The Night of No Stars

Chapter 1

The figure was shrouded with shadows, only pale white hands visible. Those hands, so clear, so terrifying, were restlessly stroking a silvery shape. The shape, a dog, was scarcely visible in the dull gloom of the entranceway.

A small bat hung from the roof of the tunnel-room, not entirely sure how it managed to enter in the first place, too late, too terrified to move now, fearing the dog's attack. The air was hot and sticky, resulting from an abnormally humid summer, and there was not even the sound of the dog’s fur being brushed back. All was still, and all was quiet as the slave scurried across the room and bowed deeply. Deep in its throat the dog growled. Something flickered in the darkness as a reply, also black but of a different texture to the shadows. Eyes. They regarded the slave coldly as he stilled a shudder and bowed again.

"Did you find the key?" The voice, coming from the darkness, was as smooth and emotionless as the barely distinguishable eyes. The slave remained silent, sweating hard even as he pressed his forehead to the cool wooden boards that formed the floor. The floorboards were also dark, and overall the room had a distinct air of being a cave. Of course, it wasn’t, instead being a cleverly disguised entrance to a mansion. Anyone who wandered into it, entering from the crouching rocks guarding the mouth, would be under the impression that they simply entered an abandoned mine and would leave swiftly.

"Did you?" As it got louder the voice acquired a rasping, grating edge, making the slave cower in fear. The hands stilled, and a menacing silver eye flickered open on the dog.

"My master... please... it was not my fault... they have hidden it! I have tried my best but… Please forgive me, almighty one..." The dog tensed, and the slave did a double take. Was he going crazy, or was the dog… fading? It certainly wasn’t as dense and solid as it was when he walked in – although it was already wraith-like when he walked in. He stumbled back, tripping as he stood rapidly, desperate to get away, desperate to get out of reach of the hands, as the shadows began to stretch towards him and away from the shadow-figure. The dog, only a pale silvery glimpse with no substance now, no evidence it had ever been there, bared its faded teeth in a snarl and twined itself around a mass of shadows that appeared to be the legs of its master. Now merely a silver smudge in the darkness, no longer a dog.

"Pathetic fool." The slave was too slow. Before he could blink the hands flashed towards him. "You should know by now -" The now broken, bleeding body of the slave dropped to the ground as the hands let go. "- that the great Ehris never forgives." The voice was scornful, the man moving away from the body. The dog had vanished entirely by now, and there was the faintest hint of silver in Ehris's eyes.

"Now what do I do?"

"People of Lautice." The villagers looked around fearfully, some grabbing their children and holding them close, all at the sound of that terrible voice. They could tell it was Henrold, their prince and ruler. His voice was deep and panting, struggling for breath with every word. Everyone looked up at the palace, seeing the blonde haired man draped across the balcony edge, surrounded by solemn black uniformed guards. The guards were known around town officially as the Nahhan. Henrold took another breath before continuing, lifting a fat hand to wipe sweat from his brow.

"Your failure to retrieve to the key... disappoints me, to say the least. Another one of your despicable kind has paid the price for bearing the bad news. Naturally, I hope you all understand, every one of you, that this is your fault." Now the voice had captured the attention of almost everyone, even the children who had originally fought to get free to play again. None of the stall owners noticed a skinny, black haired boy stealing through the crowd, head lowered and inconspicuous. "You failed to track down the one who stole the key from me. Perhaps you think by resisting you will be safe? As adults, you will be safe to starve to death, believe me. But a worse torture does wait. The mines could always use more workers, and you all know just how small those shafts are. I believe that your children are the perfect size for them, unless I am much mistaken" The boy's hand flashed out, and then he moved away stealthily with a bloody hare hidden under his tunic. "Unless you find that key, you will all suffer the consequences." The voice silenced but the heavy breathing continued on as the largest figure withdrew into the palace again, flanked by his guards. No-one dared to move for a moment, shocked into stillness. A single movement was noticeable, no matter how subtle one was.