Chapter Three

Chapter Three
The Dream Life of Adia Silverblade

I

The laughter of the little boy echoed in the air. He skipped across the lush green grass chasing a dark winged butterfly. His dark hair seemed to float in the air as he played. His green eyes sparkled brightly with each laugh.

A young woman stood at the door to a small cottage watching as the boy ran through the fields. She had her arms wrapped tightly around her. The wind carried a slight chill that her linen gown failed to keep out.

She shivered slightly and called for her son. He looked at her and waved. She could not keep the smile from her face when she looked at him. So pure. So innocent. She felt a warmth in her heart that defeated the wind’s cool chill.

The boy darted through the tall grass and disappeared for a moment. The woman felt her heart beat faster. It calmed when the boy appeared again. She did not understand the apprehension she felt whenever her son disappeared from site. No matter the duration, she always worried.

“You are too protective.” A deep voice spoke from behind her. She felt strong arms wrap around her and pull her against a hard torso. She turned her head and looked into the soft blue eyes of her husband. She sighed and leaned her head back on his shoulder.

“I do not know why I am so anxious when he leaves my sight. It is perfectly safe here.”

She felt her husband’s lips brush against her neck.

“My dear Adia, you are simply a mother. A mother worries.” He smiled at her, his face free of lines and barely looking his age of twenty-nine.

“I worry too much. You said it yourself.”

“I said you are too protective. Let the boy wander and explore. It is in his nature.”

“I fear he has too much of your nature, Damian. I’ll not wake up one morning to find him vanished on some adventure or another.”

“Those days are over now. My place is here with you, wife, and with Tiko. I’ll not leave you alone again.”
Adia turned to face him. She looked up into his eyes.

“Do you swear it?” She asked, “Do you swear it to be so?”

Damian kissed her softly on the lips. He brushed her hair away from her face.

“Upon my life and my honor I swear it to be.”

They embraced. Adia held him tightly for fear if she let go she would lose him forever. She felt his arms tighten around her, almost as if he had the same fears. She smiled and was content in the safety of his arms. Even for that short while, she was content.

II

Adia stirred the thick stew that simmered on the fire. She had her hair pulled back into a pony-tail and was dressed in a soft blue wool dress with a grey apron tied tightly around her waist. She hummed quietly while she cooked so as to not awaken Tiko who was napping on the floor in his room off the kitchen.

Aside from her sleeping son, Adia was alone in the house. Damian had taken the horse and wagon into the nearby town to get some feed and supplies. She felt a pang of fear when she saw him take his sword. Bandits had been striking wagons near to town and she believed it only a matter of time before they struck Damian. Despite his past before they met and his reputation, she still worried about him when he was away.

She smiled at the memory of the start of their courtship. He had taken one look into her eyes and vowed to lay down arms if she only gives him her heart. Of course she did, and true to his word, he did the same. It may have taken a while for him to do so, but upon the knowledge of the coming of a son, Damian had kept his word.

They had settled down together on this land that her father had purchased for them and it was here she gave birth to her son. It had been a peaceful, happiness filled eight years since.

Adia started at a knock on the door. She was so jumpy lately. She often found herself leaping at her own reflection. Adia rested the ladle against the side of the pot and walked to the door. She lifted the board securing the door and opened it.

An older woman with a smooth olive complexion stood before Adia. She had soft caramel hair that rested on her shoulders. Her face lit up when Adia opened the door.

“Mother!” Adia rushed forward and hugged her mother tightly.

“My darling girl.” She said and held Adia in her arms.

“This is most unexpected. Please come inside.” Adia stepped aside and let her mother enter. She closed the door and placed the board back in its place, “It is nearly half a day’s ride to get here Mother, is everything all right?”

Her mother sat on the edge of a bench at the dining table, “Everything is just fine, I…I just felt as if I needed to come see you and Tiko.”

Adia sat next to her mother and took her hand. It was soft, the skin felt wispy as if it would scatter to the winds if held to roughly.

“We are pleased to have you here. Damian shall return soon and we will eat. I insist you stay till the morn. It will be dangerous to travel at night.”

“Oh child.” Her mother seemed on the verge of saying more but Tiko had emerged from his room. He ran into his grandmothers arms with a giggle.

Adia smiled and returned to her stew. She began stirring again. Her eyes drifted to the amber flames burning beneath the pot.

“Wish for good dreams my Aya.”

The flames darkened and Adia could see dark black shapes among them. She could hear the thundering of horses in the distance.

“Wish for good dreams…”

“Adia?”

The flames turned a deep amber and Adia could swear she saw a pair of eyes staring out at her.

“Adia!”

She felt hands grab her and yank her away from the fire. The soup ladle clattered against the stone floor.

Adia spun around and looked at her mother. For a moment she appeared to be severely charred and burned. Adia could see the white of her skull peaking through the blackened flesh. She opened her mouth to scream but her mother slapped her hard across the cheek. Instantly, her vision blurred and she blinked away tears. She looked up at her mother again. She looked as she had before with no sign of burns.

“I’m sorry I had to hit you, you…you looked as if you might be going mad. You almost fell into the fire.”

Adia sat down in a chair. She was covered in sweat and her heart was pounding.
“I do not…I…” Adia struggled to put words to what she had seen. She looked up at her mother and the vision of her burnt face flashed across her vision again. She covered her face in her hands and fought the tears that were threatening to break forth. It wasn’t until she heard Tiko begin to cry that she was able to pull herself together. She quickly got to her feet and went to him.

“I’m sorry I scared you.” She took him into her arms. He sniffed and nodded softly.

“I wasn’t ascared for you. I saw daddy.”

Adia looked towards the door.

“I saw him here.” Tiko touched his head.

“I don’t understand.” Adia said, glancing at her mother.

“There were mean men with swords and fire. Daddy was fighting them.”

Adia stood and turned to her mother.

“Where is Father?” She asked.

Her mother reddened and looked away.

“Has he gone after the bandits?”

Her mother did not answer.

“Is Damian with him?”

“You father begged him, Adia. You must understand there was no other way.”

“Did I do bad Mommy?”

Adia turned away from her mother and picked scooped Tiko from the floor.

“You did nothing wrong, Love. Nothing at all.” She shot an angry look at her mother and carried Tiko into his room. She set him on the floor, “Tiko, I need to go out for a little while. I’ll be back soon. Grandma will be with you. Dinner will be ready soon.” She kissed him on his forehead, “I love you.”

“Be careful,” he said softly, “I don’t wanna see you here too.” He touched his head again and looked down at his toys.

Adia smiled at him and left the room. She walked over to the door and grabbed her cloak from the hook by the door. It was long and black. She looked at it for a moment unsure of where it came from. It seemed familiar to her but she did not recall ever having it before.

“Adia, you mustn’t.”

“I must!” She shouted, “I must and do not think for a moment you will stop me.” Adia flung the cloak over her shoulders.

It’s all coming apart…

“What did you say?” Adia asked.

“I spoke not. But please, I beg you. Stay with Tiko, stay with me. Damian and your Father will be home any moment.”

“They may already be…it may already be too late. If it is, if he is dead, if he is lost to me…” She said no more and snatched open the door. She felt something heavy on her hip and found a large sword sheathed there. A deep azure stone gleamed from its hilt. Adia turned back and looked at her house. Her mother sat looking at the fireplace. Adia could see the firelight flickering on the tear tracks running down her cheeks. Adia rested her hand on the hilt of the sword. She was not sure where it came from but she was suddenly very glad to have it.

She rushed to the stable and saddled her horse. She mounted and rode off toward the village. She rode as if hell itself was on her tail and gaining ground. In a way it was. Even as she rode she saw the orange glow in the darkening sky. She saw the black smoke swirling into the sky. She noticed the thick smell of burning wood with a hint of something sour just beneath it. Adia did not wish to think of what that was.

She leaned forward and screamed at her horse to go faster. She kicked her heals against the beast again and again. She had never ridden this fast before. The horse’s hooves blasted into the ground like rapid fire thunder. Her cloak slipped off her head and her brown hair sprang free. It fluttered in the wind in waves as the cold wind rushed through it. Her vision blurred for a moment and she realized she was crying now.

You must be strong. You must be ready.

That voice again. It was so familiar to her.

Look out!

Adia glanced ahead and saw a large man riding towards her. He was swinging a large axe. She had no further hesitation. She ripped her sword from its sheath and with strength she did not know she had, threw it at the approaching bandit.
The blade pierced his chest and he swayed in his saddle. As she rode past him, Adia reached out and ripped her sword free. The man tumbled to the ground and was dead before he hit the dirt.

Adia rode on.

III

It wasn’t long before she saw the flames. The village was ablaze. She saw small huddles of people together sobbing and screaming as their homes burned away. Bodies were everywhere. The street flowed crimson with spilt blood.

“Gods…” she whispered.

“NO! Please I beg you!”

Adia turned and saw a bandit scooping a young girl into his arms. The girl’s mother pounded his chest; her tiny fists did nothing to stop him. The man guffawed and backhanded her, sending her sprawling to the ground, her nose a rose of blood.

Adia kicked her horse and galloped towards them. She held her sword tightly.

“Hey!” She screamed.

The bandit looked at her and saw the sword arching towards him. The little girl fell from his arms as he struggled for his weapon. The sword cleaved through his neck easily and his head flew from his body in an arch. A stream of blood trailed it’s decent.

Adia did not wait for gratitude. She saw the woman rush to her daughter. That was enough.

She rode on.

She was almost to the town square. She jerked the reins of the horse and barely avoided trampling a man rushing across the street way. He was engulfed in flames and screaming for the gods to save him.

Just ahead she saw a large group fighting violently. Bandits and villagers were raging against each other. At its center was Damian.

He seemed to be fighting everyone. His speed was inhuman. His blades were sparking off sword after sword. Each swing coating it in blood. He glanced up and saw her causing a moment’s hesitation.

One moment was enough. One of the bandits slammed the hilt of his sword against Damian’s head. Damian stumbled forward.

“DAMIAN!” Adia screamed. She kicked the horse again and rode into the mass of bandits. Her horse trampled three of them and reared onto its back legs. It kicked its hooves smashing in the faces of two others. One of the bandits rushed forward with a large steal spear. Adia barely had time to avoid the spear that burst through the beast’s neck. It tangled into her hair. Adia swiped her blade and severed the tangled hair. She leapt from the horse as it fell to the ground.

The men were on her immediately. She did her best to fight them off. Slicing and kicking away at them. She felt power in her that she had never before experienced. Her muscles were tight with rage and strength as she plowed her way through the bandits. Someone grabbed her by the hair and yanked her backwards. She swung her sword back over her head and split the man’s crown in two. They fell back together. Adia used the momentum to roll backwards over the man’s body. She sprang back to her feet, sword in hand.

Damian lay a few feet away from her. She rushed forward and rolled him onto his back.

“Wake up damn you.” She whispered.

Several villagers fell dead to the bandits blades.

Adia slapped Damian across the face and his eyes sprang open. He looked up at her.

“I’m sorry…” He said.

“Apologize later.” Adia helped him to his feet. He grabbed his sword from the ground and rushed back into the fight.

Adia looked down at her hands. They were covered in thick dark blood. The battle around her seemed to freeze. She looked from her hands, through the warring bandits, past the villagers to the dagger wedged in Damian’s side. It was in to the hilt just beneath his armpit. Adia moved forward. She felt like she was mired in quicksand, barely able to move. She swung her sword and clanged away blow after blow. Her eyes remained fixed on the blade that was lodged inside her husband.

She shoved her sword inside another bandit. Pushing it in to the handle so that the blade burst through the other side. The man fell to his knees. Adia placed her foot against his face and shoved him off her sword. It was then she saw Damian stagger. The wound in his side finally weakening him. Adia rushed forward but found herself caught up in a group of bandits. One of them wore a heavy red cape.

“Your husband is a brave fighter.” He said. His breath was hot and rank, “In death his honor will remain. This is our town now bitch. Take your dead lover and go. Perhaps you will make it before my men do.”
The bandit leader’s eyes widened as a sword blade burst through his chest. Adia saw a hand snake around the leaders head and yank him back.

“Not…dead…yet…” Damian said and shoved his blade further in. The bandit leader’s eyes dimmed.

The other bandits scattered upon seeing their leader slain.

Damian fell to the ground with the dead leader on top of him. Adia pulled the heavy body away and grabbed for Damian.

“Too late. You…” Damian coughed, “You need to go. Get Tiko. Your father went to you… They’re…they’re going to burn…”

“No, you bastard, get up. You promised me the fighting was over. We’ll get to Tiko together.”

Damian smiled. His teeth were red, his eyes darkening.

“I love you.” He said, “I love you forever.” He said.

“Damian. Get up. Get up we have to go we have to go. You son of a bitch you can’t leave me!”

Adia shook him; tears were flooding down her face. Damian’s eyes widened.

“Valantine…” He whispered. Damian coughed and a fine mist of blood covered Adia’s face.

Then he was gone.

Adia stood up stone faced. She stood in the town square as the village burned around her. She gripped her sword in her hand as she stood among the ruins and smoke. Her husband lay dead at her feet, his blood on her face.

GO!

Adia saw a horse running among the flames. She ran over to it and climbed into the saddle. She cast one last look at Damian.

“I love you.” She said softly.

And she rode on.

IV

The ride home seemed to last an eternity. She pushed that horse to its last limits. At one point she nearly rode up on a large group of bandits gathering together to attack the village again. She had to go into the forest and ride towards her home from the back to avoid them. She kept looking up at the sky. It was still glowing orange despite night fall.

“Please…please no.”

Her life had been perfect only hours ago now everything was coming apart. Her husband dead. Her father missing. Now she was racing the fates to get home before the bandits took their revenge. If they got there first...

No. She couldn’t think of that. She wouldn’t. Her heart could not sustain that loss.

Finally she broke through the trees and was in the field behind her house. She saw no one around and the house was quiet. She rode across the field. She saw something attached to the front door. From where she was she could not tell what it was.

It wasn’t until she was closer that she noticed realized.

It was her Father. He was impaled on the door.

It was then the flames erupted over the roof of the house. She heard maniacal laughing and saw the group of bandits riding away.

“NO!” Adia unleashed such a roar of agony that she felt her throat rip with the force. By the time she made it to the house it was fully engulfed.

She tried to open the door but it was jammed shut with a large iron bar. She heard her mother screaming and scratching the door. The window shutters were closed and bared as well. Adia swung her sword and tried to chop through but the heat grew too much. Her face was baking and blisters broke out on her skin.

“TIKO!” She rushed forward again despite the flames, despite the pain. She slammed her fist into the shutter and broke through. She howled in agony as her hand shattered. The fire was eating away at her arm. It was then she felt Tiko’s small hand grab hers. He squeezed her fingers.

She could not hear his cries through the roar of the fire. She could not see his face through the shutter and she dared not pull her arm out. She wanted to hold his hand and let the flames devour her as they were devouring him.

“Let him go.”

That voice. It was right behind her now.

“Don’t let go of me Tiko. Mommy is here. Mommy is here for you!”
Adia felt something grab her and yank her away from the window. Her burning arm flew free of the shutter and she fell back away from the house.

She tried to run back. She had to get to Tiko but felt a blow to her stomach and a kick to her face.

“Enough!” The voice screamed again and shoved Adia back.

She looked up at the person attacking her and felt her mind stretch to its limits. She had gone mad. She was mad from the grief. Insane from the tragedies she was experience. Surely, she was not seeing this.

“You’re burning.” The figure said.

Adia looked at her arm and the pain came flooding back. Her vision blurred as she saw the fire chewing away at her flesh. She suddenly had no strength.

“Idiot.” The voice said again. The figure ripped the cloak from Adia’s shoulders and smothered the flames on her arm. Adia looked up into the soft brown eyes.

“I’ve gone mad.” She whispered.

The woman smirked and stood up.

“Not exactly.”

She was dressed in leather armor. A brown leather corset tied tightly around her chest. She had brown boots and a dark cloak around her shoulders. Her brown hair hung around her shoulders. At her side hung a silver blade with a blue gem in its hilt.

Adia made an attempt to rush to the house again. The woman grabbed her and shook her.

“Look at me!” She screamed.

Adia looked into her eyes. They were hard angry eyes but Adia could see the softness just below that, struggling to be free.

“None of this is real.” The woman said, “You, me, the both of us are trapped here. This is not real.”

Adia looked again towards the burning house but again the woman shook her violently.

“Stop looking over there. You need to wake up.”

“Let me go. I have to get to Tiko. I have to save him.”

“You have to wake up. You know this is not right you must wake up.”

“Stop this!” Adia screamed. “Let me go!”

The woman slapped Adia hard.

“Wake up.”

“Tiko! TIKO!!”

“Wake up!”

The world fell into darkness.

Her home was gone. The fire was gone. Tiko was gone.

Adia opened her eyes and sat up slowly. She looked around and saw nothing but stone and the dim glow of burning torches.

She looked at her arm there were no burns, yet she still felt a dim tingling pain. Her heart ached and she could hardly stand it. She burst into tears and unleashed the emotion that had pent up inside her for so long.

V

It is known as the badlands. A ruined city but a city unlike anything seen in this land. Large glass towers with windows of glass, mostly shattered now, blot out the sunlight. The buildings tilt as if they were pulled towards some large vacuum. It is a city of ruins. A city of a lost world.

On the top floor of the center tower, now devoid of any defining characteristics sat a man. He had long grey hair pulled tightly into a pony tail and tied with a black leather string. He sat in a simple chair. Facing out the cracked window he watched as the sun fell beneath the horizon. He only watched. He ran his hands over his goatee and settled against the back of the chair. Far in the distance he was a small orange glow. His face scowled. He heard the rapid footsteps moving towards him.

“Lord Volt.”

The man shifted in his chair. His armor creaking as he turned.

“They’re coming my lord. They will be here in the morning.”

Krenin Volt turned his back to the small man who had served him for so long. As loyal as a dog.

“Leave.” He said. The dwarf man bowed so deep his head nearly hit the ground. He quickly spun and hurried away.

Krenin watched the small orange dot with intense interest. He was less concerned of how they would arrive then he was on how they’d leave.

He rested his hand on the large black rail gun that rested at his side. He moved his hand down to a lever and yanked it. The loud click that locked the long string of bullets into place left him feeling incredibly satisfied.

“Dead.” He whispered and grinned.

And we continue...

Chapter Two
Lesser Demons

The citizens can feel it. Some profound wrongness that hangs heavy in the air. The world is dying and the citizens know they are powerless to prevent it. They simply continue to go about their lives. Living and dying as fate would have them. There has not been a child born in this land in a year. No one can explain why. The same way no one seems to have memory of anything before that time. Almost as if they all were born at the same moment as they are now.

Some people look to the Badlands for answers. Yet they all fear going there. A land of large stone structures of steel and glass. A land of decimation and destruction. The citizens believe their salvation lies in this place.

Only one person knows the truth. He was standing at the edge of a small tent village staring out across a vast desert. His dark hair hung down around his ears and a cloth was tired around the lower half of his face to keep the sand from his mouth. His green eyes sparkled in the darkening night.

By all rights, he should not be here. He’s a dead man in every sense of the world. Yet he stands at the edge of the desert his thoughts overwhelmed. His future a ticking clock.

He is dressed against the cold in a long sleeve dark wool coat. His hands are covered in fingerless gloves. He clenches and unclenches his fists. It’s all for show however. He doesn’t feel the cold. He doesn’t feel anything.

Something fluttered near him. He turned his head and looked. He felt air shift on this opposite side. His arm shot out and a blade slid out from his sleeve, stabbing into the creature that was hovering in the air next to him.

The demon hissed loudly and its leathery wings flapped twice before it expelled its last breath and died. It slid a few inches down the blade.

“They’re coming more frequently.”

The man lowered his sword and the demon slipped off. He raised his arm and the sword slid back into his sleeve. He looked at his friend.

“We can’t.”

“These people need our help. We can’t ignore that.”

“There’s no time.”

Nyhm crouched next to the demon and nudged it with his gloved hand.

“Tiko…” he said.

“There’s no time.” Tiko said, staring out at the desert. “I don’t have time.”

“Then we should do it quickly.”

Tiko sighed. “What about…”

“We will find him.”

“I’m running out of time.”

Nyhm said nothing.

“No good will come of this.” Tiko said softly.

“It usually doesn’t.”

Tiko clenched his fists again and looked at Nyhm’s expressionless face. They had only known each other a few weeks but they had grown close quickly. Tiko trusted Nyhm without question. Despite that trust, Tiko felt Nyhm was keeping something from him. Something important. He had been looking for any reason to go to the Badlands and now it seems he had found it.

Tiko nodded to Nyhm.

“I’ll get the horses.” Nyhm said as he walked past Tiko.

The world is dying. The truth of its illness lied waiting in the Badlands. Tiko knew it and suspected Nyhm knew something of it as well. What Tiko knew that Nyhm did not however, was that no matter what they did it could not be stopped.

*****

They rode out at nightfall. The sun falling beneath the horizon at their backs as they rode. The horse’s hooves clapped against the compact dirt as they made their way across the desert. It was several hours until they would reach the outskirts of the badlands and for most of those hours they rode in silence.

Nyhm’s scarred, ruined eyes were covered by a thick black cloth that was tied behind his head yet he deftly guided his horse across the hard desert sand.
Tiko followed close behind. He leaned down as he rode. His fingers clenching and unclenching the reins. Something was wrong. He could feel it in the air. He looked over his shoulder in time to see a large hulking shape swoop past him. He watched as it slammed into Nyhm and sent him flying over the head of his horse.

The creature hovered over Nyhm. Its thick leathery wings beating a rhythmic thump into the air.

Tiko yanked on the reins and his horse skidded to a stop. He slid off the saddle.

The creature was large and seemed to glow with a sheen of sweat in the brightening moonlight. It had large bony hands and its arms and legs were thick with veins. It’s head was hairless, slightly bulbous and deformed with big black. It’s mouth overstuffed with sharp yellow teeth.

“Go no farther.” It said and clacked it’s jaws together twice as if to emphasize it’s order.

It flapped it’s wings twice more before folding them behind it’s back and falling to the ground. It landed on it’s feet and stepped towards Nyhm.

“The lord says go no farther!” It barked and drew it’s leg back. It kicked hard at Nyhm and sent him rolling across the dirt.

Nyhm coughed and climbed to his feet. His horse nickered and darted away.

The demon clacked its teeth again and wiped a stream of drool from its chin.

Tiko glanced over at Nyhm. He could see a small stream of blood escape his nose.

“Wait.” Tiko whispered. He saw Nyhm relax slightly. Tiko nodded and took a step towards the demon.

“Human hearing must be worse than I thought.” The demon sputtered, “You will go no farther.”

“You will allow us to continue.” Tiko said, “Tell your lord we appreciate his concern.”

“Krenin does not concern. He concerns only for himself.” Teeth clap again.

Krenin. That name was vaguely familiar to Tiko. Nyhm seemed to be more familiar however.

“Krenin Volt is here?” Nyhm asked.
“Lord Volt is very much concerns with what you have in your head Mind Walker.” The demon walked forward, “He is asking that I bring you to him straight away. He wants what the Librarian gaven to you.”

Tiko moved quickly, as his sword slipped out of his sleeve. He gripped the hilt and launched it at the demon. It pierced its forehead and the demon fell dead to the ground.

“Who is Krenin Volt?” Tiko asked.

“Someone I’ve never met. Someone I learned about from Cecil. He knows Damian and Adia.”

Tiko looked at the body of the demon. He walked over and rolled it over with his foot. He yanked out his sword and wiped the demons sludge like blood off the blade.

“Get your horse.” Tiko said, “You will explain what that demon was talking about on the way.”

* * *

Darkness.

Brief scattered flashes of light occasionally broke through giving him momentary glances of the dungeon whose wall he was hanging from.

His arms were tight against the chains. His muscles bulging as he struggled to break free of their restraints. He was too weak.

He did not know why he was still alive. Surely, they knew how to kill him. There was no reason for them to keep him chained here. He surged forward with a roar and felt the chains reach their limit, yanking him back against the damp stone wall.

“Still ticking I see.” A woman's voice sounded from the dimly lit door. She stepped inside holding a lantern. Her platinum hair reflected the light. He could see the swell of her breasts struggling against the white corset she wore.

“Starr.” He growled. Feral and full of hate.

“Hungry lover?” She dropped a tin dish at his feet. It was half full of water and a moldy piece of bread. Starr’s boots echoed in the air as she walked to the side of the room. She opened the small door on the lantern and poured some of the oil on a torch and lit it with the flame. The room brightened. She set the lantern on the floor.

“It’s getting nippy so I decided to change my outfit a little.” She turned back to him and ran her fingers over the long dark leather coat. She pulled it tighter around her body, “Do you like?”

Damian said nothing. He simply watched her move. His eyes were glinting in the firelight.

“You shouldn't stare at a lady like that Damian. Might make a girl feel uncomfortable.”

“I’ll keep that in mind next time I see one.”

Starr stepped forward and delivered a kick to Damian’s face. His head snapped to the side and the room spun.

“That’s enough Starr.”

Damian’s vision instantly cleared. It was as if cold water had been thrown in his face. His eyes locked on the newcomer.

“Hello Brother. Nice place you got here.” Valantine smiled as he stepped into the dungeon. He was wearing a cape over a black velvet suit. His hair pulled into a tight ponytail.

“Why do you keep coming back?” Damian asked.

“I guess the fates aren’t quite finished with me.” Valantine leaned forward and sniffed, “You do need a bath.”

Damian tilted his head.

Valantine glanced around and his eyes fell upon a loose stone. He picked it up and tossed it in the air. He caught it in his hand.

“Time to go brother.” He said and slammed the rock against Damian’s head, “We have an appointment to keep.”

*****

The desert beneath the hooves of the horses grew thinner as they rode. Beneath the yellow sand a hard grey surface was peaking through. The sky was rapidly darkening yet at the horizon, no sign of the Badlands was evident. Tiko slowed his horse to a walk. Nyhm rode up beside him.

“We’re close.” Nyhm said.

“We’ll camp for the night.” Tiko said as he climbed off his horse.

“If we keep going we’ll be there before dawn.”

Tiko shook his head.

“It’s better if we wait.” He said, “This is not a place to visit in the dark.”

Nyhm nodded and slid off his horse.

“Krenin Volt.” Tiko said and crossed his arms.

Nyhm stiffened.

“He is the one responsible for your parents immortality. They fought with him and he rewarded them. Some type of battle against an army of the undead. It wasn’t until later than Damian discovered the truth. Krenin was the true leader of the undead army and used the war as a means to seize control of ancient artifact called the Gaia Chain.”

“What is this Gaia Chain?” Tiko asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t think anyone knows for sure. Krenin vanished after a short fight with Damian. He hasn’t been seen or heard from since.”

“Yet he apparently survived the Crossing?”

“According to what Cecil knew, Krenin had access to one of the Elders Portals. He could go to any dimension he wished. If the information from Cecil is correct…” Nyhm tapped his head lightly, “it’s jumbled.”

“And Cecil? Why did he give you this…knowledge?”

Nyhm looked away from Tiko. He turned to his horse and pulled a blanket from the pack on the saddle.

“He’s dead isn’t he.”

Nyhm nodded.

Tiko clenched his fists, “You should have told me this before.”

“I…” Nyhm stopped, “You are right.”

“Gather some brush for a fire.” Tiko said and walked off into the darkness.

*****

“You have to wake up. You know this is not right you must wake up.”

In the dim darkness of the cave a woman slept on. The voices in her head echoed and faded. She was at peace on the stone slab awash in the dimming torch light.

“Wake up.”

This was the last thing she wanted to do.

“Wake up!”

And yet, she knew, somehow, it was what she had to do.

It was time. Despite the magics against her, despite the perfection of the world she was stuck in, she must wake up.

And so, with a howl barely human, she wrenched herself from her unnatural slumber.

It was upon waking that she realized the truth and she let herself cry. Alone, in the quiet solitude of the cave, she mourned for what she had lost.

She sobbed until her tears dried out and then the anger returned.

She was awake now.

The happiness of her dreamworld was gone.

All that was left was her fury.

To Be Continued...

Next:

Book Four

The Darkest Hours

Bloodline

Chapter One
A History of Violence

Another World...Another Time...

I

“This is a gift I give to you. Accept it, and you live. Deny it and you die.” The woman pulled back her hood and revealed her porcelain skin and crystal eyes. Her raven black hair cascaded down her slender neck and spilled over her shoulders; She looked up at the dark haired man with his hands bound behind his back. Her mouth was not moving but he could hear her words as if she was speaking directly into his mind.

A large hulking man stomped over to him and placed the thick noose around his neck. The large gathered crowed roared.

“Kill the bastard!” They screamed with glee.

“Make your choice!” The woman begged him.

The man looked down into her eyes.

"Do I not deserve this?” He asked, “Is this not a just punishment for my actions?”

“You have a destiny greater than your past.” The woman’s voice echoed in his head, “Choose to accept my gift and you will be released!”

A loud hissing sound filled the air as an arrow severed the rope and pierced the executioner’s forehead. He immediately fell backwards with a crash that shook the gallows.

The man kicked a lever to his right and the floor fell open beneath him. He drops to the hard ground beneath the gallows and rolls to his feet.

He found himself face to face with the woman. This time she spoke with her mouth.

“It is fated that you die here. The actions of your followers will not dissuade that. They die for nothing. They will hang for nothing. There is but one way to escape this with your life.”

The man snapped his head forward and head butted the woman. She stumbled back and collapsed to her knees.

“Listen to me, Witch. I alone control my fate. It is not for the likes of you to decide.”

The woman looked up at him. Her nose was swimming with blood. Her eyes closed to squints. She wiped her nose on her sleeve. She smiled.

The man dropped to his knees and fell face first into the dirt.

“Sorry for the delay I was detained by the guards.” An older man stepped over the unconscious form on the ground. He dropped a large piece of wood and held out his arm to help the woman to her feet.

“That is quite all right.” She motions to the body, “Quickly get him up. My magics are weakening and the guards will see us soon. We’ve no time to waste.”

The woman stepped away from the gallows as a body fell through to the ground. It was pierced by many swords. Several soldiers dropped down after it. They ripped their swords free of the body and turned to the woman.

“Halt!” One shouted.

“Get the body out of here, Cecil. Get it to the tower. I will handle these.”

“Yes, my Queen.” Cecil nodded and scooped the body into his arms. He tossed it over his shoulder and, casting one last look at the queen, he ran.

The soldiers rushed forward, swords drawn.

"You shall go no further.” The woman whispered. Her eyes flashed red as she held her hand out before her. A bright flaming ball expanded from around her fingers. The ball burst forward and flames engulfed all but one of the soldiers. They screamed in agony and fell dead to the ground.

The last remaining soldier dropped his sword and fell to his knees.

“Please my liege, do not kill me. Spare me please. My family needs me!”

The queen ran her fingers over his face.

“What is your name boy?”

“Jarvis, Jarvis Duprine.”

“I shall spare you, Jarvis Duprine, but you must deliver a message for me.” She leaned forward, “Tell your king his life will be extinguished at the hand of his blood kin and that the chosen one is mine.” She grabbed the soldier and kissed him deeply. His eyes widened as the blood vessels burst. The whites of his eyes turned crimson. The Queen shoved him away, “On your way now.”

The soldier skittered back along the ground. He climbed to his feet and ran.

The Queen wiped her mouth and turned to follow Cecil.

She glanced up at the sky. A bright red sun shone down between towering wooden buildings. She could still hear the clanging of swords and the roar of the crowd as they watched this small uprising squashed.

Pathetic animals, she thought. She looked once more at the red sun. Blood has been spilled this day and the sun was satisfied. She smiled to herself and walked on.


II

It was a miracle that he made it alive. His breathing was haggard and his eyes were leaking blood like tears. He screamed as he ran down the corridors of the castle. His cries were competing only with the thumping of his boots along the stone floor.

Perhaps destiny let him get this far into the castle screaming with madness. Perhaps all the Kings Guard were protecting the castle walls.

These things didn’t matter. What mattered was Jarvis making it to the audience room and delivering his message to the King. He feared if he failed that the queen would default her word and strike him dead. Perhaps that accounted for the searing heat he was feeling throughout his body.

Jarvis ran around a corner and saw the large ornate doors to the king’s audience chamber.

God’s be praised! Jarvis thought to himself. One of the guards at the doors was his own cousin. The god’s fortune shined on him today.

“Richard! My dear cousin!”

The Knight looked alarmingly at Jarvis. His partner immediately raised his lance to strike Jarvis down.

“Wait!” Richard said, “I know this man.”

“I must see the king, Richard. It is imperative.”

“Jarvis you are covered in blood. Your eyes…”
Jarvis’s arm shot out and grabbed Richard by the throat. He squeezed until his fingers tore into the flesh.

“Richard!” The other knight rushed forward.

Jarvis pulled Richard’s sword swiftly and held it in front of him. The knight could not stop himself in time and reached for the blade as it slid easily into his neck. His body twitched and fell to the ground.

Jarvis looked into his cousins fading eyes and ripped his hand away.

Richard collapsed in a sea of blood.

“What have I done?” Jarvis dropped the hunk of flesh he had torn away, “Richard!” Jarvis’ head snapped up and he stepped over the body of his cousin. He pushed open the doors of the audience room and rushed inside.

The chamber appeared empty. Large torches burned brightly bathing the room in soft orange light. The edges of the room were shrouded in darkness just thick enough to hinder any eyes to see.

But Jarvis was special now. He was seeing with eyes that were not his own. He could see the huddled shapes of the knights pressed against the walls.

The truth then, was that he was expected.

Jarvis walked to the lush red carpet the stretched across the room. He stepped on it and turned to face the front of the chamber.

There he sat.

King Rolliston of Genae. He was a young king by most standards, just barely crossing into his sixty-eighth harvest. He had the wisdom, however, of an ageless man. He sat in his thrown, his crown resting on a small table to his right. His hand was resting gingerly upon its golden peaks.

“You’re possessed, Jarvis. There is no other explanation for your treason.”

Jarvis wiped the streams of blood from his face. He could not tell if he was crying or not. He had lost all sense of his self.

“Do not be afraid child. You have a darkness in you now. It is not your fault. You have been betrayed.”

“The message…” Jarvis choked. Something was swelling in his throat.

“The message is not important now. Speak of your children. I shall ensure they are well cared for.”

Jarvis fell to his knees. Blood began leaking from his nose and ears. He looked up at the king.

“She says…you will be killed by your blood kin!”

“Nonsense. I have no heirs, Jarvis. You’re not long for this world my son. Let go and move to your peace.”

“SHE HAS THE CHOSEN ONE!” Jarvis screamed. Jets of gore burst from his mouth as his voice echoed in the chamber.

The king stood. His robes shimmered in the torchlight.

Jarvis cast a final look at the king before his body burst open and unleashed a torrent of blood slicked overgrown spiders.

The knights rushed forward and began slicing and stomping the beasts.

The king simply watched. His eyes hooded and dim.

“All is lost.” He said softly and sank back onto his throne, “All is lost.”



III

Their voices swam around his head. Loud and soft. Close and far. Their words muffled.
“...eady. it’s…ere.”

His eyes snapped open when she struck him.

“Wake up!” The queen shouted.

The man opened his eyes. He found himself strapped to wooden planks. His arms and legs spread out in an X. He was in a large cavernous room. It seemed to glow with soft blue light. It was the water in the center of the cavern. It was luminous.

“You are in a very holy place.”

“What do you want with me?” The man asked.

The woman held up a dark red crystal. It pulsed with light.
“I want to set you free.”

The man glanced at his restraints.

“Tell me your name.” The queen walked up several stone steps and stood beneath the man.

The man smirked, his blue eyes twinkled, “A name is a powerful thing.”

The queen held up the stone again.

“It’s time we introduce ourselves.”

The stone flashed and the man began to scream. It felt as if his entire body was stripping in half. In fact, that is exactly what was happening.

His body was stretching and contorting violently. His head titled to the side as a large bubble of skin grew out of his neck. The shapes of a nose and eyes begin to appear in the bubble.

The man screams echoed through the cave.

And then it was done.

The new body fell to the cold dirt with a flop. He was covered in sweat and blood but nothing else.

“Goddess it’s true.” Cecil whispered.

“Yes, yes it is.” The woman stepped forward and knelt besides the man. She wiped blood from his face, “Tell me your name.”

The man’s eyes opened. They gleamed red even in the dim light of the cavern.

“Valantine.” He whispered.

The tied man raised his head and looked at the scene below him.

“Damn you,” he said softly, “damn you for freeing him.”


IV

“Wake up.”

The man opened his eyes and saw Cecil standing before him. He was wiping his face with a cool rag.

“Why do you clean me?” He croaked.

“We haven’t time to discuss. I am here to save you.”

Cecil swiftly pulled out a dagger from beneath his robe. He sliced away the restraints and caught the man as he fell.

“Can you walk?”

The man tried to stand. His legs were weak but he could manage.

“That…man…he took my name…he was part of me.”

“That is not your name any longer, nor is that demon a part of you. We must get you far from here. If the Queen finds us we shall be killed.”

“He’s always been part of me.” He whispered, “He always will…” With that, he collapsed.

* * * * *

The sun fell behind the towers of the castle. Shadows grew long and thick and evening began to take hold of the land. The small village at the foot of the hill beneath the castle was strangely silent considering the days events. Everyone appeared to be locked away in their homes. A deep fear seemed to settle on the village.

It may have had something to do with the loan figure that walked along the road towards the large iron gates of the castle.

He was dressed in the dark fancy garb of a noble, but his eyes gave him the look of a fiend. He had no weapons, no items in his hands. His dark hair was pulled back in a pony tail but several strands of hair had fallen loose as he walked.

You have power…

The Queen’s words echoed in his head. Power. She had shown him just how powerful he was. She had told him it was just the beginning

We will rule together…Just as prophesized by the seers…

He had bed her. Drunk on his new feelings and sensations. She screamed in ecstasy as he took her. She screamed in pain when he tore her throat out.

He would rule yes. But not by the side of a treacherous queen. He would rule alone and he would rule everything.

He reached the iron doors of the castle and was greeted by two soldiers holding very long and very sharp pikes.

“Return to the village. None may enter the cas…”

Valantine did not allow him to finish. He waved his hands and the pikes flew out of the soldiers hands. The pikes plunged into the soldiers chests with a burst of blood.

Valantine smiled and stepped towards the gate.

He held his hand over the center of the door. It began to rise slowly.

“Power…” He whispered and ducked beneath the gate.


* * * * *

Cecil stood at the foot of the bed and watched the young man sleeping. His sighed deeply and glanced out the window. The sky had turned rapidly to a dark crimson as the sun dipped behind the hills. They were far from the castle now, but he feared not far enough.

The door to his small shack burst open and a disheveled young girl stepped inside.

Cecil’s hand darted to his dagger.

“It’s me!” She called, “I have news.”

The girl pushed the door shut. Cecil relaxed.

“Daughter, you should take care about bursting into doors.”

“I’m sorry father, but the news…”

Cecil waved at her and sat down in a rickety wooden chair.

“Out with it then.”

“The Queen is dead. Her body was left hanging on the gallows in the square.”

Cecil stood up.

“Are you certain?”

“Quite. He roped her around the chest and left her hanging holding her head in her hands.”

“You are too young to see such things. This world is falling away into evil.”

“I am nearly fourteen Father. I have seen much.”

“Regardless.” Cecil sat back in his chair. He reached into his robes and removed a pipe, “This is most curious.”

“What of the prophecy? Did it foretell the death of the Queen?”

“No. It surely did not.”

“What does this mean then?”

Cecil looked at the man sleeping in the bed.

“I fear the worst, Rebecca.” Cecil set his pipe unlit on a nearby table, “We need to leave at once. Hurry home and collect our things. Take the horse and ride only at night.”

Rebecca nodded and rushed to hug her father.

“I shall see you dawn after tomorrow.” She said.

She rushed out the door.

“Are you sure that is a good idea?”

Cecil started slightly. He looked at the man in the bed.

“She’ll be fine. She’s quite resourceful. Besides that, no one knows she is related to me.”

“That’s quite a deception.”

“A necessary one, I’m afraid.”

The man slid out of the bed. He wore a lose shirt and tattered bed pants. He walked over to the window and looked out at the sky.

“There’s a bloodline in the sky. Someone has been slain tonight.”

“More than a single person I’d wager. Including your father.”

“I have no father.”

“Come now child, we’re quite past deceptions now.”

The man sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall beneath the window. His dark hair fell around his face.

“Shall we start with our names? I am Cecil Darke.”

“Valantine.”

“Oh no. Not anymore.”

“That monster will not have my name!”

“It was never your name. It was always his, boy. The sooner you see that, the sooner you can accept it. Your name is Altine isn’t it. Say it.”

“He is not my father.”

“Damian, Son of Rolliston Altine King of Genae!” Cecil roared.

Damian lowered his head.

“Your actions were not your own, Damian. That is the nature of the prophecy. You were always there but you were not in control.”

“I could have stopped him.”

“No. He was powerful.” Cecil lit his pipe and took a deep puff, “More so now that he is free.”

Damian looked up at Cecil, “Tell me of this prophecy.”

Cecil rocked back in his chair. He looked like a grandfather preparing to tell a story to a wide eyed child.

“You are young yet so this may be difficult to grasp. Twenty-Seven if I am not mistaken?” Cecil smirked when Damian looked at him wide-eyed. “You are very important Damian. The Queen knew this. She saw it in your eyes when Valantine made his first attack against the kingdom. Three years ago in the village of Terin. She was there when you, Valantine rather, rode in with his marauders. They killed everyone in the village and burnt it to the ground. Had the Queen been less gifted in the arcane her head would have ended up on a pike with the rest of the townsfolk. Instead she vanished herself and watched Valantine work. She locked eyes with him she told me. She said she saw you inside his eyes.”

He took another puff on his pipe.

“I watched it all happen. Terin, Voyar, South Demas. I could not stop him.” Damian leaned back against the wall. His hands rested on his knees.

“The prophecy tells of a boy with two souls. A dark and a light. Two souls in the core of one man. A man born of adultery, born of Royalty and poverty. You were that man, are that man no longer since she tore him out of you. She planned to use him to reclaim her kingdom from Rolliston. She felt his time had come and gone and his inaction against the Pradians to the north would lead to our downfall. She went to the Seers and they confirmed her suspicions.”

“She had me captured.”

“She gave the soldiers the information on where to find you. Just prior to that her plans had been discovered and she was banished from the kingdom. The love the king had for her spared her life. She was to be exiled. Her only wish was to see you hung. You know the rest of that part of the story.”

“What happens now?”

“Now the Queen is dead, Rolliston not far behind. We have entered a dark age now Damian. We must flee to the Elders and gain council. Your fate will be decided there. Your destiny laid out for you.”

“I am a monster. My only destiny should be the pits of hell.”

“You were a monster. That part of you has been removed. The Queen was not lying when she said your destiny is greater than your past.”

Damian moved to speak when a loud thundering noise filled the air.

Cecil dropped his pipe and rushed to the window.

“No…” He said.

“What is it?”

Damian stood next to Cecil and looked out the window. He saw a large shadow emerging over the hills to the north.

“The Pradians.” Cecil whispered, “We must leave at once.”

There was a loud thud from the roof.

“How…”

“Some of them can fly.” Cecil moved away from the window. He walked to the bed, crouched and grabbed the bottom of the bed. He swiftly flipped it over on its side.

A small hidden door was carved into the floor. Cecil rushed to the wall and pushed a hidden button. The floor dropped away.

“In there are weapons. Grab what you can. Make haste. They will be upon us in moments.”

Damian hesitated a moment before dropping into the door.

“Here!” Cecil lowered a candle to Damian. He took it and the room brightened. There were several swords and bows lined along the walls. Damian kicked open a nearby trunk. The inside was full of dark clothes. He set the candle down and grabbed a shirt. It seemed it would fit perfectly. He dug through the trunk and found a pair of pants. He dressed quickly. He even found a pair of boots in the trunk. He put these on and stood. His eyes fell upon a pair of gleaming gold swords. They were long and slender with a slight curve to the blade.

“Destiny.” He whispered.

A loud crash came from above him.

“Damian!” Cecil shouted.

Damian grabbed the swords and darted up the stairs, pausing only to blow out the candle.

He saw a large figure looming in the window. It was a man with a pale face. He grinned when he saw Damian emerge from the door. His mouth held sharp fangs.

“The king is dead.” The thing spoke directly to Damian, “Long live the king!” He tossed something through the window. It was a young girl.

“No…oh no…” Cecil fell to his knees, “Rebecca!”

Damian rushed forward. He sliced upwards with one of his swords and ripped a ragged hole in the Pradian’s chest. The thing darted away.

Cecil had crawled across the floor and was holding Rebecca in his arms. Blood was gushing from her throat.

“What are these things?” He glanced down at Cecil who was sobbing and rocking Rebecca, “Cecil!”

Cecil ignored Damian and buried his face in Rebecca’s hair.

“Why did you strike me my Liege?”

The Pradian was back at the window.

Damian watched in awe as the slice in its chest began to close.

“Why did you strike me, Valantine?”

“I am not Valantine.” Damian growled.

“They…they can’t enter.” Cecil mumbled, “They can’t come…”

Rebecca opened her eyes and her hands shot to Cecil’s neck.

“Rebec…” Cecil choked as her grip tightened.

Damian spun around. He dropped his swords and grabbed Rebecca. He yanked her away from Cecil.

She hissed and snapped her jaws at him. She was like a wild animal.

“Kill her!” Cecil sobbed, he could barely speak, “Please just kill her. She is one of them now. She is in misery.”

“She’s your daughter!”

"Not anymore…” Cecil looked at Damian, his red tear-filled eyes pleading, “Release her.”

Damian pulled Rebecca against him. Her back pressed firmly against him. She struggled violently. He gripped her shoulders with one arm and her neck with the other. He held her tightly.

“Are you sure?” Damian asked.

Cecil hid his face in his hands and nodded.

Damian jerked his arm and snapped her neck. He lowered her to the floor and gently laid her down. He walked to the overturned bed and pulled a blanket free. He laid this over Rebecca’s still body.

“My people have overrun the city by now. They will have slaughtered and fed on everyone.” The Pradian tilted his head and his eyes became slits, “Ah…there are two of you.”

“Demons. They’re demons. Vampires.” Cecil said.

He stood up slowly. He did not look at the blanket on the floor.

“They need to be burned or staked through the heart.”

Damian stepped forward and grabbed a lantern. There was a small amount of oil in the bottom. He threw it against the Pradian’s face. It shattered and engulfed him in flames. The vampire squealed and ran away from the window. He was a torch running through the darkness.

“They aren’t terribly bright.” Cecil said. He crouched next to Rebecca and pulled back the blanket.

“I made a deal with those things?”

Cecil rubbed his hand over her cheek.

“I will see you in another life my sweet Rebecca.” He covered her again and looked up at Damian, “Not you. Him.”

He stood.

"We leave now. This house must be burned. She will wake again soon.”

Cecil walked past Damian and grabbed the two remaining lanterns. He tossed one against the wall and broke the other on the ground next to Rebecca. The flames quickly found their fuel and the blanket flared up. The wall quickly caught and the flames spread.

“Make haste Damian.” Cecil turned and walked out of the house.


V

The throne room was a river of blood. The floor was littered with the corpses of the kings guard. They had fought valiantly, yet their valor was fruitless in the end. They were dispatched, and rather quickly.
Valantine sat on the throne of King Rolliston. He had one leg hung over the arm of the chair and was twirling the kings crown on his finger.

The throne room doors opened and a group of men entered. They walked to the foot of the throne and bowed.

“The city is ours.” The Pradian General straightened and glanced up at Valantine, “One of my kin was nearly burned to death by someone he vows was you.”

“Indeed?” Valantine says, “I was under the impression he had been killed.”

“Who?”

Valantine looked down at the old vampire. He was shrouded in crimson robes. Valantine admired the vampire. He was looking at Valantine with hate in his eyes.

“My brother that’s all.” Valantine waved off the vampire, “Dismissed.”

The Pradians hesitated before turning and leaving the throne room.

Valantine tossed the crown away. It landed on the dismembered body of the king.

“Brother…brother…brother. This is quite the surprise.” Valantine leaned his head against the back of the throne and closed his eyes.

* * * * *

Damian and Cecil rode through the night. Behind them the orange glow from the burning city faded. They rode in silence. Cecil was grieving for his daughter and Damian was thinking about Valantine and what lie ahead.

Cecil slowed his horse and held up his hand.

“It appears we needn’t go as far as I thought.” He said. He gestured toward a small cottage resting on the hill side. A thin ribbon of smoke curled from the chimney.

“Whose house is this?”

“It isn’t a house at all.” Cecil clicked his tongue and steered the horse towards the cottage. He reached the front of the house quickly and slid off his horse. He patted the animal and walked up the steps to the front door.

Damian followed him apprehensively. After the events of the past few days he didn’t know what to expect anymore. He watched as Cecil put his hand against the door. He vanished instantly. Damian stopped on the stairs. His heart was pounding in his chest.

“Go forth and claim your destiny.”

Damian closed his eyes and fought to ignore the voice speaking in his head.

The voice of his father.

“Your redemption is at hand. Claim it. Accept it.”

“Stop this.” Damian whispered, “It’s too much.”

“You are born of royal blood. A descendent of kings. You know what you will be.”

“No.”

“Say it.”

Damian lowered his head and reached his hand out.

“Born of Kings Damian Altine, Son of Rolliston. You will be a he…”

Damian touched the door and the world around him burst into bright searing light and he heard no more.

He opened his eyes and found himself in a large circular room. The air was cool and a gentle mist rolled across the floor. The walls around him were made of large stone blocks, each had unusual symbols carved into them. Damian glanced around and saw Cecil standing off to the side. Behind him was a small group of cloaked figures. Damian couldn’t make out any of their faces, but he could tell they were looking at him. He could hear soft whispering noises from them.

“Cecil?”

Cecil held up a hand and shook his head.

One of the figures stepped forward and pointed at Damian.

“You are chosen.” It said. Its voice did not sound male or female.

Damian looked back at Cecil as the floor beneath him opened and he fell into darkness.

Cecil closed his eyes.

“Do you think he can handle all he must face alone?

The figure shifted its gaze to Cecil.

“He will have help as he needs it.” The figure put its hand on Cecil’s shoulder, “From you. And the other.” The figure turned and looked as a little girl stepped into the room. She appeared to be about eight years old. Her face was smeared with ash and her eyes were red rimmed.

“I am to train her?” Cecil asked.

“Yes. The Elder’s have decided you are to be their guide.”

“But I am not…”

“You will be. All has been destined. You will train her. And she will be sent on her course. When you meet again she will not remember you. She will age rapidly here and when she is called to meet Damian she will only be a few years younger. Fate has been kind to us this day.”

“What happened to her?”

“Fire. Her family is dead. She is alone now.”

“A tragedy.”

“We know not the cause. We have suspicions.”

Cecil looked at the figure.

It nodded and gestured towards the girl.

“He will come for them. This is for sure. They must be ready.”

“The prophecies?”

“As of now, the prophecies are no longer relevant. Everything has changed. Now there is only them and you.”

Cecil nodded his head and walked to the little girl. He held out his hand and she took it with a sniffle.

Cecil noticed she was wearing a necklace with a deep blue crystal pendant. It seemed to glow softly in the dim room.

“Are you ready child?”

“My name is Adia.” She said.

Cecil smiled and led her out of the room.

To Be Continued...

The Darkest Hours

Welcome to the new home of The Darkest Hours.

Starting later today, the first chapter of the fourth book will be posted for your reading enjoyment! This is the beginning of the of end of the first story arc and will usher in a whole new direction for our heroes.

I am increasingly proud of these characters and these stories. This is my "Dark Tower" and I could not be happier to have the lives of these characters entrusted to me.

The first three books of this arc are posted on my Myspace blog at www.myspace.com/garon please head over there and read those first.

So anyway...enough chatter...

The first chapter of book four is on the way...