Kaal

Prologue

Ella stood on the edge of the cliff, looking out over the vast, still lake, perfectly reflecting the clear night sky above. Stars twinkled as far as the eye could see, fading off into the distant horizon. Ella had never felt more at peace. She understood that this was not Earth, not anywhere near the place she had been born and raised. This was a very different world. She took a bold step off the cliff, her feet meeting only air as she journeyed forward. She walked farther across the lake, consumed with a need to touch the Stars, driven by instinct and a feeling of longing deep in her heart. The wind picked up around her, tossing her hair haphazardly behind her, raising a trail of goosebumps along her skin. Ella's lower back tingled with awareness as she inhaled, drawing in the energies of the sacred plain. 

She threw her arms apart, reaching up as through embracing the lights in the sky. "Please," she cried. "Give me love and purpose!" The lake below churned at her plea, rolling and crashing messily below her. She kept her gaze skyward despite the noise, determination invading every corner of her being. "Please," she cried again. "Please, give me a match and a life worth living!" Lightning struck the lake behind her but she still did not flinch, keeping her gaze resolutely fixed on the Stars above. 

And the Stars looked back. They looked down on this young woman, admiring her fortitude. They looked into her heart and saw what she wanted most. A life away from the one she lived now, where she had a strong capable man and a purpose outside of herself. She longed for adventure, responsibility, and a family of her making. She wished to exist in a world beyond the simple human bindings of Earth. One where magic and mystery thrived even better than the creatures that inhabited the world. 

The Stars, their own agendas in mind, gleefully granted her wish. They knew just where to send her. They knew exactly what she deserved and they knew her perfect match. The Stars above Ella seemed to wink down at her, unknowingly showing their own amusement and smugness. Giggles floated to her across the growing wind, and then, there was only darkness.