The Heart- Another novel by Jasmine Crespo

Okay this is ANOTHER novel. Not my fault- I'm just a multi-tasker. This is unedited so don't mock. I'll post the edited one later.





The Heart-
Prologue-

In the Kingdom of Sunder, there is peace. There is no need for heroes when there are no villains. This would seem logical if you knew the reason, The Heart. The Heart or as it is called se heorte, is a magical charm which none have seen, except for the royal family. A great sorcerer bestowed the magic of this charm thousands of years ago, back when the Five Sons originally claimed Sunder.
The Five Sons are the founding kings of Sunder that were the closest any humans could be with each other. This would last until the evil sorceress, Lea, would cause turmoil between the brothers. Lea used her powers to make the brothers fall in love with her.
The eldest, David, fell madly in love with her first. David made her his queen, which is how she made her next attempt. Lea used her powers again to trick a brother, named Sime, who was the next oldest, into helpless love and longing. Sime too fell in love with her, and she now being his brother’s wife, he was jealous. He plotted and schemed to get rid of his brother, for love blinded him. Sime committed the first of four killings. In the dead of night, he slit David’s throat, making no noise in the process. The remainder of the brothers awoke in the morning; finding nothing but Sime’s cold dead body on the floor, with their Brother David’s blood surrounding him. Written in this blood was this: “A cold, Dark night conceals a long lost fright.”
The brothers searched the entire castle for there brother David’s body, only to find that it was strewn across the gates of Sunder, a grim welcome for those whom wished to enter. Lea was nowhere to be seen. The brothers then left were Thomas, Roth and Richard. The brothers were unaware that Lea was a sorceress, if they did, they wouldn’t have suffered this horrible fate. Lea transformed herself into a different person. This is why she is so hard to describe, she transforms to the moment. One day she might be an innocent beggar on the streets- then the she-devil form she most often takes. The she-devil persona is a woman of tall stature, with fire red hair that is worn down as to go to her waist. Her eyes gleam fire. This is why no man can stare at her in the eyes with out falling for her.
Lea transformed herself into a brunette beauty. She turned her rich skin a pale peach and her fire red hair a deep brown. The brothers would never recognize her. Except for her eyes-, she could never change the evil that emitted from them. This is what she did in order to carry out her devious plan to take over Sunder.
Lea lured Roth and Richard away from young Thomas. The two fought to the death for her hand. Lea was in complete and absolute power, until Thomas stood tall. After the death of all four of his eldest brothers, Thomas knew something was wrong. Each brother was murdered by each other or by another source. He knew it was something magical. He knew it was the girls. Or was it a girl? Thomas sensed that the sorceress was near, he just couldn’t pin it on this brunette beauty or the blonde named Lea, though they both ran away after his brothers died.
A third woman appeared. She was more a girl than a woman for Thomas was only sixteen. The appearance of this woman can never recollected for she disappeared as quickly as she came. She tried to seduce him too. However, failed. Thomas deducted that all of his brothers died after meeting the girls that were from other kingdoms. So he ran. Thomas ran to the most powerful sorcerer of the time, Earkl. The rumor is that The Heart is Thomas’s heart, charmed for all eternity to protect his people and hold the kingdom together. The reason only Thomas was unable to fall for Lea, was that he was young, only seventeen at the time and in love with another. His heart was valiant and could not be swayed.
The speculation of the heart is that it is Thomas’s heart. But how could that be when he fell in love with a girl- his future queen, Jelle. Thomas fell in love with her a year earlier, when they first claimed the land. There is something you must understand this in order to comprehend this story, you are full grown when you are fourteen. A legal adult. So Thomas ventured with his brothers for it was destiny- and you can’t defy your destiny.
The brothers discovered this land, which is more an island than mainland, in the dead of night- when they were following the stars for answers. There was no government to be heard of and the city was rampant. People murdered in the streets- for a simple penny, stores robbed if not protected by a magical shield. The brothers brought order to the land by sub ruling in five areas. David ruled the north end- where all the forests were- and the most wild of beasts lived. Sime ruled the sea and the rainforests, which were abundant with life. Roth ruled the east of the land for he was too incompetent to rule much more. Richard was given the south of the island- the ruins of battles past. This left Thomas with the west- the farmlands.
The farmlands don’t seem much to the average person, but underneath its humble appearance, you will find the most talented magicians.
Thomas, when he turned seventeen, journeyed to his land that he ruled. He went quietly, as not to attract attention to himself. If he did- most of the people would not be honest with him. He wanted to be treated like a normal person- not a king, for his journey. It was easily done for he was only king for a year and almost none had seen him.
He did not go empty handed though. Thomas bought himself a piece of land to farm and to end any suspicion that might arise. Thomas walked through the village to get his bearings. He stopped in the middle of the road when he saw a beautiful girl- a young sorceress- practice her magic in an old music shop. He saw the delight in her eyes as she rearranged the room with a flick of her hand. The pianos moved as they played festive melodies with sheet music darting across the room. Fluttering like butterflies the sheet music surrounded and lifted the girl up to the ceiling.
Thomas couldn’t help himself; he quietly crept into the shop and watched her even further. The girl didn’t notice the intruder for she was too preoccupied. She was so engrossed, only the applause of Thomas awoke her from her trance. The music crashed down and the piano keys went out with a bang.
“What are you doing here!” the girl yelled.
Thomas jumped back in surprise and was shy for he thought that she was the most beautiful girl in the universe. He was lost in her amazingly violet eyes. You may think Thomas would have reacted differently, him being king, but he was still a teenage boy. He blushed and stuttered.
“I-I’m sorry. I was just watching. You’re amazing.” Thomas said.
The girl glanced over him and decided that he was harmless and honest.
“I forgive you. Let’s start over. Hello, I’m Jelle. Who are you?” Jelle said kindly.
“I’m Thomas.” said Thomas
“Nice to meet you Thomas. A tip, next time you sneak into my shop, don’t scare me.” said Jelle.
Thomas was honest. That is why Jelle fell for him. Thomas came every day after that. One day Thomas asked her if she would accompany him to the ball. Jelle said yes, but then Thomas was called back to the castle. Jelle was left alone. This is about the time that the murders occurred.
Thomas’s life was saved for he loved this girl. After he had become the only king, he was lonely and depressed. The kingdom would fall into peril if he went back to Jelle. So he hired an imposter to sit in his place and lull the people into thinking he was there. Thomas rushed off in the cold winter night, on his horse; he raced to Jelle’s homeland.
Thomas settled back into his new home, rehearsing what to say to Jelle. Would she forgive him? He paced around his room, with a necklace in his hand. The crystal on it was a blood red for inside this crystal, was dragons blood. Dragons blood was and is the most cherished item that one could ever possess. After the Great Wars, all the dragons were extinct. In Thomas’s other hand was a ring. He would propose to this wonderful girl.
In the morning, Thomas arrived at the old music shop where he usually saw Jelle. She was alone, sitting in a corner, delicately playing a desolate song on the piano. Thomas opened the door quietly, as not to disturb her. He walked to where she was sitting and tapped her shoulder. She turned around and saw his face.
“Thomas!” she exclaimed.
“I’m sorry I left. I have something to tell you.” Thomas said.
“It doesn’t matter! I’m so glad you are alive!” said Jelle.
Jelle stood up and dragged Thomas to the middle of the room by his arm. They then resumed their conversation.
“You are?” asked Thomas.
“Yes I am. I was afraid you were dead because you didn’t come to the ball. I know you would never do something like that. I assumed the worst.” Jelle replied.
“How could I make up for missing our date?” Thomas asked.
“Take me to dinner. That’s all I need.” Jelle said.
“That’s all you need?” said Thomas getting closer to her.
“Yes?” she said unsurely
Thomas then leaned close enough to her that he could smell the flower that was in her hair. Thomas held Jelle close. Bringing her closer to him inch by inch. This all took a few seconds but it seemed like years to them. They kissed each other for the first time. It lingered on their faces afterwards and Jelle was filled with joy. She smiled and said, “Maybe not.” They embraced repeatedly until Thomas took Jelle to his house to eat and to ask her a question.
Jelle was giddy from the kisses she had received earlier. She was levitating the salt and pepper as she watched Thomas prepare the meal. They sat down and ate. Looking at each other all the while. Then Thomas got up and walked behind her. He then slipped the necklace around her neck. She opened her eyes and exclaimed at the necklace.
“Thomas! It’s beautiful!” Jelle said.
“It’s only as beautiful as you Jelle.” Thomas said.
He then got down on one knee and said the following:
“Jelle, will you be my queen?” Thomas asked
“What do you mean queen?” Jelle asked.
“I am King Thomas and I love you Jelle.” Thomas said admittedly.
The expression on her space was blank. Jelle leaned in close and kissed Thomas.
“Yes.” she said.
This is when they were both still seventeen. They both died at nineteen. Queen Jelle died first in King Thomas’s arms. She was poisoned by an unknown source. Thomas was heartbroken. He ran to Earkle and this is how the heart came to be. Thomas needed a protector to Sunder and The same protection and kindness the Jelle would bring. Earkle obliged and King Thomas went back to rule the kingdom when he was murdered. It was rumored that the driver committed the murder. for he was nowhere to be seen. And all the townsfolk thought he was evil for he had fire in his eyes.
In the heart of the castle, lies a box with a single rose embellished on it. There is where the heart lies. It is locked with a magic that only Earkl the sorcerer can break, and when he does, he locks it repeatedly to protect it from Sunder’s enemies. It keeps peace and safety to Sunder.
An evil took over Sunder by killing the queen and king. This evil started a new monarchy. All had to be ruled over by Jelni. He was a cruel and horrid ruler. Only caring about himself and not the kingdom.
Jelni did not know that King Thomas and Queen Jelle had a son, Vincent. The villagers saved him after the tragedy of his parents’ deaths. When he grew up, he over through the new monarch in a great battle. He regained his throne and restored peace to Sunder. This peace would last until now, when the heart is stolen.
A massacre occurred in the dead of night. Everything in the castle destroyed. The heart of the castle, which kept the heart, was ransacked with the box, which contained the heart open with a heart of light- a mirage if you will- which had words written on it in black blood: “A cold, Dark night conceals a long lost fright.”
This sent fear into the souls of all the people for when you are a little child in Sunder you are taught those words in order to understand Sunder’s history. Many have analyzed these words for their meaning. None have figured exactly what it means. This leads to the beginning of a new hero, or heroine. This leads to Asji.