Chapter 3: Stranger with a Side of Paint
Sweat poured down my face as I crashed through the thick line of trees in the dense forest surrounding me. I wasn't sure why, but the desperate feeling of urgency told me that I was running for my life. The low branches tore at my arms and face but I kept going, not daring to stop and relax. The forest finally started to thin out until it stopped altogether and I found myself on a vast grassland. Deep purple mountains stood tall in the distance and a cool breeze began to drift around me like a flowing river.
The danger seemed to pass with the peaceful landscape before me so I stopped to catch my breath. I collapsed on the soft grass and closed my eyes, letting the sunlight seep into my skin and I slowly fell asleep.
I'm not sure how long I lay there, for when I opened my eyes I saw the night sky and the moon right overhead. I stared up at the stars for a moment but then suddenly felt the prying eyes of a presence. Someone was watching me. I quickly sat up and looked around, trying to adjust to the darkness. There, sitting by me, was the form of a man. He was a large man for sure, with broad shoulders and golden hair, which flowed in the slight breeze.
"Dreamer," he murmured. His voice was soft but hinted immense power. "Prepare yourself, for soon you shall not wake." The man turned his shadowed face toward me. I opened my mouth to ask what in the world what going on, but his piercing silver eyes silenced me and I clamped my mouth shut. "You are gifted, Liam, although you do not yet fully understand."
He nailed that one.
The man then closed his eyes and began to recite:
"In his veins it shall flow,
But never shall The Enemy let go.
In his blood it will hide
Concealing all the power deep inside.
When darkness comes and brings us strife
His blood will run and give us life."
"You shall soon be charged with a great task, one which shall define the line between good and evil and unveil the truth. Prepare yourself Liam, there is a long and perilous path ahead of you, but pain is part of the journey." He looked straight into my eyes and smiled. "We shall meet again."
And then he was gone. Just like that. I looked around the green fields and up to the starry sky, soaking in the peacefulness of the place. But just as soon as the good feelings had settled in, they were gone. I sensed movement and whipped my head around to face the dark tree line. I squinted against the darkness searching for any kind of--
Something darted past. I stood up into a defensive stance and carefully surveyed the forest. The figure moved swiftly past me again and then two more times before stopping and standing in front of me.
"Who are you? What do you want?" I asked the shadow. It was tall and lean with unnaturally long arms and spidery fingers. I could see no facial features; just a dark shape as if a demon stood behind me and the moon cast its shadow into the air.
"Who are you and what do you want?" I repeated, trying my best to sound intimidating. I stood still, unwavering for several more seconds until a breathy voice rasped:
"I want . . ."
"Yes, yes, what do you want, oh mister shadow man?" I said, attempting to make a joke out of the whole situation.
"I want . . ." it hissed again, "your blood." In that second, the shape lunged at me. I saw claws flying toward my face, long needle-like teeth protruding from its gaping mouth and eyes, a flash of bright red eyes.
YOU ARE READING
The Dreamer's Blood
Adventure(Book One in the Cielven Trilogy) Liam Simmons is no ordinary high school kid and his dreams are no ordinary dreams. When he and his friends, Skip and Bree, are transported to the strange world of Arsian, they find themselves suddenly thrown into a...
