The Crown of Dreams

==Prologue==
Everyone knew that at night, the Palace of Memories came alive. 
But only one was foolish enough to brave it. 
The woman hurried into the area, a hood raised over her black curls. She started up the stairs, her footsteps silent on the stone. 
She pushed open the wooden double doors. Surprisingly, it was unlocked. The legends had told her that the Palace was protected with great security to keep thieves from entering. 
And yet, here she was, doing the impossible. 
The woman removed a leather satchel, which had just before been hanging from her arm. She opened the flap and peered into the darkness of the Palace. 
By day, the Palace was full of the royal family and the servants tasked with protecting and cleaning it, but by night, no one dared to come. 
Only she. 
The tiled floor clacked softly against her shoes, but she couldn't care less. She gazed around the famed building, marveling at the architecture. 
The ceiling was inlaid with silver tiles. Cloudy white quartz decorated the tiles, and the walls with embedded with golden filigree. 
The woman headed past display after display: a mirror with twisted thorns surrounding the frame, a scuffed lamp, the picture of a regal-looking man with a circlet on his chestnut hair. He wore a kind smile and held up a crown as if giving it to someone. 
The woman paused and looked guiltily at the crown. It was precious. Loved. And now she was here to take it. 
She finally reached a glass case. It seemed empty, but when she blew softly on the glass, the form of a golden crown slowly appeared. 
It was very delicate, with various precious gems decorating the gold. But as the woman carefully struck a match and started to melt down the glass, a sharp flash of light caught her attention. 
She turned her head, and when she did, a large black shadow leapt at her. 
The woman glanced at it, but as it caught her attention, more shadows slunk out of the walls and surrounded her. She finally melted the rest of the glass and caught the crown with both hands, but she was trapped. There was no way she could leave. 
At least she finally knew what the abundance of security surrounding the Palace meant. 
She placed the Crown in her satchel and pushed past two shadowy figures, running for the exit. The shadows chased after her, slowly solidifying as they went. One blocked the only exit. 
Now I'm really trapped, she thought. 
She only had one more option. 
The woman raised the Crown of Dreams above her head, knowing it was the only thing she could do now. 
(more coming soon) Category:Original Stories (Unfinished)
Category:Literature
Category:Fantasy
Category:Original Stories