The Darkness beyond Souls

Chapter 1

She wandered the concrete streets, her mind leading her feet the same way which she had walked a thousand times before. The way home. She soon neared her house, which was rather small, though it was rather cosy. The windows seemed to glare at her, as if the house knew she had been going beyond to the forbidden land. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of the previous hour's events. She opened her door, no need to unlock it. Locks were discarded from her city a long time ago, when the High Lord Terrance took over, he liked to snoop to see what his residents owned. The thought of him made her feel nauseous. He was only in it for money, sizing up his residents possessions so he could raise his taxes to claim their valuables as he saw fit. Whatever his ivory eye saw, he took. She was lucky enough, she had loose tiles in the kitchen floor, and to the naked eye no one would notice, not even this greedy lump of a fool.

Inside the house was dark and damp, today it wouldn't welcome her with the glow of a nice warm fire, though it's not the first time it's been too much to ask. She yet again, for another night, hauled the big woollen blanket over her. It was awfully itchy, reddening her skin and smelling rather foul, like a mixture of damp, musky fur and rotting corpse. Though it did the trick, keeping her warm against the cold draft coming through the broken window, the rash heating up as her skin became rawer was partially to thank. Even though it was an inconvenience, it also provided heat as it became more inflamed because of the body's defence mechanisms of to flush away infection. At least it's useful for something Defence mechanisms are useless when it's something serious, like poor Tommie...he had only just celebrated his second year of life...so young and fragile he was. Then the darkness swooped in and took away his warmth and strength. She thought to herself angrily. Her mind was almost set on getting revenge for her bastard child. She knew she shouldn't think about Tommie, it always hurt thinking about his little lifeless body, but it was impossible to forget.

She decided to think about something different, something important right now. Her mind wandered back to the day's previous events, how there had been something that scared the creatures she had always feared. She wanted to find out, though she already had an idea on who or what it was. And she didn't like that idea at all. The thing she had in mind would have any mercy for any living being, especially not her, not with her known ancestors. Though that is another problem for another day. Still it sent icy cold fear through her spine. So she drifted off into a dreamless sleep tears rolling down her eyes from fear and pain, hugging the stray cat in which she named Dobby. He was her only comfort, though tonight he provided her with none.

The next morning she woke up, forgetting how cold she was, as she jumped up to write a letter to her half-blood sister. She had to warn her, to keep her safe. If he's back, he will strike again, and this time he won't accept failure either. Last time he was out to kill, this time he will be out to slaughter, and they are on the top of his list to hunt. If he was already close to finding her, then her sister would soon be the next to cross his path. She pulled out a piece of paper from the drawer, breaking the handle off in the process, the wood rotten and brittle. The pen, though little ink she had left, would have to do. She couldn't afford to make a mistake with this letter, her sister's life, and possibly even her own counted on it.

Dear Emerae,

I am writing to you with urgency, for I fear my health and sanity. You see, I fear HE is back again, watching my every move. People will think that I am crazy, but I am not nearly insane. I fell to seep in a bed of tears last night, I found no comfort even whilst I was embracing my dear stray Dobby in my quivering arms.

Every single sound sent me wailing, it is all too much to handle. I fear if this problem is not solved, that I shall be as idiotic and irrational as they all secretly deem me to be. Soon I shall most likely be taken to the Asylum if this predicament lies with little evidence, however I then will not fear for my own safety, but for yours. He is a vile and villainous creature who bears no chivalry nor honour, be wary of him my sweetheart. I see it best that this note is to be burned after laying your eyes upon it, for it could land us both in grave danger.

Be warned, you must stay cautious of those around you, for we are not the only who may lay their eyes upon this fine letter. I have heard speak of what they call the old one too, nothing solid, of course, but I fear my gut says all is frightfully true. The idea that he is free of his imprisonment from the fiery wall has caused little comfort to my mind. My hand trembles as I write. I fear ever so greatly that my nightmares have returned, causing me to be waken in my sleep shrieking and wailing, with a shadow below the foot of my bed. I dare not focus on the shadow, for the spirit may deceive me before regaining it's true form...and we all know how it ended when I had believed one to be mothers, oh how wrong I truly was. His horrid spies, shapeshifting demons, I dare say.

I do miss mother though, it must be 9 years since we last saw her! That is quite unsettling in my mind, though it's unchangeable and unmoving so we must make do and stay by one another's side as we always have done from the beginning until the end. Forever and always, together we will rise.

I am unsure whether these demons await us, though they crave our doom as much as he does. Their dark souls haunt the darkest depths of my mind. I believe it would be best to stay indoors until they are captured, for our heads may as well be on stakes if you choose to do otherwise. They are not creatures of heart, for they do not even possess such a thing. They will strike when they believe the iron to be hot, so look after yourself, before you too go insane.

With all my love, Liana.

She placed the letter inside the fairy-tale book, the one her mum read to her and Emerae as a child. The letter placed within their favourite story would certainly be seen by Emerae, she always turned to that story first. With the letter safely hidden Liana summoned her Golden Eagle to deliver the letter, and with that the letter was amidst the breeze, in safe claws. The eagle was marvellous and beautiful, as graceful in the air as the breeze itself, the pure perfection of the creature left her speechless. The claws and beak were designed for killing; she knew she could trust this fine beast to deliver the book untouched. With that Liana finally let her breath out, it was sent, and there was no turning back. She retrieved her woollen blanket, feeling the shivers moving down her spine, and returned to rest whilst darkness still covered the city. At sunrise she would have another task to accomplish, but that was more than a good few hours away.