Author's Note

PROLOGUE

The warehouse was not the location that Caprice had been expecting. As her dark brown eyes scanned the big empty space all she could think was that she was summoning the five greatest warriors of all time…and this was where she was taking them. It was almost laughable. Should they take this, take her, to their dislike they may simply attack her.

'Oh, Liam.' She called to her most faithful friend and co-worker, who was about one hundred meters away from her, at the other end of the massive tin they were currently standing in. 'You are quite sure this will work?'

Liam laughed a hearty laugh and began jogging towards her. After only a few steps, though, he promptly vanished into a swirl of curling grey smoke and appeared before her. 'Are you doubting my abilities?'

'No,' Caprice protested. 'You are the most accomplished warlock I know of and a trusted friend of mine. I am sure you will have no trouble with the spell itself…but there will be five of the most powerful people to ever walk our earth here in a second. They are the only hope of civilisation as we know it. What if they simply kill us and go back to their old lives?'

'It's covered. You see these circles on the ground?' Liam gestured and Caprice did indeed see five circles surrounding each other, the smallest with a diameter of approximately three meters to the largest which must have been fifteen maters across at least. They were bright red and dotted with different colour and texture candles. 'Nobody will be able to get out of those until I give the word. Each of the warriors will get a circle.' He shrugged. 'You ready to put on the game face and save the world?'

'Quite.' Caprice smiled and she and Liam exchanged a smile, just the slightest tug on the corners of their lips. They were ready, alright.

Caprice knew what to do. She stepped back to let Liam do his bit. He began swaying backwards and forwards and chanting something in a language she'd only ever heard in situations like this. It was the language of the warlocks. They were the only ones who could speak it. It sounded a lot like the rustling of leaves or perhaps the sound one heard when they put a sea shell to their ear. Quiet and peaceful yet it spoke of deep power.

Caprice watched Liam contentedly as he continued speaking waves and leaves. He was wearing plain clothing – jeans and a t shirt, both dark, with no print. He was quite stocky and had a shaved head, with light blue, nearly milky eyes. Every so often he glanced back at her, still merely swaying and talking gibberish.

Finally, something happened a small ball of incredible white light formed about two meters from the ground above the centre circle. It shot out tiny lights, like small fireflies, which lit the strange candles.

Liam relaxed abruptly and turned towards her. 'Now we wait.'