Knowing Isisis policy, they would wake you up at 6 sharp.

I guess there was no point in me attempting to fall asleep. I was used to having my MP3 player at my bedside whenever I had a restless night, and I didn’t have that luxury now. I would have to learn to deal without it. Losing sleep over an electronic is relying on it too much.

I sat up in the bed, throwing the comforter off my body I decided I needed a walk. I could care less that my pajamas were probably less than attractive, what could I say? They were pink, soft, but pink.

People here associated Princess with pink.

Like I associate pink with pigs.

I found some matching fuzzy pink slippers and felt like walking myself right into a wall, but it wouldn’t do if I were bruised.

Sigh.

I wandered around the royal’s lounge area, just walking down the hallway. I was the only one awake, how boring.

I walked fairly silently, and would’ve been quieter if not for the fuzzy slippers that inhabited the way I walked. The faint shuffling didn’t seem to bother anyone.

Somehow I ended up where the hallway led to the bedrooms of the royalty of Isisis.

Which meant that one of these doors led to Dais’ bedroom…

Why can’t I stop thinking about him?

I shook the thoughts of Dais from my mind, at least tried. I needed to get out of the hallway. Perhaps read something…

Wait a minute, I could go into the library! No one was awake, so why should they care?

I could pick out a book and get my mind off Dais, off the demon situation, and off the fact that I missed the mortal realm more then I ought to.

As silently as I could, I closed the door that lead to the bedrooms and tiptoed to the library. If I were caught, I couldn’t even imagine the embarrassment I would bring upon the Sunstone Kingdom.

Oui, maybe this wasn’t a good idea?

But I was desperate to get my mind off some things, and only two things could make me forget my problems. Music or books. Since I didn’t have music, that left books. No other choice…

Looking around for castle lurkers, I saw none and confided that the coast was clear. I gradually opened the door to the study, crossing my fingers that no one would come out.

And the scary thing is, they didn’t.

The door wasn’t even squeaky, a miracle! I would’ve at least expected it to squeak inaudibly loud and wake the entire castle! But the door was quiet as a mouse, and I was in, undetected.

Closing the door behind me, I realized I was in the dark. It seemed to me I was in a hallway of some sort, which wasn’t surprising since the whole castle seemed to be made up of hallways. I fumbled blindly for a light switch, but that didn’t seem to be working very well. I couldn’t find one!

I didn’t want to stand around in the dark, especially in an unknown room, so I quickly summoned a spell and lifting my left hand a small ball of light glowed above my palm. It was just bright enough to maneuver myself around in and I see my surroundings.

Perfect.

The lengthy hallways led to a room, which opened with vaulted ceilings as high as the throne room, but not well kept. Instead of an open room filled with expensive decorations this room was filled with shelves. The shelves contained thousands and thousands of books, and probably pounds of dust.

Which made me sneeze.

My sneeze echoed through the room and I cursed the dust. Stupid, stupid dust!

I didn’t want to get caught so I scurried behind a shelf to hide myself incase someone was to check upon the study for intruders.

Stupid, stupid dust.

Crouching behind a shelf I awaited for someone to be looking for me, but once again, no one came.

Some security.

I shook my head and sighed in relief, glad to be off the hook this once. I pushed my body off the ground and then, once again, cursed my bad luck.

My head came in colliding contact with a rather large book, which left my head pounding in protest.

I rubbed my head, which smarted!

Stupid, stupid, stupid dust!

I grabbed my attacker, an extremely dusty faded red book that was heavier then it looked. "Stupid, stupid dusty book!" I cursed, nearly sneezing again.

I held it this time, though. I didn’t want a repeat performance of a minute ago.

As I made a weird face, holding my sneeze, I was in a safe zone. I opened my eyes to the cover on the ‘evil’ book which read, "War of 1983".

Whoa.

This is what I needed to read.

But I couldn’t stay in the library to read it, too dusty and the light from my glow source wouldn’t last forever. My best bet was to bring the book back to my room and indulge myself.

Okay, I hoped I wasn’t caught again.

Blinking dust out of my eyes I wiped the book with the pink pajamas I resented. Ha! Now they would have to be washed and I might get a different color pair of pajamas. Oh the joy!

Er, geeze, that sounded something like Sekhmet would say.

I made a mental note to return to Sunstone as soon as possible.

I followed the same hallway up to the main hallway, with the book in one hand and my glow source in the other. I was on my way to learn a little bit more about the past of my realm.

--

Things continued slowly for the next couple of weeks. The problem with the demon was a priority of mine, and I was determined to learn as much as I could about the past of the Nether Realm to gasp the concept on how to stop it. My hypothesis was, If I learned about the past then I would know how to solve the problem.

This theory of mine led me into the library every night on a regular basis. I became surer of myself that I wasn’t going to get caught. I had learned vital information that not even the Queen of Sunstone knew, but the future one did.

I had figured out what the Cruelty statue was of, a former Warlord named Anubis who wore the armor of Cruelty, and the first Warlord to turn complacent. Not only was he the first Warlord to turn, he was the leader of the Warlords. I found that interesting.

It was recorded that he gave his life up to save Lady Kayura from a spell, giving the armor to her to free her from something called Badamon. He died in the Lucifer Wash, a scary thought to know.

I also had read that the demon of a thousand years had a name, and it went by Talpa. The whole "Talpa’s Castle" fit in as the puzzle pieces started to come together to form a picture. That had meant that the Isisis Palace had once belonged to Talpa. He had controlled the Nether Realm from the exact room that Kayura and the Warlords now controlled the realm with. Another scary thought.

I also learned that during a requisite part of the war, the dungeon had held three prisoners of power. Talpa had tried to corrupt them using Kayura under a spell, but it was unsuccessful and the prisoners were rescued.

Perhaps these prisoners were the Ronins? Or was that someone else?

Well someone had to be the Ronins, because Kayura had said that the Ronins had stopped Talpa. I suppose I just needed to read more.

But the reading was leaving me quite frazzled and without sleep. I guess you got to give up something to appease people.

People should just start calling me "Walking Zombie" instead of Princess. Make-up was the only thing that could hide the dark bags forming underneath my eyes and my complaining for coffee was becoming rather incessant, as Sekhemt was always telling me there was no such thing as coffee in the Nether Realm. He also said any kind of caffeine pill was out of the question.

One day, out of the blue, during one of "Cale’s Cookouts" as I called them…He actually cooked pretty well, except the fact I was constantly scared he was going to poison my food I was fine, I put two and two together.

Anubis was the leader of the Warlords. Therefore the cruelty statue was Dais’ favorite statue because it represented the armor of Cruelty. He was a loyal follower, and when Anubis turned, it must’ve torn Dais apart on what side to be on.

Perhaps when Dais had finally figured out that Anubis was right, it was too late and Anubis had died…

But he had died with honor. At least I hoped Dais knew that.

Dais and I had sporadic conversations, which I savored and enjoyed every moment of. But they were few and far between. That was his typical behavior.

Sekhmet on the other hand was turning out to be a great friend, and we got along great! He was always joking around and as I tried to keep up with him, he would laugh and joke around more.

Cale though, I still think he holds a grudge against me for that first day I had arrived at Isisis Palace. I was only around him when Sekhmet or Dais was, and even then Cale tended to avoid me.

All in all I was getting along well with everyone. Even Kayura, at times, seemed to enjoy my company.

Once again we were in another meeting of the Isisis officials, leaders, and me. Usually Drey would accompany me at the meetings, but today I noticed his absence. I assumed he had business back home to take care of, otherwise he would be here, bugging me to tell him more of the mortal world.

I loved to tell him about it, though it would only make me miss the realm more…and more…

I settled in a seat next to Sekhmet. Immediately Sekhmet attempted to make me smile.

"Haha! Princess, you have to hear this about Cale…"

"Shut up!" Cale sniped, thoroughly annoyed of Sekhmet’s antics to make him look bad in front of the me, "Haven’t you had enough Sekhmet?"

Sekhmet simply answered, "No."

I laughed. I found it amusing the exchange between the two.

"You know the two of them have always been this way." Dais sat down next to me.

"Really?" I smiled at him, watching his every move, and getting away with calling it casual talk, "I couldn’t imagine you having to hear this for over a thousand years.

Dais chuckled and I felt satisfied, "You think they would stop after a thousand years."

"I heard that old man!" Sekhmet joked.

Dais raised an eyebrow, eyeing the man with his one violet eye. Sexy, drop dead gorgeous… "Don’t scare the youngin’ here, her youth will outlive us many years."

I blinked. Where had that come from? Did he constantly want to remind me of my age?

I was old enough, why couldn’t he see that?

Sekhmet continue to jest, "Scare them while they’re young, I’ve always said."

Before anyone could answer, Kayura started the meeting.

"Fellow members, this meeting has started. I trust all of you have thought about our present situation, and Sunstone’s present situation. I have been informed that war has been claimed against Dark Valley." Kayura solemnly confirmed.

I sighed, I had hoped this wouldn’t happen. Sunstone was such a complacent kingdom, war has never happened. I was hoping we would never have this first.

"Are we to side with Sunstone?" Sir Kenji inquired.

"We shall take a vote." Kayura concluded, "All in favor of siding with Sunstone, raise your hand now."

I watched nervously as the ten council members were to think about the decision at hand. Sekhmet was the first to raise his hand, "I agree."

I remained calm, and knew I was not allowed to vote, belonging to the Sunstone Kingdom. I hoped the Isisis Kingdom would vote in favor, that they would make the right decision. Without their help, more people from the Sunstone Kingdom would die. And who knows? You don’t always win…

Sir Kenji was the next to raise his hand, surprisingly.

Two other hands of various officials went in the air and that made four.

Four…that was not enough…Sunstone needed five votes for Isisis to assist them in the war.

"Is that all?" Kayura asked, ready to move on to the next issue.

I grunted my disapproval, this issue was more important then she perceived.

Kayura’s eyes were on me as I looked away, openly showing my disagreement with her. She didn’t challenge my opinion.

"Well then we shall-"

Then, if by miracle, Dais raised his hand.

I was exceedingly grateful that Dais had sided with me.

Kayura nodded the decision, "I also vote we should favor Sunstone, so that will put Isisis in the war."

I was exceptionally grateful that Isisis would be siding with Sunstone in the war.

I turned to my left with a bright smile on face, "Thank you Dais, this means a lot to me."

Dais eyed me, not bothering to turn to me, "Princess, I did not vote in favor because of you. I hope you realize that."

I swallowed hard. Ouch. "Of course." I curdled.

--

Later that week, after Cale continued to avoid me and I went out of my way to avoid Dais, I was constantly reminded of the last words Dais had said to me.

From the snotty look on his face, to the pure insanity of it all. No, I hadn’t expected Dais to vote in favor of Isisis joining the war on my behalf. I had merely-

Okay, so maybe I had expected Dais to vote in favor of Sunstone for me. I suppose he read right through me.

No one was supposed to see through me. And I had simply avoided him, unsure how I was to act in front of him. Perhaps that wasn’t the best thing to do, it was childish to purposely avoid him, why…why I was acting like Cale!

Sekhmet would surely laugh if I had said that in front of him and he knew the whole situation, but he didn’t. And it should stay like that.

Today there were no meetings, which I found odd. I was used to the hustle of mornings and the rush of breakfast, which after we would start talking about the new war and the demon. I found routines around here painfully predictable, Kayura talked of action and conclusions but yet nothing happened.

The Sunstone would not talk unless they planned to act on it, our customs had been the same for centuries.

More than likely Kayura feared war, she was young when the war of 1983 struck and her memories from it I assume are horrid. Yet that was not the reason to be withdrawn. The sooner the Sunstone and Dark Valley came to an agreement or treaty, the sooner everyone in the Nether Realm could fully concentrate on Talpa.

The scary thing about that was no one knew exactly when the demon would strike. Isisis suspected in fifteen years to make his return exactly 600 years after his departure, but I seriously doubted that. From my readings this demon was ruthless, had no customs and vengeful. I guessed he would return as soon as he could, maybe years…months…days…hours… I had not an idea, though I knew it was much sooner then fifteen years.

Standing in the throne room it was desolate as I starred at the statues. I had spent at least an hour in here since breakfast, so used to coming in here after eating, my body brought mer here before I realized it. No one had wakened me up this morning, and I earned four hours of extra sleep waking myself at ten. When I had reached the dining room I was informed that Kayura, the Warlords, and the majority of the Isisis Knights had gone to a so-called "battle" near the Sunstone and Dark Valley border.

I wished them luck.

Though I doubted it would turn to battle, perhaps a last chance at negotiations between my realm and that of Dark Valley. Sadly, Dark Valley was more aggressive than Sunstone and Isisis, since descendants were of lower caste ex-Warlords of the 1990’s. Hot blooded tempers were normal in heritage.

Knowing Sunstone customs this would be a performance rather than bloodshed, a show of ancient armors and weapon to scare each other. But since the Warlords were on our side, this might scare Dark Valley, fore they held Cale, Sekhmet, and Dais in high regard.

That meant I would be alone for the day at the Palace. How boring.

I ought to do something constructive with myself, like read, but I had finished the book in my room and I didn’t dare venture into the study with servants watching me. Gossip for them was a daily part of life, I suppose that would happen to me if I were a mere servant.

Oui, that wasn’t proper of me. I shouldn’t lash out at the lower castes. I was brought up better than that.

Observing the Cruelty Statue, I felt a bond with it ever since that one night when Dais had mentioned that it was his favorite.

For reasons unknown, I kept having dreams of meeting the bearer of this armor, and it had been on my mind. Nearly as much as Dais.

I admired Dais, in fact too much. Ever since the first day I came to Isisis, when the Queen had introduced me to the Warlords. Dais had stuck out to me like a bright star in a clouded night sky. That day he wore a gray wool sweater with dress pants, and at the young age of 76 I was rather hooked, despite my young looks then.

In reality, I appreciated the mortal realm for it’s effect on the twenty years on me. I felt so much wiser due to the fact I looked older.

It would be rather funny if I had told someone about my feelings towards Dais, a Warlord, nevertheless. I could imagine Drey’s reaction.

"You aren’t serious, are you Princess?" he would say. And if I told him I was, he would deathly remind me to reconsider, recalculate.

Reconsider my feelings? You couldn’t possibly do that thirty-two years later.

Imagine if in someway Dais had the slightest feelings for me, just the slightest. Perhaps we could run away together…disregarding responsibility in its entirety. We could make a home for ourselves a home in the mortal realm where no one could find us. Possibly even start a family…grow old together…oh the year would mean so much more if we weren’t immortal! And kids! If the mortal realm took 9 months to have a baby, maybe I could have a baby in 3-5 years, since in the Nether Realm pregnancy lasting 100 years wasn’t abnormal.

Although that was the New Yorker in me, so sporadic and unpredictable. Shaking such rash thoughts from my head, though at such moments I indulged in. I should be practical, in a short 52 years I would be Queen. My people came first.

I left the throne room with intentions on returning to my quarters to re-read the last book I had secretly stolen away from the study. I had nothing better to do.

In the Royals Living Area the hallways were brightly lit with exquisite candles not even leaving a crook in the ceiling unlit. It made this part of the Palace warm and cheery.

As I entered the hall that would eventually lead to mine, I stopped, suddenly.

My senses were on overload and a pleasant and inviting odor was lingering from the room to my right.

It smelled like Dais’ cologne.

My mind raced as I felt the sudden urge to burst into his room and embrace the cologne that so reminded me of him. But sneaking into a study was one thing.

Barging into a Warlord’s room was another.

Yet I was reminded that for three whole days I had barely seen Dais, let alone talked to him. And here at Isisis he was my comfort… My comfort.

And nobody was here except me, me alone to know what I was doing.

Damn my curiosity, if I was caught I might as well banish myself or proclaim that I was dead!

I slowly opened the door and peeked inside. The room was decorated in an assortment f grays and the one bay window, the only window, had charcoal colored curtains covering the view to the outside world.

I was in. Sandalwood fragrant candles lined a perfectly polished dogwood dresser, and their flames flickered as I shut the door behind me.

An extremely lavished King Size bed was in the corner of the large room, covered in gray flannel and overstuffed feather pillows.

A small shelf that matched the dresser sat next to the bed filled with old books resembling those that were in the library, minus the dust and cobwebs.

Bingo.

Forgetting that this was a Warlord’s room, I maneuvered towards the bookshelf and took it upon myself to check out it’s content.

Some old armor books, a book about ancient swords, a Greek Mythology book, a book that was untitled and look like it was falling apart…

That book struck my interest.

Carefully I lifted the book from the shelf, sat on the bed, and started reading.

The first page I came to had a name hastily scribbled on it in old, nearly unreadable ink…

Anubis.

Already I was hooked and I had to read this in its entirety.

When I flipped the book, it automatically opened to a marked page. It had five small armors drawn on it and underneath each of them had it’s name printed clearly. Though the book was old, worn, and fading- immediately I recognized the five armors.

Five of the armors from the throne room, except now they were in color. Red was Wildfire, green was Halo, blue was Strata, light blue was Torrent, and orange was Hardrock.

A poem was written underneath the pictures, and it read:

There is a legend that when the Earth is covered in a wicked dark shadow, Ronin Warriors will come to save us.

And then a name, Mia Koji.

Oh this was too good to be true! I started flipping madly through the book, mindful not to tear the pages, and I read as fast as I could while attempting to gather all the information being thrown at me.

This was a journal. And not anyone’s journal, this was the leader of the Warlords journal.

Information flew at me left and right. I comprehended it all, the final pieces of the puzzle.

The Ronins were five boys with mystical armor, their names Ryo Sanada, Sage Date, Rowen Hashiba, Cye Mouri, and Kento Rei Faun. They were the five that had entered the realm unexpected those many years ago! The girl was Mia and the child was Yuli, and they had owned a powerful tiger called Whiteblaze. Also these five boys had access to even a stronger armor that not even the Warlord’s armor was compatible with called "Inferno".

I read, and completely lost track of time, but Anubis’ journal was the best story I had ever gotten my hand on. I learned everything about him from the moment he became the Warlords leader with the scorn of jealousy from the other Warlords to the first time he met Mia and fell in love with her.

The detail of pain and honor of his life was a drug, ecstasy, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I was especially interested in the part Anubis wrote about how he wanted more than anything to have Dais side with him and the Ronins, when he had finally turned good. But Dais stubbornly stuck with Talpa, hurting Anubis even more when he chose several times to attack him.

So that was it, Anubis was Dais’ best friend, and vice-versa. Anubis chose to stick by Mia’s side and do the Ancinet’s will, loyalty being his kanji, making sense.

The last entry told of spending the night with Mia, the day before he was killed saving Lady Kayura. Now…I knew everything.

I was finally ready to grasp the whole Talpa problem.

Even though the book was closed, and next to me, I couldn’t get up. I could feel the love Anubis had for Mia and the bond he shared with Dais. Choosing to do the right thing must’ve been the hardest thing in the world to decide for that man.

I now had immense respect for him and I could understand why he was the leader, and the bearer of the armor of Cruelty.

I sighed to myself and was unsure how to…breathe…

That was an amazing tale and I wish I could read again, and again…

And perhaps lift some guilt off of Dais from Anubis’ death. Though he’s had 565 years to get over it, I’m sure it’s still an ache in his chest. Especially if he’s read how highly Anubis thought of him. But I wouldn’t dare tell Dais I had come in his room and-

"I thought you had some good upbringing your highness." I heard Dais’ voice calmly say.

"Shit." I cursed under my breath, and looked up to see Dais’ gorgeous violet eye upon me, "I…I…I…" stammered clumsily.

Dais lifted an eyebrow and step into his room and shut the door behind him.

For a minute we just starred at each other and I let my head slump, ashamed, "Gomen, Dais. I do not know what to tell you."

Dais slyly maneuvered around me watching my every move, as I watched the floor with uncertain amusement.

"And for what reason were you doing in here?" Dais questioned sharply, observing me under his watchful eye.

I couldn’t answer the Warlord of Illusion. I could only just stare at him, guilty and afraid.

Dais stepped lively towards me from behind, and as he reached me he grabbed my shoulders and whirled me around to face him. "I said what were you doing in here?" he screamed angrily.

And that was the first time I saw him lose his temper.

The Warlord lashed out at me, slapping me hard across my right cheek, sending me flying across the room. I hadn’t expected him to hit me, and it showed, losing my balance I landed on the floor with a burning sensation stinging in my cheek.

I blinked as my natural instincts took effect, my right hand went to my cheek and I cringed as I touched the heated flesh.

I had let the Warlord hit me, the Princess of Sunstone. Where were my fighting skills? Where were my defenses?

And what was this world coming to?

Wobbling as I forced myself to stand, I inhaled deeply and stood my ground.

Yes, I just stood there. Uncertain if I should run out of the room while I could, or stand up to the Warlord.

Policy, as it was in Sunstone, forced me to stand there and stare. I lifted my chin to show that I didn’t fear him, even though I was shaking inside, quivering to be left alone.

"I repeat myself, Warlord…" I growled, down talking the one man I looked up to, "I apologize for my intrusion, let us leave it at that." The trained diplomat in me took over.

Dais didn’t say a word, but just glared at me.

"You have a lot to learn on how to act mortal, as one should in an immortal realm. The Ancients would not be pleased."

I had no idea where that came from, but…yeah, well, it sounded good.

"The Ancients would certainly not be pleased you were snooping, you degrade yourself doing so." Dais shot back, seeming as if he just spit on me.

"I would upset them so, unless I had a good reason. And perhaps I did." I answered him, the sting in my cheek still aching so.

Dais was about to reply when there was a knock at the door.

Cale stuck his head inside Dais’ room without proper announcement, "Dais foods on the table-" he stopped mid-sentence, "What is she doing in here?" Cale hissed at me.

I was about to say something snotty to him, but I repented and shut my mouth.

"She was in here under my invitation." I could hear Dais reply, which I knew was a lie. Perhaps he found it embarrassing for me to be in there, spying.

Cale made a face and quickly retreated back to the hallway, leaving the door open as he left.

I decided it was time for me to leave, and I did so swiftly. I walked as fast as I could out Dais door, only to see him frowning at me as I left.

Things had not turned for the better.

--

Dinner had not been pleasant. I had showed up, as expected, but I had kept my distant from the Warlords careful to not make things worse.

I had planned on being late for dinner, but then I realized that I normally sat with the Warlords. Isisis royalty avoided the Warlords like the plague, still fearing their mistakes made in the past. Which I thought silly, if the Warlords had wanted to kill them, nothing was stopping them and they would’ve already been dead.

So even if I had arrived late to dinner, I knew the seat I usually sat in would be left vacant.

I had arrived early, and sat on the opposite side of the large table that could accompany up to 100 people. I chose a seat next to Sir Kenji, and he smiled politely as I sat next to him.

"Child, what brings you to this side of the table?" he questioned in a friendly conversation.

"Change of pace." I spoke with a small smile, and it was left at that.

Dais had arrived late for the meal and I didn’t blame him. He had a rather plain expression on his face, but I could tell in his eye that he was unmistakably upset.

Pretending to be intrigued by the asparagus on my plate, I blatantly observed Dais speaking softly to Sekhmet and Cale from his chair. I guessed he was telling them of my intrusion.

For the rest of the meal I spent it in silence, while everyone around me had an animated conversation.