Varseth: Untold Truths

Contents

Preface 

Chapter 1:

HISTORY 

Chapter 2:

EXISTENCE 

Chapter 3:

THE PAINS OF LIFE 

Chapter 4:

ESCAPE 

Chapter 5:

WHAT LIES BENEATH? 

Chapter 6:

ISMERA 

Chapter 7:

THE TRUE WERECS 

Chapter 8:

PAST BURNS 

Chapter 9:

MAINLAND 

Chapter 10:

THE GUARDIAN 

Chapter 11:

HUNTER’S EDUCATION 

Chapter 12:

TALES OF OUR PEOPLE 

Chapter 13:

TILL DEATH DO US PART 

Chapter 14:

TWISTED ARMAGEDDON 

Chapter 15:

THE BODIES OF OUR SOULS 

Chapter 16:

WANDERING 

Chapter 17:

WE MEET AT LAST 

Chapter 18:

EWATAR 

Chapter 19:

PRELIMINARY 

Chapter 20:

THE EVILS WITHIN 

Chapter 21:

THE MOUNTAIN AREAN 

Chapter 22:

BLEAK 

Chapter 23:

FROM DARK TO LIGHT, BRIGHT LIGHT 

Chapter 24:

RELATIONS 

Chapter 25:

LUST 

Chapter 26:

TRUTHS REVEALED 

Chapter 27:

MARGON - CIEL’S JOURNAL 

Arean Text 

Acknowledgements 

For my loving brother Wynton EL

Preface 

I began writing Varseth when I was in seventh grade at a Christian school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Oddly enough, I was sitting in Bible class discussing the Book of Revelation when I had an epiphany to create a story based on the last battle between good and evil in order to predetermine the fate of man. Thus, Varseth appeared. As a young girl, I read literature about vampires, werewolves, wizards, witches and the like. My interest in these fantasy creatures gave me a whole new look on the world as I knew it. Why yes, I will admit that I have always wanted to possess supernatural powers in order to grace mankind as the coolest kid around, but writing a story was the next best thing. Thus, I began the Varseth series starting with Book 1: Untold Truths.

Chapter 1:

HISTORY 

The people of Murdeth claim that I was their savior at birth. I was born immortal from my sacred Arean mother. My purpose in life is primarily to protect others in this mystical realm, even if my life is nothing more than a runaway story, with a plot to save the world, all mixed into one.

This may seem strange to some of you who read this tale, but in all actuality it can happen. If someone was trying to kill you, wouldn’t you spend every waking day of your life running away from them? Of course you would! The typical answer would be just that, but our hearts tell us otherwise. They command us to say no towards our enemies and assert ourselves to the throne while banding together for the good will of men. This is partially my purpose; and therefore, I am certain that I will obtain my goal.

So without further ado, my name is Varseth Crissil, and I am 14 years old. I was named after the Great King Dimuvar and his military official, Sethinian. These names were known amongst our lands as the founders of our race. However, it is our current king that I must avoid at all cost. His name is Lucius, King Lucius Crissil, and surprisingly enough he is my father.

I have avoided this man for six years after he captured the imperial city Calsis, claiming the throne of Murdeth. Thus, for this reason and this reason alone, I am currently hiding within the Trusis Mountains. Why you ask, because my father’s kingdom is on the opposite side of its ridges.

I definitely know what you are thinking. Why run from your own father? Wouldn’t I be honored to be the son of the king? I would laugh at you for that, for being the son of a king is no luxury in my tale. My past, unfortunately to your imaginative ideals, is not as glamorous as most. No one can truly understand what I have been through the last years of my life. I have moved from cottage, to house, to village, to woods, to solitude. Nothing in this world really seemed to fit my demeanor, and every town I went to recognized me. You may think I would be praised or admired as I walked through the cities, but quite the contrary; I was feared and hated.

So, I stopped for a while at the bank of the Srean River which runs through the middle of the Trusis Mountains. Its crystal-like waters were said to calm even the most troubled souls and cast out the demons from within the most dangerous of men. Sounds like a fairy tale, as much of a fairy tale as the life I was currently living.

There was no one inhabiting these mountains except creatures of the unknown, and I definitely wasn’t a tad bit worried about finding one. I mean what’s the worst that could happen? If they came after me I would either A: run or B: fight them off with a little fire trick. I may burn myself from lack of experience but at least I’d be safe. Or so I hoped…

I looked at my reflection in the water’s depths, as my complexion illuminated. That’s what worried me the most, his face: the face I always saw when I looked myself over in a mirror. I sighed heavily and lay down by the Srean’s moist bank. I was tired from my previous journey and while enjoying the soothing air of the Srean’s magic, I sank into a deep sleep. However, my reminiscence, that should have been great and dandy, quickly turned into an unwelcomed disturbance.

I suddenly recalled the place I had visited before I arrived here. The town of Hatchet, where I stopped by a nearby tavern for a drink and immediately the bartender recognized me. He gave me a sip of his wine and smirked, You’re Lucius’ son aren’t ya?

I kept my eyes off of him as the rest of the tavern appeared to direct their attention towards me, intrigued by his comment. It’s like everywhere I went someone had heard of me. I wish it was as a hero instead of a demon. They all seemed to equate me to my father, that monster who took the life of the person I cared about the most. Can’t they see that I am just me? Not that tyrant!

But, what was I to do? Oh yeah, I know, take it all in. Act as if they had a right to speak against me: slander my name for things that I never had control of in the first place.

I don’t know why I didn’t recognize you when you came through the door. Those silver highlights and that black hair of yours is uncanny, and those eyes, they are as cold as his, like dry ice! the bartender chuckled, pointing to my most wanted poster near the wine rack.

I still kept my eyes off of this man, simply sipping my wine, as he regurgitated whatever the heck he wanted. Should I be bothered that my picture is on the wall? No, not at all; even though it was a great depiction of me.

That man is nothing but the devil himself! Who does he think he is? What goal did he seek in sending those monsters to prey on our families, ripping up our forests and claiming our land? the bartender snarled, as the others chided in as well.

I remember looking up at the bartender with sorrow. I don’t want to cause any trouble. I’m just passing through.

The bartender grunted, "Don’t want to cause any trouble; your father has taken over a once peaceful nation created by Dimuvar himself! Now he claims all of Murdeth as his empire, planning to expand to the next! We are nothing but pawns in his game of chess, and he would not hesitate to wipe us out at any moment with his mystified creatures and winged steeds! Don’t want to cause trouble you say? We have the right to turn you in for money, but we don’t want nor need HIS money! We all want you far away from our lands so we can live whatever peaceful life we have left!"

Yah! the crowd jeered: all drunkards, decrepit men…blistering fools.

Hatred tore through my heart at this man’s words. He acted as if he knew everything about me! My fists tightened as I suddenly exploded. YOU ACT AS IF YOU KNOW ME! HE KILLED MY OWN MOTHER AND YOU ARE BABBERING ON ABOUT AWEFUL ACTS I DID NOT COMMIT! HE BEAT ME TO DEATH AND DESTROYED ALL OF MY POSSIBLE MEANS OF HAPPINESS WHEN I WAS TEN! SO IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE IT WORSE THAN I DO, SPEAK UP, BUT YOU BEST SHUT YOUR BLOODY MOUTH!

The bartender looked at me in amazement after my sudden outburst as I flung my silver empire coin on the bar and stormed out of the tavern. I could feel everyone’s eyes upon me as I ran toward the forest, tears streaming down my face like a waterfall. I was tired of running from that monster, but I currently had no other option. All I could do was travel across the empire’s plain for days without food or water, ending up here on this rivers bank.

I tilted my head back, opening my eyes only a few moments to stare at the sky. Its blue hue turned to a dark purple within minutes of the setting sun. I remembered the first time I flew up into that horizon. It was as cold as the dark reaches of space but as free as your soul. My eyes fluttered heavily from lack of sleep, wanting to return to the latter part of my dream to remember that which I had chosen to forget. So, I gave into the Srean’s calm waters again, stretched my arms to the heavens and yawned as I returned to the blackness of my eyelids.

Chapter 2:

EXISTENCE 

I revisited my childhood, the life that got me into this mess in the first place. My tale begins when I was six years old. I lived in a little cottage out in the woods in Raveth, a city near the empire. There I was cared for, not by my father, but by my mother.

My mother, Eluvie, was an Arean mutte´, a princess, from the great tribe of Murdeth. She was the Arean King’s only daughter of a dying race, and one of the last immortals to walk the face of the earth.

And wow, how beautiful she was. Her silver hair glittered in the pale moonlight and radiated with the sun. Her blue eyes could engulf the sea; her face was so magnificent that even the graceful monarch butterfly bowed its head and curved its wings in respect to her grace. She was the light in my dreams, always dispersing the darkness of the unknown.

Unfortunately, she married an evil man who was only after her gift of immortality, for whoever touches her lips will supposedly live forever. However, most did not know there was more to this tale. Yes, you would live forever if you have Arean blood, but if you were a human you would live and die just like normal human beings. Yet, after you die, you are reborn again. However, the only thing that can damage the Areans’ immortality is marrying a mortal, dooming the Arean to a quick and agonizing life, for the Arean will die day by day, leaving their lovers to walk the face of the earth instead.

Thus, my father Lucius, son of Thadim and Knight of Murdeth, only cared for my mother, not for me. He noticed me sometimes, after I stood right in front of him to get his acceptance, but he merely gave me a wry smile that made me cringe at its sight. His blue eyes, like mine, were so bright that they would burn out your eye sockets. His eyes were enlightened by his eerie figure; his pale skin was vibrantly white and his thick long black hair fell upon his shoulders, making him look like a demon.

One thing I observed about my father was before he left to go on his got to protect the empire trips; he would always kiss my mother. When they connected, it always sent a chill down my father’s spine as a puff of warm air evaporated from his mouth when he pulled away from my mother. Then he’d smile at her, warmly and seductively, and merely stare in my direction before he turned to leave. It was like a daily routine. The only good thing about these trips was that father was gone and I wished he wouldn’t come back anytime soon.

I don’t know why my mother missed him when he was away, but she would always look at me and smile. It was as if I reminded her of him, which I sure as heck wished I didn’t! She would pull me up into her warm lap and play in my silver and black hair.

She held me tight like a teddy bear and sang me a song. It was the song of her people, Tarean:

Se sano che de waze (I will be with you my darling)

Co no mi mo te do ki- yo (Even through blizzards with sleet and snow)

Se sano she de wa- ze (I will be with you my darling)

No mo te de y ate- mare (Through the ends of the earth)

To te no chize tu ma-caye (You will remember my saying)

She to do wo se me ze-yo (When you have nowhere to turn)

Se sano che de- waze (I will be with you my darling)

Yo no mi ma de-ye (Forever and ever more)

I would always fall asleep in my mother’s lap when she sang that soothing song. It had such a warm soft tone that it would rock me quietly into a dream of never-ending joy. I remember the night that she tucked me into my wooden bed and kissed me on my forehead. I felt secure for the moment as I wandered into a peaceful dream… a dream of love and happiness, a dream filled with the wonder of adventure all little boy’s dream of: being a hero and saving the damsel in distress. However, it was just a fairy tale to me: a tale that Tarean brought to all who listened to its words, a song of hope.

Sadly, dreams are always interrupted by something. It could be your mother waking you up for a new day, just when you were about to slay the three-eyed demon with an axe, or it could be the beginning of a nightmare. Mine was a nightmare that began to stir as I heard the neigh of a horse outside my window and wings fluttering like mad hawks. He had returned. My father had been away for three months and now he was back in my life. I shuddered when I heard the front door to the house open. There were sudden whispers in the front of our cottage, knowing it was my father greeting my mother; however, I suddenly heard his thick boots pounding our wooden floors like a sledge hammer.

Unexpectedly, my father turned the knob to my room slowly opening my door for the first time. Father never came into my room, as if I was some sort of plague that shouldn’t be touched, but why now? Why today? His long black hair covered his eyes, making him appear more ghastly, as he knelt by the bed of a shivering boy. He had a wry smile as he jerked the covers off of me and pulled me to his face.

Come boy! ¹ he yelled, in his native tongue, as he yanked me off of my bed, pulling me harshly to his side.

He forcefully dragged me out of my room, as I clawed at his hand that sucked the life out of my tiny veins. Tears welled in my eyes as we walked towards the front door of our cottage. I didn’t want to go anywhere with him and his grip was so firm on my hand that I felt as if he was dragging me to my death. My mother saw us approaching from her knitting chair and ran toward the man who marched me towards the door like a slave.

She caught up to us, forcefully grabbing my father with his free hand as he turned around in frustration. Her eyes were sorrowful, questioning, wondering.

Te sho le co me tanre²? she asked frightened.

My father smirked, Con re te lah³!

My mother stared at him, letting go of his hand as he walked out of the door. I remember frantically yelling at my mother to save me, but it was only a waste of breath. He took me to his black steed, a monstrous beast with red eyes, gigantic black wings, and nostrils of fire. Its wings fluttered violently as I approached, butting its head and kicking up its front hoof as if warning me to stay away from him.

Unfortunately, my father forcefully tossed me upon this creature, unsure if I should be frightened or not as he sat behind me, taking the reins. I wondered for a long time what my mother and father discussed before we left the house. I did not fully understand the Arean language when I was young and just wanted to make sure that my mother wasn’t trying to send me to my demise. My eyes flickered as I lie by the Srean River for now… every word was ever so clear to me. My mom asked where my father was taking me, and his answer was: Some father son bonding.

The steed sped off to the Baroke Mountains which separated us from the empire. I had mixed emotions: I was delighted yet tense about riding with my father. His horse took off like a rocket to the sky above! Its long black wings stretched out at tremendous speeds, graceful and powerful, as we flew over the mountains and into the dark starry sky. The cool air caressed my face as I grasped firmly to the horses saddle, afraid of falling off. But I felt safe, regardless of my father being right behind me. It was as if the horse knew I was there with him and he would not let me fall, no matter how fast we flew.

Yah, I was totally amused, especially for being a kid. I reenacted the horse’s flight while we flew, as my father merely steered trying to avoid my outstretched arms. However, the higher we got, the colder it became. It was as if we had journeyed farther away from the warmth of the sun and entered nothingness.

I shivered frantically, engulfed by the night, as I turned to my father, whose expression darkened by the second. I was about to open my mouth to ask for a cover or something to keep me warm when his eyes turned a blood red, like a brilliant ruby, and a black mist, darker than night itself, began to outline his body.

I became afraid, terrified of the man who is biologically attached to me. I began to whimper in desperation. Is he really going to kill me?

My father’s mist slowly faded as he looked distractingly at me, turning back into his normal state. He pulled me closer to him as a slight sign of affection. Maybe he did have some sort of a heart; yet, that same wry smile appeared on his face.

Swiftly, five steeds similar to my father’s horse appeared from the darkness. They floated like clouds as they surrounded us: guarding us. They also bore riders, but these men were different. One rider I could make out was a human like my father for he had blonde hair, black eyes, and pale peach skin. But the other four riders were gargoyle like creatures with grey bat-like wings, dark skin like a blackened grey, two black devilish horns, and pitch black eye sockets.

One of the monsters stared at me with delight and for once in my life, out of mere fright; I spun to my father’s chest, clutching him fiercely. Maybe, in my act of despair, I thought he would send the monsters away from this horrible dream. Yet, he laughed evilly, amused by my actions and placed his hand on my head.

These are Zacors; they are gargoyles from the east that will help me build my empire. They won’t harm you.

The blonde haired man grinned at me, Who’s the runt? he asked, in a strong yet mesmerizing accent I’ve never heard before. It sounded snake like, as if his tongue wasn’t fully working. Yet it was so angelic that I felt consumed by his tone.

My father chuckled, He’s…my heir.

The man stared at me, Oh, is that so…well young one, I’m Draces.

I stared at the man, but I could see something devilish about him. His teeth, they were sharp…very sharp. I winced as I buried my head into my father’s chest. Human, he was not human! He was something else, something that wanted to eat me…or worse…

My father laughed at me again, tenser than before and harshly turned my face toward Draces, You speak after one tells you his name!

I whimpered into Draces’ black eyes, My…my name is Varseth.

Draces smirked, Varseth huh, combining the names of the founders, very clever indeed. And those highlights, Arean must be. Immortality is a useful trait.

My father’s eyes strayed after Draces spoke, as if he was mulling over something. It was as if the words immortality brought a new strain in his life. What was it about being immortal that made my father seem so lost in thought?

My Lord, do you plan to proceed to Zareem? Draces wondered.

My father seemed to come back to his senses, Of course, we are already behind schedule. To Zareem!

At the sound of father’s voice, our steeds sped off like a blur into sky’s unknown. Their wings lengthened and their hooves kicked faster into the oncoming wind. I felt the air pounding my face like a heavy storm as I blocked my eyes from its advancement. What was so amazing about this Zareem? What on earth was it anyway and why did my father seem to be in a rush to get there? What was going on?

I couldn’t ponder over my thoughts that long because we dropped towards the world below us without any hesitation. As we dived towards the ground, my heart leapt into my mouth making me yelp. I began to feel clouds brush against my face like wet towels as the clearing of a village showed amongst the darkness. Torches brewed amongst the city as people mosey along with their usual business.

The horses landed sharply, making me jerk as the town towered over my little body. However, there appeared to be something wrong. There were guards, many of them on horseback and covered with armor. Why were they preventing us from entering?

My father chuckled as I looked at these men. They were shiny, loaded with metal that covered their bodies and bore long swords that glinted in the moonlight, except one man who confronted us. He did not wear attire like the others. He had on a robe, a brown robe that wrapped around his neck and a red fluffy beard that extended to the middle of his chest.

Lucius, we will not permit you to control our land. This is all that we have left! The empire may control our money, but we will not be ruled by a tyrant!

Silence in your kings presence! Who do you think you are peasant? This is the ruler of our land, and he will not hear your treasonous words against him! Draces confronted.

He won’t be our king! He is currently planning to kill…