The Eclipses

Prologue

The moon bathed the dusty valley in its silvery glow and the trees cracked and bent in the force of the howling wind. A mountain loomed in the distance. A man in a silky grey cloak fought against the freezing air. He struggled to keep his quiver in place, or else the golden tipped arrows would topple out. A shape, too unnatural to be crafted by nature, was silhouetted in the moonlight appeared in the distance, signifying the man's destination was close. Determination sparked in his eyes and he pushed onward until he could tell that the thing was a beautifully carved staircase leading down. Watching his step, the stranger went down the staircase to an unlit cave. A single torch suddenly ignited in the darkness and he saw coppery eyes staring at him from behind the torch. "I'm glad you came, my friend. It was a dark road for a solemn moment," a clear voice murmured. "I hope to depart quickly, for I have a son and wife to go back to," the man answered, coming closer to the light, his gaze darkening, thinking of his courageous, stubborn, sometimes foolish son, suddenly yearning to get this over with. He glanced behind him, noticing a second pair of auburn eyes. "They must miss you," this voice, a female this time, whispered softly. "But this is for the sake of their futures, and we must finish this." She stepped out of the shadows, draped in a velvet dress, a green cloak hanging over her shoulders. "Of course, milady," answered the stranger, removing his hood. "Have we been followed?" inquired the figure behind the torch. "Not as far as I know, but I fear he will be here soon. We must hurry." Saying no more, the three sat in a circle around the torch, humming. The fire turned sea blue and created a silver sphere around them. "We bestow the power of our pasts atop of you," said the woman "And you shall be our futures," continued the cloaked man. "And kindle the fire of our hope," finished the copper eyed man. The fire turned red once more and they hummed. Footsteps started to echo down the stairs and they continued to hum. The footsteps got closer until a person with a golden knife appeared at the stairway. Willing himself not to break concentration, the man wondered who this person must be. A burst of light emanated from the torch, filling the room with blinding light. All you could hear was the footfalls of the man with the knife and the screams of dying souls. Blinded by the light, the man's eyes widened in pure shock and an overwhelming sense of betrayal when he witnessed the sight of the killer. I wish you the best, my son. Those were the last thoughts of the stranger as his last breath escaped him. A single person left, wielding a now crimson knife and tears streaming down their face.