Nightfall

Chapter 1

"Momma?" I asked, looking into the darkness of what once my room.

"Yes my child?"

"Why did daddy do this?"

"Because daddy is a mean man. He wanted to keep you from me because he thought I was mentally ill. So he decided a mental institute wouldn't be good enough. Therefore he burnt this house."

"But daddy said-"

"Daddy is dead. You have only me now my darling. Now come, we must leave." Mother said as sirens were coming closer. She quickly picked me up and started running in the opposite direction of the vehicles pulling up. I saw the flames building higher into the sky until it seemed to touch the moon. The trees shrouded my view of the house. It was dark. Very dark. The moon seemed to be the only source of light, but hardly it was able to reach far into the woods. I could hear mother's breath catching every now and then. Her grip on me getting tighter the further she ran. I buried my head into my mother's shoulder, not knowing what was going on. I just knew it was cold, and the darkness made it colder. Sounds from the night made my mother panic and turn every which way until she stumbled out of the woods, her grip on me tighter than ever. She stood still, facing whatever it was she wouldn't let me see.

"You brought her. Good job Irma, you can have your son back." a deep voice said. Each word he spoke sent chills up my spine.

"Y-you promise you won't hurt her?" my mother asked, shaking.

"I promise. What god-father would I be to hurt her?" the voice said again. My mother sat me down then rushed ahead of me into the darkness. "Now, dear, we must be off."

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice shaking with every word. I no longer felt the cold. I just felt fear. I turned and looked out to see nothing but darkness. Not even a star or sliver of moon in sight.

"I am your god-father, child. The one that will protect you. Now, we must go before they know I have you." the voice said again.

"Who are they?" I resonated, trying to sound tougher than I was.

"Stand. You will know everything soon. I will guide you through the forest and you will follow my every order to not get lost." the voice said. I was lifted up to my feet and started getting pushed by the wind. I knew I had to follow. The darkness grew as it got deeper into the night. Still, not even the slightest sign of a star showed in the sky. The wind howled through the trees, following me while I followed the voice. "Stop here." the voice said. It was quiet and eerie. The type of quiet before the big climax in a horror movie. Then, a man not much older than me formed out of the darkness a few feet away from me. "Now, my child, what is your name?" he asked.

"Lumina." I quietly said. Something bout the situation made me.... safe....

"Well, your father named you well." the man smirked. "I am Amishka. King of the night, and you, my child, will be the queen when I pass."

"King of the night? Queen? What?" I asked, bewildered.

"You will know soon," he said, picking me up and embracing me. "We awaited your arrival. My son is also very eager to meet you." he took me into a house that appeared across from us and we were welcomed with warm air and the smell of fresh pie. "Honey, I am home! And we have a permanent guest!" he shouted throughout the house. The rumble of his chest comforted me and I sunk into him. He laughed a little, sending a warm feeling through me before setting me on the couch.

"Who is it?" a woman said from another room.

"Lumina, the little child I traded Jacob for," Amishka said, going into the other room, leaving me to get comfortable. I looked around, studying the decor. For a king of the night, it was a very bright and happy home. A bright blue rug laid on the floor under a bright Burch table. On that table laid ornaments not recognizable to me. On the wall hung photos of a bright, cheerful family and a mirror along with a television. I looked around me for a remote to find it on the lit fireplace.