?" She has a frown on her face as I go and sit in front of her desk. The morning sunrise glows throughout the room and I am momentarily distracted.

"Isla?" she asks.

"Yes, sorry," I say then clear my throat. "I have something to confess," I tell her.

"Go on," she says. I tell her everything. From the attack to the weird black goo and the effect it had on me and spotting him last night. I even tell her that I believe he is after me alone.

"I didn't want to tell anyone at first," I carry on, seeing a concerned frown on her face. "I didn't want to cause any panic, especially as I thought that I was the target. But thinking about it last night, I realised that if he could get into our land even with all the protection around it, then others could too and that is something you really needed to know."

"You should have come to us sooner Isla," she scolds.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't really sure how to deal with the situation," I sigh.

"You aren't alone anymore. We are all here to help you. From now on, you tell us if something like this happens again, okay?"

"Yes, Lady Indira. I'm so sorry I didn't tell anyone," I say. She smiles softly.

"I'm glad you've said something Isla. I know it must still be hard to adjust to not having to do everything yourself but we really are here for you. If you feel your or any other lives are threatened, then don't be afraid of coming to us. Even if its something small. It is best to tell us so we can take precautions than not telling us. We won't be angry at you. We've been around a long time Isla, we know how to deal with these things without causing panic."

"Thank you, Lady Indira, I will defiantly tell someone if anything else happens." She smiles.

"Good," she says.

"Oh, Lady Indira. I haven't mentioned any of this to my siblings either." She frowns and I continue.

"I want them to enjoy their time here without have to spend all their time worrying something will happen to me or them," I explain. She nods her head.

"I understand. But, if things begin to escalate, then they have a right to know." I nod my head.

"I know and if it does I will. I just want them to enjoy these last few months of us still being children." I say. She frowns.

"What do you mean?"

"I obviously don't mean children, but we aren't really adults yet," I sigh. "When the next ruler is crowned, then we will all have to grow up with our new responsibilities. My siblings and I haven't really had much of a young teen life because we were so focused on survival. I just want them to have a couple of months where they don't have to worry about this war and surviving all the time." She nods her head. "Where they can just have fun with their friends and do the normal things we should have been doing when we were growing up."

"I won't tell them," she says. "I agree with you, but you understand that you won't be the same? You are going to be queen in two weeks time and you'll have a lot more responsibilities. The same with the other eldest royals. They too will start having to act like the rulers they are going to be." I nod my head.

"Of course, I don't mind as long as my siblings have this small amount of time to be young." She smiles and nods her head.

"Of course. I will send a message to the High Queen about this situation straight away Isla. Thank you for telling me this."

"You're not disappointed in me, are you?" I ask, understanding if she were.

"Of course not Isla," her face softens. "I am glad you came to me, even if it was later than you should have. But you've learned your lesson and I know you won't make the same mistake again. You are a very responsible young lady and you will be a great Queen. Now, off you go. I'm sure your siblings will be awake soon."

The four of us sit in Princess Kayleigh's classroom. I had got back to our room before they'd woken.

"Today I'm going to teach you more about the NightShades." A snarl rip it's way out of my mouth uncontrollably. My siblings also let out growls.

"The Witches and Warlocks or Wizards used to be very spiritual people. They drew their magic from the energy of the elements." I frown, slightly confused. "Their magic was drawn from the energy of the seasons changing, the rain, the snow, the plants growing everything like that," she carries on. "They were ruled by a High Priest or Priestess, a role that went down one family. This family had the closest connection to the energy of the elements. They would often have ceremonies or rituals celebrating the coming of seasons or to thank the elements for their ability to draw magic from them. There were many Priests and Priestess," she tells us. "They would teach the connections and lead the ceremonies and rituals, they would preach the words and will of the elements." She speaks with wonder. "The High Priest or Princess, like I said earlier, ruled them all."

"What do you find so fascinating about this?" I ask curiously. She smiles softly.

"The NightShades were such a spiritual race. They didn't believe in violence or bloodshed, much like us. They were all connected by the energy which flowed through them all. It is fascinating how they have an ability to harness this energy and turn it into magic."

"How?" Toryn asks.

"Through words," she says and I frown in confusion again. "Or spells as they like to call them. For many, there would be a specific word in their language. A word to summon fire or electricity for example. There were also more complicated spells which were paragraphs long. Some spells had to be done through rituals and some had to have ingredients added like herbs or hair or flowers. Anything. There are so many ways they could use their magic," she smiles.

"So did they believe the elements were alive?" Serenity asks wide-eyed with fascination.

"Yes, they did," she beams.

"You keep referring to it in past tense," I state. She sighs sadly.

"The High Priestess was killed twenty years ago. Harrison Moore had worked his way into her life and murdered her, taking her power. Like I said earlier, the power flows through everyone, they are all linked by it. Harrison Moore had done evil with his magic, causing him to draw energy from something else. Darkness. When he took over, it spread through all of NightShades. They would no longer get their power from the elements but from this Darkness. They are no longer the peaceful spiritual people, but bloodthirsty. With this evil magic flowing through all of them, the spells became a lot darker. Ingredients for potions changed from beautiful flowers and herbs to blood and organs. Rituals to celebrate the elements and to celebrate life were replaced with violent sacrifices. With the dark and evil magic flowing through them, they became deformed and bloodthirsty," she sighs.

"I thought you said the role of High Priest or Priestess passes down from generation to generation. How did King Harrison manage it if he wasn't in the family? Aren't they the only ones with the connection to all the witches and warlocks?" I ask.

"The High Priestess had a daughter called Sorcha. She was a child at the time he took over. We believe that she is still alive somewhere. She has the link to all her people and we believe he absorbs this into himself." I shake my head in disgust. The poor girl.

"What happens if he is killed?" I ask with a bloodthirsty snarl. I want to kill him.

"The full link with the Sorcha will be restored and the darkness will stop spreading through them, replaced with the true elemental magic. I expect most of them will change to how they would have been before King Moore took over and wake with a deep regret over what they've done," she sighs.

"Why is he King Moore, not the High Priest?" Tanya asks.

"Arrogance," is her only answer. I snarl again then decide to slightly change the subject.

"Some of them used weird sticks," I say. "Balls of electricity would come out of them or other destructive things," I snarl.

"Wands," she tells us. "Many use wands to help control their spells. Especially during battle. It is easier to aim with a wand. Not all use them, but most do." I nod my head.

"What about their flying things?" Toryn wonders.

"Their way of transport. Enchanted metal contraptions," she tells us. "That is enough for now, it is a lot to take in. You'd best get to your next lesson," she tells us. We nod our heads and leave the room.

"I'll see you later," she says as we leave.

"Yep," the four of us all say together.

We walk onto the shifting field with Iona and the other royals.

"Yes!" Oliver shouts as we see Lord Black, our weapons training teacher, standing with Lord Marcus and Lady Olivia.

"What?" I ask.

"We're having joint lessons today. We're going to learn how to use our weapons whilst fighting with those who are shifted," Maryanne explains. Excitement fills me. I need to release energy. A thought occurs to me.

"Why does Lord Black use his surname and not his first name like Lord Marcus and Lady Olivia?" I ask.

"It's his choice, I think he prefers the last name to be used by the students he teaches. Something to do with discipline," Daniel shrugs.

"Huh," Toryn mutters.

"Gather around!" Lord Black booms to all the arriving students. "As you may have guessed, today is a joint lesson. You are going to be split into groups," he shouts. "Those who can't be ridden like water creatures and those who can't shift shall ride the backs of other shifters. Shifters you've never ridden before." That means I won't be working with my sisters. "The two of you will be working together this lesson then working with another partner tomorrow. My lesson, which is straight after this, has been joined to this one. So all those shifting needs to pick a partner from all those not shifting!" Oliver rams his elbow into my arm to let me know I'll be working with him. I elbow him back, rolling my eyes.

Oliver shifts into his huge polar bear. Like a lot of shifters, he is bigger than the regular animal and Oliver is huge. As tall as Toryn on all fours and thick with powerful muscle.

"We're working on target practice for the first half of this lesson!" Lord Marcus shouts and I notice that targets have been set up all along the field.

"Your aim is to move and work together. You need to be able to hit the centre of the target whilst on the back of a moving animal. You also need to work on getting in sync with each other, knowing where you both want to go. It doesn't work if one of you wants to go one way and another one wants to go another," Lady Olivia shouts. 

"I'm going to use the Dragoheirs as examples!" Lord Marcus shouts. "You've seen how they work together, how they are in sync with each other, that is what you all have to be with your partners at the end of this lesson before you move to a new partner tomorrow!" I frown, realising how well the four of us actually work together.

"I want you all to be a far distance from the targets. As you see there are large red circles surrounding each target. You are not allowed go passed the red borders at any time unless to collect weapons. You've all got a target each with you will work around. You aren't allowed to stop moving. As this lesson progresses we will add more obstacles," Lord Bear explains. I pull out my spear. The white tube fitting perfectly in my hands. I realise that I've not trained much with this and it may be a lot harder than I thought. 

Each pair is taken to a target. The targets are life-size mannequins, dressed like NightShade warriors. I suppose it prepares us for what we might have to do in the future. It is a grim thought.

"All those flying have the targets closest to the edge of the field. Like everyone else, you aren't allowed into the red circle. You are to fly around it." I look at my target and at the large line of red tape that surrounds it in a circle, the target in the centre. It is a far distance to the target and the circle means it is the same distance all the way around. I look at my sisters in their dragon form. Andrea is on Tanya's back and Yvette on Serenity's. They aren't shifted because they are sharks and no one can ride a shark under the water. Toryn is on the back of Maryanne. Her Scorpion form is huge. The size of a horse perhaps with a large tail curling over her body and six powerful legs. Giant pincers are at the front of her body, strong and sharp. Iona also isn't shifted because her shifted form isn't big enough to be ridden. She is on Tylo whose Scorpion form is also impressive. Eric is on Finola, the third Scorpion. He couldn't shift either. Though he is big enough to be ridden, it isn't an easy thing to do on a snake.

"Get used to moving with each other first before you start using your weapons," are our orders. I put my spear away. "For now, just run along the outline of the circle."

"Ready Oliver?" I ask. He snorts and shakes his heavy body and starts to run.