Darshun stopped and pulled out the sword. Seconds later, the noises went silent and a wet wind came. Lightning flashed, followed by bangs of thunder. “Father!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the night-shaded city. “Where are you?” A second flash of lightning lit up the sky for a few moments revealing much of Loreladia. During this time, he saw something about a hundred feet away. It sent chills down his back.
A creature stood there and it looked to be at least eight feet tall. A set of horns rose off its skull like a bull. It had unnaturally long arms, dagger-sized claws, three wide legs—the third extending down where the groin would naturally be behind it. He swung a swaying tail while possessing dark red skin and yellow eyes. Its eyes were terrifying, glaring at Darshun with hatred. The stench it exuded was indescribable.
His heart raced. But when another wave of lightning split the sky, the creature disappeared. “Di-did—I imagine it?” Swiftly, the storm elements struck a tree, bursting it to flames. The fire lit up the surrounding area. When Darshun turned around he witnessed the creature again, this time standing about ten feet away! Its eyes flashed. He screamed and ran.
The creature chased after him. It moved like a large puppet, unsteady and off balance, probably due to its additional leg which made the thing all the creepier.
“Help me!” Darshun shouted, but no one came to his aid. He continued to run through the dark city until he reached Uncle Seth’s house, staggering into the yard. He banged on all the doors and all the windows. There came no answer. Everyone seemed to have vanished. Kicking open the back door, he ran into the house and looked around for a candle, blindly touching the small round tables in the living room. Instead, he discovered an oil lamp, recently put out, its smell spreading through the house. He ignited it and searched for Seth and Mirabel, scurrying through every room and still, they were nowhere to be found.
Darshun blew out the wick and stood still, listening to the rain beating down on the house, praying the creature wouldn’t find him. Then he felt a warm liquid hit his face and drip down his cheeks. Curious, he relit the lamp and looked above, witnessing fresh blood splattered completely across the ceiling, along with intestines driven into cracks, dangling to and fro. Darshun screamed, then put a hand over his mouth, realizing his stupidity. “Oh no,” he whispered.
As though it’d been waiting for this precise moment, the creature crashed through the front door, kicking the wood apart tightly grabbing his arm and tossing him across the room like a doll.
He hit the wall and fell to the floor.
The creature walked over, its stench unbearable, like a rotten corpse.
Adrenaline rushing, Darshun quickly stood up, drew his sword and struck the creature in its left leg, hacking off a chunk of flesh. Then he ran to the nearest window and jumped through it. He tumbled onto the muddy ground, smashing his jaw and dropping the sword. The creature reached through, grabbed his leg and began to pull him back in. Its claws dug into his skin, piercing to the bone and he screamed in agony. Punching the thing in its face didn’t seem to faze it either, it only hurt Darshun's hands. Then, he remembered the dagger he’d brought. He took it off his girdle and stabbed the creature’s hand.
It roared terribly, saliva shooting out its mouth—then released him.
Darshun picked up his sword and ran into the woods as fast as his little legs would take him. He ran and ran until he ended up being a long way off and found a thicket of bushes to hide under. He was soaking wet, and the temperature had dropped so much his breath now showed. Trying to calm down, he rubbed his sweaty face and wounded leg, which began to swell with severe pain. Soon, he would need medical attention. But these thoughts vanished when he heard a crackling of sticks. Something was coming toward him. Darshun gripped his sword and remained still. The noises stopped…nothing sounded now except the rain. Perhaps it was an animal?
Lightning struck a tree near-by and in fear, he hurriedly climbed out of the thicket. The fire burned high, giving off much light, and he knew he needed to abandon the area fast. Then, as if things weren’t bad enough, he felt a cold breath on the back of his neck—shivers of fear ran down his spine. Slowly, he turned around and there the creature stood, face-to-face with him. It grabbed his throat, lifted him off his feet and slammed him against a tree.
Its face was hideous—cut, mangled as if it’d been mutilated while decaying with disease.
Darshun vomited onto it, the vomit dripping down its bloody cheeks. “My father?” he asked tired and weary. “Where’s my father?”
Grinning, the creature pointed up at the trees.
Darshun eyes widened. Hanging by two ropes tied to their legs were Mirabel and Seth. Their bellies had been torn open and their throats cut, blood oozing like a river.
Hideously, the creature laughed and rose up its other hand, extending blood stained claws.
After the loss of his loved ones, nothing else mattered—nothing except justice or perhaps revenge. An uncontrollable desire began to overtake Darshun. Dramatic emotions of hate, love, desperation and madness surged within while sleeping beast began to awaken. “Father—Uncle Seth...” Suddenly, it happened. “Nooo!!!” he screamed in rage and fury as a red fire exploded around him, blowing the creature off its feet. The fire surrounded Darshun’s entire body. Even his pupils consisted of flame.
At first, he didn't understand what could be happening. His anger ignited, awakened or unleashed something inside of him, perhaps lying dormant and the energy magnified. He felt a bodily change in every pore, a sensation within his eyes, a tingling throughout his hair. His body became different—he seemed different, transformed.
The creature, now terrified, desperately ran for its life.
Darshun raised both hands, naturally understanding what to do and shot two streams of blistering red flames out of them. Burning through every tree in their path, the flames struck the creature and disintegrated it.
A fierce yellow light shined all around him as Darshun awoke. He screamed, crashing his head back and forth, confused, disoriented, unaware of his surroundings until the light vanished and he saw Mirabel. “Fa—father?”
“Yes son, it is I. Everything is going to be all right.”
“It was a dream—only a dream.” He sighed and collapsed, out of energy. Within moments, he fell back to sleep.
~~***~~
Upon seeing the flames, many Loreladians rushed over speedily, standing in the middle of the street, gazing upon Mirabel’s house—nearly ash. Seth Caelen stood there too, having sensed the disturbance in Darshun.
“Good heavens,” Mythaen greeted, running up to Mirabel. “Are you and Dar all right?”
Mirabel glanced over, then fixed his eyes back on Darshun. “Fine,” he answered.
“What happened?”
“A candle fell.”
“A—candle?” he asked, confused. For not only was it highly unlikely for Mirabel to make a mistake like that, but candle fire burns a beautiful orange-yellow, where this fire seemed to be a blistering red. “Are you positive?”
“Yes! It was a candle, a molding of wax!” Mirabel’s tone sounded fierce, his words sounding more like a growl. He sighed, and then finished in a calmer tone, “Just an accident started from an old Wizard's candle. Everything is fine now.”
All right, that made a little more sense to the small crowd. After all, Mirabel was a keeper of magical souvenirs.
“Well, if you like, you and Dar can stay at my place tonight,” Mythaen offered. “Or perhaps in the castle?”
“You can stay with me!” Elwin blurted out, wishing to be with Darshun. “Mother won’t mind.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I will pass.” He picked up Darshun and held him in his arms. “The danger has passed and the fire is out. You can all return home now.” He turned to Seth, speaking almost in a whisper, “Accompany me for a short time?”
“Of course.”
They walked out of the city and into the woods, abandoning the perplexed crowd. Mirabel ve
ntured only a short distance then stopped, setting Darshun down on some soft leaves. He then swiftly made a fire.
“That was no candle accident, was it?” Seth asked, though he knew the answer.
“No, it was Darshun. Come here, look! They’re still visible.”
Seth gazed and saw claw marks around his neck with trickles of fresh blood. He also saw the wound on Darshun’s leg and shadow-like markings across his face, arms, and chest. They were now beginning to fade, like ghostly hands releasing their grasp. “Is it possible?”
“Yes. A Dream Assassin attacked him.”
“Sorcerer Dream Assassin spells are difficult to achieve. They must have the blood of the one they intend to kill. Darshun has either lived in Loreladia since we rescued him or been with you.”
“I know, I know. It doesn’t make sense. But whoever cast the spell must possess a bit of his blood. Someone wants him dead.”
“The Northern Cullach?”
“I was thinking the evil ones in command of them. Remember what Deloth spoke of? About Darshun having to be sacrificed because he was a creature of the Light, and if he lived disaster could fall upon them.”
“I remember, but what does it mean?”
“Seth, tonight I felt a power within Darshun that even I fear. It’s what awoke me earlier. The very house trembled. I heard him scream and fire shot out everywhere. He unlocked his element in his dream, his element of Fire and at only age twelve, something no Nasharin has ever achieved. His inner power is so strong—I could barely contain him. Then I carried him into the street and shielded his fire. Everything within the house was gone, everything except that—golden ball. Somehow, it rolled into the street and stopped at Darshun’s side and once again—it was glowing!”
“What are you saying?”
“The Prophecy of the Guardian and the Second Great War could be upon us.”
Seth stared at Darshun in amazement, thinking about the signs, the golden ball and the extraordinary power of this boy. Along with the threat of the Dark, Darshun’s dreams and the presence of the Archangel. “Yes, the pieces do add up. Incredible!”
“I’m not certain of it. Nevertheless, for now I will remain in the forest and continue to train him. He needs to learn how to control his element and strengthen his mind, lest another attack come.”
“All right. Don’t fret about your house. I’ll build another.”
“Thank you, my friend. And please, until I understand for certain what’s going on, do not tell anyone about this.”
Seth nodded, and his eyes darkened. “Mirabel, if the prophecy is at hand, then you know what kind of evil shall threaten not only us, but all of the earth!”
Mirabel sighed. “I know. Our only hope shall be this little Nasharin.”
CHAPTER FIVE
THE STRANGER
Five years later, on a beautiful spring morning, Parlan and Tedra Hagel, the chief farmers of Loreladia, were awakened by the sounds of their animals screeching and crying.
“Parlan!” Tedra shouted, tossing her blankets from the bed and running to the window. “I think that mountain cougar is among the flock again. Darn it, we’ve had enough sheep killed already, I say.”
Parlan rolled off the bed, reached under the suspended frame and grabbed his bow and arrow. “I will not miss him this time,” he vowed, running down the stairs, already pulling back the bowstring. He opened the front door quietly.
I don’t believe it, Tedra thought, looking out over the green pasture from their bedroom window. He’s returned. “Parlan, don’t bother!” she yelled. “It’s that darn Luthais boy. He’s chasing the animals. Oh my, I remember him doing that when he was five years old, I say.”
Slowly withdrawing the bowstring Parlan stepped outside and scratched his head, bewildered at the sight of Darshun chasing his animals all over the barnyard, especially the chickens and roosters. He would catch them, let them loose and catch them again, laughing as if it were a big game.
“Darshun Luthais!” Parlan shouted.
Darshun stopped, dropping an angry fowl trying to peck his fingers. “Oh, hello, Mr. Hagel.” He looked as if he’d been caught red-handed at thievery. “I hope I didn’t wake you."
“You sure did! You’ve been away for so long. This is not the greeting I was expecting. Haven’t I told you not to chase the animals?”
“But that was over ten years ago.”
“The rules haven’t changed.”
“Apparently not. I’m sorry. Just wanted to see how many I could get. These roosters used to out run me all the time, remember?” He darted toward one, randomly changing positions, confusing the poor thing, then swooped it up like an owl descending upon its prey. “But catching one now is child’s play!” He tossed it to the ground and the angry bird ran off, flustering its feathers.
Parlan laughed. “I’m not going to pity you when you get bit.”
Inexplicably, almost every animal in the barnyard stopped and faced Darshun. The chickens, roosters, the hogs and elk. Even the bull—their eyes changing from fear to anger as they surrounded him. The bull lowered its head, showing its horns while the elk oddly stood on their hind legs, fowl stretched their talons while the hogs paced back and forth snorting and grunting.
“Um—Mr. Hagel?” Darshun looked surprised. “What’s wrong with your—?”
The animals charged at him fanatically.
Without thinking twice, Darshun leapt over the bull, maneuvered around the elk and hogs, then ran toward the fence. The animals pursued as if he were the prey, hungry, as if desperate for his flesh. The bull was gaining on him, holding down its head, its horns just inches away from his butt. Then, just as it attempted to pierce…Darshun jumped over the fence, rolled across the ground and stopped next to someone’s feet—someone wearing dark brown wooden sandals. He tilted up his head and saw Uncle Seth smiling at him.
“Good morning, lad.”
“Uncle Seth!” Placing a hand on his knee Darshun pushed himself up. “I should’ve known. What did you say to the animals?”
Seth’s gaze took in the scene his bronze eyes capturing the morning light. “Oh nothing, really. Only that you were going to make a scrumptious dinner out of each of them, including their young.”
Darshun’s eyes widened. “What? Hey! They’ll never trust me again.”
Seth faced the animals.
They made a bit of a fuss, but wandered back over to the barnyard.
“They say next time, they won’t go so easy on you.”
“Is that so? Well, it’s good to see you anyway.”
They laughed aloud and embraced one another.
“I’ve been out in the wilderness for a few months,” Seth explained. “Returned here this morning. When did you come back?”
“Late yesterday afternoon. I spent most of the night with Elwin and his family. By the way, thanks for building my father and I a new home. It’s a complete replica of the first!”
“My pleasure, lad.”
“Had father never told me I wouldn't have thought any different. He said an accident took place, burning it to the ground. But he never spoke what.”
Seth grunted and glanced away, seeming to be unwilling to discuss it.
“Say there, Seth Caelen,” Parlan shouted from the doorstep, “why don’t you and Darshun join us for breakfast? After all, you two gave the misses and I a good morning laugh.”
“Sounds good to me.” Darshun nodded eagerly. “I’m starving!”
“Oh, why not.” Seth smiled.
They ventured inside; Darshun tried to be careful and avoid the restless animals he’d disturbed, as their eyes followed his every step. Though it’d been a while, he felt pleased to have another breakfast with the Hagels. Aside from his Uncle, the Hagel’s made the best food in Loreladia and as usual, their kitchen was set up like one big fantastic smorgasbord.
Upon the cherry-wood counter tops sat steaming golden hot cakes, fluffy scrambled eggs, buttermilk biscuits, honey wheat and multi-grain toa
st. Tender sweet and spicy meats ranging from sausage, bacon and chicken fried steaks. There were fried potatoes with side dishes of creamy butter, maple syrup, fresh blackberry, blueberry and strawberry jams. All accompanied by sausage and poultry gravies and cayenne pepper sauce. Once everyone grabbed their dishes, they made way into the dining room and dug in. Everything melted in their mouths!
“You could have returned at no better a time, Darshun,” Tedra observed, sipping her hot cup of tea, “being the Spring Festival is tonight. The whole city is probably up preparing as we speak, I dare say.”
“Ah yes, it’s going to be a good time indeed,” Parlan added. “I look forward to this event every year.”
“You look forward to my baking every day."
Frowning, Parlan retorted, “Well you never bake me anything no more!”
“You eat too much, Parlan. Your belly can hold two grown men.”
“Blah,” he scoffed, waving a hand in her direction. “Maybe I want to get away from you.”
“Then by all means Parlan, stuff yourself silly tonight.”
Same old Hagels, Darshun thought. “I haven’t been to the festival since I was seven years old, but I sure do remember Mrs. Hagel’s cakes and pies…the best in Loreladia!”
“Why, thank you ‘ma dear.” Tedra nodded. “I was up until midnight preparing dozens of berry pies and chocolate cakes.”
“Oh?”
Tedra smiled. “Don’t think I didn’t see you eyeing them, Darshun.”
“They’re kind of hard to miss when you have them lined in throughout your kitchen, including the windowsills,” Darshun answered.
“She works too hard!” Parlan complained, passing his wife a little glare. “You’ll need a nap before tonight.”
“Oh hush it, Parlan. It’s nothing a cup of coffee can’t fix. Say, Darshun, there’s going to be some pretty women dancing tonight. Perhaps a future bride, eh?”
“Nah,” Darshun scoffed while gulping down another slice of meat. “I’m not interested in that right now.”
Prophecy Of The Guardian (Guardian Series Book 1) Page 7
