Enchanted Love

Prologue

Terror shook in Lacy's veins as she ran through the undergrowth. She didn't know what had grabbed her, didn't understand how she got here, transported from her high paced city. She couldn't tell if the eyes she had seen were some part of a sick, nyquil induced dream. Was she dying? Had she drunk that much? It hardly mattered. All she knew was she had to keep running; running away from the strangely beautiful creature riding another creature. It had claimed to be her father? She looked absolutely nothing like it! She had no memory of it before in her life. She did, however, remember her father rather vividly. He had been a respectable man, hardworking, kind, and resourceful. He was usually away on business until the second weekend of every month, but she knew he loved her. She had no idea what game this, this...thing's mind was trying to play with her!

A scream leaped from her throat as the ground gave way beneath her, letting her feet pound the air for a single step until her shoulder crashed onto the packed earth and gravity sent her body tumbling down the steep, thorn-crowned ravine. Tears poked at her eyes as her arms shielded her head from colliding with a pointed rock that helped her come to a stop. Hearing the hooves of the creatures steed growing closer, she scrambled into a thicket and curled herself into a ball, burying her face into her knees as she let the tears flow freely down her cheeks. She tried to contain her wails, but failed miserably as leaves rustled around her hiding place. Muttering and raspy grumbles encircled her, along with the scratching of claws on dirt.

She curled deeper into herself as she heard creatures getting closer, and closer, grumbling to each other about what and who she was. "Steady!" a strong, authoritative voice echoed over the ravine from the top of one of the slopes. Whispers rose around the thicket Lacy was hiding in, talking about a General Kindred. "Back away from the girl!" the voice commanded, resulting in rustling leaves as the creatures obeyed. "Lacy," it switched to a melodic call, caging her attention no matter how much she tried to resist it. "Come back to me."

She lost control of her body as she slowly crawled out of the bush and stood up, looking around her in terror. Trolls and goblins surrounded her, muskrat-like creatures and molemen. They all coiled away from her with exclamations of disgust. A twig snapped and drew her attention to the creature that brought her here, walking toward her atop an animal similar to a horse, but with long, feathered wings, and sharpened teeth.

She took a step away from him, only for a warning gleam to enter his cat yellow eyes. His light grey skin shone white where the sun hit it through the leaves, his ears came to an unnatural, furry point, and his teeth reminded her of the sharks she would see at the aquarium. Yep. No doubt about it. This was definately not her father. "Do not run," he ordered in that other worldly voice, "I am not here to harm you. Let that be made clear. You doubt me, but I am your father. Your mother wrote to me before her death and asked me to come and claim custody of you after her passing. She entrusted your care to me, as you may entrust your care to me." Her throat tensed as she gulped. How was she to know that her mother actually trusted this thing? She had to admit that his glowing beauty made it easier to believe his words; surely something so beautiful couldn't be dangerous. But this was all just too much for her 6 year old mind to process. "From now on," the creature continued, walking his steed closer, "your name will no longer be Lacy. You will be called Macosna, in honor of your mother." 

Well...at least that part wouldn't be so bad...