The Heart Collector (Under Editing)

Prologue: Two Hundred Years Ago (Edited 1/22/22)

The candlelight flickered in tandem with the hushed voices that carried them. Three figures marched to the sound of the water droplets that trickled along the cave walls. They needed to hurry before the tide swallowed the cave once more. The deeper they went; their shoulders sagged with the weight of the reason they came here. It was to the point of suffocation. Especially for the youngest, who brought up the rear. The constant drips of water slowly drove him into a madness that even the hood of his cloak could not prevent. His mind swam with the thoughts of the series of incidents that brought them here today. At the age of sixteen, he knew that this meeting was necessary to help restore the balance to their world. Even so, his nerves could not be quelled because these creatures; these Fae that they were rendezvousing with were just as dangerous. If not more.

"Thachary Hart. Stop mucking around boy. We do not have much time."

The sharp whisper startled him out of his thoughts and his hood. He realized that he was at a standstill. It was the just the two of them. The other must have gone ahead.

"Sorry, Mister Vanderwall." Thachary brushed some of his damp hair out of his face.

"Honestly boy. You're here to represent your family name in place of your father. If he were here, instead of lying ill in bed, we would have been half-way home by now." He turned and continued ahead.

Thachary rolled his eyes and pulled his hood back up with his free hand. It was not easy. Both of his hands trembled, and he prayed that the one that held the candle would steady. He convinced himself that it was due to the cave's chill, but his heart knew of his cowardice. Each step that he took played as a reminder that he was nothing like his father. Gregor Hart was a man that knew what fear was. He faced these creatures head on without any revelation of terror and showed no mercy. Thachary Hart was nothing like his father. He wore his emotions on his sleeve, and they screamed bloody murder.

After what had felt like an eternity, Thachary's candle combined its light with his companions' and illuminated an enormous opening near to where they stood. The water droplets fell stronger there. As they fell from the centuries-carved stalactites from over their heads, the droplets continued towards the opening and toppled over the edge. If Thachary squinted hard enough in the dim light, he swore that he saw little trenches going from the walls towards the hole. If he were not in the process of shaking out of his boots, he would have been in awe of this natural formation.

"Where are they?"

"Patience James. They will be here. They know how important this meeting is." Mister Vanderwall grabbed his cloak near his collar with his free hand in attempt to keep the frigid air out.

"Do not condescend me, Theodore. I am your elder." James pointed his bony finger at him.

Both Thachary and Mister Vanderwall rolled their eyes. James Gracehook may have been their elder, but the only reason that he attended this meeting was because of his ability to negotiate. That and the rest of the village elders that knew of this meeting were secretly hoping the wet chill would kill him. Thachary knew that Mister Vanderwall thought about James Gracehook's death in that moment because he saw a slight smirk form on his lips.

"Easy now you, senile man. You may cause your heart to stop." Mister Vanderwall's smirk grew.

Mister Gracehook spluttered in offense, but before he could get any of his words formed, a deep voice rang out from the darkness.

"You humans do nothing but squabble amongst one another."

Everyone startled by the sudden change in ambience. Thachary grabbed his candle with both hand because he almost dropped it and his companions steadied each other with their free arms. They all looked to see where the voice came from, but their lights did not pick up any figure-like shadows and the cave's echo made it too difficult to find out where it came from.

"Show yourself daemon!" Mister Gracehook turned sharply a couple of times in a way that caused his cloak to slightly flutter.

"Daemon? I am Fae. Not a daemon James Gracehook." A figure stepped out from the shadows.

He looked like any other mortal man, but he was different. His presence gave off a completely different aura that Thachary could not fully explain. He was enthralled. His eyes would not leave the creature in front of them. That scared Thachary. His body would not respond. Mister Vanderwall noticed and covered Thachary's eyes with his hand.

"Pull yourself together boy. Control your emotions so that their Thrall won't grab such a strong hold of you."

"Their Thrall sir?"

"Yes, they have the power to make us feel drawn to them. It first starts with their presence then it goes to the eyes. Once you look them there, it is hard to withdraw. Chaotic emotions only make it much more prominent."

"You speak as if we have any control of that." The figure spoke again.

"You breathe do you not?"

"We have as much control over that as breathing."

"That is enough gentlemen." Another voice came from the darkness and a small female Fae stepped into the light, but unlike her companion, old age showed on her form.

"Lady Faina," The other Fae dropped to one knee, "Apologies. I did not sense your presence."

"Please Gabriel, there is no need. Besides our friends here clearly wish to finish this meeting as soon as possible."

"Friends? We are no friends of yours you-."

"Mister Gracehook, I suggest you watch how you speak to me. I may look old and frail, but I guarantee you that this body has seen three times the battle then you have in your puny lifetime. Now, we may not be friends, but we do face a common enemy."

"An enemy that your kind created." Mister Gracehook snapped again causing Faina and Gabriel to physically flinch.

Thachary took notice, "He is not of your kind. Is he?"

"Silence boy!" Mister Vanderwall grabbed ahold of his arm.

"There is no need for that Mister Vanderwall. The boy speaks truth." Faina spoke then gave a heavy sigh, "Whatever this being is, he is no longer Fae. He has strayed from his true nature and has passed the point of no return. Whomever this, creature was, they are not Fae or man, they are somewhere in between."

"So, you are saying that they are Fae, but they are also something else entirely. How can that be possible?" Mister Vanderwall furrowed his brows in confusion.

"I understand your confusion. We Fae do not fully understand as well. Many things can affect us such as our long lives or losing a loved one." Faina was clutching the necklace around her neck.

Thachary swallowed. He did not like where this tale was going. He was under the impression that they were here to ask the Fae for assistance, but now he was beginning to realize that it was them that were asking for help. That scared him because for as long as he can remember the Fae never showed any interest in an alliance with man.

"Why should we take your word that your kind can be trusted?"

"Because Mister Gracehook," Faina clutched her necklace harder, "Whomever this person is, is calling himself the Heart Collector and believe me, both man and Fae are no longer safe."