The Lost Kingdom

Prologue

On her day of the year, a young girl approaches her Aunt with an innocent question.

"When will Mum and Dad come?"

The woman pursed her lips. She sometimes forgot how naive young children were.

"Not anytime soon."

"Why?"

"Oh, all these questions. They won't come. You can't sit here and wait for them." 

She now looked directly into the soul of the young girl. "Luna, you are destined for great things. You can't fail anyone."

The house shook as a flash of lightning struck the ground. The girl tried to run into her aunt's arms. She shook her off looking quite annoyed at her. The girl would never know what she had been through, she wouldn't understand the depth of her life, her purpose. She'll grow and when she reaches the age, she'll take everything back. The woman kept her head high. She'll suffer for as long as it was necessary.

The girl stared back, far more upset that her parents wouldn't ever come for her. It hit the young girl harder than it should have.

**********************

The rain fell mercilessly as it witnessed another tragedy as it had for the last million years. A man stood in the heavy rain, blood dripping from his hands, staring grimly at the result. He was satisfied with the silence, after the brutal dark. It was never complete silence. He could still hear their incessant whinings and taunts but it was comparatively peaceful. It's what he looked for.

In his centuries of living, no one had it easier, even superior creatures like him.. especially creatures like him. Fate made sure of that. They uttered his name in fear, the ruthless, uncontrollable beast who struck those on the right side of justice or the wrong, those young or old with no softer hand for anyone. He was the monster in every child's nightmare to keep them from doing any wrong while keeping every parent praying that he never darkened their doorstep—their fear. Its stench was everywhere in the air. It's what kept him at his strongest, an endless cycle of fear and violence. He hoped that the dragon would finally bite his tail but hope was only meant for those who feared, not the ones who caused it.

He settled himself on a rock and wiped the blood from his sword. It gleamed in the light of the moon, even in the rain. Behind him, there was a rustle of leaves. He made no effort to move from the place. 

"How many white shirts do you go through in a month? Like I'm serious, blood is an extremely shitty thing to get off clothes, let alone white clothes."

There was no reply to the other's words. He never bothered to answer his pointless questions.

"On a more serious note, don't you think this is all.. unnecessary?"

There was still silence.

"Do you remember the date today?"

He froze. 

"You remember?". It was the first words he spoke that night. He sometimes failed to recognize his voice. So cold, so distant.

"I'm your best friend. Well technically, your only friend so yes I remember."

He doesn't respond again.

The insensitive other marches around staring at the bodies littered around the body. 

"You did quite a number on these poor souls."

He scoffed. "They're cowards. Mortals going around kidnapping children."

"And did you find the childlings?"

"I didn't."

"Are you going to?"

"They'd rather see the devil than me.", he mutters getting up from the rock. He sheathed his sword and turned towards the trees.

"This bloodshed, I mean don't get me wrong I love seeing them writhe in pain, but this has been going on for a long time even for me. When will this end?"

Oh, when will it stop? , the voices cried in glee. 

He clenched his fists as the voices taunted him. 

"As long as it takes".