DISCLAIMER/NOTES: See Front Cover
Chronicles of Darkness
Book One
Shadows and Dust
By Fiur and Vlamme
Those who lost the gods' favour
are fallen victim to a force
that guides them to dark portals
and from there on to eternal night.
-unknown-
Darkness fell around the trees of the forest. Only some hungry pretadors of the night were creeping through the bushes, searching and stalking their prey. Somewhere an owl called. A scraping sound sliced trough the dark, sparks came to life, eating away on the dry wood of a campfire.
Kyrian Leosol put the flintstones aside and lowered his tired body to his bedroll. His long black hair cascaded over his strong shoulders and his dark brown eyes stared, fixedly, into the blazing flames. The hunter forgot everything around him, until the soft whinny of his horse brought him back from his dreary thoughts. He got up and went to the black stallion to lift off the heavy saddle.
With gentle hands he stroked the soft muzzle of his trusty companion, "Five years, Nightshade. For such a long time I've been chasing the bastards who destroyed our lives. And still there is no trace of Skylar. What keeps me going is the thought, that maybe one day I will see her again."
He reached into his pocket and took hold of a silver bracelet, running his thumb softly over the fine metal, "Mother," he whispered.
Kyrian looked up at the sky, "You always told us that being a hunter wouldn't be easy. You were right. Day turns to night and night turns to day. I'm searching and looking but there is nothing! Nothing that refers to my little sister's whereabouts! The trail of the bloodsuckers is lost in the shadows. Desperation takes hold of my soul. I fear that all my hope will turn to dust, just like those unholy creatures, when the sunlight touches them. Unseen and unacknowledged they exist among us. At daybreak, they hide in secret places, but after sunset they come out of their hideouts, to attack mankind and suck the life out of them. A long time ago I gave up my unshakeable belief that there is a God out there, because I can't understand how such morbid monsters can walk the earth, and he does nothing to stop them. It get's more and more difficult to find them. My battle against these beasts seems like a lost cause, as if I am fighting in vain. They are like the heads of a hydra. You kill one then, and two more will rise from the shadows."
Tears began to fill his eyes, "I miss you so much, mother. I can't sleep at night because of the dreams that are haunting me, and the memories of that one awful day are torturing my soul. I will never forgive myself, that I wasn't there when you needed me the most. And Skylar? Will I ever see your sweet face again, my little sister?"
Nightshade pushed his head into his master's stomach. Kyrian smiled slightly, but the sadness in his eyes remained, "But at least I have you, Nightshade. And every day you are reminding me of happier times."
Lovingly he caressed the stallion's neck, "No! I won't give up! I took a vow and I will fulfill it, no matter what it takes! I will avenge your death, mother! Azrael and his companion won't get off lightly! And, if there is even one hair out of place on Skylar's head, I swear their deaths will be painful and tormenting! They will suffer from my hands like you suffered from their hands, mother!"
He took care of his horse, then he sat down in front of the fire with some stale bread and a piece of dry meat. After he finished his meal, he opened one of his saddlebags and took out an old, well-worn book, a quill and ink. Kyrian shook his head, "Well, I never thought that one day I would be keeping a diary. But, paper is patient and a trusty friend in the loneliness."
He slowly went through his entries until he came upon an empty page. Carefully the hunter dipped the quill into the ink, and started to write down his thoughts. Suddenly he stopped and stared back into the flames.
His voice was a hoarse whisper, "Everything started with the unfortunate day my family and I arrived in the town called Paris. I wish we never had entered this godforsaken place!"