White Phantom

Prologue: Mystery

The night was cool and brisk. Leaves all colors drifted through the air riding the autumn breeze. Dark clouds loomed over the sea, warning those on land that a storm was on its way. The dark king stood on his balcony, overlooking the ocean. He waited as his creatures hunted for the one thing that could change his fate. He stood taller than an average man, and very muscular in build. His head gleamed in the sunlight and his skin etched in scars of his past. Dark clothes outfitted him, fitting for his dark heart. Trumpets sounded the return of his creatures. He turned and made haste to the great hall so he could greet his triumphant warriors. The great hall had many windows with dark drapes and golden embroideries. Symbols of his kingdom flew on banners high in the ceilings. The head creature came in first, then two smaller underlings carrying a limp body between them. "Your majesty," the creature growled, "we've returned with your prize." The King grinned and hurriedly approached the limp body. A girl, no older than sixteen, hung unconscious in the underlings' arms. Her long auburn hair flowed about her waist, clumped in mats of blood and leaves. Her right arm was disfigured as was her left leg. Probably the doing of the underlings, but that was no concern of the king. He was much too pleased that his prize lay before him. "Take her to the dungeon. I will greet her after I find the counselor." Searching through the halls of the castle, he found his first counselor in the library looking over some books about the kingdom's history. "Conselor! The beasts found the girl!" the king grinned. The counselor dropped the book in his hands and met the king's gaze, "so soon? I..I..I mean I'm glad they found her! I just didn't think it would be so fast!" he stuttered, ashamed that the king startled him. "Quickly! To the dungeon!" The king nearly drug the counselor behind him until the councelor found the proper footing. As they entered the dungeon, they found the girl on the floor of the cell, unconscious. The counselor looked upon her body in horror. The king's beasts had gone too far. The king looked to his counselor and boomed, "Look at my prize! With her power, we can finally take over the kingdom!" "My liege, haven't your beasts gone too far?!" the counselor tried to keep his voice even, but with no success. The king gave the counselor an evil grin and chuckled. "She's only a girl...!" The king then shot the counselor a look of rage. He grabbed the counselor by the collar of his robes and hollered, "She's the key to ruling the kingdom!" with his giant hands he threw the counselor into the bars of the cell, then collapsed to the floor, lifeless. The king's evil laughter echoed through the dungeon halls as he made his way back up the stairs to the great hall of the castle.***Laughter... evil laughter...The sound echoed through the halls of the dungeon as the girl awoke from her slumber. Her eyes were glued shut with her own blood, but she managed to get them open to try and get her bearings.It was dark in the room, and there was only a flame torch on the wall threatening to go out. The smell of the damp walls filled her nostrils. Mold, mildew and water stained the wall beside her and rust covered the bars of her prison.The girl tried to lift her head so she could better see the room, but a sharp pain shot down her spine. She gasped and grimaced through her pain so she could see the damage done to her, but she could barely even lift her head. Instead, she moved her left arm and traced over her skin.To her terror, she was badly wounded. Her right arm was broken and there were several other bruises along her arms. Her left leg was also broken, so escape was out of the question. She carefully propped herself with her left arm, and yelped as pain surged through her ribs. Her abdomen was badly bruised and she could feel that she probably had fractured ribs.Sitting against the damp wall, the girl could finally make out more of her surroundings. As she scanned the room, she came across the counselor's lifeless corpse.A gasp of horror escaped her lips.Just where was she? And what did they want with her? These questions raced through her mind as tears streamed down her blood-stained cheeks.