Destined For Doom

Prologue - Forever A Slave

-Prologue-

-Forever A Slave-

Akane knelt at the stairs of the ancient stone temple; a razor sharp sword held in each hand. Blood ran down his arms, most of it not his own.

"I have done all you asked," he said through clenched teeth, "Please."

His eyes stared down in defeat underneath a deep black cowl. Equally black smoke and living shadows curled off his form, residual power that faded with each passing second.

"You have shown defiance for the last time," a powerful voice scowled, the owner's hair was beginning to grey with age, and his eyes were the same colour. The older man stood with his own sword to the neck of a young girl, no older than fifteen. Her eyes were wide with fear, the same colour as Akane's.

"Brother!" she cried, before her voice was silenced by a strong hand.

"I beg you, just release her." He pleaded again, keeping his voice as low and calm as he could, "I will serve you until the end of my days, but only if she leaves here unharmed."

The grey-eyed man laughed, "You will serve the light regardless, Akane. I did everything for you, I freed you from the evil that infected into your soul. This is how you repay my kindness? I gave you a new life!"

"You gave me chains," Akane growled, "You stole me from one prison and forced me into another, at least have the gall to admit that."

"Your mind is stained by darkness," he continued, staring at the powerless warrior with eyes that almost shone with anger. "You will be educated, and unbound from the poison. You will see Akane, I will show you the path."

With a smooth motion he slid the sword against the girl's neck, releasing her and taking a step back. She staggered forward, choking out a few last words as blood flowed like a river. "We will be free soon, forever. Be strong, brother."

"No," he whispered, tears welling in his eyes as he caught his dying sister. She stared at him, terrified, as life slipped away. The light in her eyes flickered dimly, fading as the blood ran. "Please Hana, you're all I have left. Please stay with me."

"You want chains, and chains you shall receive." The other man sneered, driving the bloodied blade into the ground.

Akane's fury boiled, breaking through the numbness he felt as she left the world. Shadows sprang to life as he lay her down gently on the stone steps, darkness swirled from his arms venomously. Hate, pain and rage filled his vision, making him see red as he launched himself at the murderer. He was halfway through springing to his feet when the grey-eyed man acted, casting a hand forward towards him. Light blazed from his palm, and chains made of solid rock appeared from nothing to wrap around Akane's form. As he struggled stone crept out from the chains, working along his skin and expanding rapidly.

His joints locked up, limbs growing heavy as the infectious stone spread across his body. He roared in hatred at the killer, gripping his swords tightly. "I will kill you! If it is the last thing I do, I will kill you all!"

The monster laughed at the last act of defiance, walking forward as the stone spread across Akane's face, cutting out his vision and making everything fade to black.