Sample-Chapter 1 - The Scarlett Curse

Sample-Chapter 1-The Scarlett Curse-Toneye Eyenot

Secretly and with great stealth, Scarlett drew her silver, razor-sharp dagger. The handle, encrusted with amethyst and moonstone, nestled perfectly in her comfortable yet strong grip. It would seem as if its ancient architect had her very hand in mind when fashioning such Beauty and Power. The Sacred Blade Of Profanity had, indeed, harnessed vast landscapes of Power in the course of its immeasurable existence. It had been in her possession now for longer than she remembered. Its very nature transcended time and space, and in what seems like many centuries... many lifetimes, Scarlett would forever marvel at its unique ability to carry its possessor, unaffected by the cruelty of time. For as long as she kept the Blade by her flesh, Scarlett was, by all accounts, somewhat immortal.

"What do you intend to do with that?" A booming, authoritative voice behind her startled Scarlett. It also gained the attention of everybody in the crowded section of market, where her intended prey stood anxiously by a stall of hats. His nervous disposition was inflicted upon him by the close proximity of the Sacred Blade, and by Scarlett's single-minded intent to end his existence in this world. The old man could not fathom why he was suddenly overcome with such dread, as he tried on, in the most awkward and clumsy way, nearly every item of headwear.

Joshua Melkerin was never one to wear a hat. His head was simply too large, and an odd, hat unfriendly shape. At this moment, however, Joshua had the overwhelming urge to hide his face... to conceal his identity. He was certain that nobody was aware of his most recent debauchery. Nor was anyone aware of how long he had been carrying his secret around with him. But The Sacred Blade Of Profanity knew. Oh, it knew too well- and it craved Joshua's profanity as the wolf does the lamb.

"Well?" impatiently inquired the now irate voice. Scarlett didn't flinch, but kept her eyes fixed on Joshua Melkerin, who was also startled by the sudden loud voice. So much so, that it caused him to drop his most recent choice to the dirt at his feet and stare at Scarlett, his mouth opening and closing in a mixture of fear, outrage, and humiliation at his clumsiness. The stallholder swiftly spoke up, and insisted that the beret was now the property of this fumbling gentleman.

"Look at it! How can I sell this now? You have ruined it!" The old man became so flustered by this very public embarrassment, that he turned a little too quickly back to face the stallholder, and in doing so, sent the entire collection of hats tumbling into the filthy street. All of this happened in a matter of moments - more than enough time for Scarlett to assess the situation and act accordingly. The Blade, with its immunity to the constraints of time and space, carried across to Scarlett the ability to act instantly and without hesitation. She casually turned to the now distracted man behind her... a town official, no less, and silently ran the keen edge of her Dagger across his throat as she walked away through the confused crowd. Scarlett was gone before the man even realised his throat was slit, and the front of his tunic suddenly became a dark shade of crimson. His knees buckled beneath him- a woman screamed, followed by a mass of shouts and panic.

These events were already a distant memory to Scarlett as she slipped, unnoticed, through the town gates, and made her way back to her forest home.

* * *

The thirst had only been minutely sated though. To retain its full potential... its absolute Power, The Sacred Blade Of Profanity demanded, like an unruly child, full immersion. It demanded deep, penetrating wounds. It needed to feel the blood, still living and warm, blanketing its cold metal frame. A quick taste of throat flesh merely excited the Blade and aroused its bloodlust beyond imagination. Scarlett knew she now had very little linear time left to give the Blade its fill. The memories of past failings were still very painful indeed. The scar beneath her right breast throbbed violently, and the pain in her lung was almost crippling. Scarlett couldn't go home just yet. She had to turn back. There was simply no other option.

The entire town of Mills Wall had erupted into an unspeakable hysteria. Apart from the recent disappearances of several of the town's children, Mills Wall was a peaceful, friendly town. Everybody knew everybody's business, but that never seemed to be cause for trouble. The missing children, however, had upset the townsfolk considerably, and understandably so. Never, in the history of Mills Wall, had such a tragic sequence of events occurred. Of course, there was the occasional neighbourly dispute, but these were invariably solved with minimal fuss or trouble. The countryside where the town was situated had always been believed to be a place of harmonious energies. Perhaps this is why Scarlett has spent so many years in the one spot. Though she rarely interacted with the locals, this place had felt like Home for a very, very long time.

* * *

Gagging on saliva and blood, Noel could do nothing but lay helpless in the dirt and watch as people ran past and all around him, shouting and screaming in a most ridiculous panic. He was a large, strong man. Close to seven feet tall, he was military trained, though his training hadn't been needed for some time. As he lay there, he couldn't help but wonder how such a slight creature as that mysterious woman could have slipped past his guard so easily and, in the process, manage to render him effectively useless. Perhaps it had simply been too long since his training had served any kind of real purpose.

His eyes watered profusely, and his nostrils filled with dust, kicked up by the scores of feet scampering this way and that. His final thoughts were of gratitude to the gentle hands of a woman who lifted his spinning head off the cold, hard ground and cradled it in her lap. He had neither the strength, nor the care, really, to protest against the woman using her coarse garment to apply pressure to his fatal wound. Her vain attempt to halt the copious flow of his lifeblood only served to suffocate him more thoroughly. Noel Hartren, Sergeant of Mills Wall Town Guard, passed from this world in a whirlwind of chaos and confusion.

https://www.amazon.com/Scarlett-Curse-Sacred-Blade-Profanity/dp/1512323160/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480495164&sr=8-1&keywords=the+scarlett+curse