CHAPTER 1 

                                                           
"𝐈n a peculiar kingdom, people with dark skin and beautiful features lived in prosperity and peace. Little did they know their land would sip their blood and their people will never be the same again. The king and queen of this serene place was named Cepheus and Cassiopeia.

The kingdom was pool of nature that extended through the trails of nile. The rulers had a daughter named Andormeda. She was the most alluring beauty of them all. She held herself with power and grace, creating a field of magnet that draws every human to her. "

Andro turned the tinted page and read the other side of this book that fell ontop of her head while she was digging through this small library looking for the next book that would have her daydreaming for days.

"The people were intelligent in the art of building infrastructures. They had crafted churches from massive stones and built their villages so that the sunset would make their golden hour shine. The kingdom was Ethiopia. And throughout the neighbouring lands, their legends were told and their fame reached Olympus.  

Often times, pride was the downfall of mankind in more ways than one so the tale begins with the boast of their queen about her daughter's beauty becoming more enchanting than that of the gods. She spoke of her daughter being deserving of the seat at the table of gods. Andromeda knew of the legends that had repeated in the past and warned her mother, but vanity was crime and her mother was guilty.

  And so the gods heard of such treason that was committed amongst men they themselves brought to life. The gods sent a warning for the queen of ethiopia to beg for forgivness but the queen once again defied their warning. The king also supported his wife's intentions. The furious gods sent a sea monster to ravage the land and avenge them by assassinating their one and only daughter for there was no more pain than losing a child."

This is intersting she thought as she kept reading the book blocking the outside world and completely focused on the book in her hand.

" The monster slayed every ethiopian that prevented the princess form it. The kingdom was reckoned in every part. Their defenses retreated, unable to withstand the strength of the beast. And when they didn't expect, the monster came in the night disguised itself as one of the palace guards using it's shape shifting ability. It secretly entered her chambers waiting for her to appear. " Andro didn't blink as she studied the tale of Andromeda.

"Andromeda came to her chambers, seeking rest for her worn out body, but she quickly came face to face with the monster she was told of. It revealed it self. It's fangs sharp like dagger. As soon as her eyes were locked with it, it crumbled at the site of her. It was never seen again for it perished like the ashes." Amazement filled her mind.

"The god of sea was furious for he was unable to destroy a measly little girl or so he thought. Andromeda questioned her family seeking replies.They told her she was the arabian's maid's child they took when she was just an infant for she didn't possess their dark skin."

"The king and queen revealed her with the fact that she was the secret daughter of Aphrodite(goddess of love) and Aries (god of war). There was a prophecy for whoever was born from the goddess of love and god of war will be the most powerful god. More powerful than Zeus himself. The child will convey a chaos upon every god and human for it has the power to do so. No one shall defeat him or her. Zeus forbiddingly infromed the gods never to met for it will unleash a beast but drawn by the curiosity and lust for one another Aphrodite beared a child(Andromeda). When she found out she was with a child. She was afraid of Zeus casting her away to the underworld for eternity." Andro was gaping at This point is utterly fascinated.

" Aphrodite gave the emperors of Ethiopia to raise her as their own and prevent her from knowing what she is. The gods finally knew about Andromeda and threw Aphrodite in to the underworld and destroyed the Ethiopian's greatest city (Beersheba). Andromeda wasn't a beast as it was forecasted but an angel. She pleaded the gods to leave Ethiopians be, in exchange for her powers. The gods disagreed for they wanted to be sure that she will disappear forever but Andromeda made a binding agreement to ensure the safety of the people she loved. She promised she will disappear if there will be a child born from her bloodline that-"

A book was thrown on the back of her head pulling her out from the land of imagination she was gliding in. She rubbed her back and looked back, glaring at her sister.

"Come on. We have to go home. " Her sister(saba) nagged her to get up. She sighed angry looking at her little sister. 

Why does she always ruin my fun?

"I am almost done." Andro waved off, trying to get her annoying sister off of her back.

" It is sunset. We have to head home. Mother will get angry if we get home late again." Saba whined. Saba hated the library unlike Andro who spends most of her time reading.

"Alright."

Andro stood up from her sit and trailed her impatient little sister clutching the book she was reading " The tale of Andromeda" in her hands as she hurriedly headed to the door of the small library. The only library in her town (Fourn). A part of the Awasan kingdom she lived in.

"Where do you think you are going?" The library's owner (Ahmad) asked with playful tone.

Andro gazed up the old man. His azure eyes shinning from the light of the window in the library. He was the only one who really understood her. He had a knowing glint about him that silently knew her.

"We were leaving. We are late." Andro stated bitting her bottom lip. Something she did when she is anxious. It was her tell.

Ahmad shook his head with a slight amused chuckle as he snatched the book that Andro was hiding in her hands.

"You shall finish this the next day. I promise it will be waiting for you here. Get home safe." Ahmad smiled down at scoffing Andro.

Andro lowered her gaze in sadness. The man raised his eyebrow knowingly. The last time she took a book home. She didn't return it. She was too in love with it. That wouldn't be fair for the library even though the people in the village didn't have interest in reading at all. It was rare to see other people coming here to read except Andro.

Andro finally sighed and nodded with a tight lip smile on her face and waved without a word running after her sister. Andro was never the one to follow the rules infact she loved to break them. For her rules should be replaced and improved in time.

They exited the small library. The sunset created exquisite site mixing purple and orange on the vast sky. Andro loved to watch sunsets. She was always drawn to it ,maybe there was something revolutionary in between the sunset and the stars. She didn't know. All she knew was that there are mystery hidden behind it that was waiting to be unmasked.

Andromeda is a sixteen year old girl who lives in the kingdom of Awsan(Arab lands). Awsan was a beautiful place. She never knew her father for her died when she was just a child. He was solider who died on duty. ' He was a man of honor'. Her mother had said. She was proud of her father, of his bravery. He was from Ethiopia. A land of big river(nile). Although she doesn't reminisce him well. She knows she got her dark chocolate skin from him unlike her sister who only took his eyes. A shade of dark brown.

She wondered what Ethiopia would look like. Was it as great as in the books she read? Legends and tales were told about their greatness. Andro wanted to see it for herself. She hoped one day she would get the chance to explore their lands maybe then she would finally find the lost piece of her soul.

The sun was gone replaced by the moon but the girls didn't reach their home in time.

" I told you we would be late Andromeda." Saba scowled at her stubborn sister.

Saba thought of her sister as unusual person. She never fitted with anyone expect the books that she was quite infuctuated with.

" I am sorry. I got caught up in the book. It was interesting. I was named after the princess of Ethiopia." Andro explained, her hazel eyes twinkling. Her eyes and her hair were the only thing she got from her mother's side.

"I don't care for such ordinary things. They are nothing more than a delusions." Saba shrugged.

" They are real. You just are too shallow to see it " Andro seethed. She said the last part in her head.

" It is nonsense and you are unrealistic. " Saba declared as if it was the absolute truth.

Andro clamped her mouth shut for if she didn't, the outcome will be much worse. Andromeda never understood why she was different. People wished to live comfortable while she was always fugitive wanting to explore lands beyond this kingdom. She felt incontent.

At last, they reached their home. Saba opened the partially broken door getting in. Their side of the village was where the poor farmers lived, but she didn't feel bad there were people in much worse state than her family. At least they had a farm.

"We are home!" Saba yelled.

"Where have you girls been? I was worried something might have happened to you!" Their mother(Elza) scolded.

"That is it. From now on, you won't be going back to that library." Elza declared.

Andro pleaded her mother to change her mind. The library was the only place she truly enjoyed being in.

" Fine by me. I only go there in the first place, because she can't stay away from trouble." Saba chuckled.

" I don't find trouble. Trouble finds me! It is not my fault they bully me for reading! " Andro clenched her fists in anger.

"Yes it is. You are the freak of the town! Everyone knows it!" Saba yelled back.

Andro was about to add some of her own remark back when their mother cut them off.

"Stop this right this instance and go to your bed! I had a long day at the farm. I don't want to see you two arguing. Understood?" Their mother finally spoke her tempered eyes looking at her daughters.

" Yes, ma'am. " They both nodded releasing a sigh.

They turned on their heels and went to their bed. They slept in the same bed for as long as they could remember. They rested their thin bodies on the small bed giving their backs to each other. Andro blew her breath on the candle until the only light that comes was from the only window of their small room.

Saba went to sleep instantly as her loud snoring filled the small room. Andro cringed her nose in disgust. She knew her sister had a snoring problem since she had heard it her whole life, but that didn't stop her from hating it one bit.

Andro wandered thinking about her name. She always knew there was something magical to her name.

She slowly removed the piece of rug on her body and went to the window. It was small. It wasn't enough to show her the beautiful night but it was all she had. A small, half broken window to show her the shinning and blazing stars. She curved her lips into a bright smile. There was something calming and endearing about the bundle of light.

Andro rarely slept and she never knew why. She never really told anyone because she was afraid of being seen as more of a freak than they already taught she was. She wasn't mostly tired after exhausting day at the farm, working under the scorching sun. She also had an unusual birth mark at the back of her neck with a heart shape.

She dragged the little wooden chair in her arms as she picked up the book Ahmad has gifted her for her sixteenth birthday. She has been fascinated by the book for it portrayed dreams of wonderful things. It was called " The tale of blaze."

She sat there facing the window as she opened the book. She didn't care how much she read it. It was amazing everytime she did so. She sat there glacing at the moon from time to time, beaming as she enjoyed the pages of the warm book. She was so encrossed in the book that she found herself gliding among the stars.

Then, she heard it a voice like a whisper "Andro" It called out.

"Who is that?" Andro whispered back, fright evdient in her voice for she was hearing a voice inside her head.

" It is I " replied sweet yet powerful voice behind her.

Andro swiftly turned around. A lady dressed in emerald green dress with a black hood on her head was standing there with a ghostly smile on her pink lips.

Her white skin shone under the light of the moon that entered form the window. Dark brown locks were falling at her sides, hood covering her eyes. The woman took off the hood uncovering her full face. Her emerald eyes were piercing. Her aura dangerous and graceful.

" Who are you?" Andro asked in confusion. She has never seen such a fair lady in her life.

" I am Farah. Protector of your highness." The lady bowed her cherry pink lips curving in to a charismatic smile.

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       Hey fabulous souls!

What do you think about the first chapter? Hope you enjoyed it!

The story offically begins wooh!! *shouting until my throat hurt*

So what do you think about the chapter? What did you find interesting?

Please don't forget to vote and comment and let me know what you think. It is unedited so let me know If I made a mistake.

Love Mercy💙