Empire of Shadows

Prologue

The stinging smell of the dead filled Fields of the Light. Known sacred, noble lands were full of the wicked and evil creatures, who feasted on lives of the innocent. Bloodshed seems to never end. There was no escape, no salvation. The death ruled tonight.

Ahead the battlefield two young magicians were attacking each other. One by one they charged and thrust. Both were strong and confident in their powers.

The youth of twenty drew a circle in the air, creating a lightball from his spiritual powers. Then, with all strength that he had, he threw this energy clot at his enemy.

"Aren't you proud of yourself ?" Desmond shouted, hand turning to a fist, when the lightball missed its aim. "Aren't you satisfied of what you've done?"

The girl with silver hair started fighting with double anger. His words were like a knife to her throat. Haylee indeed felt disgustingly. Her actions were sinful and she would never forgive herself for those.

"Was it worth it, huh?" mocked older brother, going on the offensive. His movements were swift and precise. Never turning away, he looked into his sister's eyes with poison. "Was it worth it running away? Was it worth it abandoning your whole family? Was it worth it killing twenty seven our disciples? Was it worth it slaughtering him?"

Haylee's eyes sparkled with darkness. Last words were like a trigger to her. Hands trembling out of rage, she unsheathed the silver steel and lunged.

"I've always known you were spoiled," he spited, bringing down the high column of light, but Haylee made a shield by throwing her blade hard inside the ground. "You're no longer my sister, no member of our clan. You should be destroyed."

"And you think you should be the one who'll do that?" someone echoed from the back.

Distracted from the battle, two siblings turned to face the potential foe.

"Isaac?" the girl said astonished.

"Oh, you are just on time. This way I'll kill you both and the world will finally be at peace." Desmond smirked smugly, baring his sharp white teeth.

Dark-haired guy walked in slow pace, hands folded behind his back. "That's up to us to decide how and when we'll die. Let the girl go and parley with me. I know we can discuss the matter without the bloodshed."

Isaac moved lazily, almost as if he was relaxed and didn't care what was happening.

"So stupid of you to believe I would release you both." The blond one narrowed his eyes. "Not after what was done."

Haylee's hand that was holding the sword unconsciously trembled. She exchanged looks with her confidant and turned to her brother.

"Desmond," girl called faintly, "I am guilty and I...

"Screw your filthy apologies you damned whore!"

"Be careful with your tongue blondie." Isaac warned, face growing gloomy with every single heartbeat.

"Oh, did I hurt your feelings by telling the truth? My sister became your subordinate so she could bed you. Everyone knows that." He smiled slyly and made Isaac grind his teeth.

"We will look how you'll laugh when I cut that nasty tongue of yours," brunet's knuckles bleached from the power he clenched them.

"Or maybe when I'll cut yours and feed it to the dogs," snapped back Desmond and in an instant slashed the air with a strong blow.

Isaac dodged, avoiding the attack, and used his spiritual powers to take off. He shut his eyes and concentrated on dark energy within his core. In the matter of seconds, Desmond felt that something shifted in the air. A cold wind blew out of nowhere, as if the Death herself sighed right into his ear. The clouds and the atmosphere grew heavier and even though it was late evening, the sky turned pitch-black. Thousands screams of fear and confusion reached his sister's ears.