Wings of Shadows ~ Book 1 ~ Beginnings ~

Shadowling

Like smoke drawn to the sky, the darkness flowed into him and with it, strength.

The shadow broke away from its adversary and a shudder of excitement ran through its black form. 'My little shadowling has awakened at last!' it laughed eagerly.

In that split second of distraction, however, the Draycent hurled his sword with inhuman speed into the center of the dark mass. The shadow reeled as the light rippled across it like a spider's web of lightning.

'How dare y...' it snarled but was cut short by the might of Rain's pull. Even if it had wanted to, it could not evade merging now, and the injury it had just received had greatly weakened it, giving the new shadowling even more power.

"No, Rain! Don't do it!" Elias pleaded, but it was too late.

The sword clattered to the ground as the shadow rushed into the child.

"We want to live," Rain spoke in an eerie, inhuman voice, a dark aura surrounding his tiny frame. His eyes burned with a silvery light while three pairs of shadowy black wings emerged from his back, and a long white tail whipped menacingly behind him.

The man knew he had precious little time. Alone, he was no match for a shadowling, but if he didn't act fast, not only he, but also the entire village, would be devoured.

With blinding speed he dove for his weapon before bolting for the door - and not a moment too soon. Behind him, the little outpost that had been the tainted children's home for so many years, was ripped apart with explosive force.

He did not stop until he had reached the parish and pounded upon the door. "Wake up! It's coming! Wake up!"

A very confused Marren, groggily opened the door, but Elias grabbed him by his robes. "There is no time to explain. I need all of you to come with me right now or everyone here will perish."

"What's going on?" Ruben managed to stagger over, having overheard the commotion.

"Just come!" the Draycent barked and dragged Marren after him.

Even in the dark of night, they could see the now massive black wings cresting over the small figure that was slowly walking down the dirt road towards the village.

"What did you do?" Ruben snarled, jerking the Draycent aside.

The man's eyes flashed dangerously, "I didn't. I was simply supposed to keep the shadows away so he could pass on in peace. But..." he paused. "But I've never encountered a shadow like this one."

"What about Rain?" Ruben demanded. "Is he still..."

"I don't know. But what I do know is we have to erect and maintain a barrier until the sun rises or that thing will destroy everything in its path."

"And how do we do that?" Marren snapped.

"You just have to lend me your strength," the Draycent replied somberly.

The monks watched in awe as the Draycent sent brilliant blue light down his sword and then back up his body, forming wings of burning light. They crested, reaching out to touch the four of them.

Holding the sword in front of his face, its point aimed for the sky, he pushed the light outward into a wall which slowly spread over and around the entire village.