Battle Hymn

Prologue, History of the Underworld

    The vampire city known simply as the Underworld has existed for centuries. A permanently dark sky with only a red moon to tell the time. An ancient castle full of secrets. A secretive asylum where unspeakable acts are committed. A world of mystery that most avoid.
    Selcia has ruled the Underworld for over a hundred years. Raised in tradition, she ruled her people very firmly, expecting them to follow her rules. Those who didn't would be punished, often severely. She had no tolerance for intruders and would execute outsiders on the spot. She later discovered a secret that she wanted hidden, so she locked it away from the world, and even her own mind.
    Four years ago, a human with the power to control and command fire fell into her world, deeply wounded and dying from a battle on her own planet. Selcia was the one who found her, but instead of killing her as she'd killed all others, she chose to take her in. Something called her to save the young woman's life, so she did the only thing she knew would work in the limited time she had, she turned her from human to vampire.
    The newly turned vampire was the fearsome woman known as Calamity. Feared by all on her world, just her name was enough to set people on edge. Selcia knew of the legends, and started to wonder just what had been powerful enough to take the fiery woman down. She questioned Calamity many times, but she had no memory of the battle.
    Three months later, the answer was revealed when Calamity was captured by a dangerous and very powerful scientist working for the dreaded Ravencrest Asylum. With his powers and living experiments, it had been enough to take down the woman who was considered an "unbeatable weapon." In her fury, Selcia overpowered and killed the scientist while rescuing Calamity, and the two fled the asylum.
    Calamity later asked Selcia about the place but the ruler shut down any talk, saying Ravencrest was not to be spoken of. The visit to the asylum reminded her of the secret she had locked away.
    Fast forward to the present day. Calamity completed two years of training and ascended the throne, ruling over the Underworld successfully for the next two years. She met a runaway vampire only a few years younger than her and took her in. The runaway was named Shiloh. Angry at the world, Shiloh constantly provoked Selcia and Calamity. Despite that, Calamity firmly continued trying to help and eventually, Shiloh started to settle down, but is always only a step away from reverting to her old and violent ways.
    Since the asylum rescue, Selcia's memories became stronger and she's now flooded with her memories of what happened twenty years ago, of what she did and who she locked away. She fears of what will happen if the person she locked up breaks out, and what if Calamity ever found out the truth? Unfortunately, it seems as if her worst fears are about to come true.

Battle Hymn, coming October 2024