ARIA

Prologue

I heard the clanking sound of the chains being dragged down the hallway. I tasted fear hanging on the stuffy air mixed with the smell of sweat and blood. I opened my eyes and I saw a faint light coming from the lamp on the wall.

My eyes felt heavy and my body was tired from all the bruises. Every part of me was aching. I was slowly closing my eyes but then I heard distant voices. War cries? Someone's fighting. Growls were angry and defensive. Snarling. Flesh being torn apart. Smell of blood. Fire.

My eyes were inches to closing again when suddenly I heard a heavy metal door being thrown against the wall.

Footsteps.

Heavy footsteps.

Keys opening the locks of the cellars.

Voices crying for help.

A dark silhouette stood just outside my own cold prison bars. Compared to the faint light on the wall, its eyes were burning in bright yellow flame just like the beast my mother told me when I was five. I wanted to see the face of that shadow but the last drop of my strength was spent watching those eyes getting darker and darker until I completely closed my eyes but not before the bars that separate us was bent open letting the shadow come to me in slow motion.

My body was lifted by muscular arms made me feel like I was floating to such gentleness. And...