Guardians: Dark Stars

Chapter 1: Those Smiling Ghosts

Silver moonlight quietly flickered across the land as dark clouds crowded the midnight sky. Whistling wind riled up the tall grass clearing that surrounded the lonely mansion. In the distance, dim orange glows from far-away neighbors could be seen breaking through the shadowy fog. A cold light originating from inside the mansion stretched out across the front lawn. It was getting late, Ray Glenmullen knew the masters of the Coulter house would soon turn in. When the bright glow of sheltered candles blew out behind them, they would be alone in the humid, mid-summer night.

Ray was a tall man and towered over his night watch partner: Thom Nettle. That night, Ray's short black hair was uncomfortably matted to his head as he sweat in the stifling heat. Even though Thom had more hair than Ray, he didn't seem half as bothered as the older guard. Both wordlessly stared out into the clearing. The darkness made their surroundings appear indefinite, as if the edges of the scattered boulders, short-stocky trees and lingering artifacts were connected to the seamless void. Their lone oil lantern struggled to fight off the hungry black.

"Is there a reason we are stationed outside tonight," Thom asked in an irritated slur.

He seemed more tired than usual. It was probably because he had been getting little sleep as his wife and himself struggled to deal with a newborn. Ray momentarily stole a glance at Thom with masked concern. There was, in fact, a worthy reason they were stationed outside the mansion today. However, it was because of this very reason that he needed his partner as alert as possible tonight more than any other night: William Coulter, the young man who had recently inherited the Coulter fortune and thus became their newest, youngest master, had been contacted by the most notorious thieves in the country. These criminals were known for being unstoppable once their hearts were set on a particular target. They had no name for themselves but were popularly referred to as the "Smiling Ghosts" who went after jewels, riches, people and incredibly rare, powerful Old World technology as if all that was worth coin solely belonged to them.

"The letter is the reason why," Ray replied sternly, hoping to wake Thom out of his calm.

"Oh yeah, the fake letter that probably means nothing," Thom sneered mockingly.

"We have no way of knowing if it is fake," Ray shook his head disapprovingly at Thom's willingness to dismiss a possible threat so dangerous.

"Come on Ray," Thom all but whined, "the "Smiling Ghosts" are dead remember? The news traveled far and wide across all of Kosmos! They were all mysteriously wiped out months ago in some Icewae mountain cranny. The King's Guard said a battle took place and the thieves lost. This has to be a prank."

Ray sighed, a headache threatening to gnaw through his wet skull. It was much too hot to argue tonight about the confusing circumstances that revolved the odd letter Mr. Coulter received that morning. The piece of paper had been found by one of the stable boys while he was cleaning Mr. Coulter's saddle. It had sloppy penmanship but was definitely reminiscent of the infamous thieves' calling cards:

"This night will burn hot like the embers of a growing fire and your anger will be ignited as we take back what we own. Laughing we shall go, enjoying what was never yours- R"

The "Smiling Ghosts" were somewhat of celebrities in Kosmos. Everyone knew about their strange demise in the Northern territory of Icewae, from the Seedwae gardens baring in the south to the desert canyons in Deadwae and even the far west Bloomwae where the Coulter mansion resided. Everything about the situation seemed wrong. Mr. Coulter, though rich in some aspects, did not seem to have anything that could be interesting to the should-be-gone thieves. He was a small plantation owner whose father had gained wealth growing territory-famed apples in the orchards and whose corn had been lucky enough to escape drought, fire and disease more often than other farmers.