The House Of Blood and Dust, Book One: Darkness Rising

Laugh and The Whole World Laughs With You

I open my eyes and climb from my bed, I stare into the mirror and I am sixteen again. I’m in a dream… again. I rub my face and the stubble of what shall become a glorious beard is rough.

          “So you’re awake that is good.” I turn and see my father, his harsh clean shaven face looking at me, dressed in a suit and tie.

          “Shocking isn’t it.” My mouth still as violent as I remember for which my father gives me the same look, disappointment but I smirk like the little bastard that I am.

          “Get ready… and if you think that you speak like a foul mouthed vagrant you can think again.”

          “Okay father… enjoy your day.” He walks down the stairs. I look at myself in the mirror once again, long hair still there and no scar upon my cheek from the insidious past I have had. In my boxers I stand and stare at myself, no scars nothing clean nothing staining my skin. I hear the door closing and smile as I have the house to myself. Today is the day we move away from the small island away from humans and elves alike. This was my childhood home, I’ve have fond memories of this place before my grandfather died. I was ten and for the last six years leading to this point, I have been in a constant war with my brother, sister, mother and father. Zachary and I are the only ones who grandfather taught to fight like him and all the other Arkness’ before him, he taught us to be men and how to keep our heads in the fight and not lost our minds. I get my clothes on: hoodie, t-shirt and jeans like usual. The bed is welcoming but I need to leave the house. I go down stairs and into the kitchen to make myself food and drink. All that is going to happen I already know for this clearly is a dream set off by the reverie. Today is the day I kill someone for the first time, three people in fact and today is the day that Zachary kills his first.

          I sit at the table; the paper is left there not intended for me, intended for my step mother. My real mother unknown to me at this point, nothing but suffering is known to me and anger for my father’s jealousy.

          “You truly are a fool… did you not think I wasn’t in.” My sister Amara stands staring at me, I beat her boyfriend to an inch of his life after I found him in her bed with one of her best friends and yet she hates me for it, perhaps because I broke her friends jaw.

          “Nah, I knew you were here… just walked passed you because I thought me and you were not talking… shame.” She sits down and looks at me, smiling an odd thing for she never normally smiles.

          “Well I thought it was about time we made up, that whole thing with Dalia and Mark is long pasted… what do you say?” It’s a trap, but I don’t know that yet shortly.

          “Sure, it’s gone… now what?”

          “Dalia, liked you, she spoke about you… she still does.” I smile and rest my hand on the table. The back door opens, no one normally goes through the back door and if anyone came back for anything they would use the front. Amara’s eyes stare at them without her mouth moving.

          “Well I didn’t care about her and it was satisfying when I left her jaw on one hinge.” I smile and she grins.

          “Now!” I jump out of the chair and turn the man has slashed the air with a bowie knife. I kick the chair into him, he falls to the floor.

          “So you thought you’d try and kill me… why?”

          “Because I am the heir.” She scream and my fist enters her face, knocking her off of the chair. I turn and look at the man.