Never Isle

Prologue

A/N: Hello! Just wanted to quickly inform readers that I'm re-posting the chapters to this book with edits. It'll stay mostly the same, but I hope that it makes more sense now. Enjoy!

Pushing aside the branch that blocked her view, her breath came in quick succession as the sounds of her pursuers grew farther away from her. She was almost there, she was certain of it, but for how much longer could she run?

With a quick look over her shoulder, she could see how the light from torches seemed to cut through the darkness like knives, ever searching. The barking from the dogs grew louder, along with the pounding of their feet on the ground as they chased her. They were trained to herd their prey towards a set location, teeth coated with metal so that their bite would have more effect and their bodies covered with protective fabric to prevent serious injuries. She felt very much like a rabbit at the moment, frantic to get away, to not be caught. It felt like she'd been running forever.

It was the crest of the Darling Clan on her cloak, embroidered in silver and gold, that was the true reason as to why she was here. Her long, midnight blue dress almost reached her feet. She took extra care to hold the front of her skirt up to make sure that it would not snag on anything. Yet, despite her efforts, the dress had already caught on several bushes and was now torn at the bottom in several places anyways.

The shouts of her pursuers grew alarmingly louder as she was forced to slow down once again by her dress. Really, she should just cut the blue satin fabric away in haste, but she had not the time nor a knife to help her. There was only a sturdy stick clutched tightly in her right hand, just long enough to be swung like a bat if needed.

Just as she was certain that they would finally catch up to her, she saw it. The blue flame that marked the entrance of the world she was desperately trying to escape to. A place where all dreams come true, for you had all of time to accomplish them. A place that is a paradise for children, for you would never grow up.

A place that her great grandmother had devoted her entire life to protect. The home of the one who had shown her, along with her two brothers, what it is to live.

There was a smile of triumph that broke out, unbidden on her face at the sight. It was a small clearing in forest, grass a vibrant green and small clumps of baby's breath scattered around the area. If one looked at the clearing from high above, they could see how the flowers had been planted in the same design that was on the cloak.

In the center of the clearing was a simple stone arch. Words, much more ancient than any language she knew, were engraved upon each piece with care. Just beside the arch was a tall metal bracket, meant to hold a torch. And, as though it had sensed the girl's approach, a bright blue fire ignited within the bracket when she stepped into the clearing.

The fairies were the ones who had bequeathed these magic flames to her great grandmother, entrusting to her the protection of that place without His knowledge. Her eyes darted between the torch and the impossibly old archway. This was the portal that would only work once more, if the stories she had been told held any truth. This would be its last attempt to reach the Land of Never.

Somehow, despite the noise of pursuit, the forest seemed to grow impossibly quiet as she approached the blue flames. She lifted a hand, heart jack-hammering in her chest, and stared the flames. Then, before she could convince herself otherwise, the girl thrusted her hand into the flames in order to reach inside of the bracket.

Instantly the fire licked at her skin, causing it's color to change in an angry pink as it started to cook. But the fire never actually burned her, even though her every instinct told her otherwise- that this should hurt like Hell. There was only an uncomfortable heat that came from the flames though, which made her start to sweat.