Era of Wrath (Chrim Chronicles #2)

CHAPTER ONE

Karver Moreau

Dense mist drifted between the tall and steep black rocks that rose out of the infinite ashen sea. Foaming waves crashed high and violent upon the cliffs. The sand of the beach held a dark color, almost black, and shined as if a layer of a million diamonds had been scattered over it.

The sound of loud laughter of the first waking children echoed from below my balcony. They ran out of the entrance of our fortress across the wooden bridge to meet the cold of the dawn. It was invisible to the eye, but below that bridge swam dozens of alligators who were descendants of the crocodiles my ancestors had long ago used in war. The four tall stone walls joined through the four tall towers in each corner of which each was meant to house watchmen to defend us. But in my lifetime, those large wooden doors had never been closed and the bridge leading to them had never been pulled up, nor had anyone used the towers to keep watch.

Though I would never say it aloud, often I doubted the truth of my family's wild tales. I, along with everyone else born here on this isolated island, grew up being told that legions of supernatural beings were on the hunt for us, out to kill each and every one of us, and that we were part of the seven most powerful witch families. But perhaps these people were merely a bunch of madmen. The thought of them keeping us here, isolated from the world, being nothing more but a result from their insanity often crossed my mind.

A little girl with red hair flew high in the air and screamed. I let out a grunt and ran down the flights of steps, out of the entrance and down the bridge, and onto the beach. A group of children had gathered and looked up at the panicking girl, some of them laughed and others yelled at the girl with her hand raised to let her down. I grabbed the little witch by her collar and threw her behind me, and caught the red haired girl right before she fell off the cliff.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" After the redhead nodded, I turned around and marched at the one who still lay on the dirt. Again I grabbed her by the collar, only this time pulling her up. Her brown eyes peered deep into mine, reassuring me that she did not fear me even though I was the adult. "Are you out of your mind, Neviana? How many times have we told you to never use magic on a living creature? You could have killed her, do you realize that?" I waited for a moment for an apology, but Neviana remained silent. The girl's height barely reached my hips and yet she felt like she was above me. Power could do that to even the youngest ones. I released her collar and nudged at the fortress. "Go inside, and don't you dare come back outside until you have permission to do so." Sure, the girl had magic, as every other girl did on this island, but that didn't relief her from punishment.

The other children and I watched her go in solemn silence. Neviana turned her head a few times as she went, frowning and glaring at me with bared teeth. But on the last time she turned her head, her face switched from angry to surprised.

I turned around and saw dozens of ships moving towards our island. Their tall masts held white sails that flapped in the wind. The ships rocked violently as the waves pulled and pushed at them, and the passengers screamed and held on tight to the edges and masts.

"Get inside." I turned to the children and pushed them forward by their shoulders. "Hurry, go inside and warn everyone." I turned back to the ships and regarded them with worry and some curiosity. "Tell them we have visitors."