Chronicles of the Seventh Realm, Scroll 1 : River of Blood

Chapter 1

(Quick note: each chapter is designed to move forward in time. Many of them are by years)

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Benjamin stopped a moment to catch his breath. He could hear the snarling beasts surrounding him, but he wasn't worried. In the past seventy years, he'd become somewhat of an expert at eluding them. What chased him now, however, he was not strong enough to fight alone. He may have been in the prime of his youth at 79, but Benjamin knew his limits, and he needed to focus. An archangel, even one he grew up with, would not stop to listen, even though it was an accident...This time, he thought, chuckling to himself as he ran.

Looking up, Benjamin smiled and jumped ten feet into the air, narrowly missing the fangs of one of the beasts that pursued him. He grabbed onto a tree branch and pulled himself up, swinging his body around it like an acrobat. He immediately began running along the branches of trees, confidence radiating through his features. If I can just get to the pond, I will be safe, he concluded.

Reaching the last tree, Benjamin paused and surveyed the area. The clearing in this part of the woods held a small pond, but most avoided it, instead staying on the path carved out by constant travelers. He smiled, looking down at his reflection: it was steady, constant, unmoving, as if he'd looked into a mirror. No one else had joined him yet. He looked around...one leap and he'd be home, out of the realm of humans, and into the place between worlds where even the archangel wouldn't venture.

Identifying the packs whereabouts by their howls, Benjamin searched the trees. He looked along the ground, in shadowy places, and among the light. The full moon's glow shone overhead, and Benjamin was sure his movements would be noticed. I'll have to time this just right, he thought, leaning low on the branch.

As the sound of the approaching hounds grew nearer, Benjamin dove for his reflection and was violently tossed nearly three hundred yards away from his intended destination. He grunted as he rolled to his feet, and the hounds all charged at him. Extending his hands toward the beast, Benjamin knew he would be defenseless against the angel, but he had no choice. He released several balls of white light, which burned the beast and turned them all to ash. Exhausted, he fell to his knees, powerless to defend himself.

He was forced to his feet by the incredible strength of an archangel's grip around his neck. Benjamin tried to speak but only gurgles came out, so he laughed. "What's that?" the angel asked in a stern voice, then loosened his grip slightly. Benjamin could hear another pack of hounds approaching in the distance.

"Took you long enough," he repeated, a bit more audibly this time. The archangel released his hold on Benjamin and watched him fall to the ground.

He shook his head. "You cowardice rat!"

"And how am I like a rat, Constantine? Because I choose to live?" he continued without letting Constantine respond. "I am hunted, unlike you," he said, backing away from the angel and moving toward the pond. "And I will do whatever it takes to survive."

Constantine smiled crookedly. "Then I am pleased to inform you, brother, that your survival is no longer necessary." He reached for the sword at his hip and brought it high overhead.

Benjamin tried but could not move a muscle. Lightning struck the ground as Constantine brought the sword down. A clash of mettle rang in Benjamin's ears as another archangel shielded him. He looked the newcomer over with wide eyes mirrored by Constantine, who also looked enraged.

"Tzofiya, what is this?" he asked with lowered brows and wings agape. They both stood battle-ready and glowing slightly. They wore more gold than any being should ever wear at one time, and Benjamin found it difficult to stare directly at them. They were nothing like the angels he remembered seeing as a child, but they were angels nonetheless.